Photoperiod Mediates the Effects of Temperature and Light Intensity on the Proliferation of Ulva prolifera

In order to study the complex effects of photoperiod,temperature,and light intensity on the spore maturation and release number of Ulva prolifera,we cultured thalli segment(2–3 mm)under three different photoperiods(L:D=12:12,14:10 and 10:14),temperature(15℃(LT),25℃(MT)and 30℃(HT))and light intensity(100,200 and 400μmol m^(−2)s^(−1),noted as LL,ML and HL,respectively)conditions.Then the maturation time,spore release number and chlorophyll fluorescence were analyzed.The results suggested that:1)The spore maturation time was accelerated by higher temperature or higher light intensity from 62 h to 36 h,and changes in day length accelerated the spore maturation to a certain extent as compared with 12:12 light/dark cycle;2)Higher light intensity significantly decreased the chlorophyll fluorescence(Fv′/Fm′,NPQ,rETRmax andα)of the mature reproductive segment under 30℃with 12:12 light/dark cycle.But when in the other photoperiods(10:14 and 14:10 conditions),the inhibitory effects of high light intensity were alleviated significantly;3)The optimum condition for the spore maturation and release was 12:12 light/dark cycle,25℃,400μmol m^(−2)s^(−1),with both shorter and longer photoperiod reducing the spore release number;4)Higher light intensity significantly increased the spore release number under 25℃,but these effects were alleviated by 30℃treatment.This study is the first attempt to elucidate the coincidence effects of photoperiod,temperature and light intensity on the reproduction of Ulva,which would help to reveal the mechanism of the rapid proliferation of green tide.

Regulation of Reproduction in Delayed Gametophyte of Saccharina japonica (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae): Effects of Light Intensity, Quality and Photoperiod

Saccharina japonica gametophytes can survive a long period under unfavorable environmental conditions,while they also delay in growth and/or reproduction.Although the reproduction in delayed gametophyte of S.japonica was known to be strongly influenced by light intensity,light quality,and photoperiod,no previous studies have evaluated their interactive effects on gametogenesis.To evaluate these effects,we used an orthogonal experiment to expose delayed gametophytes of S.japonica to different light intensities,light qualities,and photoperiods for 12 days.The results showed that changes in light intensity rather than light quality and photoperiod significantly affected the relative growth rates of the delayed gametophytes.Blue light had the greatest promotion on reproduction rate.The optimal light conditions in the early vegetative growth phase in gametogenesis induction for the delayed gametophytes were at 60–80μmol photons m^(−2) s^(−1) with daylength of 12 or 16 hours under white or blue light.When the delayed gametophytes were maintained in a constant light condition from delayed state to gametogenesis,the beneficial photoperiods for vegetative growth and reproductive rate were both 16L(16 hours of light):8D(8 hours of dark).However,when the delayed S.japonica gametophytes achieve the optimal growth state during the first 6 days and then they were cultured at different light conditions for the following 6 days,the reproduction rate increased as the daylength decreased and attained a peak value in group of 8L:16D photoperiod,indicating that photoperiod adjustment at the transition period is crucial in the gametogenesis induction process of delayed gametophyte of S.japonica.

A Farmer’s Approach to Detecting Photoperiod Sensitivity in Rice (Oryza sativa ssp. indica) Landraces

Most indigenous rice landraces are sensitive to photoperiod during short day seasons,and this sensitivity is more pronounced in indica than in japonica landraces.Attempts to identify photoperiod sensitive(PPS)cultivars based on the life history stages of the rice plant,and several models and indices based on phenology and day length have not been precise,and in some cases yield counterfactual inferences.Following the empirical method of traditional Asian rice farmers,the author has developed a robust index,based on the sowing and flowering dates of a large number of landraces grown in different seasons from 2020 to 2023,to contradistinguish PPS from photoperiod insensitive cultivars.Unlike other indices and models of photoperiod sensitivity,the index does not require the presumed duration of different life history stages of the rice plant but relies only on the flowering dates and the number of days till flowering of a rice cultivar sown on different dates to consistently identify photoperiod sensitive cultivars.

