The study evaluated how modest temperature increases affect corn smut disease (Ustilago maydis) severity across multiple maize cultivars, generating extensive phenotypic and transcriptomic data. RNA‑seq and gene‑expression association analyses revealed temperature‑dependent expression changes, pinpointing GIBBERELLIC ACID STIMULATED TRANSCRIPT‑LIKE4 (GSL4) and γ‑aminobutyric acid as key infection factors, which were subsequently validated in vivo.

The study demonstrates that mutating maize A-type cyclin genes homologous to Arabidopsis TAM induces the formation of diploid gametes with high efficiency, leading to tetraploid progeny. This provides a viable apomeiosis component for synthetic apomixis in maize, complementing existing parthenogenesis approaches.

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 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.

The study examined how sudden changes in non‑saturating light intensity affect photosynthetic efficiency in the C4 crop maize (Zea mays) by measuring photosynthetic rates and metabolite pools over time. Decreases in irradiance caused transient buffering via large intercellular shuttle metabolites, but the system fell into a sub‑optimal metabolic state that required minutes to recover, while increases in irradiance produced delayed steady‑state photosynthesis due to enzyme regulation and the need to replenish metabolite pools, with CO2 back‑leakage and photorespiration further reducing efficiency.

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 finely dissected shoot stem cell–enriched tissues from maize and Arabidopsis thaliana and optimized single‑cell RNA‑seq protocols to reliably capture CLAVATA3 and WUSCHEL‑expressing cells. Cross‑species comparison and functional validation, including spatial transcriptomics and mutant analyses, revealed conserved ribosome‑associated RNA‑binding proteins and sugar‑kinase families as key regulators linked to shoot development and yield traits.

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.

Low red to far‑red (R:FR) light ratios increase the priming of herbivore‑induced volatile emissions in maize plants that have been exposed to neighbor volatiles, regardless of the light conditions of the emitting plants. Both constitutive VOCs and HIPVs released by maize grown under low R:FR amplify HIPV emission in neighboring receivers, indicating that canopy shade can intensify volatile‑mediated plant‑plant communication.