Genetius

The study examined how environmental cues, particularly temperature and light, synchronize the circadian clock in a natural plant population, using field experiments combined with genome‑wide and machine‑learning analyses. It revealed that temperature cues shift circadian timing, with distinct and seasonal effects of light and temperature on clock entrainment, leading to flexible modulation of clock outputs. The findings highlight the plasticity of circadian timing that enables adaptive responses to fluctuating environments.

The study introduces PAiD, an AI-designed, plant-optimized genome‑editing platform derived from OpenCRISPR-1, capable of NHEJ‑mediated indel formation, adenine and cytosine base editing, and prime editing. PAiD demonstrates robust, SpCas9‑comparable efficiency across multiple plant loci, showcasing the translational promise of AI‑engineered nucleases for plant genetics.

The study introduces a deep learning geometry-aware transformer (AdaPoinTr) that reconstructs the outer crown shape of coniferous trees from incomplete terrestrial or mobile laser‑scanned point clouds by predicting the crown's alpha‑shape. Trained on synthetic partial crowns, the model improves crown shape similarity and reduces tree height estimation bias across diverse forest datasets, offering a practical solution for accurate 3D forest metrics from limited data.

Wound‑induced root tip regeneration relies on photosynthetically derived sucrose, which is locally converted to glucose that accumulates near the cut via cell‑wall invertase (CWINV) and sugar transporter proteins (STP). Loss of CWINV or STP function impairs repair, especially under low sucrose, while increased STP13 dosage accelerates healing, revealing a proactive sugar‑sink mechanism that directs resources to damaged tissue.

The study identifies extracellular NAD(P) as a damage-associated molecular pattern that mediates localized acquired resistance (LAR) during effector‑triggered immunity, demonstrating that eNAD(P) and its receptor complex limit hypersensitive response‑associated cell death and are essential for LAR but independent of known systemic acquired resistance signals. Mutants deficient in the eNAD(P) pathway retain ETI‑mediated resistance, indicating that LAR constitutes a mechanistically distinct immune layer linked to HR‑associated damage.

The study re‑evaluates global carbon budgets by explicitly including annual and other cultivated crops, showing that cultivated plants have acted as a net carbon sink of about 3 ± 0.7 GtCO₂ yr⁻¹ since 1970, with annual crops contributing ~27% of sequestration. Using a stoichiometric‑probabilistic model, the authors project that this sink will diminish to zero around the peak of human population before becoming a source, highlighting the need to integrate agriculture into carbon accounting.

The study analyzes the genetic structure of Phytophthora infestans populations across South America, revealing distinct clonal lineages, mitochondrial haplotypes, and mating types in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Uruguay. Findings highlight regional differences in lineage distribution and the persistence of mating type A1, providing updated information for late blight management strategies.

Plant cyclic nucleotide‑gated channels (CNGCs) are essential for Ca2+ signaling but their activation mechanism was unknown. This study identifies plant‑specific ARMADILLO REPEAT ONLY (ARO) proteins as essential activators that bind the conserved Calmodulin‑binding IQ domain of CNGC tetramers, competing with Calmodulins and enabling Ca2+ transients. Loss of AROs abolishes CNGC‑dependent Ca2+ responses, revealing a unique regulatory layer in plant calcium signaling.

The study used automated minirhizotrons to image root length density twice daily over nine months in a temperate grassland, revealing continuous root growth with a seasonal shift toward net turnover in later months. A brief spring period showed root growth confined to daylight, coinciding with reduced soil moisture, suggesting that both internal carbon reserves and water availability govern short‑term and seasonal root dynamics.

The study introduces a low‑cost, smartphone‑based image capture system combined with two user‑friendly analysis pipelines (PlantCV and Biodock AI) to streamline phenotyping in large field trials. Images obtained were of sufficient quality, and both pipelines generated phenotypic measurements comparable to manual annotation, demonstrating a scalable, efficient alternative for field phenotyping.