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Authors: Sara Hailemariam, Chao-Jan Liao and Tesfaye Mengiste.
Trends in Plant Science (2024)
Highlights: Receptor-like cytoplasmic kinases (RLCKs) have become major players in plant immunity regardless of the pathways involved. RLCKs form regulatory nodes that link receptors to downstream regulators that modulate plant hormones, Ca2+ signaling, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation as well as activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), transcription regulators, and immune gene expression. Phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and other post-translational modifications by effectors regulate RLCKs, enabling functional versatility and homeostasis. As major integrators of signals from receptors, RLCKs are potential targets for biotechnological applications. RLCKs play pivotal roles in plant immunity by contributing to both PTI and ETI. Due to their critical functions, these kinases are targets for manipulation by pathogen effectors to attenuate PTI. RLCKs also directly or indirectly recognize effectors and activate ETI. The function of RLCKs in crop plant immunity is emerging.
Abstract: "The receptor-like kinase (RLK) family of receptors and the associated receptor-like cytoplasmic kinases (RLCKs) have expanded in plants because of selective pressure from environmental stress and evolving pathogens. RLCKs link pathogen perception to activation of coping mechanisms. RLK–RLCK modules regulate hormone synthesis and responses, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, Ca2+ signaling, activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and immune gene expression, all of which contribute to immunity. Some RLCKs integrate responses from multiple receptors recognizing distinct ligands. RLKs/RLCKs and nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich repeats (NLRs) were found to synergize, demonstrating the intertwined genetic network in plant immunity. Studies in arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) have provided paradigms about RLCK functions, but a lack of understanding of crop RLCKs undermines their application. In this review, we summarize current understanding of the diverse functions of RLCKs, based on model systems and observations in crop species, and the emerging role of RLCKs in pathogen and abiotic stress response signaling."
Authors: Craig L. Cowling, Arielle L. Homayouni, Jodi B. Callwood , Maxwell R. McReynolds, Jasper Khor, Haiyan Ke, Melissa A. Draves, Katayoon Dehesh, Justin W. Walley, Lucia C. Strader and Dior R. Kelley.
PNAS (2024)
Significance: Roots are a key organ for water and nutrient uptake in plants. Changes in root architecture can impact yield and resilience to stress in crops. To find factors that contribute to root development in corn, a genetic screen was performed. Herein, we identify a hormone transporter that influences numerous root traits of agronomic significance. This work has implications for translational approaches aimed at improving cereal crops.
Abstract: "Plant root systems play a pivotal role in plant physiology and exhibit diverse phenotypic traits. Understanding the genetic mechanisms governing root growth and development in model plants like maize is crucial for enhancing crop resilience to drought and nutrient limitations. This study focused on identifying and characterizing ZmPILS6, an annotated auxin efflux carrier, as a key regulator of various crown root traits in maize. ZmPILS6-modified roots displayed reduced network area and suppressed lateral root formation, which are desirable traits for the “steep, cheap, and deep” ideotype. The research revealed that ZmPILS6 localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum and plays a vital role in controlling the spatial distribution of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA or “auxin”) in primary roots. The study also demonstrated that ZmPILS6 can actively efflux IAA when expressed in yeast. Furthermore, the loss of ZmPILS6 resulted in significant proteome remodeling in maize roots, particularly affecting hormone signaling pathways. To identify potential interacting partners of ZmPILS6, a weighted gene coexpression analysis was performed. Altogether, this research contributes to the growing knowledge of essential genetic determinants governing maize root morphogenesis, which is crucial for guiding agricultural improvement strategies."
Authors: Laura Mathieu, Elsa Ballini, Jean-Benoit Morel and Louis-Valentin Méteignier.
