Controlling plant circadian clock by pulse perturbation based on phase response curve

Abstract

The circadian clock orchestrates the rhythms of many physiological events, synchronizing them with ambient rhythms, such as the diurnal light-dark cycle and temperature changes. Precise and ecological control of the circadian rhythm provides a key technology for enhancing plant growth in artificial environments. A phase response curve, which describes the phase shift on pulse perturbation, is needed to predict or design the circadian rhythm. In this study, we investigated the phase response of the circadian clock in roots to perturbation by temperature pulse under continuous conditions. Under such conditions, roots included all phases at the same time with forming a striped pattern. We observed this pattern under different temperatures. We also observed that imposing only two pulses on the stripe pattern introduced a synchronization state. These results contribute to development of the control of the plant circadian clock by pulse perturbation.