Abstract
Light and temperature cues share many common signaling events towards plant photothermal morphogenesis. Particularly, the red (R)/far-red (FR)-absorbing phytochrome photoreceptors also function as temperature sensors, suggesting that light and temperature responses are intimately associated with each other. Here, we present data from physicochemical modeling of temperature sensing and thermomorphogenic patterning of hypocotyl growth, which illustrate that the two seemingly distinct stimulating cues are tightly coupled through physicochemical principles and temperature effects can be described as a function of infra-red (IR) thermal radiation. It is possible that the dark reversion from the FR-absorbing Pfr to the R-absorbing Pr phytochromes is essentially an IR-mediated thermal conversion. We propose that the phytochromes modulate photothermal responses by monitoring R:IR ratios, as they sense R:FR ratios during photomorphogenesis.
Highlights
Plants are capable of actively sensing changes in light and temperature environments to optimize photothermal growth and morphogenesis
To obtain clues as to the functional relationship between light and temperature cues in triggering the phytochrome-mediated photothermal behaviors, we employed physicochemical modeling analysis of environmental temperatures in a range of physiological relevance and thermomorphogenic examination of hypocotyl growth in Arabidopsis mutants that are defective in functional phytochromes or chromophore biosynthesis
Our physicochemical modeling and related calculations strongly support that the two apparently distinct environmental cues are intimately linked through physicochemical principles and the effects of environmental temperatures can be illustrated as a function of IR-mediated thermal radiation during the phytochrome-mediated photothermal responses
Summary
Plants are capable of actively sensing changes in light and temperature environments to optimize photothermal growth and morphogenesis. Along with the physicochemical nature of light and temperature, these observations suggest that light and temperature cues are intrinsically coupled through physicochemical principles in triggering the phytochrome-mediated photothermal responses. Molecules exhibit minimal movements at absolute zero temperature, and elevated temperatures accelerate molecular movements. All objects with temperatures above absolute zero, including the sun and plants in nature, emit electromagnetic radiation with distinct spectral distribution. Our physicochemical modeling and related calculations strongly support that the two apparently distinct environmental cues are intimately linked through physicochemical principles and the effects of environmental temperatures can be illustrated as a function of IR-mediated thermal radiation during the phytochrome-mediated photothermal responses. Fluctuations in R:IR ratios to modulate photothermal morphogenesis, which is comparable to the roles of the phytochromes in sensing R:FR ratios during photomorphogenesis
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