In mammals, cadmium is widely considered as a non-genotoxic carcinogen acting through a methylation-dependent epigenetic mechanism. Here, the effects of Cd treatment on the DNA methylation patten are examined together with its effect on chromatin reconfiguration in Posidonia oceanica. DNA methylation level and pattern were analysed in actively growing organs, under short- (6 h) and long- (2 d or 4 d) term and low (10 mM) and high (50 mM) doses of Cd, through a Methylation-Sensitive Amplification Polymorphism technique and an immunocytological approach, respectively. The expression of one member of the CHROMOMETHYLASE (CMT) family, a DNA methyltransferase, was also assessed by qRT-PCR. Nuclear chromatin ultrastructure was investigated by transmission electron microscopy. Cd treatment induced a DNA hypermethylation, as well as an up-regulation of CMT, indicating that de novo methylation did indeed occur. Moreover, a high dose of Cd led to a progressive heterochromatinization of interphase nuclei and apoptotic figures were also observed after long-term treatment. The data demonstrate that Cd perturbs the DNA methylation status through the involvement of a specific methyltransferase. Such changes are linked to nuclear chromatin reconfiguration likely to establish a new balance of expressed/repressed chromatin. Overall, the data show an epigenetic basis to the mechanism underlying Cd toxicity in plants.

/pdf/in-posidonia-oceanica-cadmium-induces-changes-in-dna-3cu7uj83mr.pdf

In Posidonia oceanica cadmium induces changes in DNA methylation and chromatin patterning

It is well known that increased spring temperatures cause earlier onset dates of leaf unfolding and flowering. However, a temperature increase in winter may be associated with delayed development when species' chilling requirements are not fulfilled. Furthermore, photosensitivity is supposed to interfere with temperature triggers. To date, neither the relative importance nor possible interactions of these three factors have been elucidated. In this study, we present a multispecies climate chamber experiment to test the effects of chilling and photoperiod on the spring phenology of 36 woody species. Several hypotheses regarding their variation with species traits (successional strategy, floristic status, climate of their native range) were tested. Long photoperiods advanced budburst for one-third of the studied species, but magnitudes of these effects were generally minor. In contrast to prior hypotheses, photosensitive responses were not restricted to climax or oceanic species. Increased chilling length advanced budburst for almost all species; its effect greatly exceeding that of photoperiod. Moreover, we suggest that photosensitivity and chilling effects have to be rigorously disentangled, as the response to photoperiod was restricted to individuals that had not been fully chilled. The results indicate that temperature requirements and successional strategy are linked, with climax species having higher chilling and forcing requirements than pioneer species. Temperature requirements of invasive species closely matched those of native species, suggesting that high phenological concordance is a prerequisite for successful establishment. Lack of chilling not only led to a considerable delay in budburst but also caused substantial changes in the chronological order of species' budburst. The results reveal that increased winter temperatures might impact forest ecosystems more than formerly assumed. Species with lower chilling requirements, such as pioneer or invasive species, might profit from warming winters, if late spring frost events would in parallel occur earlier.

Chilling outweighs photoperiod in preventing precocious spring development.

Leaf senescence in winter deciduous species signals the transition from the active to the dormant stage The purpose of leaf senescence is the recovery of nutrients before the leaves fall Photoperiod and temperature are the main cues controlling leaf senescence in winter deciduous species, with water stress imposing an additional influence Photoperiod exerts a strict control on leaf senescence at latitudes where winters are severe and temperature gains importance in the regulation as winters become less severe On average, climatic warming will delay and drought will advance leaf senescence, but at varying degrees depending on the species Warming and drought thus have opposite effects on the phenology of leaf senescence, and the impact of climate change will therefore depend on the relative importance of each factor in specific regions Warming is not expected to have a strong impact on nutrient proficiency although a slower speed of leaf senescence induced by warming could facilitate a more efficient nutrient resorption Nutrient resorption is less efficient when the leaves senesce prematurely as a consequence of water stress The overall effects of climate change on nutrient resorption will depend on the contrasting effects of warming and drought Changes in nutrient resorption and proficiency will impact production in the following year, at least in early spring, because the construction of new foliage relies almost exclusively on nutrients resorbed from foliage during the preceding leaf fall Changes in the phenology of leaf senescence will thus impact carbon uptake, but also ecosystem nutrient cycling, especially if the changes are consequence of water stress

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/gcb.12804

Alteration of the phenology of leaf senescence and fall in winter deciduous species by climate change: effects on nutrient proficiency

Climate change impacts on winter chill for temperate fruit and nut production: A review

