PIF Genes Mediate the Effect of Sucrose on Seedling Growth Dynamics

by Jodi L. Stewart, Julin N. Maloof, Jennifer L. Nemhauser

As photoautotrophs, plants can use both the form and amount of fixed carbon as a
measure of the light environment. In this study, we used a variety of approaches
to elucidate the role of exogenous sucrose in modifying seedling growth
dynamics. In addition to its known effects on germination, high-resolution
temporal analysis revealed that sucrose could extend the number of days plants
exhibited rapid hypocotyl elongation, leading to dramatic increases in ultimate
seedling height. In addition, sucrose changed the timing of daily growth maxima,
demonstrating that diel growth dynamics are more plastic than previously
suspected. Sucrose-dependent growth promotion required function of multiple
phytochrome-interacting factors (PIFs), and overexpression of
PIF5 led to growth dynamics similar to plants exposed to
sucrose. Consistent with this result, sucrose was found to increase levels of
PIF5 protein. PIFs have well-established roles as integrators of response to
light levels, time of day and phytohormone signaling. Our findings strongly
suggest that carbon availability can modify the known photomorphogenetic
signaling network.

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Growth Dynamics
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