Plant Physiology[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
From wrinkled seeds to plant oil accumulation networks: The legacy of a Plant Physiology classic.
Kong Q, Pattanaik S, Kong F … +3 more , Guo L, Yuan L, Ma W
Plant Physiol · 2026 Jul · PMID 42401421 · Publisher ↗
Plant seeds accumulate triacylglycerol (TAG) as a major storage reserve that supports post-germination growth and seedling establishment. Vegetable oils are also essential for human nutrition and provide renewable feedst...
Plant seeds accumulate triacylglycerol (TAG) as a major storage reserve that supports post-germination growth and seedling establishment. Vegetable oils are also essential for human nutrition and provide renewable feedstocks for industrial and biotechnological applications. In 1998, Focks and Benning published a landmark study in Plant Physiology describing the Arabidopsis WRINKLED1 mutants (wri1), which display a distinctive wrinkled seed phenotype and a dramatic reduction in seed oil accumulation. The conceptual importance of this discovery was not simply the identification of a low-oil mutant, but the demonstration that seed oil accumulation depends on developmental control of carbon flux from carbohydrates into fatty acid precursors. Cloning of the Arabidopsis WRI1 (AtWRI1) gene in 2004 transformed this physiological phenotype into a molecular framework by identifying WRI1 as a member of the APETALA2 (AP2) family of transcription factors that activates late glycolytic and fatty acid biosynthetic genes. Subsequent work uncovered the AW-box cis-element, upstream seed-maturation regulators, WRI1-interacting partners, post-transcriptional and post-translational modification mechanisms controlling WRI1 stability and activity, and the structural basis of WRI1-DNA recognition. These discoveries established WRI1 as a central regulatory node linking seed development, carbohydrate metabolism, and seed oil accumulation. More recent studies have broadened WRI1 biology beyond canonical seed oil biosynthesis to include non-seed oil-storing tissues, hormone and nutrient-associated processes, environmental responses, and structure-guided crop engineering. Here, we revisit the original Plant Physiology classic and trace how one mutant phenotype reshaped modern understanding of plant carbon partitioning, transcriptional regulation, and metabolic engineering.
LcHXK1 mediates glucose signaling to inhibit fruit abscission by phosphorylating LcWRKY42, a feedback regulator in lignin polymerization.
Ge HT, Abbas F, Yi JW … +5 more , Zeng RF, Huang XM, Hu GB, Li JG, Wang HC
Plant Physiol · 2026 Jul · PMID 42398941 · Publisher ↗
Organ abscission is a core developmental process that allows plants to optimize resource allocation, maximize reproductive fitness, and respond to environmental cues. In agricultural systems, however, premature fruit abs...
Organ abscission is a core developmental process that allows plants to optimize resource allocation, maximize reproductive fitness, and respond to environmental cues. In agricultural systems, however, premature fruit abscission can severely reduce yield. Here, we investigate premature fruit drop in litchi and identify the hexokinase homolog LcHXK1 as a non-glycolytic hexose sensor that suppresses abscission by activating a pedicel lignification program. LcHXK1 physically associates with and phosphorylates the WRKY transcription factor LcWRKY42, a modification that enhances its stability and transcriptional activity in inducing laccase and peroxidase genes required for lignin polymerization, promoting lignin deposition and reinforcing the pedicel to prevent organ detachment. Over expression of LcHXK1 or LcWRKY42 in litchi callus and in Arabidopsis elevates lignin content, increases laccase and peroxidase activities, and delays organ abscission, revealing a conserved sugar-responsive pathway. LcWRKY42 also upregulates LcHXK1, forming a positive feedback loop that amplifies hexose signaling. Together, these findings define a sugar-sensing regulatory module that couples carbon status to pedicel lignification, providing a mechanistic framework for improving fruit retention in crops.
Partial submergence-induced adventitious root emergence in cucumber requires CsRBOHB-mediated ROS production.
Hu Y, Hu J, Shen J … +6 more , Jin Y, Chen X, Xie Q, Xu X, Chen X, Qi X
Plant Physiol · 2026 Jul · PMID 42397970 · Publisher ↗
Emergence of adventitious roots (ARs) in partially submerged plants is a crucial morphological adaptation to flooding stress, although the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well understood. In the present research,...
