The study examined how Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) infection reshapes root-associated bacterial and fungal communities in two Arabidopsis thaliana genotypes. TuMV markedly reduced bacterial diversity and altered community composition in a genotype‑specific manner, while fungal communities stayed stable; bacterial co‑occurrence networks later recovered and even increased in complexity, highlighting microbial resilience. These findings underscore virus‑driven selective filtering of bacterial root microbiota and the role of host genotype in mediating microbiome responses to viral stress.
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.
Trichoderma afroharzianum behaves differently with respect to the host transcriptome and microbial communities under varying iron availability in pea plants
Authors: Kabir, A. H., Thapa, A., Ara Saiful, S. A., Talukder, S. K.
The study examined how the bioinoculant Trichoderma afroharzianum T22 influences Pisum sativum growth under iron-sufficient versus iron-deficient conditions, finding pronounced benefits—enhanced photosynthesis, Fe/N accumulation, and stress‑related gene expression—only during iron deficiency. RNA‑seq revealed distinct gene expression patterns tied to symbiosis, iron transport, and redox pathways, and microbiome profiling showed T22 reshapes the root bacterial community under deficiency, suggesting context‑dependent mutualism.
Seed treatment with melatonin markedly improved root biomass, nodulation, nitrogen balance, and yield in three peanut genotypes, particularly Kainong 308. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing revealed genotype‑ and compartment‑specific reshaping of bacterial communities, with enrichment of key Proteobacteria and more complex co‑occurrence networks that correlated with enhanced plant traits. These results highlight melatonin’s dual function as a plant bio‑stimulant and microbiome modulator.
The study examined how plant‑derived benzoxazinoid metabolites influence interactions among root‑associated bacterial strains and between these bacteria and their plant host. Using both simple pairwise assays and more complex multi‑organism setups, the authors found that these chemicals modulate bacterial‑bacterial and bacterial‑plant interactions, altering plant defense, immunity, and sugar transport especially when bacterial inocula are present. The work highlights the role of the soil chemical legacy in shaping holobiont dynamics and demonstrates the utility of combining reductionist and holistic experimental approaches.
Revisiting the Central Dogma: the distinct roles of genome, methylation, transcription, and translation on protein expression in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Zhong, Z., Bailey, M., Kim, Y.-I., Pesaran-Afsharyan, N., Parker, B., Arathoon, L., Li, X., Rundle, C. A., Behrens, A., Nedialkova, D. D., Slavov, G., Hassani-Pak, K., Lilley, K. S., Theodoulou, F. L., Mott, R.
The study combined long‑read whole‑genome assembly, multi‑omics profiling (DNA methylation, mRNA, ribosome‑associated transcripts, tRNA abundance, and protein levels) in two Arabidopsis thaliana accessions to evaluate how genomic information propagates through the Central Dogma. Codon usage in gene sequences emerged as the strongest predictor of both mRNA and protein abundance, while methylation, tRNA levels, and ribosome‑associated transcripts contributed little additional information under stable conditions.
The study compares iron deficiency and drought tolerance between two soybean genotypes, Clark (tolerant) and Arisoy (sensitive), using multi‑omics analyses. Clark maintains iron homeostasis, higher antioxidant protein expression, and recruits beneficial root microbes (Variovorax, Paecilomyces) that support nutrient uptake and nodule function, while Arisoy shows impaired physiological and microbial responses. The findings identify host‑microbe interactions and specific molecular pathways as potential targets for breeding and microbiome‑based biofertilizers.
The study performed a comprehensive computational analysis of the Arabidopsis thaliana proteome, classifying 48,359 proteins by melting temperature (Tm) and melting temperature index (TI) and linking thermal stability to amino acid composition, molecular mass, and codon usage. Machine‑learning and evolutionary analyses revealed that higher molecular mass and specific codon pairs correlate with higher Tm, and that gene duplication has driven the evolution of high‑Tm proteins, suggesting a genomic basis for stress resilience.
The study shows that drought triggers ABA accumulation and JA reduction in sorghum roots, accompanied by transcriptional activation of genes linked to mineral homeostasis, hormone signaling, and osmotic regulation, while Fe supplementation enhances ferritin expression and mitigates oxidative stress. Drought also diminishes root bacterial diversity but enriches beneficial taxa such as Burkholderia, whereas fungal diversity remains stable, and functional profiling reveals shifts toward phototrophy, methylotrophy, and nitrate reduction. These findings highlight ferritin’s protective role and suggest specific bacterial inoculants for improving sorghum drought resilience.