CYSTEINE-RICH RLK2 regulates development via callose synthase-dependent symplastic transport in Arabidopsis
Authors: Zeiner, A., Krasensky-Wrzaczek, J., Jindal, S., Hajny, J., Sharma, M., Morina, F., Andresen, E., Pääkkönen, M., Küpper, H., Merilahti, J., Wrzaczek, M.
The study reveals that Arabidopsis CRK2 phosphorylates the callose synthases CALS1 and CALS3, influencing callose deposition at plasmodesmata and thereby affecting phloem loading and source‑to‑sink transport. Loss of CRK2 leads to starch accumulation in older leaves, a phenotype rescued by introducing functional CALS1 or CALS3 alleles, indicating that CRK2, CALS1, and CALS3 jointly regulate growth and development through control of intercellular transport.
Phylogenomic challenges in polyploid-rich lineages: Insights from paralog processing and reticulation methods using the complex genus Packera (Asteraceae: Senecioneae)
Authors: Moore-Pollard, E. R., Ellestad, P., Mandel, J.
The study examined how polyploidy, hybridization, and incomplete lineage sorting affect phylogenetic reconstructions in the genus Packera, evaluating several published paralog‑processing pipelines. Results showed that the choice of orthology and paralog handling methods markedly altered tree topology, time‑calibrated phylogenies, biogeographic histories, and detection of ancient reticulation, underscoring the need for careful methodological selection alongside comprehensive taxon sampling.