Genetius

The study tested a foliar mixture of cello‑, xylo‑, and chitin‑oligosaccharides (Oligo‑Mix) on okra and cherry tomato in greenhouse trials, finding enhanced root growth, biomass, and increased fruit number and yield. Transcriptomic profiling of treated tomato leaves revealed up‑regulation of photosynthesis, translation, cell‑wall remodeling, and flavonoid/anthocyanin pathways, indicating broad metabolic stimulation. The authors conclude that Oligo‑Mix acts as a biostimulant to improve vegetative growth and crop productivity.

The authors present Conservatory, a computational pipeline that exploits microsynteny and iterative alignments across 284 plant genomes to map ~2.3 million conserved non‑coding sequences, including over 3,000 that predate angiosperms. Functional mutagenesis of ancient CNSs near homeobox genes caused strong developmental phenotypes, and comparative analysis revealed conserved order despite spacing variation, rearrangement‑driven CNS‑gene re‑associations, and preferential retention of ancient CNSs among paralogs.

Leaf-level photorespiration rates were measured in seven temperate broadleaf tree species in northern Europe across three temperatures (25, 30, 35 °C), revealing strong interspecific variability and heightened temperature sensitivity, with some species exceeding a photorespiration-to‑photosynthesis ratio of one at 35 °C. The findings show that tree photorespiration is generally higher than crop‑based model parameters, indicating the need to revise vegetation model predictions under heat‑wave conditions.

The study investigated epigenetic regulation of ABC transporter genes under heavy metal stress in three Oryza species by profiling promoter methylation of 5‑methylcytosine (5mC) and N6‑methyladenine (6mA). Results revealed species‑specific methylation patterns, with cultivated O. sativa indica showing higher 5mC levels correlated with lower ABC transporter expression and greater heavy‑metal sensitivity, while phylogenetic analysis highlighted distinct methylation signatures among the species. These findings suggest epigenetic modifications contribute to heavy‑metal tolerance and offer potential targets for crop improvement.

The study identifies wound‑induced proline transporters ProT2 and ProT3 as central regulators that link salicylic acid signaling to the suppression of de novo root regeneration (DNRR) via modulation of reactive oxygen species dynamics. Genetic loss of these transporters or pharmacological inhibition of proline transport alleviates SA‑mediated regeneration inhibition across several plant species without compromising disease resistance.

The authors compiled and standardized published data on Rubisco dark inhibition for 157 flowering plant species, categorizing them into four inhibition levels and analyzing phylogenetic trends. Their meta‑analysis reveals a complex, uneven distribution of inhibition across taxa, suggesting underlying chloroplast microenvironment drivers and providing a new resource for future photosynthesis improvement efforts.

The study compares how the pennate diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum and the centric diatom Chaetoceros gracilis adjust their photosynthetic apparatus across a broad range of growth light intensities. While pigment levels stay constant, 77 K fluorescence reveals opposite shifts in energy distribution between photosystem I and II, driven by long‑term antenna re‑association resembling but exceeding typical state transitions, suggesting species‑specific long‑term acclimation strategies.

The study functionally characterizes stomatal bHLH regulators from the fern Ceratopteris richardii and the gymnosperm Picea abies, revealing that these early vascular plants possess a single SPCH/MUTE-like gene (SM) and a FAMA gene that can partially recapitulate angiosperm SPCH, MUTE, and FAMA functions, including driving asymmetric entry divisions. The findings suggest that functional divergence of SM and FAMA occurred early in plant evolution, with these proteins retaining both specialized and multifunctional activities.

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.

The study screened 80% ethanol extracts from 46 angiosperm species for acrolein‑trapping activity using an HPLC‑based assay, finding strong activity in garlic, spinach, avocado, broccoli, and lotus. In garlic, the active compound was identified as S‑allyl‑L‑cysteine sulfoxide (alliin), which and its related sulfoxides trapped up to two acrolein molecules and showed higher scavenging potency than known antioxidants such as carnosine and epigallocatechin gallate.