Research

Read all about why these Plant Direct First Authors chose to pursue plant sciences and see their manuscripts here. Lauren Cole-Osborn Lauren Cole-Osborn (she/her) is the first author of Critical parameters for robust Agrobacterium-mediated transient transformation and quantitative promoter assays…

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

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

I suspect if we asked someone to describe a fossil we’d hear a lot about dinosaur bones. Certainly, science museums are full of fossilized animal remains, which have greatly informed our understanding of animal evolution. Plant fossils similarly are rich sources of information about plant evolution…

This article poses the interesting question of whether we can use our knowledge of plant cell wall-modifying, carbohydrate-active enzymes to produce biobased materials. Specifically, the authors point out that much of the hemicellulose contained in agricultural and wood fiber could provide a starting…

Many studies have demonstrated the importance of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in communication between plants. VOCs emitted by a plant damaged by herbivory promote defenses in nearby plants. It is thought that these compounds may have originated as intra-plant signals, capable of moving long-distances…

Although clusters of functionally related genes are common in prokaryotes, until recently it was thought that they were not a feature of eukaryotic genomes. However, several studies have identified biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in plants. Many of these gene clusters include sets of enzymes that act…

Albert Einstein once said, “The only thing that you absolutely have to know is the location of the library.” Libraries house vast troves of information for readers to explore, analyze, and use. With the exponential increase in data, libraries have also evolved into digital databases and online platforms.…

The hourglass model of embryogenesis was proposed in the 1990s, and extended to green plants and fungi in the 2010s. During animal embryogenesis, the very earliest stages (post fertilization) are morphologically quite different from each other, and the later stages are quite different, but in the middle…

Plants undergo a series of physiological processes when transitioning from the juvenile to the vegetative phase, and then vegetative to the reproductive phase. RNA-Seq offers substantial potential for uncovering the transcriptional landscape underlying these developmental transitions. However, developmental…

Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is a vital starchy crop essential for food security in Sub-Saharan Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia. A recent study on cassava by Rüscher et al. provides important insights into the plant’s sugar control mechanisms as the roots expand, produce large amounts of…

Spotlight: The role of fossils for reconstructing the evolution of plant development I suspect if we asked someone to describe a fossil we’d hear a lot about dinosaur bones. Certainly, science museums are full of fossilized animal remains, which have greatly informed our understanding of animal…

Don’t miss this exciting Virtual Issue from New Phytologist on “plant-microbe-microbe” interactions. That’s not a typo – many of the articles address the signals that coordinate such multi-factorial interactions, as there is a growing recognition that interrelations between microbes influence…

The composition of plant-associated microbes is influenced by plant genetics, immune responses, environmental factors, and interactions between microbes. During disease development, the microbial community at infection sites changes due to tissue damage, altered immune responses, and manipulation via…

Auxin is an extremely important plant hormone that must be precisely controlled. Auxin-like herbicides have been developed that are often more stable than the natural auxins, thus their application can damage the plant. Here, Schulz, Ung et al. investigated how these auxin herbicides move in plant tissues.…

A recent paper by Scheuring and colleagues investigates vacuole biogenesis in meristematic cells of Arabidopsis thaliana, challenging earlier models of vacuole formation. Vacuoles are crucial organelles responsible for various cellular functions, yet their formation has remained puzzling for quite some…

Have you ever wondered how cells distinguish between the diverse array of external signals traveling through similar pathways? To understand the intricacies of plant signaling mechanisms, Ma et al. used single endodermal cells of Arabidopsis roots as a model to compare two receptor pathways. One pathway…

In acidic soils, aluminum (Al) toxicity is a major problem that causes a dramatic arrest in root elongation. Aluminum tolerance can include the secretion of organic acids and the sequestration of Al in internal cellular compartments. Here, Dong et. al shed light on a new pathway that alleviates the inhibition…

Virtual issue: The chemical language of plant–microbe–microbe associations Don’t miss this exciting Virtual Issue from New Phytologist on “plant-microbe-microbe” interactions. That’s not a typo – many of the articles address the signals that coordinate such multi-factorial interactions,…

Heterosis, the phenomenon where hybrid plants outperform their genetically distinct parents, is a cornerstone of modern agriculture. This review by Hochholdinger and Yu explores the molecular mechanisms behind heterosis. The review traces the history of heterosis, from its early discovery in tobacco…

Maintaining root growth is a major plant adaptation to water deficit, enabling continued access to soil water. In a recent review, Voothuluru et al. discuss the inherent complexity of root systems in regard to water stress. Different root types, including primary, seminal, and nodal roots, show varying…

The development of genetically modified (GM) crops aims to improve agricultural yields in the field. However, their incorporation into agricultural systems is complex, as regulations and acceptance vary globally. While some countries embrace GM crops with herbicide and insect resistance traits, others…

Cyanobacteria, although short-lived, are sensitive to photoperiodic time measurement just as in eukaryotes. Jabbur et al. discuss the discovery of photoperiodism in prokaryotic cyanobacteria, Synechococcus elongatus and their ability to anticipate seasonal changes through light and dark cycles similar…

Single-cell transcriptomics offer unprecedented insights into how plants respond to their environment. Although this technique is powerful, it requires extensive processing of the tissue (cell wall digestion to form protoplasts) prior to sequencing, which can induce additional transcriptional changes.…

Legume plants inhibit the energy-intensive process of symbiotic nitrogen fixation when sufficient nitrate is present, primarily through nodule senescence. However, the nodule-specific genetic regulatory mechanisms of nitrate sensing and nodule senescence are poorly understood. A recent study by Lin and…

For centuries, herbarium collections have provided critical data about plant species and their abundance. However, with the development of digital apps such as iNaturalist that allow citizen scientists to enter data about where plants are found, questions arise about whether herbarium collections are…

In most STEM disciplines there is a racial disparity between practitioners and the broader population. This disparity is often greater in plant sciences than in biomedical-related disciplines. Here, Hubbard and colleagues take a close look at the demographics of plant scientists in the UK and provide…

Review: Molecular concepts to explain heterosis in crops Heterosis, the phenomenon where hybrid plants outperform their genetically distinct parents, is a cornerstone of modern agriculture. This review by Hochholdinger and Yu explores the molecular mechanisms behind heterosis. The review traces the…

Numerous studies have highlighted the critical importance of plasma membrane heterogeneities in regulating cell functions, leading to a proliferation of overlapping and contradictory terminologies. Here, Jaillais and others in the field propose a new system of nomenclature. It really is a must-read for…

Auxin signaling influences plant growth and development by controlling gene expression, often through binding of transcription factors from the Auxin Response Factor (ARF) family to ARF elements (AuxRE) present in the promoters of auxin-responsive genes. However, given that auxin signaling produces many…

ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL5 (HY5) is a transcription factor that regulates about one-third of Arabidopsis genes, affecting growth and development of seedlings through light and hormone signaling. UBIQUITIN-SPECIFIC PROTEASE (UBP14) is a deubiquitinating enzyme that removes ubiquitin from substrate proteins.…

The study by Bertran Garcia de Olalla et al. investigated the role of the APETALA2 (AP2) transcription factor in Arabidopsis, particularly its influence on the shoot apical meristem (SAM) during the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth. AP2 is essential for the rapid increase in SAM height…

From an ancient Greek cure-all to a modern treatment for mild depression, Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s wort) is a fascinating weed. Its leaves and flowers produce hyperforin, a metabolite derived from the isoprenoid pathway, which acts as a serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Despite partial genome and…

Ferns are important and diverse land plants but are also known for their exceptionally large genomes. A new study by Ali et al. presents an extensive analysis of fern genomics through RNA-sequencing of 22 representative fern species. The study identified 18 whole-genome duplications across different…

Natural rubber, primarily derived from Hevea brasiliensis, is an essential global resource, but its production threatened by environmental changes and pest pressures. Fang et al. examined genome assemblies from eight high-quality Hevea accessions comprising different species. The results show unexpected…

Rhizosphere interactions between plants and microbes are essential for nitrogen cycling, stress tolerance, and plant health in general. Metabolites secreted by plant roots can greatly influence microbial community composition, although how different environmental conditions impact these interactions…

Review: Guidelines for studying and naming plant plasma-membrane domains Numerous studies have highlighted the critical importance of plasma membrane heterogeneities in regulating cell functions, leading to a proliferation of overlapping and contradictory terminologies. Here, Jaillais and others in…

In May and  June, we published many innovative manuscripts in Plant Physiology. Behind those manuscripts are researchers, professors, professionals and students dedicated to advancing the field of plant science. You’ve seen our First Authors on Facebook and Twitter — now, read more about why they…

Low temperatures disrupt cellular processes and require metabolic adaptation. Cold-induced lipid remodeling helps maintain membrane permeability and prevents phase separations that can lead to cellular damage. In this review, Shomo, Li and colleagues provide an overview of the mechanisms by which plants…

Much of the focus of functional genomics studies in plants is to improve yield, disease resistance, abiotic stress tolerance and nutritional quality. Many desirable traits are controlled by sets of genes that are coordinated in a complex network, called a gene regulatory network (GRN). A transcription…

Plants develop new organs and tissues throughout their lifespan as they grow new leaves, roots and reproductive structures. Many of these tissues arise from similar tissues, such as lateral roots arising from primary roots, and the mechanisms guiding their formation are well understood. But what about…

Adventitious roots, i.e. those derived from non-root tissues, are key elements of the plastic architecture of root systems. Auxins and cytokinins are known to induce and inhibit (respectively) adventitious root formation, though the exact mechanism remains to be fully explained. Here, Damodaran and Strader…

The obligate biotrophic pathogen Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt) is the cause of wheat powdery mildew, a foliar disease that results in significant yield loss in most wheat-growing regions across the globe. This research focuses on the identification and functional analysis of the powdery mildew…

Contrary to common belief, roses do not have thorns: instead, they have prickles. Thorns (as in hawthorns) are modified stems, spines (as in cactus spines) are modified leaves, and prickles (as in roses) are modified epidermal tissues. Prickles occur in a wide range of plants. Satterlee et al. set out…

While single-cell omics technologies, particularly transcriptomics, are already becoming widely adopted in plant science, quantifying proteins at single cell resolution is less established. Fortunately, important technological strides have been made that improve sample preparation, separation techniques,…

Earth’s terrestrial ecosystems harbor remarkable plant diversity. Some of this diversity can be quantified as functional traits, which provide a measure for diversity in different environments. In this new work, Gross et al. used a functional trait analysis to examine how plants respond to increasing…

People often fail to recognize and appreciate the importance of plants, a phenomenon known as Plant Awareness Disparity (PAD), also known as plant blindness. This lack of awareness has a negative impact on botanical knowledge and skill acquisitions, consequently affecting biodiversity conservation efforts.…

Review. Chilling out: How plants remodel membranes to survive the cold Low temperatures disrupt cellular processes and require metabolic adaptation. Cold-induced lipid remodeling helps maintain membrane permeability and prevents phase separations that can lead to cellular damage. In this review, Shomo,…

Photosynthesis is fundamental to life on Earth and a topic that all plant biologists should have a good understanding of, but it is also an incredibly complex set of processes, reactions and structures spanning great temporal and spatial distances. In this new Commentary by Eckardt et al., several experts…

The era of complete telomere-to-telomere (T2T) plant genomes is finally here! Recent advances in long-read sequencing technologies have revolutionized genome assembly, giving rise to gapless T2T assemblies and offering unprecedented insights into genome organization and function. Why are T2T genomes…

In this study, Frangedakis et al. identified MYB-related transcription factors as critical regulators of chloroplast development in land plants. Focusing on the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha and the angiosperm Arabidopsis thaliana, the team discovered that mutations in some MYB-related genes lead to…

When protein folding is disrupted by abiotic or biotic stresses, cells can experience ER stress. Sensors like inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) detect this stress, triggering the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway. UPR signaling activates genes that restore proteostasis and maintain cellular vitality.…

The complex interplay between nucleosome positioning, DNA methylation, and chromatin accessibility is crucial for genome regulation in eukaryotic organisms. However, current chromatin profiling methods, which rely on short-read sequencing, fail to characterize highly repetitive genomic regions and cannot…

Enhancing plant defense against pathogens and pests often incurs a cost to essential physiological functions such as growth and reproduction, creating a trade-off. This phenomenon is evident in genetic studies across various plant models and agricultural breeding programs. Salicylic acid (SA) is a well-known…

Aptamers are single-stranded DNAs that fold into tertiary structures that bind specifically to various targets, allowing them to serve as probes or sensors. In this study, Chen et al. introduce a cutting-edge aptamer-based nanopore thin film sensor designed to detect salicylic acid (SA), an important…

Plants, particularly long-lived trees, need to balance nutrient acquisition, herbivore and pathogen defence, and ultimately organic matter decomposition. The intricate relationship between these processes is crucial for the survival and growth of trees over their extended lifespans. Zheng et al. investigated…

The global forest carbon sink is vital for mitigating climate change by absorbing CO2 and offsetting nearly half of fossil-fuel emissions. Over the past three decades, this sink has remained stable with minor fluctuations, but its future is threatened by deforestation, forest ageing, and climate…

Review. Lighting the way: Compelling open questions in photosynthesis research Photosynthesis is fundamental to life on Earth and a topic that all plant biologists should have a good understanding of, but it is also an incredibly complex set of processes, reactions and structures spanning great temporal…

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

Vascular cambium cells are meristematic cells responsible for secondary growth. Lineage tracing studies in Arabidopsis and poplar show the presence of single bifacial stem cells in each radial cell file that produce xylem inwards and phloem cells outwards. In a recent review, Wybouw et al. discuss the…

There is increasing evidence that silicon (Si) application to soils or leaves can promote plant growth through various means, including enhancing tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses, but the mechanisms of this growth promotion are not always clear. Here, Bardhan et al. review how Si can promote…

Genome editing stands at the forefront of scientific innovation, offering transformative possibilities to manipulate the genetic code of plants, animals, and humans. A critical bottleneck for its application in modern crop improvement is the low frequency and error-prone integration of foreign DNA into…

Activation domains (AD) are parts of transcription factor proteins (TFs) that bind the transcriptional machinery (coactivator complexes) and lead to transcriptional activation. However, identifying ADs is challenging because they are often part of intrinsically disordered regions, which lack a defined…

Recently, we have gained tremendous insights through live-cell imaging using fluorescent tags that bind specifically to various cellular components. Here, Besten et al. present a new set of cell wall-specific tags that bind specifically to cell walls and reveal selected wall properties. The authors developed…

Pyrenoids are structures that concentrate carbon dioxide around Rubisco, most commonly studied in green algae such as Chlamydomonas. However, hornworts, one of the three types of bryophytes (along with liverworts and mosses) also have a pyrenoid-based CO2-concentrating mechanism (pCCM), unique among…

For hundreds of years, we have propagated plants clonally by grafting, i.e. the union of a scion and a rootstock to form a new plant. To be successful, a graft junction must heal: tissues must attach, and vascular bundles reconnect, in a process known to involve auxin. Here, Serivichyasw at et al. investigate…

Number of tillers is one of the major determinants of yield in rice. MONOCULM1 (MOC1) and MOC3 have been reported to regulate tiller formation by promoting axillary bud formation and elongation of buds. MOC1 interacts with MOC3 and promotes the expression of FLORAL ORGAN NUMBER 1 (FON1), which increases…

Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient for plant growth and development. Under P deficiency, white lupin develops cluster roots (CR), specialized root structures that enhance soil exploration and nutrient acquisition. While sugar signaling, particularly sucrose, has been shown to play a role in the…

Pathogens deploy an array of molecules to create favorable conditions and promote infections in host plants. These molecules are well-known for suppressing host immunity, rendering them more susceptible. However, two recent reports suggest that some pathogen-produced virulence factors may also act independently…

Cell surface receptor complexes act as the first line of defense in detecting pathogens and preventing invasion. Upon recognizing extracellular immunogenic patterns, a cascade of signaling relays occurs, mediated by phosphorylation events among a large array of membrane-associated proteins. These proteins…

Plant resistance genes encode proteins that trigger immune responses when they recognize pathogen effectors. Their activation must be carefully regulated, as overexpression of activation of R genes usually causes a decrease in growth rate. Here, Sun et al. investigated the role of alternative splicing…

Review: Stem cells of the vascular cambium Vascular cambium cells are meristematic cells responsible for secondary growth. Lineage tracing studies in Arabidopsis and poplar show the presence of single bifacial stem cells in each radial cell file that produce xylem inwards and phloem cells outwards.…

Wang et al. investigate how disruption of maternal nitric oxide affects female gametophyte development and fertility under both optimal and stress conditions. By Junzhe Wang1,3, Xiaolong Guo1, Shengbao Xu1 and Elizabeth Vierling2 1State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency…

Agrofoglio et al. explore how the methylation of arginine residues on a key splicing factor affects alternative splicing. Julieta Mateos, María José Iglesias, Yamila Agrofoglio. IFIBYNE-UBA-CONICET https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koae051 Background: Plants are constantly subjected to a variety…

Zhihe Cai (Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China) https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koae149 Background:…

Lu, Zhang et al. investigate the mechanisms of phytohormone cross-talk underlying rose petal senescence By Jingyun Lu, Guifang Zhang, Yunhe Jiang, and Junping Gao China Agricultural University https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koae035  Background: Rose (Rosa hybrida) is the queen of flowers,…

Fan et al. investigate the proteins involved in DNA base excision repair https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koae052 By Tianyi Fan and Yan Zhu Background: DNA bases are susceptible to damage from environmental factors such as UV light or reactive oxygen species. Base excision repair (BER) can eliminate…

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

He et al. explore how histone H1 drives the formation of heterochromatin foci. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koae034 Xiaoqi Feng, Institute of Science and Technology Austria Background: To fit into the nucleus, DNA is densely packaged into structures known as nucleosomes. These nucleosomes…

OsLESV cooperates with FLO6 to modulate starch biosynthesis and endosperm development Yan, Zhang, Wang et al. identify OsLESV–FLO6 as a non-enzymatic molecular module responsible for starch biosynthesis and endosperm development. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koae006 By Haigang Yan, Wenwei…

Background: Photosystem I (PSI) is a large pigment-protein complex that participates in photosynthetic electron transfer. While its structure is well resolved, its assembly pathway is less clear.  A set of proteins mediating the step-wise assembly of PSI subunits, known as PSI assembly factors, has…

He et al. investigate the molecular mechanisms of compound leaf formation in Medicago truncatula By Liangliang He and Jianghua Chen https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koae033 Background: In the plant kingdom, leaves have different shapes, with the most noticeable difference being between simple…

Li et al. examine heat-induced SUMOylation of bacteria effectors in Arabidopsis. (Plant Cell. 2024) By Wenliang Li and Jianbin Lai (South China Normal University) https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koae049 Background: Bacterial pathogens deliver effectors into plant cells to interfere with host…

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

Roots do not grow in isolation but occupy a space inhabited by a variety of organisms. With certain fungi and bacteria, they form partnerships or symbiotic relationships that increase the plant’s nutrient uptake and assimilation. While the knowledge on the genetic programs required to establish these…

An efficient method of gene downregulation, where gene expression is reduced but not completely knocked out, is useful for crop improvement. Here, Shen et al. have developed a system to achieve this, by using CRISPR/Cas9 to insert an element containing a Kozak sequence and an ATG start codon just before…

I think one of the most important lessons a scientist learns is to cross-check their findings with a different approach in order to determine if the findings are reasonable. This interesting article by Oliveira-Filho and Campos-Silva et al. lays out several examples of using back-of-the envelope or Fermi…

In the dazzling dance of plant cellular life, chloroplasts must groove in harmony with growth to sidestep the perils of photooxidative damage. This harmony between photosynthesis and photooxidative damage is orchestrated by the guanosine tetraphosphate (ppGpp) signalling pathway which traces its roots…

Many bryophytes and other non-seed plants are tolerant to vegetative desiccation, which is thought to have been necessary for colonization of land. By contrast, most seed plants lack this capacity, although they retain desiccation tolerance in their pollen and seeds. However, some seed plants, known…

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is an important crop, making up ~20% of food consumed worldwide. As the population grows, wheat yields must increase to meet demand. To achieve this, genetically diverse wheat landraces (aka traditional varieties, which are locally adapted cultivars) can be utilized. Here, Cheng…

In this article by Haverroth et al., the authors explore plant-water dynamics in the shoot during and after waterlogging, using as a model Phaseolus vulgaris, which is particularly sensitive to waterlogging. One of the interesting findings is that early after waterlogging and prior to leaf dehydration,…

Microbial neighbors of plants in the soil comprise of a vast array of bacteria and fungi, collectively known as the microbiome. This soil microbial community forms close associations with plants and regulates plant growth and development by inducing changes in the plant and soil metabolites. In this…

Metabolic activities in symbionts are often described as physiologically synchronized, but sometimes, as in the case of coral bleaching, this synchrony can break down. This breakdown was observed in lichen by Meyer et al. when they examined the physiologies of Evernia mesomorpha fungal and algal components…

Review: Root development and symbiosis: an epigenetic perspective Roots do not grow in isolation but occupy a space inhabited by a variety of organisms. With certain fungi and bacteria, they form partnerships or symbiotic relationships that increase the plant’s nutrient uptake and assimilation.…

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

Sydney Brenner famously said, “Progress in science depends on new techniques, new discoveries and new ideas, probably in that order.” Right now, we’re seeing how advancements and new techniques in artificial intelligence and deep learning are being applied in plant sciences, including in the analysis…

Plant nutrient use efficiency (NUE) has become a major concern in recent years as farmers and scientists strive to make agriculture more sustainable. To this end, the manipulation of plant-microbe interactions holds great potential. In this short review, Griffin et al. highlight recent findings, focusing…

Protein synthesis, modification, and degradation are not only crucial for responding to environmental change, but they also represent significant energy costs for a plant. Energy homeostasis is highly affected by the presence of light. In young seedlings, light enhances translation during the dark-to-light…

Light influences essentially all aspects of plant growth and development. Furthermore, plants are likely to adjust their stress responses based on fluctuations in energy availability during the dark-light cycle. Lin et al investigated a hormone downstream component, ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR 1 (ERF1),…

In mesophyll cells, carbonic anhydrase is mainly located in the chloroplast, however it is in the cytosol in plants with a C4 carbon concentrating mechanism. There is interest in relocating carbonic anhydrase to the cytosol of C3 plants as a first step in the introduction of a carbon concentrating mechanism.…

Domesticated crops provide a reliable food source but generally have little genetic diversity to cope with environmental fluctuations. By decrypting the genome of wild species such as the wild rice Oryza rufipogon, we may identify additional genetic variation useful for breeding process. However, the…

Polycarpic perennials, as opposed to annual plants, flower multiple times over several growing seasons throughout their lifecycle. To do that, they must retain a vegetative meristem that does not produce flowers during the reproductive phase. MADS-box transcription factors like FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC)…

Nitric oxide (NO) acts as a signal molecule to regulate plant growth, from seed germination to floral formation. Female gametophyte (FG) development is sensitive to external signals; for example, in plants in adverse environements, a decrease in fertilizable FGs enhances the survival prospects of the…

Optimal temperatures for growth and development vary between plant species, making accurate temperature sensing crucial for their fitness. The search for molecular mechanisms underlying temperature signaling suggests that a single temperature sensor likely does not exist in plants. Instead, plants possess…

Rising sea levels and increasing salt accumulation in irrigated soils are threatening food production globally. There is a lot to be learned from plants that have evolved tolerance to salt. In this new preprint, Martínez-Rivas et al. explored the mechanism of salt tolerance the Cvi-0 accession of Arabidopsis…

Plants fix carbon dioxide to generate biomass, and in many cases increasing the availability of CO2 enhances plant growth. However, some studies have shown that although yields of food crops such as rice might increase, their nutritional value decreases, due to limitations in availability of minerals…

Host plants recognize diverse bacterial epitopes, known as microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs), and respond with an immune reaction to control bacterial growth. However, most studies have focused on single bacterial epitopes, limiting our understanding of plant-bacteria interaction outcomes…

Phytoplasmas are bacterial pathogens that induce significant morphological changes in a host plant including prominent leaf yellowing. They are known to be transmitted by piercing-sucking insects or phloem-feeding arthropods. Phytoplasmas alter plant developmental process through specific effectors.…

Review: Deep learning approaches to understanding stomatal function Sydney Brenner famously said, “Progress in science depends on new techniques, new discoveries and new ideas, probably in that order." Right now, we’re seeing how advancements and new techniques in artificial intelligence and deep…

John et al. reveal how degradation of the chloroplast protein FATTY ACID EXPORT PROTEIN1 by RHOMBOID-LIKE PROTEASE11 affects cold tolerance in Arabidopsis. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koae011 By Annalisa John (AJ) and Ekkehard Neuhaus (HEN) (RPTU Kaiserslautern, Germany) Background: Plants…

https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koae039 Zhong, Luo, Sun, et al. Yuanyuan Zhong, Guangxi University; Yuhong Luo, Guangxi University; Jinliang Sun, Guangxi University; Xuemei Qin, Guangxi University; Ping Gan, Guangxi University; Zuwen Zhou, Guangxi University; Yongqing Qian, Guangxi University; Rupeng…

Xin et al. determined the cryo-EM structure of HQNO-bound Alternative Complex III from the anoxygenic phototrophic bacterium Chloroflexus aurantiacus. The Plant Cell (2024) https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koae029 By Xiaoling Xu at Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China Background: Photosynthesis…

Rao et al. discover a new regulator to control carotenoid synthesis in plants. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koae030 By Sombir Rao and Li Li Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, USDA-ARS, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA Plant Breeding and Genetics Section,…

Gao, Chen et al. explore the regulatory mechanisms governing winter dormancy in trees. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koae022 Yongfeng Gao, Zihao Chen and Yinan Yao School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, 621010 Mianyang, China Background:…

Hu et al. uncover a major regulatory model that can enhance plants’ P uptake from soils. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koae041 By Dandan Hua, Hengyou Zhangb and Dan Zhanga a Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou,…

Li et al. investigate the mechanisms of defense and counter-defense in a floral pathosystem. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koae027 By Guo-Bang Li, Wen-Ming Wang, and Jing Fan Background: Rice false smut is an emerging fungal disease threatening rice production worldwide. This disease not only…

Zhang et al. explore the regulation of cambium division and differentiation in poplar. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koae040 Yanhui Zhang and Quanzi Li, State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China Background: In trees such as poplar (Populus…

Read all about why these Plant Direct First Authors chose to pursue plant sciences and see their manuscripts here. Le Thanh Dien Nguyen Le Thanh Dien Nguyen (he/him) is the First Author of Project ChemicalBlooms: Collaborating with Citizen Scientists to Survey the Chemical Diversity and Phylogenetic…

Wu and Bisaro study the sequence structure of viroid quasispecies in plant cells. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koae012  Jian Wu1,2,3 and David M. Bisaro3 1State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agroproducts, Institute of Plant Virology,…

Romer et al. study the origin of the lipid side chain phytol in tocopherol and phylloquinone synthesis in Arabidopsis. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad316   By J. Romer, K. Gutbrod and P. Dörmann Background: Isoprenoid lipids in Arabidopsis chloroplasts include chlorophyll, carotenoids,…

Tian et al. identify the zinc finger protein DHHC09 as a regulator of rice salt tolerance. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koae001   By Ye Tian, Xuan-Ming Liu, and Jian-Zhong Lin Background: Soil salinity results in oxidative stress and heavy losses to crop production. S-acylation of proteins…

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

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants assimilate carbon by using light energy. However, with the solar energy conversion efficiency of many crop plants less than 1%, it is inefficient. Therefore, there is interest in manipulating photosynthesis for increased efficiency. Here, Croce et al. identifying…

Plants rely on an array of mineral nutrients for their growth, development, and reproductive processes. The molecular mechanisms governing the uptake, translocation, storage, and utilization of these essential minerals are orchestrated by specific nutrient transporters and their associated regulatory…

Plant immunity is beautifully sophisticated with a ever-growing cast of characters. This review by Liu et al. focuses on the contributions of proteolysis (protein degradation), which both activates and suppresses immune responses. The authors structure the review around four key functions of proteolysis:…

Plants adapt to salt stress by maintaining ion balance using ion transporters. While much is known about cation transporters, the role of anion transporters is less clear. Rajappa et al. focus on the chloride channel gene AtCLCf in Arabidopsis thaliana, controlled by the transcription factor WRKY9 under…

Root growth is controlled by a dense network of hormone signals working in shared and distinct root zones and cell types. Brassinosteroids (BR) control root growth through activated signaling in vascular and epidermal tissues, but it is unclear how BR signals in each tissue contribute and whether there…

Global climate change affects weather patterns, and excess soil salinity harms plant growth. Previous studies have shown interaction between the circadian clock and salt responses. In normal conditions, the core circadian clock oscillator GIGANTEA (GI) sequesters the SOS2 kinase, part of the salt-overly…

Nitrogen (N) is vital for plant growth, with plants typically absorbing inorganic N compounds like nitrate (NO3−) and ammonium (NH4+) from the soil. Yet plants can also utilize organic N sources, including amino acids like glutamine (Gln). Gln, as the first organic N compound assimilated within plant…

Plants have a remarkable ability to reprogram and regenerate as needed following wounding. This trait is invaluable not only to gardeners but also to regenerate plants following genome editing. Here, Wang, Zhai, Wu, and Deng have identified key steps in tissue regeneration. Through characterization of…

Many animals such as corals and sea slugs host photosynthetic symbionts. Several studies have investigated how the host and symbiont coordinate their activities. This new study by Sarfati et al. explores how symbiotic green algae and their animal host, the flattened-worm Convolutriloba longifissura,…

Plants recruit beneficial microbiomes in the rhizosphere in response to aboveground pathogen infections, a mechanism known as “cry for help.” Zhang and Liu et al. investigated this effect to test whether pathogenicity is necessary for assembling a disease-suppressive rhizomicrobiome. By using nonpathogenic…

Most readers recognize the photograph of the amazing nitrogen-fixing maize, with its red, slimy aerial roots that nurture nitrogen-fixing bacteria. But I suspect few of us have thought about how this landrace came to the attention of the mainstream media, who owns the rights to it, and how it would be…

