Burgess et al characterize genome-wide patterns of transcription factor binding to provide insight into the architecture associated with C4 photosynthesis gene expression. Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.19.00078 By Steven James Burgess (University of Cambridge, UK) and Ivan A. Reyna-Llorens (University of Cambridge, UK) Background: Photosynthesis comes in various shapes and forms. In its most efficient incarnation, carbon […]
Sims et al. examine the mechanisms protecting the highly repetitive ribosomal DNA from double-strand break formation and homologous repair during meiosis. https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.19.00367 Background: Meiosis is a specialized cell division in sexually reproducing organisms, where one round of DNA replication is followed by two cell divisions. This generates gametes with half the genetic content. Importantly, genetic […]
By Jennifer Mach, Science Editor I don’t know how polyploids get their chromosomes paired correctly in meiosis— I can’t even sort my socks. Sometimes I give up and pair random socks, but plants can’t go with random pairings, because that’s a route to death, and with genomes in the dozens of Gb in tens of […]
By Gregory Bertoni Symbiotic associations with microorganisms are widespread among both woody and herbaceous plant species, including most agronomic crops (Brundrett and Tedersoo, 2018). Mycorrhizal fungi provide their hosts with mineral nutrients absorbed from the soil in exchange for fixed carbon compounds produced by the plant host. Similarly, symbiotic rhizobial bacteria in the root nodules […]
Zhouli Xie et al. demonstrate that TINY manipulates plant growth by inhibiting the brassinosteroid signaling pathway. The Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.18.00918 By Zhouli Xie Trevor Nolan and Yanhai Yin Background: Environmental challenges such as water deficit and extreme temperatures are associated with decreased plant growth and severe crop losses. Transcriptional regulatory mechanisms help plants cope with […]
Gantner et al. establish N. benthamiana as a new system for analysis of immunity mediated by TIR-type immune receptors Plant Cell. https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.19.00099 By J. Gantner and J. Stuttmann Background: Plant pathogenic bacteria inject effector proteins inside the plant cell during infection. In resistant plant lines, effectors can be recognized by intracellular immune receptors (“NLR […]
Xiao et al. investigate date palm germination. Plant Cell (2019) https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.19.00008 By Ting Ting Xiao and Ikram Blilou Background: Desert plants have evolved different strategies to survive desert climate. Developmental mechanisms underlying these adaptive strategies remain poorly described. Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), is one of the few desert fruit plants that are widely cultivated. […]
Plants emit scented volatile compounds to attract pollinators, or alternatively, as direct or indirect plant defense mechanisms. Direct defense involves compounds that are toxic, whereas an indirect defense uses volatiles to attract parasitoids of insect herbivores (Unsicker et al., 2009; Maag et al., 2015). Therefore, volatile compounds are undoubtedly important for plants, in addition they […]
Tropic movement in plants (movement in relation to a directional stimulus) has fascinated thinkers since ancient times (reviewed in Whippo and Hangarter, 2006). This interest has led us to a good molecular understanding of how for example, plants direct their shoots towards light and their roots towards water. However, this is not the only form […]