This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Related articles in Plant Cell Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Eckardt, N. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Eckardt, N. A. Agricola Articles by Eckardt, N. A.

IN BRIEF

Apical Bud Formation and Dormancy Induction in Poplar

neckardt{at}aspb.org

The period of winter dormancy in woody perennial plants growing in the temperate zone is initiated during bud development in autumn. Regulation of autumnal bud development involves orchestrating the processes of bud formation, acclimation to dehydration and cold stress, and the acquisition of dormancy. Ruttink et al. (pages 2370–2390) conducted a large-scale study of bud formation and dormancy in poplar (Populus tremula x Populus alba) involving transcript and metabolite profiling over a 6-week period from short-day induction to complete dormancy. The gene expression and metabolite profiles revealed the temporal sequence of events during bud formation and the induction of dormancy. Sets of marker genes were identified that distinguished the processes of bud formation, dormancy, and acclimation to cold and dehydration. Metabolite profiles were consistent with the approach of dormancy, acquisition of cold tolerance, and accumulation of storage compounds. In addition, genes differentially expressed during bud development were compared with those associated with dormancy induction in poplar cambium and in Arabidopsis seeds. A large set of genes was found to be associated with dormancy induction in all cases, suggesting that a common molecular mechanism underlies the process in different plant organs. This study provides a comprehensive and detailed picture of molecular regulation of bud development and dormancy. In addition, climate change is expected to modify the synchronization of bud formation and acclimation to dehydration and cold. These data provide an important reference frame for future functional studies of genes and for genetic approaches to assess adaptation of trees to climate change.

View larger version (63K): [in this window] [in a new window] [as a PowerPoint slide]   Dormant poplar buds develop in autumn after the perception of a critical short-day signal.

www.plantcell.org/cgi/doi/10.1105/tpc.107.190810

Related articles in Plant Cell:

A Molecular Timetable for Apical Bud Formation and Dormancy Induction in Poplar

Tom Ruttink, Matthias Arend, Kris Morreel, Véronique Storme, Stephane Rombauts, Jörg Fromm, Rishikesh P. Bhalerao, Wout Boerjan, and Antje Rohde
Plant Cell 2007 19: 2370-2390. [Abstract] [Full Text]  

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Related articles in Plant Cell Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Eckardt, N. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Eckardt, N. A. Agricola Articles by Eckardt, N. A.