Emergence of adventitious roots (ARs) in partially submerged plants is a crucial morphological adaptation to flooding stress, although the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well understood. In the present research, we investigated the role of CsRBOHB-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). ROS specifically accumulated in the vascular tissues of partially submerged hypocotyls. Respiratory burst oxidase homologs (RBOHs) are enzymes that generate ROS. We found that a cucumber RBOH gene, CsRBOHB, was specifically induced in vascular cells by partial submergence. Knockout of CsRBOHB inhibited AR emergence, while overexpression of CsRBOHB enhanced it. Downregulation of an RBOHB homolog SlRBOHB in partially submerged tomato also inhibited AR emergence. Additionally, cucumber calcium-dependent protein kinase 2 (CsCDPK2) directly activated CsRBOHB in cucumber hypocotyls during AR emergence, and silencing it inhibited AR emergence under partially submerged conditions. These findings indicate that AR emergence in partially submerged cucumber is regulated by a CsCDPK-CsRBOHB pathway.
JA differentially regulates a SmWLIM1/MYB62-SUS1 module to control male fertility via starch biosynthesis.
Shang Y, Liao J, Dai S … +6 more , Zhang Z, Zhang X, Jiang Y, Deng X, Zhang L, Yang R
Plant Physiol · 2026 Jul · PMID 42391508 · Publisher ↗
Male sterility is a valuable trait for hybrid breeding, and starch metabolism plays a crucial role in regulating fertility. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying pollen fertility in the medicinal plant Salvia milt...
Male sterility is a valuable trait for hybrid breeding, and starch metabolism plays a crucial role in regulating fertility. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying pollen fertility in the medicinal plant Salvia miltiorrhiza remain unclear. In this study, comparative transcriptome and starch content analyses of anthers from a naturally sterile Sichuan (SC) genotype and a fertile Shandong (SD) genotype identified the sucrose synthase gene SmSUS1 as a key regulator. This work provides the first functional evidence that SmSUS1 positively regulates pollen fertility by promoting starch biosynthesis. Using Weighted gene co-expression network analysis, two upstream transcription factors (TFs), SmWLIM1 and SmMYB62, were further uncovered. In vitro and in vivo assays demonstrated that both transcription factors directly activate SmSUS1 expression, forming a transcriptional module essential for fertility regulation. Jasmonic acid (JA) signaling differentially regulates this module, primarily by suppressing SmWLIM1 expression, which subsequently downregulates SmSUS1 and leads to reduced pollen viability. Although SmMYB62 expression responds to JA, its dynamics do not directly correlate with fertility. Notably, this entire JA-SmWLIM1-SmSUS1 regulatory axis operates specifically in the fertile SD genotype, revealing a genotype-dependent hormonal control of male fertility. Our study elucidates not only a core transcriptional module governing fertility but also a novel genotype-specific JA-starch metabolism pathway, providing crucial regulatory targets and genetic resources for hybrid breeding in medicinal plants.
The chloroplastic NFU1 maturation factor sustains iron-sulfur cluster assembly in the dark in Chlamydomonas.
Przybyla-Toscano J, Kairis A, Terenzi A … +5 more , Caccamo A, Ruys SPD, Vertommen D, Rouhier N, Remacle C
Plant Physiol · 2026 Jul · PMID 42391494 · Publisher ↗
The sulfur mobilization (SUF) machinery is required for the synthesis of iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters and their insertion into client proteins in plastids. The final step relies on several Fe-S cluster transfer proteins,...
The sulfur mobilization (SUF) machinery is required for the synthesis of iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters and their insertion into client proteins in plastids. The final step relies on several Fe-S cluster transfer proteins, including NifU-like (NFU) proteins. In this study, we focused on the chloroplastic NFU1 from the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. It possesses an N-terminal putative endonuclease domain that is absent in orthologs from angiosperms. Using a reverse genetic approach, we demonstrated that NFU1 serves as the major maturation factor for several [4Fe-4S]-cluster containing proteins involved in specialized pathways. This includes an atypical hybrid cluster protein, the pyruvate-ferredoxin oxidoreductase and an iron-iron hydrogenase operating in anoxia, as well as the dark-operative protochlorophyllide a oxidoreductase (DPOR) involved in chlorophyll synthesis in the dark. Based on the decreased abundance of chloroplast ribosomal proteins observed by proteomics in the nfu1 mutants, the lack of endonuclease activity of the N-terminal domain and the fact that NFU1 was previously reported as associated with chloroplast ribosomes, we propose that NFU1 contributes to the co-translational insertion of the [4Fe-4S] cluster(s) in the chloroplast-encoded DPOR subunits. The strong co-occurrence between genes encoding elongated NFU1 representatives and DPOR subunits in the green lineage supports this intertwined function and the importance of the N-terminal domain for NFU1 function.
