'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。

'Just as mercury rises in a thermometer, the rate at which phytochromes revert to their inactive state during the night is a direct measure of temperature, ' says Wigge.

“就像水银在温度计中升高一样，光敏色素在夜间恢复到非活性状态的速度是温度的直接测量值， ”Wigge 说。

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。

'Recent advances in plant genetics now mean that scientists are able to rapidly identify the genes controlling these processes in crop plants, and even alter their activity using precise molecular" scalpels" , ' adds Wigge.

“植物遗传学的最新进展现在意味着科学家们能够快速识别控制农作物中这些过程的基因，甚至可以使用精确的分子“手术刀” 改变它们的活性， ”Wigge 补充道。