Molecular phylogenetic analysis indicated that diatom Lhcx proteins share a common ancestor with green algal Lhcsrs, suggesting acquisition via horizontal gene transfer. Knockout of the Lhcx1 gene in the diatom Chaetoceros gracilis almost eliminated non‑photochemical quenching and revealed that Lhcx1 mediates quenching in detached antenna complexes, while also influencing PSII quantum yield and carbon fixation under high‑light conditions. These findings elucidate the evolutionary origin and mechanistic role of Lhcx‑mediated photoprotection in diatoms.

The study employed computational approaches to characterize the SUMOylation (ULP) machinery in Asian rice (Oryza sativa), analyzing phylogenetic relationships, transcriptional patterns, and protein structures across the reference genome, a population panel, and wild relatives. Findings reveal an expansion of ULP genes in cultivated rice, suggesting selection pressure during breeding and implicating specific ULPs in biotic and abiotic stress responses, providing resources for rice improvement.

The study applied spatial transcriptomics to map the transcriptional landscape of wheat (Triticum aestivum) inflorescences during spikelet development, revealing two distinct regions—a RAMOSA2‑active primordium and an ALOG1‑expressing boundary. Developmental assays showed that spikelets arise from meristematic zones accompanied by vascular rachis formation, identifying key regulators that could be targeted to improve spikelet number and yield.

Researchers isolated a fungal pathogen from a naturally infected Rumex crispus leaf in Japan and identified it as Teratoramularia rumicicola using morphological traits and phylogenetic analysis of ITS and LSU rDNA sequences. Host range tests showed the isolate (TR4) caused disease and reduced biomass in three Rumex species but was harmless to five tested forage crops, indicating its potential as a selective bioherbicide for pasture systems.

Large-scale bioinformatics identified a new class of transmembrane phosphotransfer proteins (TM‑HPt) across 61 plant species, showing conserved HPt motifs and potential activity in multistep phosphorelay signaling. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred via Bayesian DNA analysis, expression was validated by transcriptomics, and molecular modeling suggested possible membrane-associated structural arrangements.

An optimized workflow was developed to apply the Xenium in situ sequencing platform to formalin‑fixed paraffin‑embedded (FFPE) sections of Medicago truncatula roots and nodules, incorporating customized tissue preparation, probe design, and imaging to overcome plant‑specific challenges such as cell wall autofluorescence. The protocol was validated across nodule developmental stages using both a 50‑gene panel for mature cell identity and an expanded 480‑gene panel covering multiple cell types, providing a scalable high‑resolution spatial transcriptomics method adaptable to other plant systems.

The study identifies a novel C-terminal FR motif in Lotus japonicus NODULE INCEPTION (NIN) that expands DNA‑binding specificity by stabilizing the RWP‑RK dimer, and shows that loss of this motif impairs nodulation and nitrogen fixation. Comparative analysis reveals that Arabidopsis NLP2 also possesses a NIN‑type FR, and phylogenetic data suggest the motif originated in early gymnosperms, indicating it predates the evolution of root nodule symbiosis.

The study applied the STOmics spatial transcriptomics platform to map gene expression at subcellular resolution in developing wheat (Triticum aestivum) seeds during grain filling, analyzing over four million transcripts. Eight functional cellular groups were identified, including four distinct endosperm clusters with radial expression patterns and novel marker genes, and subgenome‑biased expression was observed among specific paralogs. These results highlight spatial transcriptomics as a powerful tool for uncovering tissue‑specific and polyploid‑specific gene regulation in seeds.

The study combined spatial transcriptomics and single-nuclei RNA sequencing to map soybean (Glycine max) responses to Asian soybean rust caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, revealing two distinct host cell states: pathogen‑occupied regions and adjacent non‑infected regions that show heightened defense gene expression. Gene co‑expression network analysis identified a key immune‑related module active in the stressed cells, highlighting a cell‑non‑autonomous defense mechanism.

The study reconstructed the evolutionary history of plant-specific GBF1-type ARF-GEFs by building phylogenetic trees and ortho‑synteny groups, identifying orthologs of AtGNOM and AtGNL1 across species. Functional analyses using transgenic Arabidopsis lines and yeast two‑hybrid assays revealed how duplication and loss events diversified GNOM paralogs, separating polar recycling from secretory trafficking functions.