{"title":"What Makes Parsnip Pale? Its First Genome Has Answers.","authors":"Neeta Lohani","doi":"10.1093/plphys/kiag006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiag006","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":20101,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology","volume":"30 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145986357","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}
Weinan Sun,Dandan Yue,Linjie Xia,Shuo Hou,Xianlong Zhang,Xiyan Yang
The calcineurin B-like (CBL)-interacting protein kinase (CIPK) signaling network is the core regulatory node in the response to abiotic stress in plants; it regulates plant homeostasis by regulating various proteins mediating ion transport. However, there are few reports on CIPK-mediated ion transporters in the cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) response to drought stress. Through yeast two-hybrid assays, we identified SUPPRESSOR OF K+ TRANSPORT GROWTH DEFECT 1 (GhSKD1), which interacts with GhCIPK6D1. GhSKD1 was significantly up-regulated after drought stress, while GhSKD1 localized to the cell membrane and nucleus. Functional studies revealed that GhSKD1 positively regulates K+ efflux, thus enhancing drought tolerance in cotton. Genetic and biochemical evidence showed that the phosphorylation of GhSKD1 by GhCIPK6D1 mediates K+ influx in guard cells, thereby regulating stomatal aperture and drought tolerance in cotton. GhSKD1 represents a previously uncharacterized protein that mediates potassium ion transport during the drought stress response. This finding identifies another target of CIPK regulation in the CPL-CIPK signaling network and provides insights into the mechanisms of drought tolerance in plants.
{"title":"Phosphorylation of GhSKD1 by GhCIPK6D1 regulates potassium efflux during the drought response in cotton.","authors":"Weinan Sun,Dandan Yue,Linjie Xia,Shuo Hou,Xianlong Zhang,Xiyan Yang","doi":"10.1093/plphys/kiaf684","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiaf684","url":null,"abstract":"The calcineurin B-like (CBL)-interacting protein kinase (CIPK) signaling network is the core regulatory node in the response to abiotic stress in plants; it regulates plant homeostasis by regulating various proteins mediating ion transport. However, there are few reports on CIPK-mediated ion transporters in the cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) response to drought stress. Through yeast two-hybrid assays, we identified SUPPRESSOR OF K+ TRANSPORT GROWTH DEFECT 1 (GhSKD1), which interacts with GhCIPK6D1. GhSKD1 was significantly up-regulated after drought stress, while GhSKD1 localized to the cell membrane and nucleus. Functional studies revealed that GhSKD1 positively regulates K+ efflux, thus enhancing drought tolerance in cotton. Genetic and biochemical evidence showed that the phosphorylation of GhSKD1 by GhCIPK6D1 mediates K+ influx in guard cells, thereby regulating stomatal aperture and drought tolerance in cotton. GhSKD1 represents a previously uncharacterized protein that mediates potassium ion transport during the drought stress response. This finding identifies another target of CIPK regulation in the CPL-CIPK signaling network and provides insights into the mechanisms of drought tolerance in plants.","PeriodicalId":20101,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology","volume":"5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145937727","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}
Genoveva Carmen Martos de la Fuente,Amanda Bullones,Yordanis Pérez Llano,David Moreno González,Ramón A Batista-Garcia,M Gonzalo Claros,Noe Fernandez-Pozo,Ana María Fernández-Ocaña
Understanding the transcriptional mechanisms that distinguish drought-tolerant from drought-sensitive olive cultivars is essential for improving resilience to climate change. In this study, we compared transcriptomic profiles between two olive cultivars with markedly different drought responses: the highly sensitive 'Koroneiki' and the highly tolerant 'Martina'. Using RNA-Seq under moderate and severe drought conditions, we identified both shared and cultivar-specific transcriptional adjustments to water deficit. 'Koroneiki' displayed an early and broad upregulation of genes involved in cell wall biosynthesis, secondary metabolism, and antioxidant pathways, but failed to sustain efficient hormonal regulation or timely activation of the MAP kinase signaling cascade. In contrast, 'Martina' adopted an anticipatory and energy-conserving strategy, characterized by early downregulation of primary metabolism, enhanced ABA-mediated gene expression, and activation of dormancy-related pathways. Notably, key signaling nodes, such as MAP kinases, WRKY transcription factors, and ABA-GA crosstalk elements, exhibited divergent expression patterns between the two cultivars, suggesting differential engagement of regulatory networks. These findings reveal distinct transcriptomic strategies underlying drought adaptation in olive and identify 'Martina' as a promising genotype for breeding programs aimed at enhancing climate resilience. The results provide molecular markers and regulatory targets for improving drought tolerance in perennial crops.
