Trends in Plant Science最新文献

Plant regeneration in cotton remains confined to a few genotypes. Xu et al. linked competence to chromatin accessibility and AGL15, while Tang et al. showed auxin-chromatin interplay guiding embryogenesis. Together, they highlight regeneration as an integrated program of accessibility, transcription, and hormonal control to overcome recalcitrance in crops.

Paleovegetation reconstructions rely virtually exclusively on inferences from vascular plants, particularly pollen grains, ignoring other components of the land flora. Artificial intelligence (AI) opens the door to the identification of other microfossils, particularly bryophyte spores, which offer a new, higher magnification lens to characterize past climatic environments.

The stomatal aperture is finely tuned through guard cell reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Chang et al. recently elucidated the relationship between guard cell ROS homeostasis and stomatal behavior, revealing a molecular mechanism by which stomata integrate light signals to maintain ROS homeostasis in guard cells and thereby promote stomatal opening.

Wheat faces escalating fungal threats. Tandem kinase protein-nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat (TKP-NLR) pairs function as 'sensor-helper' immune modules, combining effector recognition and signal transduction. Complementing classical NLR models, this discovery expands the framework for understanding immune receptor diversity and offers new strategies for engineering durable, broad-spectrum resistance.

Genome editing offers powerful opportunities for crop improvement by enabling precise and targeted mutagenesis. Tools such as CRISPR-associated protein 9 and single-guide RNAs can be introduced into plant cells via in vitro transformation, which, despite the rise of in planta methods, remains an important method because it is highly effective when successful. However, transformation-induced stress is a critical and underexplored barrier to successful in vitro transformation, especially in recalcitrant plants. In this opinion article, we discuss in vitro methods for transforming recalcitrant plants, the challenges encountered, and potential solutions through the conceptual lens of stress biology. Reducing cellular stress, transiently weakening the immune response and optimizing regeneration protocols may be essential for expanding the transformation capacity across a broader range of plant species.

Tannins in forest soils bind organic nitrogen into persistent complexes, impacting nutrient cycling and ecosystem productivity. Mycorrhizal fungi, especially ectomycorrhizal (EcM) and ericoid types, can degrade these complexes, releasing nitrogen for plant uptake and influencing community composition. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi may also assist in nitrogen acquisition via interactions with free-living bacteria. Understanding these fungal-tannin interactions reveals key mechanisms controlling nitrogen cycling (N cycling) in forest ecosystems, especially in tannin-rich temperate and boreal regions. We propose a conceptual framework to explore the feedback loops between plant chemistry, soil microbes, and ecosystem processes. Such knowledge is vital for predicting how forest communities will respond to climate change, land use, and invasive species, informing sustainable forest management strategies.

Genetically encoded enzymatic and fluorescence-based reporters have become powerful tools to monitor and visualize diverse cellular processes. Despite their vast utility, some of these reporters require invasive analysis, while others need costly equipment and/or exogenous substrates. Recently, a new class of visual reporters have been developed based on the synthesis of betalains, which are either red or yellow pigments that produce outputs visible to the naked eye without the need for exogenous substrates. Since 2020, the betalain-based RUBY reporter has been used to visually track various cellular processes. Here, we explore the applications of RUBY in basic research and agriculture, discuss its limitations, and highlight its potential as an educational tool for teaching fundamental concepts in cell and molecular biology.

Plants have evolved diverse adaptations in signal perception, hormone regulation, and organ development that enable the formation of specialised structures such as nematode-induced galls, rhizobia-induced nodules, and host-induced parasitic plant haustoria that facilitate both parasitic and mutualistic symbiosis. Despite their differences, these organs share common gene regulatory mechanisms with lateral root development. By comparing their mechanisms of hormonal regulation, we illuminate the shared genetic underpinnings and how plants repurpose vegetative development pathways in response to biotic stimuli. This adaptive retooling positions plants along the symbiotic spectrum from exploited hosts to mutualistic partners and strategic predators. Comparative analysis of the hormonal mechanisms that drive symbiotic organogenesis highlights the plasticity of developmental processes and the interplay between internal signalling and external environmental cues.

The SEC14-GOLD family of phosphatidylinositol (PI) transfer proteins, known as PATELLIN (PATL) proteins in plants, are key regulators of plasma membrane (PM)-related signaling processes. They function through multifaceted interactions involving a SEC14 lipid-binding domain, GOLD domain, and their N-terminal region. Protein phosphorylation is crucial for modulating protein and phospholipid interactions, but phosphorylation of SEC14 proteins remains understudied. Phosphoproteomics data from Arabidopsis thaliana indicates two major phosphorylation hubs within the N-terminal and the conserved SEC14-GOLD regions in the PATLs. These phosphorylation patterns vary in response to environmental and hormonal stress-related factors. Understanding how PATL proteins are phosphorylated can offer insights into PATL-membrane interactions and their functional roles in cell physiology, providing new strategies for plant adaptation and stress resilience in crops.

Conventional pest management often accelerates the evolution of resistance in pests, resulting in an unsustainable cycle of control. By contrast, evolution-informed pest management (EIPM) can outmaneuver pests by anticipating and exploiting their adaptive constraints. This perspective synthesizes evolutionary principles from wild and cultivated plants to develop durable defenses. As classical biocontrol uses living natural enemies, which is not stable, efficient, or adaptable enough, we highlight the emergence of EIPM, where artificial intelligence (AI) and synthetic biology enable precise design of new biocontrol. As a case study, our recent research identified resistant protein PUB21DN and micropeptide APP3-14 as promising tools against citrus Huanglongbing (HLB), demonstrating the value of combining evolutionary insights with advanced technologies for sustainable agricultural solutions.