Single-cell dynamics of the Arabidopsis inflorescence stem cells
Plant Science Research WeeklyThe inflorescence meristem is the tiny structure that is foundational to most of our food supply. A new work by Moreno-Ramírez et al. reveals insights into these little marvels through the use of single-nucleus transcriptomics. Their analysis identified 18 cell-type clusters that they assigned to…
Altering a nucleotide base to escape from heat
Plant Science Research Weekly
Crops such as rice usually flower in the late morning when the ambient temperature rises. Rice plants briefly open their flowers so the mature anthers hang out. However, heat stress can trigger abnormal anther dehiscence, flower infertility, and subsequent yield reduction. Early-morning flowering…
Floral indeterminacy is mediated by a negative feedback loop
Plant Science Research WeeklyScientists have been curious as to how the shoot meristem maintains two adjacent cell populations that respond oppositely to the same systemic flowering signal. In this study by Huang et al., the authors reveal that LEAFY (LFY) transcription factor directly binds to the DNA of TERMINAL FLOWER1 (TFL1)…
Review: What happens when it gets too hot – the vulnerability of plant reproduction in a warming world
Plant Science Research WeeklyClimate change brings about higher temperatures, threatening plant populations worldwide. Higher temperatures interfere with reproductive processes such as pollen production or fertilization, even if the plant itself can withstand these temperatures. For example, some plants can withstand temperatures…
Beyond selfing: floral trait selection and the irreplaceable role of pollinators
Plant Science Research WeeklySelf-pollination in many crop cultivars has been extremely useful for humans. It simplifies propagation, stabilizes traits, and supports reliable fruit production. But for many plant species, selfing comes with biological costs: reduced genetic diversity, inbreeding depression, and potential declines…
Unusual cell death pathway in maize endosperm
Plant Science Research WeeklyAn interesting new study by Doll et al. addresses one of the most complex and important plant developmental processes, that of seed formation, with a focus on maize. Like other seeds, the maize seed (kernel) includes the next generation embryo, surrounded by various maternal tissues as well as the triploid…
Review: Cycads, chemicals, and coevolution
Plant Science Research WeeklyCycads are an ancient lineage of gymnosperms with fascinating ecological interactions. In a recent review, Salzman et al. examine the various adaptations of cycads, from attracting pollinators to repelling parasites, focusing on the roles of their wide array of specialized metabolites. A somewhat unique…
SHUKR in the sporophytic tissue directs male gametophyte development in Arabidopsis
Plant Science Research WeeklyIn flowering plants, reproduction involves the alternation of two generations: the diploid sporophyte and the haploid gametophyte. Traditionally, the male gametophyte was thought to develop autonomously with minimal regulation by the sporophyte. However, recent research by Sivakumar, Pandey, and Ramesha…
Classic regulators, new functions: FT and TFL1 shape Arabidopsis seed traits
Plant Science Research WeeklyFLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) and TERMINAL FLOWER1 (TFL1), two members of the phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein (PEBP) family, are well-known regulators of flowering time and inflorescence architecture in Arabidopsis thaliana. However, recent work by Bigas et al. uncovers their additional roles in regulating…