{"title":"Transcriptome profiling reveals divergent response strategies in two olive cultivars with contrasting drought tolerance.","authors":"Genoveva Carmen Martos de la Fuente,Amanda Bullones,Yordanis Pérez Llano,David Moreno González,Ramón A Batista-Garcia,M Gonzalo Claros,Noe Fernandez-Pozo,Ana María Fernández-Ocaña","doi":"10.1093/plphys/kiag001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiag001","url":null,"abstract":"Understanding the transcriptional mechanisms that distinguish drought-tolerant from drought-sensitive olive cultivars is essential for improving resilience to climate change. In this study, we compared transcriptomic profiles between two olive cultivars with markedly different drought responses: the highly sensitive 'Koroneiki' and the highly tolerant 'Martina'. Using RNA-Seq under moderate and severe drought conditions, we identified both shared and cultivar-specific transcriptional adjustments to water deficit. 'Koroneiki' displayed an early and broad upregulation of genes involved in cell wall biosynthesis, secondary metabolism, and antioxidant pathways, but failed to sustain efficient hormonal regulation or timely activation of the MAP kinase signaling cascade. In contrast, 'Martina' adopted an anticipatory and energy-conserving strategy, characterized by early downregulation of primary metabolism, enhanced ABA-mediated gene expression, and activation of dormancy-related pathways. Notably, key signaling nodes, such as MAP kinases, WRKY transcription factors, and ABA-GA crosstalk elements, exhibited divergent expression patterns between the two cultivars, suggesting differential engagement of regulatory networks. These findings reveal distinct transcriptomic strategies underlying drought adaptation in olive and identify 'Martina' as a promising genotype for breeding programs aimed at enhancing climate resilience. The results provide molecular markers and regulatory targets for improving drought tolerance in perennial crops.","PeriodicalId":20101,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology","volume":"6 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145937728","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}
Guosong Chen, Yueyuan Liu, Jiaming Li, Kui Lin-Wang, Richard V Espley, Lester Brewer, Andrew C Allan, Guangyan Yang, Weilin Wei, Yongqi Zhao, Zhaolong Xue, Jun Wu
Red fruit flesh is a rare occurrence in pears (Pyrus spp.), yet it is an attractive trait as anthocyanin enrichment would add nutritional value and novelty for consumers. Previous research has focused on red-skinned phenotypes in pear fruit, but the potential regulatory mechanisms controlling red flesh remain unclear. Here, we identified the Homeodomain leucine zipper (HD-ZIP) family transcription factor PyHAT5 as a controlling factor using transcriptome analysis of pear fruit flesh at three different developmental stages in a hybrid population of red-fleshed and white-fleshed pears. The expression level of PyHAT5 was significantly negatively correlated (correlation coefficient of −0.94) with anthocyanin content in the flesh. Overexpression of PyHAT5 inhibited anthocyanin accumulation in pear tissues (skin and callus), peach (Prunus persica) flesh, and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) leaves, while virus-induced silencing of PyHAT5 promoted intense coloration of pear skin. Further analysis found that PyHAT5 protein interacts with PyMYB10, thereby blocking the formation and transcriptional activity of the PyMYB10-PybHLH3 complex. Additionally, we identified through yeast two-hybrid screening that an E3 ubiquitin ligase, PyAIP2, interacts with PyHAT5 and may promote its ubiquitination and degradation. Overexpression of PyAIP2 promoted anthocyanin biosynthesis in pear skin, while knockdown of PyAIP2 had the opposite effect. Our findings reveal a regulatory module, PyAIP2-PyHAT5-PyMYB10, that plays a critical role in regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis in red-fleshed pear. These findings also advance our understanding of the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis in other tissues and provide genetic knowledge for advancing breeding in pear.
