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Circadian entrainment to environmental cues in a natural plant population

Paajanen, P.; Muranaka, T.; de Barros Dantas, L. L.; Panter, P. E.; Yumoto, G.; Honjo, M. N.; Kudoh, H.; Dodd, A.

2026-01-24 plant biology
10.64898/2026.01.23.701304 bioRxiv
Show abstract

Circadian clocks coordinate physiology, development and behaviour with cycles of day and night, which contributes to organismal fitness. For this to occur, it is crucial that the circadian clock is aligned with the natural fluctuations of environmental conditions. Here, we investigated under natural conditions the role of environmental cues in adjusting the circadian clock, and how this affects clock outputs. By combining novel field-based experimentation in a natural plant population with genome-wide analysis and machine-learning strategies for data interpretation, we find that temperature cues change circadian timing. We identify unbalanced effects of light and temperature in the entrainment of circadian clock components, and seasonal changes in the effects of temperature and light cues upon circadian entrainment. We also identified extensive circadian modulation of temperature responses under field conditions. Therefore, plasticity of circadian timing under natural conditions allows flexible responses of both the clock and its outputs to environmental stimuli.

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