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 Xanthomonas strains causing bacterial spot on tomato in Oklahoma fields during 2018‑2019, revealing a shift from X. euvesicatoria pv. euvesicatoria (Xee) to X. euvesicatoria pv. perforans (Xep) race T4, which also expanded to pepper. Phenotypic assays and whole‑genome sequencing highlighted differences in race composition, host range, copper sensitivity, and effector repertoires, and identified a novel species, Xanthomonas oklahomensis.

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 authors conducted a comprehensive phylogenetic and sequence analysis of the conserved YUCCA (YUC) gene family across representative plant lineages, classifying the family into six major classes and 41 subclasses. They linked YUC diversification to protein sequence conservation and spatial/temporal gene expression patterns, providing a framework for future functional investigations of auxin biosynthesis.

The study analyzes ancient maize genomes from a 500–600 BP Bolivian offering and compares them with 16 archaeological samples spanning 5,000 years and 226 modern Zea mays lines, revealing close genetic affinity to ancient Peruvian maize and increased diversity during Inca‑local interactions. Phylogenetic and phenotypic analyses of ovule development indicate targeted breeding for seed quality and yield, suggesting culturally driven selection was already established by the 15th century CE.

The study characterizes the distinct and overlapping roles of the rice PI paralogs OsMADS2 and OsMADS4 in lodicule specification, flowering time, and floral organ development by analyzing null and double mutants and overexpression lines. Genome-wide binding (ChIP‑seq) and transcriptome (RNA‑seq) analyses identified downstream targets involved in cell division, cell wall remodeling, and osmotic regulation that underpin the observed phenotypes. These findings reveal novel functions for PI paralogs in reproductive development and highlight mechanisms of transcription factor diversification in Oryza sativa.

Using a barley pangenome of 76 genotypes and a pan‑transcriptome subset of 20, the study characterizes the diversity and evolutionary dynamics of CCT motif genes, uncovering novel frameshift variants and clade‑specific domain expansions. Phylogenetic and tissue‑specific expression analyses reveal functional divergence among paralogs, and the unexpected retention of the VRN2 repressor in spring barley suggests additional regulatory mechanisms beyond vernalization.

Phylogenetic analysis reveals that non‑seed plants, exemplified by the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha, possess a streamlined repertoire of cyclin and CDK genes, with only three cyclins active in a phase‑specific manner during vegetative development. Single‑cell RNA‑seq and fluorescent reporter assays, combined with functional overexpression studies, demonstrate the distinct, non‑redundant roles of MpCYCD;1, MpCYCA, and MpCYCB;1 in G1 entry, S‑phase progression, and G2/M transition, respectively.

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.