Whether the effects on stomatal density/photosynthesis and flowering are related or independent effects is not yet known. Photosynthetic rates control starch reserves and these in turn could affect C/N ratios and thereby flowering. PD 150606 SlERF36 has recently been shown to actively repress the ethylene responsive GCC box in vitro. The net effect of such a function would be to reduce ethylene responses. In this context, it is interesting to note that recent microarray studies in SlERF36 expressing plants, although not conclusive, showed reduction in transcript levels of AtERF1, AtERF2 and AtMKK9, suggesting a reduction in ethylene responses. The net effect of a reduction in ethylene responses would be an increase in cell size since ethylene is known to repress cell elongation. Ethylene is also known to delay flowering. Both these effects of increased cell size and early flowering, possibly indicative of reduced ethylene responses, are seen in transgenic SlERF36 over-expressing lines. However, more detailed studies especially through loss of SlERF36 function lines are required to get at a causal relationship between SlERF36, ethylene responses and the early flowering. In conclusion, we demonstrate that the EAR motif of SIERF36 is most likely CR8 responsible for the strong early flowering phenotype and a reduction in stomatal density and photosynthesis that is common to both Arabidopsis and tobacco when SlERF36 is overexpressed. The indication that this motif may also directly or indirectly control the expression of FT, although not studied in detail as yet by us, adds a new dimension to the complex pathways by which flowering is controlled in plants. Archaea belong to the second domain of Prokarya and their phylogenetic distance to Bacteria and Eukarya is reflected by genetic as well as structural differences. Members of the domain archaea are ubiquitous and exist in a broad variety of habitats ranging from environments with temperatures above 100uC or with very high salinity to ecosystems with mild growth conditions such as sewages, the oceans and soils. Since archaea were originally described to occur only in extreme environments, their potential impact in the ecosystem of eukaryotes regarding physiology or pathogenicity was not considered for many years. However, members of the archaea have currently been shown to appear frequently and in high numbers as part of the commensal microbiota found in insects, and mammals including humans.