Pub Date : 2025-03-21DOI: 10.1038/s41477-025-01969-z
Reduced wood density in natural forests might be an underappreciated risk of climate change. It could promote susceptibility to biotic and abiotic damage by pests, drought or wildfire.
{"title":"Declining wood density","authors":"","doi":"10.1038/s41477-025-01969-z","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41477-025-01969-z","url":null,"abstract":"Reduced wood density in natural forests might be an underappreciated risk of climate change. It could promote susceptibility to biotic and abiotic damage by pests, drought or wildfire.","PeriodicalId":18904,"journal":{"name":"Nature Plants","volume":"11 3","pages":"379-379"},"PeriodicalIF":15.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-025-01969-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143668413","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plants deploy intracellular nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeats (NLRs) to detect pathogen effectors and initiate immune responses. Although the activation mechanism of some plant NLRs forming resistosomes has been elucidated, whether NLR resistosome assembly is regulated to fine-tune immunity remains enigmatic. Here we used an antiviral coiled coil-nucleotide-binding site–leucine rich repeat, Barley Stripe Resistance 1 (BSR1), as a model and demonstrate that BSR1 is phosphorylated. Using a proximity labelling approach, we identified a wall-associated kinase-like protein 20 (WAKL20) which negatively regulates BSR1-mediated immune responses by directly phosphorylating the Ser470 residue in the NB-ARC domain of BSR1. Mechanistically, Ser470 phosphorylation results in a steric clash of intramolecular domains of BSR1, thereby compromising BSR1 oligomerization. The phosphorylation site is conserved among multiple plant NLRs and our results show that WAKL20 participates in other NLR-mediated immune responses besides BSR1. Together, our data reveal phosphorylation as a mechanism for modulating plant resistosome assembly, and provide new insight into NLR-mediated plant immunity. The discovery of the resistosome was a milestone in plant immunity. Here, Zhong et al. identify a kinase that phosphorylates the NLR, and reveal how this kinase regulates resistosome assembly to fine-tune immune responses.
{"title":"A cell wall-associated kinase phosphorylates NLR immune receptor to negatively regulate resistosome formation","authors":"Chenchen Zhong, Wenli Li, Xinyu Zhang, Dingliang Zhang, Zhiyan Wen, Wen Song, Zhihao Jiang, Zongyu Gao, Hailong Guo, Guozhi Bi, Zhiyong Liu, Dawei Li, Savithramma P. Dinesh-Kumar, Yongliang Zhang","doi":"10.1038/s41477-025-01949-3","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41477-025-01949-3","url":null,"abstract":"Plants deploy intracellular nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeats (NLRs) to detect pathogen effectors and initiate immune responses. Although the activation mechanism of some plant NLRs forming resistosomes has been elucidated, whether NLR resistosome assembly is regulated to fine-tune immunity remains enigmatic. Here we used an antiviral coiled coil-nucleotide-binding site–leucine rich repeat, Barley Stripe Resistance 1 (BSR1), as a model and demonstrate that BSR1 is phosphorylated. Using a proximity labelling approach, we identified a wall-associated kinase-like protein 20 (WAKL20) which negatively regulates BSR1-mediated immune responses by directly phosphorylating the Ser470 residue in the NB-ARC domain of BSR1. Mechanistically, Ser470 phosphorylation results in a steric clash of intramolecular domains of BSR1, thereby compromising BSR1 oligomerization. The phosphorylation site is conserved among multiple plant NLRs and our results show that WAKL20 participates in other NLR-mediated immune responses besides BSR1. Together, our data reveal phosphorylation as a mechanism for modulating plant resistosome assembly, and provide new insight into NLR-mediated plant immunity. The discovery of the resistosome was a milestone in plant immunity. Here, Zhong et al. identify a kinase that phosphorylates the NLR, and reveal how this kinase regulates resistosome assembly to fine-tune immune responses.","PeriodicalId":18904,"journal":{"name":"Nature Plants","volume":"11 3","pages":"561-579"},"PeriodicalIF":15.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143665916","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Auxin, as a vital phytohormone, is enriched in the vascular cambium, playing a crucial role in regulating wood formation in trees. While auxin’s influence on cambial stem cells is well established, the molecular mechanisms underlying the auxin-directed development of cambial derivatives, such as wood fibres, remain elusive in forest trees. Here we identified a transcription factor, AINTEGUMENTA-like 5 (AIL5)/PLETHORA 5 (PLT5) from Populus tomentosa, that is specifically activated by auxin signalling within the vascular cambium. PLT5 regulated both cell expansion and cell wall thickening in wood fibres. Genetic analysis demonstrated that PLT5 is essential for mediating the action of auxin signalling on wood fibre development. Remarkably, PLT5 specifically inhibits the onset of fibre cell wall thickening by directly repressing SECONDARY WALL-ASSOCIATED NAC DOMAIN 1 (SND1) genes. Our findings reveal a sophisticated auxin–PLT5 signalling pathway that finely tunes the development of wood fibres by controlling cell wall thickening. The study reveals that PLETHORA 5, a transcription factor activated by auxin signalling in the vascular cambium, regulates cell expansion and cell wall thickening of fibres by directly repressing SND1 genes during wood formation in Populus tomentosa.
