Epigenetics and development in plants: green light to convergent innovations.

Plants are sessile organisms that must constantly adjust to their environment. In contrast to animals, plant development mainly occurs postembryonically and is characterized by continuous growth and extensive phenotypic plasticity. Chromatin-level regulation of transcriptional patterns plays a central role in the ability of plants to adapt to internal and external cues. Here, we review selected examples of chromatin-based mechanisms involved in the regulation of key aspects of plant development. These illustrate that, in addition to mechanisms conserved between plants and animals, plant-specific innovations lead to particular chromatin dynamics related to their developmental and life strategies.