Intra-Specific Variation in Desiccation Tolerance of (L.) Seeds under Different Environmental Conditions in China.

Intra-specific variation in seed storage behaviour observed in several species has been related to different maternal environments. However, the particular environmental conditions and molecular processes involved in intra-specific variation of desiccation tolerance remain unclear. We chose for the present study due to its known variability in desiccation tolerance amongst seed lots.

How do we transport plant species with desiccation-sensitive germplasm in space?

Many useful plant species with potential for plant-based bioregenerative life support systems produce extremophile seeds with tolerance to multiple stressors, including desiccation, which allows for their transport through space in a dried state. However, other valuable species produce desiccation-sensitive seeds or are propagated clonally, and life sciences research in space has not yet addressed the challenge of alternative transport methods in microgravity for such material. Although liquid nitrogen storage is used on Earth for desiccation-sensitive germplasm, it poses atmospheric leakage problems to crewed spacecraft and therefore liquid nitrogen-free cryogenic freezing could be an alternative.

Global DNA methylation and cellular 5-methylcytosine and H4 acetylated patterns in primary and secondary dormant seeds of Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. (shepherd's purse).

Despite the importance of dormancy and dormancy cycling for plants' fitness and life cycle phenology, a comprehensive characterization of the global and cellular epigenetic patterns across space and time in different seed dormancy states is lacking. Using Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik.

DNA mismatch repair preferentially protects genes from mutation.

Mutation is the source of genetic variation and fuels biological evolution. Many mutations first arise as DNA replication errors. These errors subsequently evade correction by cellular DNA repair, for example, by the well-known DNA mismatch repair (MMR) mechanism.

Genomic Rearrangements in Considered as Quantitative Traits.

To understand the population genetics of structural variants and their effects on phenotypes, we developed an approach to mapping structural variants that segregate in a population sequenced at low coverage. We avoid calling structural variants directly. Instead, the evidence for a potential structural variant at a locus is indicated by variation in the counts of short-reads that map anomalously to that locus.

Dry seeds and environmental extremes: consequences for seed lifespan and germination.

In the context of climate change, food security and long-term human space missions, it is important to understand which species produce seeds that can tolerate extreme environmental conditions. Here we consider dry seed survival of extreme conditions encountered in both natural and artificially controlled environments. Considerable overlap exists between the two: for example, ultra-dry and anoxic conditions can be artificially imposed during seed storage and also occur naturally in the vacuum of space environments.

Overexpressing the Multiple-Stress Responsive Gene At1g74450 Reduces Plant Height and Male Fertility in Arabidopsis thaliana.

A subset of genes in Arabidopsis thaliana is known to be up-regulated in response to a wide range of different environmental stress factors. However, not all of these genes are characterized as yet with respect to their functions. In this study, we used transgenic knockout, overexpression and reporter gene approaches to try to elucidate the biological roles of five unknown multiple-stress responsive genes in Arabidopsis.

ROS-mediated vascular homeostatic control of root-to-shoot soil Na delivery in Arabidopsis.

Sodium (Na) is ubiquitous in soils, and is transported to plant shoots via transpiration through xylem elements in the vascular tissue. However, excess Na is damaging. Accordingly, control of xylem-sap Na concentration is important for maintenance of shoot Na homeostasis, especially under Na stress conditions.

Growth performance and root transcriptome remodeling of Arabidopsis in response to Mars-like levels of magnesium sulfate.

Background: Martian regolith (unconsolidated surface material) is a potential medium for plant growth in bioregenerative life support systems during manned missions on Mars. However, hydrated magnesium sulfate mineral levels in the regolith of Mars can reach as high as 10 wt%, and would be expected to be highly inhibitory to plant growth.

Methodology And Principal Findings: Disabling ion transporters AtMRS2-10 and AtSULTR1;2, which are plasma membrane localized in peripheral root cells, is not an effective way to confer tolerance to magnesium sulfate soils.