J. Exp. Bot. [JOURNAL]
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200 papers
Combined sulfur deficiency and water deficit trigger synergistic redox adjustments through coordinated transcript-protein regulation in pea.
Bonnot T, Henriet C, Aimé D … +10 more , Kreplak J, Térézol M, Rossin N, Balliau T, Blanchard C, Lamotte O, Ourry A, Zivy M, Vernoud V, Gallardo-Guerrero K
J Exp Bot · 2026 May · PMID 42159077 · Publisher ↗
Sulfur availability affects crop yield, seed quality, and tolerance to environmental constraints. To understand how pea (Pisum sativum) leaves respond to sulfur deficiency alone or combined with moderate water deficit du...
Sulfur availability affects crop yield, seed quality, and tolerance to environmental constraints. To understand how pea (Pisum sativum) leaves respond to sulfur deficiency alone or combined with moderate water deficit during the early reproductive phase, we employed a multi-omics approach. Sulfur deficiency reduced plant height, biomass and leaf carbon, and increased the nitrogen-to-sulfur ratio. Under this condition, 38 genes were up-regulated at both transcript and protein levels, including genes involved in sulfur metabolism and antioxidant responses, suggesting coordinated molecular adjustments that may mitigate low leaf sulfur status. Moderate water deficit alone had limited effects, but markedly altered plant growth, gene regulation and metal accumulation when combined with sulfur deficiency. Among synergistically up-regulated genes, twenty were linked to reactive oxygen species responses and activated early, while seven genes with sustained activation encoded glutathione S-transferases. This was associated with higher GST activity and likely contributed to limiting H2O2 accumulation in double-stressed leaves. One-third of differentially accumulated proteins were encoded by genes showing no transcriptional change under stress, including temperature-induced lipocalins with potential protective roles under combined stress. These findings enhance our understanding of multilevel molecular responses to stress interactions, which is essential for improving crop resilience under multi-stress conditions.
Metabolic cues are the main drivers for the differentiation of chloroplasts into chromoplasts and other plastid types.
Rodriguez-Concepcion M, Lu S
J Exp Bot · 2026 May · PMID 42159036 · Publisher ↗
Plastids show an astounding degree of functional and structural plasticity, ranging from photosynthetic chloroplasts with thylakoids and grana to non-photosynthetic storage organelles such as chromoplasts, which are spec...
Plastids show an astounding degree of functional and structural plasticity, ranging from photosynthetic chloroplasts with thylakoids and grana to non-photosynthetic storage organelles such as chromoplasts, which are specialized in the synthesis and sequestration of carotenoid pigments in plastoglobules, crystalline structures and membrane sacs. Transitions between different plastid types involve extensive rewiring of nuclear gene expression to support the concomitant changes in the proteome and the ultrastructure of plastids. However, the signals triggering the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well understood. In this review, we focus on the chloroplast-to-chromoplast differentiation process in both natural and synthetic (genetically-engineered) systems. Using tomato as a model, the review outlines the sequential molecular, structural, and metabolic events driving chromoplastogenesis, including chlorophyll degradation, carotenoid biosynthesis, proteome remodeling, and plastid ultrastructure reorganization. Synthetic systems mimicking this process reveal that sufficient loss of chloroplast identity followed by carotenoid overaccumulation can independently trigger chromoplast formation in plant species and tissues that do not naturally differentiate chromoplasts. These insights highlight metabolic cues as primary drivers of plastid differentiation and adaptation.
Integrative analysis of hybridization, metabolomic diversity, and ecological interactions in willow (Salix) species.
Njoku H
J Exp Bot · 2026 May · PMID 42159031 · Full text
This article comments on: . 2025. Effects of hybridization on chemical diversity and plant–insect herbivore interactions in . Journal of Experimental Botany , 6974–6986. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/eraf296
This article comments on: . 2025. Effects of hybridization on chemical diversity and plant–insect herbivore interactions in . Journal of Experimental Botany , 6974–6986. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/eraf296
Arabidopsis prioritizes flowering over continuation of vegetative growth after arsenic-hypoxia stress.
Bhatia P, Khatoon NS, Gupta M
J Exp Bot · 2026 May · PMID 42159030 · Publisher ↗
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Real-time quantification of pollen release: from liquid suspensions to airborne counting.
