The study profiled the maize (Zea mays) endosperm transcriptome for the first four days after pollination using laser-capture microdissection, revealing temporal co‑expression modules including a fertilization‑activated subset. Network analyses linked MYB‑related transcription factors to basal endosperm transfer layer (BETL) differentiation and E2F transcription factors, together with TOR‑dependent sugar sensing, to early endosperm proliferation and kernel size variation.
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.
RNA sequencing of the halophyte Salicornia europaea revealed that combined hypoxia‑salt stress triggers a unique transcriptional response, with 16% of genes specifically altered and distinct synergistic, antagonistic, and additive effects across functional pathways. Metabolic analyses indicated enhanced sucrose and trehalose metabolism, a shift toward lactate fermentation, and increased proline synthesis, highlighting complex regulatory strategies for coping with concurrent stresses.
In a controlled dry-down experiment, Arabis sagittata showed significantly higher recovery from drought than the endangered Arabis nemorensis, a difference that could not be traced to a single major QTL, indicating a polygenic basis. Transcriptome and small‑RNA sequencing revealed that A. sagittata mounts a stronger transcriptional response, including species‑specific regulation of the conserved drought miRNA miR408, and machine‑learning identified distinct cis‑regulatory motif patterns underlying these divergent stress‑response networks.
The study evaluated whether integrating genomic, transcriptomic, and drone-derived phenomic data improves prediction of 129 maize traits across nine environments, using both linear (rrBLUP) and nonlinear (SVR) models. Multi-omics models consistently outperformed single-omics models, with transcriptomic data especially enhancing cross‑environment predictions and capturing genotype‑by‑environment interactions. The results highlight the added value of combining transcriptomics and phenomics with genotypes for more accurate and generalizable trait prediction in maize.
The study genotyped 1,013 hard red spring wheat lines using SNP arrays and targeted KASP markers to track changes in genetic diversity and the distribution of dwarfing Rht alleles over a century of North American breeding. It found shifts from Rht‑D1b to Rht‑B1b dominance, identified low‑frequency dwarf alleles at Rht24 and Rht25 that have increased recently, and revealed gene interactions that can fine‑tune plant height, along with evidence of recent selection for photoperiod sensitivity.
The study examined whether colonisation by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis primes immune responses in barley against the leaf rust pathogen Puccinia hordei. While AMF did not affect disease severity or plant growth, co‑infected leaves showed heightened expression of defence genes and transcriptome reprogramming, including altered protein ubiquitination, indicating a priming mechanism. These results highlight transcriptional and post‑translational pathways through which AMF can enhance barley disease resistance for sustainable crop protection.
Authors: Ramires, M. J., Netherer, S., Schebeck, M., Hummel, K., Schlosser, S., Razzazi-Fazeli, E., Ertl, R., Ahmad, M., Espinosa-Ruiz, A., Carrera, E., Arc, E., Martinez-Godoy, M. A., Banos, J., Caballero, T., Ledermann, T., van Loo, M., Trujillo-Moya, C.
Using a controlled field experiment on clonal 35‑year‑old Norway spruce trees, the study examined molecular defense responses to Ips typographus attacks. A multi‑omics approach revealed rapid local increases in jasmonic acid and other phytohormones, leading to differential expression of up to 1,900 genes and corresponding proteomic and metabolomic changes that elevated deterrent compounds such as phenolic aglycones, diterpene resin acids, terpenes, and lignin.
Using integrated metabolomics, fluxomics, and proteomics, the study shows that Bamboo mosaic virus infection in Nicotiana benthamiana redirects carbon flux toward glycolysis and the TCA cycle, enhancing mitochondrial metabolism. Silencing the mitochondrial NAD⁺-dependent malic enzyme 1 disrupts cytoplasmic NADH/NAD⁺ balance and alters defense gene expression, indicating that mitochondrial redox regulation is crucial for antiviral defense.
Multi-Omics Analysis of Heat Stress-Induced Memory in Arabidopsis
Authors: Thirumlaikumar, V. P. P., Yu, L., Arora, D., Mubeen, U., Wisniewski, A., Walther, D., Giavalisco, P., Alseekh, S., DL Nelson, A., Skirycz, A., Balazadeh, S.
The study uses a high‑throughput comparative multi‑omics strategy to profile transcript, metabolite, and protein dynamics in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings throughout the heat‑stress memory (HSM) phase following acquired thermotolerance. Early recovery stages show rapid transcriptional activation of memory‑related genes, while protein levels stay elevated longer, and distinct metabolite patterns emerge, highlighting temporal layers of the memory process.