Current Opinion on Plant Biology (2024)
Abstract: "Plants interact with each other via a multitude of processes among which belowground communication facilitated by specialized metabolites plays an important but overlooked role. Until now, the exact targets, modes of action, and resulting phenotypes that these metabolites induce in neighboring plants have remained largely unknown. Moreover, positive interactions driven by the release of root exudates are prevalent in both natural field conditions and controlled laboratory environments. In particular, intraspecific positive interactions suggest a genotypic recognition mechanism in addition to non-self perception in plant roots. This review concentrates on recent discoveries regarding how plants interact with one another through belowground signals in intra- and interspecific mixtures. Furthermore, we elaborate on how an enhanced understanding of these interactions can propel the field of agroecology forward."
Authors: Xiaoyun Wang, Meng Cao, Hongxin Li, Ying Liu, Shuangxi Fan, Na Zhang and Yangdong Guo.
Horticultural Plant Journal (2024)
Abstract: "Melatonin is a conserved pleiotropic molecule in animals and plants. Melatonin is involved in many development processes and stress responses; thus, exploring its function in plants, particularly in horticultural plants, has become a rapidly developing field. Many studies have revealed that phytomelatonin acts as a plant biostimulant and increase its tolerance to various abiotic stressors, including extreme temperature, drought, osmotic disturbance, heavy metals, and ultraviolet (UV). Melatonin appears to have roles in the scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and other free radicals, affecting the primary and secondary metabolism of plants, regulating the transcripts of stress-related enzymes and transcription factors, and crosstalk with other hormones under different environmental conditions. This pleiotropy makes phytomelatonin an attractive regulator to improve resistance to abiotic stress in plants. The recent discovery of the potential phytomelatonin receptor CAND2/PMTR1 and the proposition of putative models related to the phytomelatonin signaling pathways makes phytomelatonin a new plant hormone. Based on relevant studies from our laboratory, this review summarizes the phytomelatonin biosynthetic and metabolic pathways in plants and the latest research progress on phytomelatonin in abiotic stress of horticultural plants. This study will provide a reference for elucidating the regulatory mechanism of phytomelatonin affecting the resistance to abiotic stress in plants."
Authors: J. S. Chen, S. T. Wang, Q. Mei, T. Sun, J. T. Hu, G. S. Xiao, H. Chen and Y. H. Xuan.
Plant Molecular Biology (2024)
Abstract: "Plants have a variety of regulatory mechanisms to perceive, transduce, and respond to biotic and abiotic stress. One such mechanism is the calcium-sensing CBL–CIPK system responsible for the sensing of specific stressors, such as drought or pathogens. CBLs perceive and bind Calcium (Ca2+) in response to stress and then interact with CIPKs to form an activated complex. This leads to the phosphorylation of downstream targets, including transporters and ion channels, and modulates transcription factor levels and the consequent levels of stress-associated genes. This review describes the mechanisms underlying the response of the CBL–CIPK pathway to biotic and abiotic stresses, including regulating ion transport channels, coordinating plant hormone signal transduction, and pathways related to ROS signaling. Investigation of the function of the CBL–CIPK pathway is important for understanding plant stress tolerance and provides a promising avenue for molecular breeding."
Authors: Sonia Gazzarrini and Liang Song.
Annual Review of Plant Biology (2024)
Abstract: "Development is a chain reaction in which one event leads to another until the completion of a life cycle. Phase transitions are milestone events in the cycle of life. LEAFY COTYLEDON1 (LEC1), ABA INSENSITIVE3 (ABI3), FUSCA3 (FUS3), and LEC2 proteins, collectively known as LAFL, are master transcription factors (TFs) regulating seed and other developmental processes. Since the initial characterization of the LAFL genes (44, 71, 98–100), more than three decades of active research has generated tremendous amounts of knowledge about these TFs, whose roles in seed development and germination have been comprehensively reviewed (63, 43, 65, 81). Recent advances in cell biology and genetic and genomic tools have allowed the characterization of the LAFL regulatory networks in previously challenging tissues at a higher throughput and resolution in reference species and crops. In this review, we provide a holistic perspective by integrating advances at the epigenetic, transcriptional, posttranscriptional, and protein levels to exemplify the spatiotemporal regulation of the LAFL networks in Arabidopsis seed development and phase transitions, and we briefly discuss the evolution of these TF networks."
