Genetius

The study demonstrates that ethylene signaling contributes to host resistance against the root parasitic plant Phelipanche aegyptiaca, as both water stress and parasitism activate ethylene responses in Arabidopsis roots. Application of the ethylene precursor ACC reduced parasite attachment, and mutants in ethylene signaling components (ETR1, CTR1) showed altered tolerance, highlighting ethylene-mediated defenses as a potential strategy for crop protection.

The study examined how tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle metabolites influence drought tolerance in grapevine and Arabidopsis, finding that malate uniquely triggers stomatal closure via elevations in cytosolic Ca2+ and activation of the SLAC1 anion channel. G-proteins were shown to be essential for malate‑mediated signaling, linking metabolic changes to drought response through a second‑messenger cascade.

The study developed a validated LC‑MS/MS method to simultaneously quantify fourteen polyamines, amino acids, and ethylene precursors in Arabidopsis thaliana and Solanum lycopersicum, and used it to compare their metabolic responses to drought, salinity, and inhibitor treatments. Distinct species‑specific metabolic adjustments were observed, with Arabidopsis showing greater fluctuations and drought generally increasing metabolite levels, while spermine exhibited stress‑specific patterns.