The study shows that the membrane lipids PI4P, PI(4,5)P2, and phosphatidylserine have distinct spatial and temporal dynamics during lateral root primordium formation in Arabidopsis thaliana, with PI4P acting as a stable basal lipid, PI(4,5)P2 serving as a negative regulator of initiation, and phosphatidylserine increasing after founder cell activation. Using live-cell biosensors, genetic mutants, and an inducible PI(4,5)P2 depletion system, the authors demonstrate that reducing PI(4,5)P2 enhances lateral root initiation and development.

The study investigates the genetic basis of sex determination in Cannabis sativa, identifying a X‑chromosome locus (Monoecy1) that governs the switch between dioecy and monoecy. Transcriptomic and genomic analyses reveal three tightly linked genes with sex‑specific expression, suggesting their combined action controls both flower type and individual sex phenotype.

The study engineers Type‑B response regulators to alter their transcriptional activity and cytokinin sensitivity, enabling precise modulation of cytokinin‑dependent traits. Using tissue‑specific promoters, the synthetic transcription factors were deployed in Arabidopsis thaliana to reliably increase or decrease lateral root numbers, demonstrating a modular platform for controlling developmental phenotypes.

The study validates and quantifies biological nitrogen fixation in Mexican maize varieties and assesses a double‑haploid population derived from an elite inbred (PHZ51) crossed with these landraces. Aerial root traits show moderate to high heritability, and QTL mapping reveals multiple loci influencing root number, node occurrence, and diameter, with most favorable alleles originating from the landraces. The authors suggest that pyramiding the identified QTL into elite germplasm could enhance maize’s BNF capacity, pending field validation.

The study used QTL mapping in two F1 Plasmopara viticola populations to locate avirulence genes linked to grapevine resistance loci Rpv3.1, Rpv10, and Rpv12, confirming AvrRpv3.1 and identifying AvrRpv12, which harbors large deletions of RXLR effector genes. Additionally, a dominant locus responsible for partial Rpv10 breakdown was discovered, revealing diverse evolutionary mechanisms—including structural rearrangements and admixture—that enable the pathogen to overcome host resistance.

The study examines how the SnRK1 catalytic subunit KIN10 integrates carbon availability with root growth regulation in Arabidopsis thaliana. Loss of KIN10 reduces glucose‑induced inhibition of root elongation and triggers widespread transcriptional reprogramming of metabolic and hormonal pathways, notably affecting auxin and jasmonate signaling under sucrose supplementation. These findings highlight KIN10 as a central hub linking energy status to developmental and environmental cues in roots.

The study characterizes the tomato class B heat shock factor SlHSFB3a, revealing its age‑dependent expression in roots and its role in enhancing lateral root density by modulating auxin homeostasis. Overexpression of SlHSFB3a increases lateral root emergence, while CRISPR‑mediated knockouts produce the opposite phenotype, indicating that SlHSFB3a regulates auxin signaling through repression of auxin repressors and activation of the ARF7/LOB20 pathway.

A forward genetic screen in light-grown Arabidopsis seedlings identified the Evening Complex component ELF3 as a key inhibitor of phototropic hypocotyl bending under high red:far-red and blue light, acting upstream of PIF4/PIF5. ELF3 and its partner LUX also mediate circadian regulation of phototropism, and the orthologous ELF3 in Brachypodium distachyon influences phototropism in the opposite direction.

Using hydathode-focused inoculation, the study mapped a major QTL on Arabidopsis chromosome 5 and identified the CNL-type immune receptor SUT1 as a novel resistance gene that restricts early colonization of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris in hydathodes. Functional analyses showed SUT1 acts independently of the known RKS1/ZAR1 complex and provides tissue‑specific resistance, being effective primarily in hydathodes but not in xylem.

The study investigates the altered timing of the core circadian oscillator gene ELF3 in wheat compared to Arabidopsis, revealing that dawn-specific expression in wheat arises from repression by TOC1. An optimized computational model integrating experimental expression data and promoter architecture predicts that wheat’s circadian oscillator remains robust despite this shift, indicating flexibility in plant circadian network design.