Methionine sulfoxide reductase B (MsrB) is involved in oxidative stress or defense responses in plants. However, little is known about its role in legume-rhizobium symbiosis. In this work, an MsrB gene was identified from Astragalus sinicus and its function in symbiosis was characterized. AsMsrB was induced under phosphorus starvation and displayed different expression patterns under symbiotic and

Alkaloid biosynthesisERF transcription factorsGene clustersNicotineTranscriptional regulation

Alkaloid biosynthesisERF transcription factorsGene clustersNicotineTranscriptional regulation

Alkaloid biosynthesisERF transcription factorsGene clustersNicotineTranscriptional regulation

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) play important roles in the regulation of eukaryotic gene expression. The role of HDACs in specialized transcriptional regulation and biological processes is poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated the global expression patterns of genes related to epigenetic modifications during callus initiation in rice. We found that the repression of HDAC activity by trichostatin

Plants have ability to regenerate whole plant bodies including shoots and roots in vitro from callus derived from a variety of tissues. However, underlying mechanisms for this de novo organogenesis, which is based on totipotency of callus cells, are poorly understood. Here, we report that a microRNA (miRNA)-mediated posttranscriptional regulation plays an important role in de novo shoot regeneration

Many polypetalous plants have a constriction at the base of the petal that leaves a small gap that can provide entry into the young flower bud before the reproductive organs are fully developed. In cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) this gap is occluded by tufts of short unicellular trichomes superficially resembling the fibers found on cotton seeds. We are just beginning to understand the developmental

Spermine (Spm) regulates water balance involved in water channel proteins aquaporins (AQPs) in plants. An increase in endogenous Spm content via exogenous Spm application significantly improved cell membrane stability, photosynthesis, osmotic adjustment (OA), and water use efficiency (WUE) contributing to enhanced tolerance to water stress in white clover. Spm up-regulated TrTIP2-1, TrTIP2-2, and TrPIP2-7

N-terminal acetylation is one of the most common protein modifications in eukaryotes. The function of Naa50, the catalytic subunit of the evolutionarily conserved N-terminal acetyltransferase E complex, has not been reported in Arabidopsis. In this study, we found that a loss of Naa50 resulted in a pleiotropic phenotype that included dwarfism and sterility, premature leaf senescence, and a shortened

Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins are RNA binding proteins that function in posttranscriptional regulation as gene-specific regulators of RNA metabolism in plant organelles. Plant PPR proteins are divided into four classes: P, PLS, E and DYW. The E- and DYW-class proteins are mainly implicated in RNA editing, whereas most of the P-class proteins predominantly participate in RNA cleavage, splicing

The present study reports profiling of the elevated CO2 concentration responsive global transcriptome in chickpea along with a combinatorial approach for exploring interlinks of physiological and transcriptional changes, important for the climate change scenario. Various physiological parameters were recorded from chickpea cultivars (JG 11 and KAK 2) raised in OTC (Open-Top-Chamber) under ambient (380 ppm)

Plants are continuously exposed to different abiotic and biotic stresses; therefore, to protect themselves they depend on the fast reprogramming of large gene repertoires to prioritize the expression of a given stress-induced gene set over normal cellular household genes. The activity of the proteasome, a large proteolytic complex that degrades proteins, is vital to coordinate the expression of such

As an alternative electron sink, chlororespiration, comprised of the NAD(P)H dehydrogenase complex and plastid terminal plastoquinone oxidase, may play a significant role for sustaining the redox equilibrium between stroma and thylakoid membrane. This study identified a distinct role of chlororespiration in the marine angiosperm Zostera marina, whose oxygen evolving complex (OEC) is prone to photo-inactivation

About 60-85% of total phosphorus (P) in cereal crops is finally allocated to the seeds, which is required for seed development, germination, and early growth. However, little is known on the molecular mechanisms underlying P allocation to the seeds. Here, we found that two members (OsPHO1;1 and OsPHO1;2) belonging to PHO1 gene family, are involved in the distribution of P to the seeds in rice. Both

An understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie plant salt tolerance is important for both economic and scientific interests. Genome-wide Association Study (GWAS) is a promising approach to pinpoint genes that confer plant salt tolerance. With the advancement of supporting technology and methodology, GWAS has enabled the discovery of genes that play central roles in regulating plant salt

Temperature is an essential physical factor that affects the plant life cycle. Almost all plant species have evolved a robust signal transduction system that enables them to sense changes in the surrounding temperature, transduce, and accordingly adjust their metabolism and cellular functions to avoid heat stress-related damage. Wheat (Triticum aestivum), as a cool-season crop, is very sensitive to

In Arabidopsis thaliana, a mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, MEKK1–MKK1/MKK2–MPK4, is important for basal resistance, and disruption of this pathway results in dwarf, autoimmune phenotypes. To elucidate the complex mechanisms activated by the disruption of this pathway, we have previously developed a mutant screening system based on a dwarf autoimmune line that overexpressed the N-terminal

