The interplay between autophagy and the carbon/nitrogen ratio as key modulator of the auxin-dependent chloronema-caulonema developmental transition in Physcomitrium patens.
Authors: Pettinari, G., Liberatore, F., Mary, V., Theumer, M., Lascano, R., Saavedra, L. L.
Using the bryophyte Physcomitrium patens, the study shows that loss of autophagy enhances auxin‑driven caulonemata differentiation and colony expansion under low nitrogen or imbalanced carbon/nitrogen conditions, accompanied by higher internal IAA, reduced PpPINA expression, and up‑regulated RSL transcription factors. Autophagy appears to suppress auxin‑induced differentiation during nutrient stress, acting as a hub that balances metabolic cues with hormonal signaling.
The study maps the in vivo proximity interactome of Arabidopsis SKP1-LIKE 1 (ASK1) under acute abscisic acid (ABA) signaling and prolonged drought using TurboID-based proximity labeling and quantitative proteomics, revealing condition-specific networks that include both canonical SCF modules and diverse noncanonical partners. Overexpression of ASK1 shifts proteome composition toward drought‑protective and ABA‑responsive proteins while repressing immune and ROS‑scavenging pathways, highlighting ASK1 as a hub that integrates SCF‑dependent and independent pathways to reprogram transcription, translation, and proteostasis during stress adaptation.
Sixteen upland rice varieties were evaluated under three irrigation regimes (100%, 70%, and 50% field capacity) with additional six‑day water withholding to simulate moderate and severe drought. Yield losses ranged from 35% to 78% depending on stress level, and varieties Dawk Kha, Khao/Sai, and Dawk Pa‑yawm showed the greatest stability, suggesting they are promising for breeding drought‑resilient upland rice.
The study examined how dual‑purpose hemp (Cannabis sativa) adjusts to different phosphate levels, showing that flower biomass is maintained unless phosphate is completely removed. Integrated physiological measurements and transcriptomic profiling revealed that phosphate is reallocated to flowers via glycolytic bypasses and organic phosphate release, while key regulatory genes followed expected patterns but did not suppress uptake at high phosphate, leading to nitrate depletion that limits growth.
The abstract proposes that microbial indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) enhances plant thermotolerance by regulating proline metabolism, coordinating early osmoprotective synthesis with later catabolism to support growth and redox balance during heat stress. This regulation is hypothesized to involve integration of auxin perception (HSP90‑TIR1), MAPK signaling (MPK‑IAA8), mitochondrial redox components (SSR1, HSCA2) and interactions with abscisic acid and ethylene, offering a framework for using auxin‑producing microbes to boost heat resilience.
The study tests whether heavy‑metal stress contributed to maize domestication by exposing teosinte (Zea mays ssp. parviglumis) and the Palomero toluqueno landrace to sublethal copper and cadmium, then analysing genetic diversity, selection signatures, and transcriptomic responses of three chromosome‑5 heavy‑metal response genes (ZmHMA1, ZmHMA7, ZmSKUs5). Results reveal strong positive selection on these genes, heavy‑metal‑induced phenotypes resembling modern maize, and up‑regulation of Tb1, supporting a role for volcanic‑derived metal stress in early maize evolution.
The study examined how DNA methylation influences cold stress priming in Arabidopsis thaliana, revealing that primed plants exhibit distinct gene expression and methylation patterns compared to non-primed plants. DNA methylation mutants, especially met1 lacking CG methylation, showed altered cold memory and misregulation of the CBF gene cluster, indicating that methylation ensures transcriptional precision during stress recall.
Using ten Phaeodactylum tricornutum mutant strains with graded constitutive Lhcx1 expression, the study links NPQ induction under high light to physiological outcomes (oxidized QA, increased cyclic electron flow) and extensive transcriptomic reprogramming, affecting nearly half the genome. The approach demonstrates that higher NPQ mitigates PSII damage, boosts ATP production for repair, and drives distinct gene regulatory networks, providing a model framework for dissecting photosynthetic and gene expression integration.
The study establishes a tractable system using the large bloom-forming diatom Coscinodiscus granii and its natural oomycete parasite Lagenisma coscinodisci, enabling manual isolation of single host cells and stable co-cultures. High‑quality transcriptomes for both partners were assembled, revealing diverse oomycete effectors and a host transcriptional response involving proteases and exosome pathways, while also profiling the co‑occurring heterotrophic flagellate Pteridomonas sp. This tripartite platform provides a unique marine model for dissecting molecular mechanisms of oomycete‑diatom interactions.
Root growth promotion by Penicillium melinii: mechanistic insights and agricultural applications
Authors: Gutierrez-Manso, L., Devesa-Aranguren, I., Conesa, C. M., Monteoliva-Garcia, G., Gonzalez-Sayer, S., Lozano-Enguita, A., Blasio, F., Ugena, L., Nolasco, J., Vazquez-Mora, A., Levy, C. C. B., Ariel Otero, E., Fernandez-Calvo, P., Moreno-Risueno, M. A., petrik, I., Pencik, A., Reguera, M., Gonzalez-Bodi, S., Huerta-Cepas, J., Sacristan, S., del Pozo, J. C., Cabrera, J.
The study characterizes the endophytic fungus Penicillium melinii, isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana roots, as a plant‑growth‑promoting agent that enhances root architecture and biomass across Arabidopsis, quinoa, and tomato. Integrated phenotypic, transcriptomic, and hormonal analyses reveal that the fungus stimulates auxin‑related pathways and modest stress responses, leading to increased tomato yield in field trials, underscoring its value as a model for root development and a sustainable biostimulant.