Plants possess conserved immune systems to defend against herbivorous insects. In response, insects secrete saliva to manipulate host cell biology, with many salivary proteins being species-specific. The mechanisms by which different insects, armed with distinct salivary components, counteract the conserved plant immune systems are not well understood. Here, we describe how two salivary effectors from the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens and the bean bug Riptortus pedestris target pathogenesis-related germin-like proteins (GLPs) in rice and soybean. In N. lugens, NlGTSP is expressed exclusively in the salivary glands and is secreted into host plants during feeding. Its knockdown significantly reduces phloem feeding and reproduction, whereas overexpression in rice enhances insect performance and rescues NlGTSP deficiency. NlGTSP partly modulates defenses by interacting with plant GLPs and inhibiting their enzymatic activity. In R. pedestris, the salivary protein RpGDSP lacks sequence or structural similarity to NlGTSP but also targets GLPs, promoting their degradation via the ubiquitin pathway to enhance feeding. Collectively, our findings reveal a functional analogy between salivary effectors from different insects that regulate core plant defense genes through distinct mechanisms.
{"title":"Planthoppers and bean bugs exhibit functional analogy in salivary effectors targeting germin-like proteins through distinct mechanisms.","authors":"Hai-Jian Huang, Hai-Bin Lu, Xiao-Tian Yan, Tang-Bin Hu, Xin-Ye Xu, Ze-Long Zhang, Jia-Bao Lu, Jian-Ping Chen, Jun-Min Li, Chuan-Xi Zhang","doi":"10.1093/plphys/kiag013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiag013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Plants possess conserved immune systems to defend against herbivorous insects. In response, insects secrete saliva to manipulate host cell biology, with many salivary proteins being species-specific. The mechanisms by which different insects, armed with distinct salivary components, counteract the conserved plant immune systems are not well understood. Here, we describe how two salivary effectors from the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens and the bean bug Riptortus pedestris target pathogenesis-related germin-like proteins (GLPs) in rice and soybean. In N. lugens, NlGTSP is expressed exclusively in the salivary glands and is secreted into host plants during feeding. Its knockdown significantly reduces phloem feeding and reproduction, whereas overexpression in rice enhances insect performance and rescues NlGTSP deficiency. NlGTSP partly modulates defenses by interacting with plant GLPs and inhibiting their enzymatic activity. In R. pedestris, the salivary protein RpGDSP lacks sequence or structural similarity to NlGTSP but also targets GLPs, promoting their degradation via the ubiquitin pathway to enhance feeding. Collectively, our findings reveal a functional analogy between salivary effectors from different insects that regulate core plant defense genes through distinct mechanisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":20101,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146119866","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}
Muhammad Kamran, Paweł Burdiak, Roshanak Zarrin Ghalami, Anna Rusaczonek, Maria Duszyn, Kinga Gołębiewska, Piotr Gawroński, Stanisław M Karpiński
CYSTEINE-RICH RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE 5 (CRK5) is a membrane-localized signaling protein implicated in developmental and stress-responsive pathways. Its promoter contains multiple W-box motifs, suggesting regulation by WRKY transcription factors and a potential role in salicylic acid (SA)-dependent signaling. Since SA simultaneously promotes dark-induced senescence and modulates photo-protective dissipation of absorbed energy in excess (AEE) as heat through its effects on non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), stomatal behavior, and leaf temperature, how these SA-driven processes are coordinated remains unclear. Here, we address the unresolved question of whether CRK5 links SA-signaling to the regulation of both senescence and the dissipation of AEE as heat. We demonstrated that loss of CRK5 function leads to increased SA-accumulation, accelerated dark-induced senescence, reduced NPQ, lower foliar temperature, and impaired photosynthetic performance in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Transcriptomic analysis revealed extensive deregulation of senescence-associated, SA-responsive, and WRKY genes in crk5, particularly under extended darkness. Crucially, introduction of SA-induction-deficient-2 (sid2) or transgenic line (NahG) into the crk5 background fully reverted these phenotypes, whereas disruption of ethylene signaling, ethylene-insensitive-2 (ein2), did not, demonstrating that CRK5 acts specifically through SA-dependent pathways. A line with constitutively enhanced SA levels, constitutive expressor of PR genes 1 (cpr1), showed similar phenotypes to crk5, and exogenous SA further reduced NPQ and leaf temperature across genotypes, confirming that SA negatively regulates foliar AEE dissipation as heat and photosynthetic efficiency. Together, our results identify CRK5 as a key negative regulator of the SA-signaling pathway, which delays dark-induced senescence while positively regulating photosynthesis, NPQ, and thermal dissipation of AEE as heat. This work reveals a previously unrecognized role of CRK5 in coordinating SA-mediated senescence and photo-protective energy management.
