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How to use this site to your advantage ... and not get lost
How to benefit the most of this site?
Just follow the steps as below:
- The first possibility (and a highly recommended one) is just to visit it frequently, in order to stay aware of the newly published articles or sources of information as soon as they are posted.
- Further, since the most recently 3,760 postings from the 7,320 originally posted are presently available (as of October 10, 2023) which are arranged as per date of posting, you can do a search according to your specific interests. In doing that, you go to the upper right corner ("Search in topics" depicted with a label), where you can just use the descriptors that are available there; i.e. "Tags" which are ordered alphabetically.). Another possibility is to type there a keyword (or an entire phrase) that can be the name of an author or a word/phrase contained in the title/abstract or anything you deem relevant.
- That way you will be shown a reduced number of sources being more relevant to your specific interest(s).
Hoping this will be useful and waiting for feedback to keep improving the site, I wish all the best
Julio Retamales (the curator)
NOTE: Certainly, given the sheer number of articles being published currently on the relevant issues, no claim for completeness can be provided. Therefore, only samples of papers and/or sources arbitrarily selected by the curator are posted here, intending to show the diversity of phenomena in which plant hormones can be involved.
Authors: Kenshiro Watanabe, Kenji Hashimoto, Kota Hasegawa, Hiroki Shindo, Yushin Tsuruda, Kamila Kupisz, Mateusz Koselski, Piotr Wasko, Kazimierz Trebacz and Kazuyuki Kuchitsu.
Plant and Cell Physiology (2024)
Abstract: "In response to both biotic and abiotic stresses, vascular plants transmit long-distance Ca2+ and electrical signals from localized stress sites to distant tissues through their vasculature. Various models have been proposed for the mechanisms underlying the long-distance signaling, primarily centered around the presence of vascular bundles. We here demonstrate that the non-vascular liverwort Marchantia polymorpha possesses a mechanism for propagating Ca2+ waves and electrical signals in response to wounding. The propagation velocity of these signals was approximately 1–2 mm s-1, equivalent to that observed in vascular plants. Both Ca2+ waves and electrical signals were inhibited by La3+ as well as tetraethylammonium chloride, suggesting the crucial importance of both Ca2+ channel(s) and K+ channel(s) in wound-induced membrane depolarization as well as the subsequent long-distance signal propagation. Simultaneous recordings of Ca2+ and electrical signals indicated a tight coupling between the dynamics of these two signaling modalities. Furthermore, molecular genetic studies revealed that a GLUTAMATE RECEPTOR-LIKE (GLR) channel plays a central role in the propagation of both Ca2+ waves and electrical signals. Conversely, none of the three two-pore channels were implicated in either signal propagation. These findings shed light on the evolutionary conservation of rapid long-distance Ca2+ wave and electrical signal propagation involving GLRs in land plants, even in the absence of vascular tissue."
Authors: Xianghan Cheng, Feifei Liu, Xiaolei Liu and Xuan Yang.
Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture (2024)
Abstract: "Background - The influences of abscisic acid (ABA) applications on precursors and gene expression in 3-alkyl-2-methoxypyrazines (MPs) biosynthetic pathway, MPs concentration and sensory evaluation of its derived peculiar odors in Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and wines were investigated. At the vineyard, ABA solution with 25, 100 and 400 mg L−1 (AT1, AT2 and AT3, respectively) and an aqueous solution (control) were sprayed three times from veraison to pre-harvest. Results - Higher concentration ABA applications (AT2 and AT3) in grapes could significantly reduce MPs concentration and its derived peculiar odors in grapes and wines compared to a lower concentration ABA application (AT1) and control, with AT2 application having the strongest effect. The changes in MPs were mainly a result of the downregulated expression of VvOMTs genes at higher concentration ABA applications, independent of the levels of their potential precursors. Conclusion - The present study reveals that ABA application had the potential to decrease production of MPs in Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and wines, and this result provides reference values for the removal of unpleasant vegetable odors from Cabernet Sauvignon wines in production.
Authors: Lisa Bohn, Jin Huang, Susan Weidig, Zhenyu Yang, Christoph Heidersberger, Bernard Genty, Pascal Falter-Braun, Alexander Christmann and Erwin Grill.