{"title":"PyHAT5 regulates anthocyanin biosynthesis in red-fleshed pear and undergoes ubiquitination and degradation by PyAIP2","authors":"Guosong Chen, Yueyuan Liu, Jiaming Li, Kui Lin-Wang, Richard V Espley, Lester Brewer, Andrew C Allan, Guangyan Yang, Weilin Wei, Yongqi Zhao, Zhaolong Xue, Jun Wu","doi":"10.1093/plphys/kiaf683","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiaf683","url":null,"abstract":"Red fruit flesh is a rare occurrence in pears (Pyrus spp.), yet it is an attractive trait as anthocyanin enrichment would add nutritional value and novelty for consumers. Previous research has focused on red-skinned phenotypes in pear fruit, but the potential regulatory mechanisms controlling red flesh remain unclear. Here, we identified the Homeodomain leucine zipper (HD-ZIP) family transcription factor PyHAT5 as a controlling factor using transcriptome analysis of pear fruit flesh at three different developmental stages in a hybrid population of red-fleshed and white-fleshed pears. The expression level of PyHAT5 was significantly negatively correlated (correlation coefficient of −0.94) with anthocyanin content in the flesh. Overexpression of PyHAT5 inhibited anthocyanin accumulation in pear tissues (skin and callus), peach (Prunus persica) flesh, and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) leaves, while virus-induced silencing of PyHAT5 promoted intense coloration of pear skin. Further analysis found that PyHAT5 protein interacts with PyMYB10, thereby blocking the formation and transcriptional activity of the PyMYB10-PybHLH3 complex. Additionally, we identified through yeast two-hybrid screening that an E3 ubiquitin ligase, PyAIP2, interacts with PyHAT5 and may promote its ubiquitination and degradation. Overexpression of PyAIP2 promoted anthocyanin biosynthesis in pear skin, while knockdown of PyAIP2 had the opposite effect. Our findings reveal a regulatory module, PyAIP2-PyHAT5-PyMYB10, that plays a critical role in regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis in red-fleshed pear. These findings also advance our understanding of the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis in other tissues and provide genetic knowledge for advancing breeding in pear.","PeriodicalId":20101,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology","volume":"79 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145903600","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}
Xiaohui Lin,Teng Zhang,Gan Huang,Paula Elomaa,Yaqin Wang
Inflorescences in the Asteraceae plant family contain distinct floret types. The peripheral ray florets typically develop large and showy blade-like ligules that promote the reproductive success of Asteraceae by contributing to the flower-like appearance of the inflorescences. So far, most studies have focused on understanding the regulation of ray floret identity, while the late differentiation of ligules is poorly understood. Here, we show that the coordinated action of two phytohormones, brassinosteroids (BRs) and auxin, plays an essential role in defining the final size and shape of the ligules in gerbera (Gerbera hybrida). Epibrassinolide treatment or precocious activation of BR signaling by ectopic or inducible overexpression of gerbera BZR1/BES1 HOMOLOG 2 (GhBEH2) converted the flat ligules into curved structures. The curved phenotype was associated with upregulation of the auxin biosynthetic gene GhYUCCA2a (GhYUC2a) and differential growth of the adaxial and abaxial epidermal cells. A similar curved phenotype was observed in auxin-treated ligules. Moreover, co-silencing of GhBEH1 and GhBEH2 paralogs reduced the ligule size by affecting cell expansion. We further demonstrate that GhBEH2 directly binds the GhYUC2a promoter to activate its transcription. Altogether, our results indicate that ligule morphogenesis requires coordinated action of BR and auxin signaling. Our functional data reveal that this coordination is also necessary for late differentiation of gerbera leaves and petals and leaves of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), suggesting a conserved mechanism in regulating the differentiation of flat organs across distinct plant families.