{"title":"The auxin–PLETHORA 5 module regulates wood fibre development in Populus tomentosa","authors":"Shuai Liu, Xiaokang Fu, Yue Wang, Xuelian Du, Lianjia Luo, Dong Chen, Chunzhao Liu, Jian Hu, Changjian Fa, Rongling Wu, Laigeng Li, Keming Luo, Changzheng Xu","doi":"10.1038/s41477-025-01931-z","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41477-025-01931-z","url":null,"abstract":"Auxin, as a vital phytohormone, is enriched in the vascular cambium, playing a crucial role in regulating wood formation in trees. While auxin’s influence on cambial stem cells is well established, the molecular mechanisms underlying the auxin-directed development of cambial derivatives, such as wood fibres, remain elusive in forest trees. Here we identified a transcription factor, AINTEGUMENTA-like 5 (AIL5)/PLETHORA 5 (PLT5) from Populus tomentosa, that is specifically activated by auxin signalling within the vascular cambium. PLT5 regulated both cell expansion and cell wall thickening in wood fibres. Genetic analysis demonstrated that PLT5 is essential for mediating the action of auxin signalling on wood fibre development. Remarkably, PLT5 specifically inhibits the onset of fibre cell wall thickening by directly repressing SECONDARY WALL-ASSOCIATED NAC DOMAIN 1 (SND1) genes. Our findings reveal a sophisticated auxin–PLT5 signalling pathway that finely tunes the development of wood fibres by controlling cell wall thickening. The study reveals that PLETHORA 5, a transcription factor activated by auxin signalling in the vascular cambium, regulates cell expansion and cell wall thickening of fibres by directly repressing SND1 genes during wood formation in Populus tomentosa.","PeriodicalId":18904,"journal":{"name":"Nature Plants","volume":"11 3","pages":"580-594"},"PeriodicalIF":15.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143653485","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-18DOI: 10.1038/s41477-025-01943-9
Understanding the genetic basis of valuable crop wild relatives (CWRs) could enable their use in expanding crop diversity and enhancing production. The first reference genome for Hordeum I-genome CWRs unravels unique evolutionary adaptations to salt–alkali stress, highlighting their potential applications in wheat and barley breeding programmes.
{"title":"A Hordeum I-genome sequence provides insight into how plants adapt to salt–alkali stress","authors":"","doi":"10.1038/s41477-025-01943-9","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41477-025-01943-9","url":null,"abstract":"Understanding the genetic basis of valuable crop wild relatives (CWRs) could enable their use in expanding crop diversity and enhancing production. The first reference genome for Hordeum I-genome CWRs unravels unique evolutionary adaptations to salt–alkali stress, highlighting their potential applications in wheat and barley breeding programmes.","PeriodicalId":18904,"journal":{"name":"Nature Plants","volume":"11 3","pages":"392-393"},"PeriodicalIF":15.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143641103","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-18DOI: 10.1038/s41477-025-01970-6
Catherine Walker
{"title":"To plant or not to plant","authors":"Catherine Walker","doi":"10.1038/s41477-025-01970-6","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41477-025-01970-6","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18904,"journal":{"name":"Nature Plants","volume":"11 3","pages":"382-382"},"PeriodicalIF":15.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143641102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-14DOI: 10.1038/s41477-025-01967-1
Brian D. Gregory
Identification of NERD-interacting proteins reveals a role for this protein in N6-methyladenosine deposition at the FLC locus to regulate flowering time.
