Absence of warmth permits epigenetic memory of winter in Arabidopsis

Hepworth, J. et al. (2018) Absence of warmth permits epigenetic memory of winter in Arabidopsis. Nature Communications, 9, 639. (doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-03065-7) (PMID:9434233) (PMCID:PMC5809604)

Abstract

Plants integrate widely fluctuating temperatures to monitor seasonal progression. Here, we investigate the temperature signals in field conditions that result in vernalisation, the mechanism by which flowering is aligned with spring. We find that multiple, distinct aspects of the temperature profile contribute to vernalisation. In autumn, transient cold temperatures promote transcriptional shutdown of Arabidopsis FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), independently of factors conferring epigenetic memory. As winter continues, expression of VERNALIZATION INSENSITIVE3 (VIN3), a factor needed for epigenetic silencing, is upregulated by at least two independent thermosensory processes. One integrates long-term cold temperatures, while the other requires the absence of daily temperatures above 15 °C. The lack of spikes of high temperature, not just prolonged cold, is thus the major driver for vernalisation. Monitoring of peak daily temperature is an effective mechanism to judge seasonal progression, but is likely to have deleterious consequences for vernalisation as the climate becomes more variable.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was funded by the European Research Council grant ‘MEXTIM’, and supported by the BBSRC Institute Strategic Programmes GRO (BB/J004588/1) and GEN (BB/P013511/1).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Antoniou Kourounioti, Dr Rea Laila
• Authors: Hepworth, J., Antoniou-Kourounioti, R. L., Bloomer, R. H., Selga, C., Berggren, K., Cox, D., Collier Harris, B. R., Irwin, J. A., Holm, S., Säll, T., Howard, M., and Dean, C.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Molecular Biosciences
• Journal Name: Nature Communications
• Publisher: Nature Research
• ISSN: 2041-1723
• ISSN (Online): 2041-1723
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © The Author(s) 2018
• First Published: First published in Nature Research 9: 639
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence