The authors introduce the ENABLE(R) Gene Editing in planta toolkit, a streamlined two‑step cloning system for creating CRISPR/Cas9 knockout vectors suitable for transient or stable transformation. Validation was performed in Oryza sativa protoplasts and Arabidopsis thaliana plants, and the toolkit includes low‑cost protocols aimed at facilitating adoption in the Global South.
Comparative gene regulatory network mapping of Brassicaceae members with differential drought tolerance
Authors: Pandiarajan, R., Lin, C.-W., Sauer, M., Rothballer, S. T., Marin-de la Rosa, N., Schwehn, P., Papadopoulou, E., Mairhormann, B., Falter-Braun, P.
The study mapped drought‑responsive gene regulatory networks in Arabidopsis thaliana, its tolerant relative Arabidopsis lyrata, and Eutrema salsugineum using yeast one‑hybrid screens of orthologous promoters, revealing higher network connectivity and specific TF‑promoter interactions in the tolerant species. Notable findings include an Esa‑specific expansion of bZIP interactions, differential ABA‑signalling edges, and the identification of ASIL2 as a novel stress‑responsive factor, providing a comparative framework for improving crop drought tolerance.
Comparative multi-omics profiling of Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium barbadense fibers at high temporal resolution reveals key differences in polysaccharide composition and associated glycosyltransferases
Authors: Swaminathan, S., Lee, Y., Grover, C. E., DeTemple, M. F., Mugisha, A. S., Sichterman, L. E., Yang, P., Xie, J., Wendel, J. F., Szymanski, D. B., Zabotina, O. A.
The study performed daily large-scale glycome, transcriptome, and proteome profiling of developing fibers from the two cultivated cotton species, Gossypium barbadense and G. hirsutum, across primary and secondary cell wall stages. It identified delayed cellulose accumulation and distinct compositions of xyloglucans, homogalacturonans, rhamnogalacturonan‑I, and heteroxylans in G. barbadense, along with higher expression of specific glycosyltransferases and expansins, suggesting these molecular differences underlie the superior fiber length and strength of G. barbadense.
Large-scale single-cell profiling of stem cells uncovers redundant regulators of shoot development and yield trait variation
Authors: Xu, X., Passalacqua, M., Rice, B., Demesa-Arevalo, E., Kojima, M., Takebayashi, Y., Harris, B., Sakakibara, H., Gallavotti, A., Gillis, J., Jackson, D.
The study finely dissected shoot stem cell–enriched tissues from maize and Arabidopsis thaliana and optimized single‑cell RNA‑seq protocols to reliably capture CLAVATA3 and WUSCHEL‑expressing cells. Cross‑species comparison and functional validation, including spatial transcriptomics and mutant analyses, revealed conserved ribosome‑associated RNA‑binding proteins and sugar‑kinase families as key regulators linked to shoot development and yield traits.