Annuals Converted to Perennials

Annual crops consume all the non-specialized cells in developing their flowers. Thus the appearance of the flower signals the end of the plant. However, now researchers have been able to change two genes and cause an Arabidopsis thaliana to change from an annual to a perennial.

Researchers have been fascinated for a long time by the evolution of herbaceous to woody structures. This research clearly shows only two genes are in fact necessary in this process. This has probably been going on throughout the evolution of plants. Furthermore it is not inconceivable this happened independently on multiple occasions.

VIB researchers at the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, such as Siegbert Melzer in Tom Beeckman?EUR??,,????'?????<

Annual crops grow, blossom and die within one year. Perennials overwinter and grow again the following year. The life strategy of many annuals consists of rapid growth following germination and rapid transition to flower and seed formation, thus preventing the loss of energy needed to create permanent structures. They germinate quickly after the winter so that they come out before other plants, thus eliminating the need to compete for food and light. The trick is basically to make as many seeds as possible in as short a time as possible.

Perennials have more evolved life strategies for surviving in poor conditions. They compose perennial structures such as overwintering buds, bulbs or tubers. These structures contain groups with cells that are not yet specialized, but which can later be converted when required into new organs such as stalks and leaves.