A DEMETER-like DNA demethylase governs tomato fruit ripening

This work shows that active DNA demethylation governs ripening, an important plant developmental process. Our work defines a molecular mechanism, which has until now been missing, to explain the correlation between genomic DNA demethylation and fruit ripening. It demonstrates a direct cause-and-effect relationship between active DNA demethylation and induction of gene expression in fruits. The importance of these findings goes far beyond understanding the developmental biology of ripening and provides an innovative strategy for its fine control through fine modulation of epimarks in the promoters of ripening related genes. Our results have significant application for plant breeding especially in species with limited available genetic variation.