The study used chlorophyll fluorescence imaging to map non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) gradients along barley leaf axes and found heat stress attenuates NPQ induction, revealing spatial heterogeneity in stress responses. Genome‑wide association and transcriptomic analyses identified candidate genes, notably HORVU.MOREX.r3.3HG0262630, that mediate region‑specific heat responses, highlighting pathways for improving cereal heat resilience.

The study applied Spatial Analysis of Field Trials with Splines (SpATS) and Neighbor Genome-Wide Association Study (Neighbor GWAS) to barley field data, revealing that neighboring genotypes contribute to spatial variation in disease damage. Neighbor GWAS identified variants on chromosome 7H that modestly affect net form net blotch and scald resistance, suggesting that genotype mixtures could mitigate pest damage.

The study evaluated natural genetic variation in non-photochemical quenching and photoprotection across 861 sorghum accessions grown in the field over two years, revealing moderate to high broad-sense heritability for chlorophyll fluorescence traits. By integrating genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS) and covariance analyses, the authors identified 110 high-confidence candidate genes underlying photoprotection, highlighting a complex, polygenic architecture for these traits.

The study examined salt-induced alterations in root system architecture across a diverse panel of wild and cultivated tomato accessions, identifying tolerant varieties with distinct lateral root strategies. By combining Bulk Segregant Analysis of an F2 population with GWAS, the authors pinpointed 22 candidate genes, further narrowing to two key regulators through RNA‑Seq and functional assays involving ethylene and ROS profiling. These findings reveal genetic targets for improving salt resilience in tomato root development.

The study used phospho‑proteomics to uncover rapid phosphorylation changes in Arabidopsis seedlings upon light or sucrose exposure, identifying RS41 as a hyperphosphorylated SR protein. By creating single and higher‑order mutants of four RS genes, the authors demonstrated that these RS proteins are essential for photomorphogenic development and regulate light‑dependent alternative splicing, with loss of all four causing sterility.

The study investigated how Arabidopsis thaliana SR protein kinases (AtSRPKs) regulate alternative RNA splicing by using chemical inhibitors of SRPK activity. Inhibition with SPHINX31 and SRPIN340 caused reduced root growth and loss of root hairs, accompanied by widespread changes in splicing and phosphorylation of genes linked to root development and other cellular processes. Multi‑omics analysis (transcriptomics and phosphoproteomics) revealed that AtSRPKs modulate diverse splicing factors and affect the splicing landscape of numerous pathways.

The study used TurboID-based proximity labeling coupled with mass spectrometry to map the Arabidopsis alternative splicing machinery centered on ACINUS, PININ, and SR45, identifying 298 high-confidence components and revealing that splicing is tightly linked to transcription and other RNA processing steps. Bioinformatic and genetic analyses, including O-glycosylation double mutants, demonstrated both conserved and plant‑specific regulatory networks and highlighted the role of sugar modifications in modulating splicing.

The study examined how genetic variation among 181 wheat (Triticum aestivum) lines influences root endophytic fungal communities using ITS2 metabarcoding. Heritability estimates and GWAS identified 11 QTLs linked to fungal clade composition, highlighting genetic control of mycobiota, especially for biotrophic AMF. These findings suggest breeding can be used to modulate beneficial root-fungal associations.

The study surveyed vegetative water use and life‑history traits across Arabidopsis thaliana ecotypes in both controlled and outdoor environments to assess how climatic history shapes water‑use strategies. Trait‑climate correlations and genome‑wide association analyses uncovered that ecotypes from warmer regions exhibit higher water use, and identified MYB59 as a key gene whose temperature‑linked alleles affect water consumption, a finding validated using myb59 mutants. These results indicate that temperature‑driven adaptive differentiation partly explains intraspecific water‑use variation.

The study performed ionomic profiling and genome-wide association studies on a diverse panel of pearl millet infield across two seasons to uncover genetic factors controlling nutrient acquisition. Soil analyses revealed stable depth-dependent patterns for phosphorus and zinc, while leaf ion concentrations showed high heritability and associations with root and agronomic traits. Integrating GWAS with gene expression data identified candidate ion transport/homeostasis genes for breeding nutrient-efficient, climate-resilient millet.