Authors: Guangwei Sun, Xuanhao Zhang, Yi Liu, Liguang Chai, Daisong Liu, Zhenguo Chen and Shiyou Lü.
Phyton (2024)
Abstract: "The Nicotiana genus, commonly known as tobacco, holds significant importance as a crucial economic crop. Confronted with an abundance of herbivorous insects that pose a substantial threat to yield, tobacco has developed a diverse and sophisticated array of mechanisms, establishing itself as a model of plant ecological defense. This review provides a concise overview of the current understanding of tobacco’s defense strategies against herbivores. Direct defenses, exemplified by its well-known tactic of secreting the alkaloid nicotine, serve as a potent toxin against a broad spectrum of herbivorous pests. Moreover, in response to herbivore attacks, tobacco enhances the discharge of volatile compounds, harnessing an indirect strategy that attracts the predators of the herbivores. The delicate balance between defense and growth leads to the initiation of most defense strategies only after a herbivore attack. Among plant hormones, notably jasmonic acid (JA), play central roles in coordinating these defense processes. JA signaling interacts with other plant hormone signaling pathways to facilitate the extensive transcriptional and metabolic adjustments in plants following herbivore assault. By shedding light on these ecological defense strategies, this review emphasizes not only tobacco’s remarkable adaptability in its natural habitat but also offers insights beneficial for enhancing the resilience of current crops."
Authors: Akbar Ali, Krishan Kant, Navneet Kaur, Shalu Gupta, Parnika Jindal, Sarvajeet Singh Gill and M. Naeem.
South African Journal of Botany (2024)
Highlights: • Salicylic acid (SA) has encouraging effects on the growth and development of plants. • SA stimulates signalling in plants via several stress proteins and genes. • SA positively interacts with other phytohormones. • SA enhances plant tolerance towards abiotic stress.
Abstract: "Drastic change in global climatic conditions has significantly increased the frequency of abiotic stresses, such as different temperature regimes (high, low, or freezing stress), uneven precipitation leading to flooding or drought, soil salinization, cyclones and hurricanes which pose a major challenge to the crop productivity and food security. Therefore, it becomes imperative for the global science community to engineer stress tolerance in crop plants to ensure enough food for the globe. Plant growth regulators play an important function in stress management. One putative plant hormone that aids plants in coping with biotic and abiotic stressors is salicylic acid (SA). SA also cooperates with other phytohormones, such as gibberellins, auxins, abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, ethylene, polyamines, nitric oxide, and to counter the negative effects of environmental perturbations. Moreover, SA shields plants from oxidative stress by reducing the production of reactive oxygen species in challenging circumstances. Additionally, SA stimulates gas exchange, photosynthesis, and osmolyte synthesis in plants, which counteract the damage caused by ROS. Exogenous application of SA to agricultural crops including medicinal and aromatic plants improves their abiotic stress tolerance, either individually or in combination with other phytohormones. SA can stimulate the production of secondary metabolites by controlling the expression of stress-related genes, activating or regulating several key enzymes, and balancing the ion content. The present review summarizes the various mechanisms by which SA confers abiotic stress tolerance in plants through homeostasis, signalling, and crosstalk with other phytohormones."
Authors: André Kessler and Michael B. Mueller.
Plant Signaling & Behavior (2024)
Abstract: "Plant induced responses to environmental stressors are increasingly studied in a behavioral ecology context. This is particularly true for plant induced responses to herbivory that mediate direct and indirect defenses, and tolerance. These seemingly adaptive alterations of plant defense phenotypes in the context of other environmental conditions have led to the discussion of such responses as intelligent behavior. Here we consider the concept of plant intelligence and some of its predictions for chemical information transfer in plant interaction with other organisms. Within this framework, the flow, perception, integration, and storage of environmental information are considered tunable dials that allow plants to respond adaptively to attacking herbivores while integrating past experiences and environmental cues that are predictive of future conditions. The predictive value of environmental information and the costs of acting on false information are important drivers of the evolution of plant responses to herbivory. We identify integrative priming of defense responses as a mechanism that allows plants to mitigate potential costs associated with acting on false information. The priming mechanisms provide short- and long-term memory that facilitates the integration of environmental cues without imposing significant costs. Finally, we discuss the ecological and evolutionary prediction of the plant intelligence hypothesis."
