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Updated: Feb 3, 2026

Author Spotlight: In Vitro Investigations of Circadian Rhythms in Multicellular Systems
Published on: February 16, 2024
Daily humidity oscillation regulates the circadian clock to influence plant physiology
Musoki Mwimba1,2, Sargis Karapetyan2,3, Lijing Liu1,2
1Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
Abstract:
Early circadian studies in plants by de Mairan and de Candolle alluded to a regulation of circadian clocks by humidity. However, this regulation has not been described in detail, nor has its influence on physiology been demonstrated. Here we report that, under constant light, circadian humidity oscillation can entrain the plant circadian clock to a period of 24 h probably through the induction of clock genes such as CIRCADIAN CLOCK ASSOCIATED 1. Under simulated natural light and humidity cycles, humidity oscillation increases the amplitude of the circadian clock and further improves plant fitness-related traits. In addition, humidity oscillation enhances effector-triggered immunity at night possibly to counter increased pathogen virulence under high humidity. These results indicate that the humidity oscillation regulates specific circadian outputs besides those co-regulated with the light-dark cycle.
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