The study investigates the gene regulatory network (GRN) controlling flowering time in the allotetraploid crop Brassica napus by comparing its transcriptome to that of Arabidopsis thaliana. While most orthologous gene pairs show conserved expression dynamics, several flowering‑time genes display regulatory divergence, especially under cold conditions, indicating subfunctionalisation among paralogues. Despite these differences, the overall GRN topology remains similar to Arabidopsis, likely due to retention of multiple paralogues.

The study introduces a hybrid modeling framework that integrates a logistic ordinary differential equation with a Long Short-Term Memory neural network to form a Physics-Informed Neural Network (PINN) for predicting wheat plant height. Using only time and temperature as inputs, the PINN outperformed other longitudinal growth models, achieving the lowest average RMSE and reduced variability across multiple random initializations. The results suggest that embedding biological growth constraints within data‑driven models can substantially improve prediction accuracy for plant traits.

The study cloned the resistance genes Rmo2 and Rwt7 from barley and wheat, revealing them as orthologous tandem kinase proteins (TKPs) with an N‑terminal heavy metal‑associated (HMA) domain. Domain‑swapping experiments indicated that the HMA domain dictates effector specificity, supporting a model of TKP diversification into paralogs and orthologs that recognize distinct pathogen effectors.

Mutations in the plastid division gene PARC6 and the granule initiation gene BGC1 were combined to generate wheat plants with dramatically enlarged A-type starch granules, some exceeding 50 µm, without affecting plant growth, grain size, or overall starch content. The parc6 bgc1 double mutant was evaluated in both glasshouse and field trials, and the giant granules displayed altered viscosity and pasting temperature, offering novel functional properties for food and industrial applications.

The researchers performed a large‑scale field trial with 105 wheat (Triticum aestivum) genotypes inoculated by Fusarium culmorum, combining quantitative deoxynivalenol (DON) profiling and untargeted metabolomics to uncover molecular signatures of infection. Sesquiterpene‑derived metabolites tracked toxin accumulation, whereas glycosylated diterpene conjugates were enriched in low‑DON samples, indicating a potential defensive metabolic pathway.

The study introduces the Ploidy Deviation Index (PDI) to quantify chromosome-number differences between monocot hybrids and their parents, applying it to ~200 documented hybrid cases. Analyses reveal homoploid hybrids are most common, with growth habit influencing cytogenetic outcomes, and challenge the view that polyploidy predominates in hybrid formation. The PDI framework provides a standardized tool for assessing cytogenetic constraints on hybridization across monocots.

The study used comparative transcriptomics of dorsal and ventral petals across development, alongside expression profiling in floral symmetry mutants, to identify genes linked to dorsal (AmCYC-dependent) and ventral (AmDIV-dependent) identities in Antirrhinum majus. In situ hybridisation validated axis‑specific and boundary‑localized expression patterns, revealing that a conserved NGATHA‑LIKE1‑BRASSINAZOLE‑RESISTANT1‑miR164 module has been co‑opted to regulate AmDIV targets and shape the corolla. These findings delineate regulatory modules coordinating dorsoventral and proximal‑distal patterning in zygomorphic flowers.

The study investigates how a small molecule that lengthens circadian period can quantitatively adjust the critical day length required for flowering in monocot plants. By modulating the clock's timing, the researchers provide evidence supporting the external coincidence model of photoperiodic control.

The study sequenced genomes of ericoid mycorrhiza‑forming liverworts and experimentally reconstituted the symbiosis, revealing a nutrient‑regulated state that supports intracellular colonization. Comparative transcriptomics identified an ancestral gene module governing intracellular symbiosis, and functional validation in Marchantia paleacea through genetic manipulation, phylogenetics, and transactivation assays confirmed its essential role. The findings suggest plants have retained and independently recruited this ancestral module for diverse intracellular symbioses.

The study investigates the wheat Pm3 NLR allelic series, revealing that near-identical Pm3d and Pm3e alleles confer broad-spectrum resistance by recognizing multiple, structurally diverse powdery mildew effectors. Using chimeric NLR constructs, the authors pinpoint specificity-determining polymorphisms and demonstrate that engineered combinations of Pm3d and Pm3e further expand effector recognition, showcasing the potential for durable wheat protection through NLR engineering.