How a model C4 plant, Setaria viridis, copes with prolonged heat
Due to anthropomorphic global warming, 2024 was the first year during which the global mean temperature was more than 1.5° above pre-industrial levels. Clearly, understanding how high temperatures affect plant physiology is an urgent priority. In this new study, Zhang et al. did a multi-parameter study of the model C4 plant Setaria viridis. They grew two populations for two weeks at 28°, and then for the next two weeks one group was grown at 42° whilst the other remained at 28°. After this, the authors measured photosynthesis parameters, and carried out metabolomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic studies, leading to several key findings. As expected, the heat-grown plants were significantly smaller than their counterparts. Surprisingly, their photosynthetic efficiency was hardly altered. The heat-grown plants had much higher levels of hexoses, which might be a protective mechanism to retain water. The authors also found increased levels of ABA and amino-acid conjugates of IAA, which may contribute to the smaller size of the plants. There’s a LOT of interesting data, so have a look. Your favorite gene or metabolite is likely to appear in this useful and comprehensive study. (Summary by Mary Williams @plantteaching.bsky.social) Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koaf005