Review: Strategies to improve photosynthesis Photosynthesis is the process by which plants assimilate carbon by using light energy. However, with the solar energy conversion efficiency of many crop plants less than 1%, it is inefficient. Therefore, there is interest in manipulating photosynthesis…

Fan and Whitaker explore the genetic footprint of the breeding history of cultivated strawberry. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad314 Zhen Fan and Vance M. Whitaker Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, Wimauma, FL, 33597,…

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

Huebbers, Caldarescu, et al. examine how the EXO70 and MLO proteins cooperate in targeted deposition of cell wall components in trichomes. By Jan W. Huebbers1 and George A. Caldarescu2 1 Unit of Plant Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Biology I, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52056…

Fang, Guo, Wang, et al. explore the molecular mechanism underlying anther dehiscence in rice. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koae028 Yuxing Fang, State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University. Yi Wang, State Key Laboratory of Protein and…

Guillory et al. explore the role of SMXL proteins in Physcomitrium patens growth.  https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koae009  By Ambre Guillory, Sandrine Bonhomme and Catherine Rameau Background: In flowering plants, several proteins of the SUPPRESSOR OF MAX2 1-LIKE (SMXL) family influence the…

In the electrifying world of plant signaling, a paradigm shift is underway as researchers dig into the intricate mechanisms of action potentials (APs) and slow wave potentials (SWPs). Departing from conventional neurophysiological dogma in the animal kingdom, this review by Barbosa-Caro and Wudick illuminates…

Panomics, an approach integrating multiple ‘omics’ datasets such as genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and phenomics, has seen rapid advancement in recent years due to technological improvements, particularly in genomics. This review focuses on the recent developments in panomics-driven gene…

Because much of the genetic diversity of our crops plants was lost during domestication, many breeding efforts endeavor to cross in resilience genes from wild relatives. An alternative approach is to rapidly domesticate those wild relatives themselves, for example by editing genes that affect flowering…

In woody plants, we know much less about how photosynthesis functions in stems than in leaves. This study by Natale et al. focused on how chloroplasts in Fraxinus ornus stems of different ages work. The authors looked at oxygen production rates in whole stems, bark, and wood using various methods like…

Studies on Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) plant genomes are scarse and CAM evolution is known to be an ecological driver of diversification. The subgenus Tillandsia (Bromeliaceae) is one of the fastest diversifying clades in the plant kingdom and is known for its adaptive CAM trait. It has recently…

Plant oils, composed of fatty acids, provide humans and animals with food, essential nutrients, chemicals, and biofuels. Plants accumulate over 450 “unusual” fatty acids, which could hold significant value if they achieve optimal production. Hydroxylated fatty acids (HFA) are unusual fatty acids…

Gametogenesis is essential for sexual reproduction. In bryophytes, lycophytes, and ferns, gametogenesis takes place in gametangia: antheridia for sperm production and archegonia for egg production. How these specialized reproductive organs develop at the molecular level remains unclear. Furuya et al.…

Barley is a globally important cereal crop, so understanding barley grain development is of much interest. Here, Kovacik et al. investigated transcriptional changes in barley grains at five points across development, 4, 8, 16, 24 and 32 days after pollination. For each time point, grains were manually…

Grape (Vitis vinifera) is a globally cultivated fruit for fresh or processed consumption, and seedless grapes are highly preferred for consumer convenience. In seedless grapes, fertilization occurs but the embryo subsequently aborts, although the molecular basis for this abortion is not understood. Zhang…

Soil salinization causes massive yield losses in agriculture, and its impact on plants goes beyond what our eyes can see. Roots are immediately affected by the direct exposure to a salt-(NaCl) rich substrate. Here, Zou et al. investigate the salt-induced altered root gravitropic responses in Arabidopsis…

While it is recognized that plant communication, both within and between plants, can be achieved through emission and perception of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), it is unclear exactly how these signals are perceived and transmitted. Stirling et al. tease apart the components of within-plant VOC…

In recent years, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and single-nuclei RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) techniques have revolutionized plant biology by enabling the identification of novel cell types, modeling developmental trajectories, and analyzing transcriptional activity at the cellular level. However,…

New technologies, like personal computers or smart phones, often have limited adoption due to their high cost or requirement for advanced technological skills. Greater affordability and ease of use leads to greater adoption. Here, Yu, Sussman et al. describe the development of an affordable, portable…

Review. Revisiting plant electric signaling: Challenging an old phenomenon with new discoveries In the electrifying world of plant signaling, a paradigm shift is underway as researchers dig into the intricate mechanisms of action potentials (APs) and slow wave potentials (SWPs). Departing from conventional…

Sun et al. demonstrate that histone deacetylase OsHDA716 represses rice chilling tolerance not only by functioning as an epigenetic regulator but also by deacetylating OsbZIP46 to reduce its transactivation function and protein stability.  https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koae010  By Sun Ying and…

Zhou et al. explore how maize plants adjust their canopy architectures at high plant densities to tolerate shading from adjacent plants.  https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koae007  Yan Zhou, Iowa State University Background: The dramatically increased yields of commercial maize hybrids are largely…

Yanxia Zhang1,2 1 Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands 2 College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, China https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad317 Background: Soil salinity causes crop yield losses world-wide. Adjusting plant…

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

Zhang et al. identify a signaling cascade mediating soybean cyst nematode resistance.  https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koae008  By Lei Zhang and Xiaoli Guo, National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University Background:…

Kong et al. explore how phototropins regulate actin filaments associated with chloroplasts and unveil CHUP1 as a type of actin nucleator. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad320 Sam-Geun Kong Kongju National University, Gongju Korea Background: Chloroplasts dynamically adjust their intracellular…

Ren, Gou, Zhuo, Chen et al. revealed that a DNA methylation reader complex recruits an effector protein to regulate variant-specific 45S rRNA silencing. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad313 By Weiqiang Qian, Peking University Background: Eukaryotic genomes harbor thousands of 45S ribosomal…

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

A review of the past 50 years of plant immunity by Jones, Staskawicz, and Dangl? Yes please! I particularly enjoy historical perspectives of a discipline, as they frame conceptual breakthroughs with the benefit of hindsight. As the article lays out, understanding the plant immune system benefitted greatly…

Plants possess a fascinating ability to communicate with each other through a complex system of chemical signals. Aboveground, they use airborne volatile signals to attract predatory insects, prime defenses in neighbors, facilitate nutrient transfer, and promote plant interactions. However, less is known…

Widely and abundantly eaten tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are delicious and nutritious, but the genetic diversity of cultivated tomatoes is quite narrow. In this review, Wang et al. give an overview of efforts to increase diversity, through introduction of genes from wild relatives and other approaches.…

Low-resolution data can provide broad strokes but miss the details that come from greater information density. When striving to understand the multimillion-year evolutionary history of the angiosperms, more data certainly helps. Here, by focusing on a subset of 353 genes, Zuntini and Carruthers et al.…

As one of the most traded commodities in the world, coffee has cultural and economic impact that spans continents. The main source of coffee beans, Coffea arabica (Arabica), is a polyploid species that resulted from the hybridization between diploid C. canephora (Robusta) and C. eugenioides (Eugenioides).…

The domestication of cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) traces back approximately 300 years, providing us with a relatively comprehensive genealogy of this artificial hybrid species. Strawberry yield in the US has increased by 2,755% since the 1960’s, largely owing to the California strawberry…

In recent years, the discovery that the translational regulation of many mRNAs is influenced by small upstream open reading frames (uORFs) has highlighted the importance of precisely identifying gene structures and translated ORFs to understand gene functions and cellular behavior. Using Arabidopsis,…

A new article by Blagojevic, Baldrich, and Schiaffini et al. reveals that Arabidopsis ARGONAUTE1 (AGO1) protein, a pivotal agent in miRNA and siRNA-mediated gene silencing associated with the rough endoplasmic reticulum, dynamically localizes within stress granule components during heat stress (HS).…

ATG8 is a well-characterized protein involved in autophagy that binds to the double-membrane enclosed phagophore. In a new preprint, Julian et al. explore their finding that ATG8 binds to the single-membrane enclosed vacuolar membrane (tonoplast). They observed that this binding is enhanced by treatments…

Cannabis sativa, also known as hemp or marijuana, is a widely cultivated plant for a variety of reasons. It is perhaps best known as a producer of an intoxicating chemical, THC, produced by glandular trichomes on female flowers, but low-THC producers (hemp) are cultivated for fibers. Flowering time affects…

The concept of pollination syndromes posits that floral diversity arises from shifts among pollinator groups, yet their predictive accuracy for pollinator identification is debated. Kopper et al. leveraged machine learning, utilizing 44 floral traits from 252 species with known pollinator interactions,…

Review: The plant immune system: From discovery to deployment A review of the past 50 years of plant immunity by Jones, Staskawicz, and Dangl? Yes please! I particularly enjoy historical perspectives of a discipline, as they frame conceptual breakthroughs with the benefit of hindsight. As the article…

Dai, Song, Xu et al. identify Ycf51 as a photosystem I assembly factor in cyanobacteria https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad330 By Guo-Zheng Dai, Central China Normal University Question: Background: While the mechanisms of photosystem II biogenesis and the auxiliary proteins involved are well…

Zhou et al. investigated pollen tube integrity maintenance mechanisms in maize. The Plant Cell (2023) https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad324 By Liang-Zi Zhou and Thomas Dresselhaus Background: As sperm cell transporting vehicles, pollen tubes of flowering plants grow through the transmitting tissues…

Bradamante et al. investigate the heterogeneity of stem cells of the shoot apical meristem https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad295 By Vu Nguyen, Gabriele Bradamante, Ortrun Mittelsten Scheid and Ruben Gutzat Background: In plants, stem cells in the shoot apical meristem (SAM) produce new organs…

Lee, Liu, Kim et al. demonstrate that a plant m6A reader dampens stress responses. By Keun Pyo Lee, Kaiwei Liu, Eun Yu Kim, and Chanhong Kim CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences (CEMPS), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad300 Background:…

Lesch et al. reveal that the mitochondrial RNA editing factor PPR78 of Physcomitrium patens is conserved among mosses despite the loss of its two known C-to-U editing sites due to the additional editing target ccmFNeU1465RC.  https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad292 By Elena Lesch, Volker Knoop…

 Yao, Wang et al. identify the mechanisms regulating inflorescence meristem determinacy in Arabidopsis. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad249 By Wang Jinsong Yao1, Yi Peng Wang1, Jing Peng1, Pei Pei Yin1, Hengbin Gao1, Li Xu1, Thomas Laux2, Xian Sheng Zhang1, and Ying Hua Su1 1Shandong…

Geng et al. reveal a feedback system that orchestrates the expression of genes controlling crown root development in rice (Oryza sativa) and uncover a molecular rheostat of this system. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad318 By Leping Geng and Yu Zhao National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic…

Read all about why these Plant Direct First Authors chose to pursue plant sciences and see their manuscripts here. Kyoko Takamatsu Kyoko Takamatsu is the First Author of α-Tomatine gradient across artificial roots recreates the recruitment of tomato root-associated Sphingobium published 18 December…

Su et al. identify two cell wall-loosening agents that synergistically regulate tomato fruit softening. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad291 By Guanqing Su1, Yanna Shi1, 2, 3 1College of Agriculture & Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou 310058, China 2Zhejiang…

Healthy plants require access to several mineral nutrients, which are usually taken up in ionic form. The details of nutrient uptake, distribution, and function have been painstakingly revealed over several decades. In this excellent new Tansley Review, Kunz et al. provide an overview of ion homeostasis…

Thiolation of tRNA adds a sulfur-containing nucleotide modification at the tRNA wobble position, which is necessary for efficient translation. Zheng et al. investigated the role of tRNA thiolation in plant immunity, revealing its necessity for robust defense responses in Arabidopsis. They identified…

If you’ve ever wondered how plants grow, survive, and adapt to their dynamic environment, the secret lies in their vast array of chemical messengers, also called phytohormones. Brassinosteroids  are important hormones that are crucial for plant development and defense against environmental stresses.…

Temperature extremes, such as cold stress, severely affect wheat (Triticum aestivum) productivity and quality by impairing its vegetative and reproductive growth. Several phytohormones have roles in cold stress, such as brassinosteroids (BRs) and salicylic acid (SA). However, how BR interacts with SA…

Coale et al. provide an exciting peek into the evolution of a nitrogen-fixing organelle (called a nitroplast) in their studies of a tiny marine alga, Braarudosphaera bigelowii and its endosymbiont cyanobacterium, Candidatus Atelocyanobacterium thalassa (UCYN-A). Plant biologists are familiar with…

Roots are important for acquiring water and nutrients from the soil; however root system architecture is poorly understood in cereal crops. Here Aldiss et al. used CRISPR/Cas9 to generate barley mutants in the auxin transporter PIN-FORMED2 (PIN2). Seedlings were grown in chambers and after four days…

The onset of flowering is a tightly regulated process, as is the end of the reproductive phase in plants. In Arabidopsis thaliana, FRUITFULL (FUL) contributes to ending the reproductive cycle, as do signals derived from developing seeds. Here, Martínez-Fernández et al. explored to which extent that…

Plant roots are functionally distinct along the longitudinal axis due to different cell types and diverse metabolic states. Root-secreted metabolites are involved in the assembly of complex microbial communities, yet the relationships between root-metabolites and organization of root microbiota at the…

The defensive alkaloid gramine, present in barley and other grass species, plays an important role in protecting the plant from insect damage but poses challenges for ruminant palatability. Breeding strategies balance these factors by maintaining the protective function and making the grain palatable…

Soil microbial communities respond rapidly to stress, potentially leading to altered compositions in stressful environments and consequently impacting plant natural selection. Bolin and Lau investigated the influence of microbial responses to stress and persistent microbial legacy effects on plant selection.…

Afforestation initiatives are globally underway to replace naturally treeless ecosystems with native and non-native trees. The primary objective is to enhance atmospheric carbon capture as a means to combat climate change. This review seeks to illuminate the diverse impacts of afforestation, both positive…

Review: Chloroplast ion homeostasis Healthy plants require access to several mineral nutrients, which are usually taken up in ionic form. The details of nutrient uptake, distribution, and function have been painstakingly revealed over several decades. In this excellent new Tansley Review, Kunz et…

The et al. identified a chloroplast glutamate exporter in Arabidopsis thaliana. The Plant Cell (2023). By Samantha The and Mechthild Tegeder, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad310 Background: Plants produce…

Zhao et al. discovered that MdYUC2a and MdYUC6b are targets of H3K27me3 modification mediated by MdBPC2-MdLHP1, which regulates auxin biosynthesis during apple growth. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad297 Haiyan Zhao, Shuyuan Wan, Yanni Huang, Xiaoqiang Li, Tiantian Jiao, Zhijun Zhang, Baiquan…

Schmidt-Marcec, Parish and colleagues characterize members of the MACERATOR (MACET) family of proteins in the context of cell division.  https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad304  By Sharol Schmidt-Marcec, Alyssa Parish, Tetyana Smertenko, Matthew Hickey, Bernard M.A.G. Piette, Andrei Smertenko Institute…

Jiang et al. explore the mechanisms underlying transposable element load variation in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana.  https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad296 By Juan Jiang (Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences) and Ya-Long Guo (Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences) Background:…

Zhou et al. examine the fundamental functions of metacaspases in the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad289 By Yong Zou, Adrian N. Dauphinee, Simon Stael and Peter V. Bozhkov Department of Molecular Sciences, Uppsala BioCenter, Swedish University…

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

Wang, Bollier, Buono, et al. catalog the cellular processes that occur during programmed cell death in plants. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad308 Jie Wang, Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, China Moritz K. Nowack, VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems…

Li, Zhang, Liu et al. demonstrate that the E3 ligase TaGW2 enhances wheat drought tolerance by promoting the degradation of the transcription factor TaARR12. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad307 By Shumin Li, Zhensheng Kang and Hude Mao State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid…

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

Liu et al. explore the RNAs present in processing bodies, a cytoplasmic subcellular condensate.  Andriani Mentzelopoulou Department of Biology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology–Hellas, Heraklion,…

Brabham et al. explore the mechanisms of resistance to fungal pathogens in barley. Helen J. Brabham1,2, Diana Gómez De La Cruz1, Matthew J. Moscou,3 1The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK 22Blades, 1630 Chicago Avenue, Suite 1312,…

I remember how amazed I was the first time I saw an animation of ATP synthase doing its job. This fantastic engine is largely conserved across the domains of life, with some variation as highlighted in this review of the chloroplast ATP synthase by Rühle et al. The plastid form is a rotary form, written…

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are agents of damage but also potent signals. Here, Singh et al. review the cellular targets that support ROS signaling across the green kingdom. Many of the signaling roles for ROS have been uncovered in Arabidopsis and other angiosperms, so it is interesting to look at…

Epigenetic stress memory in gymnosperms is the topic of a new review by Fossdal et al. Gymnosperms are long-lived, cone-bearing, tough trees, known to tolerate episodic stress. Their adaptive traits to stress are not passed on in a straightforward way, conforming to classical Mendelian inheritance. Instead,…

The introduction of CRISPR-Cas technology in 2012 marked a significant advancement in global genome editing, yet its potential remains largely untapped in Africa, where it could address crucial challenges in agriculture, public health, and medicine. However, several obstacles hinder its full realization,…

For many reasons, the voices of researchers from the Global South often go unheard. Many of these reasons are financial; big international conferences are frequently held at places that require distant travel, and registration and travel fees can be beyond the reach of modestly-funded scientists.  Visa…

In the dark, plants modify thylakoid stacking to alter electron transport and reduce photodamage. More photosystem II (PSII) is located in thylakoids within stacked grana, which promotes cyclic electron transport. Upon light exposure, there is granal unstacking, which increases the amount of linear electron…

The mechanisms of apical dominance and bud outgrowth have puzzled generations of plant scientists, and over a century various hypotheses have been scrutinized. Two main hubs of regulation – auxin canalization (movement of auxin from a bud into the main stem) and the branching transcription factors…

Polyploidy, arising from whole-genome duplication, is a common phenomenon in plant species. However, newly formed polyploids are often infertile and the mechanism(s) by which they adapt to their new karyotypes remain unclear. In this article, Westermann and colleagues chemically induced the formation…

Type-IV glandular trichomes, which produce acylsugars, are effective deterrents against herbivory in Solanum, but they only persist in the juvenile stage of the cultivated tomato (S. lycopersicum). Therefore, these trichomes serve as a marker for the transition from juvenile to adult phases in developmental…

Targeting a given protein for degradation at a specific time can be very useful when investigating its function in the cellular context. In this paper, Huang et al. present an inducible protein degradation system tailored for plants, named E3-DART. The system is based on the specific interaction between…

Review. Chloroplast ATP synthase: From structure to engineering I remember how amazed I was the first time I saw an animation of ATP synthase doing its job. This fantastic engine is largely conserved across the domains of life, with some variation as highlighted in this review of the chloroplast…

Huang et al. explore the functions of the nuclear pore complex in regulating the expression of FLOWERING LOCUS C in plants.  Penghui Huang1,2†, Xiaomei Zhang2†, Zhiyuan Cheng3† 1 Research Institute of Intelligent Computing, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou 310012, China 2 MARA Key Laboratory of…

Zhang et al. investigate the role of the OsCIF1/2–OsSGN3a/b signaling pathway in Casparian strip formation in rice. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad269 By Jixing Xia, of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, China. Background: The Casparian strip (CS) is a belt-like lignin-based…

Wei et al. show how hydrogen peroxide affects aluminum tolerance via its effects on the transcription factor SENSITIVE TO PROTON RHIZOTOXICITY 1 in Arabidopsis thaliana. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad281 By X. Wei, Y.F. Zhu, W.X. Xie, W.W. Ren, Y. Zhang, H. Zhang, S.J. Dai, and C.-F. Huang Background:…

Qian et al. investigate how the evolution of the thermostability of actin-depolymerizing factors enhances the adaptation of pollen germination to high temperature. The Plant Cell (2023). https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad280  By Qian D., Li T., Chen S., Wan D., He Y., Zheng C., Li J., Sun Z.,…

Anting Zhu et al. establish an approach to identify metabolites and their corresponding genes and pathways in wheat. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad286 By A. Zhu, M. Liu, Z. Tian, W. Liu, W. Chen et al.  National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Center of Plant Gene…

As photosynthetic organisms, algae can harness solar energy to do useful things, from environmental cleanup to producing fuels and other beneficial molecules. This review by Goold et al. provides an overview of how algae can be valuable platforms for synthetic biology and metabolic engineering through…

This review by Berruto and Demirer calls for an interdisciplinary approach at the interface of experimental and computational frameworks to address the long-standing challenge of field application of beneficial soil microbiomes. This challenge persists due to our limited understanding of the complex…

As a writer and an editor, I am horrified by the idea that thinking can be replaced by artificial intelligence. But I do recognize that deep learning / machine learning / artificial intelligence can provide major opportunities for data analysis, as eloquently described in this review article by Murphy…

Plants that use C4 photosynthesis, whereby carbon is concentrated around RuBisCo in bundle sheath cells, have high water and nitrogen use efficiencies. Thus, understanding how C4 photosynthesis evolves is of much interest. The Flaveria genus provides a unique opportunity for this, as it contains species…

Transporting cargo within a cell may seem straightforward, but it is actually an intricate task. At the plasma membrane in plant cells, this complexity is navigated by a process known as clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Central to this process are two key players: adapter protein AP-2 and the TSET/TPLATE…

The identification and characterization of resistosome complexes, formed by the oligomerization of intracellular nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat receptors (NLRs), has recently been a major focus in the field of plant immunity. Some NLR genes occur as head-to-head pairs encoding proteins that function…

The establishment of adaxial-abaxial polarity during the growth of the leaf primordium is a prerequisite for the formation of the flat, thin leaves observed in most (but not all) plants. The micro-RNAs tasiARF and miR165/6, which form concentration gradients within leaf primordia, are major contributors…

Shade avoidance syndrome (SAS) is a set of adaptive growth responses to low red to far-red light ratios. SAS includes petiole and internode lengthening and upward bending of leaves (hyponasty). In Arabidopsis, PHYTOCHROME B (PHYB) and PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTORS (PIFs) are implicated in these responses.…

Systemic immunity, where local plant interactions with microbes or insects trigger enhanced resistance in distant organs, has parallels to the nervous system in animals. In plants, GLUTAMATE RECEPTOR-LIKE (GLR) genes have a pivotal role in long-distance wound signal transmission and the initiation of…

Redox reactions are an integral part of cellular metabolism and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate or NADP is an essential component due to its capacity to be oxidized or reduced. To get a better understanding of cellular redox homeostasis, precise quantification and visualization of NADP redox…

Phosphorus is the second most essential macronutrient in terms of limiting plant growth, acquired in the form of orthophosphate (Pi) by plant roots. The intricate processes of sensing, uptake, transport, storage, utilization, and cellular compartmentalization of Pi are finely orchestrated by a complex…

Cellular metabolism involves flux through metabolic routes, which can be measured using stable isotope (13C,15N) tracers. High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and transient isotope labeling studies offer an opportunity to get an in-depth understanding of metabolism in specific contexts. In this new…

Review: Synthetic algal genomes As photosynthetic organisms, algae can harness solar energy to do useful things, from environmental cleanup to producing fuels and other beneficial molecules. This review by Goold et al. provides an overview of how algae can be valuable platforms for synthetic biology…

Rosa-Téllez et al. explore the role of glycine flux regulation by photorespiration in maintaining nitrogen, carbon, and sulfur balance in plants.  https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad256 Sara Rosa-Téllez, Andrea Alcántara-Enguídanos and Roc Ros Palau. Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina…

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

Chopy et al. investigate the layer-specific contribution of the petunia homolog of DEFICIENS (PhDEF) in petal tube and limb development.  https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad258 Background: Petals are not only beautiful, but they are also very important floral organs that have co-evolved with different…

This is an excellent introduction to how synthetic biology can be used to program plants for climate resilience by engineering them to respond predictably and in ways beyond those that evolution has explored, through the use of controllable synthetic gene circuits. Ragland et al. describe how precise…

Advances in sequencing technologies have led to a tremendous growth in the number of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) being identified in plants, but identifying their function lags behind. Here, Ramirez Gonzales and Blom et al. draw on lessons from studies in mammalian systems and highlight several known…

Asteraceae, also known as Compositae or the daisy family, is one of the largest plant families and comprises 10% of all flowering plants. Members of this family are found in habitats worldwide. The unique inflorescence, called a capitulum, is a key innovation of the family and contributes to its success.…

Genome complexity in multicellular organisms is often associated with repetitive sequences from Transposable Elements (TEs). TE function, importance for genome integrity, and dispensability have not been completely characterized.  In prokaryotes and simple eukaryotes, genome synthesis (production of…

Marchantia’s power as a model organism continues to grow! Here, Ramoni et al. have investigated the expression pattern of the proximal promoters of most of its 450 transcription factor (TF)-encoding genes. The promoter elements were fused to nuclear-localized fluorescent reporters and introduced into…

This is a fascinating story by Hao et al., which takes us from phenotype to novel insights by looking at glandular trichomes in cucumber. Cucumber fruits often have a silica-based white powder deposited on their surface, but this is missing from the yellow green peel (ygp) mutant. Staining shows that…

Wheat is a major global crop, but its yields are severely compromised by drought, thus developing varieties with a higher drought tolerance is important. Emmer wheat (Triticum turgidum) is a wheat ancestor that contains more genetic diversity than cultivated varieties, so it can be used in genome wide…

For many years, biologists argued about whether plants have peptide hormones like animals have, and ever since it was first shown that plant peptides do have hormone-like functions, I’ve said a little cheer as new functions are discovered (Yay plants!). A few years ago, Sonali Roy and colleagues wrote…

Intercropping, the system of growing at least two crops simultaneously, increases crop productivity and ecological sustainability. An intercropping system of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and maize (Zea mays) has been previously found to improve the yield of peanut, specifically its iron nutrition and…

Silicon (Si) plays a significant role in helping plants to mitigate biotic and abiotic stress. Previous studies have shown that the application of Si also influences the microbial communities in the rhizosphere. However, the extent to which Si shapes the dynamics of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria…

Yu et al. conducted a meta-analysis of published 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequenced soil samples to compare the effects of plant-based fertilizers (e.g. compost, seaweed fertilizer) versus animal-based fertilizers (e.g., dung, manure) versus control, unfertilized samples on soil microbial diversity and…

Review: SynBio takes on roots and the rhizosphere This is an excellent introduction to how synthetic biology can be used to program plants for climate resilience by engineering them to respond predictably and in ways beyond those that evolution has explored, through the use of controllable synthetic…

Paffrath et al. explore the main physiological roles of coumarins released in response to iron deficiency under different environmental pHs.   https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad279 By Ricardo F. H. Giehl, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics & Crop Plant Research (IPK), Germany.  Background:…

Wang et al. reveal that MYB110 serves as a phosphate-dependent negative regulator of plant height that could be manipulated to boost lodging resistance and yield. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad268 Tingting Wang,1 Ming Yan,2 Mian Gu,1 Guohua Xu1 1 National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics…

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

By Jiawen Chen, PhD, Plant Physiology Assistant Features Editor Alistair McCormick is a Professor in Plant Engineering Biology at the University of Edinburgh (UK). He obtained his PhD at the University of KwaZulu Natal (South Africa), where he worked on sink regulation of photosynthesis in sugarcane,…

Zhang et al. identified a membrane-bound NAC transcription factor GmNTL that can be oxidized and released from the endoplasmic reticulum to the nucleus, thereby regulating downstream target genes to promote salt tolerance in soybean. Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad250 Wenxiao Zhang,…

Fifty years ago (1974), Albert Claude, Christian de Duve, and George Palade were awarded the Nobel Prize for their discoveries on the structural and functional organization of the cell, which Claude eloquently framed by writing, “We have entered the cell, the mansion of our birth, and started the inventory…

This outstanding Tansley review by Martin and van der Heijden spans the scale of research on mycorrhizal symbiosis from molecules to ecosystems, and spans time from the earliest encroachment of plants and fungi onto land to the future applications of our understanding. This very comprehensive review…

When thinking of hypoxia or low oxygen in plants, the image that often comes to mind is one of flooding stress. However, it’s not just plants exposed to excess of water that face hypoxia. Even in growing plants, hypoxia sensing and the existence of hypoxic niches play a vital role in their development.…

In sexual reproduction, meiosis creates new combinations between homologs and diversifies the genetic information among gametes and progenies. Most meiotic crossovers (COs) are mediated by a group of ZMM factors, including HUMAN ENHANCER of INVASION-10 (HEI10), which is suggested to concentrate at CO…

Named after the Etruscan goddess of fertility, the receptor-like kinase FERONIA (FER) is involved in more than fertility. A recent paper by Liu, Yeh et al. sheds light on the intricate signaling processes taking place on the cell surface in response to environmental signals regulating growth and development…

The definition of a phytohormone has not always been clear, though most plant biologists agree that phytohormones can be defined as endogenous molecules capable of triggering signaling cascades and associated responses by binding to specific receptors. They have been extensively studied in flowering…

Grafting is a way to combine the desirable properties of two plants by joining the scions and rootstocks from different plants. While frequently practiced, little is known about how grafting within and between coniferous species works. Most pertinently, grafting success relies on how efficiently connected…

From food and energy to paper and timber, many industries rely on clonal propagation of tree species. Successful propagation of cuttings depends on adventitious rooting ability, which is known to decline with tree age and to be naturally low in many species of interest. Propagators therefore employ naturally…

Rice is a globally important crop, with most of its calorific component coming from starch. Despite its importance, we do not fully understand the mechanism of starch formation in the rice endosperm. To discover novel factors involved in this process, Yan et al. performed a forward genetics screen and…

Plants use a suite of cell-surface receptors as signal transducers in both development and immunity. In this study, Ngou et al. utilized computational and functional approaches to examine the evolutionary origin of a subclass of plant cell-surface receptors called pattern recognition receptors (PRRs),…

