Genetius

A meta‑analysis of 73 studies on cucumber (Cucumis sativus) under elevated CO₂ (eCO₂) revealed that eCO₂ significantly increased net photosynthetic rate (+56.31%), biomass (+27.75%) and yield (+21.98%), while reducing stomatal conductance (‑36.07%) and transpiration (‑30.42%). The authors recommend maintaining eCO₂ levels between 800–1200 ppm together with higher light, temperature, optimal humidity, and adequate fertilization to optimise greenhouse cucumber production under climate‑change scenarios.

Using a microfluidic valve rootchip, the study simultaneously tracked ROS and calcium dynamics in compressed roots and found three kinetic phases linking mechanosensitive channel activity, NADPH oxidase‑dependent ROS accumulation, and secondary calcium influx. Pharmacological inhibition revealed that a fast calcium response is mediated by plasma‑membrane mechanosensitive channels, while a slower calcium increase is driven by ROS production.

The study applied limited proteolysis‑coupled mass spectrometry (LiP‑MS) to map JA‑protein interactions, validating known JA binders and uncovering novel candidates, including several UDP‑glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs). Functional omics, biochemical, enzymatic, and structural analyses demonstrated that two tomato UGTs glucosylate jasmonic acid, revealing a previously missing step in JA catabolism.

The study introduces an enhanced crosslinking mass spectrometry workflow that preserves native protein interactions within functional thylakoid membranes of Arabidopsis and spinach, while electron transport remains active. Mapping the obtained crosslinks to known structures validates complex integrity and reveals novel assemblies, facilitating in situ exploration of photosynthetic membrane protein networks.

The study examined how microclimatic factors influence leaf morphology and photosynthetic productivity in Arctostaphylos crustacea ssp. crustacea across two chaparral sites in California, finding that higher light and lower soil moisture increased leaf mass per area, leaf angle steepness, and photosynthetic rates. Linear mixed‑model analysis identified light level as the strongest predictor, with vapor pressure deficit, soil moisture, leaf temperature, and leaf angle also contributing, highlighting the role of combined microclimatic interactions in driving intraspecific trait variation.

The study uses an optogenetic ChannelRhodopsin 2 variant (XXM2.0) to generate defined cytosolic Ca²⁺ transients in Arabidopsis root cells, revealing that these Ca²⁺ signatures suppress auxin‑induced membrane depolarization, Ca²⁺ spikes, and auxin‑responsive transcription, leading to reversible inhibition of cell division and elongation. This demonstrates that optogenetically imposed Ca²⁺ signals act as dynamic regulators of auxin sensitivity in roots.

The study assessed the impact of adding mammalian growth factors and cytokines to transformation media on CRISPR‑Cas9–mediated genome editing in six tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) accessions with varying regeneration capacities. Over three years, supplementation with these factors significantly increased regeneration rates and the production of stable secondary transgenic lines, especially in recalcitrant genotypes.

The researchers created tomato lines overexpressing the autophagy gene SlATG8f and evaluated their performance under high-temperature stress. qRT‑PCR and physiological measurements revealed that SlATG8f overexpression enhances expression of autophagy‑related and heat‑shock protein genes, accelerates fruit ripening, and improves fruit quality under heat stress.

Proteomic comparison of mock‑ and potato spindle tuber viroid‑infected tomato revealed a broad down‑regulation of nucleoporins and nuclear transport receptors, leading to impaired nuclear import of the immune regulator NPR1. Overexpression of NPR1 or treatment with a salicylic‑acid analog restored defense and reduced PSTVd infection, highlighting nuclear transport repression as a key vulnerability in plant immunity against viroids.

The study isolated an endophytic Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain (SPT08) from tomato cotyledon seedlings that suppressed the wilt pathogen Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum and promoted plant growth, increasing height by 20% and root biomass by 60%. GFP labeling confirmed endophytic colonization, and genomic analysis revealed multiple secretion systems and secondary‑metabolite gene clusters associated with biocontrol and growth‑promoting traits.