Buchmann SL
J Exp Bot · 2026 May · PMID 42159029 · Full text
This article comments on: 2026. Pollen counting made easy: mobile pollen counter provides real-time results in the field. Journal of Experimental Botany , 2901–2913. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erag047
This article comments on: 2026. Pollen counting made easy: mobile pollen counter provides real-time results in the field. Journal of Experimental Botany , 2901–2913. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erag047
Integrative analysis of CAM photosynthesis reveals its impact on primary metabolism in Yucca.
Wickell D, Field R, Weitz K … +9 more , Chu R, Trejo J, Tolic N, Munoz Munoz N, Hundley H, Savage E, Lipzen A, Leebens-Mack J, Heyduk K
J Exp Bot · 2026 May · PMID 42157619 · Publisher ↗
Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) is an adaptation that temporally separates carbon uptake at night from photosynthesis during the day. CAM has evolved repeatedly across vascular plants, as its emergence may depend on s...
Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) is an adaptation that temporally separates carbon uptake at night from photosynthesis during the day. CAM has evolved repeatedly across vascular plants, as its emergence may depend on simple regulatory changes to deeply conserved metabolic pathways. Modern CAM research relies heavily on interpretation of transcriptomic data, though regulation occurs at multiple levels following transcription. Additionally, while most research to date has focused on a handful of genes and metabolites in the core CAM pathway, the co-option of conserved regulatory and functional genes is bound to have wide ranging effects on other aspects of primary metabolism. In this study, we integrate transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data to compare primary metabolism between the CAM species Yucca aloifolia and closely related C3 species, Y. filamentosa. We observe minimal correlation between protein abundance and mRNA expression, suggesting significant post-transcriptional regulation in CAM species. We also find evidence of shifts in gene expression and metabolite accumulation outside of the central CAM pathway suggesting that the shift to CAM has cascading effects across primary metabolism, especially nitrogen metabolism. Our findings provide insights into the metabolic shifts associated with CAM evolution and highlight the complexity of its regulation at multiple biological levels.
Fagus sylvatica detects belowground stress signals from conspecific and heterospecific (Picea abies) neighbors, triggering increased volatile organic compound emissions from shoots.
Meischner M, Haberstroh S, Kreuzwieser J … +2 more , Schnitzler JP, Werner C
J Exp Bot · 2026 May · PMID 42153271 · Publisher ↗
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) facilitate aboveground plant communication, but belowground signaling remains less understood. This study explored root-root interactions between Picea abies and Fagus sylvatica saplings...
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) facilitate aboveground plant communication, but belowground signaling remains less understood. This study explored root-root interactions between Picea abies and Fagus sylvatica saplings in monospecific (Fagus-Fagus) and heterospecific (Picea-Fagus) pairs (n=6), excluding shoot-level VOC communication. Sender plants were treated with jasmonic acid (JA) to simulate herbivory and labeled with 13CO2 and 15NH4NO3 to trace nutrient transfer in a split-root design. VOC emissions and gas exchange were measured over ten days using PTR-TOF-MS and 13CO2-spectroscopy and 13C and 15N were analyzed in roots and shoots via EA-IRMS. Our findings reveal, that (i) JA treatment induced strong de novo terpenoid emissions from P. abies and enhanced emissions of oxygenated VOCs and benzenoids from F. sylvatica, (ii) F. sylvatica receiver plants responded similarly to JA-treated neighbors, indicating belowground signaling, and (iii) responses of receiver plants were more pronounced in the heterospecific treatment. Furthermore, formic acid emissions from soils increased following JA treatment, suggesting altered soil microbial activity. Isotopic analysis revealed C exudation into the rhizosphere and N transfer to receiver plants. These results suggest that belowground signaling enables early upregulation of herbivore-induced defenses in neighboring plants, and that the response intensity is modulated by species identity.
Harnessing Genomics Approaches for Heat Stress Resilience in Wheat: From Discovery to Deployment.
Chitikineni A, Jan F, Saini DK … +7 more , Rathore M, Bennett D, Chen ZH, Harper R, Xin L, Varshney RK, Mir RR
J Exp Bot · 2026 May · PMID 42150811 · Publisher ↗
Global warming poses a critical threat to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production, particularly during sensitive reproductive stages. This review synthesizes current understanding of how heat stress affects wheat and the...
