Genetius

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 generated chromosome‑scale genome assemblies for two wild tomato relatives, Solanum pennellii and Solanum cheesmaniae, using PacBio HiFi, ONT ultra‑long, and Hi‑C data, achieving >99% completeness. Comparative analysis with nine Lycopersicon clade genomes identified species‑specific structural variants and repeat expansions, while recombination mapping in hybrid backcrosses revealed gender‑biased crossover patterns and cold‑spot regions associated with large structural differences. These results illuminate how repeat dynamics and structural variation shape recombination landscapes in tomato breeding.

The authors generated a high‑resolution 1.45‑billion‑contact Micro‑C map for cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), identifying ~4,600 long‑range chromatin loops that fall into promoter‑centered and Polycomb/heterochromatin‑associated classes. Comparative Micro‑C in wild tomatoes showed conserved loop anchors despite sequence turnover, and integration with transcriptomics revealed that promoter‑anchored loops can either activate or repress gene expression depending on the chromatin state of distal anchors.

The study performed a comprehensive structural, evolutionary, and functional analysis of 247 lectin genes in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), revealing diverse domain architectures and distinct evolutionary trajectories for whole-genome versus small-scale duplications. Gene expression and virus-induced gene silencing experiments identified two GNA chimerolectins as negative regulators of immunity, with their silencing enhancing resistance to Ralstonia solanacearum. These results underscore the role of lectin genes in development and pathogen defense and provide candidate targets for breeding disease‑resistant cultivars.

The study investigates how fungal symbiont effectors reprogram tomato root sensory networks, coordinating transcriptional, metabolic, and phenotypic changes. Multimodal computational analysis confirms known findings and uncovers novel integration hubs, notably revealing iron homeostasis rewiring via citrate‑mediated redox control and targeted suppression of jasmonate defenses. These results propose a new paradigm for plant‑microbe communication and highlight targets for engineering stress‑resilient crops.

The study examined how tomato plants respond hormonally to infection by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 at two temperatures. Results revealed temperature‑dependent expression of salicylic acid, jasmonic acid and abscisic acid marker genes, while ethylene signaling remained unchanged, underscoring the influence of environmental conditions on plant defense.

The study investigates copper toxicity in the root apex of Solanum lycopersicum, showing that mitochondrial dysfunction precedes nuclear alterations such as chromatin condensation and nuclear shrinkage. Copper exposure triggers ROS accumulation, AMPK activation, mTOR suppression, and NRF2 nuclear translocation, leading to H3K4me3‑associated chromatin silencing and cell death. These findings highlight chromatin remodeling as a diagnostic marker of copper stress and a target for breeding resilient crops.

The study examined tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) seedlings exposed to low levels of cadmium, demonstrating hormetic growth promotion accompanied by morphological, biochemical, and histochemical changes. Transcriptomic profiling uncovered differential expression of oxidoreductase genes, several long non‑coding RNAs, and two miRNAs (sly‑MIR396a and sly‑MIR1063g) that modulate growth‑related targets, revealing molecular mechanisms underlying cadmium‑induced hormesis for potential crop improvement.

The study used tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) root apex cells to investigate subcellular effects of lidocaine anesthesia via live‑cell fluorescence imaging, immunostaining, and super‑resolution microscopy. It reveals a sequential collapse of mitochondria, lysosomes, vesicle trafficking, and nuclear architecture, with the nucleus acting as the key controller of recovery; cells recover organelle function after up to four hours of exposure but suffer irreversible nuclear damage and programmed cell death after longer exposure. These results identify mitochondrial antioxidants, lysosomal stabilizers, and nuclear protectants as potential therapeutic targets.