One of the first lessons a plant biologist learns is that many plants coordinate their seasonal flowering through measuring daylength, and that this process involves both photoreceptors and the biological clock that functions inside of cells. Of course, daylength also affects plant metabolism, in part…

In the interesting world of plant defenses, plants have secret weapons called defense metabolites that stay quiet until a pathogen comes knocking. Plants have evolved two-component chemical defence systems to protect against pathogens while striking a balance between growth promotion and defence mechanisms.…

Healthy plants possess a functional immune system, and their leaves harbor a structured microbial community, including opportunistic pathogens. These opportunistic pathogens can trigger plant diseases under conducive conditions, such as when plant immunity is compromised, and the microbial community…

Review: Integrating cellular electron microscopy with multimodal data to explore biology across space and time Fifty years ago (1974), Albert Claude, Christian de Duve, and George Palade were awarded the Nobel Prize for their discoveries on the structural and functional organization of the cell, which…

Jian Liu, Xuecui Wang, Zeyuan Guan, Junjie Yan and colleagues reveal how the glucan phosphatase LSF1 acts as a scaffold to bring together the necessary enzymes for starch degradation. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad259 Background: Starch is a glucan-polymer that accumulates in chloroplasts…

Shen et al. explore how female reproductive development is maintained in at high ambient temperatures in barley and rice, and whether members of the SEPALLATA subfamily of floral organ regulators contribute. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad246 Chaoqun Shena,b and Matthew R. Tuckerb a Joint…

Liese et al. reveal a genetically encoded fluorescent biosensor for CDPK conformational activation. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad196 By Anja Liese1,2 and Tina Romeis1,2 1 Department for Biochemistry of Plant Interactions, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, D-06120 Halle (Saale),…

Liu and Zhu et al. systematically compare various methods for investigating transcription. The Plant Cell: https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad237 By M. Liu and Z. Dong Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Adaptation and Molecular Design, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Editing,…

Phytochemicals, also known as plant secondary metabolites, play primary roles in plant development, structure, and response to the environment. Their metabolism has been studied for over a century. In a new review, Dixon and Dickinson discuss past and recent advances in understanding the identity, localization,…

Plants have a remarkable ability to adapt to stress. For many stresses, plants respond to short-term mild exposure by becoming more tolerant to subsequent harsher stresses that would otherwise be lethal; this effect is known as priming. Priming occurs through several mechanisms that can include changes…

Amino acids (AA) are fundamental components of peptides, proteins, and enzymes that play a critical role in plant growth, cellular metabolism, and stress response. Plants synthesize most AA within chloroplasts and require membrane transporters to transfer them from stroma to cytosol. Cytosolic AA are…

Starch granules are synthesized in leaf chloroplasts during the day and degraded at night to provide carbon. MFP1 (MAR-BINDING FILAMENT-LIKE PROTEIN 1) is known to have a role in starch granule initiation, but its mechanistic role has been unknown. Sharma et al. hypothesized MFP1’s thylakoid localization…

As seedlings grow, they continuously fine-tune the balance between plant growth and energy consumption for better plant fitness. Mitochondria are essential to generate energy. Here, Canal et al. generated single mutants for a gene involved in the mitochondrial respiratory chain – CYTOCHROME C-1 (CYTC-1),…

Can you imagine going a day without a sip of water? Neither can plants. Water is essential for supporting diverse physiological processes in plants, including photosynthesis, nutrient transport, temperature regulation, and maintenance of cell turgidity. However, with global increase in temperature and…

Throughout the world, cereal endosperm is a major source of food. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying the import of sugar into the endosperm of rice plants (Oryza sativa) and how these pathways relate to auxin signaling. In this paper, Wu et al. investigate the role of…

Most plants benefit from symbiotic associations with fungi, in which the fungi aid in nutrient update particularly of phosphate, and the plant returns the favor by supplying the fungi with lipids. Several but not all of the molecular players required for these important pathways have been identified.…

It’s easy for most of us to grasp how an enzyme evolves new functions or substrate specificities, but envisioning how something incredibly complex like the human eye can be quite challenging (even Darwin was stumped). In this fascinating paper, Chomicki et al. asked how two geographically…

Plants shape ecosystems and sustain human life. Only a small portion of plant diversity is currently known to be in use, even though most plants may be useful to humans. Over time, certain species become widespread, but others are native to specific geographical regions. Thus, to manage plant resources…

Review: A century of studying plant secondary metabolism—From “what?” to “where, how, and why?”  Phytochemicals, also known as plant secondary metabolites, play primary roles in plant development, structure, and response to the environment. Their metabolism has been studied for over a century.…

Mermet et al. identify a protein that provides a continuum between the nucleoskeleton and the nuclear pore complex basket via short peptide motifs.  https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad236  Christophe Tatout and Aline Probst iGReD, Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, INSERM, 63001 Clermont-Ferrand,…

Huang et al. explore the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of autophagy by HLS1.  https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad252  By Li Huang, Xing Wen, Lian Jin, Huihui Han, and Hongwei Guo New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Institute of Plant and Food Science, Department of Biology,…

Xu et al. demonstrate the transcriptional regulatory steps responsible for establishing the regenerating capability of callus during Arabidopsis regeneration.  https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad255  By Chongyi Xu1, Pengjie Chang1,2, Shiqi Guo1,2, Xiaona Yang1,2, Xinchun Liu1,2, Baofeng Sui1,2,…

Hirano et al. uncover the secretion route for root hair shank hardening in Arabidopsis. The Plant Cell (2023). https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad240 By T. Hirano, K. Ebine, T. Ueda, T. Higaki, T. W.-Nakayama, H. Konno, H. T.-Imamura, and M. H. Sato Background: Root hairs are rapidly growing…

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

Bao et al. reveal how microtubule-associated proteins regulate tomato fruit shape formation from a cell biology perspective.  Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad231  Zhiru Bao and Pengwei Wang National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops,…

Tsuda et al. investigate the temporal order of cell fate establishment during stem development in rice. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad241 By Katsutoshi Tsuda Background: The stem, which consists of nodes and internodes, is an axis of the shoot that physically supports lateral organs such…

Wu et al. explore how three key transcription factors co-regulate gene networks and the regulatory landscape associated with endosperm development and seed phenotype in maize.  https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad247 Hao Wu1,2 and Philip W. Becraft1,3 Iowa State University, Genetics, Development…

Zhang et al. identify a regulatory hub in grapevine controlling divergent specialized metabolic pathways as part of the light/UV radiation response. Plant Cell.  https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad228 By José Tomás Matus and Chen Zhang Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio),…

Kornienko  et al. discover that Arabidopsis genome is full of long-non-coding RNAs that show their expression only in specific tissues and plants from different geographic origins because of differences in epigenetic silencing of these genes. Plant Cell - https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad233 By Aleksandra…

Jianqing Niu et al. explore how modern breeding reshaped wheat phenotype and genome in China and the United States, which will facilitate breeding higher performance wheat in the future. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad229 By Jianqing Niu and Hong-Qing Ling from Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory…

Zhou et al. discover a molecular mechanism of rice grain size regulation. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad239 By Chunlei Zhou from Nanjing Agricultural University Background: Grain size is a key factor for determining grain yield. Many genes or quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that regulate…

Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient and critical component of nucleic acids, phospholipids, and other molecules. Yang et al. provide a historical (since 1996) overview of the processes controlling its uptake and use. Plants take up P from the rhizosphere primarily in the form of orthophosphate (Pi).…

C-TERMINALLY ENCODED PEPTIDE (CEP) is a multigene family of peptide hormones originally described as systemic long-distance signals in response to nitrogen limitation. Over the years since the discovery of these peptide hormones, the literature on CEP biology has expanded the repertoire of developmental…

Plants, like animals, have small populations of stem cells capable of differentiating into other tissues, but in plants these stem cell populations are even more long-lived and versatile. Stem cells in plants include the meristems (shoot and root apical meristems, inflorescence and axillary meristems)…

Salicylic acid (SA) is a pivotal natural compound in plant science and finds applications in herbal medicine; specifically, aspirin, the renowned anti-inflammatory drug and pain reliever, is a derivative of SA. As summarized in this review by Spoel and Dong, within plants SA serves as a crucial phytohormone…

Agricultural Biotechnology has the potential to significantly increase production, alleviate hunger, and improve global food security. However, its adoption in Africa lags behind other regions, facing challenges rooted in strict and varying policies, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient economic…

During the day, starch is synthesized in the chloroplasts of leaves and stored as starch granules, before being degraded in the subsequent night. In Arabidopsis thaliana, starch granules are discoid in shape. Some mutants have round or elongated granules, yet all these mutants have a homogenous starch…

Obligate plant pathogens cannot survive without their host plant. Therefore, understanding how the plant and its microbiome respond to the obligate biotrophs has real challenges in making sure that the response that is being monitored is not an artifact of the experimental step up. A recent study by…

Plants are colonized by numerous beneficial microorganisms in the rhizosphere, including Pseudomonas fluorescens, that provide benefits including nutrient acquisition and pathogen protection. Host plants must tune their immune systems to restrict microbial overgrowth, while avoiding overstimulation of…

Research Data Management for plant scientists just got easier with the newly released PLANTdataHub. In this platform, you can register your data which will be organized in Annotated Research Contexts (ARCs). ARCS are Findable Accessible Interoperable Reproducible (FAIR) digital Objects which are the…

Review. Milestones in understanding phosphorus uptake, transport, sensing, use, and signaling Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient and critical component of nucleic acids, phospholipids, and other molecules. Yang et al. provide a historical (since 1996) overview of the processes controlling its…

A calcium-dependent protein kinase and an E3 ubiquitin ligase fine-tune rice immunity Mou et al. explore the growth­–defense trade-off in rice. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad265 Baohui Mou, Jiyang Wang, and Wenxian Sun China Agricultural University Background: Plants need to keep…

Chun, Fang, Savelieva, Lomin et al. explore the mechanism by which cytokinin signaling influences the size of rice panicle. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad257 By Yan Chun (淳雁), and Xueyong Li (李学勇) National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute…

By Aida Maric, PhD, Plant Physiology Assistant Features Editor Jurriaan Ton is Professor of Plant Environmental Signalling at the University of Sheffield in UK. He obtained his PhD at the Utrecht University in the Netherlands, where he studied plant-microbiome interaction in the lab of Prof. Corné…

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

Shanmugaraj et al. used spatiotemporal multi-omics studies to elucidate the mechanism of apical degeneration of barley inflorescence meristem and proposes a molecular framework behind this process, the manipulation of which may increase yield in barley and other related cereals. Nandhakumar Shanmugaraj1,…

Zhu et al. explored the function of DRIF1 as a FREE1 suppressor in Arabidopsis. The Plant Cell (2023). https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad227 By Ying Zhu1, Jinbo Shen4 and Liwen Jiang1,2,3 1School of Life Sciences, Centre for Cell & Developmental Biology and State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology,…

Xiao, Fang, Zhang, et al. identify a gene affecting stem growth in poplar. Liang Xiao (Beijing University of Agriculture and Beijing Forestry University), Yuanyuan Fang (Beijing Forestry University), He Zhang (Peking University), and Deqiang Zhang (Beijing University of Agriculture and Beijing Forestry…

Nitin Uttam Kamble shows that the enzyme α-glucan phosphorylase interacts with a carbohydrate-binding protein to initiate the formation of small B-type starch granules in wheat. Nitin Uttam Kamble, Farrukh Makhamadnojov, Brendan Fahy, David Seung John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7UH,…

Samach et al. use a pigment-based visual assay to explore the repair of double-stranded DNA breakd in plants. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad209 Avraham Levy and Aviva Samach, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel. Background:  Plant breeding is the art of combining desirable traits…

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

Sun et al. investigated genes related to gibberellin biosynthesis in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha and found them to be critical for far-red light responses. The Plant Cell (2023).  https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad216 By Rui Sun and Takayuki Kohchi (Kyoto University) Background: The…

This is an excellent article to wrap up this year and lead us into the future. Introducing a special issue of Plant Cell Physiology, Nakajima et al. summarize an exciting collection of papers that look at diverse ways that plant biology can be enhanced through “human-machine collaborations”. Some…

Plants produce many specialized metabolites that are often associated with increased plant fitness. Metabolic genome wide association studies (mGWAS) identify enzymes involved in specialized metabolite biosynthesis. However, this relies on identifying metabolites from mass spectrometry data which is…

Imagine the everyday delights of foods like bread, ramen, or sushi. Central to these culinary staples is starch, a product of the photosynthesis process in plants. Despite its critical role, people still do not fully understand the regulation and biogenesis of the photosynthesis machinery. In this study,…

Auxin is a pleiotropic plant hormone with diverse functions, many of which are mediated through transcriptional reprograming. However, some auxin responses occur extremely rapidly, ruling out changes in transcription as a mechanism. In 2022, one of the components of an auxin receptor, F-box protein TIR1/AFB,…

Much of our understanding of the molecular underpinning that control shoot architecture comes from studies of annual plants such as Arabidopsis, pea, and rice. This new work by Su et al. investigates shoot branching in a long-lived tree, silver birch (Betula pendula). They started with a naturally occurring…

Unlike legumes, which form symbiotic associations with nitrogen-fixing bacteria (diazotrophs), high-yielding cereal crops are usually supplemented with inorganic fertilizers that are both energetically and environmentally problematic. Some non-legumes can obtain nitrogen from associations with free-living…

Some people cannot eat wheat because they are sensitive to gluten, which is a proteinaceous network of glutenins and gliadins. Gliadins are divided into four classes, ω, γ, α, and β, with ω- and γ-gliadins being the most toxic to gluten sensitive individuals. Hence, there is interest in reducing…

Volatile molecules released from plant roots (root VOCs, rVOCs) can diffuse over long distances, thereby increasing the sphere of plant influence. However, their influence on complex soil microbial communities (or microbiomes) and ecological implications are poorly understood, mainly due to technical…

In recent years we have witnessed catastrophic fires throughout the world, including the redwood forests of California. Although these huge ancient trees are fire resistant, many have died due to the extreme heat generated by these recent fires. Here, Peltier et al. examined patterns of regrowth from…

Special issue: Human-machine collaboration in plant biology This is an excellent article to wrap up this year and lead us into the future. Introducing a special issue of Plant Cell Physiology, Nakajima et al. summarize an exciting collection of papers that look at diverse ways that plant biology can…

Chen, Yu, He, Peng et al. investigate the synchronized mechanisms of endosperm filling, from nutrient uptake to the biosynthesis of storage reserves. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad215 By Di Peng and Zhiyong Zhang School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University…

Xiaojing Li and Guozheng Qin, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences Background: Strawberry is an important horticultural crop with a high economic value worldwide. Various factors regulate the ripening of strawberry fruit, including the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA), epigenetic modifications,…

In October, we published many innovative manuscripts in Plant Physiology. Behind  the manuscripts are researchers, professors, professionals and students dedicated to advancing the field of plant science. You’ve seen our First Authors on Twitter and Facebook— now, read more about why they chose…

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

Miao & Jahn et al. generated and screened a large CRISPRi-based library of Synechocystis in 11 different growth conditions to reveal growth-robustness tradeoffs and to discover genes with condition specific importance and additional functions. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad208 By  Rui…

