The study evaluated how acute heat stress affects early-stage rice seedlings, identifying a critical temperature threshold that impairs growth. Transcriptomic profiling of shoots and roots revealed ethylene‑responsive factors (ERFs) as central regulators, with ethylene and jasmonic acid acting upstream, and pre‑treatment with these hormones mitigated heat damage. These findings highlight ERF‑hormone interaction networks as targets for improving rice heat resilience.
Using the Euphorbia peplus genome, the authors performed organ‑specific transcriptomic profiling of the cyathium and combined it with gene phylogenies and dN/dS analysis to investigate floral‑development gene families. They found distinct SEP1 paralog expression, lack of E‑class gene duplications typical of other pseudanthia, and divergent expression patterns for CRC, UFO, LFY, AP3, and PI, suggesting unique developmental pathways in Euphorbia.
The study used comparative transcriptomics across Erysimum species to identify two 2‑oxoglutarate‑dependent dioxygenases, CARD5 and CARD6, responsible for the 14β‑ and 21‑hydroxylation steps in cardenolide biosynthesis in Erysimum cheiranthoides. Knockout mutants lacking these genes accumulated pathway intermediates, and transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana confirmed their enzymatic functions, while structural modeling pinpointed residues linked to neofunctionalization.
Comparative transcriptomics uncovers plant and fungal genetic determinants of mycorrhizal compatibility
Authors: Marques-Galvez, J. E., de Freitas Pereira, M., Nehls, U., Ruytinx, J., Barry, K., Peter, M., Martin, F., Grigoriev, I. V., Veneault-Fourrey, C., Kohler, A.
The study used comparative and de‑novo transcriptomic analyses in poplar to uncover plant and fungal gene regulons that govern ectomycorrhizal (ECM) compatibility, distinguishing general fungal‑sensing responses from ECM‑specific pathways. Key findings include modulation of jasmonic acid‑related defenses, coordinated regulation of secretory and cell‑wall remodeling genes, and dynamic expression of the Common Symbiosis Pathway during early and mature symbiosis stages.
High radiosensitivity in the conifer Norway spruce (Picea abies) due to lesscomprehensive mobilisation of protection and repair responses compared to the radiotolerant Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Bhattacharjee, P., Blagojevic, D., Lee, Y., Gillard, G. B., Gronvold, L., Hvidsten, T. R., Sandve, S. R., Lind, O. C., Salbu, B., Brede, D. A., Olsen, J. E.
The study compared early protective, repair, and stress responses to chronic gamma irradiation in the radiosensitive conifer Norway spruce (Picea abies) and the radiotolerant Arabidopsis thaliana. Norway spruce exhibited growth inhibition, mitochondrial damage, and higher DNA damage at low dose rates, while Arabidopsis maintained growth, showed minimal organelle damage, and activated DNA repair and antioxidant genes even at the lowest dose rates. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the tolerant species mounts a robust transcriptional response at low doses, whereas the sensitive species only responds at much higher doses.
The study models maize flowering time plasticity using a physiological reaction norm derived from multi-environment trial data, revealing genotype-specific differences in temperature-driven development and photoperiod perception. It introduces an envirotyping metric that shows genotypes can experience markedly different photoperiods even within the same environment, and demonstrates distinct adaptive strategies between tropical and temperate germplasm.
The study shows that heatwaves impair the ability of apple (Malus domestica) to mount ASM‑induced immunity against fire blight and apple scab, leading to a loss of protective gene expression. Transcriptomic analysis revealed a broad suppression of ASM‑regulated defense and other biological processes under high temperature, identifying thermo‑sensitive resistance and susceptibility marker genes. The findings highlight that elevated temperature both weakens plant defenses and creates a more favorable environment for pathogens.
The study identifies RAF24, a B4 Raf-like MAPKKK, as a novel regulator of flowering time in Arabidopsis, demonstrating that RAF24 controls the phosphorylation of the ubiquitin ligase HUB2 via SnRK2 kinases, thereby modulating H2Bub1 levels. Phospho‑mimetic and phospho‑ablative HUB2 mutants confirm that phosphorylation at S314 is critical for proper flowering timing.
The study used comparative transcriptomics to examine how Fusarium oxysporum isolates with different lifestyles on angiosperms regulate effector genes during infection of the non‑vascular liverwort Marchantia polymorpha. Core effector genes on fast core chromosomes are actively expressed in the bryophyte host, while lineage‑specific effectors linked to angiosperm pathogenicity are silent, and disruption of a compatibility‑associated core effector alters the expression of other core effectors, highlighting conserved fungal gene networks across plant lineages.
The study identified a major QTL (qDTH3) on chromosome 3 responsible for a 7‑10‑day earlier heading phenotype in the rice line SM93, using QTL‑seq, KASP genotyping, association mapping, and transcriptomic analysis to fine‑map the locus to a 2.53 Mb region and pinpoint candidate genes. SNP markers linked to these genes were proposed as tools for breeding early‑maturing, climate‑resilient rice varieties.