Annual Plant Reviews, Endogenous Plant Rhythms

Book excerpt: Our knowledge of the circadian clock in plants has advancedconsiderably in recent years and we now have a clearer view of thebiochemical processes making up its mechanism. Recent work providesinsight into the central role played by the circadian system in theregulation of many aspects of metabolism. The multiple systemsinvolved in photoreception have been determined, leading to anunderstanding of how light entrains the internal biological clockto the natural cycle of day and night, and how this impacts on keyevents in the plant lifecycle, such as the photoperiodic regulationof flowering. This book provides a contemporary overview of endogenous plantrhythms for researchers and professionals in the plant sciences. Itwill also serve as a valuable source of reference for the widercircadian community.