Genetius

Phosphite (Phi) and phosphate (Pi) share the same root uptake system, but Phi acts as a biostimulant that modulates plant growth and disease resistance in a species‑ and Pi‑dependent manner. In Arabidopsis, Phi induces hypersensitive‑like cell death and enhances resistance to Plectosphaerella cucumerina, while in rice it counteracts Pi‑induced susceptibility to Magnaporthe oryzae and Fusarium fujikuroi, accompanied by extensive transcriptional reprogramming.

The study examined how elevated atmospheric CO₂ (550 ppm) affects immunity in the C₄ cereal maize (Zea mays L.) by exposing plants grown under ambient and elevated CO₂ to a range of pathogens. Elevated CO₂ increased susceptibility to sugarcane mosaic virus, decreased susceptibility to several bacterial and fungal pathogens, and left susceptibility to others unchanged, with reduced bacterial disease linked to heightened basal immune responses. These findings provide a baseline for future investigations into CO₂‑responsive defense mechanisms in C₄ crops.

The study characterizes the plant spliceosomal protein AtSF1 in Arabidopsis thaliana, using iCLIP and RNA‑seq to map its in vivo branch point binding sites and demonstrate that loss of AtSF1 causes widespread 3' splice‑site mis‑selection. Structural comparison reveals a plant‑specific domain architecture, and the identified AtSF1 targets are enriched for circadian and defense genes, linking splicing regulation to timing and immunity.

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.

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 demonstrates that the tomato phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C gene SlPLC2 acts as a susceptibility factor for Phytophthora infestans. CRISPR‑Cas9 knockout of SlPLC2 reduces disease symptoms, pathogen biomass, and early immune responses, while overexpression enhances susceptibility, and SlPLC2 localizes to membranes surrounding infection vesicles. These results link SlPLC2 activity to vesicle formation and hormone signaling during late blight infection.

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 demonstrates that a conserved clade of pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) genes in Arabidopsis thaliana produces secondary siRNAs that enhance immunity against fungal and oomycete pathogens. These PPR loci, clustered on chromosome 1, have diversified through gene duplication, sequence variation, and pseudogenization, generating a heterogeneous siRNA pool likely involved in a co‑evolutionary arms race with pathogens. The authors define PPR‑derived siRNAs as a defense gene family with potential for engineering broad‑spectrum disease resistance.

The study used proximity labeling and other techniques to identify proteins that govern secretion of distinct extracellular vesicle (EV) subpopulations in Arabidopsis, revealing roles for EXO70 exocyst components, the immune protein RIN4, and VAP27 in EV biogenesis. Mutants in these pathways showed reduced EV release and heightened susceptibility to the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum higginsianum, highlighting EV secretion as a key factor in plant immunity.