Systems-level proteomic models of cotton fiber development: a high-resolution data resource to analyze cell dynamics and trait engineering.
Lee Y, Yang P, Rani H … +7 more , Miller G, Swaminathan S, Grover CE, Wendel JF, Zabotina OA, Xie J, Szymanski DB
Plant Physiol · 2026 Jul · PMID 42391124 · Full text
The shapes and material properties of cotton (Gossypium spp.) seed coat trichoblasts form the basis of a multibillion-dollar natural fiber industry. As such, these highly specialized cells are low-hanging fruit for inten...
The shapes and material properties of cotton (Gossypium spp.) seed coat trichoblasts form the basis of a multibillion-dollar natural fiber industry. As such, these highly specialized cells are low-hanging fruit for intentional trait engineering. However, broad success will require more mechanistic knowledge of their systems-level cellular controls. This time-series study integrates daily measurements of purified fiber transcriptomes and proteomes with multiscale fiber phenotyping datasets that span the same developmental interval. Abundance profiles of the subcellular proteomes are the foundation of the analyses. This resource article provides direct information about which homoeologs operate and offers informative depictions of how compartmentalized cellular systems change during developmental transitions. Prediction accuracy was partially validated by analyzing protein expression group 11, which contained multiple known secondary cell wall (CW) cellulose synthases together with dozens of unknown proteins, and displayed an averaged expression profile that strongly correlated with a sharp state transition in cellulose microfibril alignment and increased cellulose content. The dataset as a whole can serve as a hypothesis-generating tool to guide future experiments related to CW glycome remodeling, morphogenesis, reversible tissue formation, and growth rate control. Integration of mRNA and protein abundance revealed widespread evidence of post-transcriptional control. In addition, there were hundreds of transcriptionally controlled genes with different time points of transition. This latter gene set can be used to more reliably analyze transcriptional control networks and to generate collections of gene expression drivers for cotton fiber research. The protein and transcript abundance profiles are organized into user-friendly tables and a web interface that can be searched using any plant ortholog of interest based on developmental time, abundance, annotations, or phenotypic association.
StHY5 activates StSP6A to control photoperiod-induced tuberization in potato.
Shi M, Xuan L, Zhu Y … +5 more , Huang Z, Hu J, Li G, Duan Y, Liu L
Plant Physiol · 2026 Jul · PMID 42390197 · Publisher ↗
Photoperiod critically regulates potato tuber development, with short days (SD) inducing the expression of the key tuberigen signal, SELF PRUNING 6A (StSP6A). To identify upstream regulators of StSP6A, we performed a tra...
Photoperiod critically regulates potato tuber development, with short days (SD) inducing the expression of the key tuberigen signal, SELF PRUNING 6A (StSP6A). To identify upstream regulators of StSP6A, we performed a transcriptome analysis of potato leaves in response to SD. Among the SD-responsive genes identified, ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (StHY5) emerged as a strong candidate regulator. We demonstrated that StHY5 expression is rapidly modulated in response to photoperiodic changes and that it directly activates StSP6A transcription by binding to multiple ACGT-containing element (ACE) motifs within its promoter. Functional validation revealed that overexpression of StHY5 significantly promotes tuber formation and yield, mirroring the effect of elevated StSP6A. These findings establish StHY5 as a critical photoperiodic signal transducer in potato, acting upstream of StSP6A to initiate and enhance tuber formation in response to inductive short days. This molecular pathway presents a potential target for optimizing tuber yield in potato breeding programs.
Evidence for Early Evolution of Sulfated Peptide Signaling in Plant Development.
Tulio DV, Shigenaga AM, Wu SZ … +2 more , Ronald PC, Bezanilla M
Plant Physiol · 2026 Jul · PMID 42389984 · Publisher ↗
In plants, the cell wall fixes the position of each cell; therefore, during development, plants rely on cellular proliferation and expansion for tissue patterning and organ formation. How plant cells communicate with nei...
