The study visualizes subcellular dynamics following activation of the NRC4 resistosome, showing that NRC4 enrichment at the plasma membrane triggers calcium influx, followed by sequential disruption of mitochondria, plastids, endoplasmic reticulum, and cytoskeleton, culminating in plasma membrane rupture and cell death. These observations define a temporally ordered cascade of organelle and membrane events that execute plant immune cell death.
The study combined cell biology, transcriptomics, and ionomics to reveal that zinc deficiency reduces root apical meristem size while preserving meristematic activity and local Zn levels, leading to enhanced cell elongation and differentiation in Arabidopsis thaliana. ZIP12 was identified as a highly induced gene in the zinc‑deficient root tip, and zip12 mutants displayed impaired root growth, altered RAM structure, disrupted Zn‑responsive gene expression, and abnormal metal partitioning, highlighting ZIP12’s role in maintaining Zn homeostasis and meristem function.
The CATION CALCIUM EXCHANGER 4 (CCX4) regulates LRX1-related root hair development through Ca2+ homeostasis
Authors: Hou, X., Tortora, G., Herger, A., Buratti, S., Dobrev, P. I., Vaculikov, R., Lacek, J., Sotiropoulos, A. G., Kadler, G., Schaufelberger, M., Candeo, A., Bassi, A., Wicker, T., Costa, A., Ringli, C.
The study identified a suppressor mutation (sune42) in the Golgi-localized Ca2+ transporter CCX4 that alleviates the dominant‑negative root hair phenotype caused by the extensin‑less LRX1ΔE14 protein in Arabidopsis. Detailed Ca2+ imaging showed that LRX1ΔE14 disrupts tip‑focused cytoplasmic Ca2+ oscillations, a defect rescued by the sune42 mutation, highlighting the role of Golgi‑mediated Ca2+ homeostasis in root hair growth.
The study used transcriptomic and lipidomic profiling to investigate how chia (Salvia hispanica) leaves respond to short‑term (3 h) and prolonged (27 h) heat stress at 38 °C, revealing rapid activation of calcium‑signaling and heat‑shock pathways and reversible changes in triacylglycerol levels. Nearly all heat‑responsive genes returned to baseline expression after 24 h recovery, highlighting robust thermotolerance mechanisms that could inform improvement of other oilseed crops.
Arabidopsis lines with modified ascorbate concentrations reveal a link between ascorbate and auxin biosynthesis
Authors: Fenech, M., Zulian, V., Moya-Cuevas, J., Arnaud, D., Morilla, I., Smirnoff, N., Botella, M. A., Stepanova, A. N., Alonso, J. M., Martin-Pizarro, C., Amorim-Silva, V.
The study used Arabidopsis thaliana mutants with low (vtc2, vtc4) and high (vtc2/OE-VTC2) ascorbate levels to examine how ascorbate concentration affects gene expression and cellular homeostasis. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that altered ascorbate levels modulate defense and stress pathways, and that TAA1/TAR2‑mediated auxin biosynthesis is required for coping with elevated ascorbate in a light‑dependent manner.
Comparative multi-omics profiling of Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium barbadense fibers at high temporal resolution reveals key differences in polysaccharide composition and associated glycosyltransferases
Authors: Swaminathan, S., Lee, Y., Grover, C. E., DeTemple, M. F., Mugisha, A. S., Sichterman, L. E., Yang, P., Xie, J., Wendel, J. F., Szymanski, D. B., Zabotina, O. A.
The study performed daily large-scale glycome, transcriptome, and proteome profiling of developing fibers from the two cultivated cotton species, Gossypium barbadense and G. hirsutum, across primary and secondary cell wall stages. It identified delayed cellulose accumulation and distinct compositions of xyloglucans, homogalacturonans, rhamnogalacturonan‑I, and heteroxylans in G. barbadense, along with higher expression of specific glycosyltransferases and expansins, suggesting these molecular differences underlie the superior fiber length and strength of G. barbadense.
The study evaluated how acute heat stress affects early-stage rice seedlings, identifying a critical temperature threshold that impairs growth. Transcriptomic profiling of shoots and roots revealed ethylene‑responsive factors (ERFs) as central regulators, with ethylene and jasmonic acid acting upstream, and pre‑treatment with these hormones mitigated heat damage. These findings highlight ERF‑hormone interaction networks as targets for improving rice heat resilience.
Using the Euphorbia peplus genome, the authors performed organ‑specific transcriptomic profiling of the cyathium and combined it with gene phylogenies and dN/dS analysis to investigate floral‑development gene families. They found distinct SEP1 paralog expression, lack of E‑class gene duplications typical of other pseudanthia, and divergent expression patterns for CRC, UFO, LFY, AP3, and PI, suggesting unique developmental pathways in Euphorbia.
The study demonstrates that constitutively active MLO (faNTA) can rescue the fer-4 root‑hair bursting and polarity defects, restoring tip‑focused cytosolic Ca2+ oscillations and ROS accumulation, highlighting a FERONIA‑MLO signaling module that governs Ca2+ influx and ROS production during root‑hair tip growth. Genetic analysis of mlo15-4 further confirms MLO15 as a key regulator of these Ca2+ and ROS dynamics. The findings suggest MLO proteins act downstream of FER to coordinate calcium and ROS signals essential for root‑hair integrity.
The study shows that heatwaves impair the ability of apple (Malus domestica) to mount ASM‑induced immunity against fire blight and apple scab, leading to a loss of protective gene expression. Transcriptomic analysis revealed a broad suppression of ASM‑regulated defense and other biological processes under high temperature, identifying thermo‑sensitive resistance and susceptibility marker genes. The findings highlight that elevated temperature both weakens plant defenses and creates a more favorable environment for pathogens.