The study identifies the AP2/ERF transcription factor GEMMIFER (MpGMFR) as essential for asexual reproduction in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha, showing that loss of MpGMFR via genome editing or amiRNA abolishes gemma and gemma cup formation, while dexamethasone‑induced activation triggers their development. Transient strong activation of MpGMFR initiates gemma initial cells at the meristem, which mature into functional gemmae, indicating MpGMFR is both necessary and sufficient for meristem‑derived asexual propagule formation.

Using diverse Mexican maize varieties and a MAGIC population, the study demonstrated that leaf vein density is both variable and plastic, correlating positively with photosynthetic rates for small intermediate veins and increasing under heat in drought-adapted lines. Twelve QTLs linked to vein patterning were identified, highlighting candidate genes for intermediate vein development and shedding light on the evolution of high-efficiency C4 leaf architecture.

The study evaluated how stomatal anatomy and physiological efficiency influence wheat heat tolerance across multi‑environment field trials with 200 genotypes, using early versus delayed sowing to impose temperature stress. Findings revealed a decoupling between anatomical capacity (gsmax) and actual conductance (gs, gse) under heat, plastic shifts toward smaller, denser stomata, and identified 125 QTL linked to stomatal traits, suggesting targets for breeding climate‑resilient wheat.

The authors used a bottom‑up thermodynamic modelling framework to investigate how plants decode calcium signals, starting from Ca2+ binding to EF‑hand proteins and extending to higher‑order decoding modules. They identified six universal Ca2+-decoding modules that can explain variations in calcium sensitivity among kinases and provide a theoretical basis for interpreting calcium signal amplitude and frequency in plant cells.

The study identified 12 SABATH methyltransferase genes in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha and demonstrated that MpSABATH2 is crucial for normal thallus growth and gemma cup formation. Loss‑of‑function mutants displayed developmental phenotypes reminiscent of far‑red light responses, which were linked to gibberellin metabolism and could be partially rescued by inhibiting GA biosynthesis or supplying the GA precursor ent‑kaurenoic acid. These findings suggest that SABATH enzymes independently evolved regulatory roles in land‑plant development.

The study demonstrates that carbon availability promotes gemma cup formation in Marchantia polymorpha by activating cytokinin signaling, which up‑regulates the transcription factors MpGCAM1 and MpSTG. Pharmacological and genetic manipulations showed that cytokinin accumulation in response to sucrose and high light is sufficient to overcome low‑sucrose repression, and that this pathway operates independently of KAI2A‑MAX2 mediated karrikin signaling. The findings suggest a conserved carbon‑cytokinin interaction governing developmental plasticity across land plants.

The study characterizes the liverwort-specific NPR protein (MpNPR) in Marchantia polymorpha, demonstrating that it controls oil body formation and confers resistance to gastropod herbivory through interaction with the transcription factor MpERF13. Loss- or gain-of-function of MpNPR disrupts MpERF13‑dependent gene expression and compromises defense against snail feeding, revealing a lineage‑specific immune pathway distinct from tracheophyte NPR functions.

The study demonstrates that red and blue light have opposing effects on thallus growth orientation in Marchantia polymorpha, with red light promoting epinasty and blue light promoting hyponasty. Loss-of-function mutants in the respective photoreceptors and BBX transcription factors reveal antagonistic interactions that balance thallus flatness under white light. Time‑resolved transcriptomics identified rapid light‑induced genes, including all six MpBBX members, whose mutant phenotypes support this antagonistic model.

The study reveals that the Auxin Response Factor MpARF2 in Marchantia polymorpha forms nanoscopic clusters within the plant nucleus, representing a distinct mode of DNA binding distinct from monomeric/oligomeric binding and liquid phase-separated condensates. These nanoclusters provide high‑affinity, switch‑like, sequence‑specific DNA interaction, suggesting a novel mechanism for transcriptional regulation by TF nanoclustering.

The study reveals that in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha, the UV‑B photoreceptor MpUVR8 forms homodimers that monomerize and accumulate in the nucleus upon UV‑B exposure, activating COP1‑dependent growth inhibition, gene expression reprogramming, and UV‑absorbing metabolite production. MpRUP promotes redimerization of MpUVR8, acting as a negative regulator, while MpSPA also negatively modulates UVR8 signaling, indicating lineage‑specific diversification of UV‑B signaling components that originated over 400 Myr ago.