In plants, the cell wall fixes the position of each cell; therefore, during development, plants rely on cellular proliferation and expansion for tissue patterning and organ formation. How plant cells communicate with neighboring cells to coordinate expansion for properly patterned tissues and organs is not well understood. In seed plants, organ growth is known to be modulated by sulfotyrosyl peptide signaling. Here, we report that the activity of TYROSYL PROTEIN SULFOTRANSFERASE (TPST), which is responsible for the post-translational modification of sulfotyrosyl peptides, is essential for expansion during development in the non-vascular plant, Physcomitrium patens. Plants that harbor a null mutation in the gene encoding TPST (Δtpst) were smaller, formed fewer caulonemal filaments, and were unable to form expanded gametophores. In Δtpst multiple aspects of gametophore development were affected, including the first division of the gametophore initial, as well as reduced rates of cell division and expansion. Mutational analysis of P. patens TPST identified the residue Histidine 124, a candidate catalytic residue, as essential for TPST function. Notably, addition of the sulfated signaling peptide, PSY1 from either P. patens or Arabidopsis thaliana, rescued all Δtpst developmental deficits. Taken together, these data suggest that TPST functions to sulfate PSY, and this activity is necessary for plant growth and development. Furthermore, since addition of AtPSY fully rescues Δtpst and PpPSY promotes root elongation in Arabidopsis and rice, these findings suggest that PSY signaling is evolutionarily conserved.
The MADS-box transcription factor VvSVP1 negatively regulates grapevine bud dormancy release.
Sun P, Chen A, Huang H … +9 more , Li J, Li Y, Zhao T, Guo M, Yan J, Xin P, Chu J, Ma H, Zheng C
Plant Physiol · 2026 Jul · PMID 42389939 · Publisher ↗
Grape (Vitis vinifera L.), an economically important fruit tree grown worldwide, exhibits high sensitivity to environmental fluctuations during bud dormancy release. To address challenges such as warm winters and late-sp...
Grape (Vitis vinifera L.), an economically important fruit tree grown worldwide, exhibits high sensitivity to environmental fluctuations during bud dormancy release. To address challenges such as warm winters and late-spring cold spells, and to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying grapevine bud dormancy release, this study investigated the regulatory role of the MADS-box transcription factor VvSVP1 in this process. Transient silencing of VvSVP1 promoted bud break in grapevine, whereas its overexpression delayed bud break, providing clear evidence that VvSVP1 has a negative regulatory role in bud dormancy release. Mechanistically, VvSVP1 interacted directly with the promoter regions of the abscisic acid (ABA)-catabolism gene VvCYP707A4 and the florigen gene VvFT, inhibiting their expression and impeding ABA degradation and meristem activation. In addition, transcriptome analysis indicated that silencing of VvSVP1 activated broader transcriptional programs related to phenylpropanoid metabolism, central carbon metabolism, and hypoxia response. Upstream of VvSVP1, the ABA-responsive element binding factor VvABF2 was identified as a positive regulator. Transient silencing of VvABF2 promoted dormant grapevine bud break and significantly reduced VvSVP1 expression, accompanied by up-regulation of VvCYP707A4 and VvFT. Together, these results support a regulatory model for grapevine bud dormancy release centered on VvSVP1. This work provides a theoretical basis for the screening of ecofriendly dormancy release agents and for studying the regulatory mechanisms involved in bud dormancy release of other fruit trees.
A genome-scale metabolic model of a pathosystem sheds light on bacterial wilt.
Gerlin L, Genin S, Baroukh C
Plant Physiol · 2026 Jul · PMID 42385052 · Publisher ↗
During plant infection, complex metabolic interactions occur between the host and the pathogen, including direct competition for resources. While pathogens exploit host-derived nutrients to sustain growth and virulence,...
During plant infection, complex metabolic interactions occur between the host and the pathogen, including direct competition for resources. While pathogens exploit host-derived nutrients to sustain growth and virulence, plants attempt to restrict pathogen proliferation by limiting nutrient availability. To quantify the contribution of these trophic interactions to disease development, we developed a mathematical model of plant-pathogen metabolism. A genome-scale metabolic model of the pathogen was integrated with a genome-scale, multi-organ metabolic model of the plant and calibrated using experimental data. Model simulations were performed using a sequential flux balance analysis framework. This approach was applied to the Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum-tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) pathosystem. Quantitative fluxes of matter occurring during plant infection were predicted. The model shows that (i) plant photosynthetic capacity imposes a stronger constraint on bacterial proliferation than mineral availability; (ii) infection-induced reduction in plant transpiration first limits plant growth and subsequently restricts pathogen expansion; (iii) stem resource hijacking enhances bacterial growth but is likely limited; and (iv) pathogen-excreted putrescine is likely reutilized for the plant's needs. Together, these results provide a quantitative assessment of resource competition in plant-pathogen interactions and highlight the central role of water flow during infection by a fast-growing, xylem-colonizing bacterium.