{"title":"Coordinated brassinosteroid and auxin signaling modulates ray floret ligule and leaf morphology in Gerbera hybrida.","authors":"Xiaohui Lin,Teng Zhang,Gan Huang,Paula Elomaa,Yaqin Wang","doi":"10.1093/plphys/kiaf662","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiaf662","url":null,"abstract":"Inflorescences in the Asteraceae plant family contain distinct floret types. The peripheral ray florets typically develop large and showy blade-like ligules that promote the reproductive success of Asteraceae by contributing to the flower-like appearance of the inflorescences. So far, most studies have focused on understanding the regulation of ray floret identity, while the late differentiation of ligules is poorly understood. Here, we show that the coordinated action of two phytohormones, brassinosteroids (BRs) and auxin, plays an essential role in defining the final size and shape of the ligules in gerbera (Gerbera hybrida). Epibrassinolide treatment or precocious activation of BR signaling by ectopic or inducible overexpression of gerbera BZR1/BES1 HOMOLOG 2 (GhBEH2) converted the flat ligules into curved structures. The curved phenotype was associated with upregulation of the auxin biosynthetic gene GhYUCCA2a (GhYUC2a) and differential growth of the adaxial and abaxial epidermal cells. A similar curved phenotype was observed in auxin-treated ligules. Moreover, co-silencing of GhBEH1 and GhBEH2 paralogs reduced the ligule size by affecting cell expansion. We further demonstrate that GhBEH2 directly binds the GhYUC2a promoter to activate its transcription. Altogether, our results indicate that ligule morphogenesis requires coordinated action of BR and auxin signaling. Our functional data reveal that this coordination is also necessary for late differentiation of gerbera leaves and petals and leaves of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), suggesting a conserved mechanism in regulating the differentiation of flat organs across distinct plant families.","PeriodicalId":20101,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology","volume":"29 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145907592","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}
{"title":"When stress drives you to kidnap: RACK1A sequesters FSD1 into stress granules during salt stress.","authors":"Sara Selma","doi":"10.1093/plphys/kiaf673","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiaf673","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":20101,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology","volume":"29 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145907593","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}
Ziang Liu, Guanglian Liao, Yanjie Fan, Yawei Li, Li Liao, Kun Yang, Shengjun Liu, Yuantao Xu, Xia Wang, Qiang Xu, Zhihao Lu
L-Ascorbic acid (AsA), commonly known as Vitamin C (Vc), is indispensable to humans and is crucial for maintaining redox homeostasis during plant growth and development, fruit ripening, and stress responses. Citrus species are diverse and widely distributed, and their fruits are vital dietary sources of Vc. However, the regulatory mechanism underlying AsA accumulation in citrus fruit remains unclear. In this study, we observed that Citrus species exhibit significantly higher AsA content and Pectin methylesterase (PME) expression than Citrus-related genera in mature fruit pulp, with AsA levels and PME expression declining during fruit ripening. Functional validation confirmed that CitPME positively promotes AsA biosynthesis in citrus. Notably, a miniature inverted-repeat transposable element (MITE) insertion in mandarin and sweet orange CitPME promoters contributed to higher promoter activity than that observed in Citrus-related genera. Furthermore, CitNOR-like1, a NAC transcription factor (TF) homolog of the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) SlNOR-like1 involved in fruit ripening, was identified as a negative regulator of AsA accumulation. CitNOR-like1 expression increased during fruit ripening and resulted in repressed CitPME transcription, exhibiting a stronger repressive effect on PME promoters from Citrus-related genera than those from Citrus. Heterologous overexpression of CitNOR-like1 significantly decreased AsA content in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and tomato and promoted fruit ripening in tomato. Collectively, this study identified a key TF involved in regulating AsA accumulation in citrus fruit. These findings shed light on the genetic regulation of AsA and offer a potential strategy to modulate fruit ripening without compromising fruit AsA content.
