The study characterizes a radiation‑induced root‑suppressed (Rs) mutant in tomato that displays dwarfism and pleiotropic defects in leaves, flowers, and fruits. Metabolite profiling and rescue with H2S donors implicate disrupted sulfur metabolism, and whole‑genome sequencing identifies promoter mutations in two root‑meristem‑specific sulfotransferase genes as likely contributors to the root phenotype.

The study identifies members of the REMORIN protein family as inhibitors of plasma membrane H⁺‑ATPases, leading to extracellular pH alkalinization that modulates cell surface processes such as steroid hormone signaling and coordinates root developmental transitions in Arabidopsis thaliana. This inhibition represents an ancient mechanism predating root evolution, suggesting that extracellular pH patterning has shaped plant morphogenesis.

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 examined how Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) infection reshapes root-associated bacterial and fungal communities in two Arabidopsis thaliana genotypes. TuMV markedly reduced bacterial diversity and altered community composition in a genotype‑specific manner, while fungal communities stayed stable; bacterial co‑occurrence networks later recovered and even increased in complexity, highlighting microbial resilience. These findings underscore virus‑driven selective filtering of bacterial root microbiota and the role of host genotype in mediating microbiome responses to viral stress.

The study examined how the bioinoculant Trichoderma afroharzianum T22 influences Pisum sativum growth under iron-sufficient versus iron-deficient conditions, finding pronounced benefits—enhanced photosynthesis, Fe/N accumulation, and stress‑related gene expression—only during iron deficiency. RNA‑seq revealed distinct gene expression patterns tied to symbiosis, iron transport, and redox pathways, and microbiome profiling showed T22 reshapes the root bacterial community under deficiency, suggesting context‑dependent mutualism.

Seed treatment with melatonin markedly improved root biomass, nodulation, nitrogen balance, and yield in three peanut genotypes, particularly Kainong 308. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing revealed genotype‑ and compartment‑specific reshaping of bacterial communities, with enrichment of key Proteobacteria and more complex co‑occurrence networks that correlated with enhanced plant traits. These results highlight melatonin’s dual function as a plant bio‑stimulant and microbiome modulator.

The study profiled root transcriptomes of Arabidopsis wild type and etr1 gain-of-function (etr1-3) and loss-of-function (etr1-7) mutants under ethylene or ACC treatment, identifying 4,522 ethylene‑responsive transcripts, including 553 that depend on ETR1 activity. ETR1‑dependent genes encompassed ethylene biosynthesis enzymes (ACO2, ACO3) and transcription factors, whose expression was further examined in an ein3eil1 background, revealing that both ETR1 and EIN3/EIL1 pathways regulate parts of the network controlling root hair proliferation and lateral root formation.

The study examined how plant‑derived benzoxazinoid metabolites influence interactions among root‑associated bacterial strains and between these bacteria and their plant host. Using both simple pairwise assays and more complex multi‑organism setups, the authors found that these chemicals modulate bacterial‑bacterial and bacterial‑plant interactions, altering plant defense, immunity, and sugar transport especially when bacterial inocula are present. The work highlights the role of the soil chemical legacy in shaping holobiont dynamics and demonstrates the utility of combining reductionist and holistic experimental approaches.

The study investigated how Arabidopsis thaliana SR protein kinases (AtSRPKs) regulate alternative RNA splicing by using chemical inhibitors of SRPK activity. Inhibition with SPHINX31 and SRPIN340 caused reduced root growth and loss of root hairs, accompanied by widespread changes in splicing and phosphorylation of genes linked to root development and other cellular processes. Multi‑omics analysis (transcriptomics and phosphoproteomics) revealed that AtSRPKs modulate diverse splicing factors and affect the splicing landscape of numerous pathways.

The study compares iron deficiency and drought tolerance between two soybean genotypes, Clark (tolerant) and Arisoy (sensitive), using multi‑omics analyses. Clark maintains iron homeostasis, higher antioxidant protein expression, and recruits beneficial root microbes (Variovorax, Paecilomyces) that support nutrient uptake and nodule function, while Arisoy shows impaired physiological and microbial responses. The findings identify host‑microbe interactions and specific molecular pathways as potential targets for breeding and microbiome‑based biofertilizers.