Authors: Yuming Sun and Alisdair R. Fernie.
Trends in Plant Science (2024)
Highlights Plant secondary metabolism plays a paramount role in plant adaptation to global climate change, a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between plant secondary metabolism and climate variations favors crop improvement in a climate-fluctuating world. Climate changes exert diverse effects on plant secondary metabolism, determined by factors such as metabolite type, stress intensity, and plant species. Combinations of two individual climatic factors can result in an amplifying, neutralizing, or one-factor-dominated consequence, but our knowledge of these consequences is limited. Resource allocation and growth-defense trade-off hypothesis partially explain how plants respond to climate changes through secondary metabolism at the ecological level, while hormone signaling, hormones, and transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation networks are involved with the molecular mechanisms underlying these responses.
Abstract: "Climate changes have unpredictable effects on ecosystems and agriculture. Plants adapt metabolically to overcome these challenges, with plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) being crucial for plant–environment interactions. Thus, understanding how PSMs respond to climate change is vital for future cultivation and breeding strategies. Here, we review PSM responses to climate changes such as elevated carbon dioxide, ozone, nitrogen deposition, heat and drought, as well as a combinations of different factors. These responses are complex, depending on stress dosage and duration, and metabolite classes. We finally identify mechanisms by which climate change affects PSM production ecologically and molecularly. While these observations provide insights into PSM responses to climate changes and the underlying regulatory mechanisms, considerable further research is required for a comprehensive understanding."
Authors: Yuka Sato, Mai F. Minamikawa, Berbudi Bintang Pratama, Shohei Koyama, Mikiko Kojima, Yumiko Takebayashi, Hitoshi Sakakibara and Tomoko Igawa.
Frontiers in Plant Science (2024)
Abstract: "The ectopic overexpression of developmental regulator (DR) genes has been reported to improve the transformation in recalcitrant plant species because of the promotion of cellular differentiation during cell culture processes. In other words, the external plant growth regulator (PGR) application during the tissue and cell culture process is still required in cases utilizing DR genes for plant regeneration. Here, the effect of Arabidopsis BABY BOOM (BBM) and WUSCHEL (WUS) on the differentiation of tobacco transgenic cells was examined. We found that the SRDX fusion to WUS, when co-expressed with the BBM-VP16 fusion gene, significantly influenced the induction of autonomous differentiation under PGR-free culture conditions, with similar effects in some other plant species. Furthermore, to understand the endogenous background underlying cell differentiation toward regeneration, phytohormone and RNA-seq analyses were performed using tobacco leaf explants in which transgenic cells were autonomously differentiating. The levels of active auxins, cytokinins, abscisic acid, and inactive gibberellins increased as cell differentiation proceeded toward organogenesis. Gene Ontology terms related to phytohormones and organogenesis were identified as differentially expressed genes, in addition to those related to polysaccharide and nitrate metabolism. The qRT-PCR four selected genes as DEGs supported the RNA-seq data. This differentiation induction system and the reported phytohormone and transcript profiles provide a foundation for the development of PGR-free tissue cultures of various plant species, facilitating future biotechnological breeding."
Authors: Ping Yun, Cengiz Kaya and Sergey Shabala.
