Exploring the Seasonal Dynamics and Molecular Mechanism of Wood Formation in Gymnosperm Trees

Forests, comprising 31% of the Earth's surface, play pivotal roles in regulating the carbon, water, and energy cycles. Despite being far less diverse than angiosperms, gymnosperms account for over 50% of the global woody biomass production. To sustain growth and development, gymnosperms have ev...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of molecular sciences 2023-05, Vol.24 (10), p.8624
Main Authors: Nguyen, Thi Thu Tram, Bae, Eun-Kyung, Tran, Thi Ngoc Anh, Lee, Hyoshin, Ko, Jae-Heung
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Angiosperms
Auxins
Carbon
Cell cycle
Cell division
Cold
conifer
Conifers
Cycadopsida - genetics
Cytokinins
DNA methylation
Dormancy
Drought
Earth surface
environment
Environmental conditions
Epigenesis, Genetic
epigenetic
Epigenetic inheritance
Epigenetics
genetic
Gibberellins
gymnosperm
Gymnosperms
Influence
Kinases
Meristems
MicroRNAs
miRNA
Molecular dynamics
Molecular modelling
Photosynthesis
Plant hormones
Precipitation
Rain
Review
season
Seasonal variations
Seasons
Spring (season)
Summer
Temperature
Trees
Trees - physiology
Wood
Xylem
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Summary:Forests, comprising 31% of the Earth's surface, play pivotal roles in regulating the carbon, water, and energy cycles. Despite being far less diverse than angiosperms, gymnosperms account for over 50% of the global woody biomass production. To sustain growth and development, gymnosperms have evolved the capacity to sense and respond to cyclical environmental signals, such as changes in photoperiod and seasonal temperature, which initiate growth (spring and summer) and dormancy (fall and winter). Cambium, the lateral meristem responsible for wood formation, is reactivated through a complex interplay among hormonal, genetic, and epigenetic factors. Temperature signals perceived in early spring induce the synthesis of several phytohormones, including auxins, cytokinins, and gibberellins, which in turn reactivate cambium cells. Additionally, microRNA-mediated genetic and epigenetic pathways modulate cambial function. As a result, the cambium becomes active during the summer, resulting in active secondary xylem (i.e., wood) production, and starts to become inactive in autumn. This review summarizes and discusses recent findings regarding the climatic, hormonal, genetic, and epigenetic regulation of wood formation in gymnosperm trees (i.e., conifers) in response to seasonal changes.
ISSN:1422-0067
1661-6596
1422-0067
DOI:10.3390/ijms24108624