An MRG-mediated chromatin switch operates at the SOC1 gene to modulate abiotic stress responses during the onset of flowering

The mechanisms underlying the precise integration of environmental and developmental signals necessary for plant adaptation to suboptimal environments remain obscure. Here we show that a chromatin switch, mediated by MRG proteins, acts on the floral activator SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CO 1 (SOC1) to coordinate flowering initiation with plant responsiveness to adverse conditions. SOC1 constitutes a central hub in a mechanism that tunes down stress responses likely to optimize plant reproductive success and fitness Overall design: Transcriptomic profiling through RNAseq of Arabidopsis plants grown on soil under long day photoperiod (16h light / 8h dark). Plants were grown at 22°C for 12 days on soil, taking samples at Zeitgeber time (ZT) ZT8. Three libraries were generated using RNA from three independent experiments.