QTL Identification of the Insensitive Response to Photoperiod and Temperature in Soybean by Association Mapping

The insensitive response to photoperiod and temperature is an important quantitative trait for soybean in wide adaptation breeding. The natural variation in response to photoperiod and temperature was detected using 275 accessions of soybean [Glycine max （L.） Merrill] from China. Genome-wide association mapping, based on population structure analysis, was carried out using 118 SSR markers by the TASSEL GLM （general linear model） program. Nine SSR markers （P〈0.01） were associated with the value of the response to photoperiod and temperature （VRPT） caused by days to flowering （DF）, among which, Satt308 （LG M）, Sattl50 （LG M） and Satt440 （LG l）, were identified in both 2006 and 2007. Twelve SSR markers （P〈0.01） were associated with VRPT caused by days to maturity （DM）, among which three markers, Satt387 （LG N）, Satt307 （LG C2） and AW310961 （LG J）, were detected in both 2006 and 2007. In addition, a total of 20 elite alleles were screened out over 2006 and 2007 for being associated with an insensitive response to photoperiod and temperature （IRPT） caused by DF and a total of seven different elite alleles were screened out for being associated with IRPT caused by DM. Among these elite alleles, five alleles, Satt150-244, Satt308-164, Satt308-206, Satt440-176, and Satt440-206, were associated with IRPT caused by DF and were identified in both years, but only one allele, Satt307-170, was identified as being associated with an IRPT caused by DM. Based on these elite alleles, a set of typical accessions were screened out. The result about the genetic basis of IRPT is meaningful for soybean wide adaption breeding.

Mapping Quantitative Trait Loci Associated with Photoperiod Sensitivity in Maize(Zea mays L.)

Photoperiod sensitivity in maize plays an essential role in utilizing tropic and sub-tropic germplasm to temperate areas. This study aims to identify and map the QTLs responsible for the characteristics measuring photoperiod sensitivity, days from planting to silking （SD）, photoperiod response coefficient of silking （PRC）, and anthesis-silking interval （ASI）. Using the population derived from Zheng 58, photoperiod-insensitive parent, and Ya 8701, photoperiod-sensitive parent, a linkage map was constructed with 93 single sequence repeat （SSR） markers. Phenotyping of 296 F2-3 families of the population in replicated-field test was conducted in both long-day （Beijing, China） and short-day （Sichuan, China） conditions. Ten QTLs were identified to be associated with the SD and ASI on chromosomes 3, 4, 6, 8, and 10 in the longday conditions, and 11 QTLs were detected to be related to the SD and ASI on chromosomes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10 in the short-day conditions, respectively. A QTL associated with the PRC as a major effect in the long-day conditions located in the same position as the QTL related to the SD and ASI in the map, and was on chromosome 10 linked with marker bnlg1655. Using these QTLs in the marker-assisted selection, the photoperiod sensibility could be reduced by selection of the alleles responsible for the SD, PRC, and ASI in breeding programs.

Determination of the Photoperiod-Sensitive Inductive Phase in Maize with Leaf Numbers and Morphologies of Stem Apical Meristem

It is vital to determine the effective photoperiods of maize for making full use of tropical germplasm, which is the foundation for determining the effect of latitude and planting date on the development of photoperiod-sensitive maize cultivars. The objective of this study is to determine the photoperiod-sensitive inductive phase using reciprocal transfer between long- day （LD） （15 h d^-1） and short-day conditions （SD） （9 h d^-1）. For Huangzao 4 and CML288, days to tassel and pollen shedding were recorded, and stem apical meristems （SAM） were observed by a laser scanning confocal microscope. The results show that the seedlings are insensitive to photoperiod when they are very young （juvenile）. However, after this period, LD delays flowering and increases the leaf numbers below the inflorescence, and the length of the interval of the photoperiod-sensitive inductive phase is longer under LD conditions than under SD conditions. Transferred from SD to LD, plants show a sudden decrease in leaf numbers once sufficient SD has been received for flower commitment. While transferred from LD to SD, plants have a continuous increase in leaf numbers during the photoperiod sensitive inductive phase under LD conditions. At the same time, when plants are competent to flowers, the obvious morphology is the elongation of maize SAM. There is an obvious variance of the photoperiod sensitive phase under LD and SD conditions in different maize.

