Neurospora crassa - A model system for photoperiodism and circadian rhythm research

The data from this study demonstrates for the first time that
Neurospora crassa, a circadian model organism, has a photoperiodic
clock. The experiments provide the opportunity for further research
on photoperiodism. Evidence of this study supports the external
coincidence hypothesis that photoperiodism shares the same
mechanism with circadian rhythms. The central components of the
Neurospora circadian clock, such as FRQ and WC-1, are also
essential for photoperiodic responses. The dissociation between frq
RNA and FRQ protein in different photoperiods suggests that the
transcriptional/ translational regulation is far complicated. The
shift of the maximum of conidial production compared to
protoperithecia development suggests the different favourite season
for the asexual and sexual reproduction of Neurospora crassa.
However, there is a difference between circadian rhythm and
photoperiodism -- circadian rhythm is endogenous, which remains at
constant conditions (DD or LL); in contrast, photoperiodism
requires external signals – light and darkness. Further research on
photoperiodism of Neurospora must be carried out to study the
gene(s) which is/are critical for photoperiodic responses, the
molecular mechanism of transcriptional/translational regulation of
critical clock components in photoperiods, the generation of the
oscillator, and the mechanism which differentiates many outputs of
photoperiodic responses.