Nature (2024)
One-sentence summary: TWA1 is a temperature-sensing transcriptional co-regulator that is needed for basal and acquired thermotolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Abstract: "Plants exposed to incidences of excessive temperatures activate heat-stress responses to cope with the physiological challenge and stimulate long-term acclimation1,2. The mechanism that senses cellular temperature for inducing thermotolerance is still unclear3. Here we show that TWA1 is a temperature-sensing transcriptional co-regulator that is needed for basal and acquired thermotolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. At elevated temperatures, TWA1 changes its conformation and allows physical interaction with JASMONATE-ASSOCIATED MYC-LIKE (JAM) transcription factors and TOPLESS (TPL) and TOPLESS-RELATED (TPR) proteins for repressor complex assembly. TWA1 is a predicted intrinsically disordered protein that has a key thermosensory role functioning through an amino-terminal highly variable region. At elevated temperatures, TWA1 accumulates in nuclear subdomains, and physical interactions with JAM2 and TPL appear to be restricted to these nuclear subdomains. The transcriptional upregulation of the heat shock transcription factor A2 (HSFA2) and heat shock proteins depended on TWA1, and TWA1 orthologues provided different temperature thresholds, consistent with the sensor function in early signalling of heat stress. The identification of the plant thermosensors offers a molecular tool for adjusting thermal acclimation responses of crops by breeding and biotechnology, and a sensitive temperature switch for thermogenetics."
Authors: Zhaoqing Song, Yeting Bian, Yuntao Xiao and Dongqing Xu.
Journal of Plant Physiology (2024)
Abstract: "B-box containing proteins (BBXs) are a class of zinc-ligating transcription factors or regulators that play essential roles in various physiological and developmental processes in plants. They not only directly associate with target genes to regulate their transcription, but also interact with other transcription factors to mediate target genes’ expression, thus forming a complex transcriptional network ensuring plants’ adaptation to dynamically changing light environments. This review summarizes and highlights the molecular and biochemical properties of BBXs, as well as recent advances with a focus on their critical regulatory functions in photomorphogenesis (de-etiolation), shade avoidance, photoperiodic-mediated flowering, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis and accumulation in plants."
Authors: Xiaolin Liu, Shusong Zheng, Shuiquan Tian, Yaoqi Si, Shengwei Ma, Hong-Qing Ling and Jianqing Niu.
Theoretical and Applied Genetics (2024)
Key message: Discovery of Rht27, a dwarf gene in wheat, showed potential in enhancing grain yield by reducing plant height.
Abstract: "Plant height plays a crucial role in crop architecture and grain yield, and semi-dwarf Reduced Height (Rht) alleles contribute to lodging resistance and were important in “Green Revolution.” However, the use of these alleles is associated with some negative side effects in some environments, such as reduced coleoptile length, low nitrogen use efficiency, and reduced yield. Therefore, novel dwarf gene resources are needed to pave an alternative route to overcome these side effects. In this study, a super-dwarf mutant rht27 was obtained by the mutagenesis of G1812 (Triticum urartu, the progenitor of the A sub-genome of common wheat). Genetic analysis revealed that the dwarf phenotype was regulated by a single recessive genetic factor. The candidate region for Rht27 was narrowed to a 1.55 Mb region on chromosome 3, within which we found two potential candidate genes that showed polymorphisms between the mutant and non-mutagenized G1812. Furthermore, the natural variants and elite haplotypes of the two candidates were investigated in a natural population of common wheat. The results showed that the natural variants affect grain yield components, and the dwarf haplotypes show the potential in improving agronomic traits and grain yield. Although the mutation in Rht27 results in severe dwarf phenotype in T. urartu, the natural variants in common wheat showed desirable phenotype, which suggests that Rht27 has the potential to improve wheat yield by utilizing its weak allelic mutation or fine-tuning its expression level."
Authors: Yang Yu, Haixia Yu, Jing Peng, Wang Jinsong Yao, Yi Peng Wang, Feng Li Zhang, Shi Rong Wang, Yajie Zhao, Xiang Yu Zhao, Xian Sheng Zhang and Ying Hua Su.
Plant Communications (2024)
Editor's view: TaLAX1 can promote shoot regeneration, thereby boosting genetic transformation and genome editing in wheat by activating TaGRFs and TaGIF1, cytokinin biosynthesis genes, and auxin-response genes. Homologs of TaLAX1 can also enhance the regeneration capacity of maize and soybean.
