Across the marine landscape – from estuaries to the open ocean, biota take up silicon (Si) as monosilicic acid (Si(OH4)) and deposit it into their tissues as biogenic silica (BSi, SiO2). Along the coast, vegetated ecosystems such as salt marshes and mangroves sequester a significant amount of Si in their tissues and likely help regulate the availability of Si in surrounding waters (Carey & Fulweiler

CaWRKY40 in pepper (Capsicum annuum) promotes immune responses to Ralstonia solanacearum infection (RSI) and to high-temperature, high-humidity (HTHH) stress, but how it interacts with upstream signaling components remains poorly understood.

Soil salinity and drought limit sweet potato yield. Scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by peroxidases (PRXs) is essential during plant stress responses, but how PRX expression is regulated under abiotic stress is not well understood. Here, we report that the B-box (BBX) family transcription factor IbBBX24 activates the expression of the class III peroxidase gene IbPRX17 by binding to its promoter

This article is a Commentary on Márquez et al. (2022), 233: 156–168.

This article is a Commentary on Wang et al. (2022), 233: 373–389.

This article is a Commentary on Kariyawasam et al. (2022), 233: 409–426 and Richards et al. (2022), 233: 427–442.

A comment on: Pena-Novas & Archetti (2020a) ‘Biogeography and evidence for adaptive explanations of autumn colors’; Renner & Zohner (2020) ‘Further analysis of 1532 deciduous woody species from North America, Europe, and Asia supports continental-scale differences in red autumn colouration’; Agati et al. (2021) ‘Anthocyanins in photoprotection: knowing the actors in play to solve this complex eco-physiological

The economically valuable Brassica species include the six related members of U’s Triangle. Despite the agronomic and economic importance of these Brassicas, the impacts of evolution and relatively recent domestication events on the genetic landscape of seed development have not been comprehensively examined in these species. Here we present a 3D transcriptome atlas for the six species of U’s Triangle

In many ways, the tropical dry forest biome is the ‘invisible’ forest. Seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs) are found in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australia, but they are not defined by a single physiography and the biogeographic origins of this biome are still under study (Dexter et al., 2015; Slik et al., 2018). In Latin America there is a wide array of names given to this forest type such

Viruses cause severe damage on crops, and identification of key gene(s) that can comprehensively activate antiviral immunity will provide insights for designing effective antiviral strategies. Salicylic acid (SA)-mediated antiviral immunity and RNA interference (RNAi) are two independently discovered antiviral pathways. Previously, we identified the orchid stress-associated protein (SAP), Pha13, which

Consistent information on the current elemental composition of vegetation at global scale and the variables that determine it is lacking. To fill this gap, we gathered a total of 30 912 georeferenced records on woody plants foliar concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) from published databases, and produced global maps of foliar N, P and K concentrations for woody plants using

Living trees in forests emit methane (CH4) from their stems. However, the magnitudes, patterns, drivers, origins, and biogeochemical pathways of these emissions remain poorly understood. We measured in situ CH4 fluxes in poplar stems and soils using static chambers and investigated the microbial communities of heartwood and sapwood by sequencing bacterial 16S, archaeal 16S, and fungal ITS rRNA genes

The intensity and frequency of droughts events are projected to increase in future with expected adverse effects for forests. Thus, information on the dynamics of tree water uptake from different soil layers during and after drought is crucial. We applied an in situ water isotopologue monitoring system to determine the oxygen isotope composition in soil and xylem water of European beech with a 2-h

Damage to the plant water transport system through xylem cavitation is known to be a driver of plant death in drought conditions. However, a lack of techniques to continuously monitor xylem embolism in whole plants in vivo has hampered our ability to investigate both how this damage propagates and the possible mechanistic link between xylem damage and tissue death. Using optical and fluorescence sensors

Forests harbour large spatiotemporal heterogeneity in canopy structure. This variation drives the microclimate and light availability at the forest floor. So far, we do not know how light availability and sub-canopy temperature interactively mediate the impact of macroclimate warming on understorey communities. We therefore assessed the functional response of understorey plant communities to warming

