Trends in Plant Science最新文献

Regulation of stomatal aperture is paramount in drought-stress responses. Recently, Yang et al. demonstrated how microRNA-plantacyanin (PCY) regulates stomata movement by revealing a novel mechanism responsive to abscisic acid (ABA) that controls reactive oxygen species (ROS) in guard cells. This sets a precedent for using miRNAs as a new target for stress-resistance genetic engineering.

Artemisinin, a potent antimalarial compound, is predominantly derived from Artemisia annua. The uniqueness of artemisinin production in A. annua lies in its complex biochemical pathways and genetic composition, distinguishing it from other plant species, even within the Asteraceae family. In this review, we investigate the potential of A. annua for artemisinin production, drawing evidence from natural populations and mutants. Leveraging high-quality whole-genome sequence analyses, we offer insights into the evolution of artemisinin biosynthesis. We also highlight current understanding of the protective functions of artemisinin in A. annua in response to both biotic and abiotic stresses. In addition, we explore the mechanisms used by A. annua to mitigate the phytotoxicity generated by artemisinin catabolism.

In a recent study, Satterlee et al. found that the repeated emergence of prickleless varieties in Solanaceae species is a convergent trait caused by loss of function in the cytokinin-activating enzyme LONELY GUY (LOG). New prickleless forms can be created in wild and domesticated forms using gene editing.

Statistical machine learning (ML) extracts patterns from extensive genomic, phenotypic, and environmental data. ML algorithms automatically identify relevant features and use cross-validation to ensure robust models and improve prediction reliability in new lines. Furthermore, ML analyses of genotype-by-environment (G×E) interactions can offer insights into the genetic factors that affect performance in specific environments. By leveraging historical breeding data, ML streamlines strategies and automates analyses to reveal genomic patterns. In this review we examine the transformative impact of big data, including multi-trait genomics, phenomics, and environmental covariables, on genomic-enabled prediction in plant breeding. We discuss how big data and ML are revolutionizing the field by enhancing prediction accuracy, deepening our understanding of G×E interactions, and optimizing breeding strategies through the analysis of extensive and diverse datasets.

The phytohormone auxin (indole-3-acetic acid; IAA) increases the efficacy of cancer treatment. IAA is a universal molecule, being produced by bacteria, fungi, and plants. Therefore, incorporating IAA-rich products derived from microbes or plants, such as yoghurt, probiotics, microgreens, and fresh carrots into the diet may be promising for disease management.

Salt contamination of soils and irrigation water is a significant environmental concern for crop production. Leaf sodium (Na⁺) exclusion is commonly proposed to be a key subtrait of salt tolerance for many crop plants. High-Affinity Potassium (K⁺) Transporter 1 (HKT1) proteins have previously been identified as major controllers of leaf Na⁺ exclusion across diverse species. However, leaf Na⁺ exclusion does not always correlate with salt tolerance. We discuss literature which shows leaf Na⁺ accumulation can, in some circumstances, be tolerated without a detrimental effect on yield when HKT1 still functions to exclude Na⁺ from reproductive tissues. We conclude that, by having an ultimate role in the protection of reproductive performance, HKT1s' role in adaptation to salinity warrants redefinition.

Dormancy-growth cycles are crucial for seasonal adaptation in long-lived trees, yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood despite decades of research. A recent study by Pandey et al. revealed a key mechanism, low-temperature-regulated opening of plasmodesmata (PD), providing new insight into how cell-cell communication controls dormancy release.

Strengthening plant physiological traits is crucial for sustainable plant improvement. The underlying molecular mechanisms of rhodopsin-based plant improvement remain largely unknown. However, a recent study by Ding et al. offers some insights by exploring how light-gated channelrhodopsins regulate cytosolic Ca²⁺ conductance, reactive oxygen species (ROS) signals, and plant defense responses in tobacco.

Engineering crops to withstand environmental stresses is critical for addressing climate change and food insecurity. Recently, Khan et al. developed CRISPR interference (CRISPRi)-based synthetic gene circuits to program gene expression in plants. Their findings highlight the potential of these circuits to advance the development of stress-resilient crops.