Abstract: "In the realm of genetically transformed crops, the process of plant regeneration holds utmost significance. However, the low regeneration efficiency of several wheat varieties currently restricts the use of genetic transformation for gene functional analysis and improved crop production. This research explores overexpression of TaLAX PANICLE1 (TaLAX1), which markedly enhances regeneration efficiency, thereby boosting genetic transformation and genome editing in wheat. Particularly noteworthy is the substantial increase in regeneration efficiency of common wheat varieties previously regarded as recalcitrant to genetic transformation. Our study shows that increased expression of TaGROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR (TaGRF) genes, alongside that of their co-factor, TaGRF-INTERACTING FACTOR 1 (TaGIF1), enhances cytokinin accumulation and auxin response, which may play pivotal roles in the improved regeneration and transformation of TaLAX1-overexpressing wheat plants. Overexpression of TaLAX1 homologs also significantly increases the regeneration efficiency of maize and soybean, suggesting that both monocot and dicot crops can benefit from this enhancement. Our findings shed light on a gene that enhances wheat genetic transformation and elucidate molecular mechanisms that potentially underlie wheat regeneration."
Authors: Ishfaq Majid Hurrah, Amit Kumar and Nazia Abbas.
Planta (2024)
Main conclusion: Overexpression of Artemisia annua jasmonic acid carboxyl methyltransferase (AaJMT) leads to enhanced artemisinin content in Artemisia annua.
Abstract: "Artemisinin-based combination therapies remain the sole deterrent against deadly disease malaria and Artemisia annua remains the only natural producer of artemisinin. In this study, the 1101 bp gene S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM): Artemisia annua jasmonic acid carboxyl methyltransferase (AaJMT), was characterised from A. annua, which converts jasmonic acid (JA) to methyl jasmonate (MeJA). From phylogenetic analysis, we confirmed that AaJMT shares a common ancestor with Arabidopsis thaliana, Eutrema japonica and has a close homology with JMT of Camellia sinensis. Further, the Clustal Omega depicted that the conserved motif I, motif III and motif SSSS (serine) required to bind SAM and JA, respectively, are present in AaJMT. The relative expression of AaJMT was induced by wounding, MeJA and salicylic acid (SA) treatments. Additionally, we found that the recombinant AaJMT protein catalyses the synthesis of MeJA from JA with a Km value of 37.16 µM. Moreover, site-directed mutagenesis of serine-151 in motif SSSS to tyrosine, asparagine-10 to threonine and glutamine-25 to histidine abolished the enzyme activity of AaJMT, thus indicating their determining role in JA substrate binding. The GC–MS analysis validated that mutant proteins of AaJMT were unable to convert JA into MeJA. Finally, the artemisinin biosynthetic and trichome developmental genes were upregulated in AaJMT overexpression transgenic lines, which in turn increased the artemisinin content."
Authors: J. S. Chen, S. T. Wang, Q. Mei, T. Sun, J. T. Hu, G. S. Xiao, H. Chen and Y. H. Xuan.
Plant Molecular Biology (2024)
Abstract: "Plants have a variety of regulatory mechanisms to perceive, transduce, and respond to biotic and abiotic stress. One such mechanism is the calcium-sensing CBL–CIPK system responsible for the sensing of specific stressors, such as drought or pathogens. CBLs perceive and bind Calcium (Ca2+) in response to stress and then interact with CIPKs to form an activated complex. This leads to the phosphorylation of downstream targets, including transporters and ion channels, and modulates transcription factor levels and the consequent levels of stress-associated genes. This review describes the mechanisms underlying the response of the CBL–CIPK pathway to biotic and abiotic stresses, including regulating ion transport channels, coordinating plant hormone signal transduction, and pathways related to ROS signaling. Investigation of the function of the CBL–CIPK pathway is important for understanding plant stress tolerance and provides a promising avenue for molecular breeding."
Author: Peter V. Minorsky.