{"title":"The kinase CRK5 regulates dark-induced senescence and dissipation of energy as heat by inhibiting salicylic acid signaling","authors":"Muhammad Kamran, Paweł Burdiak, Roshanak Zarrin Ghalami, Anna Rusaczonek, Maria Duszyn, Kinga Gołębiewska, Piotr Gawroński, Stanisław M Karpiński","doi":"10.1093/plphys/kiag046","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiag046","url":null,"abstract":"CYSTEINE-RICH RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE 5 (CRK5) is a membrane-localized signaling protein implicated in developmental and stress-responsive pathways. Its promoter contains multiple W-box motifs, suggesting regulation by WRKY transcription factors and a potential role in salicylic acid (SA)-dependent signaling. Since SA simultaneously promotes dark-induced senescence and modulates photo-protective dissipation of absorbed energy in excess (AEE) as heat through its effects on non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), stomatal behavior, and leaf temperature, how these SA-driven processes are coordinated remains unclear. Here, we address the unresolved question of whether CRK5 links SA-signaling to the regulation of both senescence and the dissipation of AEE as heat. We demonstrated that loss of CRK5 function leads to increased SA-accumulation, accelerated dark-induced senescence, reduced NPQ, lower foliar temperature, and impaired photosynthetic performance in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Transcriptomic analysis revealed extensive deregulation of senescence-associated, SA-responsive, and WRKY genes in crk5, particularly under extended darkness. Crucially, introduction of SA-induction-deficient-2 (sid2) or transgenic line (NahG) into the crk5 background fully reverted these phenotypes, whereas disruption of ethylene signaling, ethylene-insensitive-2 (ein2), did not, demonstrating that CRK5 acts specifically through SA-dependent pathways. A line with constitutively enhanced SA levels, constitutive expressor of PR genes 1 (cpr1), showed similar phenotypes to crk5, and exogenous SA further reduced NPQ and leaf temperature across genotypes, confirming that SA negatively regulates foliar AEE dissipation as heat and photosynthetic efficiency. Together, our results identify CRK5 as a key negative regulator of the SA-signaling pathway, which delays dark-induced senescence while positively regulating photosynthesis, NPQ, and thermal dissipation of AEE as heat. This work reveals a previously unrecognized role of CRK5 in coordinating SA-mediated senescence and photo-protective energy management.","PeriodicalId":20101,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology","volume":"49 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146122083","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}
Light and subterranean darkness play a crucial role in early plant development which guide seamless progression from a dormant seed to a well-established seedling. In seed plants crosstalk between light and hormone signaling pathways optimizes seed germination. This is followed by etiolated growth characterized by the formation of a long hypocotyl and closed cotyledons forming apical hook. These etiolated structures facilitate the efficient emergence of seedlings from underneath the soil. Upon emergence, exposure to light promotes the de-etiolation process, characterized by inhibition of hypocotyl elongation and formation of open and green cotyledons. The early developmental steps in a plant's life-cycle which include seed germination and post-germinative seedling establishment, are the most stress sensitive stages. To acclimatize with the changing environment plants must activate stress resilience pathways. Recent studies shed light on how light and dark regulated factors modulate responses to combat various abiotic stresses including high temperature, high-intensity light, UV-B radiation and salinity stress. Plant biologists have traditionally examined plant-environment interactions utilizing two complementary but distinct approaches. Developmental biology has focused on the interplay of external influences such as light, temperature and endogenous cues like phytohormones to modulate plant development. Stress biology, in contrast, has studied how various physiological and molecular processes are regulated in response to environmental stress and leading to the plant's ability to adapt. Here we link these two concepts by demonstrating how light-controlled developmental-programs are tightly connected to stress-responsive pathways. These interconnected systems provide flexibility and resilience to plants to survive and evolve under dynamic environments.
