Seasonal shifts in dormancy status, carbohydrate metabolism, and related gene expression in crown buds of leafy spurge

<jats:title>ABSTRACT</jats:title><jats:p>Crown buds of field‐grown leafy spurge (<jats:italic>Euphorbia esula</jats:italic> L.) were examined to determine relationships between carbohydrate metabolism and gene expression throughout para‐, endo‐, and eco‐dormancy during the transition from summer, autumn, and winter, respectively. The data indicates that endo‐dormancy plays a role in preventing new shoot growth during the transition from autumn to winter. Cold temperature was involved in breaking endo‐dormancy, inducing flowering competence, and inhibiting shoot growth. An inverse relationship developed between starch and soluble sugar (mainly sucrose) content in buds during the shift from para‐ to endo‐dormancy, which continued through eco‐dormancy. Unlike starch content, soluble sugars were lowest in crown buds during para‐dormancy but increased over two‐ to three‐fold during the transition to endo‐dormancy. Several genes (<jats:italic>AGPase</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>HK</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>SPS</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>SuSy</jats:italic>, and <jats:italic>UGPase</jats:italic>) coding for proteins involved in sugar metabolism were differentially regulated in conjunction with well‐defined phases of dormancy in crown buds. Marker genes for S‐phase progression, cell wall biochemistry, or responsive to auxin were also differentially regulated during transition from para‐, endo‐, and eco‐dormancy. The results were used to develop a model showing potential signalling pathways involved in regulating seasonal dormancy status in leafy spurge crown buds.</jats:p>