title: Evolution of photoperiod sensing in plants and algae.
abstract: Measuring day length confers a strong fitness improvement to photosynthetic organisms as it allows them to anticipate light phases and take the best decisions preceding diurnal transitions. In close association with signals from the circadian clock and the photoreceptors, photoperiodic sensing constitutes also a precise way to determine the passing of the seasons and to take annual decisions such as the best time to flower or the beginning of dormancy. Photoperiodic sensing in photosynthetic organisms is ancient and two major stages in its evolution could be identified, the cyanobacterial time sensing and the evolutionary tool kit that arose in green algae and developed into the photoperiodic system of modern plants. The most recent discoveries about the evolution of the perception of light, measurement of day length and relationship with the circadian clock along the evolution of the eukaryotic green lineage will be discussed in this review.
authors.affiliation: Plant Development Unit, Institute for Plan Biochemistry and Photosynthesis, CSIC-Universidad de Sevilla, 49th, Americo Vespucio Av., 41092 Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Serrano-Bueno
authors.affiliation: Plant Development Unit, Institute for Plan Biochemistry and Photosynthesis, CSIC-Universidad de Sevilla, 49th, Americo Vespucio Av., 41092 Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Romero-Campero
authors.affiliation: Plant Development Unit, Institute for Plan Biochemistry and Photosynthesis, CSIC-Universidad de Sevilla, 49th, Americo Vespucio Av., 41092 Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lucas-Reina
authors.affiliation: Plant Development Unit, Institute for Plan Biochemistry and Photosynthesis, CSIC-Universidad de Sevilla, 49th, Americo Vespucio Av., 41092 Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.affiliation: Plant Development Unit, Institute for Plan Biochemistry and Photosynthesis, CSIC-Universidad de Sevilla, 49th, Americo Vespucio Av., 41092 Sevilla, Spain. Electronic address: federico.valverde@ibvf.csic.es.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Valverde
mesh_terms: D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light; D017440:Photoperiod; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects