The study reveals that root hair cells rely on elevated autophagy to extend their lifespan, and that loss-of-function mutations in autophagy genes ATG2, ATG5, or ATG7 trigger premature, cell-autonomous death mediated by NAC transcription factors ANAC046 and ANAC087. This uncovers an antagonistic interaction between autophagy and a developmentally programmed cell death pathway that controls root hair longevity, highlighting a potential target for improving nutrient and water uptake in crops.

The study reveals that root hair-forming trichoblast cells in Arabidopsis thaliana display higher autophagic flux than adjacent atrichoblast cells, a difference linked to cell fate determination. Elevated autophagy in trichoblasts is required for vacuolar sodium sequestration, contributing to salt‑stress tolerance, whereas disrupting autophagy in these cells impairs ion accumulation and survival. Cell‑type‑specific genetic complementation restores both autophagy and stress resilience, highlighting a developmental program that tailors autophagy for environmental adaptation.

The study reveals that the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae suppresses host plant translation by targeting processing bodies (P‑bodies) through two liquid-like effectors, linking this repression to the ER stress response. It further demonstrates that autophagic clearance of P‑bodies is essential for balancing translationally active and inactive mRNAs, uncovering new connections among translation, ER stress, and autophagy during plant immunity.

A biparental Vicia faba mapping population was screened under glasshouse conditions for resistance to a mixture of Fusarium avenaceum and Fusarium oxysporum, revealing several families with moderate to high resistance. Using the Vfaba_v2 Axiom SNP array, a high-density linkage map of 6,755 SNPs was constructed, enabling the identification of a major QTL on linkage group 4 associated with partial resistance to foot and root rot.

The study investigated melatonin priming on methylglyoxal detoxification and autophagy during PEG‑induced drought stress in seed germination of drought‑sensitive (L‑799) and tolerant (Suraj) upland cotton. Melatonin increased endogenous melatonin, reduced MGO and AGEs, up‑regulated glyoxalase enzymes and autophagy markers, and improved cell viability in the sensitive variety, while the tolerant variety showed limited response.

The study demonstrates that loss of Arabidopsis metacaspase 1 (AtMC1) triggers autoimmunity reliant on downstream NLR and PRR signaling, and that overexpressing a catalytically dead AtMC1 exacerbates this effect. Overexpression of the E3 ligase SNIPER1 restores normal immunity, suggesting that AtMC1 regulates NLR protein turnover, possibly via autophagic degradation of the inactive protein.

The study examined transcriptomic responses of the tropical seagrass Halophila stipulacea from a pristine and an impacted site under single and combined thermal and excess nutrient stress in mesocosms. Combined stress caused greater gene reprogramming than individual stresses, with thermal effects dominating and the impacted population showing reduced plasticity but higher resilience. Core stress‑response genes were identified as potential early field indicators of environmental stress.