Foliar dewdroplet–induced redox cascades promote early flowering in <i>Brassicaceae</i> plants

Y Yu Zheng B Bolei Chen (Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effect, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences) C Chun Bao (Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University) Y Yu Xia C Changli Zeng (Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University) M Maoyong Song (Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effect, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences) J Jianbo Shi (State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences) L Ligang Hu (State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences) Y Yongguang Yin (Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effect, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences) X Xiaoyun Cui (Institute of Plant Science Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay) J Juline Auverlot (Laboratoire Génome et Développement des Plantes, CNRS, Université Perpignan) J Jean-Philippe Reichheld (Laboratoire Génome et Développement des Plantes, CNRS, Université Perpignan) G Guibin Jiang (State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences) Y Yong Liang D Daoxiu Zhou (Institute of Plant Science Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay) R Richard N. Zare (Stanford University , , , ,)

Abstract

Atmospheric water inputs such as dew are often overlooked in plant biology. We show that foliar dewdrops act as biochemical microreactors that trigger flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana , a small plant from the mustard family ( Brassicaceae ). These droplets generate reactive oxygen species that induce intracellular nitric oxide accumulation, initiating a redox cascade that suppresses the biosynthesis of abscisic acid, which contributes to the regulation of flowering time. This occurs via S-nitrosylation-mediated activation of histone deacetylase 19, which silences AAO3 and ABA2 . Analysis of over 12 million field records across the Brassicaceae family reveals a global correlation between dew point temperature and flowering time. These findings identify dewdrop chemistry as an unrecognized environmental cue that regulates developmental timing in plants.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 123, Issue 8
Published February 24, 2026
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (16)

Y

Yu Zheng

B

Bolei Chen

Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effect, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences

C

Chun Bao

Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University

Y

Yu Xia

C

Changli Zeng

Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University

M

Maoyong Song

Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effect, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences

J

Jianbo Shi

State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences

L

Ligang Hu

State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Y

Yongguang Yin

Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effect, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences

X

Xiaoyun Cui

Institute of Plant Science Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay

J

Juline Auverlot

Laboratoire Génome et Développement des Plantes, CNRS, Université Perpignan

J

Jean-Philippe Reichheld

Laboratoire Génome et Développement des Plantes, CNRS, Université Perpignan

G

Guibin Jiang

State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences

Y

Yong Liang

D

Daoxiu Zhou

Institute of Plant Science Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay

R

Richard N. Zare

Stanford University , , , ,