Global warming poses a critical threat to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production, particularly during sensitive reproductive stages. This review synthesizes current understanding of how heat stress affects wheat and the adaptive mechanisms that confer tolerance, with emphasis on recent advances in genomics and biotechnology. Heat stress impairs morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular processes, reducing photosynthetic efficiency, accelerating senescence, disrupting assimilate partitioning, and damaging cellular structures. Adaptive responses include optimized water relations, antioxidant defences, osmolyte accumulation, heat shock protein induction, and hormonal regulation, all coordinated by complex gene networks. Advances in genetic dissection through QTL mapping, genome-wide association studies, and candidate gene discovery have identified loci and alleles linked to thermotolerance. Multi-omics integration has uncovered regulatory pathways, transcription factors, and epigenetic mechanisms, including stress memory, that underpin resilience. Emerging tools such as genome sequencing, pangenomics, genomic prediction, haplotype-informed breeding, and CRISPR-based editing are accelerating the translation of these discoveries into improved cultivars. In addition to summarizing these advances, this review highlights key challenges, from harmonizing heat-stress phenotyping and validating causal variants to integrating multi-omics into breeding pipelines, and proposes targeted strategies to bridge the gap between discovery and deployment to enable the development of climate-ready wheat cultivars.
Using ΦPSII and leaf temperature as indicators of non-steady-state photosynthesis and stomatal conductance during stepwise changes in light intensity.
Javadi Asayesh E, Marcelis LFM, Acevedo-Siaca LG … +1 more , Kaiser E
J Exp Bot · 2026 May · PMID 42141900 · Publisher ↗
Quantifying the kinetics of net CO2 assimilation (A) and stomatal conductance (gs) under fluctuating light typically relies on gas exchange measurements, which are slow and thus unsuited for high-throughput phenotyping....
Quantifying the kinetics of net CO2 assimilation (A) and stomatal conductance (gs) under fluctuating light typically relies on gas exchange measurements, which are slow and thus unsuited for high-throughput phenotyping. As a result, faster, non-invasive phenotyping methods are needed to further evaluate these traits at larger scale. However, first the relationship between non-steady-state parameters must be examined in greater detail. In this study, we aimed to determine whether variations in non-steady-state values of chlorophyll fluorescence and leaf temperature reflect differences in key gas exchange traits under fluctuating light conditions. Here, the correlation between the times required for a change in non-steady-state A, gs, operating efficiency of PSII (ΦPSII), and leaf temperature (Tleaf) during stepwise changes in light intensity were evaluated across nine plant species. Both steady-state and non-steady-state photosynthetic traits varied significantly among species. Overall, we found significant positive correlations between non-steady-state A and ΦPSII for time to 50% and 90% of final steady-state (t50; r2=0.70) and (t90; r2=0.33). The t90 of gs and Tleaf were also significantly correlated after both increases (r2=0.45) and decreases (r2=0.61) in light intensity. Our findings suggest that the times required for a change in ΦPSII (particularly t50) and Tleaf (particularly t90) can be used as indicators of dynamic A and gs, respectively, facilitating faster phenotyping of the complex processes of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance kinetics in the future.
Plant-microbiome interactions provide novel insights into the regulation of iron-sulfur metabolism in plants.
Garcia-Godos C, Jauhal MK, Khan MA … +1 more , Mendoza-Cozatl DG
J Exp Bot · 2026 May · PMID 42141788 · Publisher ↗
Iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters are at the core of photosynthesis, respiration, and redox homeostasis, yet their biogenesis and stability are highly sensitive to fluctuations in iron (Fe) and sulfur (S) availability. Althoug...
Iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters are at the core of photosynthesis, respiration, and redox homeostasis, yet their biogenesis and stability are highly sensitive to fluctuations in iron (Fe) and sulfur (S) availability. Although the molecular players of Fe and S assimilation pathways are well characterized, the mechanisms mediating the crosstalk between these nutrient networks remain largely unknown, particularly within the context of plant-microbiome interactions. Recent work has revealed that plant-associated microbial communities play active roles in shaping Fe-S metabolism through metabolite exchange, hormonal modulation, and redox signaling. Here we discuss recent research demonstrating how root-associated microbes and synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) can influence Fe and S homeostasis, including the reprograming of plant transcriptional and metabolic networks to preserve photosynthesis under nutrient limitation. We also highlight key microbial strategies, including siderophore-mediated Fe mobilization, S-containing metabolites release, and microbial modulation of hormonal pathways that collectively enhance Fe and S use efficiency. Finally, we discuss future directions for AI-driven trait-based design of SynComs, multi-omics integration, and field-level validation to translate these novel insights into agricultural solutions. Harnessing the power of plant-microbe interactions to improve Fe-S metabolism offers a promising path toward sustainable agriculture and crop productivity under stress and challenging environments.
