Genetius

The study demonstrates that short‑term low phosphate treatment delays leaf senescence in rice by increasing photosynthetic pigments, enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities, and reducing oxidative damage, whereas high phosphate accelerates senescence. CRISPR/Cas9 editing of MIR827 to lower Pi levels also postpones senescence, while overexpression of MIR827 or MIR399, which raises Pi, speeds it up. Transcriptomic profiling reveals coordinated changes in senescence‑associated and metabolic pathways underlying the low‑phosphate response.

Field experiments combined with RNA sequencing revealed that wheat ploidy influences heat stress resilience, with tetraploid T. turgidum showing the smallest yield loss and hexaploid T. aestivum mounting the largest transcriptional response. Ploidy-dependent differences were observed in differential gene expression, alternative splicing—including hexaploid-specific exon skipping of NF‑YB—and co‑expression networks linked to grain traits, highlighting candidate pathways for breeding heat‑tolerant wheat.

The study generated the first single‑nucleus RNA‑sequencing dataset of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) roots colonized by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis, revealing distinct transcriptional programs in epidermal and cortical cells across stages of arbuscule development. Using unsupervised subclustering and a Motif‑Informed Network Inference (MINI‑EX) approach, the authors identified candidate transcription factors that may coordinate cell‑cycle reactivation and nutrient integration during symbiosis, offering a resource for future functional genetics.

The study assessed three savory essential oil–based formulations for controlling early blight caused by Alternaria solani in tomato, finding that formulation CC2020 most effectively reduced disease severity in both in vitro and greenhouse trials. CC2020 also helped maintain tomato fruit vitamin C levels and lowered fungal melanin production, indicating dual benefits for disease suppression and fruit quality.

The study examined leaf pavement cell shape complexity across a natural European aspen (Populus tremula) population, using GWAS to pinpoint the transcription factor MYB305a as a regulator of cell geometry. Functional validation showed that MYB305a expression is induced by drought and contributes to shape simplification, with cell complexity negatively correlated with water-use efficiency and climatic variables of the genotypes' origin.

A genome‑wide association study of 187 bread wheat genotypes identified 812 significant loci linked to 25 spectral vegetation indices under rainfed drought conditions, revealing a major QTL hotspot on chromosome 2A that accounts for up to 20% of variance in greenness and pigment traits. Candidate gene analysis at this hotspot uncovered stress‑responsive genes, demonstrating that vegetation indices are heritable digital phenotypes useful for selection and genetic analysis of drought resilience.

The study identified the poplar homolog of Arabidopsis HDG11 and generated transgenic poplar hybrids overexpressing PtaHDG11. Constitutive expression conferred markedly improved drought tolerance, as evidenced by higher leaf water content, reduced oxidative damage, up‑regulation of antioxidant genes, and greater post‑stress biomass, while also causing a glabrous phenotype. These results highlight PtaHDG11 as a promising target for breeding drought‑resilient trees.

The study employed ultra large‑scale 2D clinostats to grow tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants beyond the seedling stage under simulated microgravity and upright control conditions across five sequential trials. Simulated microgravity consistently affected plant growth, but the magnitude and direction of the response varied among trials, with temperature identified as a significant co‑variant; moderate heat stress surprisingly enhanced growth under simulated microgravity. These results highlight the utility of large‑scale clinostats for dissecting interactions between environmental factors and simulated microgravity in plant development.

The study demonstrates that the interaction between spliceosomal proteins STA1 and DOT2 controls nuclear speckle organization, pre‑mRNA splicing efficiency, and heat‑stress tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. A missense mutation in DOT2 restores the weakened STA1‑DOT2 interaction in the sta1‑1 mutant, linking interaction strength to speckle formation and transcriptome‑wide intron retention under heat stress, while pharmacological inhibition of STA1‑associated speckles reproduces the mutant phenotypes. These findings reveal a heat‑sensitive interaction node that couples spliceosome assembly to nuclear speckle dynamics and splicing robustness.

Using laser ablation microscopy, the study dissected the role of the first cell row and a contiguous stem cell quorum in the apical notches of germinating Marchantia gemmae, revealing that these cells are essential for meristem activity and that apical notches communicate via auxin‑mediated signals to regulate dominance and regeneration. The findings support a model of intra‑, inter‑, and extra‑notch communication governing meristem formation and maintenance in Marchantia.