Using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in wild-type and mutant Arabidopsis, we characterize a novel mechanism associated with the de novo establishment of heritable epigenetic marks in plants. Once established by this novel mechanism, the epigenetic mark is then reinforced by the previously characterized PolIV pathway of RNA-directed DNA methylation. A similar transition from the novel mechanism to the PolIV pathway is likely to explain many epigenetic phenomena in which RNA-directed DNA methylation is established de novo, including transposon silencing and paramutation.

DNA methylation, a chemical mark on chromatin, while not affecting DNA's primary sequence, plays important roles in silencing “bad DNA” that would become deleterious to cells if abnormally expressed. This DNA methylation-mediated silencing system against bad DNA is tightly regulated to prevent the misplacement of methylation on “good DNA.” In Arabidopsis thaliana,

Daily rhythms of gene expression ensure that biological processes occur at the optimal time of day. In plants, temporally regulated processes include traits of ecological and agricultural importance, and understanding how changes in daily rhythms of expression modify such traits has broad implications

Using leaf osmotic potential and plant survival rate as chilling‑tolerant trait indices, we iden‑ tified two major quantitative trait loci qLOP2 and qPSR2‑1 (39.3‑kb region) and Os02g0677300 as the cold‑inducible gene for these loci

5-Hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) is an intermediate in active demethylation in metazoans, as well as a potentially stable epigenetic mark. Previous reports investigating 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in plants have reached conflicting conclusions. We systematically investigated whether 5-hmC is present in plant DNA using a range of methods. Using the model organism Arabidopsis thaliana, in addition to other plant species, we assayed the amount or distribution of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine by thin-layer chromatography

The emergence of human infection with a novel H7N9 avian influenza reassortant in China raises a pandemic concern. However, it is not fully understood how these H9N2 chicken viruses facilitated the genesis of the novel H7N9 viruses. Here we show that a “fittest” genotype (G57) emerged with changed antigenicity and improved adaptability in chickens. It became predominant in vaccinated farm chickens and caused widespread outbreaks before the H7N9 virus emergence

Climate and ecosystem changes in the Northeast Pacific decoupled primary and export productivity and organic carbon burial during climate warming of the last deglaciation. These findings challenge and clarify the meaning of paleoceanographic proxies of productivity and provide key constraints for modeling of the ocean’s biological pump as a potential carbon feedback mechanism associated with large-scale climate change. To our knowledge, this is the first clear demonstration that primary productivity, export productivity, and carbon burial are significantly decoupled under scenarios of large-scale climate change.

Researchers from University of Adelaide and Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences conducted a study which aims to improve soybean crop. They identified the gene necessary to enhance salt tolerance in soybean. By examining the gene sequences in different soybean varieties, they were able to identify and closely analyze GmSALT3. GmSALT3 is a salt tolerance gene in chromosome 3.

Drought stress induces the accumulation of the plant stress hormone abscisic acid (ABA). ABA then quickly activates the protein kinase OST1/SnRK2.6 to phosphorylate a number of proteins in guard cells, resulting in stomatal closure to reduce transpirational water loss. How SnRK2.6 is deactivated and how ABA signaling may be desensitized are unclear. This study found that nitric oxide (NO) resulting from ABA signaling causes S-nitrosylation of SnRK2.6 at a cysteine residue close to the kinase catalytic site, which blocks the kinase activity.

Banana is a climacteric fruit and has an ethylene dependent ripening. This makes postharvest ripening fast, shortening its postharvest life and resulting in huge losses. To better understand the mechanism of ripening, Mehar H. Asif and Prabodh K. Trivedi from the National Botanical Research Institute, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research in India,