SNI1/NSE5 is a cold-sensitive brake on class II crossovers in Arabidopsis.

SNI1/NSE5 acts as a temperature-sensitive brake on class II crossovers, increasing crossover bias toward subtelomeric regions in Arabidopsis at low temperatures.

• Why it matters: Understanding how environmental factors like temperature influence meiotic recombination is crucial for insights into genetic diversity and crop breeding, yet the mechanisms remain unclear.
• What they did: Using interval assays, genome-wide crossover mapping, and targeted genetics, the study identified a major locus on chromosome 4 containing SNI1, revealing its role in temperature-dependent crossover regulation.
• The result: Reduced SNI1 function shifts crossover landscapes and weakens the cold-induced suppression of class II crossovers, enabling potential manipulation of recombination patterns for plant improvement.