The study reveals that the energy sensor SnRK1 modulates Arabidopsis defense by repressing SA‑dependent gene expression and bacterial resistance, with its activity enhanced under high humidity. SnRK1 interacts with TGA transcription factors to attenuate PR1 expression, linking cellular energy status to immune regulation.
The study characterizes the single-copy S-nitrosoglutathione reductase 1 (MpGSNOR1) in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha, showing that loss-of-function mutants generated via CRISPR/Cas9 exhibit marked morphological defects and compromised SNO homeostasis and immune responses. These findings indicate that GSNOR-mediated regulation of S‑nitrosylation is an ancient mechanism linking development and immunity in early land plants.
The study developed a high-throughput phenotyping platform to assess root infestation by Orobanche cumana in a diverse sunflower association mapping population and applied a dual GWAS using SNPs and k-mers to uncover resistance loci. It validated known QTLs with higher resolution, identified novel candidate genes such as leucine‑rich repeat receptor kinases, and highlighted introgressed segments from wild Helianthus species that contribute to broomrape resistance.
An Axiom SNP genotyping array for potato: development, evaluation and applications
Authors: Baig, N., Thelen, K., Ayenan, M. A. T., Hartje, S., Obeng-Hinneh, E., Zgadzaj, R., Renner, J., Muders, K., Truberg, B., Rosen, A., Prigge, V., Bruckmueller, J., Luebeck, J., Van Inghelandt, D., Stich, B.
The study reports the creation and validation of a high‑density Axiom SNP array for Solanum tuberosum, based on 10X Genomics sequencing of 108 diverse clones and integration of existing Illumina markers. The array demonstrated high reproducibility and, after filtering, provided 206,616 informative markers for population structure analysis, GWAS of polyphenol oxidase activity, and genomic prediction with accuracies up to 0.86.
Identification of a novel link connecting indole-3-acetamide with abscisic acid biosynthesis and signaling
Authors: Moya-Cuevas, J., Ortiz-Garcia, P., Gonzalez Ortega-Villizan, A., Viguera-Leza, I., Perez-Gonzalez, A., Paz-Ares, J., Alonso-Blanco, C., Vicente-Carbajosa, J., Pollmann, S.
A genome-wide association study of 166 Iberian Arabidopsis accessions identified loci, including ABA3 and GA2ox2, that modulate the inhibitory effect of the auxin precursor indole-3-acetamide (IAM) on primary root elongation. Integrating sequence analysis, transcriptomics, 3D protein modeling, and mutant physiology revealed that IAM promotes ABA biosynthesis and signaling, uncovering a novel node of hormone crosstalk.
NUDIX Hydrolases Target Specific Inositol Pyrophosphates and Regulate Phosphate Homeostasis and Bacterial Pathogen Susceptibility in Arabidopsis
Authors: Schneider, R., Lami, K., Prucker, I., Stolze, S. C., Strauss, A., Schmidt, J. M., Bartsch, S. M., Langenbach, K., Lange, E., Ritter, K., Furkert, D., Faiss, N., Kumar, S., Hasan, M. S., Makris, A., Krusenbaum, L., Wege, S., Belay, Y. Z., Kriescher, S., The, J., Harings, M., Grundler, F., Ried-Lasi, M. K., Schoof, H., Gaugler, P., Kamleitner, M., Fiedler, D., Nakagami, H., Giehl, R. F., Lahaye, T., Bhattacharjee, S., Jessen, H. J., Gaugler, V., Schaaf, G.
The study identified two subclades of Arabidopsis NUDIX hydrolases that selectively hydrolyze distinct inositol pyrophosphate isomers, with subclade I targeting 4-InsP7 and subclade II targeting 3-InsP7 in a Mg2+-dependent manner. Loss-of-function mutants of subclade II NUDTs displayed disrupted phosphate and iron homeostasis, elevated 1/3-InsP7 levels, and increased resistance to Pseudomonas syringae, revealing roles in nutrient signaling and plant immunity, while cross-kingdom analyses showed conserved PP-InsP‑metabolizing activities.
Whole genome sequencing-based multi-locus association mapping for kernel iron, zinc and protein content in groundnut
Authors: Sagar, U. N., Parmar, S., Gangurde, S. S., Sharma, V., Pandey, A. K., Mohinuddin, D. K., Dube, N., Bhat, R. S., John, K., Sreevalli, M. D., Rani, P. S., Singh, K., Varshney, R. K., Pandey, M. K.
The study used multi‑season phenotyping for iron, zinc, and protein content together with whole‑genome re‑sequencing of a groundnut mini‑core collection to conduct a genome‑wide association study, identifying numerous marker‑trait associations and candidate genes linked to nutrient homeostasis. SNP‑based KASP markers were designed for nine loci, of which three showed polymorphism and are ready for deployment in genomics‑assisted breeding for nutrient‑rich groundnut varieties.
The study used single‑cell transcriptomics to compare Arabidopsis thaliana leaf cell responses during pattern‑triggered and effector‑triggered immunity, revealing that core defense modules are broadly shared but differ in timing, intensity, and cell‑type specific receptor dynamics. Distinct mesophyll subpopulations showed divergent resilience patterns, and gene regulatory network analysis identified WRKY‑regulated and salicylic‑acid biosynthesis modules, with the cue1-6 mutant confirming robustness of core immune responses while exposing cryptic sucrose‑responsive pathways.
The study integrates genome, transcriptome, and chromatin accessibility data from 380 soybean accessions to dissect the genetic and regulatory basis of symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF). Using GWAS, TWAS, eQTL mapping, and ATAC-seq, the authors identify key loci, co‑expression modules, and regulatory elements, and validate the circadian clock gene GmLHY1b as a negative regulator of nodulation via CRISPR and CUT&Tag. These resources illuminate SNF networks and provide a foundation for soybean improvement.
The study reveals that a conserved clade of pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) genes in Arabidopsis thaliana generates secondary siRNAs that contribute to plant immunity, with these PPR loci undergoing extensive duplication and diversification to create a varied siRNA pool for pathogen defense. This PPR‑siRNA system is proposed as a novel family of defense genes with potential for engineering broad‑spectrum disease resistance.