{"title":"A NERDy effect on flowering","authors":"Brian D. Gregory","doi":"10.1038/s41477-025-01967-1","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41477-025-01967-1","url":null,"abstract":"Identification of NERD-interacting proteins reveals a role for this protein in N6-methyladenosine deposition at the FLC locus to regulate flowering time.","PeriodicalId":18904,"journal":{"name":"Nature Plants","volume":"11 3","pages":"383-384"},"PeriodicalIF":15.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143618505","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Crop wild relatives (CWRs) are invaluable for crop improvement. Among these, Hordeum I-genome species exhibit exceptional tolerance to alkali and salt stresses. Here we present a chromosome-scale genome assembly of Hordeum brevisubulatum (II, 2n = 2x =14) and genome resequencing of 38 diploid germplasms spanning 7 I-genome species. We reveal that the adaptive evolution of the H. brevisubulatum genome is shaped by structural variations, some of which may contribute to its adaptation to high alkali and salt environments. Evolutionary duplication of the stress sensor-responder module CaBP-NRT2 and the horizontally transferred fungal gene Fhb7 were identified as novel alkaline–saline tolerance mechanisms. We also demonstrate the potential of the Hordeum I genome in crop breeding through the newly synthesized hexaploid Tritordeum (AABBII) with enhanced alkaline–saline tolerance. Our study fills critical gaps in Hordeum genomics and CWR research, advancing introgression of CWR resources into current crops for sustainable agriculture. The authors present a reference genome for Hordeum I-genome species. This work unravels genomic features that drive adaptation to salt and alkali environments and could aid in improving crop resilience.
{"title":"Hordeum I genome unlocks adaptive evolution and genetic potential for crop improvement","authors":"Hao Feng, Qingwei Du, Ying Jiang, Yong Jia, Tianhua He, Yibin Wang, Brett Chapman, Jiaxin Yu, Haiwen Zhang, Mengxue Gu, Mengwei Jiang, Shanshan Gao, Xinjie Zhang, Yameng Song, Vanika Garg, Rajeev K. Varshney, Jianhua Wei, Chengdao Li, Xingtan Zhang, Ruifen Li","doi":"10.1038/s41477-025-01942-w","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41477-025-01942-w","url":null,"abstract":"Crop wild relatives (CWRs) are invaluable for crop improvement. Among these, Hordeum I-genome species exhibit exceptional tolerance to alkali and salt stresses. Here we present a chromosome-scale genome assembly of Hordeum brevisubulatum (II, 2n = 2x =14) and genome resequencing of 38 diploid germplasms spanning 7 I-genome species. We reveal that the adaptive evolution of the H. brevisubulatum genome is shaped by structural variations, some of which may contribute to its adaptation to high alkali and salt environments. Evolutionary duplication of the stress sensor-responder module CaBP-NRT2 and the horizontally transferred fungal gene Fhb7 were identified as novel alkaline–saline tolerance mechanisms. We also demonstrate the potential of the Hordeum I genome in crop breeding through the newly synthesized hexaploid Tritordeum (AABBII) with enhanced alkaline–saline tolerance. Our study fills critical gaps in Hordeum genomics and CWR research, advancing introgression of CWR resources into current crops for sustainable agriculture. The authors present a reference genome for Hordeum I-genome species. This work unravels genomic features that drive adaptation to salt and alkali environments and could aid in improving crop resilience.","PeriodicalId":18904,"journal":{"name":"Nature Plants","volume":"11 3","pages":"438-452"},"PeriodicalIF":15.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-025-01942-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143618506","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent internal modification on messenger RNA. Although recent studies have shown m6A effects on determining the fate of mRNA through modulating various aspects of plant mRNA metabolism, whether and how m6A affects gene transcription in plants remains elusive. Here we show that NEEDED FOR RDR2-INDEPENDENT DNA METHYLATION (NERD), a plant-specific protein, is an essential component of the m6A methyltransferase complex required for regulating the transcription of a central floral repressor FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) in Arabidopsis. NERD interacts with and stabilizes the two core methyltransferases, mRNA adenosine methylases A and B, to promote m6A modification of nascent RNA, conferring an overall negative effect on gene transcription. At the FLC locus, NERD-mediated m6A modification on the nascent transcript negatively affects H3K36me3 deposition and FLC transcription through NERD interaction with the H3K36me3 methyltransferase SET DOMAIN GROUP 8. Collectively, our findings reveal that NERD mediates the crosstalk between epitranscriptomic and epigenetic regulation of FLC to modulate flowering in Arabidopsis. This study reveals NERD, a zinc finger protein, as an essential component of the plant m6A methyltransferase complex that mediates epitranscriptomic and epigenetic regulation of the floral repressor gene FLC to modulate flowering in Arabidopsis.