{"title":"Light regulation of seed-to-seedling transition under dynamic environment.","authors":"Arpan Mukherjee, Swagatam Das, Neha Singh, Sourav Datta","doi":"10.1093/plphys/kiag050","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiag050","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Light and subterranean darkness play a crucial role in early plant development which guide seamless progression from a dormant seed to a well-established seedling. In seed plants crosstalk between light and hormone signaling pathways optimizes seed germination. This is followed by etiolated growth characterized by the formation of a long hypocotyl and closed cotyledons forming apical hook. These etiolated structures facilitate the efficient emergence of seedlings from underneath the soil. Upon emergence, exposure to light promotes the de-etiolation process, characterized by inhibition of hypocotyl elongation and formation of open and green cotyledons. The early developmental steps in a plant's life-cycle which include seed germination and post-germinative seedling establishment, are the most stress sensitive stages. To acclimatize with the changing environment plants must activate stress resilience pathways. Recent studies shed light on how light and dark regulated factors modulate responses to combat various abiotic stresses including high temperature, high-intensity light, UV-B radiation and salinity stress. Plant biologists have traditionally examined plant-environment interactions utilizing two complementary but distinct approaches. Developmental biology has focused on the interplay of external influences such as light, temperature and endogenous cues like phytohormones to modulate plant development. Stress biology, in contrast, has studied how various physiological and molecular processes are regulated in response to environmental stress and leading to the plant's ability to adapt. Here we link these two concepts by demonstrating how light-controlled developmental-programs are tightly connected to stress-responsive pathways. These interconnected systems provide flexibility and resilience to plants to survive and evolve under dynamic environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":20101,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146119861","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}
Leaf width is an important component of plant architecture that strongly affects light capture during photosynthesis and thus grain yield, particularly under dense planting conditions. However, the genetic and molecular mechanisms regulating leaf width in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) remain unclear. Here, we identified the narrow-leaf mutant nl1 with fewer small veins than the wild type and isolated the narrow-leaf gene Narrow Leaf 1 (NL1) through a combination of map-based cloning and bulked segregant exome capture sequencing (BSE-seq). NL1 encodes cell division CYCLE 48-like (CDC48-like). A single Ser-to-Phe amino acid substitution in this protein led to a narrow-leaf phenotype. Transcriptomic analysis and measurement of endogenous phytohormone levels in nl1 vs. the wild type suggested that NL1 might regulate cell division and the cytokinin pathway to control leaf width. Haplotype analysis showed that Hap2 of NL1 has been selected during wheat breeding. These findings provide insights into the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying the role of NL1 in regulating leaf width and point to the potential of Hap2 for improving wheat plant architecture.
{"title":"Narrow Leaf 1 (NL1) encodes a CELL DIVISION CYCLE 48-like protein that controls leaf width in bread wheat.","authors":"Danping Li,Zhencheng Xie,Yaoyu Chen,Chunhao Dong,Chuan Xia,Jizeng Jia,Yongtao Zhao,Lichao Zhang,Xiuying Kong,Xu Liu","doi":"10.1093/plphys/kiag043","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiag043","url":null,"abstract":"Leaf width is an important component of plant architecture that strongly affects light capture during photosynthesis and thus grain yield, particularly under dense planting conditions. However, the genetic and molecular mechanisms regulating leaf width in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) remain unclear. Here, we identified the narrow-leaf mutant nl1 with fewer small veins than the wild type and isolated the narrow-leaf gene Narrow Leaf 1 (NL1) through a combination of map-based cloning and bulked segregant exome capture sequencing (BSE-seq). NL1 encodes cell division CYCLE 48-like (CDC48-like). A single Ser-to-Phe amino acid substitution in this protein led to a narrow-leaf phenotype. Transcriptomic analysis and measurement of endogenous phytohormone levels in nl1 vs. the wild type suggested that NL1 might regulate cell division and the cytokinin pathway to control leaf width. Haplotype analysis showed that Hap2 of NL1 has been selected during wheat breeding. These findings provide insights into the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying the role of NL1 in regulating leaf width and point to the potential of Hap2 for improving wheat plant architecture.","PeriodicalId":20101,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology","volume":"143 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146088963","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}
Matías Ezequiel Pereyra, Víctor Oscar Sadras, Jorge José Casal
Plants in typical agricultural stands inevitably experience mutual shading. As the canopy develops, neighbour cues progressively reduce the activity of photo-sensory receptors, de-repressing shade-avoidance responses (SARs) that drastically reshape plant architecture. This review synthesises recent molecular advances in understanding the signalling mechanisms underlying SARs. We specifically delve into the photoreceptors, the complex transcriptional networks they regulate, and the signalling molecules that operate downstream or in parallel. A central focus is the dynamic features of the SAR network, which drive signal amplification initiated by brief interruptions of shade from direct sunlight, and the epigenetic memory that allows plants to recall and respond to previous shade events. Recent progress also reveals key similarities and differences in SAR mechanisms between Arabidopsis and major crop species. Ultimately, we consolidate information demonstrating that SARs can be either beneficial or detrimental to crop productivity, depending on the genetic material, environmental context, and specific management practices.
