Genetius

The study used transcriptomic profiling to compare tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) responses to three evolutionarily distant pathogens—nematodes, aphids, and oomycetes—during compatible interactions, identifying differentially expressed genes and key host hubs. Integrating public datasets and performing co‑expression and GO enrichment analyses, the authors mapped shared dysregulation clusters and employed Arabidopsis interactome data to place tomato candidates within broader networks, highlighting potential targets for multi‑pathogen resistance.

The study investigated the ability of foliar-applied salicylic acid (SA) to alleviate drought stress in the high‑altitude medicinal plant Valeriana wallichii by measuring physiological and biochemical responses during vegetative and flowering stages. SA at specific concentrations improved photosynthetic rates, water‑use efficiency, chlorophyll content, membrane stability, and root biomass under both severe (25% field capacity) and moderate (50% field capacity) drought conditions. These results suggest that SA treatment enhances drought tolerance and productivity in this species.

The study generated a dataset of 420 sgRNAs targeting promoters, exons, and introns of 137 tomato genes in protoplasts, linking editing efficiency to chromatin accessibility, genomic context, and sequence features. Open chromatin sites showed higher editing rates, while transcriptional activity had little effect, and a subset of guides produced near‑complete editing with microhomology‑mediated deletions. Human‑trained prediction models performed poorly, highlighting the need for plant‑specific guide design tools.

The study characterizes a radiation‑induced root‑suppressed (Rs) mutant in tomato that displays dwarfism and pleiotropic defects in leaves, flowers, and fruits. Metabolite profiling and rescue with H2S donors implicate disrupted sulfur metabolism, and whole‑genome sequencing identifies promoter mutations in two root‑meristem‑specific sulfotransferase genes as likely contributors to the root phenotype.

The study shows that nitrogen deficiency markedly elevates the exudation of the triterpenoid Solanoeclepin A (SolA) from tomato roots, a process that requires non‑sterile soil and involves the rhizosphere microbiota. Transient silencing of two candidate biosynthetic genes (CYP749A19 and CYP749A20) reduced SolA levels and impaired recruitment of beneficial Massilia spp., which promote plant growth under nitrogen limitation, indicating that SolA acts as a microbe‑mediated recruitment signal that was co‑opted by cyst nematodes.

The study examined the roles of AtKUP2, AtKUP6, AtKUP8, and GORK potassium transport proteins in guard cell function by performing gas-exchange measurements on mature Arabidopsis leaves. Loss of KUP2/6/8 reduced stomatal conductance, whereas a GORK loss‑of‑function mutant showed increased conductance, yet the magnitude of light‑ and ABA‑induced transpiration changes remained similar across genotypes, suggesting a limited dynamic range for rapid stomatal movements that relies on small ionic osmolytes.

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 demonstrates that salicylic acid (SA) restricts plant root growth through a mechanism requiring the transmembrane kinase TMK1, which leads to apoplastic alkalinization and inhibition of plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase phosphorylation. This SA effect operates independently of the auxin receptor ABP1, suggesting a novel SA-mediated pathway that balances stress responses with growth.

The study reveals that rice perceives Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae outer membrane vesicles through a rapid calcium signal that triggers plasma‑membrane nanodomain formation and the re‑organisation of defence‑related proteins, establishing an early immune response. Without this Ca2+ signal, OMVs are not recognized and immunity is weakened.

The study compares the iron-poor oceanic diatom Thalassiosira oceanica with the iron-rich coastal species T. pseudonana to uncover how diatoms adapt to low-iron conditions. Using photo‑physiological measurements, proteomic profiling, and focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy, the researchers show that each species remodels chloroplast compartments and exhibits distinct mitochondrial architectures to maintain chloroplast‑mitochondrial coupling under iron limitation.