Warming climate increases the risk for harmful leaf temperatures in terrestrial plants, causing heat stress and loss of productivity. The heat sensitivity may be particularly high in equatorial tropical tree species adapted to a thermally stable climate. Thermal thresholds of the photosynthetic system of sun-exposed leaves were investigated in three tropical montane tree species native to Rwanda with

Arabidopsis thaliana seed germination is marked by extensive translational control at two critical phase transitions. The first transition refers to the start of hydration, the hydration translational shift. The second shift, the germination translational shift (GTS) is the phase between testa rupture and radicle protrusion at which the seed makes the all or nothing decision to germinate. The mechanism

Protein bodies (PBs), the major protein storage organelle in maize (Zea mays) endosperm, comprise zeins and numerous nonzein proteins (NZPs). Unlike zeins, how NZPs accumulate in PBs remains unclear. We characterized a maize miniature kernel mutant, mn*, that produces small kernels and is embryo-lethal. After cloning the Mn* locus, we determined that it encodes the mitochondrial 50S ribosomal protein

Exogenous application of CLAVATA3 (CLV3)/EMBRYO SURROUNDING REGION (CLE) peptides suppresses protophloem differentiation and leads to the consumption of the proximal root meristem. However, the exact CLE peptides and the corresponding receptor complex regulating protophloem differentiation have not yet been clarified. Through expression pattern and phylogenetic analyses, CLE25/26/45 were identified

How plants balance growth and stress adaptation is a long-standing topic in plant biology. Abscisic acid (ABA) induces the expression of the stress-responsive Asparagine Rich Protein (NRP), which promotes the vacuolar degradation of PP6 phosphatase FyPP3, releasing ABI5 transcription factor to initiate transcription. Whether NRP is required for growth remains unknown. We generated an nrp1 nrp2 double

The embryonic cuticle integrity is critical for the embryo to separate from the neighboring endosperm. The sulfated TWISTED SEED1 (TWS1) peptide precursor generated in the embryo diffuses through gaps of the nascent cuticle to the surrounding endosperm, where it is cleaved by ABNORMAL LEAF SHAPE1 (ALE1) and becomes an active mature form. The active TWS1 is perceived by receptor-like protein kinases

Advanced transcriptome sequencing has revealed that the majority of eukaryotic genes undergo alternative splicing (AS). Nonetheless, little effort has been dedicated to investigating the functional relevance of particular splicing events, even those in the key developmental and hormonal regulators. Combining approaches of genetics, biochemistry and advanced confocal microscopy, we describe the impact

High-temperature stress inhibits normal cellular processes and results in abnormal growth and development in plants. However, the mechanisms by which rice (Oryza sativa) copes with high temperature are not yet fully understood. In this study, we identified a rice high temperature enhanced lesion spots 1 (hes1) mutant, which displayed larger and more dense necrotic spots under high temperature conditions

Past studies have established mesophyll diffusion conductance to CO2 (gm) as a variable and significant limitation to plant photosynthesis under steady-state conditions. However, the role of gm in influencing photosynthesis (A) during the transient period of light induction is largely unknown. We combined gas exchange measurements with laser-enabled carbon isotope discrimination measurements to assess

Since the roots are the very organ where plants first sense and respond drought stress, it is of great importance to better understand root responses to drought. Yet the underlying molecular mechanisms governing root responses to drought stress have been poorly understood. Here, we identified and functionally characterized a CCCH type transcription factor, PuC3H35, and its targets, anthocyanin reductase

Phytophthora spp. cause serious damage to plants by exploiting a large number of effector proteins and small RNAs (sRNAs). Several reports have described modulation of host RNA biogenesis and defence gene expression. Here, we analysed Phytophthora infestans Argonaute (Ago) 1 associated small RNAs during potato leaf infection. Small RNAs were co-immunoprecipitated, deep sequenced and analysed against