Understanding Cell Wall Enzyme Function: From Classical Approaches to New Biotechnology.
Edwards M, Qiande M, Gomez Vargas AD … +5 more , Jacobson T, Spicer RL, Lin A, Xie WJ, Voiniciuc C
J Exp Bot · 2026 May · PMID 42135035 · Publisher ↗
Plant cell walls are complex networks of polysaccharides that underpin plant structure and provide dietary fibers that promote human health. These polymers are assembled and remodeled by carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZy...
Plant cell walls are complex networks of polysaccharides that underpin plant structure and provide dietary fibers that promote human health. These polymers are assembled and remodeled by carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), which have been more challenging to characterize in plants than in microbes for technical reasons and due to genetic redundancy. This review serves as a primer on strategies to gain functional insights into cell wall-related CAZymes, which are needed for advancing plant biology and the development of applications in food, bioenergy, and bioproducts such as materials with functional structures and composition. We summarize classical biochemical assays and genetic approaches alongside emerging solutions, including high-throughput screening, cell-free systems, microbial hosts, and plant-based platforms. We also highlight synthetic biology tools such as CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing and base editing, which accelerate functional annotation and enzyme engineering. Integrative approaches that combine modular expression systems, artificial intelligence (AI) protein models, and lab automation have the potential to efficiently design plant cell walls for improved nutrition and sustainable bioproducts in a circular bioeconomy.
GIGANTEA as a Central Integrator of Circadian Timing, Stress Physiology, and Developmental Trade-Offs.
Shen Z, Du H, Duan L … +5 more , He N, Qi M, Bai W, Gui Q, Zhao Y
J Exp Bot · 2026 May · PMID 42132233 · Publisher ↗
GIGANTEA (GI) has emerged as a context-dependent regulatory hub that translates circadian timing into developmental and stress-responsive outputs. Although first characterized for its role in photoperiodic flowering, GI...
GIGANTEA (GI) has emerged as a context-dependent regulatory hub that translates circadian timing into developmental and stress-responsive outputs. Although first characterized for its role in photoperiodic flowering, GI is now recognized as a multifunctional scaffold that integrates light cues, metabolic status, hormone signaling, proteostasis, and chromatin regulation. Here, we synthesize recent mechanistic and conceptual advances to show how GI-centered networks operate across molecular, physiological, and systems levels. We first examine the structural and biochemical features that enable GI to function as a versatile interaction platform, together with the dynamic regulation of its abundance, localization, and stability. We then discuss how GI integrates light and metabolic inputs into the circadian system to gate photoperiodic flowering and seasonal development. Beyond flowering, GI coordinates abiotic stress responses-including drought, salinity, and low temperature-through phase-gated signaling, partner switching, and stress-associated chromatin reprogramming. We further highlight epigenetic and post-translational mechanisms that fine-tune GI activity and compare recurrently conserved temporal features with lineage-specific downstream outputs across major crops. Together, these studies support a systems-level view in which GI acts as a regulatory allocation hub that distributes signaling capacity among competing pathways, thereby mediating growth-stress trade-offs and seasonal adaptation.
OsTT2, the R2R3-MYB transcription factor, is involved in regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis and grain yield in rice.
Yang X, Xia X, Luo S … +10 more , Zhang Z, Nong B, Guo H, Chen C, Feng R, Zeng Y, Wu Y, Ma C, Yan H, Li D
J Exp Bot · 2026 May · PMID 42130272 · Publisher ↗
Black rice contains substantial levels of anthocyanins, a class of bioactive compounds recognized for their health-promoting properties, constituting a crucial determinant of rice nutritional and functional quality. In t...
