Similar chilling response of dormant buds in potato tuber and woody perennials.

This article focuses on the role of chilling in regulating bud endodormancy (ED) in plants, particularly comparing woody perennials and potato tubers as model systems. Bud dormancy is a survival strategy that halts meristem growth during unfavorable conditions, with chilling exposure triggering molecular and physiological changes—such as activation of C-repeat/dehydration responsive element binding (DREB) transcription factors, hormone dynamics (notably abscisic acid, gibberellins, cytokinins, and ethylene), and sugar metabolism—that collectively influence dormancy maintenance and release. The review highlights similarities in chilling responses between potato tuber buds and woody perennial buds, including epigenetic regulation of dormancy-associated MADS-box (DAM) genes and the interplay of carbohydrate signaling and hormonal pathways. It also addresses the impact of climate change, noting that insufficient chilling or heat stress can disrupt dormancy timing, affecting crop yield and storage, with potato tubers serving as a versatile system to study dormancy transitions under varying environmental conditions.