Diurnal dynamics of different circadian transcription modules in Chinese pine needles and roots during dormancy induction

Abstract Winter dormancy ensures that trees in temperate zones respond appropriately to environmental variations, thereby enhancing their adaptability and resilience. In the northern hemisphere, the dormancy of conifers is induced by short-day and cold temperature. Previous studies have revealed tha...

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Main Authors: Junhe Yang, Kai Qu, Huili Wang, Yousry A. El-Kassaby, Wei Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Plant Biology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06365-5
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author Junhe Yang
Kai Qu
Huili Wang
Yousry A. El-Kassaby
Wei Li
author_facet Junhe Yang
Kai Qu
Huili Wang
Yousry A. El-Kassaby
Wei Li
author_sort Junhe Yang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Winter dormancy ensures that trees in temperate zones respond appropriately to environmental variations, thereby enhancing their adaptability and resilience. In the northern hemisphere, the dormancy of conifers is induced by short-day and cold temperature. Previous studies have revealed that TFL2 is a key regulator involved in conifers’ bud set and growth cessation during the dormancy-induced phase. Based on the annual expression profile analysis of PtTFL2 in Chinese pine (Pinus tabuliformis Carr.), we identified key time nodes for dormancy initiation in autumn. To provide insight of the diurnal transcriptome dynamic in needles and roots during dormancy introduction, RNA-seq was performed at 12 consecutive time points in 24 h under natural environment in P. tabuliformis. Interestingly, we found that both needles and roots have rhythmic oscillatory genes, even though the roots could not receive light signals directly. We applied weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to integrate differentially expressed genes between needles and roots at different time points into highly correlated gene modules. Although the two modules are subject to different transcriptional controls during dormancy, both contain 35 identical transcriptional regulators. Some transcriptional factors with functional similarities and synergistic effects were found to play a role in the regulatory pathway, which provided some data support for mining gene functions and analyzing related regulatory pathways. Our results provide new insights into the molecular regulatory mechanisms involved in pine dormancy.
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issn 1471-2229
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher BMC
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series BMC Plant Biology
spelling doaj-art-4f21fbe2e2a6441ca77c990cdf1da4772025-08-20T02:24:29ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-04-0125111610.1186/s12870-025-06365-5Diurnal dynamics of different circadian transcription modules in Chinese pine needles and roots during dormancy inductionJunhe Yang0Kai Qu1Huili Wang2Yousry A. El-Kassaby3Wei Li4State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry UniversityState Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry UniversityState Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry UniversityDepartment of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, University of British ColumbiaState Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry UniversityAbstract Winter dormancy ensures that trees in temperate zones respond appropriately to environmental variations, thereby enhancing their adaptability and resilience. In the northern hemisphere, the dormancy of conifers is induced by short-day and cold temperature. Previous studies have revealed that TFL2 is a key regulator involved in conifers’ bud set and growth cessation during the dormancy-induced phase. Based on the annual expression profile analysis of PtTFL2 in Chinese pine (Pinus tabuliformis Carr.), we identified key time nodes for dormancy initiation in autumn. To provide insight of the diurnal transcriptome dynamic in needles and roots during dormancy introduction, RNA-seq was performed at 12 consecutive time points in 24 h under natural environment in P. tabuliformis. Interestingly, we found that both needles and roots have rhythmic oscillatory genes, even though the roots could not receive light signals directly. We applied weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to integrate differentially expressed genes between needles and roots at different time points into highly correlated gene modules. Although the two modules are subject to different transcriptional controls during dormancy, both contain 35 identical transcriptional regulators. Some transcriptional factors with functional similarities and synergistic effects were found to play a role in the regulatory pathway, which provided some data support for mining gene functions and analyzing related regulatory pathways. Our results provide new insights into the molecular regulatory mechanisms involved in pine dormancy.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06365-5Chinese pine (Pinus tabuliformis Carr.)DormancyCircadian rhythmNeedlesRoots
spellingShingle Junhe Yang
Kai Qu
Huili Wang
Yousry A. El-Kassaby
Wei Li
Diurnal dynamics of different circadian transcription modules in Chinese pine needles and roots during dormancy induction
BMC Plant Biology
Chinese pine (Pinus tabuliformis Carr.)
Dormancy
Circadian rhythm
Needles
Roots
title Diurnal dynamics of different circadian transcription modules in Chinese pine needles and roots during dormancy induction
title_full Diurnal dynamics of different circadian transcription modules in Chinese pine needles and roots during dormancy induction
title_fullStr Diurnal dynamics of different circadian transcription modules in Chinese pine needles and roots during dormancy induction
title_full_unstemmed Diurnal dynamics of different circadian transcription modules in Chinese pine needles and roots during dormancy induction
title_short Diurnal dynamics of different circadian transcription modules in Chinese pine needles and roots during dormancy induction
title_sort diurnal dynamics of different circadian transcription modules in chinese pine needles and roots during dormancy induction
topic Chinese pine (Pinus tabuliformis Carr.)
Dormancy
Circadian rhythm
Needles
Roots
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06365-5
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