{"title":"Avoiding the shadow: How plants perceive neighbours and reshape the crop light environment","authors":"Matías Ezequiel Pereyra, Víctor Oscar Sadras, Jorge José Casal","doi":"10.1093/plphys/kiag034","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiag034","url":null,"abstract":"Plants in typical agricultural stands inevitably experience mutual shading. As the canopy develops, neighbour cues progressively reduce the activity of photo-sensory receptors, de-repressing shade-avoidance responses (SARs) that drastically reshape plant architecture. This review synthesises recent molecular advances in understanding the signalling mechanisms underlying SARs. We specifically delve into the photoreceptors, the complex transcriptional networks they regulate, and the signalling molecules that operate downstream or in parallel. A central focus is the dynamic features of the SAR network, which drive signal amplification initiated by brief interruptions of shade from direct sunlight, and the epigenetic memory that allows plants to recall and respond to previous shade events. Recent progress also reveals key similarities and differences in SAR mechanisms between Arabidopsis and major crop species. Ultimately, we consolidate information demonstrating that SARs can be either beneficial or detrimental to crop productivity, depending on the genetic material, environmental context, and specific management practices.","PeriodicalId":20101,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146110532","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}
Benny Jian Rong Sng, Hui Jun Chin, Ian Kin Yuen Choi, Xin Yang, Kien Van Vu, In-Cheol Jang
Leaf senescence is a complex physiological process that involves the gradual wilting and death of leaf tissue. While multiple transcription factors contribute to this process, the NAC transcription factor ORESARA1 (ORE1) plays a major role in leaf senescence in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). ORE1 is regulated by various upstream transcription factors, including PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR5 (PIF5), which directly activates ORE1 transcription. Here, we show that LONG HYPOCOTYL IN FAR-RED1 (HFR1), an atypical basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor primarily involved in light signaling, functions in the leaf senescence regulatory network. Under aging and dark-induced leaf senescence treatments, HFR1 overexpression delayed leaf senescence like the ore1 mutation, whereas hfr1 displayed early leaf senescence like ORE1 overexpression. This finding was supported by HFR1 reducing the expression of senescence and chlorophyll degradation genes, ORE1, and ORE1 target genes. HFR1 also rescued the early senescence phenotype of ORE1 overexpression, indicating that HFR1 suppresses ORE1. Notably, HFR1 directly interacted with ORE1 to suppress its DNA-binding ability, thereby inhibiting its function as a transcription factor. Furthermore, HFR1 and ORE1 regulated several genes related to leaf senescence in an antagonistic manner. HFR1 also inhibited PIF5 from directly activating the expression of ORE1 and other senescence-related genes. Our findings demonstrate that HFR1 delays leaf senescence by suppressing ORE1 through multiple pathways.
