New Crops最新文献

Plant root systems are critical for absorbing water and nutrients and anchoring plants in the soil, and their development is regulated by phytohormones and complex signaling pathways. Recent studies have identified small peptides as essential players in governing root development, binding to specific receptors on the cell membrane, and triggering signaling processes. In this study, we summarize recent advances in small peptide regulation of root system architecture and tissue organization, as well as the molecular interaction between peptides and canonical hormone signaling. Additionally, we discuss the functions of small peptides in modulating root development responses to environmental forces like nitrogen and phosphate starvation, osmotic stress, and soil microbes through the activation of local and systemic signaling pathways. This review offers a comprehensive overview of peptide signaling during plant root development and prospects for further crop breeding applications.

Establishing global sustainable agriculture emerges as the primary, indispensable strategy to meet escalating food demands and address environmental preservation amidst the challenges posed by severe climate change. The intricate communities of microorganisms associated with plants, collectively termed the plant microbiome, wield significant influence over the vitality and productivity of plant species. Unleashing the potential of the plant microbiome stands as a pivotal approach to safeguard and rejuvenate our planet. However, the complex nature of microbiome interactions, coupled with their limited persistence in intricate environmental settings due to gaps in understanding or technological limitations, has impeded substantial progress in this field. This review explores innovative and revitalized strategies for harnessing microbiome-based enhancements in crop fitness. Additionally, we illuminate the challenges encountered in deciphering the intricate interplay between the microbiome and its host, particularly in the context of mitigating the adverse influences of climate change on crop resilience. To navigate these complexities, we advocate for a comprehensive approach that considers both host and microbiome-oriented perspectives. This dual-focused strategy aims to overcome current limitations and pave the way toward a future where microbiome intervention forms the bedrock of sustainable agriculture and environmental protection.

The growth and yield of essential crops, including maize, are significantly endangered by drought. Closing stomata, limiting water dissipation, and improving water use efficiency are important components of plant drought responses. In our study, the MYB-like transcription factor ZmMYB56, expressed in maize guard cells, played important roles in regulating stomatal closure and drought tolerance. Mutations in ZmMYB56 triggered elevated stomatal conductance, rapid water loss in isolated leaves, and severe drought sensitivity in plants. ZmMYB56 possesses transcriptional activation activity, and is expressed specifically in stomatal guard cells. As an R2R3 transcription factor, ZmMYB56 can bind the cis-acting element on the ZmTOM7 promoter sequence, activating its expression. Correspondingly, the ZmTOM7 transcript level is downregulated in Zmmyb56 seedlings. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing ZmTOM7 exhibit limited stomatal conductance and elevated drought tolerance, while the ZmTOM7 mutation is linked to higher stomatal conductance and substantial drought sensitivity in maize seedlings. According to these findings, we conclude that ZmTOM7 operates as a key target gene of ZmMYB56 and is involved in ZmMYB56-regulated stomatal closure and maize drought tolerance. Our findings regarding the functional mechanisms of maize ZmMYB56 transcription factors in stomatal closure and drought stress enable a potential genetic resource for improving the drought resistance of maize.

Roots play a fundamental role in plant growth and development, serving various functions, including anchoring, water absorption, nutrient uptake, and adaptation diverse environmental conditions, such as abiotic stresses and biotic interactions. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi release diffusible signaling molecules known as mycorrhizal factors (Myc factors) to establish communication with plants. Extensive research has established that Myc factors play a pivotal role in orchestrating root architectural changes before fungal colonization occurs. In this study, we investigate the impact of the Myc factor CO4 on the architectural modifications of rice roots. Our findings reveal that CO4 actively promotes the development of crown roots and lateral roots in wild-type rice plants. Furthermore, we have identified that pivotal role of receptors such as OsCERK1, OsMYR1, and OsCEBiP in mediating the stimulatory effects of CO4. Knockout mutants of these receptors exhibit a significant reduction in the number of lateral roots and crown roots with lateral roots, along with decreased sensitivity to CO4. Conversely, the overexpression of OsMYR1 leads to a substantial increase in lateral roots and crown roots with lateral roots, even in the absence of CO4 treatment. We propose that CO4-induced root architecture development offers promising opportunities for enhancing lateral root growth, which, in turn, can promote nutrient uptake through direct Myc factor application.