The Crop Journal (2024)
Abstract: "Salinity stress is a major environmental stress affecting crop productivity, and its negative impact on global food security is only going to increase, due to current climate trends. Salinity tolerance was present in wild crop relatives but significantly weakened during domestication. Regaining it back requires a good understanding of molecular mechanisms and traits involved in control of plant ionic and ROS homeostasis. This review summarizes our current knowledge on the role of major plant hormones (auxin, cytokinins, abscisic acid, salicylic acid, and jasmonate) in plants adaptation to soil salinity. We firstly discuss the role of hormones in controlling root tropisms, root growth and architecture (primary root elongation, meristematic activity, lateral root development, and root hairs formation). Hormone-mediated control of uptake and sequestration of key inorganic ions (sodium, potassium, and calcium) is then discussed followed by regulation of cell redox balance and ROS signaling in salt-stressed roots. Finally, the role of epigenetic alterations such as DNA methylation and histone modifications in control of plant ion and ROS homeostasis and signaling is discussed. This data may help develop novel strategies for breeding and cultivating salt-tolerant crops and improving agricultural productivity in saline regions."
Authors: Minmin He, Gui Geng, Shuyang Mei, Gang Wang, Lihua Yu, Yao Xu and Yuguang Wang.
Functional Plant Biology (2024)
Abstract: "Water stress (drought and waterlogging) leads to an imbalance in plant water distribution, disrupts cell homeostasis, and severely inhibits plant growth. Melatonin is a growth hormone that plants synthesise and has been shown to resist adversity in many plants. This review discusses the biosynthesis and metabolism of melatonin, as well as the changes in plant morphology and physiological mechanisms caused by the molecular defence process. Melatonin induces the expression of related genes in the process of plant photosynthesis under stress and protects the structural integrity of chloroplasts. Exogenous melatonin can maintain the dynamic balance of root ion exchange under waterlogging stress. Melatonin can repair mitochondria and alleviate damage caused by reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species; and has a wide range of uses in the regulation of stress-specific genes and the activation of antioxidant enzyme genes. Melatonin improves the stability of membrane lipids in plant cells and maintains osmotic balance by regulating water channels. There is crosstalk between melatonin and other hormones, which jointly improve the ability of the root system to absorb water and breathe and promote plant growth. Briefly, as a multifunctional molecule, melatonin improves the tolerance of plants under water stress and promotes plant growth and development."
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Authors: Zhenghua He, Pei Zhang, Haitao Jia, Shilong Zhang, Elsayed Nishawy, Xiaopeng Sun and Mingqiu Dai.
New Crops (2024)
Abstract: "Drought is a primary abiotic stress affecting crops, leading to plant stomatal closure, reduced photosynthetic capacity, and reduced yields or even harvest failure. Severe drought can adversely impact agricultural production, ecosystems, and socio-economic capacities. Recently, researchers have studied the regulatory mechanisms of crop drought resistance and cloned hundreds of genes via genetic and molecular approaches. However, a limited number of the cloned genes have been successfully employed in drought resistance breeding, suggesting that drought resistance regulation is too complex. More work must be done to fully understand the regulatory networks of drought responses to breed drought-resistant and high-yield crop varieties. This review outlines the current achievements in investigating crop drought responses, particularly regulation by phytohormones and regulation of genes at transcriptional, post-translational, and epigenetic levels in crop drought responses. Finally, we examine the problems and potential solutions in breeding crop drought resistance and propose strategies for crop drought resistance improvement."
Authors: Meiying Liu, Chaoran Wang, Hongliang Ji, Maoxiang Sun, Tongyu Liu, Jiahao Wang, Hui Cao and Qinggang Zhu.
Frontiers in Plant Science (2024)
Abstract: "In recent years, the ethylene-mediated ripening and softening of non-climacteric fruits have been widely mentioned. In this paper, recent research into the ethylene-mediated ripening and softening of non-climacteric fruits is summarized, including the involvement of ethylene biosynthesis and signal transduction. In addition, detailed studies on how ethylene interacts with other hormones to regulate the ripening and softening of non-climacteric fruits are also reviewed. These findings reveal that many regulators of ethylene biosynthesis and signal transduction are linked with the ripening and softening of non-climacteric fruits. Meanwhile, the perspectives of future research on the regulation of ethylene in non-climacteric fruit are also proposed. The overview of the progress of ethylene on the ripening and softening of non-climacteric fruit will aid in the identification and characterization of key genes associated with ethylene perception and signal transduction during non-climacteric fruit ripening and softening."
