The long-term “in natura” study sites of arabidopsis halleri for plant transcription and epigenetic modification analyses in natural environments

Abstract

The majority of organismal phenomena show functional significance in the context of natural environments. However, we know little about how dynamic gene expression is controlled under natural complex conditions. One of the most attractive challenges in current biology is to understand organismal functions in natural environments. We established and have developed long-term “in natura” study sites of Arabidopsis halleri to evaluate precise control of gene expression in natural environments. At the sites, we monitored meteorological factors, recorded plant growth and phenology, and collected RNA and chromatin samples to investigate dynamics of transcription and epigenetic modifications. Here, we introduce the in natura study sites, especially with the emphasis on methodologies for setting up study sites in natural plant populations and collecting samples used in transcriptomics and epigenetics in natural environments. Although the methods introduced here need to be modified depending on situations of one’s study systems, our case can be a model for planning new in natura studies.