The study characterizes a conserved RNA structural element named DEAD within DEAD-box helicase genes in land plants, showing that it functions as a sensor of helicase activity to regulate alternative splicing in Arabidopsis thaliana. By modulating the folding of DEAD, the plant balances helicase transcript and protein levels via a negative feedback loop, and loss of this regulation leads to widespread splicing disruptions and severe stress phenotypes.
Field experiments combined with RNA sequencing revealed that wheat ploidy influences heat stress resilience, with tetraploid T. turgidum showing the smallest yield loss and hexaploid T. aestivum mounting the largest transcriptional response. Ploidy-dependent differences were observed in differential gene expression, alternative splicing—including hexaploid-specific exon skipping of NF‑YB—and co‑expression networks linked to grain traits, highlighting candidate pathways for breeding heat‑tolerant wheat.
Transcriptional responses of Solanum lycopersicum to three distinct parasites reveal host hubs and networks underlying parasitic successes
Authors: Truch, J., Jaouannet, M., Da Rocha, M., Kulhanek-Fontanille, E., Van Ghelder, C., Rancurel, C., Migliore, O., Pere, A., Jaubert, S., Coustau, C., Galiana, E., Favery, B.
The study used transcriptomic profiling to compare tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) responses to three evolutionarily distant pathogens—nematodes, aphids, and oomycetes—during compatible interactions, identifying differentially expressed genes and key host hubs. Integrating public datasets and performing co‑expression and GO enrichment analyses, the authors mapped shared dysregulation clusters and employed Arabidopsis interactome data to place tomato candidates within broader networks, highlighting potential targets for multi‑pathogen resistance.
The study demonstrates that plasmodesmata‑located protein 5 (PDLP5) interacts with plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs) to inhibit H2O2 transport across the plasma membrane in Arabidopsis. Overexpression of PDLP5 reduces H2O2 uptake and diminishes H2O2‑induced root growth inhibition, whereas pdlp5 mutants show enhanced sensitivity, with PIP2;5 identified as a key target of this regulation.
The study used live-cell fluorescence imaging of Arabidopsis thaliana pollen tubes co-expressing labeled tubulin and actin to reveal partial co-localization of the two cytoskeletal networks. Pharmacological disruption showed that microtubules depend on actin for stability in the medial region, while actin remains unaffected by microtubule loss, indicating spatially dependent cytoskeletal crosstalk. Tracking of the microtubule plus‑end binding protein EB1b demonstrated that the microtubule array is primarily parallel with plus ends oriented away from the apex.
Full-length transcriptome atlas of Panax vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus reveals novel genes and alternative splicing in tissue-specific biosynthesis of ocotillol-type saponins
The study generated the first tissue‑specific full‑length transcriptome atlas for Panax vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus using combined PacBio SMRT and Illumina RNA‑Seq, uncovering 281,468 transcripts and 8,089 novel genes. Twenty‑one candidate genes in triterpenoid saponin biosynthesis were identified, along with extensive alternative splicing events that appear to modulate tissue‑specific production of ocotillol‑type ginsenosides.
The study demonstrates that invasion of Arabidopsis thaliana roots by the parasitic plant Phtheirospermum japonicum induces a phosphate‑starvation response in the host, which in turn leads to systemic suppression of immunity. This immunosuppression makes Arabidopsis more vulnerable to secondary microbial infections, highlighting the importance of multitrophic interactions in crop resilience.
The circadian clock gates lateral root development
Authors: Nomoto, S., Mamerto, A., Ueno, S., Maeda, A. E., Kimura, S., Mase, K., Kato, A., Suzuki, T., Inagaki, S., Sakaoka, S., Nakamichi, N., Michael, T. P., Tsukagoshi, H.
The study identifies the circadian clock component ELF3 as a temporal gatekeeper that limits hormone‑induced pericycle proliferation and lateral root development in Arabidopsis thaliana. Time‑resolved transcriptomics, imaging, and genetic analyses show that ELF3 maintains rhythmic expression of key regulators via LNK1 and MADS‑box genes, and that loss of ELF3 disrupts this rhythm, enhancing callus growth and accelerating root organogenesis.
The study introduces a hybrid modeling framework that integrates a logistic ordinary differential equation with a Long Short-Term Memory neural network to form a Physics-Informed Neural Network (PINN) for predicting wheat plant height. Using only time and temperature as inputs, the PINN outperformed other longitudinal growth models, achieving the lowest average RMSE and reduced variability across multiple random initializations. The results suggest that embedding biological growth constraints within data‑driven models can substantially improve prediction accuracy for plant traits.
The study created a system that blocks root‑mediated signaling between wheat varieties in a varietal mixture and used transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling to reveal that root chemical interactions drive reduced susceptibility to Septoria tritici blotch, with phenolic compounds emerging as key mediators. Disruption of these root signals eliminates both the disease resistance phenotype and the associated molecular reprogramming.