Effect of Photoperiod Treatments on Dormancy Induction and Changes in Correlated Respiratory Rate of Nectarine Peach Bud

The responses of dormancy induction to illumination and the characteristics of respiratory rate were studied with the nectarine peach bud in this article. The trial was conducted with nectarine （Prunus persica var. nectariana cv. Shuguang） and involved three treatments： a short day treatment （8 h）, a long day treatment （16 h）, and the normal condition as the control. The dormancy status was determined with the growth of shoot and the sprouting ability, and the respiratory rate was mensurated with oxygen electrode. Short day treatment could induce the growth stopping of peach shoots ahead, promote the development of dormancy, and induce buds into dormancy with 21 d previous to control. Long day treatment postponed the growth stopping and the induction and development of dormancy. The respiratory rate decreased according to the development of dormancy induction. The minimum respiratory rate appeared about 7 days after the start of dormancy induction. Bud respiratory rate increased during this period and then declined and remained at low level during dormancy period. Long day reduced buds respiratory rate slightly. Short day could induce dormancy obviously, and long day postponed dormancy induction. The changes of respiratory rate were correlated with the development of dormancy induction, and the bud respiratory rate was also affected by photoperiod.

CmFTL2 is involved in the photoperiod- and sucrose-mediated control of flowering time in chrysanthemum

The chrysanthemum genome harbors three FT-like genes:CmFTL1 and CmFTL3 are thought to act as regulators of floral induction under long-day(LD)and short-day(SD)conditions,respectively,whereas the function of CmFTL2 is currently unclear.The objective of the present research was to explore the function of CmFTL2 in the determination of flowering time of the photo-insensitive chrysanthemum cultivar‘Floral Yuuka’,both in response to variation in the photoperiod and to the exogenous provision of sucrose.Spraying leaves of‘Floral Yuuka’plants with 50 mM sucrose accelerated flowering and increased the level of CmFTL2 transcription in the leaf more strongly than either CmFTL1 or FTL3 under both long and SD conditions.Transcription profiling indicated that all three CmFTL genes were upregulated during floral induction.The relationship of the CmFTL2 sequence with that of other members of the PEBP family suggested that its product contributes to the florigen rather than to the anti-florigen complex.The heterologous expression of CmFTL2 in the Arabidopsis thaliana ft-10 mutant rescued the mutant phenotype,showing that CmFTL2 could compensate for the absence of FT.These results suggest that CmFTL2 acts as a regulator of floral transition and responds to both the photoperiod and sucrose.

Mechanism of Sterility and Breeding Strategies for Photoperiod/Thermo-Sensitive Genic Male Sterile Rice

To understand the male sterility mechanism of photoperiod/thermo-sensitive genic male sterile [P（T）GMS] lines in rice, the research progress on genetics of photoperiod and/or temperature sensitive genic male sterility in rice was reviewed. A new idea was proposed to explain the sterility mechanism of P（T）GMS rice. The fertility transition from sterile to fertile is the result of cooperative regulation of major-effect sterile genes with photoperiod and/or temperature sensitive genes, but not the so-called pgms gene in P（T）GMS rice. The minor-effect genes, which exhibit accumulative effect on sterility, are the important factors for the critical temperature of sterility transition. The more minor-effect genes the sterile line holds, the lower the critical temperature of sterility transition is. The critical temperature of sterility transition will be invariable if all the minor-effect genes are homozygous. The strategies for breeding P（T）GMS rice were also proposed. The selective indices of critical photoperiod and temperature for sterility transition should be set according to varietal type and ecological region. Imposing selection pressure is a key technology for breeding P（T）GMS rice with lower critical temperature for sterility, and improving the comprehensive performance of the whole traits and combining ability is vital for breeding P（T）GMS rice lines.

