Photoperiod Control of Growth and Reproduction

2020 is the 100th anniversary of the publication of the first report of plants responding to changes in photoperiod. Research since then has led to a detailed understanding of the genes and physiology underlying the detection of photoperiod changes and the transduction of this environmental input to initiate changes in growth and reproduction. This culminated in the identification of FT as the long-sought ‘florigen’. Work in the model system Arabidopsis was central to developing this understanding but this has expanded to other species including crop plants. Research into photoperiod control has not only given us a detailed understanding of this process fundamental to successful adaptation of many plants but also presents opportunities to optimize crop plant phenology to specific growing environments.

This Research Topic aims to review progress in understanding photoperiod regulation with a focus on more recent developments, provide a forum for new hypotheses as well as publishing new research papers. In particular we would like the Research Topic include advances in understanding the mechanisms of response to photoperiod, interactions with other components in the flowering regulatory network and plant development more generally, and work to understand photoperiod control in non-model plants.

To celebrate the centenary of the first publication on photoperiod regulation we invite submissions (original research, reviews, mini reviews, hypotheses and perspectives) on all aspects of this topic including roles of phytochromes and other photoreceptors, circadian clock, signaling, long distance trafficking/tissue communication, modelling, genetics and epigenetics. Submissions on work in model organisms and crop plants are equally welcome.