Plant Signaling & Behavior (2024)
Abstract: "The 21st-century “plant neurobiology” movement is an amalgam of scholars interested in how “neural processes”, broadly defined, lead to changes in plant behavior. Integral to the movement (now called plant behavioral biology) is a triad of historically marginalized subdisciplines, namely plant ethology, whole plant electrophysiology and plant comparative psychology, that set plant neurobiology apart from the mainstream. A central tenet held by these “triad disciplines” is that plants are exquisitely sensitive to environmental perturbations and that destructive experimental manipulations rapidly and profoundly affect plant function. Since destructive measurements have been the norm in plant physiology, much of our “textbook knowledge” concerning plant physiology is unrelated to normal plant function. As such, scientists in the triad disciplines favor a more natural and holistic approach toward understanding plant function. By examining the history, philosophy, sociology and psychology of the triad disciplines, this paper refutes in eight ways the criticism that plant neurobiology presents nothing new, and that the topics of plant neurobiology fall squarely under the purview of mainstream plant physiology. It is argued that although the triad disciplines and mainstream plant physiology share the common goal of understanding plant function, they are distinct in having their own intellectual histories and epistemologies."
Authors: Baolei Li and Jiaqi Sun.
Plant Physiology (2024)
Excerpt: "The functions of DIVARICATA (DIV) proteins, which belong to the MYB-like TF family, remain elusive (Fang et al., 2018). Six DIV genes have been identified in Arabidopsis based on their structural resemblance to the tomato I-box binding factor SlMYBI (Machemer et al., 2011). Among these, only DIV2 has been characterized as a positive regulator of seed germination in response to ABA and salt stress (Fang et al., 2018). However, the roles of the other DIV genes in the process of seed germination in response to salinity stress remain largely unexplored. In this issue of Plant Physiology, Zhang et al. (2024) provide evidence that DIV1 functions as a crucial integrative regulator that links salinity stress with ABA/GA signaling during seed germination."
"In summary, Zhang et al. (2024) illustrate the significant role of DIV1 as a positive regulator of Arabidopsis seed germination in response to salinity stress. DIV1 exerts a direct influence on ABA/GA signaling by promoting GASA4 expression and suppressing DOGL3 expression. Additionally, it indirectly modulates the expression of a series of germination-associated genes.
Authors: Diego Alejandro Gutiérrez-Villamil, Stanislav Magnitskiy and Helber Enrique Balaguera-López.
Postharvest Biology and Technology (2024)
Highlights • BR have a potential signaling function in the regulation of fruit development. • BR are a postharvest technology to regulate the ripening of fruits and vegetables. • BR mitigate chilling injury by increasing antioxidant systems. • BR induce expression genes of defense and immunity against postharvest pathogens.
Abstract: "Fresh horticultural products satisfy the nutritional, and industrial needs of consumers worldwide. However, the lack of understanding of the fruit development process, the accelerated senescence process and the lack of post-harvest technology in some regions, present a threat to the food and economic security of the food agribusiness. Brassinosteroids (BR) are plant hormones involved in the regulation of various physiological processes and have recently proven to be a viable post-harvest technology alternative to regulate the ripening and senescence of fruits and vegetables. In this review, the current state of BR research on fruit growth and development, physicochemical changes during ripening, and biotic-abiotic stress during the post-harvest life of horticultural products is presented. Furthermore, the review encompasses the effect of the application of exogenous BR and its relationship with molecular signaling on the processes mentioned above, including aspects such as methods, moments and BR analogues at the time of application, and the molecular mechanisms involved. This review proposes a basis for research of the physiological aspects of BR regulation in fruits and vegetables during their development and post-harvest period, and also points to a direction for in-depth investigation of the molecular mechanisms."
Authors: Faisal Zulfiqar, Anam Moosa, Hayssam M. Ali, Núria F. Bermejo and Sergi Munné-Bosch.
Plant Physiology and Biochemistry (2024)
Highlights: • Biostimulants are biobased solutions to tackle modern agriculture problems • For tackling climate change issue, biostimulants are not enough • Stopping wars and conflicts is the main solution to save environment and agriculture
Abstract: "Climate change is currently one of the main concerns of the agricultural sector, as it limits crop production and quality. Furthermore, the current context of global crisis with international political instability and war conflicts over the world is pushing the agricultural sector even more to urgently boost productivity and yield and doing so in a sustainable way in the current frame of climate change. Biostimulants can be an effective tool in alleviating the negative effects of environmental stresses to which plants are exposed, such as drought, salinity, heavy metals and extreme temperatures. Biostimulants act through multiple mechanisms, modifying gene expression, metabolism and phytohormone production, promoting the accumulation of compatible solutes and antioxidants and mitigating oxidative stress. However, it is important to keep in mind that the use and effect of biostimulants has limitations and must be accompanied by other techniques to ensure crop yield and quality in the current frame of climate change, such as proper crop management and the use of other sustainable resources. Here, we will not only highlight the potential use of biostimulants to face future agricultural challenges, but also take a critical look at their limitations, underlining the importance of a broad vision of sustainable agriculture in the current context of climate change."