Although cyanobacteria do not possess wax ester synthase/acyl-CoA: diacylglycerol acyltransferase (WS/DGAT), the bacterial enzyme for triacylglycerol (TAG) production, there have been several studies reporting accumulation of TAG-like compounds in cyanobacteria. In this study, we aimed to evaluate TAG productivity of the ΔrecJ::atfA strain of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 generated by inserting atfA encoding

Maize inflorescence is a complex phenotype that involves the physical and developmental interplay of multiple traits. Given the evidence that genes could pleiotropically contribute to several of these traits, we used publicly available maize data to assess the ability of multivariate genome-wide association study (GWAS) approaches to identify pleiotropic quantitative trait loci (pQTL). Our analysis

Sucrose accumulation is one of the important factors that determine fruit enlargement and quality. Evaluation of the sugar profile of 105 pear cultivars revealed low- and high-sucrose types of pear fruits. To better understand the molecular mechanisms governing the sucrose content of pear fruits, this study performed transcriptome analysis during fruit development using low-sucrose 'Korla' fragrant

Anthocyanin biosynthesis is mainly controlled by MYB-bHLH-WD40 (MBW) complexes that modulate the expression of anthocyanin biosynthetic genes. The MYB regulators involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis arose early during plant evolution, and thus might function divergently in different evolutionary lineages. Although the anthocyanin-promoting R2R3-MYB regulators in eudicots have been comprehensively explored

To ensure food security in the face of increasing global demand due to population growth and progressive urbanization, it will be crucial to integrate emerging technologies in multiple disciplines to accelerate overall throughput of gene discovery and crop breeding. Plant agronomic traits often appear during the plants' later growth stages due to the cumulative effects of their lifetime interactions

Alkaloid biosynthesisERF transcription factorsGene clustersNicotineTranscriptional regulation

Drought represents a major threat to crop growth and yields. Strigolactones (SLs) contribute to regulating shoot branching by targeting the SUPPRESSOR OF MORE AXILLARY GROWTH2 (MAX2)-LIKE6 (SMXL6), SMXL7 and SMXL8 for degradation in a MAX2-dependent manner in Arabidopsis. Although SLs are implicated in plant drought response, the functions of the SMXL6, 7 and 8 in the SL-regulated plant response to

Pollen lipids are essential for sexual reproduction but our current knowledge regarding lipid dynamics in growing pollen tubes is still very scarce. Here, we report unique lipid composition and associated gene expression patterns during olive pollen germination. Up to 376 genes involved in the biosynthesis of all lipid classes, except suberin, cutin and lipopolysaccharides, are expressed in the olive

Nitrogen (N) is a major limiting factor affecting crop yield in unfertilized soil. Thus, cultivars with a high N use efficiency (NUE) and good grain protein content (GPC) are needed to fulfill the growing food demand and to reduce environmental burden. This is especially true for rice (Oryza sativa L.) that is cultivated with a high input of N fertilizer and is a primary staple food crop for more than

The galling insect, Leptocybe invasa, causes significant losses in plantations of various Eucalyptus species and hybrids, threatening its economic viability. We applied a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) to identify single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers associated with resistance to L. invasa. A total of 563 insect-challenged Eucalyptus grandis trees, from 61 half-sib families, were genotyped

HKT1;5 loci/alleles are important determinants of crop salinity tolerance. HKT1;5s encode plasmalemma-localized Na+-transporters, retrieving xylem Na+ into xylem parenchyma cells, reducing shoot Na+ accumulation. Allelic variation in rice OsHKT1;5 sequence in specific landraces (Nona Bokra OsHKT1;5-NB/Nipponbare OsHKT1;5-Ni) correlates with variation in salt tolerance. Oryza coarctata, a halophytic

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3Δ9,12,15) and γ-linolenic acid (GLA, 18:3Δ6,9,12) are important trienoic fatty acids which are beneficial for human health in their own right, or as precursors for the biosynthesis of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. ALA and GLA in seed oil are synthesized from linoleic acid (LA, 18:2Δ9,12) by the microsomal ω-3 fatty acid desaturase (FAD3) and Δ6 desaturase (D6D)

The root system of barley plants is composed of embryogenic, seminal roots, as well as lateral and nodal roots that are formed post-embryonically from seminal roots and from the basal part of shoots, respectively. Due to their distinct developmental origin, seminal and nodal roots may differ in function during plant development, however, a clear comparison between these two root types has not yet been

Phomopsis asparagi is one of the most serious fungal pathogens, which causes stem blight disease in Asparagus officinalis (AO), adversely affecting its production worldwide. Recently, development of novel asparagus varieties using wild Asparagus genetic resources with natural P. asparagi resistance has become a priority in Japan due to the lack of resistant commercial AO cultivars. In the present study

