Recent Posts

Phytophthora palmivora establishes tissue-specific intracellular infection structures in the earliest divergent land plant lineage (OA)

Surprisingly little is known about the pathogens of liverworts. Carella et al. explored the interaction between the broad-host range pathogenic oomycete Phytophthora palmivora and the model liverwort Marchantia polymorpha. They found that the pathogen enters the host tissues and proliferates in intercellular…

Identification and characterization of wheat stem rust resistance gene Sr21 effective against the Ug99 race group at high temperature (OA)

Stem rust is a fungal disease of wheat caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt). The Ug99 race group of the fungus has evolved the ability to overcome most stem rust (Sr) resistance genes. Previously, Sr21, an Sr gene that confers partial resistance to Ug99, was found in diploid wheat. Chen et…

Rapid generation of a transgene-free powdery mildew resistant tomato by genome deletion (OA)

Using a traditional breeding approach, introducing a single gene into a desirable cultivar requires repeated backcrossing. This lengthy process can be circumvented through genetic engineering (making transgenic plants), but consumer concerns and extensive, expensive regulatory hurdles have stifled many…

To the VIKtor goes the Spoils: The Phytophthora infestans Effector Pi17316 Manipulates the Host MAP3K VIK to Promote Disease Susceptibility in Potato (OA)

Phytopathogens secrete effector proteins that enter and manipulate plant cells to facilitate microbial growth in planta. This is often achieved by exerting specific activity onto key host proteins to divert host cellular functions towards supporting pathogen growth. In a recently published article in…

Recognizing featured Plant Cell first authors: Zhangjian Hu

Zhangjian Hu, featured first author of A Plant Phytosulfokine Peptide Initiates Auxin-Dependent Immunity through Cytosolic Ca2+ Signaling in Tomato Current Position: Graduate student in the Department of Horticulture, Zhejiang University, China Education: B.S. (2012) in Applied Biological Science…

Recognizing featured Plant Cell first authors: Huan Zhang

Huan Zhang, featured first author of A Plant Phytosulfokine Peptide Initiates Auxin-Dependent Immunity through Cytosolic Ca2+ Signaling in Tomato Current Position: Graduate student in the Department of Horticulture, Zhejiang University, China. Education: Bachelor's degree (2013) from the College…

Recognizing featured Plant Cell first authors: Suayib Üstün

Suayib Üstün, featured first author of Bacteria exploit autophagy for proteasome degradation and enhanced virulence in plants Current Position: FEBS (Federation of European Biochemical Societies) long-term postdoctoral fellow at Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala, Sweden Education:…

Interview with Benjamin Firester, winner of the Regeneron Science Talent Search, 2018

From Facebook to disease control, starting in New York via the UK to the Volcani centre in Israel and back again, my interview with Benjy Firester, winner of the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2018, felt like a whistlestop global tour. This bright senior student at Hunter College High School in New…

Recognizing featured Plant Cell first authors: André N. Müller

André N. Müller, featured first author of The Biotrophic Development of Ustilago maydis Studied by RNA-Seq Analysis Current Position: Project Manager, GSK Vaccines GmbH, Marburg Education: PhD in Molecular Phytopathology, Department of Organismic Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial…