Plant Biology

Conditional sanctioning in a legume-rhizobium mutualism

Legumes are high in protein and form a valuable part of human diets due to their interaction with symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria known as rhizobia. Plants house rhizobia in specialized root nodules and provide the rhizobia with carbon in return …

Is 'peak N' key to understanding the timing of flowering in annual plants?

Flowering time in annual plants has large fitness consequences and has been the focus of theoretical and empirical study. Previous theory has concluded that flowering time has evolved over evolutionary time to maximize fitness over a particular …

The circadian clock has transient plasticity of period and is required for timing of nocturnal processes in Arabidopsis

A circadian rhythm matched to the phase and period of the day–night cycle has measurable benefits for land plants. We assessed the contribution of circadian period to the phasing of cellular events with the light : dark cycle. We also …

Understanding biological timing using mechanistic and black-box models

The use of mathematical modelling in understanding and dissecting physiological mechanisms in plants has seen many successes. Notably, studies of the component interactions of the Arabidopsis circadian clock have yielded multiple insights into the …

The circadian oscillator gene GIGANTEA mediates a long-term response of the Arabidopsis thaliana circadian clock to sucrose

Circadian clocks are 24-h timing devices that phase cellular responses; coordinate growth, physiology, and metabolism; and anticipate the day–night cycle. Here we report sensitivity of the Arabidopsis thaliana circadian oscillator to sucrose, …

Ticking over. Circadian systems across the kingdoms of life

The ability to anticipate the day-night cycle and direct physiology accordingly has proven to be a general phenomenon across all kingdoms of life. Considerable fitness benefits are conferred by an internal 24-hour clock, which is known as a circadian …

Correct biological timing in Arabidopsis requires multiple light-signaling pathways

Circadian oscillators provide rhythmic temporal cues for a range of biological processes in plants and animals, enabling anticipation of the day/night cycle and enhancing fitness-associated traits. We have used engineering models to understand …

Disruption of two defensive signaling pathways by a viral RNA silencing suppressor

The Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) 2b counter-defense protein disrupts plant antiviral mechanisms mediated by RNA silencing and salicylic acid (SA). We used microarrays to investigate defensive gene expression in 2b-transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana …

Systems analyses of circadian networks

The circadian clock is a 24 hour timing device that co-ordinates biological activity with day/night cycles. The long history of systems analysis of circadian biology extends back to the first half of the last century when theoretical studies …

Mathematical modelling of circadian signalling in Arabidopsis

The circadian signalling network in Arabidopsis thaliana generates oscillations with negative feedback loops of transcription factor binding, and regulates many developmental and physiological processes. Mathematical models have been proposed which …