Predicting complex phenotypes using multi-omics data in maize
Plant Science Research WeeklyPlant breeders have long relied on genetic markers to predict how crops will perform, but many important traits such as yield, flowering time, and stress responses are shaped by complex interactions between genes and the environment. In this study, Creach et al. investigated whether combining multiple…
Decoding a multifunctional biosynthetic gene cluster for post-chorismate metabolism in Arabidopsis
Plant Science Research WeeklyBiosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) are groups of genes physically located in close proximity in a genomic region and can be thought of as a close-knit genomic orchestra. While these BGCs were thought to be rare in plants, unlike bacteria, Peng et al. takes the story a step ahead with the discovery of…
Host transcriptional regulation shapes microbiome-mediated nitrogen uptake
Plant Science Research WeeklyNitrogen is a key nutrient for plant development, and plant nutrient acquisition is highly influenced by the rhizosphere microbiome. However, how host genomic variation and root transcriptional regulation shape microbiome assembly under field conditions remains unclear. Li and colleagues addressed this…