HISTONE DEACETYLASE 9 stimulates auxin-dependent thermomorphogenesis in by mediating H2A.Z depletion.

Many plant species respond to unfavorable high ambient temperatures by adjusting their vegetative body plan to facilitate cooling. This process is known as thermomorphogenesis and is induced by the phytohormone auxin. Here, we demonstrate that the chromatin-modifying enzyme HISTONE DEACETYLASE 9 (HDA9) mediates thermomorphogenesis but does not interfere with hypocotyl elongation during shade avoidance.

Splicing-related genes are alternatively spliced upon changes in ambient temperatures in plants.

Plants adjust their development and architecture to small variations in ambient temperature. In a time in which temperatures are rising world-wide, the mechanism by which plants are able to sense temperature fluctuations and adapt to it, is becoming of special interest. By performing RNA-sequencing on two Arabidopsis accession and one Brassica species exposed to temperature alterations, we showed that alternative splicing is an important mechanism in ambient temperature sensing and adaptation.

High temperature acclimation through PIF4 signaling.

Ambient temperature has direct consequences for plant functioning. Many plant species are able to adjust reproductive timing and development to optimize fitness to changes in ambient temperatures. Understanding the molecular networks of how plants cope with high temperatures is essential to counteract the effects of global warming and to secure future crop productivity.

ERECTA controls low light intensity-induced differential petiole growth independent of phytochrome B and cryptochrome 2 action in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Plants can respond quickly and profoundly to changes in their environment. Several species, including Arabidopsis thaliana, are capable of differential petiole growth driven upward leaf movement (hyponastic growth) to escape from detrimental environmental conditions. Recently, we demonstrated that the leucine-rich repeat receptor-like Ser/Thr kinase gene ERECTA, explains a major effect Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) for ethylene-induced hyponastic growth in Arabidopsis.

Ethylene-induced hyponastic growth in Arabidopsis thaliana is controlled by ERECTA.

Plants can respond quickly and profoundly to detrimental changes in their environment. For example, Arabidopsis thaliana can induce an upward leaf movement response through differential petiole growth (hyponastic growth) to outgrow complete submergence. This response is induced by accumulation of the phytohormone ethylene in the plant.

The many functions of ERECTA.

The Arabidopsis thaliana accession Landsberg erecta contains an induced mutation in the leucine-rich repeat receptor-like Ser/Thr kinase gene ERECTA. Landsberg erecta is commonly used as a genetic background in mutant screens and in natural variation studies. Therefore, the erecta mutation is present in many loss-of-function mutants and recombinant inbred lines.

MYB72 is required in early signaling steps of rhizobacteria-induced systemic resistance in Arabidopsis.

Colonization of Arabidopsis thaliana roots by nonpathogenic Pseudomonas fluorescens WCS417r bacteria triggers a jasmonate/ethylene-dependent induced systemic resistance (ISR) that is effective against a broad range of pathogens. Microarray analysis revealed that the R2R3-MYB-like transcription factor gene MYB72 is specifically activated in the roots upon colonization by WCS417r. Here, we show that T-DNA knockout mutants myb72-1 and myb72-2 are incapable of mounting ISR against the pathogens Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato, Hyaloperonospora parasitica, Alternaria brassicicola, and Botrytis cinerea, indicating that MYB72 is essential to establish broad-spectrum ISR.