{"title":"HFR1 delays dark-induced leaf senescence by suppressing ORE1 transcription and attenuating its protein activity","authors":"Benny Jian Rong Sng, Hui Jun Chin, Ian Kin Yuen Choi, Xin Yang, Kien Van Vu, In-Cheol Jang","doi":"10.1093/plphys/kiag049","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiag049","url":null,"abstract":"Leaf senescence is a complex physiological process that involves the gradual wilting and death of leaf tissue. While multiple transcription factors contribute to this process, the NAC transcription factor ORESARA1 (ORE1) plays a major role in leaf senescence in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). ORE1 is regulated by various upstream transcription factors, including PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR5 (PIF5), which directly activates ORE1 transcription. Here, we show that LONG HYPOCOTYL IN FAR-RED1 (HFR1), an atypical basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor primarily involved in light signaling, functions in the leaf senescence regulatory network. Under aging and dark-induced leaf senescence treatments, HFR1 overexpression delayed leaf senescence like the ore1 mutation, whereas hfr1 displayed early leaf senescence like ORE1 overexpression. This finding was supported by HFR1 reducing the expression of senescence and chlorophyll degradation genes, ORE1, and ORE1 target genes. HFR1 also rescued the early senescence phenotype of ORE1 overexpression, indicating that HFR1 suppresses ORE1. Notably, HFR1 directly interacted with ORE1 to suppress its DNA-binding ability, thereby inhibiting its function as a transcription factor. Furthermore, HFR1 and ORE1 regulated several genes related to leaf senescence in an antagonistic manner. HFR1 also inhibited PIF5 from directly activating the expression of ORE1 and other senescence-related genes. Our findings demonstrate that HFR1 delays leaf senescence by suppressing ORE1 through multiple pathways.","PeriodicalId":20101,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology","volume":"253 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146110534","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":"Acclimation Dynamics of Cyanobacteria to Low UV-B Radiation.","authors":"Nilesh D Gawande","doi":"10.1093/plphys/kiag045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiag045","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":20101,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology","volume":"282 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146088969","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}
Orobanche cumana Wallr. is a root holoparasitic plant that mainly parasitizes and, therefore, threatens sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) production. Compared with other pathogens, the molecular mechanisms underlying host resistance to parasitic plants remain largely elusive. Here, we used two strategies to identify and functionally characterize sunflower genes in response to invading broomrape. First, we established a transient overexpression system via seed-soak agroinfiltration (SSA), providing a convenient expression system for functional genomics in sunflower. Second, transcriptome sequencing of three sunflower cultivars following O. cumana infection identified 190 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs), among which WRKY family genes were highly enriched and were therefore functionally characterized. HaWRKY6 slightly facilitated O. cumana infection, while both WRKY transcription factor 29 (HaWRKY29) and WRKY transcription factor 53 (HaWRKY53) dampened O. cumana parasitism, with the former having the more pronounced effects. During the early stages of parasitism, HaWRKY29 induced lignin deposition at infection sites, blocked vascular connections between the parasite and host, and caused tubercle necrosis. Further investigations revealed that HaWRKY29 transcriptionally activates laccase 17 (HaLAC17) expression, a key gene in lignin biosynthesis, thereby increasing lignin content and establishing a physical barrier that impedes O. cumana infection. Moreover, mitogen-activated protein kinase 3-1 (HaMPK3-1) and mitogen-activated protein kinase 3-2 (HaMPK3-2) physically interacted with HaWRKY29 and enhanced its transcriptional activation on HaLAC17. Our study reveals the signaling module MPK3-WRKY29 activates host resistance to parasitic plants through upregulation of HaLAC17 expression and subsequent lignin deposition.
{"title":"Sunflower HaWRKY29 dampens Orobanche cumana parasitism via transcriptional activation of HaLAC17 and lignin deposition.","authors":"Lele Li,Le Su,Ruixuan Zhao,Aodun Bao,Yue Dong,Wuyunsubuda Yunxiyabu,Runyao Bai,Rui Xu,Fang Yan,Hada Wuriyanghan","doi":"10.1093/plphys/kiag038","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiag038","url":null,"abstract":"Orobanche cumana Wallr. is a root holoparasitic plant that mainly parasitizes and, therefore, threatens sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) production. Compared with other pathogens, the molecular mechanisms underlying host resistance to parasitic plants remain largely elusive. Here, we used two strategies to identify and functionally characterize sunflower genes in response to invading broomrape. First, we established a transient overexpression system via