Molecular regulation of bud dormancy in perennial plants

Bud dormancy is an essential strategy for perennial plants to resist unsuitable growth environments, which is of great significance for the survival and reproduction of plants. Short days and low temperature are two of the most crucial environmental cues of bud dormancy; correspondingly, perennial plants are categorized into photoperiod-sensitive plants represented by poplars ( Populus spp.), and temperature-sensitive plants represented by pear and peach. The existing evidence indicates significant differences in dormancy regulation between the two types of plants; nevertheless, similarities also be found and the key regulators of floral induction play essential roles in dormancy. Based on the latest findings, this review summarizes the genetic regulatory network mediating the control of bud dormancy of perennial plants from three stages, dormancy induction, endodormancy, and dormancy release. Hopefully, this work will contribute to exploring effective signal transduction pathways and critical target genes of environmental factors regulating bud dormancy, and provide a theoretical basis for further use of genetic engineering and environmental treatment to control the annual growth of perennials.