l -抗坏血酸（AsA），通常被称为维生素C (Vc)，是人类不可缺少的，在植物生长发育、果实成熟和逆境反应中维持氧化还原稳态至关重要。柑橘种类繁多，分布广泛，其果实是维生素c的重要膳食来源。然而，柑桔果实中AsA积累的调控机制尚不清楚。在本研究中，我们发现柑橘属在成熟果肉中AsA含量和果胶甲基酯酶（PME）表达显著高于柑橘属，而在果实成熟过程中AsA含量和PME表达呈下降趋势。功能验证证实，CitPME正促进柑橘中AsA的生物合成。值得注意的是，在柑橘和甜橙的CitPME启动子中插入一个微型的反重复转座元件（MITE），其启动子活性高于柑橘相关属。此外，与番茄（Solanum lycopersicum） SlNOR-like1同源的NAC转录因子（TF） CitNOR-like1被鉴定为AsA积累的负调控因子。CitNOR-like1在果实成熟过程中表达增加，导致CitPME转录受到抑制，对柑桔相关属的PME启动子的抑制作用强于柑桔属。异源过表达CitNOR-like1可显著降低烟草和番茄中AsA含量，促进番茄果实成熟。总的来说，本研究确定了一个参与调节柑橘果实中AsA积累的关键TF。这些发现揭示了AsA的遗传调控，并提供了在不影响AsA含量的情况下调节水果成熟的潜在策略。
{"title":"CitNOR-like1 is conserved in the regulation of ascorbic acid accumulation in plants","authors":"Ziang Liu, Guanglian Liao, Yanjie Fan, Yawei Li, Li Liao, Kun Yang, Shengjun Liu, Yuantao Xu, Xia Wang, Qiang Xu, Zhihao Lu","doi":"10.1093/plphys/kiaf658","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiaf658","url":null,"abstract":"L-Ascorbic acid (AsA), commonly known as Vitamin C (Vc), is indispensable to humans and is crucial for maintaining redox homeostasis during plant growth and development, fruit ripening, and stress responses. Citrus species are diverse and widely distributed, and their fruits are vital dietary sources of Vc. However, the regulatory mechanism underlying AsA accumulation in citrus fruit remains unclear. In this study, we observed that Citrus species exhibit significantly higher AsA content and Pectin methylesterase (PME) expression than Citrus-related genera in mature fruit pulp, with AsA levels and PME expression declining during fruit ripening. Functional validation confirmed that CitPME positively promotes AsA biosynthesis in citrus. Notably, a miniature inverted-repeat transposable element (MITE) insertion in mandarin and sweet orange CitPME promoters contributed to higher promoter activity than that observed in Citrus-related genera. Furthermore, CitNOR-like1, a NAC transcription factor (TF) homolog of the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) SlNOR-like1 involved in fruit ripening, was identified as a negative regulator of AsA accumulation. CitNOR-like1 expression increased during fruit ripening and resulted in repressed CitPME transcription, exhibiting a stronger repressive effect on PME promoters from Citrus-related genera than those from Citrus. Heterologous overexpression of CitNOR-like1 significantly decreased AsA content in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and tomato and promoted fruit ripening in tomato. Collectively, this study identified a key TF involved in regulating AsA accumulation in citrus fruit. These findings shed light on the genetic regulation of AsA and offer a potential strategy to modulate fruit ripening without compromising fruit AsA content.","PeriodicalId":20101,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145920293","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}
Drought stress severely inhibits plant growth and yield, and plants have evolved various strategies to mitigate its effects. However, the genetic basis of photosynthetic traits and their responses during drought stress in Brassica napus (B. napus) remains poorly understood. In this study, we assessed photosynthetic traits in a natural population of 167 B. napus accessions under well-watered and mild drought stress conditions. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified 106 quantitative trait locus (QTLs) associated with photosynthetic traits. Among these QTLs, a major QTL, qSC.A10.1, which associated with stomatal conductance under mild drought, was located. Within this region, a candidate gene, BnaA10.LEA4-5, which encodes a late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) protein, was identified. Functional verification revealed that BnaLEA4-5 promotes jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis, thereby reducing stomatal density and conductance and enhancing water use efficiency and drought resistance in B. napus. Further investigation showed that BnaLEA4-5 induces JA biosynthesis by upregulating AOS1 through the transcription factors EDT1 and RAP2.4, leading to MYC2-regulated reduction of stomatal density. These findings elucidate the genetic basis and molecular mechanism underlying photosynthetic adaptation to drought stress in B. napus and provide a genetic resource for genetic improvement of drought resistance in B. napus breeding.
