The study employed ultra large‑scale 2D clinostats to grow tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants beyond the seedling stage under simulated microgravity and upright control conditions across five sequential trials. Simulated microgravity consistently affected plant growth, but the magnitude and direction of the response varied among trials, with temperature identified as a significant co‑variant; moderate heat stress surprisingly enhanced growth under simulated microgravity. These results highlight the utility of large‑scale clinostats for dissecting interactions between environmental factors and simulated microgravity in plant development.

A common garden experiment with six white spruce seed sources was conducted for seven years across two Quebec sites differing in latitude and climate to evaluate local adaptation. Bud set timing, frost tolerance, and non‑structural carbohydrate (NSC) profiles showed strong site, seed source, and interaction effects, with NSC concentrations correlating with cold hardiness and suggesting implications for assisted migration strategies.

The study examines how ectopic accumulation of methionine in Arabidopsis thaliana leaves, driven by a deregulated AtCGS transgene under a seed‑specific promoter, reshapes metabolism, gene expression, and DNA methylation. High‑methionine lines exhibit increased amino acids and sugars, activation of stress‑hormone pathways, and reduced expression of DNA methyltransferases, while low‑methionine lines show heightened non‑CG methylation without major transcriptional changes. Integrated transcriptomic and methylomic analyses reveal a feedback loop linking sulfur‑carbon metabolism, stress adaptation, and epigenetic regulation.

The study investigated metabolic responses of kale (Brassica oleracea) grown under simulated microgravity using a 2-D clinostat versus normal gravity conditions. LC‑MS data were analyzed with multivariate tools such as PCA and volcano plots to identify gravity‑related metabolic adaptations and potential molecular markers for spaceflight crop health.

Using genome‑wide association studies in Arabidopsis thaliana, the authors identified the chromatin‑associated protein CDCA7 as a trans‑regulator that specifically controls CG methylation (mCG) and TE silencing. CDCA7 and its paralog CDCA7β bind the remodeler DDM1, modulating its activity without broadly affecting non‑CG methylation or histone variant deposition, and natural variation in CDCA7 regulatory sequences correlates with local ecological adaptation.

The study compares neutral genetic diversity and adaptive differentiation between old-growth and recently planted Norway spruce (Picea abies) stands in northern Sweden, finding similar overall genetic diversity but stronger local adaptation signals in natural forests. Planted stands exhibit weaker adaptive variation and higher vulnerability to future climate change, underscoring the need to conserve adaptive genetic variation in forest management.

The study shows that the SnRK1 catalytic subunit KIN10 directs tissue-specific growth‑defense programs in Arabidopsis thaliana by reshaping transcriptomes. kin10 knockout mutants exhibit altered root transcription, reduced root growth, and weakened defense against Pseudomonas syringae, whereas KIN10 overexpression activates shoot defense pathways, increasing ROS and salicylic acid signaling at the cost of growth.

A common garden experiment with 320 wild barley (Hordeum vulgare) accessions across two seasons quantified over 30 photophysiological traits, revealing heritable variation and strong genotype-by-environment interactions. Genome-wide association studies and population genetics identified signals of local adaptation, particularly involving stomatal conductance under water limitation, highlighting its role in maintaining photosynthesis and biomass.

A forward genetic screen in the negative photoblastic plant Aethionema arabicum identified a phytochrome A null mutant (koy2) that fails to inhibit seed germination under various light qualities, demonstrating that phytochrome A mediates light‑inhibited germination. The study links natural variation in phytochrome A signaling to local adaptation across the Irano‑Turanian region.

The study performed transcriptome profiling of Cryptomeria japonica individuals from different geographic origins grown in three common gardens across Japan, assembling 77,212 transcripts guided by the species' genome. Using SNP-based genetic clustering and weighted gene co‑expression network analysis, they identified gene modules whose expression correlated with genetic differentiation, revealing that defense‑related genes are up‑regulated in Pacific‑side populations while terpenoid metabolism genes are higher in Sea‑of‑Japan populations, indicating local adaptation via regulatory changes.