The periderm is a protective outer tissue formed during secondary growth in many seed plants, serving as a barrier against water loss and pathogen invasion. When damaged, it can regenerate to restore its protective function. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying periderm regeneration…

Plants are renowned for their remarkable ability to regenerate tissues and organs. Two typical regeneration pathways—de novo root regeneration (DNRR) and wound-induced callus (WIC) formation—enable recovery from injury but involve entirely different cell fate outcomes. These processes also form the…

An interesting new study by Doll et al. addresses one of the most complex and important plant developmental processes, that of seed formation, with a focus on maize. Like other seeds, the maize seed (kernel) includes the next generation embryo, surrounded by various maternal tissues as well as the triploid…

In Chinese, there is an old poem suggesting that livestock bites promote crop yield in the succeeding year. In this new work, Hu et al. provide evidence to support the traditional wisdom and propose the mechanism behind it. Previous studies showed that herbivore bites on leaves induce the release of…

Review: Harnessing the power of gene regulatory networks for crop improvement The number of large molecular plant datasets seems to be growing exponentially. With this growth comes an urgent need for researchers to understand how these datasets should be analyzed and integrated to get accurate understandings…

Joining a PhD program is often seen as the next logical step after a master’s degree. However, the fundamental differences between the two are not widely understood, making the transition into PhD life unexpectedly challenging for many. To navigate this transition smoothly, it's essential to first…

Behind the manuscripts are researchers, professors, professionals and students dedicated to advancing the field of plant science. You’ve seen our First Authors on Bluesky, Twitter and Facebook— now, read more about why they chose to pursue plant sciences and click on the links to read their articles. Jing…