In this report, we describe studies on symplasmic communication and cellular rearrangement during direct somatic embryogenesis (SE) in the tree fern Cyathea delgadii. We analyzed changes in the symplasmic transport of low-molecular weight fluorochromes, such as 8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid, trisodium salt (HPTS) and fluorescein (delivered to cells as fluorescein diacetate - FDA), within stipe

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) grown locally by Japanese farmers is generically termed Takakibi, although its genetic diversity compared with geographically distant varieties or even within Takakibi lines remains unclear. To explore the genomic diversity and genetic traits controlling biomass and other physiological traits in Takakibi, we focused on a landrace, NOG in this study. Admixture analysis

Plant mildew-resistance locus O (MLO) proteins influence susceptibility to powdery mildew. However, their roles in plant responses to other pathogens and heat stress remain unclear. Here, we showed that CaMLO6, a pepper (Capsicum annuum) member of MLO clade V, is a protein targeted to plasma membrane and probably endoplasmic reticulum. The transcript expression level of CaMLO6 was upregulated in the

Gibberellin (GA) hormones regulate the development of plants and their responses to environmental signals. The final part of GA-biosynthesis is catalysed by multifunctional 2-oxoglutarate dependent dioxygenases which are encoded by multigene families. According to their enzymatic properties and physiological functions, GA-oxidases are classified as anabolic or catabolic enzymes. Together they allow

Heterosis or hybrid vigor has been used widely for more than a decade in Canola (Brassica napus) production. Canola hybrids show heterosis in a variety of traits compared to parents, including increased biomass at the early stages of seedling establishment, which is a critical developmental step that impacts future plant growth and seed yield. In this study, we examined transcriptomes of two parental

Growth of etiolated Arabidopsis hypocotyls is biphasic. During the first phase, cells elongate slowly and synchronously. At 48 h after imbibition, cells at the hypocotyl base accelerate their growth. Subsequently, this rapid elongation propagates through the hypocotyl from base to top. It is largely unclear what regulates the switch from slow to fast elongation. Reverse genetics-based screening for

Although brassinosteroids (BRs) have been proposed to be negative regulators of photomorphogenesis, their physiological role therein has remained elusive. We studied light-induced photomorphogenic development in the presence of the BR-biosynthesis inhibitor, brassinazole (Brz). Hook opening was inhibited in the presence of Brz; this inhibition was reversed in the presence of brassinolide. Hook opening

Angiosperms have three PsbQ-like (PQL) proteins in addition to the PsbQ subunit of the oxygen-evolving complex of photosystem (PS) II. Previous studies have shown that two PQL proteins, PnsL2 and PnsL3, are subunits of the chloroplast NADH dehydrogenase-like (NDH) complex involved in the PSI cyclic electron flow. In addition, another PsbQ homolog, PQL3, is also required for the NDH activity; however

Leaves are formed by coordinated growth of tissue layers driven by cell proliferation and expansion. Compensation, in which a defect in cell proliferation induces compensated cell enlargement (CCE), plays an important role in cell-size determination during leaf development. We previously reported that CCE triggered by the an3 mutation is observed in epidermal and subepidermal layers in Arabidopsis

Cellular homeostasis is maintained by the proteasomal degradation of regulatory and misfolded proteins, which sustains the amino acid pool. Although proteasomes alleviate stress by removing damaged proteins, mounting evidence indicates that severe stress caused by salt, metal(oids), and some pathogens can impair the proteasome. However, the consequences of proteasome inhibition in plants are not well

Flowering time is a finely tuned process in plants, in part controlled by the age-regulated microRNA156 (miR156), which functions by suppressing the transcripts of SQUAMOSA-PROMOTER BINDING LIKE (SPL) transcription factors. ARGONAUTE (AGO) proteins are essential effectors of miRNA-mediated gene regulation. However, which AGO(s) mediate(s) the control of flowering time remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate

Agronomically important traits often develop during the later stages of crop growth as consequences of various plant-environment interactions. Therefore, the temporal physiological states that change and accumulate during the crop's life course can significantly affect the eventual phenotypic differences in agronomic traits among crop varieties. Thus, to improve productivity, it is important to elucidate

Plant and Cell Physiology, Volume 61, Issue 4, 2020, Pages 722–734, https://doi.org/10.1093/pcp/pcz236

In addition to its fundamental function as a universal cellular energy carrier, ATP has emerged as an extracellular signaling molecule with crucial roles in diverse aspects of plant growth and stress-adaptive responses (Tanaka et al. 2010). Genetic evidence identifying the first plant extracellular ATP (eATP) receptor in the plasma membrane (Choi et al. 2014) cemented eATP as an authentic signal for

Prof. Wataru Sakamoto, Editor-in-Chief (2020-), Plant & Cell Physiology.

