Reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation is required for effective plant defense. Accumulation of the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) NADPH oxidase respiratory burst oxidase homolog D (RBOHD) is regulated by phosphorylation of a conserved C-terminal residue (T912) leading to ubiquitination by the RING E3 ligase Pbl13-interacting RING domain E3 ligase (PIRE). Arabidopsis PIRE knockouts exhibit

The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita is an obligate biotrophic pathogen that causes extensive losses to agriculture worldwide. Effectors secreted by the parasite play an essential role during nematode infection through suppressing plant innate immunity. Here, we identify and characterize a M. incognita effector designated as MiV86, which is secreted into plant cells and positively regulates

The histone acetyltransferase GENERAL CONTROL NON DEREPRESSIBLE5 (GCN5) participates in various developmental processes in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Notably, GCN5 ensures proper flower development, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Here, we show that during early flower development, GCN5 catalyzes histone acetylation at WUSCHEL (WUS) and CLAVATA3 (CLV3) chromatin, activating their

Plant roots dynamically respond to nitrogen availability by executing a signaling and transcriptional cascade resulting in altered plant growth that is optimized for nutrient uptake. The NIN-LIKE PROTEIN 7 (NLP7) transcription factor senses nitrogen and, along with its paralog NLP6, partially coordinates transcriptional responses. While the post-translational regulation of NLP6 and NLP7 is well established

Lipid droplets (LDs) are well integrated into multiple facets of cellular physiology and potentially represent an effective platform for the engineering of heterologous metabolic pathways. LDs of chloroplasts, known as plastoglobules, are critical mediators of stress tolerance through dynamic and reversible changes to morphology and molecular composition, however the dynamics and functional role(s)

Serine functions as both a substrate for protein biosynthesis and a signaling molecule for growth and development. However, the mechanism remains poorly understood. Here, we cloned and functionally characterized the maize (Zea mays) gene Dek20, which encodes phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase1 (PGDH1), the rate-limiting enzyme in the phosphorylated pathway of serine biosynthesis (PPSB). The dek20(Ser282Leu)

G-protein signaling and brassinosteroid (BR) phytohormones play important roles in regulating rice (Oryza sativa) yield-related plant architecture, such as leaf inclination and grain size. However, the relationship between G-proteins and BR signaling has not been fully elucidated in rice. The present study indicates that the G-protein Gγ subunit DENSE AND ERECT PANICLE 1 (DEP1) positively regulates

In oilseeds, energy-rich carbon is stored as triacylglycerols in organelles called lipid droplets (LDs). While several of the major biogenetic proteins involved in LD formation have been identified, the full repertoire of LD proteins and their functional roles remains incomplete. Here, we show that the low-abundance, seed-specific LD protein LIPID DROPLET PROTEIN OF SEEDS (LDPS) contains an amphipathic

Systems biology aims to uncover gene regulatory networks (GRNs) for agricultural traits, but validating them in crops is challenging. We addressed this challenge by learning and validating model-to-crop GRN regulons governing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). First, a fine-scale time-course nitrogen (N) response transcriptome analysis revealed a conserved temporal N response cascade in maize (Zea mays)

Dephosphorylation of spliceosome components is an essential regulatory step for intron removal from pre-mRNA, thereby controlling gene expression. However, the specific phosphatase responsible for this dephosphorylation step has not been identified. Here, we show that Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE 2A B′η (PP2A B′η), a B subunit of PP2A, interacts with the splicing factors PRP18a

Research in Arabidopsis thaliana has a powerful influence on our understanding of gene functions and pathways. However, not everything translates from Arabidopsis to crops and other plants. Here, a group of experts consider instances where translation has been lost and why such translation is not possible or is challenging. First, despite great efforts, floral dip transformation has not succeeded in

Most ferns, unlike all seed plants, are homosporous and produce sexually undifferentiated spores. Sex ratio in many homosporous species is environmentally established by the secretion of antheridiogen from female/hermaphrodite gametophytes. Nearby undetermined gametophytes perceive antheridiogen, which induces male development. In the fern Ceratopteris richardii (Ceratopteris), hermaphroditic (her)

Plants rely on germline-encoded, innate immune receptors to sense pathogens and initiate the defense response. The exponential increase in quality and quantity of genomes, RNA-seq datasets, and protein structures has underscored the incredible biodiversity of plant immunity. Arabidopsis continues to serve as a valuable model and the theoretical foundation of our understanding of wild plant diversity

Quantitative disease resistance (QDR) is an immune response limiting pathogen damage in plants. It involves transcriptomic reprogramming of numerous genes, each having a small contribution to plant immunity. Despite the broad-spectrum nature of QDR, the evolution of its underlying transcriptome reprogramming remains largely uncharacterized. Here, we analyzed global gene expression in response to the

The rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae secretes a battery of effector proteins to facilitate host infection. Among these effectors, Pathogenicity toward Weeping Lovegrass 2 (Pwl2) was originally identified as a host specificity determinant for the infection of weeping lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula) and is also recognized by the barley (Hordeum vulgare) Mla3 resistance protein. However, the biological

Theanine is a core secondary metabolite responsible for the sensory qualities and health benefits of tea. Theanine levels are high in new tea plant (Camellia sinensis) shoots that arise during early spring, but then significantly decrease in late spring, causing a rapid decline in the quality of green tea processed from the late-spring harvest. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this seasonal

Photosynthetic organisms use sunlight as an energy source but rely on respiration during the night and in non-photosynthetic tissues. Respiration also occurs in photosynthetically active cells, where its role is still unclear due to the lack of viable mutants. Mutations abolishing cytochrome c oxidase (complex IV) activity are generally lethal. In this study we generated cytochrome c oxidase assembly

Maintenance of the plant organelle genomes involves factors mostly inherited from their symbiotic ancestors. In bacteria, DNA Polymerase I (Pol I) performs multiple replication and repair functions through its 5’-3’-exonuclease/flap-endonuclease domain. Plant organelles possess two DNA polymerases that are evolutionarily derived from Pol I but lack this key domain. ORGANELLAR EXONUCLEASES 1 and 2 (OEX1

Global climate change has led to unpredictable and frequent high temperatures in summer and autumn, which correlates with an undesired reduction in anthocyanin accumulation in fruit crops. The regulatory mechanisms for high-temperature-repressed anthocyanin synthesis in pear (Pyrus spp.) remain largely unidentified. We found that high-temperature signaling inhibits anthocyanin biosynthesis in pear

The molecular mechanisms underlying wounding-induced tissue and organ regeneration in plants are unclear. Here, we identified a signaling pathway that governs the wound-induced regeneration of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) roots, highlighting a key role for the peptide RAPID ALKALINIZATION FACTOR33 (RALF33) and its receptor FERONIA (FER). Wounding triggers RALF33 accumulation, which promotes root

In this study, we demonstrated that a regulatory module consisting of the SEVEN IN ABSENTIA (SINA) ubiquitin ligase SINA3 and the WUSCHEL homeobox-containing (WOX) transcription factor WOX14 fine-tunes tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) growth and development. Overexpression of SINA3 in tomato (SINA3-OX) resulted in dwarfism due to shortened internodes with smaller cells. SINA3 regulates WOX14 levels through

The polarized actin cable from the Spitzenkörper at the hyphal tip fuels filamentous growth in diverse biphasic fungal pathogens. This multi-component complex, featuring the actin nucleator Bni1 and its associated actin regulator, initiates actin polymerization, guiding biphasic fungal growth and host infection. How dynamic assembly of the Spitzenkörper and actin cable is achieved to support filamentous

Heme is biosynthesized in legume root nodules to meet the demand for leghemoglobins (Lbs) and other heme-binding proteins. However, the main source of nodule heme remains unknown. Both the plant host and rhizobia possess a complete heme biosynthetic pathway, differing slightly in the production of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), a key regulatory step catalyzed by glutamyl-tRNA reductase (GluTR) in the

Plants are essential for life as we know it on Earth. They oxygenate the atmosphere, regulate the climate, and comprise much of the primary producers underpinning complex food systems. In the 1980s, a multinational group of plant scientists chose the small angiosperm- Arabidopsis thaliana- to serve as the model flowering plant for genetic and molecular studies that would be leveraged to produce vast

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a global crop species in which CO2 assimilation occurs via the C4 pathway. C4 photosynthesis is typically more efficient than C3 photosynthesis under warm and dry conditions; however, despite this inherent advantage, considerable variation remains in photosynthetic efficiency for C4 species that could be leveraged to benefit crop performance. Here, we investigate the genetic

Plants have evolved a complex regulatory network to cope with heat stress (HS), which includes microRNAs (miRNAs). However, the roles of the entire miRNA biogenesis machinery in HS responses remain unclear. Here, we show that HS induces the majority of miRNAs primarily through the enhanced nuclear localization of HYPONASTIC LEAVES 1 (HYL1), rather than by upregulating MIR gene transcription in Arabidopsis

Plants use environmental cues to orient organ and plant growth, such as the direction of gravity or the direction, quantity, and quality of light. During the germination of Arabidopsis thaliana seeds in soil, negative gravitropism responses direct hypocotyl elongation such that the seedling can reach the light for photosynthesis and autotrophic growth. Similarly, hypocotyl elongation in the soil also

Water uptake by roots is essential for plant growth and stress acclimation. We previously showed that the XYLEM NAC DOMAIN 1 (XND1) transcription factor negatively regulates root hydraulic conductivity (Lpr) in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Here, we show that XND1 physically interacts with the transcription factor DNA-binding with One Finger 4.6 (DOF4.6). Analyses of loss-of-function mutants