Authors: Jiahong Chen, Lei Yang, Hehua Zhang, Junbin Ruan and Yuan Wang.
Plant Cell Reports (2024)
Key message: The sugar supply in the medium affects the apical hook development of Arabidopsis etiolated seedlings. In addition, we provided the mechanism insights of this process.
Abstract: "Dicotyledonous plants form an apical hook structure to shield their young cotyledons from mechanical damage as they emerge from the rough soil. Our findings indicate that sugar molecules, such as sucrose and glucose, are crucial for apical hook development. The presence of sucrose and glucose allows the apical hooks to be maintained for a longer period compared to those grown in sugar-free conditions, and this effect is dose-dependent. Key roles in apical hook development are played by several sugar metabolism pathways, including oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis. RNA-seq data revealed an up-regulation of genes involved in starch and sucrose metabolism in plants grown in sugar-free conditions, while genes associated with phenylpropanoid metabolism were down-regulated. This study underscores the significant role of sugar metabolism in the apical hook development of etiolated Arabidopsis seedlings."
Authors: Byron Rusnak, Frances K. Clark, Batthula Vijaya Lakshmi Vadde and Adrienne H.K. Roeder.
Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology (2024)
Abstract: "One of the fundamental questions in developmental biology is how a cell is specified to differentiate as a specialized cell type. Traditionally, plant cell types were defined based on their function, location, morphology, and lineage. Currently, in the age of single-cell biology, researchers typically attempt to assign plant cells to cell types by clustering them based on their transcriptomes. However, because cells are dynamic entities that progress through the cell cycle and respond to signals, the transcriptome also reflects the state of the cell at a particular moment in time, raising questions about how to define a cell type. We suggest that these complexities and dynamics of cell states are of interest and further consider the roles signaling, stochasticity, cell cycle, and mechanical forces play in plant cell fate specification. Once established, cell identity must also be maintained. With the wealth of single-cell data coming out, the field is poised to elucidate both the complexity and dynamics of cell states."
Authors: Feimei Guo, Minghui Lv, Jingjie Zhang and Jia Li.
Plant and Cell Physiology (2024)
Abstract: "Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a group of polyhydroxylated phytosterols that play essential roles in regulating plant growth and development as well as stress adaptation. It is worth noting that BRs do not function alone, but rather they crosstalk with other endogenous signaling molecules, including the phytohormones auxin, cytokinins (CKs), gibberellins (GAs), abscisic acid (ABA), ethylene (ET), jasmonates (JAs), salicylic acid (SA), and strigolactones (SLs), forming elaborate signaling networks to modulate plant growth and development. BRs interact with other phytohormones mainly by regulating each others’ homeostasis, transport, or signaling pathway at the transcriptional and posttranslational levels. In this review, we focus our attention on current research progress in BR signal transduction and the crosstalk between BRs and other phytohormones."
Authors: Vojtěch Schmidt, Roman Skokan, Thomas Depaepe, Katarina Kurtović, Samuel Haluška, Stanislav Vosolsobě, Roberta Vaculíková, Anthony Pil, Petre Ivanov Dobrev, Václav Motyka, Dominique Van Der Straeten and Jan Petrášek.
Nature Communications (2024)
Editor's view: Here, the authors show that the biosynthesis of many compounds in green algae preceded their recruitment in phytohormone signaling and metabolism in land plants.
