Quantitative trait locus mapping of root exudate metabolome in a Solanum lycopersicum Moneymaker x S. pimpinellifolium RIL population and their putative links to rhizosphere microbiome
Authors: Kim, B., Kramer, G., Leite, M. F. A., Snoek, B. L., Zancarini, A., Bouwmeester, H.
The study used untargeted metabolomics and QTL mapping in a tomato recombinant inbred line population to characterize root exudate composition and identify genetic loci controlling specific metabolites. It reveals domestication-driven changes in exudate profiles and links metabolic QTLs with previously reported microbial QTLs, suggesting a genetic basis for shaping the root microbiome.
The study identifies MtFTb1 and MtFTb2 as essential, redundant regulators of long‑day flowering in the legume Medicago truncatula, demonstrating that they are required for up‑regulating MtFTa1 under vernalised long‑day conditions. Using CRISPR/Cas9‑generated single and double mutants, the authors show that double mutants are specifically delayed in flowering under long days while retaining vernalization responsiveness, and transcriptomic analyses reveal that MtFTb1/2 activate MADS‑box genes and other flowering regulators.
A SABATH family enzyme regulates development via the gibberellin-related pathway in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha
Authors: Kawamura, S., Shimokawa, E., Ito, M., Nakamura, I., Kanazawa, T., Iwano, M., Sun, R., Yoshitake, Y., Yamaoka, S., Yamaguchi, S., Ueda, T., Kato, M., Kohchi, T.
The study identified 12 SABATH methyltransferase genes in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha and demonstrated that MpSABATH2 is crucial for normal thallus growth and gemma cup formation. Loss‑of‑function mutants displayed developmental phenotypes reminiscent of far‑red light responses, which were linked to gibberellin metabolism and could be partially rescued by inhibiting GA biosynthesis or supplying the GA precursor ent‑kaurenoic acid. These findings suggest that SABATH enzymes independently evolved regulatory roles in land‑plant development.
The study demonstrates that carbon availability promotes gemma cup formation in Marchantia polymorpha by activating cytokinin signaling, which up‑regulates the transcription factors MpGCAM1 and MpSTG. Pharmacological and genetic manipulations showed that cytokinin accumulation in response to sucrose and high light is sufficient to overcome low‑sucrose repression, and that this pathway operates independently of KAI2A‑MAX2 mediated karrikin signaling. The findings suggest a conserved carbon‑cytokinin interaction governing developmental plasticity across land plants.
The study presents an optimized Agrobacterium-mediated transformation toolkit for Sorghum bicolor that achieves up to 95.7% editing efficiency using CRISPR/Cas9 targeting the SbPDS gene, and demonstrates comparable performance with a PAM‑broadened SpRY variant. This platform enables multiplex genome editing and is positioned for integration of advanced tools such as prime and base editors to accelerate sorghum breeding.
Vacuolar invertase knockout enhances drought tolerance in potato plants
Authors: Roitman, M., Teper-Bamnolker, P., Doron-Faigenboim, A., Sikron, N., Fait, A., Vrobel, O., Tarkowski, P., Moshelion, M., Bocobza, S., Eshel, D.
CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of the vacuolar invertase gene (StVInv) in potato enhanced drought resilience, with mutants maintaining higher stomatal conductance, transpiration, and photosynthetic efficiency, leading to improved agronomic water-use efficiency and biomass under water limitation. Metabolomic profiling showed accumulation of galactinol and raffinose, while ABA levels were reduced, indicating altered osmoprotective and hormonal responses that support sustained growth during drought.
Identification of a putative RBOHD-FERONIA-CRK10-PIP2;6 plasma membrane complex that interacts with phyB to regulate ROS production in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Mohanty, D., Fichman, Y., Pelaez-Vico, M. A., Myers, R. J., Sealander, M., Sinha, R., Morrow, J., Eckstein, R., Olson, K., Xu, C., An, H., Yoo, C. Y., Zhu, J.-K., Zhao, C., Zandalinas, S. I., Liscum, E., Mittler, R.
The study demonstrates that FERONIA and phytochrome B physically interact with the NADPH oxidase RBOHD, and that FERONIA-mediated phosphorylation of phyB is essential for RBOHD-driven ROS production under excess light stress in Arabidopsis thaliana. Additional membrane proteins CRK10 and PIP2;6 also associate with this complex, forming a plasma‑membrane assembly that integrates multiple signaling pathways to regulate stress‑induced ROS.
Proline transporters balance the salicylic acid-mediated trade-off between regeneration and immunity in plants
Authors: Yang, L., Xu, D., Belew, Z. M., Cassia Ferreira Dias, N., Wang, L., Zhang, A., Chen, Y.-F. S., Newton, C. J., Kong, F., Zheng, Y., Yao, Y., Brewer, M. T., Teixeira, P. J. P. L., Nour-Eldin, H. H., Xu, D.
The study identifies wound‑induced proline transporters ProT2 and ProT3 as central regulators that link salicylic acid signaling to the suppression of de novo root regeneration (DNRR) via modulation of reactive oxygen species dynamics. Genetic loss of these transporters or pharmacological inhibition of proline transport alleviates SA‑mediated regeneration inhibition across several plant species without compromising disease resistance.
The study engineered Tobacco rattle virus vectors incorporating distinct RNA secondary structures as mobility factors to improve guide RNA delivery to plant meristems. Using Nicotiana benthamiana plants expressing Cas9, optimal virus constructs were identified that generated both somatic and heritable edits, and these constructs were successfully applied to edit the emerging oilseed crop pennycress (Thlaspi arvense).
The study characterizes the liverwort-specific NPR protein (MpNPR) in Marchantia polymorpha, demonstrating that it controls oil body formation and confers resistance to gastropod herbivory through interaction with the transcription factor MpERF13. Loss- or gain-of-function of MpNPR disrupts MpERF13‑dependent gene expression and compromises defense against snail feeding, revealing a lineage‑specific immune pathway distinct from tracheophyte NPR functions.