Spindle assembly in vertebrates requires the Aurora kinase, which is targeted to microtubules and activated by TPX2 (Targeting Protein of XKLP2). In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), TPX2-LIKE 3 (TPXL3), but not the highly conserved TPX2, is essential. To test the hypothesis that TPXL3 regulates the function of α Aurora kinase in spindle assembly, we generated transgenic Arabidopsis lines expressing

Summary Genome sequence assemblies form a durable and precise framework that supports nearly all areas of biological research, including evolutionary biology, taxonomy and conservation, pathogen population diversity, crop domestication and biochemistry. In the early days of plant genomics, resources were limited to a handful of tractable genomes, leading to a tension between focus on discovering mechanisms

Photosynthetic organisms coordinate their metabolism and growth with diurnal light, which can range in intensity from limiting to excessive. Little is known about how light intensity impacts the diurnal program in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, nor how diurnal rhythms in gene expression and metabolism shape photoprotective responses at different times of day. To address these questions, we performed a

Faithful chromosome segregation is essential for both mitotic and meiotic cell division. The Anaphase Promoting Complex/Cyclosome (APC/C) and its coactivators are required for meiotic chromosome segregation, but their potential targets and regulatory mechanisms remain unclear in plants. Here, we performed a ubiquitinome analysis and show that Arabidopsis thaliana Aurora 1 (AUR1) is over-ubiquitinated

Iron (Fe) is a vital nutrient for the growth and development of plants. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), the bHLH transcription factor FER-LIKE IRON DEFICIENCY INDUCED TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR (FIT) plays a pivotal role in regulating the response to Fe deficiency. Our study reveals that the R2R3-MYB transcription factor MYB30 is a positive regulator of the Fe-deficiency response by regulating FIT

High-temperature stress hinders seed filling, reducing seed quality and crop yield. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process remain unclear. Here, we identify SAP AND MIZ1 DOMAIN-CONTAINING LIGASE1 (SIZ1) as a key regulator of seed filling under prolonged high temperatures in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). SIZ1 and WRINKLED1 (WRI1) are co-expressed during seed filling, and overexpressing

Despite its low abundance, rhamnogalacturonan-II (RG-II) is an essential structural component of the cell wall and is present in a highly conserved molecular configuration across all plants. RG-II is a branched pectin domain that contains 13 different sugars linked by over 20 different bond types, and uniquely among pectins it can be covalently dimerized via borate diesters. RG-II is hypothesized to

Expansion microscopy (ExM) has revolutionized biological imaging by physically enlarging samples, surpassing the light diffraction limit, and enabling nanoscale visualization using standard microscopes. While extensively employed across a wide range of biological samples, its application to plant tissues is sparse. In this work, we present ROOT-ExM, an expansion method suited for stiff and intricate

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are prevalent in eukaryotic cells and have been linked to disease progressions. Their unique circular structure and stability make them potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Compared to animal models, plant circRNA research is still in its infancy. The lack of effective tools to specifically knock down circRNAs without affecting host gene expression has slowed the progress

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated nuclease (Cas) technologies facilitate routine genome engineering of one or a few genes at a time. However, large-scale CRISPR screens with guide RNA libraries remain challenging in plants. Here, we have developed a comprehensive all-in-one CRISPR toolbox for Cas9-based genome editing, cytosine base editing (CBE),

Chlorophyll biosynthesis must be tightly coupled to light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-binding protein (LHCP) biogenesis, as free chlorophyll and its precursors are phototoxic. However, precisely how these 2 processes are coordinated in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) remains elusive. Our previous studies demonstrated the role of LHCP TRANSLOCATION DEFECT (LTD) in delivering LHCPs to the chloroplast

The molecular basis underlying crop traits is complex, with gene-by-environment interactions (GEIs) affecting phenotypes. However, quantitative trait nucleotide (QTN)-by-environment interactions (QEIs) and GEIs for seed oil content (SOC) in oil crops are rare. Here, we detected 11 environmentally specific and 10 stable additive QTNs and 11 QEIs for SOC in rapeseed (Brassica napus) using genome-wide

Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM) kinase plays a vital role in orchestrating leaf senescence; however, the precise mechanisms remain elusive. Here, our study demonstrates that ATM kinase activity is essential for mitigating age- and reactive oxygen species-induced senescence, as restoration of wild-type ATM reverses premature senescence in the atm mutant, while

The significance of research conducted on Arabidopsis thaliana cannot be overstated. This focus issue showcases how insights from Arabidopsis have opened new areas of biology and directly advanced our understanding of crops. Here, experts intimately involved in bridging between Arabidopsis and crops share their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities for translation. First, we examine the