Abstract: "The genomes of charophyte green algae, close relatives of land plants, typically do not show signs of developmental regulation by phytohormones. However, scattered reports of endogenous phytohormone production in these organisms exist. We performed a comprehensive analysis of multiple phytohormones in Viridiplantae, focusing mainly on charophytes. We show that auxin, salicylic acid, ethylene and tRNA-derived cytokinins including cis-zeatin are found ubiquitously in Viridiplantae. By contrast, land plants but not green algae contain the trans-zeatin type cytokinins as well as auxin and cytokinin conjugates. Charophytes occasionally produce jasmonates and abscisic acid, whereas the latter is detected consistently in land plants. Several phytohormones are excreted into the culture medium, including auxin by charophytes and cytokinins and salicylic acid by Viridiplantae in general. We note that the conservation of phytohormone biosynthesis and signaling pathways known from angiosperms does not match the capacity for phytohormone biosynthesis in Viridiplantae. Our phylogenetically guided analysis of established algal cultures provides an important insight into phytohormone biosynthesis and metabolism across Streptophyta. Genomic evidence dates the origins of most phytohormones to terrestrialization or later."
Authors: Lei Liang and Xiangyang Hu.
Phyton (2024)
Abstract: "With the rapid development of modern molecular biology and bioinformatics, many studies have proved that transcription factors play an important role in regulating the growth and development of plants. SPATULA (SPT) belongs to the bHLH transcription family and participates in many processes of regulating plant growth and development. This review systemically summarizes the multiple roles of SPT in plant growth, development, and stress response, including seed germination, flowering, leaf size, carpel development, and root elongation, which is helpful for us to better understand the functions of SPT."
Authors: Shammi Akter, Oscar Castaneda-Méndez and Jesús Beltrán
Current Opinion in Biotechnology (2024)
Highlights • Several challenges remain for the widespread use of synthetic biology in crops. • Synthetic gene expression circuitry is advancing in model plants. • Rapid enzyme discovery and testing are needed for plant metabolic engineering.
Abstract: "Plant synthetic biology (Plant SynBio) is an emerging field with the potential to enhance agriculture, human health, and sustainability. Integrating genetic tools and engineering principles, Plant SynBio aims to manipulate cellular functions and construct novel biochemical pathways to develop plants with new phenotypic traits, enhanced yield, and be able to produce natural products and pharmaceuticals. This review compiles research efforts in reprogramming plant developmental and biochemical pathways. We highlight studies leveraging new gene expression toolkits to alter plant architecture for improved performance in model and crop systems and to produce useful metabolites in plant tissues. Furthermore, we provide insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with the adoption of Plant SynBio in addressing complex issues impacting agriculture and human health."
Authors: Pengcheng Li, Zhihai Zhang, Gui Xiao, Zheng Zhao, Kunhui He, Xiaohong Yang, Qingchun Pan, Guohua Mi, Zhongtao Jia, Jianbing Yan, Fanjun Chen and Lixing Yuan.
Theoretical and Applied Genetics (2024)
Abstract: "Efficient nutrient and water acquisition from soils depends on the root system architecture (RSA). However, the genetic determinants underlying RSA in maize remain largely unexplored. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive genetic analysis for 14 shoot-borne root traits using 513 inbred lines and 800 individuals from four recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations at the mature stage across multiple field trails. Our analysis revealed substantial phenotypic variation for these 14 root traits, with a total of 389 and 344 QTLs identified through genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) and linkage analysis, respectively. These QTLs collectively explained 32.2–65.0% and 23.7–63.4% of the trait variation within each population. Several a priori candidate genes involved in auxin and cytokinin signaling pathways, such as IAA26, ARF2, LBD37 and CKX3, were found to co-localize with these loci. In addition, a total of 69 transcription factors (TFs) from 27 TF families (MYB, NAC, bZIP, bHLH and WRKY) were found for shoot-borne root traits. A total of 19 genes including PIN3, LBD15, IAA32, IAA38 and ARR12 and 19 GWAS signals were overlapped with selective sweeps. Further, significant additive effects were found for root traits, and pyramiding the favorable alleles could enhance maize root development. These findings could contribute to understand the genetic basis of root development and evolution, and provided an important genetic resource for the genetic improvement of root traits in maize."