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Author: Masatsugu Toyota.
Plant and Cell Physiology (2024)
Excerpts: "The precise nature of this rapid, long-range communication system remains incompletely understood in plants. However, events such as the propagation of increases in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]cyt), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and electrical signals spatiotemporally correlate with the systemic spread of wound responses (Farmer et al. 2020, Suda and Toyota 2022)."
"In this issue, Watanabe et al. (2024) simultaneously recorded changes in [Ca2+]cyt and surface potential in M. polymorpha and demonstrated a spatiotemporal coupling between long-range Ca2+ and electrical signals in response to mechanical injury and the underlying molecular machinery conserved in land plants."
"Mechanical wounding of thallus branch 1 caused an immediate increase in [Ca2+]cyt in the wounded region, and this [Ca2+]cyt change was transmitted within 1–2 min to distal unwounded branch 2 (Fig. 1). Interestingly, this Ca2+ wave did not extend beyond the intermediate site to branches 3 and 4, originating from distinct meristematic zones (Fig. 1)."
"In summary, Watanabe et al. (2024) experimentally demonstrated that the non-vascular liverwort Marchantia propagates Ca2+ and electrical signals in response to wounding, with velocities similar to those observed in vascular plants (i.e. 1–2 mm/s). Pharmacological and genetic analyses suggest that these signals were tightly coupled and required MpGLR but not MpTPC (Fig. 1), supporting the concept that GLR-mediated long-range signaling is widely conserved in land plants."
Authors: Gang Wang, Xi Chen, Chengzhi Yu, Xiaobao Shi, Wenxian Lan, Chaofeng Gao, Jun Yang, Huiling Dai, Xiaowei Zhang, Huili Zhang, Boyu Zhao, Qi Xie, Nan Yu, Zuhua He, Yu Zhang and Ertao Wang.
Nature (2024)
One-sentence summary: The ubiquitin E3 ligase OsCIE1 acts as a brake to inhibit OsCERK1 during homeostasis; this brake is released after chitin stimulation.
Abstract: "Plant pattern-recognition receptors perceive microorganism-associated molecular patterns to activate immune signalling1,2. Activation of the pattern-recognition receptor kinase CERK1 is essential for immunity, but tight inhibition of receptor kinases in the absence of pathogen is crucial to prevent autoimmunity3,4. Here we find that the U-box ubiquitin E3 ligase OsCIE1 acts as a molecular brake to inhibit OsCERK1 in rice. During homeostasis, OsCIE1 ubiquitinates OsCERK1, reducing its kinase activity. In the presence of the microorganism-associated molecular pattern chitin, active OsCERK1 phosphorylates OsCIE1 and blocks its E3 ligase activity, thus releasing the brake and promoting immunity. Phosphorylation of a serine within the U-box of OsCIE1 prevents its interaction with E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes and serves as a phosphorylation switch. This phosphorylation site is conserved in E3 ligases from plants to animals. Our work identifies a ligand-released brake that enables dynamic immune regulation."
Authors: Elise Ebstrup, Jeppe Ansbøl, Ana Paez-Garcia, Henry Culp, Jonathan Chevalier, Pauline Clemmens, Núria S. Coll, Miguel A. Moreno-Risueno and Eleazar Rodriguez.
EMBO Reports (2024)
Synopsis: Auxin triggers NBR1-mediated selective autophagic degradation of ARF7 to modulate periodic root branching in Arabidopsis. • ARF7 is selectively degraded via NBR1-mediated autophagy • Auxin regulates ARF7 co-localization with autophagosomes and subsequent turnover • Defective autophagy interferes with the root clock function and lateral root formation.
