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…

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…