Regenerative agriculture effects on biomass, drought resilience and 14C-photosynthate allocation in wheat drilled into ley compared to disc or ploughed arable soil
Authors: Austen, N., Short, E., Tille, S., Johnson, I., Summers, R., Cameron, D. D., Leake, J. R.
Regenerative agriculture using a grass-clover ley increased wheat yields and macroaggregate stability despite reduced root biomass, but did not enhance soil carbon sequestration as measured by 14C retention. Drought further decreased photosynthate allocation to roots, especially in ley soils, while genotype effects on yield were minimal.
The study examined how soil phosphorus and nitrogen availability influence wheat root-associated arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) communities and the expression of mycorrhizal nutrient transporters. Field sampling across two years combined with controlled pot experiments showed that P and N jointly affect AMF colonisation, community composition (with Funneliformis dominance under high P), and regulation of phosphate, ammonium, and nitrate transporters. Integrating metabarcoding and RT‑qPCR provides a framework to assess AMF contributions to crop nutrition.
The study reveals that whole‑seedling transcriptomic analyses of Arabidopsis thermomorphogenesis are highly variable and often mask organ‑specific responses, with nearly 70% of differentially expressed genes in whole seedlings not detected in any dissected organ. By directly comparing RNA‑seq from whole seedlings and individual organs (root, hypocotyl, cotyledon) and supporting the findings with proteomics, the authors demonstrate that pooling tissues confounds gene‑regulation insights and call for organ‑level approaches in future warm‑temperature research.
The study compared aphid resistance and Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) transmission among three wheat varieties (G1, RGT Wolverine, RGT Illustrious). G1 emits the repellent 2‑tridecanone, restricts aphid phloem access, and shows reduced BYDV transmission, whereas RGT Wolverine limits systemic viral infection despite high transmission efficiency. The authors suggest breeding the two resistance mechanisms together for improved protection.
The study characterized the virome of Tamarillo (Solanum betaceum) across eight locations in Narino, Colombia, revealing up to four virus species from the Torradovirus, Potyvirus, and Polerovirus genera, including the first report of a torradovirus in tamarillo. A novel isolate of potato virus Y‑Tamarillo (PVY‑Tam) with unique P3N‑PIPO protein truncations was identified, suggesting host‑specific adaptation and informing future diagnostic and control strategies.
The study used RNA‑seq to compare early transcriptional responses to acute heat and cold stress in cultivated cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and its F1 hybrids with the cold‑adapted wild relative V. oxycoccos. Cold stress triggered differential expression in pathways such as photosynthesis, ribosomes, defense, and hormone signaling, with some hybrids showing transiently elevated cold‑responsive expression, suggesting potential cold‑tolerance introgression. The results highlight the utility of wild germplasm for breeding temperature‑resilient cranberries.
The study investigated whether wheat homoeologous genes actively compensate for each other when one copy acquires a premature termination codon (PTC) mutation. By analyzing mutagenised wheat lines, the authors found that only about 3% of cases exhibited upregulation of the unaffected homoeolog, indicating that widespread active transcriptional compensation is absent in wheat.
Overexpression of the wheat bHLH transcription factor TaPGS1 leads to increased flavonol accumulation in the seed coat, which disrupts polar auxin transport and causes localized auxin accumulation, delaying endosperm cellularization and increasing cell number, thereby enlarging grain size. Integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses identified upregulated flavonol biosynthetic genes, revealing a regulatory module that links flavonol-mediated auxin distribution to seed development in wheat.
The study evaluated how alginate oligosaccharide (AOS) chain length influences the levels of seven key phytohormones in wheat seedlings challenged with Botrytis cinerea. Hormone profiling revealed that mid‑range oligomers (DP 4‑6) most strongly up‑regulate defense‑related hormones (JA, SA, ABA, CTK), whereas longer oligomers (DP 7) most effectively suppress ethylene. These findings suggest that tailoring AOS polymerization can optimize disease resistance and growth in cereal crops.
Transcriptomic analysis of genotypes derived from Rosa wichurana unveils molecular mechanisms associated with quantitative resistance to Diplocarpon rosae
The study investigated the molecular basis of quantitative resistance to black spot disease in a Rosa wichurana × Rosa chinensis F1 population, identifying two major QTLs (B3 on LG3 and B5 on LG5). RNA‑seq of inoculated and control leaf samples at 0, 3, and 5 days post‑inoculation revealed extensive transcriptional reprogramming, with QTL B3 triggering classic defense pathways and QTL B5 showing a limited, distinct response. These findings highlight complex, QTL‑specific regulation underlying durable black‑spot resistance in roses.