perennial-plants
Perennial plants are species that live for more than two years, persisting through multiple growing seasons rather than completing their life cycle within one or two years like annuals and biennials. Their longevity makes them central to research in plant physiology, evolutionary ecology, and stress adaptation, as scientists investigate the mechanisms that allow them to survive dormancy, harsh winters, and repeated environmental pressures. Understanding perennial growth strategies also informs crop development efforts aimed at creating long-lived food plants that require less replanting and can build deeper root systems over time.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-04-01
Scientists used gene-editing to discover how two key genes control when and where a perennial alpine plant flowers, revealing that the same genetic pathway plays surprisingly different roles depending on which branch of the plant is growing.
Knocking out the CONSTANS gene delayed flowering under long days but still allowed side branches to flower, while knocking out FT/TSFL genes blocked flowering on side branches entirely.
Both genes are required together for the plant to form inflorescence branches and flowers on its main shoot under long-day conditions.
After cold exposure (vernalization), plants missing FT/TSFL could still produce a few flowers, suggesting a secondary pathway partially compensates for the loss of these genes.
