Trends in Plant Science最新文献

Deep-rooted plants (DRPs) are vital ecological engineers in arid regions, combating desertification through distinctive adaptations such as rapid root growth and hydraulic lift. By tapping into groundwater beyond a depth of 5 m, they stabilize soils, sequester carbon, and support biodiversity, while delivering socioeconomic benefits. Despite their resilience, DRPs are increasingly threatened by climate change and pressure of human activities such as overgrazing. In this feature review we consolidate the vital roles of DRPs in ecosystem services and land restoration, advocating for conservation strategies that integrate drip irrigation, rotational grazing policies, and United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) targets. We highlight the potential of DRPs to achieve land degradation neutrality (LDN) and urge prompt research and management actions to safeguard these keystone species in our climate change adaptation toolkit for drylands.

Huanglongbing (HLB) is a devastating disease of citrus. In a recent study, Zhao et al. found that the CLas effector SDE5 targets a susceptibility (S) factor, E3 ubiquitin ligase PUB21, which degrades MYC2 to inhibit HLB resistance. The dominant negative mutant PUB21DN and artificial intelligence (AI)-designed antiproteolysis peptides (APPs) block PUB21, stabilizing MYC2 and conferring HLB resistance.

Crops based on mixtures of species or genotypes support yield stability by providing multiple ecosystem services. However, the genetic, molecular, and evolutionary dynamics underlying co-adaptation within such mixtures must be understood to optimize beneficial plant-plant interactions. We therefore propose agroecological genomics as an integrated quantitative and population genetics approach that can be combined with cutting-edge omics methods and participatory science. This strategy embraces the heterogeneity of agroecosystems derived from interactions between biotic and physical environmental components such as climate, crop management, and socio-cultural factors by exploiting decentralized research. The integration of such results will reveal the whole-genome patterns of co-adaptation in crop mixtures, leading to greater knowledge of the key traits that drive adaptation as well as to the development of innovative tools for mixed-crop breeding.

Two recent studies (Huang et al. and Xiao et al.) reveal how EDS1-SAG101 facilitates NRG1A resistosome formation, triggering immunity. They also show truncated NRG1C as a negative regulator that sequesters EDS1-SAG101, preventing overactivation. These breakthroughs highlight evolutionarily conserved plant defense mechanisms with implications for engineering resilient crops.

Hormesis is a trending topic in plant science, and scientific advances in this field may have a far-reaching practical impact to translate into solutions for enhancing phytohygeia under global changes. Here, I discuss strategies to optimize dosing schemes in dose-response studies and propose some fine-tuned dosing criteria in plant hormesis research.

Volatile isoprenoids mainly include isoprene and monoterpenes, which improve the thermotolerance of the emitting plant by lowering reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, preserving chloroplast membrane ultrastructure, maintaining photosynthesis and primary metabolism, inducing heat shock proteins, and preserving growth and development. Recent data showed that isoprenoids can act as signaling molecules to improve plant thermotolerance by altering related gene expression through Ca²⁺-mediated signaling pathways. To promote further understanding of isoprenoid-mediated thermotolerance mechanisms, we review current understanding of isoprenoid-induced plant thermotolerance, along with new findings describing the corresponding underlying mechanisms and putative signaling pathways. This information is beneficial for the potential utilization of isoprenoids for enhancing crop tolerance to global warming either by enhancing the emission of isoprenoids or by using isoprenoid-inspired anti-high temperature agents.

Conventional gene-delivery methods in plant genetic engineering, such as electroporation and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, face limitations such as species dependency, low efficiency, high cost, and undesirable DNA integration into the host genome. Integrating nanotechnology with existing molecular techniques offers a promising solution. Nanocarriers can precisely target tissues, cells, and organelles by penetrating biological barriers and protecting the cargo from degradation. The nanocarrier-based gene delivery approach addresses challenges, such as collateral damage and inefficient DNA integration, and paves the way for the development of crops with desired traits. Future research should optimize nanocarriers for efficient and precise gene delivery while minimizing off-target effects. Sustainable, cost-effective materials can enhance large-scale agricultural applications, thereby revolutionizing crop production for global food security and advancing sustainable practices.

Crop simulation models are routinely used to project the impacts of climate change on crop yields. However, such models perform poorly when simulating extreme historical events. We reviewed current crop models according to the processes they simulate. The review suggests the inability of most models to simulate several mechanisms of adverse climatic impacts on crops, such as those caused by heavy rain and waterlogging. Current crop models are therefore likely to increasingly underestimate climate impacts on crops if adverse climate conditions escalate in frequency and severity as expected. Improved modeling is crucial to accurately project crop yields and enhance the resilience of global food systems under extreme weather.

Many ecosystems face numerous concurrent global change factors (GCFs), each of which may impact various ecological processes. However, how accumulating GCFs jointly influence plant invasions remains unknown. To fill this gap, we consider the role of phenotypic plasticity, and the direct and indirect pathways of how GCFs impact plant invasions.