aBIOTECHOct 6, 2026

Daily light-driven internal clocks control leaf movement in peanut by regulating transport systems

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Oct 7, 2026

Abstract

Leaves of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) exhibit distinct nyctinastic behavior under normal light/dark cycles but this behavior is suppressed under continuous light.

Nyctinasty helps optimize photosynthesis, conserve water, and reduce pathogen susceptibility in legumes.
Transcriptome analysis revealed that light- and circadian-related genes have rhythmic expression patterns in peanuts.
Key genes identified include light-responsive SWEET and aquaporin genes with specific expression in different tissues.
A MYB transcription factor gene enriched in the pulvinus also plays a role in this process.
Photoreceptors and the circadian clock may coordinate the expression of transporter and regulatory genes involved in nyctinasty.

Simplified

The nightly closure or downward folding of leaves, a process known as sleep movement or nyctinasty, is a widespread phenomenon in legumes that helps optimize photosynthesis, conserve water, and reduce pathogen susceptibility. Although the physical process has been well characterized, the molecular regulation of nyctinasty remains poorly understood. Here, we combined temporal transcriptome profiling, photoperiod manipulation, and tissue-specific gene expression analysis to dissect the regulatory network in peanut (Arachis hypogaea) during nyctinastic leaf movement. Under normal light/dark cycles, leaves displayed distinct nyctinastic behavior, which was suppressed under continuous light, underscoring the importance of photoperiod for this process. Transcriptome analysis identified conserved light- and circadian-related genes exhibiting rhythmic expression patterns. Key candidates included light-responsive SWEET and aquaporin genes with distinct tissue-specific expression patterns, along with a pulvinus-enriched MYB transcription factor gene. Promoter-binding and reporter assays supported transcriptional links between circadian/light-signaling components and these candidate downstream genes. Together, these findings support a working model in which photoreceptors and the circadian clock coordinate the expression of transporter and regulatory genes, which may contribute to nyctinastic leaf movement in peanut. These findings provide a molecular framework for future functional investigations of nyctinasty in legumes.

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Daily light-driven internal clocks control leaf movement in peanut by regulating transport systems

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