The molecular mechanisms of quantitative resistance (QR) to fungal pathogens and their relationships with growth pathways are poorly understood. We identified tomato TRK1 (TPK1b Related Kinase1) and determined its functions in tomato QR and plant growth. TRK1 is a receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase that complexes with tomato LysM Receptor Kinase (SlLYK1). SlLYK1 and TRK1 are required for chitin-induced

Components of the plant immune signaling network need mechanisms that confer resilience against fast-evolving pathogen effectors that target them. Among eight Arabidopsis CaM-Binding Protein (CBP) 60 family members, AtCBP60g and AtSARD1 are partially functionally redundant, major positive immune regulators, and AtCBP60a is a negative immune regulator. We investigated possible resilience-conferring

Interactions between individual plant pathogens and their environment have been described many times. However, the relative contribution of different environmental parameters as controls of pathogen communities remains largely unknown. Here we investigate the importance of environmental factors, including geomorphology, climate, land use, soil and plant community composition, for a broad range of aboveground

Many plant species simultaneously interact with multiple symbionts, which can, but do not always, generate synergistic benefits for their host. We ask if plant life history (i.e. annual vs perennial) can play an important role in the outcomes of the tripartite symbiosis of legumes, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and rhizobia. We performed a meta-analysis of 88 studies examining outcomes of legume–AMF–rhizobia

Circular RNA (circRNA) is a kind of new regulatory RNA with diverse biological functions. Numerous circRNAs have been identified in many plant species; however, evolution of plant circRNAs remains largely unknown. In this study, we assembled full-length sequences of 6519 rice (Oryza sativa) circRNAs and analyzed their conservation in another 46 plant species based on comparison of sequences and expression

Some plant traits may be legacies of coevolution with extinct megafauna. One example is the convergent evolution of ‘divaricate’ cage architectures in many New Zealand lineages, interpreted as a response to recently extinct flightless avian browsers whose ancestors arrived during the Paleogene period. Although experiments have confirmed that divaricate habit deters extant browsers, its abundance on

Natural selection shapes genome-wide patterns of diversity within species and divergence between species. However, quantifying the efficacy of selection and elucidating the relative importance of different types of selection in shaping genomic variation remain challenging. We sequenced whole genomes of 101 individuals of three closely related oak species to track the divergence history, and to dissect

The zygnematophycean algae occupy an important phylogenetic position as the closest living relatives of land plants. Reverse genetics is quite useful for dissecting the functions of genes. However, this strategy requires genetic transformation, and there are only a few reports of successful transformation in zygnematophycean algae. Here, we established a simple and highly efficient transformation technique

Vulnerability to xylem cavitation is a strong predictor of drought-induced damage in forest communities. However, biotic features of the community itself can influence water availability at the individual tree-level, thereby modifying patterns of drought damage. Using an experimental forest in Tasmania, Australia, we determined the vulnerability to cavitation (leaf P50) of four tree species and assessed

Many important plant traits are products of nested symbiosis: mobile genetic elements (MGEs) are nested within microbes, which in turn, are nested within plants. Plant trait variation is therefore not only determined by the plant’s genome, but also by loci within microbes and MGEs. Yet it remains unclear how interactions and coevolution within nested symbiosis impacts the evolution of plant traits

Masting is a widespread reproductive strategy in plants that helps to reduce seed predation and increase pollination. However, masting can involve costs, notably negative density-dependent (NDD) seedling survival caused by concentrating reproduction in intermittent events. Masting benefits have received widespread attention, but the costs are understudied, which precludes understanding why some plant

Shoot branching is regulated by multiple signals. Previous studies have indicated that sucrose may promote shoot branching through suppressing the inhibitory effect of the hormone strigolactone (SL). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this effect are unknown. Here, we used molecular and genetic tools to identify the molecular targets underlying the antagonistic interaction between sucrose