{"title":"NERD-dependent m6A modification of the nascent FLC transcript regulates flowering time in Arabidopsis","authors":"Yanlin Shao, Jinqi Ma, Songyao Zhang, Yifeng Xu, Hao Yu","doi":"10.1038/s41477-025-01945-7","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41477-025-01945-7","url":null,"abstract":"N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent internal modification on messenger RNA. Although recent studies have shown m6A effects on determining the fate of mRNA through modulating various aspects of plant mRNA metabolism, whether and how m6A affects gene transcription in plants remains elusive. Here we show that NEEDED FOR RDR2-INDEPENDENT DNA METHYLATION (NERD), a plant-specific protein, is an essential component of the m6A methyltransferase complex required for regulating the transcription of a central floral repressor FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) in Arabidopsis. NERD interacts with and stabilizes the two core methyltransferases, mRNA adenosine methylases A and B, to promote m6A modification of nascent RNA, conferring an overall negative effect on gene transcription. At the FLC locus, NERD-mediated m6A modification on the nascent transcript negatively affects H3K36me3 deposition and FLC transcription through NERD interaction with the H3K36me3 methyltransferase SET DOMAIN GROUP 8. Collectively, our findings reveal that NERD mediates the crosstalk between epitranscriptomic and epigenetic regulation of FLC to modulate flowering in Arabidopsis. This study reveals NERD, a zinc finger protein, as an essential component of the plant m6A methyltransferase complex that mediates epitranscriptomic and epigenetic regulation of the floral repressor gene FLC to modulate flowering in Arabidopsis.","PeriodicalId":18904,"journal":{"name":"Nature Plants","volume":"11 3","pages":"468-482"},"PeriodicalIF":15.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143618714","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-14DOI: 10.1038/s41477-025-01920-2
Amber N. Hafeez, Laetitia Chartrain, Cong Feng , Florence Cambon, Martha Clarke, Simon Griffiths, Sadiye Hayta, Mei Jiang , Beat Keller, Rachel Kirby, Markus C. Kolodziej, Oliver R. Powell, Mark A. Smedley, Burkhard Steuernagel, Wenfei Xian , Luzie U. Wingen, Shifeng Cheng , Cyrille Saintenac, Brande B. H. Wulff, James K. M. Brown
Septoria tritici blotch (STB), caused by the Dothideomycete fungus Zymoseptoria tritici, is one of the most damaging diseases of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum)1 and the target of costly fungicide applications2. In line with the fungus’s apoplastic lifestyle, STB resistance genes isolated to date encode receptor-like kinases (RLKs) including a wall-associated kinase (Stb6) and a cysteine-rich kinase (Stb16q)3,4. Here we used genome-wide association studies on a diverse panel of 300 whole-genome shotgun-sequenced wheat landraces (WatSeq consortium5) to identify a 99-kb region containing six candidates for the Stb15 resistance gene. Mutagenesis and transgenesis confirmed a gene encoding an intronless G-type lectin RLK as Stb15. The characterization of Stb15 exemplifies the unexpected diversity of RLKs conferring Z. tritici resistance in wheat. Stb15 provides resistance to Septoria tritici blotch in wheat and encodes a G-type lectin receptor-like kinase. The three cloned Stb genes, which are effective against different pathogen isolates, encode diverse receptor-like kinases with extracellular domains potentially involved in sugar binding.
{"title":"Septoria tritici blotch resistance gene Stb15 encodes a lectin receptor-like kinase","authors":"Amber N. Hafeez, Laetitia Chartrain, Cong Feng \u0000 , Florence Cambon, Martha Clarke, Simon Griffiths, Sadiye Hayta, Mei Jiang \u0000 , Beat Keller, Rachel Kirby, Markus C. Kolodziej, Oliver R. Powell, Mark A. Smedley, Burkhard Steuernagel, Wenfei Xian \u0000 , Luzie U. Wingen, Shifeng Cheng \u0000 , Cyrille Saintenac, Brande B. H. Wulff, James K. M. Brown","doi":"10.1038/s41477-025-01920-2","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41477-025-01920-2","url":null,"abstract":"Septoria tritici blotch (STB), caused by the Dothideomycete fungus Zymoseptoria tritici, is one of the most damaging diseases of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum)1 and the target of costly fungicide applications2. In line with the fungus’s apoplastic lifestyle, STB resistance genes isolated to date encode receptor-like kinases (RLKs) including a wall-associated kinase (Stb6) and a cysteine-rich kinase (Stb16q)3,4. Here we used genome-wide association studies on a diverse panel of 300 whole-genome shotgun-sequenced wheat landraces (WatSeq consortium5) to identify a 99-kb region containing six candidates for the Stb15 resistance gene. Mutagenesis and transgenesis confirmed a gene encoding an intronless G-type lectin RLK as Stb15. The characterization of Stb15 exemplifies the unexpected diversity of RLKs conferring Z. tritici resistance in wheat. Stb15 provides resistance to Septoria tritici blotch in wheat and encodes a G-type lectin receptor-like kinase. The three cloned Stb genes, which are effective against different pathogen isolates, encode diverse receptor-like kinases with extracellular domains potentially involved in sugar binding.","PeriodicalId":18904,"journal":{"name":"Nature Plants","volume":"11 3","pages":"410-420"},"PeriodicalIF":15.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-025-01920-2.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143618503","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
京公网安备 11010802042870号
京ICP备2023020795号-1
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：