Plant circadian clocks increase photosynthesis, growth, survival, and competitive advantage.
Circadian clocks are believed to confer an advantage to plants, but the nature of that advantage has been unknown. We show that a substantial photosynthetic advantage is conferred by correct matching of the circadian clock period with that of the external light-dark cycle. In wild type and in long- and short-circadian period mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana, plants with a clock period matched to the environment contain more chlorophyll, fix more carbon, grow faster, and survive better than plants with circadian periods differing from their environment. This explains why plants gain advantage from circadian control.
Dodd
Antony N
AN
Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK.
Salathia
Neeraj
N
Hall
Anthony
A
Kévei
Eva
E
Tóth
Réka
R
Nagy
Ferenc
F
Hibberd
Julian M
JM
Millar
Andrew J
AJ
Webb
Alex A R
AA
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000502:physiology*; D018533:Biomass; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D003624:Darkness; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D005838:Genotype; D008027:Light; D009154:Mutation; D010788:Photosynthesis; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds / Q000254:growth & development; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C114425:CCA1 protein, Arabidopsis; C411822:TOC1 protein, Arabidopsis; D014157:Transcription Factors; D002734:Chlorophyll; D002245:Carbon Dioxide