{"title":"Genome-wide association studies of stomatal conductance reveal the function of BnaLEA4-5 in drought resistance in Brassica napus.","authors":"Shuai Fang,Jing Zhang,Yuting Zhang,Yutong Jin,Lintang Xu,Yuyan Xiang,Zhiquan Yang,Kede Liu,Liyong Hu,Liang Guo,Xuan Yao","doi":"10.1093/plphys/kiaf688","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiaf688","url":null,"abstract":"Drought stress severely inhibits plant growth and yield, and plants have evolved various strategies to mitigate its effects. However, the genetic basis of photosynthetic traits and their responses during drought stress in Brassica napus (B. napus) remains poorly understood. In this study, we assessed photosynthetic traits in a natural population of 167 B. napus accessions under well-watered and mild drought stress conditions. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified 106 quantitative trait locus (QTLs) associated with photosynthetic traits. Among these QTLs, a major QTL, qSC.A10.1, which associated with stomatal conductance under mild drought, was located. Within this region, a candidate gene, BnaA10.LEA4-5, which encodes a late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) protein, was identified. Functional verification revealed that BnaLEA4-5 promotes jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis, thereby reducing stomatal density and conductance and enhancing water use efficiency and drought resistance in B. napus. Further investigation showed that BnaLEA4-5 induces JA biosynthesis by upregulating AOS1 through the transcription factors EDT1 and RAP2.4, leading to MYC2-regulated reduction of stomatal density. These findings elucidate the genetic basis and molecular mechanism underlying photosynthetic adaptation to drought stress in B. napus and provide a genetic resource for genetic improvement of drought resistance in B. napus breeding.","PeriodicalId":20101,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology","volume":"44 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145907872","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}
The genetically tractable unicellular red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae has a remarkably simple genome (4,775 nucleus-encoded proteins) and cellular architecture. It contains only a single set of most membranous organelles, making it a valuable tool for elucidating the fundamental mechanisms of photosynthetic eukaryotes. However, as in other genetically tractable eukaryotic algae, previously developed systems for inducible gene expression rely on environmental stimuli such as heat shock or ammonium depletion, which impact cellular physiology and thus limit their usage. To overcome this issue, we developed IPTG- and estradiol-inducible gene expression systems in C. merolae in which the addition of these chemicals itself has no impact on cellular growth or the transcriptome. Additionally, we established IPTG- and estradiol-inducible protein knockdown systems and successfully degraded the endogenous chloroplast division protein DRP5B using the estradiol-inducible system. These systems facilitate functional genomic analyses in C. merolae, especially for understanding physiological mechanisms and their interactions in photosynthetic eukaryotes.
