Genetius

The study demonstrates that Magnesium Iron-layered double hydroxide (MgFe-LDH) nanocarriers effectively protect and deliver fungal effector dsRNA to pea leaves, enabling sustained gene silencing of Erysiphe pisi and providing enhanced local and systemic powdery mildew resistance for up to 15 days. The LDH formulation exhibits strong leaf adherence, biocompatibility, RNase protection, and rapid uptake into plant cells and fungal haustoria, outperforming dsRNA or LDH alone.

The study examined how elevated atmospheric CO₂ (550 ppm) affects immunity in the C₄ cereal maize (Zea mays L.) by exposing plants grown under ambient and elevated CO₂ to a range of pathogens. Elevated CO₂ increased susceptibility to sugarcane mosaic virus, decreased susceptibility to several bacterial and fungal pathogens, and left susceptibility to others unchanged, with reduced bacterial disease linked to heightened basal immune responses. These findings provide a baseline for future investigations into CO₂‑responsive defense mechanisms in C₄ crops.

The study quantitatively profiled bioactive gibberellins GA1 and GA4 in multiple Zea mays hybrids grown across diverse field environments using high‑throughput LC‑MS/MS. Significant genotype‑by‑environment interactions were found, with site effects influencing GA levels in most tissue‑site combinations and a genetic effect detected for GA4 in grain, highlighting hormonal variation that could inform breeding strategies.

The study re-analyzed AtGenExpress microarray data to profile expression of Arabidopsis papain-like cysteine proteases (PLCPs) and cystatins under bacterial infection, wounding, and drought, and performed in vitro assays to determine cystatin inhibition specificity for abundant PLCPs. Integrating co‑expression and inhibition data with support vector machine modeling revealed distinct PLCP‑cystatin modules for virulent versus avirulent bacterial infections and overlapping modules between drought and basal defense, indicating shared regulatory programs across stress types.

Using 42 years of spring wheat yield trials at 255 sites, the study quantified the impact of rising daily minimum temperatures on grain‑filling period and overall yield. Average Tmin during grain filling explained up to 40 % of yield variation (52 % when radiation was included), with each 1 °C increase reducing yield by ~0.5 t ha⁻¹ and a 1.2 °C rise cutting yields by >10 %; shortened grain filling and elevated nocturnal respiration were identified as key mechanisms. The authors propose that breeding for better adaptation to warmer nights could produce a step‑change in wheat productivity.

The study profiled the transcriptome, small RNAome, and proteome of developing maize tassels across four developmental stages (0.5–2.0 cm) to elucidate regulatory programs governing male inflorescence formation. RNA‑seq revealed dynamic gene expression shifts during meristem transition and organ initiation, while sRNA sequencing identified 182 miRNAs with stage‑specific patterns, including auxin‑targeting families and meiocyte‑associated miR2275 and miR11969, suggesting coordinated hormone and reproductive sRNA regulation.

The study used biochemical assays and untargeted LC‑MS metabolomics to profile metabolic changes in released pollen subjected to cold (15 °C) and heat (35 °C) stress, identifying 147 significantly altered metabolites across various classes. Pathway enrichment revealed key perturbations in amino acid, purine, arginine, and glutathione metabolism, highlighting temperature‑dependent metabolic adjustments that underpin pollen thermotolerance. These results provide a metabolomic framework for understanding and potentially improving reproductive resilience under climate change.

The study projects the future bioclimatic suitability of 35 invasive non‑native plant species across the Pyrenees using ensemble species‑distribution models under four climate scenarios up to 2100. Results suggest that most species will not expand climatically, with suitable habitats shifting upslope and concentrating around 2,000 m, thereby limiting overlap with endemic flora. The authors argue that these projections can help prioritize monitoring and early‑intervention strategies in mountain ecosystems.

The study profiled the maize (Zea mays) endosperm transcriptome for the first four days after pollination using laser-capture microdissection, revealing temporal co‑expression modules including a fertilization‑activated subset. Network analyses linked MYB‑related transcription factors to basal endosperm transfer layer (BETL) differentiation and E2F transcription factors, together with TOR‑dependent sugar sensing, to early endosperm proliferation and kernel size variation.

The study shows that maize plants carrying autophagy-defective atg10 mutations exhibit delayed flowering and significant reductions in kernel size, weight, and number, culminating in lower grain yield. Reciprocal crossing experiments reveal that the maternal genotype, rather than the seed genotype, primarily drives the observed kernel defects, suggesting impaired nutrient remobilization from maternal tissues during seed development.