NbVQ1 physically turns off the NbWRKY45-NbCAT2 module to te ROS burst and disease resistance in plants under high-potassium regime.
Du Y, Wang S, Liu G … +9 more , Zhou J, Feng Z, Qiao Z, Zhang S, Zhang R, Gleason ML, Yao Q, Jia H, Sun G
Plant Physiol · 2026 Jul · PMID 42385033 · Publisher ↗
Potassium (K) nutrition is a critical determinant of plant disease resistance, but the molecular mechanisms linking K status to defense activation remain unclear. Presently, we systematically investigated the detailed me...
Potassium (K) nutrition is a critical determinant of plant disease resistance, but the molecular mechanisms linking K status to defense activation remain unclear. Presently, we systematically investigated the detailed mechanisms by NbVQ1-NbWRKY45-NbCAT2 module in regulating plant immunity under different K statuses. Typically, elevating K content to high (HK, sufficient level) status enhanced pathogen-induced immune responses, particularly reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst, thereby conferring broad-spectrum resistance in Nicotiana benthamiana. Central to this process was the NbVQ1-NbWRKY45-NbCAT2 module, which functioned as a switch for pathogen-triggered ROS burst. In low-K (LK) plants, NbWRKY45 was upregulated through a self-amplifying loop, thereby inducing NbCAT2 expression to scavenge ROS and ultimately compromising plant disease resistance. In contrast, adding K promoted NbVQ1 expression, which proved essential for the K-enhanced plant resistance. NbVQ1 interacted with the WRKYGQK domain of NbWRKY45 through its VQ motif, thereby disrupting the binding affinity of NbWRKY45 to NbCAT2 promoter and causing NbCAT2 downregulation. This transcriptional suppression of NbCAT2 resulted in stronger ROS bursts and improved the resistance of N. benthamiana to Botrytis cinerea and Phytophthora parasitica under HK status. Notably, K+ could promote the interaction between NbVQ1 and NbWRKY45, directly explicating nutrient-associated immune potentiation mechanism. Moreover, this K-dependent resistance mechanism mediated by VQ1-WRKY45-CAT2 module was conserved in Arabidopsis thaliana, while suppression of NbWRKY45 also increased plant drought tolerance. Overall, this study established the VQ-WRKY-CAT module as a molecular switch for K-promoted ROS immunity and provided mechanistic evidence for coupling K nutrition with transcriptional regulation of plant immunity.
The MdPIF4-MdBCH1/MdLCYB2 module regulates drought resistance in apple via the xanthophyll cycle and ABA.
Wang H, Tian Y, Song Y … +8 more , Yuan J, Li Y, Lv L, Fang S, Liang W, Ma F, Liu H, Li C
Plant Physiol · 2026 Jul · PMID 42383892 · Publisher ↗
Drought stress affects plant growth and development. Zeaxanthin, as the key substance of the xanthophyll cycle and the precursor to abscisic acid (ABA), whose synthesis depends on light, can quickly respond to drought st...
Drought stress affects plant growth and development. Zeaxanthin, as the key substance of the xanthophyll cycle and the precursor to abscisic acid (ABA), whose synthesis depends on light, can quickly respond to drought stress and enhance plant drought tolerance. However, the molecular mechanism by which zeaxanthin adapts to drought stress is still unclear. In this study, the application of exogenous zeaxanthin via spraying was confirmed to alleviate the damage caused by drought stress in apple seedlings, and MdBCH1 and MdLCYB2, which encode proteins that catalyze zeaxanthin synthesis, enhanced drought resistance by accelerating the lutein cycle and ABA synthesis. Furthermore, a transcription factor, MdPIF4, was identified as effectively reducing the contents of zeaxanthin and ABA and negatively regulating drought resistance. Further studies confirmed that MdPIF4 inhibits zeaxanthin biosynthesis by binding to the promoters of MdBCH1 and MdLCYB2. Therefore, this study revealed the regulation of drought resistance and zeaxanthin homeostasis in apple by the MdPIF4-MdBCH1/MdLCYB2 module. These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of drought resistance in plants.
The bZIP54 (GBF2)-SARD1 module regulates salicylic acid-mediated resistance to Pst DC3000 in Arabidopsis.
