A genome-wide survey identified 217 EXO70 genes across five kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.) species, classifying them into three subfamilies and nine clades and revealing lineage‑specific expansions, especially in EXO70C, EXO70E, and EXO70H. Functional assays demonstrated that kiwifruit EXO70B1 interacts with the immune hub protein RIN4_1, suggesting a conserved EXO70‑RIN4 module in plant immunity. The study provides a foundational resource for exploring EXO70‑mediated disease resistance in kiwifruit.

A large-scale proteomic study in Arabidopsis thaliana identified over 32,000 isoform-specific peptides, confirming that alternative splicing, particularly intron retention, produces translated protein isoforms. Integrated proteogenomic analysis, SUPPA classification, and AlphaFold modeling revealed structural impacts and a non-linear regulation of transcript and protein abundance, with mutant phenotypes linking splicing to growth, chlorophyll content, and anthocyanin accumulation.

The study reveals that the energy sensor SnRK1 modulates Arabidopsis defense by repressing SA‑dependent gene expression and bacterial resistance, with its activity enhanced under high humidity. SnRK1 interacts with TGA transcription factors to attenuate PR1 expression, linking cellular energy status to immune regulation.

The study characterizes the single-copy S-nitrosoglutathione reductase 1 (MpGSNOR1) in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha, showing that loss-of-function mutants generated via CRISPR/Cas9 exhibit marked morphological defects and compromised SNO homeostasis and immune responses. These findings indicate that GSNOR-mediated regulation of S‑nitrosylation is an ancient mechanism linking development and immunity in early land plants.

The study identified two subclades of Arabidopsis NUDIX hydrolases that selectively hydrolyze distinct inositol pyrophosphate isomers, with subclade I targeting 4-InsP7 and subclade II targeting 3-InsP7 in a Mg2+-dependent manner. Loss-of-function mutants of subclade II NUDTs displayed disrupted phosphate and iron homeostasis, elevated 1/3-InsP7 levels, and increased resistance to Pseudomonas syringae, revealing roles in nutrient signaling and plant immunity, while cross-kingdom analyses showed conserved PP-InsP‑metabolizing activities.

The study used single‑cell transcriptomics to compare Arabidopsis thaliana leaf cell responses during pattern‑triggered and effector‑triggered immunity, revealing that core defense modules are broadly shared but differ in timing, intensity, and cell‑type specific receptor dynamics. Distinct mesophyll subpopulations showed divergent resilience patterns, and gene regulatory network analysis identified WRKY‑regulated and salicylic‑acid biosynthesis modules, with the cue1-6 mutant confirming robustness of core immune responses while exposing cryptic sucrose‑responsive pathways.

The study reveals that a conserved clade of pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) genes in Arabidopsis thaliana generates secondary siRNAs that contribute to plant immunity, with these PPR loci undergoing extensive duplication and diversification to create a varied siRNA pool for pathogen defense. This PPR‑siRNA system is proposed as a novel family of defense genes with potential for engineering broad‑spectrum disease resistance.

The study visualizes subcellular dynamics following activation of the NRC4 resistosome, showing that NRC4 enrichment at the plasma membrane triggers calcium influx, followed by sequential disruption of mitochondria, plastids, endoplasmic reticulum, and cytoskeleton, culminating in plasma membrane rupture and cell death. These observations define a temporally ordered cascade of organelle and membrane events that execute plant immune cell death.

The study used proximity labeling, co‑immunoprecipitation, and fluorescence microscopy to dissect the protein components and pathways governing distinct extracellular vesicle (EV) subpopulations in Arabidopsis, identifying roles for EXO70 exocyst subunits, RIN4, and VAP27. Mutant analyses revealed that disruptions in exo70 family genes, rin4, rabA2a, scd1, and vap27 reduce EV secretion and increase susceptibility to the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum higginsianum, highlighting EV secretion as a key facet of plant immunity.

The study combined spatial transcriptomics and single-nuclei RNA sequencing to map soybean (Glycine max) responses to Asian soybean rust caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, revealing two distinct host cell states: pathogen‑occupied regions and adjacent non‑infected regions that show heightened defense gene expression. Gene co‑expression network analysis identified a key immune‑related module active in the stressed cells, highlighting a cell‑non‑autonomous defense mechanism.