Antioxidant system: The hub of bud dormancy regulation in Prunus sp.

Abstract

Global warming, through affecting the dormancy progression of temperate fruit trees, has a profound impact on bud break, flowering and fruiting performance. This may lead to economic losses in the production of the genus Prunus sp., which cultivation is common in temperate regions worldwide, producing edible drupes such as almond, apricot, cherry, plum, peach and nectarines. To overcome climate change-related fruit tree disorders, knowledge on the biochemical mechanisms governing bud dormancy and dormancy release is essential. In this review, we gather knowledge on the understanding of bud dormancy in Prunus. Herewith, the antioxidant system is situated in the hub of a process where metabolic, physiological, biochemical and molecular components are linked in a complex manner. Moreover, the knowledge on the use of oxidative stress-related compounds to regulate dormancy release in Prunus is summarized. Finally, future research directions in this field are outlined.