Sucrose non-fermenting1 (SNF1)-related kinase 1 (SnRK1) serves as a conserved molecular entity in plants, responding to energy stresses such as prolonged darkness, hypoxia, and photosynthesis inhibition. Its role involves orchestrating transcriptional reprogramming to enhance plant fitness in diverse environments. In this study, we delve into how SnRK1 influences carbon and nitrogen metabolism in Arabidopsis and other crop species through both transcriptional regulation and direct phosphorylation modification. Additionally, we explore the impact of sugar metabolites on SnRK1 activity in plants. The assembly mechanisms of the SnRK1 complex are also investigated by drawing insights from mammalian and yeast systems. Furthermore, we provide a comprehensive summary of the interplay between SnRK1 activity, autophagy, and virus defense. Collectively, our findings illuminate the intricate molecular connections between the SnRK1 complex and carbon/nitrogen metabolism in plants.

Crops, because of their sessile lifestyle, inevitably experience dynamic environmental conditions, and their capacity to adapt to these changes is central to their growth, survival, and crop productivity. A crop that has been specifically engineered to be sensitive and rapidly tilt the balance between stress responses and growth regulation is defined as a “SMART CROP.” In examining the demands for crops with the highest yield and quality, efforts have been made to create SMART CROPs in the past decades. In this review, we highlight the mechanisms identified to enhance the properties of smart crops and describe technologies and features underlying the advancement of smart crops.

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into crop breeding represents a paradigm shift toward data-driven agricultural practices, aiming to enhance the efficiency and precision of crop improvement. In this perspective, we critically evaluate the impact of genomic prediction models like SoyDNGP (Soybean Deep Neural Genomic Prediction) on crop breeding. We discuss their current applications, challenges, and future potential. Addressing existing obstacles such as optimizing parent selection, accurately predicting the combined effects of multiple traits and genes, advancing explainable deep learning, and incorporating environmental factors, we propose practical approaches to overcome these challenges. Our insights aim to unlock the full potential of AI in genomic prediction, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of AI’s role in agriculture. We advocate for future research efforts that harness AI to cultivate sustainable and equitable food systems.

Microbes accompany plants throughout their entire lifecycles, from seeds to ripe fruits. Plant–microbe interactions have long been a focus of research in many subdisciplines, leading to thousands of articles that demonstrate the importance of these interactions in agriculture. Here, we review previous findings and discuss future directions and prospects for the application of plant–microbe interactions. These interactions are delineated from multiple perspectives: community composition, interaction pathways, influencing external and endogenous factors, methods and techniques for analysis, and potential targeted applications in agriculture. We propose that exploitation and utilization of core beneficial microbes, artificial microbial community assembly, and in situ regulation of microbiome function will become essential components of agricultural production in the future.

Throughout their life cycle, plants encounter a myriad of challenges arising from both abiotic and biotic stresses, which significantly impact crop yield and nutritional content. In natural ecological settings, plants often experience simultaneous exposure to multiple stresses, prompting intricate crosstalk interactions between different stress types. While current research predominantly addresses individual stress responses, the nuanced interplay among plants facing multiple stresses remains a subject requiring extensive exploration. Plants exposed to one type of stress have demonstrated the capacity to influence their responses to other stressors, indicating the presence of complex stress response networks shaped by their enduring coexistence with diverse environmental pressures. Within these networks, transcription factors emerge as pivotal regulators of stress-responsive genes, positioned as promising candidates for enhancing crop resilience. Notably, certain transcription factors have exhibited the ability to modulate plant tolerance to a spectrum of stresses, suggesting their potential role as convergence points within regulation networks responding to diverse stresses. Extensively studied transcription factors, including NAC, MYB, WRKY, bHLH, and ERF/DREB, are recognized for their crucial involvement in both abiotic and biotic stress responses. Beyond transcription factors, phytohormone signaling pathways governed by abscisic acid, salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, ethylene, and ROS are pivotal in orchestrating the crosstalk between biotic and abiotic stress signaling. This comprehensive review aims to encapsulate the current progress in understanding the intricate crosstalk dynamics underlying plant responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. Furthermore, it delves into the molecular mechanisms orchestrated by transcription factors to navigate the challenges posed by both abiotic and biotic stressors. The review also explores the involvement of transcription factors in regulating phytohormone signaling pathways, providing a holistic perspective on the multifaceted responses of plants to the complexities of their environmental stresses.