Black rice contains substantial levels of anthocyanins, a class of bioactive compounds recognized for their health-promoting properties, constituting a crucial determinant of rice nutritional and functional quality. In this study, we cloned OsTT2, a regulatory gene for anthocyanin biosynthesis in rice, located on chromosome 3, with a 331 bp segmental duplication in its promoter region. OsTT2 encodes an R2R3-MYB transcription factor that localizes to the nucleus. Interestingly, OsTT2 significantly influences plant height, panicle length, total grain number per plant, grain length, and grain width in rice. Although no significant differences were detected in the number of panicles per plant or thousand-grain weight, the presence of a functional OsTT2 gene substantially increases overall rice yield. Further research has found that OsTT2 binds to the promoter region of OsMED15a, which activates the OsMED15a-OsNAC024 pathway, thereby modulating rice grain length and width. Our findings provide new genetics resources and novel approaches for the genetic improvement of rice anthocyanin biosynthesis, quality and yield.
Elevated methionine in plants: the effect on development, stress responses, epigenetics and nutritional biofortification.
Amir R, Yerushalmy Y, Hacham Y
J Exp Bot · 2026 May · PMID 42126252 · Publisher ↗
Methionine (Met) is an essential amino acid that limits the nutritional value of many crop plants, yet its steady-state level in plant tissues is remarkably low. At the same time, Met is a central metabolic hub supportin...
Methionine (Met) is an essential amino acid that limits the nutritional value of many crop plants, yet its steady-state level in plant tissues is remarkably low. At the same time, Met is a central metabolic hub supporting protein synthesis and, through S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), drives the production of hormones, vitamins, polyamines, and epigenetic marks. The primary objective of this review is to understand why and how plants maintain low steady-state Met levels, and what occurs when Met content is elevated, a question of growing importance for Met biofortification. We first summarize evidence that flux through the Met/SAM pathway is high while Met pools remain small, because Met is rapidly diverted to SAM, S-methylmethionine (SMM), and other metabolites. We then describe how increasing Met at the genetic level alters development, primary metabolism, and stress responses, enhancing amino acids and sugars in leaves and proteins and starch in seeds, but often causing growth defects and stress hypersensitivity. However, moderate exogenous Met can improve growth and stress tolerance. Finally, we highlight how changes in Met/SAM levels affect DNA and histone methylation, as well as transposable-element silencing. Together, these findings suggest that plants limit Met to control metabolic, redox, and epigenetic modification, constraining Met biofortification strategies and seed nutritional improvement efforts.
A specific 296 bp insertion in the DFR1 promoter activates ethylene-mediated anthocyanin biosynthesis during autumn leaf senescence in Quercus aliena.
Pei Z, Jiang X, Zeng W … +6 more , Huang Y, Che Y, Zhang H, Liu Y, Yang Q, Li G
J Exp Bot · 2026 May · PMID 42126248 · Publisher ↗
Red-leaf ornamental trees are commonly characterized by the enrichment of anthocyanins. Quercus aliena, a dominant native oak species in China, displays striking autumn foliage with yellow to red colors. However, the mol...
Red-leaf ornamental trees are commonly characterized by the enrichment of anthocyanins. Quercus aliena, a dominant native oak species in China, displays striking autumn foliage with yellow to red colors. However, the molecular regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis during leaf senescence remains largely unknown. In this study, we identified a 296 bp insertion in the promoter of Dihydroflavonol 4-Reductase (DFR1) from the red-leaf Q. aliena cultivar 'Qiuyun', which was significantly associated with high anthocyanin accumulation. We established a highly efficient method for genetic transformation in Q. aliena calli and verified the function of DFR1. Yeast one-hybrid library screening identified ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE 3 (EIN3) that can directly bind to the EIN3-binding site in the 296 bp insertion and activate DFR1 expression. Together with a dual-luciferase assay and EMSA, we reported for the first time that EIN3 could directly activate the structural gene DFR1 during anthocyanin biosynthesis. DFR1 expression is markedly induced in EIN3-overexpressing oak calli compared with the wild type. In addition, exogenous ethephon induced anthocyanin accumulation in autumn leaves in the red cultivar, rather than in the yellow cultivar without the insertion. In summary, our findings demonstrate a practical and effective approach for validating gene function in vivo, and provide new insight into the regulatory mechanisms involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis during leaf senescence.
Pre-anthesis light signaling of sheathed developing barley inflorescences defines floral fate.
Babanna ST, Huang Y, Weber APM … +1 more , Schnurbusch T
J Exp Bot · 2026 May · PMID 42126090 · Publisher ↗
The pre-anthesis inflorescence greening (PAIG) is a distinctive developmental feature in the members of the Triticeae such as barley, wheat and rye. In barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), floral survival and fertility are major...