Flower Development and Photoperiodic Control of Flowering in Rice

Floral transition,which is referred to as a plant＇s transition from vegetative stage to reproductive stage,is considered to be a critical developmental switch in higher plants,for a timely flowering is a major factor of reproductive success.Endogenous and environmental cues,such as photoperiod,light quality,plant hormones concentrations and temperature,provide information to the plants whether the environment is favorable for flowering.These cues promote,or prevent,flowering through a complex genetic network,mediated by a careful orchestration of temporal and spatial gene expression.One of such cues is photoperiod.Rice（Oryza sativa L.） serves as a powerful model species for the understanding of flowering in higher plants,including flower development and photoperiodic control of flowering.In this review,we overviewed and discussed the flower development and its model.We also overviewed the photoperiodic pathways in rice flowering control,and summarized the pathways at molecular level.

Effects of light intensities and photoperiods on growth and proteolytic activity in purple non-sulfur marine bacterium, <i>Afifella marina</i>strain ME (KC205142)

Afifella marina strain ME (KC205142), a purple non-sulfur bacterium was isolated from mangrove habitats of Sabah. The effects of light intensities and photoperiods on proteolytic activity in Afifella marina strain ME (KC205142) were investigated. Secretion of proteolytic enzymes in Afifella marina was preliminarily assessed by skim milk agarose media. Subsequently, light intensities, such as, dark, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000, 3500, 4000, 4500 and 5000 lux were used to evaluate the effects on proteolytic activity in Afifella marina strain ME under anaerobic condition. After that, the effect of photoperiods on proteolytic activity was monitored under anaerobic light condition (3000 lux) at 0 h (0L/24D), 6 h (6L/18D), 12 h (12L/12D), 18 h (18L/6D) and 24 h (24L/0D) of photoperiod. The highest proteolytic activity of 74.67 U was recorded at 3000 lux illumination light intensity. The proteolytic activity in bacterium Afifella marina strain ME was positively associated with the dry cell weight. The proteolytic activity of 72.67 U in bacterium Afifella marina strain ME at 18 h (18L/6D) photoperiod is not significantly different (p > 0.05) from proteolytic activity of 74.67 U recorded at continuous light (24L/0D) condition. Light intensity of 3000 lux, culture period of 48 h and a photoperiod of 18 h (18L/ 6D) were the optimum parameters for proteolytic activity in bacterium Afifella marina strain ME.

Effect of Photoperiod on Key Enzyme Activities of Respiration in Nectarine Buds During Dormancy Induction

Shuguang （Prunus persica var. nectariana cv. Shuguang） nectarine was used to study effects of photoperiod on key-enzyme activities of respiration during dormancy induction. The dormancy status was determined with sprouting ability. Spectrophotometry was used to investigate activities of phosphohexose isomerase （PGI）, malic dehydrogenase （MDH）, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase （G6PDH）. The results revealed that short day （SD） treatment promoted dormancy induction while long day （LD） treatment postponed the process. During dormancy induction, PGI activities declined, MDH activities changed little, and G6PDH activities increased both in flower buds and leaf buds. PGI activities and MDH activities in SD treatment were lower than control, and G6PDH activities were higher, which was opposite with LD treatment. The changes of respiratory key-enzyme activities were adjusted by photoperiod and correlated with the development of dormancy induction.