Tetteh C, Zhang C, Luo S … +7 more , Wang Y, Zhang T, Jin P, Liang Y, Wang Y, Liu C, Zhang H
Plant Physiol · 2026 Jul · PMID 42383854 · Publisher ↗
Salicylic acid (SA)-mediated defense responses are crucial for plant immunity, yet transcription factors (TFs) that coordinate SA biosynthesis with immune activation remain incompletely characterized. Here, a basic leuci...
Salicylic acid (SA)-mediated defense responses are crucial for plant immunity, yet transcription factors (TFs) that coordinate SA biosynthesis with immune activation remain incompletely characterized. Here, a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) TF, bZIP54, was identified as a positive regulator in response to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) DC3000. Consistent with this, bZIP54 regulated SA accumulation and a suite of SA-related defense genes following Pst DC3000 infection. Mechanistically, bZIP54 directly bound to a G-box-like motif in the SARD1 promoter, activating its expression-an interaction that was further enhanced by SA. Genetic analysis demonstrated that SARD1 operates downstream of bZIP54 to confer resistance to Pst DC3000. Additionally, bZIP54 also contributed to defense against the fungal pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, indicating a broader role in plant immunity. Together, these findings revealed a bZIP54-SARD1 regulatory module thus providing insights into the transcriptional networks governing disease resistance in Arabidopsis.
A CsNF-YB4-CsWAT1-CsARF9 regulatory cascade mediates auxin-dependent suppression of lignin biosynthesis and resistance to Colletotrichum camelliae in tea plants.
Chen Y, Wang J, He A … +7 more , Cao M, Shi M, Lu M, Lv W, Ren H, Wang X, Wang Y
Plant Physiol · 2026 Jul · PMID 42383515 · Publisher ↗
Tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is an economically important crop whose yield and quality are threatened by anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum camelliae. While C. camelliae infection elevates indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) l...
Tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is an economically important crop whose yield and quality are threatened by anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum camelliae. While C. camelliae infection elevates indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) levels in tea plants, how this hormone increases influences disease progression remains unclear. Here, we show that C. camelliae actively rewires auxin homeostasis in tea plants to compromise immunity. Using functional genomics and molecular analyses, we identified an auxin transporter, CsWAT1-19, which is associated with intracellular auxin compartmentalization. Its pathogen-induced expression is essential for cytosolic free IAA accumulation and subsequent disease development. We further delineated a regulatory cascade in which pathogen infection downregulates the transcriptional repressor CsNF-YB4, thereby relieving its repression of CsWAT1-19. The resulting increase in cytosolic free IAA activates the auxin-responsive factor CsARF9, which directly suppresses key lignin biosynthetic genes and disrupts cell wall-based defense. Together, our findings define a CsNF-YB4→CsWAT1-19→CsARF9 regulatory module through which a fungal pathogen hijacks host auxin transport and signaling to attenuate lignin-mediated physical barriers, providing new insight into the intersection of plant hormone signaling and immune responses in tea plants.
Natural cross-kingdom transmission of a novel ssDNA mycovirus confers broad-spectrum resistance to plant diseases.
Zhou S, Sun Y, Li P … +5 more , Lin X, Liang X, Zhou J, Xie J, Zheng L
Plant Physiol · 2026 Jul · PMID 42383491 · Publisher ↗
Cross-kingdom virus transmission between plants and fungi remains rare in nature. Here, a novel circular ssDNA virus, Diaporthe pseudophoenicicola DNA virus 1 (DpDV1), was identified from the phytopathogenic fungus Diapo...
Cross-kingdom virus transmission between plants and fungi remains rare in nature. Here, a novel circular ssDNA virus, Diaporthe pseudophoenicicola DNA virus 1 (DpDV1), was identified from the phytopathogenic fungus Diaporthe pseudophoenicicola. DpDV1 attenuates the pathogenicity of both its original and experimental host fungi, demonstrating its potential as a biocontrol agent against fungal phytopathogens. Remarkably, DpDV1 displays bidirectional plant-fungal transmission capability without inducing observable phenotypic changes in plant hosts, overcoming the limitations imposed by vegetative incompatibility in conventional hypovirulence-based biocontrol approaches. Immunocytochemical localization assays revealed DpDV1 is localized in the chloroplasts of plant cells, demonstrating its cross-kingdom transmission. Furthermore, we demonstrated DpDV1 can cross-protect plants against plant viruses, establishing foundations for cross-protection-based management of plant virus diseases. Hence, we report a novel ssDNA mycovirus and provide evidence of mycovirus cross-kingdom transmission between plant and fungi, providing innovative strategies for mycovirus biocontrol of plant fungal and viral diseases.