Humans and flowering plants spend most of their lives in a diploid state with two copies of each chromosome in most cells, but to reproduce they produce haploid gametes through meiosis. By contrast, bryophytes (liverworts, hornworts, and mosses), spend most of their lives in the haploid state. They produce…

The exocyst complex is a conserved octameric protein complex in eukaryotic cells. Its primary function is to tether secretory vesicles to the plasma membrane during the exocytosis process, and it is also involved in autophagy and host-pathogen interactions. Intriguingly, EXO70, one of the subunits of…

CLAVATA 3/EMBRYO SURROUNDING REGION-related (CLE) peptides and CLAVATA type receptors have been well charecterized for their role in root and shoot apical meristem maintenance in Arabidopsis. CLE peptides are also referred to as “peptide hormones” for their role in contolling physiological and developmental…

The Triticeae is an important tribe of crops that contains both barley and wheat. As the global population increases, the yield of Triticeae crops must increase to meet global food demands. An important factor influencing yield is grain number per spike, which is affected by inflorescence architecture.…

Pollen tubes are characterized by extremely fast elongation growth. Previously, small peptides known as RALFs (RAPID ALKALINIZATION FACTORs) were identified as signaling peptides, some with a role in pollen tube growth; for instance, RALF4/19 are important in maintaining the cell wall integrity of pollen…

Molecular hydrogen (H2) has been shown to have several cellular benefits, most notably serving as an antioxidant. Its effects in humans and plants have been primarily assayed using hydrogen-rich water (HRW, produced by bubbling H2 into water), but slower, more persistent release of H2 has been demonstrated…

In angiosperms, pollen germination leads to a period of extensive polarized growth of the pollen tube, which carries the sperm nuclei to the ovule. Studies of tip growth in both pollen tubes and root hairs have contributed to a descriptive model that involves polarized vesicle movement along the cytoskeleton…

Stomata are pores on leaves which enable gas exchange. In grasses, stomata are surrounded by dumbbell-shaped guard cells that are flanked by subsidiary cells. However, the role of the subsidiary cells in stomatal closure is not fully understood. Here, Liu et al. investigated this using two maize (Zea…

Insect pests pose a significant threat to global crop production, with lepidopteran species like corn earworm and armyworms causing substantial losses. The widespread use of insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in crops has been a key strategy to combat these pests. However, the emergence…

The quality of student-advisor relationships is one of the top predictors of research progress and sense of belonging in science, yet in most cases the mentoring relationship is simply left to chance. In this preprint, Debray et al. surveyed a cohort of PhD students to understand what mentoring practices…

Review: Paternal imprinting in Marchantia polymorpha Humans and flowering plants spend most of their lives in a diploid state with two copies of each chromosome in most cells, but to reproduce they produce haploid gametes through meiosis. By contrast, bryophytes (liverworts, hornworts, and mosses),…

Wang et al. investigate cotton fiber secondary cell wall biosynthesis in Gossypium hirsutum. The Plant Cell (2023). By Yao Wang and Xue-Bao Li Background: Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) produces natural fibers (unicellular trichomes) on the seed, making it a valuable crop for the worldwide textile…

Prall et al. explore how post-transcriptional regulation of mRNA mediated by methylation at the N6 position of adenine affects plants preparedness and reactivity to pathogen stress.  Wil Prall and Brian Gregory, University of Pennsylvania Department of Biology  Background: To determine how plants…

Fan et al. explore how ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis regulates the levels of active kinase in plant responses to osmotic stress. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad173 Wei Fan and Zixing Li School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China Background:…

Adachi et al. explore the conservation of a nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat immune receptor. Hiroaki Adachi1,2,3, Toshiyuki Sakai1,2, Jiorgos Kourelis1, Hsuan Pai1, Jose L. Gonzalez Hernandez4, Yoshinori Utsumi5, Motoaki Seki5,6,7, Abbas Maqbool1 and Sophien Kamoun1*  1The Sainsbury Laboratory,…

Vishal Varshney and Manoj Majee, National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad199 Vishal Varshney et al. investigate the F-box protein SKIP31 in Arabidopsis, revealing a role for this protein in seed maturation,…

Huang et al. investigate the mechanisms of dsRNA-induced pattern-triggered immunity against viruses. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad176 Manfred Heinlein (Institut de biologie moléculaire des plantes, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France) Background: Plants use different…

Zheng et al. demonstrate that polar stiffening of guard cell walls is essential for stomatal functioning. By Lin Zheng and Hongzhi Wang Beijing Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences,…

Wang et al. explore how SUMOylation of a key transcription factor affects heat stress responses in wheat. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad192 By Jie Liu and Haoran Wang; Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE), Beijing Key…

This interesting and well-written review by Derbyshire and Raffaele takes a step back from the molecular interactions between plant and pathogen and discusses them in light of co-evolutionary processes. The review starts with a useful introduction and definition of concepts about “robustness” in…

Sometimes more really is better, and I think it’s safe to say that when it comes to genomic information, more is better. Here, Raza et al. highlight the great value of super-pangenomes. A pan-genome is defined as the entire set of genes within a species, created by combining sequences of many individuals.…

Certain human neurodegenerative disorders are caused by aggregation of disordered proteins. In particular, Huntington’s disease is caused by aggregation of a protein called huntingtin, which contains long stretches of glutamine (Q). Llama et al. observed that proteins with long stretches of glutamine…

Transcription of chloroplast genes is carried out by the plastid encoded polymerase (PEP) with help from PAPs (PEP-associated proteins). PAP3 is important for chloroplast development in Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana benthamiana, however its role in crops has not been fully elucidated. Here Seo et…

Starch granules are synthesized in the leaves of chloroplast during the day and degraded in the subsequent night. To visualise starch granules the tissue usually has to be fixed, which prevents live imaging. Here Ichikawa et al. set out to find a highly specific dye to image starch granules in living…

Carrots were not always orange, and a new paper by Coe, Bostan, Rolling et al. sheds new light into the history of carrot domestication and improvement, i.e., how we went from white, knotty carrots to the orange, smooth ones that are now consumed all over the world. The authors published a new version…

With atmospheric CO2 levels increasing 100 times faster than historical levels, much attention has been paid to how crop plants respond to this elevated CO2 (eCO2). For angiosperms, eCO2 leads to increased CO2 assimilation and decreased photorespiration, but over time plants can adapt, leading to lower…

Sometime in the Cretaceous period (dinosaur time!), some monocots acquired a special pathway for carbon fixation, rendering them more efficient particularly in hot or dry environments. In most monocots, carbon is fixed by Rubisco in the mesophyll cells. In the innovative pathway, carbon fixation is split…

In Latin, dirigere means “to align or guide”, so in 1997 when a protein was identified that guides the stereoselectivity of another enzyme it was named as a dirigent protein. Subsequent studies found that the Arabidopsis genome encodes 25 dirigent proteins (DPs). In this new work, Gao et al. characterized…

Benzoxazinoids (BXs) are alkaloid specialized metabolites produced by important crops like maize. Their role in shaping the root and rhizosphere microbiomes and in plant defense against pest and pathogens is well known, although the mechanism remains unknown. One of the major BXs produced by maize is…

Recent years have seen a reevaluation of the history and practice of science, including reconsidering who is recognized and why. Science doesn’t exist in a vacuum; it reflects the culture and values of those that practice it. This article, by Mabry et al., is intended to serve as a conversation starter…

Review: Till death do us pair: Co-evolution of plant–necrotroph interactions This interesting and well-written review by Derbyshire and Raffaele takes a step back from the molecular interactions between plant and pathogen and discusses them in light of co-evolutionary processes. The review starts…

Jin et al. identify a mechanism for rice growth suppression during herbivore attack. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad191 Gaochen Jin1, Jinfeng Qi2, Hongyue Zu1, Shuting Liu1, Jonathan Gershenzon3, Yonggen Lou1, Ian T. Baldwin4, Ran Li1,* 1State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Ministry of…

Stutts et al. explore an evolutionary mystery in quinone biosynthesis. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad202 By Lauren Stutts1, Scott Latimer1, Zhaniya Batyrshina1, Gabriella Dickinson1, Hans Alborn2, Anna K. Block2, and Gilles J. Basset1 1Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of…

Zhao, Zhang, Liu et al. identify an essential kinase for foxtail millet dehydration tolerance. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad200 By Yuxue Zhang and Meicheng Zhao Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, Hebei Key Laboratory of Soil Ecology, Center for Agricultural Resources Research,…

In September, we published many innovative manuscripts in Plant Physiology. Behind those manuscripts are researchers, professors, professionals and students dedicated to advancing the field of plant science. You’ve seen our First Authors on Twitter  and Facebook— now, read more about why they chose…

Wang et al. reveal the wide occurrence and biological function of N4-acetylcytidine in plant mRNA. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad189 Huijie Liu and Mingjia Chen College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, P.R. China Background: Eukaryotic mRNA harbors more…

You might think you’ve read enough about auxin, but I recommend you take this opportunity to read one more article, this very interesting and enjoyable review by Fielder and Friml. Auxin has figured prominently in both the classical and molecular eras of plant biology. However, the exciting findings…

Land plants have enormous diversity; however we do not fully understand how this has arisen. In this review article James Clark discusses how genome dynamics and gene loss contribute to genome evolution and the generation of diversity and complexity. He explains how genome evolution is non-homogenous…

The German physician Paul Ehrlich (not to be confused with the American scientist of the same name) coined the term “magic bullet” (zauberkugel) to describe something that is perfectly and accurately effective. As much as we dream of magic bullets, they are rarely found, but the idea of using spray-on…

A year ago, graduate student Merritt Khaipho-Burch Tweeted a reaction to an article about a gene described as enhancing yield, which led to lively on-line and in-the-lunchroom discussions about how to realistically measure yield, and, maybe more importantly, where to draw the line between potential and…

Microtubule binding proteins are important in determining fruit shape by driving changes in microtubule arrangement. However, in depth molecular studies on these in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) have been limited. Here, Bao et al. investigated the microtubule binding protein Microtubule-Associated Protein…

When we speak about rice, we’re often referring to one of two domesticated species, Oryza japonica or Oryza indica. However, there are an additional 25 species in the genus Oryza. These so-called wild relatives harbor substantial genetic diversity that holds promise for crop improvement. Here, Prakash…

What do you do when you’ve identified a gene that you know is important, but you don’t know how it functions? Usually, you can get hints from homology searches, overexpression studies, or the identification of protein domains, but sometimes those approaches don’t work. That’s where the story…

The infection modes of microbes in hosts can be reversible and can range from pathogenic to mutualistic, depending on the environmental conditions. The plant-associated fungus Colletotrichum tofieldiae (Ct) has been shown to promote primary root growth and increase shoot fresh weight of Arabidopsis in…

Understanding the genetic basis of local adaptation of a species is an important but thorny problem. Now that whole genomes are readily characterized, it’s not hard to see lots of differences between populations, but pulling meaning and demonstrating functional consequences out of those differences…

Review: Rapid auxin signaling: Unknowns old and new You might think you’ve read enough about auxin, but I recommend you take this opportunity to read one more article, this very interesting and enjoyable review by Fielder and Friml. Auxin has figured prominently in both the classical and molecular…

We’re living in a time of increasing awareness of environmental degradation, but this awareness is often not accompanied by opportunities for direct actions. Here, Munschek et al. describe conservation gardening (growing endangered native plants) as a strategy by which people can support local biodiversity.…

Ma, Han, et al. explore the molecular mechanism underlying the interplay between light and salt stress pathways. Background: The Salt Overly Sensitive (SOS) pathway is evolutionarily conserved and essential for plant adaptation to salt stress. The protein kinase SOS2 functions as a network hub in…

Han, Ma, et al. reveal the mechanistic connection between shade avoidance responses and salt-induced responses. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad119 Background: Sun-loving plants compete with their neighbors for sunlight by initiating shade avoidance syndrome (SAS). Phytochromes are plant photoreceptors…

Yang, Wang, Liu, et al. reveal that CYCLOIDEA-like genes control the genetic correlation of floral symmetry, floral orientation, and nectar guide patterns. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad115 By Xia Yang1,2 and Yin-Zheng Wang1,2,3 Institutions: 1 State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary…

Q. Zhang, Z. Wen, and X. Zhang, et al. use proximity labeling with the TurboID system to identify proteins that are important for replication in plant viruses. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad146 Yongliang Zhang1, Xiaofeng Wang2 1 State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience and…

Yu et al. show that activation of the expression of cysteine protease genes by GmNAC039 and GmNAC018 is required for soybean nodule senescence The Plant Cell (2023). https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad129 By H Yu and Y Cao Background: Soybean (Glycine max) roots have nodules in which symbiotic…

Ghifari et al. explore the mechanisms of Complex I disassembly and turnover. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad128 Abi S. Ghifari and Monika W Murcha School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia Background: Oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) is the central process of…

Zhang, Zu, et al. develop a method to identify RNA-binding proteins that bind poly(A) and non-poly(A) RNAs. Yong Zhang and Devinder Sandhu; University of California Riverside and US Salinity Laboratory (USDA-ARS), Riverside, CA, USA Background: RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are important for controlling…

Plant Physiology Webinar: Plant Cell Polarity Celebrating the September 2023 Focus Issue on Plant Cell Polarity Recorded Monday, September 25, 2023 About This Webinar Plant cell polarity plays a pivotal role in the fundamental processes that dictate plant growth, development, and adaptation.…

Huang et al. demonstrate that the conserved catalytic domain of cellulose synthase 6 (CESA6) is involved in trafficking, protein dynamics, and complex formation. The Plant Cell (2023) https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad110 Lei Huang,1,2 Weiwei Zhang,1,3 Xiaohui Li,1,2 and Christopher J. Staiger1,2,3 1Department…

I highly recommend this excellent and accessible article by Borg et al. that provides an overview of the red macroalgae, which “may have been the first eukaryotic lineage to have evolved complex multicellularity”. It’s full of fascinating information: although 97% of red algal species are marine,…

As the hottest year on record, 2023 has truly been a global annus horribilis during which humans, other animals, and domesticated and wild plants have faced unprecedented environmental challenges. In the past month alone, torrential rainfalls have wreaked havoc in Asia, the Middle East, and many parts…

The September issue of Plant Physiology has a focus on plant cell polarity, which plays a pivotal role in the fundamental processes that dictate plant growth, development, and adaptation. By establishing distinct regions within cells, plant cell polarity is crucial for regulating asymmetric cell divisions,…

The September issue of The Plant Cell includes a focus on biomolecular condensates. Although the term “biomolecular condensates” is relatively new, it actually reflects a convergence and synthesis of several distinct threads of research. Biomolecular condensates span from “classic” membraneless…

It’s well established that damaged plant tissues emit volatile compounds that bolster defense responses in nearby plants, but how those neighbors sense these compounds has remained obscure. This new work by Wang et al. reveals some important clues. First, as the title indicates, immature leaves are…

Common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) is a self-incompatible orphan crop which is gaining interest as it can be grown worldwide and grows well in low fertility soil. However, there are limited genomic resources available for common buckwheat. Here Fawcett et al. combined Illumnia short-read data with…

