The researchers created tomato lines overexpressing the autophagy gene SlATG8f and evaluated their performance under high-temperature stress. qRT‑PCR and physiological measurements revealed that SlATG8f overexpression enhances expression of autophagy‑related and heat‑shock protein genes, accelerates fruit ripening, and improves fruit quality under heat stress.

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 characterizes all seven malic enzyme genes in tomato, analyzing their tissue-specific expression, temperature and ethylene responsiveness, and linking specific isoforms to metabolic processes such as starch and lipid biosynthesis during fruit development. Phylogenetic, synteny, recombinant protein biochemical assays, and promoter analyses were used to compare tomato enzymes with Arabidopsis counterparts, revealing complex evolutionary dynamics that decouple phylogeny from functional orthology.