Abstract
During autumn perennial trees cease growth and form structures called buds in order to protect meristems from the unfavorable environmental conditions, including low temperature and desiccation. In addition to increased tolerance to these abiotic stresses, reproductive buds modulate developmental programs leading to dormancy induction to avoid premature growth resumption, and flowering pathways. Stress tolerance, dormancy, and flowering processes are thus physically and temporarily restricted to a bud, and consequently forced to interact at the regulatory level. We review recent genomic, genetic, and molecular contributions to the knowledge of these three processes in trees, highlighting the role of epigenetic modifications, phytohormones, and common regulatory factors. Finally, we emphasize the utility of transcriptomic approaches for the identification of key structural and regulatory genes involved in bud processes, illustrated with our own experience using peach as a model.
Highlights
Reviewed by: Michael Nicolas, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB), Spain Luis Fernando Revers, Embrapa Uva e Vinho, Brazil
Three types of dormancy have been distinguished according to physiological cues leading to growth inhibition: endodormancy, when signals are intrinsic to the meristem; paradormancy, imposed by another part of the plant; and ecodormancy, due to environmental factors (Lang, 1987)
Bud Development in Trees meristems is usually determined by apical dominance and other factors to overwinter in a differentiated immature stage, preceding dormancy release, and growth resumption on season
Summary
Boreal and temperate tree species cope with harsh environmental conditions during autumn and winter, including low and freezing temperatures, in a quiescent state named dormancy. Three major processes including dormancy, cold acclimation, and flowering converge spatially and temporally in a reproductive bud, where they play an active and relevant role in bud dynamics and determine plant survival and growth resumption under favorable conditions. These processes determine bud phenology and development through their reciprocal interaction, integrating temperature, and photoperiod effects (Kurokura et al, 2013; Vitasse et al, 2014; Singh et al, 2017). The utility of genomic approaches for the identification of genes related to these processes is illustrated with our own transcriptomic studies performed in flower buds of peach (Prunus persica) across dormancy release
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