Tag: Plant Reproduction

An 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…

Cycads 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…

In 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…

FLOWERING 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…

Developmental transitions in plants are tightly regulated by transcriptional networks that require fine-tuned temporal and spatial control, with noncoding sequences in gene promoters playing a key role. The conserved transcriptional regulator UNUSUAL FLORAL ORGANS (UFO) is essential for floral development.…

This preprint wins the award for “most beautiful paper” this week. Xu, Lin et al. carried out an expression analysis of developing wheat spikes at three developmental stages, using both single-cell RNA sequencing and single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization (smFISH). The wheat spike is…

The genetic regulation of male fertility in Arabidopsis thaliana involves multiple factors, including ATP-Citrate Lyase (ACL), a key enzyme in cytoplasmic acetyl-CoA production. The thermosensitive male-sterile mutant reversible male sterile-2 (rvms-2) exhibits normal fertility at low temperatures but…

Plants actively shape the microbial community in their rhizosphere to optimize nutrient acquisition and enhance resilience against environmental stresses. Interestingly, in dioecious plants, male and female individuals play distinct ecological roles and evolve different environmental adaptability. For…