Abstract: "Auxin dictates root architecture via the Auxin Response Factor (ARF) family of transcription factors, which control lateral root (LR) formation. In Arabidopsis, ARF7 regulates the specification of prebranch sites (PBS) generating LRs through gene expression oscillations and plays a pivotal role during LR initiation. Despite the importance of ARF7 in this process, there is a surprising lack of knowledge about how ARF7 turnover is regulated and how this impacts root architecture. Here, we show that ARF7 accumulates in autophagy mutants and is degraded through NBR1-dependent selective autophagy. We demonstrate that the previously reported rhythmic changes to ARF7 abundance in roots are modulated via autophagy and might occur in other tissues. In addition, we show that the level of co-localization between ARF7 and autophagy markers oscillates and can be modulated by auxin to trigger ARF7 turnover. Furthermore, we observe that autophagy impairment prevents ARF7 oscillation and reduces both PBS establishment and LR formation. In conclusion, we report a novel role for autophagy during development, namely by enacting auxin-induced selective degradation of ARF7 to optimize periodic root branching."
Authors: s Qi Wu, Jinyan Xu, Yingdi Zhao, Yuancong Wang, Ling Zhou, Lihua Ning, Sergey Shabala and Han Zhao.
Plant Physiology (2024)
One-sentence summary: An ethylene response transcription factor plays an important role in the nitrogen-signaling network and in optimizing nitrate uptake in maize.
Abstract: "Maize (Zea mays L.) has very strong requirements for nitrogen. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulations of nitrogen uptake and translocation in this species are not fully understood. Here, we report that an APETALA2/ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR (AP2/ERF) transcription factor ZmEREB97 functions as an important regulator in the N-signaling network in maize. Predominantly expressed and accumulated in main root and lateral root primordia, ZmEREB97 rapidly responded to nitrate treatment. By overlapping the analyses of differentially expressed genes and conducting a DAP-seq assay, we identified 1446 potential target genes of ZmEREB97. Among these, 764 genes were co-regulated in two lines of zmereb97 mutants. Loss of function of ZmEREB97 substantially weakened plant growth under both hydroponic and soil conditions. Physiological characterization of zmereb97 mutant plants demonstrated that reduced biomass and grain yield were both associated with reduced nitrate influx, decreased nitrate content and less N accumulation. We further demonstrated that ZmEREB97 directly targets and regulates the expression of six ZmNRT genes by binding to the GCC box-related sequences in gene promoters. Collectively, these data suggest that ZmEREB97 is a major positive regulator of the nitrate response and that it plays an important role in optimizing nitrate uptake, offering a target for improvement of nitrogen use efficiency in crops."
Authors: Noel Blanco-Touriñán, Surbhi Rana, Trevor M. Nolan, Kunkun Li, Nemanja Vukašinović, Che-Wei Hsu, Eugenia Russinova and Christian S. Hardtke.
bioRxiv (2024)
Abstract: "Brassinosteroid signaling is essential for plant growth as exemplified by the dwarf phenotype of loss-of-function mutants in BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE 1 (BRI1), a ubiquitously expressed Arabidopsis brassinosteroid receptor gene. Complementation of brassinosteroid-blind receptor mutants by BRI1 expression with various tissue-specific promoters implied that local brassinosteroid signaling may instruct growth non-cell-autonomously. Here we performed such rescues with a panel of receptor variants and promoters, in combination with tissue-specific transgene knockouts. Our experiments demonstrate that brassinosteroid receptor expression in several tissues is necessary but not sufficient for rescue. Moreover, complementation with tissue-specific promoters requires the genuine BRI1 gene body sequence, which confers ubiquitous expression of trace receptor amounts that are sufficient to promote brassinosteroid-dependent root growth. Our data, therefore, argue for a largely cell-autonomous action of brassinosteroid receptors."
Authors: Huixin Chen, Dongdong Li and Kunsong Chen.
Fruit Research (2024)
Abstract: "Strawberry, considered to be a model for non-climacteric fruits, has traditionally been viewed as having a less pronounced reliance on ethylene in fruit development. However, the inherent tissue heterogeneity within strawberry fruit, coupled with variable ethylene production levels, suggests a potential role for ethylene in the maturation of the true fruit, the achenes, dispersed on the fleshy receptacle. This intricate process is likely to exert ripple effects on the subsequent growth and ripening of the receptacle. To comprehensively unravel the functions of ethylene in strawberry fruit, there is a need for ethylene detection sensors, ethylene response reporter transgenic plants, and genetically engineered mutants achieved through genome editing, encompassing both biosynthesis and signaling mutants."
