The study integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses of red clover (Trifolium pratense) roots infected with Fusarium oxysporum and Phoma medicaginis to identify candidate cytochrome P450 enzymes responsible for the methylenedioxy bridge formation in (-)-maackiain biosynthesis. Using co‑expression network analysis and phylogenetic screening, five P450 candidates were selected and screened in engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae, revealing TpPbS/CYP76F319 as the enzyme catalyzing conversion of calycosin to pseudobaptigenin. This discovery enables reconstruction of the complete (-)-maackiain pathway for potential health and agricultural applications.

The study investigated how barley (Hordeum vulgare) adjusts mitochondrial respiration under salinity stress using physiological, biochemical, metabolomic and proteomic approaches. Salt treatment increased respiration and activated the canonical TCA cycle, while the GABA shunt remained largely inactive, contrasting with wheat responses.

The study combined high-throughput image-based phenotyping with genome-wide association studies to uncover the genetic architecture of tolerance to the spittlebug Aeneolamia varia in 339 interspecific Urochloa hybrids. Six robust QTL were identified for plant damage traits, explaining up to 21.5% of variance, and candidate genes linked to hormone signaling, oxidative stress, and cell‑wall modification were highlighted, providing markers for breeding.

The study investigates how the timing of the vegetative phase change (VPC) in Arabidopsis thaliana influences drought adaptation, revealing strong genotype-by-environment interactions that create stage-specific fitness tradeoffs. Genotypes from warmer, drier Iberian climates transition earlier, and genome-wide association mapping identifies loci linked to VPC timing and drought response, with several candidates validated using T‑DNA insertion lines.

The study examined drought tolerance across nine provenances of the conifer Pinus nigra using high‑throughput phenotyping combined with metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses under controlled soil‑drying conditions. Drought tolerance, measured by the decline in Fv/Fm, varied among provenances but was not linked to a climatic gradient and was independent of growth, with tolerant provenances showing distinct flavonoid and diterpene profiles and provenance‑specific gene expression patterns. Integrating phenotypic and molecular data revealed metabolic signatures underlying drought adaptation in this non‑model conifer.

The study systematically identified heterosis-associated genes and metabolites in rice, functionally validated three genes influencing seedling length, and integrated these molecules into network modules to explain heterosis variance. Predominant additive and partially dominant inheritance patterns were linked to parental genomic variants and were shown to affect 17 agronomic traits in rice, as well as yield heterosis in maize and biomass heterosis in Arabidopsis. The work highlights the quantitative contribution of transcriptomic and metabolomic variation, especially in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, to hybrid vigor.

The study examined five geographically diverse accessions of the hummingbird‑pollinated monkeyflower Mimulus cardinalis, revealing extensive variation in floral morphology, nectar composition, pigment biochemistry, and scent that influence pollinator perception. Integrating metabolomics, morphology, transcriptomics, and whole‑genome sequencing, the authors identified genetic differences underlying the independent evolution of yellow flowers at range edges. These findings highlight how climate, pollinator interactions, and multi‑trait diversification drive early stages of floral divergence.

Six new Viola species and two reinstated species from China were identified using field surveys, detailed morphological comparison, and phylogenetic analysis of ITS and GPI gene sequences, placing them in section Plagiostigma subsect. Diffusae. The GPI data offered higher resolution, indicating complex relationships possibly due to ancient hybridization or incomplete lineage sorting, thereby clarifying species boundaries and evolutionary patterns in Chinese Viola.

Phytoplasma infection in sesame (Sesamum indicum) triggers tissue-specific alterations in gene expression and metabolite composition, with floral organs adopting leaf-like traits and distinct changes in porphyrin, brassinosteroid, and phenylpropanoid pathways. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, supported by biochemical, histological, and qRT-PCR assays, reveal differential stress and secondary metabolite responses between infected leaves and flowers.

The study examined how simulated microgravity, using a 2-D clinostat, influences the metabolomic profile of the Starbor Kale (F1) cultivar, focusing on flavonoid content. Proton NMR revealed increased aromatic peaks, and HPTLC showed enhanced banding in medium- and high-polarity extracts, indicating elevated secondary metabolite production under microgravity conditions. These findings suggest kale is a promising candidate for space-based cultivation to mitigate astronaut health risks.