Genetic Analysis and Primary Mapping of pms4, a Photoperiod-Sensitive Genic Male Sterility Gene in Rice (Oryza sativa)

To understand the genetic characteristics of a new photoperiod-sensitive genic male sterile line Mian 9S, some reciprocal crosses were made between Mian 9S and six indica rice materials, Yangdao 6, Luhui 602, Shuihui 527, Mianhui 725, Fuhui 838 and Yixiang 1B. Genetic analysis results suggested that the photoperiod-sensitive genic male sterility （PGMS） of Mian 9S was controlled by a single recessive nuclear gene. Thus, the F2 population derived from the cross of Yangdao 6/Mian 9S was used to map the PGMS gene in Mian 9S. By using SSR markers, the PGMS gene of Mian 9S was mapped on one side of the markers, RM6659 and RM1305, on rice chromosome 4, with the genetic distances of 3.0 cM and 3.5 cM, respectively. The gene was a novel PGMS gene and designated tentatively as pms4. In addition, the application of the pms4 gene was discussed.

Effects of Photoperiod on Alternative Respiration Pathway in Nectarine Flower Buds During Dormancy Induction

Characteristics of dormancy induction and alternative respiration pathway （also known as cyanide-resistant respiration） of nectarine flower buds in different photoperiods were studied to determine the function of photoperiod and alternative respiration pathway in dormancy induction. Oxygen-electrode system and respiratory inhibitors were used to measure total respiratory rates and rates of alternative respiration pathway. The results showed that total respiration rate （Vt） in flower buds showed to be double hump-shaped curves. Short day raised, brought the first-hump of Vt forward and delayed the second-hump, while long day delayed the whole curve. The capacity （Vast） and activity （pValt） of SD and LD changed synchronously and both showed to be double hump-shaped curves. Short day made the first climax of Vast and pValt existed much earlier, while long day increased their rates significantly. The length of day had little effects on the later period climax. Long day also increased the contributions of altemative respiration pathway in total respiration rate （pValt/Vt）. The changes in alternative respiration pathway were correlated with the induction of dormancy and adjusted by photoperiod. Short day promoted dormancy induction of nectarine trees, while long day delayed it.

Integrating transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of photoperiod-sensitive in near isogenic maize line under long-day conditions

As a short-day plant species, maize requires an optimal photoperiod for inducing reproductive growth. However, there is a lack of information regarding photoperiod-induced changes in maize mRNA and protein levels. In this study, a photoperiod-insensitive maize inbred line and its near isogenic photoperiod-sensitive line were used. By integrating RNAbased transcriptomic and iTRAQ LC-MS/MS-based proteomic approaches, we generated a comprehensive inventory of the transcripts and proteins with altered abundances in response to a long photoperiod(LP) during growth stage transitions. We detected 22 000 transcripts in RNA-sequence runs and 5 259 proteins from an iTRAQ-based analysis. A weak correlation between mRNA-and protein-level changes was observed, suggesting the LP-induced transition between maize growth stages is largely regulated post-transcriptionally. Differentially expressed genes influenced by LP conditions were associated with several regulatory processes in both maize inbred lines, especially phosphate ion transport and the circadian rhythm. Additionally, 31 transcripts and six proteins related to photoperiodic flowering in maize were identified by comparing transcriptomic and proteomic data. This transcriptomic and proteomic analysis represents the first comprehensive and comparative study of gene/protein-level changes occurring in photoperiod-sensitive and-insensitive maize inbred lines during growth stage transitions under LP conditions.

Short photoperiod increases energy intake, metabolic thermogenesis and organ mass in silky starlings Sturnus sericeus

Environmental cues play important roles in the regulation of an animal＇s physiology and behavior. One such cue, photoperiod, plays an important role in the seasonal acclimatization of birds. It has been demonstrated that an animal＇s body mass, basal metabolic rate （BMR）, and energy intake, are all affected by photoperiod. The present study was designed to examine photoperiod induced changes in the body mass, metabolism and metabolic organs of the silky starling, Stumus sericeus. Captive silky starlings increased their body mass and BMR during four weeks of acclimation to a short photoperiod. Birds acclimated to a short photopedod also increased the mass of certain organs （liver, gizzard and small intestine）, and both gross energy intake （GEl） and digestible energy intake （DEI）, relative to those acclimated to a long photoperiod. Furthermore, BMR was positively correlated with body mass, liver mass, GEl and DEI. These results suggest that silky starlings increase metabolic thermogenesis when exposed to a short photoperiod by increasing their body and metabolic organ mass, and their GEl and DEI. These findings support the hypothesis that bird species from temperate climates typically display high phenotypic flexibility in thermogenic capacity.