A versatile tool for gene editing in the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana.
Nam O, Grouneva I, Mackinder LCM
Plant Physiol · 2026 Jul · PMID 42383490 · Publisher ↗
Diatoms are major contributors to marine primary production and global CO2 fixation, with the centric diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana a powerful model for understanding biogeochemical processes including carbon fixation...
Diatoms are major contributors to marine primary production and global CO2 fixation, with the centric diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana a powerful model for understanding biogeochemical processes including carbon fixation and silicification. Whilst there are molecular tools available for fluorescent protein (FP) tagging and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in T. pseudonana, these require the delivery of multiple vectors or have limited versatility. Additionally, scarless endogenous tagging, that results in a fluorescent protein fusion expressed from its native genomic location, has yet to be developed. Here we describe a versatile modular Golden Gate-based toolkit for T. pseudonana that through the delivery of a single-episome via bacterial conjugation enables: [1] FP tagging, [2] dual FP tagging, [3] CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, [4] simultaneous FP tagging with gene editing, and [5] scarless endogenous FP tagging. We further expand the available parts for T. pseudonana by validating three additional FPs and two untested promoter/terminator pairs. We demonstrate the versatility of our system by knocking out Diatom Pyrenoid Component 1 (DPC1), whilst simultaneously GFP tagging the Rubisco small subunit (rbcS); and by endogenously GFP tagging the bestrophin-like protein BST2. Whilst DPC1 knock-out does not result in a major pyrenoid structural defect due to unperturbed rbcS-GFP localization to the pyrenoid, we confirm that BST2 localizes to the pyrenoid and exhibits increased fluorescence under low CO2 - supporting a role in diatom carbon fixation. Our developed genetic tools provide a robust framework for exploring cellular processes in diatoms, accelerating routine studies and enabling systematic, quantitative and large-scale studies.
Membrane lipid-derived heptanedioic acid primes defence and systemic growth in plants.
Godara R, Mohapatra S, Thakur S … +7 more , Roy A, Vaishnavi S, Anmol, Sharma U, Hallan V, Kumar A, Dogra V
Plant Physiol · 2026 Jul · PMID 42381508 · Publisher ↗
Lipid peroxidation-generated nonanedioic acid (also called azelaic acid, AZA), a 9-carbon dicarboxylic acid (DCA), primes plant defense responses. Here, we report that, along with AZA, a 7-carbon DCA, heptanedioic acid (...
Lipid peroxidation-generated nonanedioic acid (also called azelaic acid, AZA), a 9-carbon dicarboxylic acid (DCA), primes plant defense responses. Here, we report that, along with AZA, a 7-carbon DCA, heptanedioic acid (also called pimelic acid; PIM), is also generated in plants experiencing pathogen and photoinhibitory (high light/cold) stresses. The exogenous foliar application of these DCAs induced basal defense against bacterial and fungal pathogens, with PIM showing a greater effect. Assessment against viral pathogens revealed systemic implications of these DCAs. Interestingly, AZA-primed defense penalized growth, while PIM treatment primed both defense elicitation and growth promotion. Induced systemic growth promotion and stress resilience in different plants upon foliar spray at the cotyledonary leaf stage present PIM as a promising and broad-spectrum biostimulant that could enhance agricultural productivity.
Natural variation in SlGRF10 reveals a role in regulating tomato fruit weight.
von Steimker J, Macho M, Wendenburg R … +10 more , Lee J, Zemach I, Xu Y, Fröhlich A, Sampathkumar A, Zamir D, Fei Z, Giovannoni JJ, Fernie AR, Alseekh S
Plant Physiol · 2026 Jul · PMID 42379559 · Publisher ↗
Fruit weight is a key determinant of yield in high-value vegetable crops such as tomato. Despite extensive research, the molecular mechanisms underlying this complex trait remain largely elusive, with only a few genes cl...