Via Jean-Michel Ané
Authors: Xuehuan Feng, Jinfang Zheng, Iker Irisarri, Huihui Yu, Bo Zheng, Zahin Ali, Sophie de Vries, Jean Keller, Janine M. R. Fürst-Jansen, Armin Dadras, Jaccoline M. S. Zegers, Tim P. Rieseberg, Amra Dhabalia Ashok, Tatyana Darienko, Maaike J. Bierenbroodspot, Lydia Gramzow, Romy Petroll, Fabian B. Haas, Noe Fernandez-Pozo, Orestis Nousias, Tang Li, Elisabeth Fitzek, W. Scott Grayburn, Nina Rittmeier, Charlotte Permann, Florian Rümpler, John M. Archibald, Günter Theißen, Jeffrey P. Mower, Maike Lorenz, Henrik Buschmann, Klaus von Schwartzenberg, Lori Boston, Richard D. Hayes, Chris Daum, Kerrie Barry, Igor V. Grigoriev, Xiyin Wang, Fay-Wei Li, Stefan A. Rensing, Julius Ben Ari, Noa Keren, Assaf Mosquna, Andreas Holzinger, Pierre-Marc Delaux, Chi Zhang, Jinling Huang, Marek Mutwil, Jan de Vries and Yanbin Yin
Nature Genetics (2024)
Editor's view: Genome assemblies of four filamentous Zygnematophyceae and co-expression network analyses shed light on the evolutionary roots of the mechanism for balancing environmental responses and multicellular growth.
Abstract: "Zygnematophyceae are the algal sisters of land plants. Here we sequenced four genomes of filamentous Zygnematophyceae, including chromosome-scale assemblies for three strains of Zygnema circumcarinatum. We inferred traits in the ancestor of Zygnematophyceae and land plants that might have ushered in the conquest of land by plants: expanded genes for signaling cascades, environmental response, and multicellular growth. Zygnematophyceae and land plants share all the major enzymes for cell wall synthesis and remodifications, and gene gains shaped this toolkit. Co-expression network analyses uncover gene cohorts that unite environmental signaling with multicellular developmental programs. Our data shed light on a molecular chassis that balances environmental response and growth modulation across more than 600 million years of streptophyte evolution."
Authors: Bo Wei and Yuling Jiao.
Seed Biology (2024)
Abstract: "Grain size is a major determinate of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) yield, which has a broad impact on worldwide food security. Not surprisingly, grain size underwent extensive artificial selection during wheat domestication and breeding. Recent advances in wheat molecular genetics and genomics have facilitated the elucidation of the molecular basis underlying grain size. Grain size determination is the cumulative result of source strength, photoassimilate remobilization, and sink strength. Here, we systematically review the recent progress in the cloning and molecular mechanisms of genes that regulate grain size in wheat following the source to sink flow. In addition, we discuss possible strategies for overcoming the trade-off between grain size and grain number, as well as synergetic improvement of grain yield and grain quality."
Authors: Adrián González Ortega-Villaizán, Eoghan King, Manish K. Patel and Stephan Pollmann.
In: Progress in Botany (2024)
Abstract: "Plants are constantly challenged by a wide range of adverse conditions in their ever-changing environment. Abiotic stresses, including drought, heat, cold, and salinity, are among the main stress cues that negatively affect plant growth, development, and productivity. To survive, plants use a sophisticated network of phytohormones to integrate signals from their environment and adapt their developmental processes according to the prevailing conditions. Plant hormones are pivotal as they drive secondary plant biological processes, controlling not only adequate stress responses, but also adjust plant growth, development, and metabolism. The different plant hormones can interact additively, synergistically, or antagonistically. These interactions create a delicate and dynamic regulatory framework whose net output is largely dependent on the combined action of the participating plant hormones rather than on the isolated activities of the individual phytohormones. In this work, we discuss the crosstalk of abscisic acid (ABA) with some of the major plant hormones in controlling plant responses to abiotic stress conditions."
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