Plants Distinguish Different Photoperiods to Independently Regulate Post-Flowering Vegetative Growth and Reproductive Growth

The post-flowering stage is critical for plant yield and seed quality. This can be influenced by the photoperiod; however, the underlying mechanisms are not clear. <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i> was selected as the experimental material to test this phenomenon. Different photoperiod treatme...

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Main Authors: Weizhi Chen, Ziyi Wang, Lamei Jiang, Amanula Yimingniyazi, Cai Ren
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/9/1368
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author Weizhi Chen
Ziyi Wang
Lamei Jiang
Amanula Yimingniyazi
Cai Ren
author_facet Weizhi Chen
Ziyi Wang
Lamei Jiang
Amanula Yimingniyazi
Cai Ren
author_sort Weizhi Chen
collection DOAJ
description The post-flowering stage is critical for plant yield and seed quality. This can be influenced by the photoperiod; however, the underlying mechanisms are not clear. <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i> was selected as the experimental material to test this phenomenon. Different photoperiod treatments were implemented during the post-flowering stage to comprehensively examine the effects of photoperiod on physiological and phenotypic characteristics. This work aims to explore the photoperiod measurement mechanisms that control post-flowering growth and development. Our results showed the following: (1) During the post-flowering stage, the photoperiod had a significant impact on both vegetative and reproductive growth. (2) Photoperiod measurement mechanisms can be categorized into absolute and photosynthetic photoperiods. These mechanisms exert distinct effects. (3) Absolute photoperiod regulated the cytokinin to auxin ratio, thereby controlling the number and length of branches and the number of siliques. Extending the absolute photoperiod had a preferential promoting effect. (4) Photosynthetic photoperiod affected duration of photosynthesis. This process regulated the formation and accumulation of photosynthetic products. Consequently, it influenced the biomass and efficiency of siliques. Extending the photosynthetic photoperiod had a positive effect. This study demonstrates that plants distinguish between photoperiodic signals and energy effects to independently control post-flowering development and growth.
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issn 2223-7747
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spelling doaj-art-25c710872bd74fb687715c49ff8a86182025-08-20T02:31:03ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-04-01149136810.3390/plants14091368Plants Distinguish Different Photoperiods to Independently Regulate Post-Flowering Vegetative Growth and Reproductive GrowthWeizhi Chen0Ziyi Wang1Lamei Jiang2Amanula Yimingniyazi3Cai Ren4College of Grassland Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, ChinaCollege of Grassland Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, ChinaThe post-flowering stage is critical for plant yield and seed quality. This can be influenced by the photoperiod; however, the underlying mechanisms are not clear. <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i> was selected as the experimental material to test this phenomenon. Different photoperiod treatments were implemented during the post-flowering stage to comprehensively examine the effects of photoperiod on physiological and phenotypic characteristics. This work aims to explore the photoperiod measurement mechanisms that control post-flowering growth and development. Our results showed the following: (1) During the post-flowering stage, the photoperiod had a significant impact on both vegetative and reproductive growth. (2) Photoperiod measurement mechanisms can be categorized into absolute and photosynthetic photoperiods. These mechanisms exert distinct effects. (3) Absolute photoperiod regulated the cytokinin to auxin ratio, thereby controlling the number and length of branches and the number of siliques. Extending the absolute photoperiod had a preferential promoting effect. (4) Photosynthetic photoperiod affected duration of photosynthesis. This process regulated the formation and accumulation of photosynthetic products. Consequently, it influenced the biomass and efficiency of siliques. Extending the photosynthetic photoperiod had a positive effect. This study demonstrates that plants distinguish between photoperiodic signals and energy effects to independently control post-flowering development and growth.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/9/1368photoperiodpost-floweringvegetative growthreproductive growth
spellingShingle Weizhi Chen
Ziyi Wang
Lamei Jiang
Amanula Yimingniyazi
Cai Ren
Plants Distinguish Different Photoperiods to Independently Regulate Post-Flowering Vegetative Growth and Reproductive Growth
Plants
photoperiod
post-flowering
vegetative growth
reproductive growth
title Plants Distinguish Different Photoperiods to Independently Regulate Post-Flowering Vegetative Growth and Reproductive Growth
title_full Plants Distinguish Different Photoperiods to Independently Regulate Post-Flowering Vegetative Growth and Reproductive Growth
title_fullStr Plants Distinguish Different Photoperiods to Independently Regulate Post-Flowering Vegetative Growth and Reproductive Growth
title_full_unstemmed Plants Distinguish Different Photoperiods to Independently Regulate Post-Flowering Vegetative Growth and Reproductive Growth
title_short Plants Distinguish Different Photoperiods to Independently Regulate Post-Flowering Vegetative Growth and Reproductive Growth
title_sort plants distinguish different photoperiods to independently regulate post flowering vegetative growth and reproductive growth
topic photoperiod
post-flowering
vegetative growth
reproductive growth
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/9/1368
work_keys_str_mv AT weizhichen plantsdistinguishdifferentphotoperiodstoindependentlyregulatepostfloweringvegetativegrowthandreproductivegrowth
AT ziyiwang plantsdistinguishdifferentphotoperiodstoindependentlyregulatepostfloweringvegetativegrowthandreproductivegrowth
AT lameijiang plantsdistinguishdifferentphotoperiodstoindependentlyregulatepostfloweringvegetativegrowthandreproductivegrowth
AT amanulayimingniyazi plantsdistinguishdifferentphotoperiodstoindependentlyregulatepostfloweringvegetativegrowthandreproductivegrowth
AT cairen plantsdistinguishdifferentphotoperiodstoindependentlyregulatepostfloweringvegetativegrowthandreproductivegrowth