seed-soak agroinfiltration (SSA), providing a convenient expression system for functional genomics in sunflower. Second, transcriptome sequencing of three sunflower cultivars following O. cumana infection identified 190 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs), among which WRKY family genes were highly enriched and were therefore functionally characterized. HaWRKY6 slightly facilitated O. cumana infection, while both WRKY transcription factor 29 (HaWRKY29) and WRKY transcription factor 53 (HaWRKY53) dampened O. cumana parasitism, with the former having the more pronounced effects. During the early stages of parasitism, HaWRKY29 induced lignin deposition at infection sites, blocked vascular connections between the parasite and host, and caused tubercle necrosis. Further investigations revealed that HaWRKY29 transcriptionally activates laccase 17 (HaLAC17) expression, a key gene in lignin biosynthesis, thereby increasing lignin content and establishing a physical barrier that impedes O. cumana infection. Moreover, mitogen-activated protein kinase 3-1 (HaMPK3-1) and mitogen-activated protein kinase 3-2 (HaMPK3-2) physically interacted with HaWRKY29 and enhanced its transcriptional activation on HaLAC17. Our study reveals the signaling module MPK3-WRKY29 activates host resistance to parasitic plants through upregulation of HaLAC17 expression and subsequent lignin deposition.","PeriodicalId":20101,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology","volume":"282 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146088950","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}
Jialing Zhang, Li Chen, Weiwei Yao, Yupeng Cai, Wensheng Hou
Flowering time and drought resistance are two pivotal agronomic traits in soybean. Elucidating coregulatory modules that link soybean flowering and drought response is essential for constructing comprehensive molecular maps of trait coupling. In this study, we identified that MORN-MOTIF REPEAT PROTEIN REGULATING FLOWERING LIKE (GmMRFL) gene functions as a bifunctional regulator that concurrently promotes floral transition by upregulating the expression of Flowering Locus T (FT) genes and enhances drought resilience through stomatal adjustment, accompanied by abscisic acid (ABA) signaling and reactive oxygen species (ROS) suppression. In addition, the transcription factor AP2/ETHYLENE-RESPONSIVE FACTOR 011 (GmERF011) specifically binds to and activates the Hap1 promoter variant of GmMRFL, thereby promoting the upregulation of GmMRFL expression. Phenotypic analyses of hairy roots validated the role of GmERF011 in enhancing drought tolerance in soybean. Integrated molecular analyses revealed that GmMRFL interacts with ANKYRIN REPEAT DOMAIN PROTEIN 2 (GmANK2). These findings demonstrate that GmMRFL serves as a molecular hub that coordinately modulates photoperiod-dependent flowering regulation and drought adaptation, thereby establishing it as a prime target for multi-trait engineering in precision crop breeding.
开花时间和抗旱性是大豆的两个关键农艺性状。阐明大豆开花与干旱响应之间的共调控模块，是构建全面的性状偶联分子图谱的基础。本研究发现，MORN-MOTIF REPEAT PROTEIN REGULATING blossom LIKE （GmMRFL）基因作为双功能调控因子，通过上调开花位点T （FT）基因的表达促进开花转变，同时通过调节气孔增强抗旱性，并伴随脱落酸（ABA）信号和活性氧（ROS）抑制。此外，转录因子AP2/乙烯响应因子011 （GmERF011）特异性结合并激活GmMRFL的Hap1启动子变体，从而促进GmMRFL表达上调。毛状根表型分析证实了GmERF011对大豆抗旱性的增强作用。综合分子分析显示，GmMRFL与ANKYRIN REPEAT DOMAIN PROTEIN 2 （GmANK2）相互作用。这些发现表明，GmMRFL作为协调调节光周期依赖的开花调节和干旱适应的分子枢纽，从而使其成为作物精准育种中多性状工程的主要靶点。
{"title":"The GmERF011- GmMRFL regulatory module integrates floral transition and drought stress adaptation in soybean","authors":"Jialing Zhang, Li Chen, Weiwei Yao, Yupeng Cai, Wensheng Hou","doi":"10.1093/plphys/kiag042","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiag042","url":null,"abstract":"Flowering time and drought resistance are two pivotal agronomic traits in soybean. Elucidating coregulatory modules that link soybean flowering and drought response is essential for constructing comprehensive molecular maps of trait coupling. In this study, we identified that MORN-MOTIF REPEAT PROTEIN REGULATING FLOWERING LIKE (GmMRFL) gene functions as a bifunctional regulator that concurrently promotes floral transition by upregulating the expression of Flowering Locus T (FT) genes and enhances drought resilience through stomatal adjustment, accompanied by abscisic acid (ABA) signaling and reactive oxygen species (ROS) suppression. In addition, the transcription factor AP2/ETHYLENE-RESPONSIVE FACTOR 011 (GmERF011) specifically binds to and activates the Hap1 promoter variant of GmMRFL, thereby promoting the upregulation of GmMRFL expression. Phenotypic analyses of hairy roots validated the role of GmERF011 in enhancing drought tolerance in soybean. Integrated molecular analyses revealed that GmMRFL interacts with ANKYRIN REPEAT DOMAIN PROTEIN 2 (GmANK2). These findings demonstrate that GmMRFL serves as a molecular hub that coordinately modulates photoperiod-dependent flowering regulation and drought adaptation, thereby establishing it as a prime target for multi-trait engineering in precision crop breeding.","PeriodicalId":20101,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology","volume":"44 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146110533","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}
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号