Thermal-responsive genetic and epigenetic regulation of cluster controlling dormancy and chilling requirement in peach floral buds.

The () gene cluster in peach serves as a key regulatory hub on which the seasonal temperatures act and orchestrate dormancy onset and exit, chilling response and floral bud developmental pace. Yet, how different temperature regimes interact with and regulate the six linked genes remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that chilling downregulates in dormant floral buds with distinct patterns and identify as the most abundantly expressed one.