The study investigates the gene regulatory network (GRN) controlling flowering time in the allotetraploid crop Brassica napus by comparing its transcriptome to that of Arabidopsis thaliana. While most orthologous gene pairs show conserved expression dynamics, several flowering‑time genes display regulatory divergence, especially under cold conditions, indicating subfunctionalisation among paralogues. Despite these differences, the overall GRN topology remains similar to Arabidopsis, likely due to retention of multiple paralogues.

The study identifies the circadian clock component ELF3 as a temporal gatekeeper that limits hormone‑induced pericycle proliferation and lateral root development in Arabidopsis thaliana. Time‑resolved transcriptomics, imaging, and genetic analyses show that ELF3 maintains rhythmic expression of key regulators via LNK1 and MADS‑box genes, and that loss of ELF3 disrupts this rhythm, enhancing callus growth and accelerating root organogenesis.

The study created a system that blocks root‑mediated signaling between wheat varieties in a varietal mixture and used transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling to reveal that root chemical interactions drive reduced susceptibility to Septoria tritici blotch, with phenolic compounds emerging as key mediators. Disruption of these root signals eliminates both the disease resistance phenotype and the associated molecular reprogramming.

The study reveals that the thermosensor and circadian regulator ELF3 interacts with the PLT3 transcription factor in Arabidopsis root stem cell niches, forming subcellular condensates that sustain quiescent centre and columella stem cell fate. ELF3’s intrinsically disordered prion‑like domains drive condensate formation with PLT3, and PIF3/4 act as nuclear shuttles recruiting ELF3 to nuclear condensates, linking environmental cues to stem cell maintenance.

The study reveals that the microtubule-associated protein MAP70-2 integrates mechanical and biochemical signals to guide division plane orientation during early lateral root primordium formation in Arabidopsis thaliana. Dynamic MAP70-2 localization to cell corners and the cortical division zone precedes cytokinesis, and loss of MAP70-2 results in misoriented divisions and malformed lateral roots, highlighting its role in three‑dimensional differential growth under mechanical constraints.

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 uncovers how arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi induce lateral root formation in maize by activating ethylene‑responsive transcription factors (ERFs) that regulate pericycle cell division and reshape flavonoid metabolism, lowering inhibitory flavonols. It also shows that the rhizobacterium Massilia collaborates with AM fungi, degrading flavonoids and supplying auxin, thereby creating an integrated ethylene‑flavonoid‑microbe signaling network that can be harnessed to improve nutrient uptake and crop sustainability.

The study presents an optimized Agrobacterium-mediated transformation protocol for bread wheat that incorporates a GRF4‑GIF1 fusion to enhance regeneration and achieve genotype‑independent transformation across multiple cultivars. The approach consistently improves transformation efficiency while limiting pleiotropic effects, offering a versatile platform for functional genomics and gene editing in wheat.

The study shows that the membrane lipids PI4P, PI(4,5)P2, and phosphatidylserine have distinct spatial and temporal dynamics during lateral root primordium formation in Arabidopsis thaliana, with PI4P acting as a stable basal lipid, PI(4,5)P2 serving as a negative regulator of initiation, and phosphatidylserine increasing after founder cell activation. Using live-cell biosensors, genetic mutants, and an inducible PI(4,5)P2 depletion system, the authors demonstrate that reducing PI(4,5)P2 enhances lateral root initiation and development.

The study engineers Type‑B response regulators to alter their transcriptional activity and cytokinin sensitivity, enabling precise modulation of cytokinin‑dependent traits. Using tissue‑specific promoters, the synthetic transcription factors were deployed in Arabidopsis thaliana to reliably increase or decrease lateral root numbers, demonstrating a modular platform for controlling developmental phenotypes.