{"title":"IPTG- and estradiol-inducible gene expression systems in the unicellular red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae.","authors":"Takayuki Fujiwara, Shunsuke Hirooka, Shota Yamashita, Shin-Ya Miyagishima","doi":"10.1093/plphys/kiaf575","DOIUrl":"10.1093/plphys/kiaf575","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The genetically tractable unicellular red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae has a remarkably simple genome (4,775 nucleus-encoded proteins) and cellular architecture. It contains only a single set of most membranous organelles, making it a valuable tool for elucidating the fundamental mechanisms of photosynthetic eukaryotes. However, as in other genetically tractable eukaryotic algae, previously developed systems for inducible gene expression rely on environmental stimuli such as heat shock or ammonium depletion, which impact cellular physiology and thus limit their usage. To overcome this issue, we developed IPTG- and estradiol-inducible gene expression systems in C. merolae in which the addition of these chemicals itself has no impact on cellular growth or the transcriptome. Additionally, we established IPTG- and estradiol-inducible protein knockdown systems and successfully degraded the endogenous chloroplast division protein DRP5B using the estradiol-inducible system. These systems facilitate functional genomic analyses in C. merolae, especially for understanding physiological mechanisms and their interactions in photosynthetic eukaryotes.</p>","PeriodicalId":20101,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12770821/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145489942","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}
Xiaowei Wu, Jiang Ye, Xiang Li, Lintang Xu, Qian Qu, Yuyan Xiang, Jinglu Zhou, Shuai Fang, Liangqian Yu, Xu Han, Liang Guo, Xuan Yao
Brassica napus is one of the most important oil crops worldwide, and its production is severely threatened by drought stress. Breeding drought-resistant cultivars is needed to cope with global climate change. However, few drought resistance regulators have been identified, and the molecular mechanism of drought resistance is largely unknown in B. napus. Here, we characterized a typical R2R3-MYB transcription factor, BnaMYB52, as a negative regulator of drought resistance in B. napus. The disruption of BnaMYB52 resulted in enhanced drought resistance, whereas overexpression of BnaA09.MYB52 reduced drought resistance. Further analyses showed that BnaMYB52 affects leaf water loss from both stomata and the cuticle to negatively regulate drought resistance. We demonstrated that BnaMYB52 acts as a transcription repressor regulating the expression of the downstream targets BnaMYB96 and BnaMYB30, controlling both ABA signaling and wax biosynthesis, and BnaMYC2, controlling stomatal density. This study uncovers the molecular mechanism of BnaMYB52-regulated drought resistance and provides a genetic resource for the molecular breeding of drought-resistant B. napus cultivars.
{"title":"BnaMYB52 negatively regulates drought resistance by controlling stomatal and non-stomatal water loss in Brassica napus","authors":"Xiaowei Wu, Jiang Ye, Xiang Li, Lintang Xu, Qian Qu, Yuyan Xiang, Jinglu Zhou, Shuai Fang, Liangqian Yu, Xu Han, Liang Guo, Xuan Yao","doi":"10.1093/plphys/kiaf681","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiaf681","url":null,"abstract":"Brassica napus is one of the most important oil crops worldwide, and its production is severely threatened by drought stress. Breeding drought-resistant cultivars is needed to cope with global climate change. However, few drought resistance regulators have been identified, and the molecular mechanism of drought resistance is largely unknown in B. napus. Here, we characterized a typical R2R3-MYB transcription factor, BnaMYB52, as a negative regulator of drought resistance in B. napus. The disruption of BnaMYB52 resulted in enhanced drought resistance, whereas overexpression of BnaA09.MYB52 reduced drought resistance. Further analyses showed that BnaMYB52 affects leaf water loss from both stomata and the cuticle to negatively regulate drought resistance. We demonstrated that BnaMYB52 acts as a transcription repressor regulating the expression of the downstream targets BnaMYB96 and BnaMYB30, controlling both ABA signaling and wax biosynthesis, and BnaMYC2, controlling stomatal density. This study uncovers the molecular mechanism of BnaMYB52-regulated drought resistance and provides a genetic resource for the molecular breeding of drought-resistant B. napus cultivars.","PeriodicalId":20101,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology","volume":"52 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145903601","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}
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