Haloxylon ammodendron (Amaranthaceae) fruit development delay caused by post-flowering non-inductive photoperiod

Haloxylon ammodendron （C. A. Mey.） is one of the economically and ecologically important desert trees used for sand fixation. The ovary of H. ammodendron is found not to swell after flowering in spring until at the end of August or early September in western China. However, what happens for ovary at anatomic level in that period and which crucial ecological factor regulates the phenomenon of H. ammodendron have not been fully understood. To characterize the phenomenon and explore the crucial environmental regulating factors, we carried out the morphological and anatomic observations at the different development stages of the fruits and three single-factor experiments （low air temperature, sufficient soil moisture, and short day length）. Our results showed that under the natural conditions, the ovary of H. ammodendron after flowering developed slowly and the morphological changes of fruits were not significant for the period from May to August and after late August or early September; and then the ovary developed rapidly and matured in October. Cell division in embryo was observed to start approximately 25 days after flowering （DAF） and just developed to globular embryo stage at mid-August. Photoperiod was identified as the pivotal environmental factor regulating the fruit development of H. ammodendron. Moreover, the threshold value of day length for the fruit development was 14.0 h. A long day （〉14.0 h） treatment began from 5 DAF could delay fruit development of H. ammodendron while a short day （〈14.0 h） treatment could accelerate it. Moreover, a further longer day treatment （〉15.0 h） could also delay fruit development even when they had developed for a long time （110 DAF）. The present study indicated that H. ammodendron adopted a reproductive strategy of delayed fruit development and this strategy helps it survive and obtain offspring in harsh desert habitats.

Affective Responses of Early Life Photoperiod in Male Wistar Rats

Behavior changes season dependant are probably linked to change in day length or photoperiod. Although much research on seasonality in small mammals has focused on photoperiod manipulations in adults, early life photoperiod is also an important source of seasonal information and can establish individual’s developmental trajectory by regulating somatic and reproductive development and affective responses to day lengths later in life. The experiments developed in this work are based on the hypothesis that early life photoperiod affect emotionality in adult rats. To cheek this hypothesis, male rats were exposed at birth to different photoperiods (LP: 16L/8D;SP: 8L/16D). 8, 16 or 24 weeks later, rats were subjected to different behavioral tests to quantify anxiety-like behavior. Independently of duration, rats exposed to SP exhibited higher levels of anxious-like behavior than rats raised in LP, in an open field test (OFT) and in elevated plus maze (EPM). Repeated comparisons showed that photoperiod effect was accentuated after 16 weeks of treatment. 24 weeks of treatment failed to induce any effect on emotionality in male rats. Our results indicate that changes in day length are associated with different levels of anxious-like behaviors;consistent with the conjecture that early life photoperiod may influence affective behavior in adult male rats.

Isolation and Analysis of the Promoter of OsRacD from PhotoperiodSensitive Genic Male Sterile Rice

By using OsRacD cDNA as probe to screen the genomic library of photoperiod sensitive genic male sterile rice line Nongken 58S, a positive clone containing 2 kb promoter and 396 bp coding region of OsRacD was obtained. Compared with the promoter of OsRacD cloned by reverse PCR from normal rice variety Nongken 58 （Nongken 58N）, the homology was 99.8%, and the different nucleotides were outside the predicted response elements in promoter, suggesting that the fertility between rice varieties Nongken 58S and Nongken 58N under the long-day conditions was not attributed to the difference in the structure of OsRacD upstream regulation sequences, but to the developmental regulation of gene differential expression.