In their active state, phytochrome molecules bind themselves to DNA to restrict plant growth.

在其活跃状态下，光敏色素分子将自身与 DNA 结合以限制植物生长。

'Light-driven changes to phytochrome activity occur very fast, in less than a second, ' says Wigge.

“光敏色素活性的光驱动变化发生得非常快，不到一秒钟，”Wigge 说。

Wigge believes phytochrome thermo-sensing evolved at a later stage, and co-opted the biological network already used for light-based growth during the downtime of night.

Wigge 认为光敏色素热感应是在较晚的阶段进化而来的，并且在夜间停工期间采用了已经用于光基生长的生物网络。

Wigge explains: 'Oak trees rely much more on temperature, likely using phytochromes as thermometers to dictate development, whereas ash trees rely on measuring day length to determine their seasonal timing.

Wigge 解释说：“橡树更依赖于温度，可能使用光敏色素作为温度计来指示发育，而白蜡树则依靠测量日长来确定它们的季节时间。

The work was done in a model system, using a mustard plant called Arabidopsis, but Wigge says the phytochrome genes necessary for temperature sensing are found in crop plants as well.

这项工作是在一个模型系统中完成的，使用了一种叫做拟南芥的芥菜植物，但 Wigge 说， 在农作物中也发现了温度感应所必需的光敏色素基因。