The shoot apical meristem (SAM) is a wonderous thing. How this tiny clump of cells generates the entire above-ground organ system regularly, predictably, and dynamically is a question that has been investigated for decades, with models incorporating cascades regulatory genes, diffusible peptides, hormone…

Marchantia polymorpha, the common (but adorable) liverwort, has earned its spot in the ranks of very important plant model systems, joining Physcomitrium patens as representatives of the bryophyte clade. Many systems first characterized in Arabidopsis and other angiosperms are now being studied in these…

Review: Red macroalgae in the genomic era I highly recommend this excellent and accessible article by Borg et al. that provides an overview of the red macroalgae, which “may have been the first eukaryotic lineage to have evolved complex multicellularity”. It’s full of fascinating information:…

Bournonville et al. explore which factors control ascorbic acid biosynthesis in plants and its accumulation in fruits. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad108 Céline Bournonville, Bayer SAS, 1050 Route de Pardies, 40300 Peyrehorade, France Kentaro Mori, Université Bordeaux, INRAE, UMR Biologie…

In July, we published many innovative manuscripts in Plant Physiology. Behind those manuscripts are researchers, professors, professionals and students dedicated to advancing the field of plant science. You’ve seen our First Authors on Twitter  and Facebook— now, read more about why they chose to…

Yin, Romero-Campero, Yang, et al. identify CDs in the Arabidopsis genome and investigate the role of PRC1 in 3D structure. Xiaochang Yin1, Francisco J. Romero-Campero2 3, Minqi Yang1, Myriam Calonje2, Yue Zhou1 1State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Advanced Agricultural…

In the month of July, we published many groundbreaking manuscripts. Behind those manuscripts are researchers, professors, professionals and students dedicated to advancing the field of plant science. You’ve seen our First Authors on Twitter and Facebook— now, read more about why they chose to pursue…

If you weren’t around in the '80s, you missed some great times; the music, the fashion, the flower genetics! This historical perspective article by David Smythe nicely sums up those heady days with an account of how Arabidopsis thaliana blasted into the ranks of a top model organism, in part through…

The PIN-FORMED family of auxin transporters were first identified through genetic screens of Arabidopsis thaliana in the 1980s. Recessive pin mutants form a flowerless, pin-like inflorescence. Subsequent work showed that the encoded genes are membrane-localized auxin transporters and contribute to the…

Chloroplasts are the location of key processes including photosynthesis, starch synthesis and lipid synthesis. However, many chloroplast proteins have unknown functions,  a problem that can in part by addressed through high-resolution localization data. Here, 1034 putative chloroplast- localized proteins…

The accumulation of metabolites such as proline as compatible osmolytes is a protective mechanism against drought stress in plants. Similarly, under drought conditions, there is an observable increase in the accumulation of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), including the essential amino acids isoleucine,…

C4 photosynthesis involves the compartmentalization of the photosynthetic reactions across bundle sheath and mesophyll cells, which requires cell-specific gene expression; however, we do not fully understand how this occurs or how photoperiod impacts it. Here maize (Zea mays) was grown in constant light/temperature…

Plant secondary metabolites like benzoxazinoid can alter biotic and abiotic soil properties to shape plant performance through plant-soil feedback, but how this feedback affects agricultural productivity and food quality in the field context is unknown. Here, the authors used large-scale agricultural…

In many biology textbook, plant pathology is introduced through the historical context of the 1840s great potato famine, caused by colonial ideologies and a virulent pathogen. This causal agent, Phytophthora infestans, is an oomycete that is still present in the environment and causing outbreaks of late…

Functional genomic studies across plants are incomplete without deciphering the putative gene functions in model as well as non-model plants. With an aim to facilitate gene function identification and cross-species expression analysis, Sreedasyam et al. describe the Joint Genome Institute (JGI) Plant…

Perspective: How flower development genes were identified using forward genetic screens in Arabidopsis thaliana If you weren’t around in the '80s, you missed some great times; the music, the fashion, the flower genetics! This historical perspective article by David Smythe nicely sums up those heady…

Huang and Krishnan et al. investigate photoassimilate export in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii By Weichao Huang1 and Arthur Grossman2 1Current position: Faculty of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen, China 1Previous position: Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie…

Lu et al. explore the roles of a Mediator complex subunit and a WRKY transcription factor in regulating the salt-responsive gene SOS1. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad105 Background: Soil salinization is a major environmental hazard that severely affects plant growth and development. Plants…

Zhao, Wang, Li, et al. explore how the photosynthetic apparatus evolved in the cryptophyte Chroomonas placoidea, which is related to red algae. Long-Sheng Zhao1 and Lu-Ning Liu2. 1State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China. 2Institute of Systems, Molecular…

Lopez Vazquez et al explore the importance of protein sub-cellular localization by determining how a protein modulating light responses gets to the right place within the cell. Christian Fankhauser, Centre for Integrative Genomics, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, Génopode Building, University of…

Lisha Shen uncovers unique functional interdependence at the post-translational level among individual components of the Arabidopsis m6A methyltransferase complex.  By Lisha Shen, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory and Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore Background:…

Wang et al. discover that Phytophthora infestans RxLR effectors enter host plant cells via clathrin-mediated endocytosis. By Haixia Wang1, Petra C Boevink2, Paul RJ Birch1,2 1Division of Plant Science, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, @James Hutton Institute, Errol Road, Invergowrie,…

Strigolactones are a class of hormones first identified in the 1960s as components of root exudates that promote germination of parasitic Striga seeds, and later as a promoter of associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Strigolactones also have endogenous roles within plants, for example as regulators…

Invertases catalyse the conversion of sucrose into glucose and fructose. In plants, invertases fall into two clades – the mitochondrially/plastid localized α clade and the cytoplasmically localized β clade. However, we do not fully understand how these clades evolved. Here Wan et al. identified 665…

Cellulose in one of the most abundant polymers on the planet and is synthesized by plasma membrane-bound cellulose synthases (CESAs). Phosphorylation plays a role in CESA regulation, however the kinases which catalyse the phosphorylation are not well described. Here Xin et al. identified calcium-dependent…

In plants, gravity sensing is orchestrated by specialized cells called statocytes that contain starch-filled plastids (amyloplasts) called statoliths, whose positions are influenced by the direction of gravity. However, the molecular mechanisms of gravity sensing and signaling are poorly understood.…

Phosphoinositides (membrane lipids with cytosolic inositol headgroups carrying phosphate residues at various positions) serve as road markings for membrane and membrane/cytoskeleton dynamics. Here, Lebeco et al. add further detail to the map. Previously the authors showed that the plant-specific enzyme…

It’s a well-established fact that some proteins are highly variable across species, and others such as histones hardly vary at all. Highly conserved proteins such as histones have very little wiggle room in their structure; small changes can lead to a loss of function. However, for some other proteins…

In this fantastic, engaging paper, Hu et al. carries the reader from the origins of life on land through the dramatic uplift of the Tibetan plateau and into the modern age of climate change, all through the lens of the “enigmatic” Takakia moss. It’s enigmatic because it has features that are more…

As global CO2 emissions continue to rise, wildlife faces new challenges due to climate change. The biotic and environmental factors impacted by the rising temperature and sea level pose unprecedented threat to the plants and lichens listed on the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In this paper, the tolerance…

What do mentees want and need from their mentors, and are they getting it? How do factors such as gender identity and internationalism affect the quality of mentor/mentee interactions? Results from a survey of more than 2000 mentees (mostly postdocs and graduate students) are reported, along with a thorough…

As a monolinguist, I’m in awe of people who can write papers and speak at conferences in a language other than their first, but I never thought to quantify the additional burden that’s place on non-native English speakers. Fortunately, Amano and colleagues decided to ask this question, and the results…

Review: Strigolactones integrate metabolic and nutritional signals Strigolactones are a class of hormones first identified in the 1960s as components of root exudates that promote germination of parasitic Striga seeds, and later as a promoter of associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Strigolactones…

Yang, Liu, Ge et al. explore the relationship between brassinosteroids and very-long-chain fatty acids in regulating fiber elongation. Plant Cell By Zuoren Y, Zhao L, Xiaoyang G, Lili L, Wenqiang Q, Qanmber G, Le L, Zhi W, and Fuguang L Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton…

Ni et al. explore the relationship between ethylene, the ERF9 and RAP2.4 transcription factors, and anthocyanin biosynthesis in pear. Plant Cell By J. Ni1,3,4, S. Bai1,3,4 and Y. Teng1,2,3,4 1 Department of Horticulture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China 2 Hainan Institute…

Dong et al. investigate the role of 14-3-3 proteins in plant immunity in Arabidopsis. By Xiaojing Dong and Jian-Min Zhou Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China. Background: The plant innate immune system detects the presence of microbial…

Hong and Rusnak et al. explore how a 1000-bp region of DNA activates gene expression in giant cells. By Adrienne Roeder and Byron Rusnak Background: Specialized cell types carry out specific functions within plants. Some genes are expressed uniquely in one cell type and not expressed in other…

Lembinen et al. explore the molecular mechanisms underlying inflorescence diversity in strawberry. Sergei Lembinen1, Mikolaj Cieslak2, Teng Zhang1, Kathryn Mackenzie1, Paula Elomaa1, Przemyslaw Prusinkiewicz2, Timo Hytönen1. 1 Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre,…

Luzarowska et al. reveal that an enzyme involved in fatty acid elongation and wax synthesis determines the differential accumulation of polyunsaturated triacylglycerols. By Corina Mariana Fusari1 & Yariv Brotman2 1Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (CEFOBI-CONICET-UNR), Suipacha…

Konishi et al. explore the mechanism underlying the polar localization of a silicon transporter. By Noriyuki Konishi, Namiki Mitani-Ueno, Naoki Yamaji and Jian Feng Ma Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, Chuo 2-20-1, Kurashiki, 710-0046 Japan Background: Silicon (Si)…

Huang et al. find that a 3-KETOACYL-COA SYNTHASE negatively regulates wax biosynthesis, revealing a mechanism for fine-tuning lipid metabolism. Haodong Huang, Xianpeng Yang, Shiyou Lü and Huayan Zhao State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University,…

Husbands et al. identify ligands and regulatory properties of the HD-ZIPIII START domain. By By Aman Y. Husbands (University of Pennsylvania) and Marja C.P. Timmermans (University of Tuebingen). Background: Development has been compared to a ball rolling down a hill. Cells initially have broad…

Xiong and Yang et al. explore how plants regulate rapid opening of the apical hook in the light. By Jiawei Xiong and Dawei Zhang, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment, College of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan…

Song, Jin, Chen, He, Li, Tang, et al. establish that independent evolutionary processes in ancestral land plants led to homo- and heteromeric geranyl diphosphate synthases. Shuyan Song and Shan Lu School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China Background: Terpenoids are a…

Radchuk et al. explore the physiological role of SWEETs in barley grain development. By Volodymyr Radchuk and Ljudmilla Borisjuk Leibniz-Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Gatersleben, Germany Background: Sugars Will Eventually be Exported Transporter (SWEET) is a large…

In June, we published many innovative manuscripts in Plant Physiology. Behind those manuscripts are researchers, professors, professionals and students dedicated to advancing the field of plant science. You’ve seen our First Authors on Twitter  and Facebook— now, read more about why they chose to…

In the month of June, we published many groundbreaking manuscripts. Behind those manuscripts are researchers, professors, professionals and students dedicated to advancing the field of plant science. You’ve seen our First Authors on Twitter and Facebook— now, read more about why they chose to pursue…

Wang et al. revealed fine regulation of inflorescence branching in tomato. The Plant Cell (2023). By X.T. Wang and X. Cui Background: The number of branches in the inflorescence affects yield in food crops and the aesthetics of ornamental plants. Two MADS-box transcription factors, SISTER OF TM3…

Guo, Chen, Peng, and colleagues study the translational regulation of gene expression during grain development in bread wheat. By Yiwen Guo, Yongming Chen, and Huiru Peng Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Beijing Key Laboratory…

In April and May, we published many innovative manuscripts in Plant Physiology. Behind those manuscripts are researchers, professors, professionals and students dedicated to advancing the field of plant science. You’ve seen our First Authors on Facebook and Twitter — now, read more about why they…

In the month of May, we published many groundbreaking manuscripts. Behind those manuscripts are researchers, professors, professionals and students dedicated to advancing the field of plant science. You’ve seen our First Authors on Facebook and Twitter — now, read more about why they chose to pursue…

Although The Plant Cell Focus Issue on Biomolecular Condensates officially comes out in September, due to the idiosyncrasies of publishing many of the articles are already available online, and I’m highlighting them now because this topic is also the focus of a plenary session at the Plant Biology…

In my cruise around the internet looking for fascinating plant science, I found this tasty morsel. It’s a Spotlight feature of new paper on the effects of salt stress on plants of the genus Capsicum. I don’t want to detract from author Robert Calderon’s fine writing, so head over to Physiologia…

Starch is a polymer of α-glucose which is assembled into insoluble, semi-crystalline granules in plants. It is not known why we see only insoluble starch granules in plants and no soluble α-glucan polymers. To investigate this, Boehlein et al. took a synthetic biology approach. Eleven starch metabolism…

Stomata are pores on the surface of leaves essential for gas exchange. In grasses, stomatal aperture is controlled by pairs of dumbbell shaped guard cells, with each guard cell surrounded by a subsidiary cell. Despite cell geometry being well described, it was unclear how it influences stomata function.…

Tropisms enable plants to shift their growth direction in response to environmental changes. The roots of Arabidopsis plants respond to gravity by growing in the direction of gravity, a phenomenon known as gravitropism, while in response to unilateral blue light they bend away, demonstrating phototropism.…

Trapa natans, also known as water caltrop or bat nut, is an aquatic plant with large seeds encased by a hardened endocarp. Due to this durable endocarp, these seeds may remain dormant underwater for up to 12 years. Huss et al. studied the anatomical and biochemical factors responsible for the hardened…

Here’s a sweet story of gene expression and fruit form, starting with the simple question of “why do closely related strawberry and raspberry fruits look so different?” In strawberry, the ovaries become dry achenes where in raspberies they become juicy druplets; in strawberry the stem tip (receptacle)…

I love reading about pathogens hijacking host systems; I’m always thrilled to see how “life finds a way”. Here’s another. Plants use a variety of peptides as hormones, many of which have covalent modifications of one sort or another. One class are the tyrosine-sulfated peptides, the PLANT PEPTIDE…

The pervasive issue with misogyny in the scientific community has drawn more attention as people and organizations work to promote equality and inclusivity. The importance of confronting and eliminating gender-based discrimination within scientific disciplines is discussed in this article by Alison…

Focus Issue: Biomolecular Condensates Although The Plant Cell Focus Issue on Biomolecular Condensates officially comes out in September, due to the idiosyncrasies of publishing many of the articles are already available online, and I'm highlighting them now because this topic is also the focus of…

Chia et al. explore the mechanisms mediating systemic shoot-to-root signaling of copper status. Ju-Chen Chia and Olena K. Vatamaniuk, Plant Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University Background: The micronutrients copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) are essential for plant growth…