Many fruit and nut trees must fulfill a chilling requirement to break their winter dormancy and resume normal growth in spring. Several models exist for quantifying winter chill, and growers and researchers often tacitly assume that the choice of model is not important and estimates of species chilling requirements are valid across growing regions. To test this assumption, Safe Winter Chill (the amount of winter chill that is exceeded in 90% of years) was calculated for 5,078 weather stations around the world, using the Dynamic Model [in Chill Portions (CP)], the Chilling Hours (CH) Model and the Utah Model [Utah Chill Units (UCU)]. Distributions of the ratios between different winter chill metrics were mapped on a global scale. These ratios should be constant if the models were strictly proportional. Ratios between winter chill metrics varied substantially, with the CH/CP ratio ranging between 0 and 34, the UCU/CP ratio between −155 and +20 and the UCU/CH ratio between −10 and +5. The models are thus not proportional, and chilling requirements determined in a given location may not be valid elsewhere. The Utah Model produced negative winter chill totals in many Subtropical regions, where it does not seem to be useful. Mean annual temperature and daily temperature range influenced all winter chill ratios, but explained only between 12 and 27% of the variation. Data on chilling requirements should always be amended with information on the location and experimental conditions of the study in which they were determined, ideally including site-specific conversion factors between winter chill models. This would greatly facilitate the transfer of such information across growing regions, and help prepare growers for the impact of climate change.

/pdf/a-global-analysis-of-the-comparability-of-winter-chill-1rq9pezk64.pdf

A global analysis of the comparability of winter chill models for fruit and nut trees.

Contributing to the knowledge of the fertilisation process in four apricot cultivars

Penta and Tardona: two new extra-late flowering self-compatible almond cultivars.

The Dynamic model has been described as one of the most accurate models to quantify chill accumulation based on hourly temperatures in nuts and temperate fruits. This model considers that a dynamic process occurs at a biochemical level that determines the endodormancy breaking through the accumulation of the so-called portions. The kinetic parameters present in the model should reflect how the fruit trees integrate chilling exposure and thus they should be characteristic for each species. However, the original parameter values, reported in the late 1980s, are still being used. Even if the use of such parameter values is useful to compare among chilling requirements (CRs) for different species or cultivars, it is not the optimal choice when one intends to explain the CR variations in different years for a given cultivar. In this work we propose a data-based model calibration that makes use of phenological data for different apricot cultivars within different years to obtain model parameters, which minimize the variations among years and that have, at the same time, physical meaning to characterize the incumbent species. Results reveal that the estimation not only reduces the accumulated portion dispersion within the considered time periods but also allows to improve the CR predictions for subsequent years. We propose a set of model parameter values to predict endodormancy breaking dates in the apricot cultivars studied here.

Reducing the uncertainty on chilling requirements for endodormancy breaking of temperate fruits by data-based parameter estimation of the dynamic model: a test case in apricot.

A major varietal renewal process is currently underway in apricot species in order to satisfy consumer and industry demands. Consumers appreciate the beauty and aromatic flavour of high-quality apricots, those with an orange ground colour, intense red blush, orange and juicy flesh and high organoleptic qualities. Other criteria, such as size, resistance to manipulation and good conservation aptitude, are taken into account in particular by the apricot industry. An apricot breeding programme has been developed at CEBAS-CSIC (Murcia, Spain) since the early nineties. Nine new cultivars have been released and registered in the last five years: 'Rojo Pasion', 'Selene', Murciana', 'Dorada', 'toni', 'Estrella', 'Sublime', 'Maravilla' and 'Rosa', which respond to a large extent to the above-cited market needs. They are low-to-medium chilling requirement cultivars for blooming, with a high level of productivity and early period of maturity (from 10 th May to 10 June) with the exception of 'Dorada' (around 25 th June). High organoleptic quality, attractiveness, resistance to manipulation, good postharvest behaviour, aptitude for canning and Sharka (PPV) resistance are among the main characteristics of the new cultivars. These positive characteristics mean that the nine new apricot cultivars will play an important role in the varietal renewal process in Spain.

J. Egea

Papers

Contributing to the knowledge of the fertilisation process in four apricot cultivars

Penta and Tardona: two new extra-late flowering self-compatible almond cultivars.

Reducing the uncertainty on chilling requirements for endodormancy breaking of temperate fruits by data-based parameter estimation of the dynamic model: a test case in apricot.

New apricot cultivars from CEBAS-CSIC (Murcia, Spain) breeding programme.

Chilling requirements of apricot varieties