Genetius

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.

The study cloned the resistance genes Rmo2 and Rwt7 from barley and wheat, revealing them as orthologous tandem kinase proteins (TKPs) with an N‑terminal heavy metal‑associated (HMA) domain. Domain‑swapping experiments indicated that the HMA domain dictates effector specificity, supporting a model of TKP diversification into paralogs and orthologs that recognize distinct pathogen effectors.

The study identifies wound‑induced proline transporters ProT2 and ProT3 as central regulators that link salicylic acid signaling to the suppression of de novo root regeneration (DNRR) via modulation of reactive oxygen species dynamics. Genetic loss of these transporters or pharmacological inhibition of proline transport alleviates SA‑mediated regeneration inhibition across several plant species without compromising disease resistance.

The authors introduce the ENABLE(R) Gene Editing in planta toolkit, a streamlined two‑step cloning system for creating CRISPR/Cas9 knockout vectors suitable for transient or stable transformation. Validation was performed in Oryza sativa protoplasts and Arabidopsis thaliana plants, and the toolkit includes low‑cost protocols aimed at facilitating adoption in the Global South.

The study evaluated the genetically encoded redox biosensor roGFP2-Orp1 for monitoring extracellular redox dynamics in diverse land plants, revealing that re‑oxidation rates in the apoplast differ between Physcomitrium patens and Arabidopsis thaliana and are accelerated by immune activation. Comparisons across tip‑growing cells showed no intracellular redox gradient but a partially reduced extracellular sensor in Nicotiana tabacum pollen tubes, indicating species‑ and cell‑type‑specific oxidative processes.

The study introduces Transposase-Accessible Chromosome Conformation Capture (TAC-C), which combines ATAC‑seq and Hi‑C to map fine‑scale chromatin interactions in rice, sorghum, maize, and wheat, revealing genome‑size‑correlated loop structures and distinct C3 vs. C4 patterns. Integration with population genetics shows that loops link distal regulatory elements to phenotypic variation, and SPL transcription factors (TaSPL7/15) modulate photosynthesis‑related genes via these interactions, enhancing photosynthetic efficiency and starch content in wheat mutants.