Fruit weight is a key determinant of yield in high-value vegetable crops such as tomato. Despite extensive research, the molecular mechanisms underlying this complex trait remain largely elusive, with only a few genes cloned to date based on quantitative trait loci (QTL). Here, we analysed two populations and reanalysed three previously published populations and identified 945 QTL associated with agro-morphological traits, including both previously reported and unidentified loci. We focused on SlGRF10 (GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR 10) underlying a fruit weight QTL, fw1.2. Loss of SlGRF10 reduced fruit weight by decreasing cell size, without affecting cell number. Analysis of natural variation in SlGRF10 in over 1,000 tomato accessions revealed that increased single-nucleotide polymorphism diversity in SlGRF10 is associated with lower fruit weight. This suggests that putative impaired activity contributes to reduced fruit weight, while breeding-induced reduction of genetic variation may have promoted increased fruit weight. Transcriptome profiling of SlGRF10 knockout lines 7- and 20-days post anthesis identified several differentially expressed genes involved in cell cycle progression. Our findings not only confirm the role of SlGRF10 in regulating tomato fruit weight but also highlight a set of candidate genes associated with key morpho-physiological traits. With fw11.3, named as CELL SIZE REGULATOR (CSR), being the only QTL related to cell size determination in tomato fruits so far, SlGRF10 offers a valuable target for precision breeding and enhances our understanding of fruit weight in tomato and related fruit-bearing species.
Loss of the phosphate sensor CsSPX2 impairs lateral root initiation and development in cucumber.
Zhang Q, Yao X, Lv L … +8 more , Yang Z, Li H, Shi Y, Yuan Y, Zhu X, Xu L, Nie J, Sui X
Plant Physiol · 2026 Jun · PMID 42378669 · Publisher ↗
Lateral root (LR) branching is a vital adaptive strategy for plants to optimize nutrient acquisition, particularly under phosphorus deficiency. While auxin triggers LR formation, the molecular link between phosphate (Pi)...
Lateral root (LR) branching is a vital adaptive strategy for plants to optimize nutrient acquisition, particularly under phosphorus deficiency. While auxin triggers LR formation, the molecular link between phosphate (Pi) homeostasis and the developmental competence of xylem-pole-pericycle (XPP) cells in roots remains elusive. In this study, we identified CsSPX2 from the SPX (SYG1/Pho81/XPR1) family as a critical phosphate sensor in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) that is strongly induced by Pi starvation. CRISPR/Cas9-generated CsSPX2 knockout lines displayed reduced lateral root density, shorter lateral roots and abnormal root meristems. The loss of CsSPX2 resulted in phosphate overaccumulation and excessive lignin deposition under Pi-sufficient conditions. Concomitantly, we observed abnormal thickening of the XPP cell walls and subsequently impaired auxin responsiveness at LR initiation sites, as evidenced by diminished DR5::GUS activity. Notably, under Pi-deficient conditions, spx2 mutants exhibited obviously decreased lignin content and significantly reduced thickness of XPP cell wall compared to Pi-sufficient conditions. In addition, the LR developmental defects in spx2 mutants were partially rescued by exogenous application of either a lignin biosynthesis inhibitor or synthetic auxin. Furthermore, CsSPX2 appeared to be important for maintaining the stem cell niche organization and meristematic activity in root tips, as its loss altered quiescent center and columella stem cell behavior and impaired root cap differentiation. Collectively, our findings support a model where CsSPX2 might link phosphate homeostasis to lateral root development through its involvement in XPP cell wall properties and auxin response. This study deepens our understanding of plant nutrition stress responses and provides a key genetic target for developing phosphate-efficient crops.
A hickory lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase confers tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses via membrane lipid modulation.
Zheng S, Li Y, Kong C … +4 more , Zhang L, Yu W, Wu J, Lou H
Plant Physiol · 2026 Jun · PMID 42378668 · Publisher ↗
With the continuous deterioration of the global environment, plants are facing various abiotic stresses that adversely affect plant growth and crop yield. In this study, we identified a lysophosphatidic acid acyltransfer...
With the continuous deterioration of the global environment, plants are facing various abiotic stresses that adversely affect plant growth and crop yield. In this study, we identified a lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase gene CcLPAT2 from hickory that can increase plant oil content, and also found that its transcription is strongly induced by multiple abiotic stressors. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the plant responses to multiple abiotic stressors are poorly understood. We demonstrated that CcLPAT2 localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and contributes to the regulation of fatty acid metabolism, including changes in C18:1 and C18:2 levels, and membrane lipid composition, thereby promoting membrane integrity and stabilizing reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis under stress conditions. Moreover, we found that the transcription factor CcMYB5 directly binds to the promoter of CcLPAT2 and promotes its expression under multiple abiotic stress conditions; interestingly, the expression of CcMYB5 is also induced by multiple abiotic stressors. Together, our genetic and biochemical analyses reveal a novel regulatory mechanism in which CcLPAT2-mediated changes in fatty acids and membrane lipids protect plant cells from abiotic stresses by reducing ROS accumulation and enhancing membrane stability.
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