The study used QTL mapping in two F1 Plasmopara viticola populations to locate avirulence genes linked to grapevine resistance loci Rpv3.1, Rpv10, and Rpv12, confirming AvrRpv3.1 and identifying AvrRpv12, which harbors large deletions of RXLR effector genes. Additionally, a dominant locus responsible for partial Rpv10 breakdown was discovered, revealing diverse evolutionary mechanisms—including structural rearrangements and admixture—that enable the pathogen to overcome host resistance.

A comparative physiological study of persimmon cultivars with flat (Hiratanenashi) and round (Koushimaru) fruit shapes revealed that differences in cell proliferation, cell shape, and size contribute to shape variation. Principal component analysis of elliptic Fourier descriptors tracked shape changes, while histology and transcriptome profiling identified candidate genes, including a WOX13 homeobox gene, potentially governing fruit shape development.

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.

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 applied Spatial Analysis of Field Trials with Splines (SpATS) and Neighbor Genome-Wide Association Study (Neighbor GWAS) to barley field data, revealing that neighboring genotypes contribute to spatial variation in disease damage. Neighbor GWAS identified variants on chromosome 7H that modestly affect net form net blotch and scald resistance, suggesting that genotype mixtures could mitigate pest damage.

The study evaluated natural genetic variation in non-photochemical quenching and photoprotection across 861 sorghum accessions grown in the field over two years, revealing moderate to high broad-sense heritability for chlorophyll fluorescence traits. By integrating genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS) and covariance analyses, the authors identified 110 high-confidence candidate genes underlying photoprotection, highlighting a complex, polygenic architecture for these traits.

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 examined salt-induced alterations in root system architecture across a diverse panel of wild and cultivated tomato accessions, identifying tolerant varieties with distinct lateral root strategies. By combining Bulk Segregant Analysis of an F2 population with GWAS, the authors pinpointed 22 candidate genes, further narrowing to two key regulators through RNA‑Seq and functional assays involving ethylene and ROS profiling. These findings reveal genetic targets for improving salt resilience in tomato root development.

Using hydathode-focused inoculation, the study mapped a major QTL on Arabidopsis chromosome 5 and identified the CNL-type immune receptor SUT1 as a novel resistance gene that restricts early colonization of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris in hydathodes. Functional analyses showed SUT1 acts independently of the known RKS1/ZAR1 complex and provides tissue‑specific resistance, being effective primarily in hydathodes but not in xylem.