Authors: Jingyi Han (撖静宜), Thomas Welch, Ute Voß, Teva Vernoux, Rahul Bhosale and Anthony Bishopp.
iScience (2024)
Highlights • The first intron of ARF7 is required for expression in the root apical meristem. • It is not required for expression in either lateral roots or the shoot apex. • We find no binding sites in the first intron required for expression in root tips. • We propose that this intron exerts its effects via Intron Mediated Enhancement.
Abstract: "Auxin regulates plant growth and development through the transcription factors of the AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR (ARF) gene family. ARF7 is one of five activators that bind DNA and elicit downstream transcriptional responses. In roots, ARF7 regulates growth, gravitropism and redundantly with ARF19, lateral root organogenesis. In this study we analyzed ARF7 cis-regulation, using different non-coding sequences of the ARF7 locus to drive GFP. We show that constructs containing the first intron led to increased signal in the root tip. Although bioinformatics analyses predicted several transcription factor binding sites in the first intron, we were unable to significantly alter expression of GFP in the root by mutating these. We instead observed the intronic sequences needed to be present within the transcribed sequences to drive expression in the root meristem. These data support a mechanism by which Intron Mediated Enhancement regulates the tissue specific expression of ARF7 in the root meristem."
Authors: Byron Rusnak, Frances K. Clark, Batthula Vijaya Lakshmi Vadde and Adrienne H.K. Roeder.
Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology (2024)
Abstract: "One of the fundamental questions in developmental biology is how a cell is specified to differentiate as a specialized cell type. Traditionally, plant cell types were defined based on their function, location, morphology, and lineage. Currently, in the age of single-cell biology, researchers typically attempt to assign plant cells to cell types by clustering them based on their transcriptomes. However, because cells are dynamic entities that progress through the cell cycle and respond to signals, the transcriptome also reflects the state of the cell at a particular moment in time, raising questions about how to define a cell type. We suggest that these complexities and dynamics of cell states are of interest and further consider the roles signaling, stochasticity, cell cycle, and mechanical forces play in plant cell fate specification. Once established, cell identity must also be maintained. With the wealth of single-cell data coming out, the field is poised to elucidate both the complexity and dynamics of cell states."
Author: Daniel J. Cosgrove.
Annual Review of Plant Cell and Development (2024)
Abstract: "Expansins comprise an ancient group of cell wall proteins ubiquitous in land plants and their algal ancestors. During cell growth, they facilitate passive yielding of the wall's cellulose networks to turgor-generated tensile stresses, without evidence of enzymatic activity. Expansins are also implicated in fruit softening and other developmental processes and in adaptive responses to environmental stresses and pathogens. The major expansin families in plants include α-expansins (EXPAs), which act on cellulose-cellulose junctions, and β-expansins, which can act on xylans. EXPAs mediate acid growth, which contributes to wall enlargement by auxin and other growth agents. The genomes of diverse microbes, including many plant pathogens, also encode expansins designated expansin-like X. Expansins are proposed to disrupt noncovalent bonding between laterally aligned polysaccharides (notably cellulose), facilitating wall loosening for a variety of biological roles."
Authors: Feimei Guo, Minghui Lv, Jingjie Zhang and Jia Li.
Plant and Cell Physiology (2024)
Abstract: "Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a group of polyhydroxylated phytosterols that play essential roles in regulating plant growth and development as well as stress adaptation. It is worth noting that BRs do not function alone, but rather they crosstalk with other endogenous signaling molecules, including the phytohormones auxin, cytokinins (CKs), gibberellins (GAs), abscisic acid (ABA), ethylene (ET), jasmonates (JAs), salicylic acid (SA), and strigolactones (SLs), forming elaborate signaling networks to modulate plant growth and development. BRs interact with other phytohormones mainly by regulating each others’ homeostasis, transport, or signaling pathway at the transcriptional and posttranslational levels. In this review, we focus our attention on current research progress in BR signal transduction and the crosstalk between BRs and other phytohormones."
Authors: Da Zhang, Tan He, Xumin Wang, Chenchen Zhou, Youpeng Chen, Xin Wang, Shixiang Wang, Shuangcheng He, Yuan Guo, Zijin Liu and Mingxun Chen.