The pre-anthesis inflorescence greening (PAIG) is a distinctive developmental feature in the members of the Triticeae such as barley, wheat and rye. In barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), floral survival and fertility are major determinants of grain yield, yet the physiological processes supporting early inflorescence development remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated PAIG, a light-dependent chlorophyll accumulation occurring while immature inflorescences are still enclosed by leaf sheaths, and its role in overall inflorescence development. Using chlorophyll autofluorescence imaging and chlorophyll quantification, we found that PAIG in barley initiates at a surprisingly early developmental stage, when developing spikes are still enclosed by leaf sheaths. PAIG first appears in the central rachis and then progressively spreads to the spikelet primordia and other floral organs. Using a non-destructive dark treatment that prevents light exposure to developing inflorescences, we showed that inhibiting PAIG does not impact floral initiation. Yet, the dark treatment significantly decreases floral survival and pollen viability, especially at the tip of the inflorescence. This highlights the essential role of light-mediated PAIG in determining floral fate. Finally, analysis of natural variation for PAIG revealed a strong positive correlation between the extent of PAIG and floral survival. Our findings establish PAIG as an underappreciated hidden trait that supports floral viability and reproductive success, with implications to enhance grain yield potential in cereals.
Fitting photosynthetic carbon dioxide and irradiance response curves for C4 leaves.
Woodford R, Ermakova M, Furbank RT … +1 more , von Caemmerer S
J Exp Bot · 2026 May · PMID 42126084 · Publisher ↗
Gas exchange measurements provide crucial insights into the complex mechanisms of photosynthesis. Responses of CO2 assimilation rate (A) to intercellular CO2 partial pressure (Ci) and irradiance (I) link gas exchange mea...
Gas exchange measurements provide crucial insights into the complex mechanisms of photosynthesis. Responses of CO2 assimilation rate (A) to intercellular CO2 partial pressure (Ci) and irradiance (I) link gas exchange measurements to the underlying photosynthetic biochemistry of a leaf. The unique biochemistry and leaf anatomy which distinguish C4 photosynthesis make it necessary to apply models and fitting routines which appropriately parameterise and incorporate these characteristics. Here we provide updates to the C4 photosynthesis model by improving the parameterisation of cyclic electron flow in C4 photosynthesis using experimentally derived values from Setaria viridis. We additionally describe two fitting routines for assessing C4 photosynthesis based on the updated model. Fitting of a CO2 response curve (A/Ci) provides estimates of maximum PEP carboxylase activity (Vpmax) and maximum Rubisco activity (Vcmax), and calculates the electron transport rate (J) needed to sustain the measured CO2 assimilation rate (A). Fitting of an irradiance response curve (A/I) provides estimates for the maximum electron transport rate (Jmax), day respiration rate (Rd), the quantum yield (ϕCO2) and light compensation point (Γlight). Values of the above output parameters are provided at both the measurement temperature and at 25 °C for ease of comparative reporting. The fitting tool has been designed in Microsoft Excel to minimise barriers to entry and enable simplicity of fitting while simultaneously catering to individuals with diverse expertise and experience in C4 gas exchange modelling.
Evolution of molecular networks underlying plant tissue patterning: insights from conducting tissues.
Blanco-Touriñán N, Blázquez MÁ
J Exp Bot · 2026 May · PMID 42117438 · Publisher ↗
The emergence of land plants involved the progressive elaboration of molecular networks that pattern tissues and define specialized cell types, as illustrated by the evolution of diverse conducting tissues. While tracheo...
The emergence of land plants involved the progressive elaboration of molecular networks that pattern tissues and define specialized cell types, as illustrated by the evolution of diverse conducting tissues. While tracheophytes developed complex vascular systems with distinct xylem and phloem, bryophytes evolved functionally analogous cells for water and nutrient transport, including hydroids and leptoids in mosses and pegged rhizoids in complex thalloid liverworts. Fossil evidence, such as the early Devonian plant Horneophyton, suggests that multifunctional conducting cells may represent early forms of conducting cells that predate the divergence of modern tracheophyte vascular tissues and bryophyte conducting cells, indicating that key components of their developmental machinery were already present in early land plants. Across plant lineages, conducting tissues have evolved through the redeployment of shared genetic modules, lineage-specific innovations and rewiring of existing networks, shaping diverse patterns of tissue differentiation. A striking example of this divergence is found in certain liverworts, where water-conducting cells have been associated with pegged rhizoids and appear to be controlled by independent developmental mechanisms. A comparative approach is thus essential to understand how these crucial tissues emerged and diversified over millions of years of plant evolution, while also providing a framework for investigating the evolution of other developmental circuits.
