DECREASED IN DNA METHYLATION 1 (DDM1) is a chromatin remodeler that regulates nucleosome organization and facilitates access of DNA methyltransferases to heterochromatic regions enriched in transposable elements (TEs), contributing to DNA methylation, TE silencing, and genome stability. In plants, CHH methylation is established and maintained through distinct pathways operating in different chromatin contexts: CHROMOMETHYLASE 2 […]
Nitrogen and phosphorus are essential macronutrients for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth and development, and phosphorus deficiency is often associated with purple pigmentation in leaves due to anthocyanin accumulation. For farmers and growers, this pigmentation can be read as a sign of phosphorus deficiency. A recent study by Zhang et al. found that contrasting leaf […]
Directed evolution aims to identify variants of a gene of interest (GOI) with improved or novel functions by accelerating mutation and selection under experimental conditions. However, in planta platforms have been hindered by slow plant cell division. Recently, Zhu et al. introduced the geminivirus replicon–assisted in planta directed evolution (GRAPE) platform, enabling rapid improvement or […]