Plant Physiology (2024)
One-sentence summary: A MYB-like transcription factor positively modulates seed germination in response to salinity stress by regulating the expression of germination-associated genes.
Abstract: "Seed germination is a critical checkpoint for plant growth under unfavorable environmental conditions. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), the abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellic acid (GA) signaling pathways play important roles in modulating seed germination. However, the molecular links between salinity stress and ABA/GA signaling are not well understood. Herein, we showed that the expression of DIVARICATA1 (DIV1), which encodes a MYB-like transcription factor, was induced by GA and repressed by ABA, salinity, and osmotic stress in germinating seeds. DIV1 positively regulated seed germination in response to salinity stress by directly regulating the expression of DELAY OF GERMINATION 1-LIKE 3 (DOGL3) and GA-STIMULATED ARABIDOPSIS 4 (GASA4) and indirectly regulating the expression of several germination-associated genes. Moreover, NUCLEAR FACTOR-YC9 (NF-YC9) directly repressed the expression of DIV1 in germinating seeds in response to salinity stress. These results help reveal the function of the NF-YC9–DIV1 module and provide insights into the regulation of ABA and GA signaling in response to salinity stress during seed germination in Arabidopsis."
Authors: Davide Marzi, Patrizia Brunetti, Shashank Sagar Saini, Gitanjali Yadav, Giuseppe Diego Puglia and Raffaele Dello Ioio.
Frontiers in Genetics (2024)
Abstract: "Global climate change (GCC) is posing a serious threat to organisms, particularly plants, which are sessile. Drought, salinity, and the accumulation of heavy metals alter soil composition and have detrimental effects on crops and wild plants. The hormone auxin plays a pivotal role in the response to stress conditions through the fine regulation of plant growth. Hence, rapid, tight, and coordinated regulation of its concentration is achieved by auxin modulation at multiple levels. Beyond the structural enzymes involved in auxin biosynthesis, transport, and signal transduction, transcription factors (TFs) can finely and rapidly drive auxin response in specific tissues. Auxin Response Factors (ARFs) such as the ARF4, 7, 8, 19 and many other TF families, such as WRKY and MADS, have been identified to play a role in modulating various auxin-mediated responses in recent times. Here, we review the most relevant and recent literature on TFs associated with the regulation of the biosynthetic, transport, and signalling auxin pathways and miRNA-related feedback loops in response to major abiotic stresses. Knowledge of the specific role of TFs may be of utmost importance in counteracting the effects of GCC on future agriculture and may pave the way for increased plant resilience."
Authors: Kumi Matsuura-Tokita, Takamasa Suzuki, Yusuke Kimata, Yumiko Takebayashi, Minako Ueda, Takeshi Nakano, Hitoshi Sakakibara, Akihiko Nakano, and Tetsuya Higashiyama.
bioRxiv (2024)
Abstract: "Brassinosteroids (BRs) are steroid hormones identified in plants. Besides promoting cell elongation and division, BRs facilitate the development of both male and female reproductive tissues. In animals, reproductive steroid hormones play an essential role in reproductive tissue development by regulating gene expression. Here, we focused on the function of BRs during fertilization. We measured the content of biologically active BRs, brassinolide (BL) and castasterone (CS), in the reproductive tissues of Arabidopsis thaliana. Both BL and CS accumulated abundantly in pollen grains and in larger amounts in pistils than in leaves. To evaluate BL function during fertilization, we used an in vitro guidance assay with exogenously applied BL. Although pollen tubes need to be elongated through the pistils for efficient capacitation, BL treatment promoted pollen tube capacitation and improved attraction to ovules in vitro. Transcriptome analysis demonstrated that BL treatment induced the expression of half of the genes expressed in pollen tubes that elongated through the pistils. These results indicated that BL supplied from pistils is a key factor for pollen tube capacitation. However, using the bri1 mutant for the guidance assay resulted in reduced pollen tube capacitation, suggesting that BRI1-signaling in pistils is also important. Furthermore, BRs act on ovules. Exogenous BL application to ovules maintained guidance capacity by promoting the expression of small secreted proteins involved in pollen tube attraction and gamete fusion. Overall, BRs play a significant role as male and female reproductive hormones throughout the plant fertilization process."
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