Matching Circadian Rhythms to Light-Dark Cycles Increases Lettuce Yield by 29% in Vertical Farms Without Additional Energy Input.
Anton-Sales C, Benckhuysen L, Peker B … +2 more , Jeuken M, Bonnema G
J Exp Bot · 2026 May · PMID 42117431 · Publisher ↗
Most cultivated lettuce varieties have 27-hour circadian clocks resulting from domestication-driven selection for delayed bolting yet are grown under standard 24-hour light-dark cycles. This creates a fundamental mismatc...
Most cultivated lettuce varieties have 27-hour circadian clocks resulting from domestication-driven selection for delayed bolting yet are grown under standard 24-hour light-dark cycles. This creates a fundamental mismatch between plant biology and cultivation practices. According to circadian resonance theory, this misalignment imposes chronic re-entrainment costs that reduce fitness. Here we demonstrate that eliminating this mismatch through circadian resonance, namely aligning environmental cycles with internal rhythms, increases lettuce biomass by 11-29% without additional lighting energy in commercial vertical farming conditions. We grew 20 lettuce accessions with characterized circadian periods (24-28 hours) under six light-dark treatments combining two cycle lengths (24-hour and 27-hour) with three photoperiod regimes. Long-clock varieties (∼27 hours) consistently accumulated more biomass under 27-hour versus 24-hour cycles when daily light integral remained constant (14.4 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹). Enhanced yields resulted from extended dark periods (11 hours vs. 8 hours) rather than increased light input, representing a lighting-efficient cultivation strategy. High-energy treatments (18 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹) achieved maximum biomass but triggered morphological aberrations and increased tipburn, while resonant conditions maintained quality standards. Resonant conditions also restored natural developmental timing, with long-clock varieties showing accelerated bolting that reversed the delayed flowering phenotype observed under 24-hour cycles. Importantly, bolting still falls outside the cultivation window. Statistical modelling confirmed significant interactions between the circadian clock and the diel length, establishing circadian resonance as the primary driver of yield improvement. These findings reveal circadian resonance as a transformative strategy for yield enhancement in controlled-environment agriculture, such as vertical farms, achieving significant biomass gains through biological rhythm optimization.
WRKY30 negatively regulates lateral root development downstream of the RGF1-RGI1 peptide-receptor module in Arabidopsis.
Nguyen QTC, Jeon BW, Kim JI … +1 more , Kim J
J Exp Bot · 2026 May · PMID 42104681 · Publisher ↗
Small signaling peptides play pivotal roles in coordinating plant growth, development, and immunity. In Arabidopsis, ROOT MERISTEM GROWTH FACTOR 1 (RGF1) and its cognate receptor RGF1 INSENSITIVE 1 (RGI1) suppress latera...
Small signaling peptides play pivotal roles in coordinating plant growth, development, and immunity. In Arabidopsis, ROOT MERISTEM GROWTH FACTOR 1 (RGF1) and its cognate receptor RGF1 INSENSITIVE 1 (RGI1) suppress lateral root (LR) development by activating the transcription factor PUCHI via mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling. WRKY30 has previously been identified as an early gene strongly induced by RGF1; however, its role in LR regulation remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that WRKY30 functions downstream of the RGF1-RGI1 module to inhibit LR development. In ProWRKY30:GUS and ProWRKY30:SVnlsTomato lines, RGF1 treatment strongly induced reporter expression in the distal region of primary roots, while this response was markedly reduced in the rgi1 mutant. Furthermore, RGF1 enhanced WRKY30 promoter-fused GUS activity during LR development. Overexpression of WRKY30 under the UBIQUITIN10 or RGI1 promoters suppressed LR initiation in wild-type and rgi1 plants without affecting RGF1-promoted root meristem activity. Conversely, CRISPR-Cas9-generated wrky30 mutants exhibited reduced sensitivity to RGF1-mediated suppression of LR formation. Collectively, these findings indicate WRKY30 as a key downstream component of RGF1-RGI signaling that specifically restricts LR development.
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