Hudzik et al. reveal that not all microRNAs are transcribed the same way. By Collin Hudzik1,2 and Michael J. Axtell1,2 1Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA 2Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University…

Jingjie Zhang, first author of "Jasmonates regulate apical hook development by repressing brassinosteroid biosynthesis and signaling" Current Position: Postdoctor, School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, P.R. China 现在职位：广州大学生命科学学院博士后  Education: Bachelor…

Li and Wang et al. found that apurinic/apyrimidinic endonucleases play essential roles in somatic and meiotic DNA repair. By Jinchao Li1 and Cong Wang2 1State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China 2College…

Leng et al. reveal a pathway regulating arbuscule development in plant symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The Plant Cell (2023). By Marcel Bucher (University of Cologne) and Li Xue (Zhejiang Normal University) Background: More than 80% of terrestrial plants form mutualistic symbiosis…

Li et al. find a class of small RNAs that might affect algal tolerance to nutritional stress.  Yingshan Li and Heriberto Cerutti - School of Biological Sciences and Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE 68588-0666, USA  Background: Noncoding RNAs are not translated…

Oliveira-Garcia et al. investigated Magnaporthe oryzae effector internalization inside rice cells. The Plant Cell (2023) By Ely Oliveira-Garcia, Nicholas J. Talbot and Barbara Valent Background: To cause disease in plants, fungal pathogens deliver effector proteins directly into plant cells. Inside…

Wang, Li, Liu, Li et al. explore how alternative promoter usage at the ELF3 locus regulates flowering. By Peng Wang1,2, Yu Li1,2, Zhe Liu1,3, Xuhan Li1, Shaoling Zhang1,2, Juyou Wu1,2,4 1Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm…

Huijie Liu, co-first author of "N4-acetylation of cytidine in (m)RNA plays essential roles in plants"  Current position: Ph.D. candidate, Nanjing Agricultural University Education: Master, Hangzhou Normal University Non-scientific Interests: traveling and watching movies Brief bio: In 2022,…

Dong, Li, et al. explore the mechanisms regulating a Green Revolution protein that acts to reduce plant height Huixue Dong1,2,3, Danping Li1,3, Ruizhen Yang1, Lichao Zhang1, Yunwei Zhang1, Xu Liu1, Xiuying Kong1,*, and Jiaqiang Sun1,* State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding,…

Wang, Yuan, et al. explore the regulatory connection between phosphorus nutrient homeostasis and vegetative-reproductive development in maize. Background: Phosphorus is an essential macronutrient for plant growth and development. To cope with phosphorus limitation, plants have evolved sophisticated…

Wei et al. discover a new transcriptional and post-translational regulatory module, MaBAH1-MaMYB60, that regulates chlorophyll catabolism and green ripening in bananas under high temperature. By Wei Wei, Yingying Yang, Prakash Lakshmanan, Jianfei Kuang, Wangjin Lu, Xuequn Pang, Jianye Chen and Wei…

I’ll be honest, I was surprised to see “a decade after implementation” in this title, but indeed, the first publication describing CRISPR/Cas in plants was in 2013. We’ve learned a lot in the past 10 years and the technology provides many opportunities, but challenges remain, both of which are…

July brings delicious fruit harvests in the Northern Hemisphere, and a very special focus issue of Plant Physiology. I particularly like this issue because of the wide variety of species covered, starting with apple, banana, blueberry, cherry, citrus, and so on. It’s a nice departure from our usual…

Precise spatial control of cell division and cell growth is necessary to produce the specific cellular organizations demanded by the complex tissues and organs of morphologically complex organisms One of many factors that guide cell division/growth is cell polarity, of which RHO GTPase-type proteins…

Organismal growth requires extensive coordination between cells and tissues with different identities, and this is particularly important for plants with their rigid cell walls and lack of cell motility. A key mechanism for tissue coordination involving brassinosteroids has been identified by Kelly-Bellow…

Different photoreceptors (mainly phytochromes and cryptochromes) perceive light, which acts as a signal for controlling plant growth and development. Similarly, light is absorbed by chlorophylls (and carotenoids) for generating energy via photosynthesis. In search of a link between these two light-mediated…

There are about ~17,500 plants species that can participate in nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbioses. The majority of these (~17,300) are in the order Fabales, which includes the legumes. The remainder fall into three orders (Rosales, Fagales, and Cucubitales), leading to the question of whether this…

Some of the most fascinating discoveries in biology are found at the interface between hosts and pathogens, where each organism is endlessly fighting for its survival. Plant pathogens produce a wide array of effector proteins that promote their virulence, but we only understand how some of these effectors…

Review. CRISPR/Cas-mediated plant genome editing: Outstanding challenges a decade after implementation I’ll be honest, I was surprised to see “a decade after implementation” in this title, but indeed, the first publication describing CRISPR/Cas in plants was in 2013. We’ve learned a lot in…

Lifang Geng, first author of "Transcription factor RcNAC091 enhances rose drought tolerance through the abscisic acid-dependent pathway"  Current Position:  Master candidate, College of Landscape Architecture and Forestry, Qingdao Agricultural University Education: 2016.09–2020.06, Bachelor degree…

Bi, Shrestha, Zhang et al. elucidate mechanisms of sugar-dependent growth regulation. Yang Bi, Zhi-Yong Wang Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA, USA Background: Extensive studies in animals have shown that the O-linked N-acetyl-glucosamine (O-GlcNAc)…

Dvořák Tomaštíková et al. study the role of SMC5/6 complex in repair of toxic DNA protein crosslinks in Arabidopsis. The Plant Cell (2023). By Pecinka Ales and Eva Dvořák Tomaštíková Background: Cellular DNA is constantly damaged by various internal and external factors that eventually…

Plant Physiology Webinar: Fruit Crops (1) Celebrating the July 2023 Focus Issue on Fruit Crops Recorded Wednesday, July 12, 2023 About This Webinar Fruits are major sources of nutrients for humans, and fruit growing is a significant driver for economic growth and development in rural areas and…

Hoang et al. examine the Gynandropsis gynandra genome to provide insight into genome evolution and the emergence of C4 photosynthesis in a sister family to the Brassicaceae.    Background: The Cleomaceae is the sister family to the Brassicaceae (including the model species Arabidopsis and Brassica…

Fu et al. examine how salt stress affects sugar metabolism via the reactive oxygen species hydrogen peroxide.  Zheng-Wei Fu (State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China) Background: Soil salinization is a serious…

Nguyen and Nakamura reveal that a crucial reaction step of endoplasmic reticulum-localized glycerolipid biosynthesis mediated by phosphatidic acid phosphatase requires both chloroplast- and ER-localized enzymes, representing the importance of inter-organelle communication in membrane lipid homeostasis. By…

Zhou et al. explore how microtubules and microtubule-associated proteins interact in hypocotyl elongation at high temperature.  By Dingding Zhou, Xiaohong Wang, Xiangfeng Wang, and Tonglin Mao China Agricultural University Background: During growth responses to high ambient temperature (thermomorphogenesis),…

Madeline R. Carins-Murphy, first author of "Combined heat and water stress leads to local xylem failure and tissue damage in pyrethrum flowers" Current Position: Associate Research Scientist at Yale School of the Environment Education: PhD in Plant Eco-physiology at the University of Tasmania,…

Young B. Cho, first author of "Impact of pod and seed photosynthesis on seed filling and canopy carbon gain in soybean" Current Position:  Post-doctoral Research Associate, Ort Lab, University of Illinois Education:  PhD, Crop Sciences, University of Illinois   Non-scientific Interests:…

Abdolrahim Hooshmand, co-first author of "Potential application of spectral indices for olive water status assessment in (semi-)arid regions: A case study in Khuzestan Province, Iran" Current Position: Associate Professor of Irrigation and Drainage Education: PhD of Irrigation and Drainage Brief…

Azimeh Asgari, co-first author of "Potential application of spectral indices for olive water status assessment in (semi-)arid regions: A case study in Khuzestan Province, Iran" Current Position: Postdoctoral candidate in agricultural and natural resources research and education center, Shahrekord, Iran Education:…

Run Han, co-first author of  “SALT OVERLY SENSITIVE2 stabilizes phytochrome-interacting factors PIF4 and PIF5 to promote Arabidopsis shade avoidance” and “Phytochromes enhance SOS2-mediated PIF1 and PIF3 phosphorylation and degradation to promote Arabidopsis salt tolerance”  Current Position:…

Liang Ma, co-first author of “Phytochromes enhance SOS2-mediated PIF1 and PIF3 phosphorylation and degradation to promote Arabidopsis salt tolerance” and “SALT OVERLY SENSITIVE2 stabilizes phytochrome-interacting factors PIF4 and PIF5 to promote Arabidopsis shade avoidance” Current Position:…

Guo Yun Wang, first author of "Multivariate analysis compares and evaluates drought and flooding tolerances of maize germplasm" Current Position: PhD Student, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Guangxi, Nanning 530004, China Education: 09/2020–Today: Guangxi University, Crop Science,…

Huijin Ma, co-first author of "Natural Allelic Variation in GRAIN SIZE AND WEIGHT 3 of Wild Rice Regulates the Grain Size and Weight" Current Position: A postgraduate student in College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University. Education: 2017 - 2021, studied in Gansu Agricultural University…

Feng Bai, co-first author of "Natural Allelic Variation in GRAIN SIZE AND WEIGHT 3 of Wild Rice Regulates the Grain Size and Weight" Current Position: Teacher in Chengdu primary school Education: 2015 - 2019, Chengdu Normal University, B.S., Biological Sciences 2019 - 2022, South China Agricultural…

Bellinger and Uyehara et al. characterize a population of microtubules that contribute to division site positioning. By Aimee N. Uyehara1 and Carolyn G. Rasmussen1 1Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California,…

Andrew D. Hanson is a professor at the Horticultural Science Department; University of Florida, in the USA. Andrew studied plant biology with a focus on medical biochemistry in the United Kingdom for his undergraduate degree. After completing his PhD, he secured his first industry job with a company,…

Lichens are remarkable, complex symbiotic organisms. They have evolved multiple times independently, but all lichen include at least one fungal partner (the mycobiont) which they usually resemble morphologically, and at least one cyanobacterial or algal photosynthetic partner (the photobiont). This partnership…

This study by Turner et al. looks at the patterns of leaf and sporangia arrangement in early leafy plant species, questioning the widely held idea that these structures follow the Fibonacci sequence. The researchers investigated fossilized remains from the Early Devonian period. To evaluate the spatial…

Developing broad-spectrum disease resistant crops without compromising the yield has been a persistent challenge in maintaining global food security. In a breakthrough study, Sha et al. developed a promising multi-pathogen resistant rice mutant that retains the crop’s yield, using forward genetic screen…

Like all of Earth’s lifeforms, plants are already experiencing hardships due to the changing climate, and these stresses will get more extreme. Much effort has gone into breeding crops for climate resilience, less on trees which are both more diverse and less genetically tractable. Here, Allsup et…

Recently, we highlighted a sexually deceptive daisy that mimics a female bee-fly to attract the male pollinators. In a recent preprint, Fattorini et al. take a closer look at the factors that specify the petal pigmentation pattern. The authors looked at three morphotypes with different spot patterns,…

When flooding occurs, soils become saturated and oxygen solubility and diffusion decreases. This situation creates a hypoxic environment in the roots that stresses the plant, causing significantly decreased growth. However, the quiescent center (QC) stem cells, located in the root apical meristem, are…

Recently, the United States designated Juneteenth as a new federal holiday, which celebrates freedom of the last large body of enslaved Black Americans following the American Civil War. However, the impact of chattel slavery persists: Black scientists face many obstacles to attaining an education and…

Essay: The coming golden age of lichen biology Lichens are remarkable, complex symbiotic organisms. They have evolved multiple times independently, but all lichen include at least one fungal partner (the mycobiont) which they usually resemble morphologically, and at least one cyanobacterial or algal…

Wu et al. investigate tapetum differentiation in Arabidopsis thaliana. The Plant Cell (2023). By Yue Lou Background: The tapetum is the innermost layer of the four cell-layered anther wall. In Arabidopsis, the tapetum undergoes cell differentiation and transitions into secretory cells. Most nutrients…

Lu Yu, co-first author of "Transcription factor OsSNAC1 positively regulates nitrate transporter gene expression in rice" Current Position: Master student of Huazhong Agricultural University Education: 2020-2023, Huazhong Agricultural University, Master 2016-2020, Shanxi Agricultural University,…

Jinfang Qi, co-first author of "Transcription factor OsSNAC1 positively regulates nitrate transporter gene expression in rice" Current Position: free profession Education: 2017-2021, Huazhong Agricultural University, Master 2013-2017, Huazhong Agricultural University, Bachelor Non-scientific…

Meng-Qi Feng, first author of "miR171-targeted SCARECROW-LIKE genes CsSCL2 and CsSCL3 regulate somatic embryogenesis in citrus" Current Position: Ph.D, National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural…

Hao et al. explore the role of green light in plant growth and development. By Yuhan Hao, Hongtao Liu National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200031 Shanghai,…

Are you an early career researcher passionate about plants, writing, and science communication? The Plant Cell is accepting applications for new Assistant Features Editors (AFEs) for 2024. AFEs provide a valuable service to the journal, our authors, and the scientific community. In return, AFEs join…

Xuesong Zhou, first author of "Carotenoid sequestration protein FIBRILLIN participates in CmOR-regulated β-carotene accumulation in melon" Current Position: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Plant Breeding and Genetics Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University. Education: Ph.D.…

Durand et al. explore the role of an NLP transcription factor in the plant nitrate response. By Mickaël Durand 1,2,3 and Anne Krapp1 1 Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, 78000, Versailles, France 2 Université de Poitiers, UMR CNRS 7267, EBI Ecologie…

Yan et al. explore the changes in gene expression that take place during rice blast disease. By Xia Yan and Nick Talbot from The Sainsbury Laboratory, UK. Background: The rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae causes a devastating disease that threatens global rice (Oryza sativa) production, destroying…

Plant Cell Webinar: RNA Biology (Part 2) Celebrating the June 2023 Focus Issue on RNA Biology Recorded Wednesday, June 28, 2023 About This Webinar If DNA is the playbook of life, then RNA, in all its forms, is the company of actors that brings life into being. RNA is likely the original organic…

Kim et al. explore how extracellular ATP recognition triggers the innate immune response. By Daewon Kim1, Dongqin Chen1,3, Nagib Ahsan2,4,5, Gabriel Lemes Jorge2, Jay J. Thelen2 and Gary Stacey1,2,* 1Division of Plant Science and Technology, C.S. Bond Life Science Center, University of Missouri,…

Bisht et al. Identify key factors in wound-activated regenerative cell division. Jefri Heyman1,2 and Lieven De Veylder1,2 1Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium. 2VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium. Background:…

Liu et al. reveal that anion channel SLAH3 forms complexes with potassium channels GORK and SKOR to modulate membrane potential via coordinating nitrogen–potassium balance. By Beibei Liu and Kai He Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life…

Chen et al. explore the recognition of Phytophthora effectors in Nicotiana benthamiana and the conservation of these responses in the Solanaceae Background: Plant pathogens employ effectors as weapons to invade and colonize plant tissue. To counteract these effectors, plants have developed surveillance…