Target of rapamycin (TOR) is an evolutionarily conserved protein kinase that plays an important role in the regulation of cell growth and sensing of nutrient and energy status in eukaryotes. In yeasts and mammals, the roles of TOR have been very well described, and various functions of TOR signaling in plant lineages have also been revealed over the past 20 years. In the case of microalgae, the functions

The increasing demand for triacylglycerol (TAG) enriching polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has led to a surge of interest in microalgal TAG metabolism. Polar membrane lipids serve as the desaturation carrier for PUFA and the functional group PUFA can be incorporated into TAG. Monogalactoglycerolipid (MGDG) has been found to provide the de novo synthsized oleate acyl group or the nascent polyunsaturated

Extracellular ATP (eATP) is an apoplastic signaling molecule that plays essential roles in the growth and development of plants. Arabidopsis seedlings have been reported to respond to eATP, however, the downstream signaling components are still not well understood. Here, we report that an ethylene responsive factor, Redox Responsive Transcription Factor 1 (RRTF1), is involved in eATP-regulated Arabidopsis

Sulfur (S) is an essential element for plants, and S deficiency causes severe growth retardation. Although the catabolic process of glucosinolates (GSLs), the major S-containing metabolites specific to Brassicales including Arabidopsis, has been recognized as one of the S deficiency (-S) responses in plants, the physiological function of this metabolic process is not clear. Two β-glucosidases (BGLUs)

Rhizotaxis is established under changing environmental conditions via periodic priming of lateral root (LR) initiation at the root tips and adaptive LR formation along the primary root (PR). In contrast to the adaptable LR formation in response to nutrient availability, there is little information on root development during interactions with beneficial microbes. The Arabidopsis root system is characteristically

Cell wall modification is integral to many plant developmental processes where cells need to separate, such as abscission. However, changes in the cell wall composition during natural fruit abscission are poorly understood. In olive (Olea europaea L), some cultivars such as 'Picual' undergo massive natural fruit abscission after fruit ripening. This study investigates the differences in cell wall polysaccharide

Anthocyanin accumulation is transcriptionally regulated by the MYB-bHLH-WD40 complex. Light is indispensable for anthocyanin accumulation, and light-inducible MYB and HY5 were considered to promote anthocyanin accumulation in many fruits. Whether and how light-inducible bHLH transcription factor and HY5 regulate anthocyanin synthesis in strawberry is unknown. In this study, we identified a bHLH transcription

Aquaporins play a major role in plant water uptake at both optimal and environmentally stressed conditions. However, the functional specificity of aquaporins under cold remains obscure. To get a better insight to the role of aquaporins in cold acclimation and freezing tolerance, we took an integrated approach of physiology, transcript profiling and cell biology in Arabidopsis thaliana. Cold acclimation

Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins comprise a large family that play important roles in the regulation of abiotic stresses. No in-depth analysis of LEA genes has been performed in grapevine. In this study, we analyzed a total of 52 putative LEA genes in grapevine at genomic and transcriptomic levels, compiled expression profiles of four selected VamLEA genes under cold and osmotic stress and

Soil salinity, a prevalent abiotic stress, causes enormous losses in global crop yields annually. Previous studies have shown that salt stress-induced reprogramming of gene expression contributes to the survival of plants under this stress. However, mechanisms regulating gene expression in response to salt stress at the posttranscriptional level are not well understood. Here, we show that salt stress

Autopolyploids often show growth advantages over their diploid progenitors because of their increased photosynthetic activity; however, the underlying molecular basis of such mechanism remains elusive. Here, we aimed to characterize autotetraploid pak choi (Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis) at the physiological, cellular, and molecular levels. Autotetraploid pak choi has thicker leaves than its diploid

Acyl-CoA-binding proteins (ACBPs) are involved in binding and trafficking acyl-CoA esters in eukaryotic cells. ACBPs contain a well-conserved acyl-CoA-binding domain (ACBD). Their various functions have been characterized in the model plant Arabidopsis and, to a lesser extent, in rice. In this study, genome-wide detection and expression analysis of ACBPs were performed on Elaeis guineensis (oil palm)

Brassicaceae and closely related species develop unique endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-derived structures called ER bodies, which accumulate β-glucosidases/myrosinases that are involved in chemical defense. There are two different types of ER bodies: ER bodies constitutively present in seedlings (cER bodies) and ER bodies in rosette leaves induced by treatment with the wounding hormone jasmonate (JA) (iER

Iron (Fe) deficiency limits the yield of fruit trees. When subjected to Fe-deficiency, H+ secretion increases in the rhizosphere of dicotyledonous plants and pH decreases. This leads to the acidification of the soil and promotes Fe3+ to Fe2+ conversion, which plants can better uptake. This study investigated the relationship between two inhibitory transcription factors (ethylene response factors MbERF4