The spatiotemporal control of meristem identity is critical for determining inflorescence architecture, and thus yield, of cereal plants. However, the precise mechanisms underlying inflorescence and spikelet meristem determinacy in cereals are still largely unclear. We have generated loss-of-function and overexpression mutants of the paralogous OsMADS5 and OsMADS34 genes in rice (Oryza sativa), and

The mechanisms underlying plant tolerance to boron (B) excess are far from fully understood. Here we characterized the role of the miR397-CsiLAC4/CsiLAC17 (from Citrus sinensis) module in regulation of B flow. Live-cell imaging techniques were used in localization studies. A tobacco transient expression system tested modulations of CsiLAC4 and CsiLAC17 by miR397. Transgenic Arabidopsis were generated

Protein abundance in cereal grains is determined by the relative rates of protein synthesis and protein degradation during grain development but quantitation of these rates is lacking. Through combining in vivo stable isotope labelling and in-depth quantitative proteomics, we have measured the turnover of 1400 different types of proteins during wheat grain development. We demonstrate that there is

Jasmonates are fatty acid-derived hormones that regulate multiple aspects of plant development, growth and stress responses. Bioactive jasmonates, defined as the ligands of the conserved COI1 receptor, differ between vascular plants and bryophytes (jasmonoyl-l-isoleucine (JA-Ile) and dinor-12-oxo-10,15(Z)-phytodienoic acid (dn-OPDA), respectively). The biosynthetic pathways of JA-Ile in the model vascular

Organ size is determined mainly by cell division and cell expansion. Several genetic factors regulating development of plant lateral organs have been characterized, but those involved in determining reproductive organ size and separation in rice (Oryza sativa) remain unknown. We have isolated the rice gene SMALL REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS (SRO) encoding a nucleus-localized Cys2His2 (C2H2) zinc finger protein

The prevalence of local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity among populations is critical to accurately predicting when and where climate change impacts will occur. Currently, comparisons of thermal performance between populations are untested for most marine species or overlooked by models predicting the thermal sensitivity of species to extirpation. Here we compared the ecological response and recovery

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of 21–24 nucleotides (nt) noncoding small RNAs ubiquitously distributed across the plant kingdom. miR482/2118, one of the conserved miRNA superfamilies originating from gymnosperms, has divergent main functions in core-angiosperms. It mainly regulates NUCLEOTIDE BINDING SITE-LEUCINE-RICH REPEAT (NBS-LRR) genes in eudicots, functioning as an essential component in plant

Root hairs (RHs) function in nutrient and water acquisition, root metabolite exudation, soil anchorage and plant–microbe interactions. Longer or more abundant RHs are potential breeding traits for developing crops that are more resource-use efficient and can improve soil health. While many genes are known to promote RH elongation, relatively little is known about genes and mechanisms that constrain

The protease WSS1A is an important factor in the repair of DNA-protein crosslinks in plants. Here we show that the loss of WSS1A leads to a reduction of 45S rDNA repeats and chromosomal fragmentation in Arabidopsis. Moreover, in the absence of any factor of the RTR (RECQ4A/TOP3α/RMI1/2) complex, which is involved in the dissolution of DNA replication intermediates, WSS1A becomes essential for viability

Light quality affects mutualisms between plant roots and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which modify nutrient acquisition in plants. However, the mechanisms by which light systemically modulates root colonization by AMF and phosphate uptake in roots remain unclear. We used a range of approaches, including grafting techniques, protein immunoblot analysis, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, chromatin

Fungal endophytes live asymptomatically within plants and are widespread inhabitants of leaves and other organs (Wilson, 1995). Similarly, endolichenic fungi live asymptomatically within lichens, occurring in healthy lichen thalli worldwide (Arnold et al., 2009). Endophytes and endolichenic fungi are ecologically similar, living in symbiosis with either a plant or the photobionts of lichens (Arnold

Ear length (EL), controlled by quantitative trait loci (QTL), is an important component of grain yield and as such a key target trait in maize breeding. However, very few EL QTL have been cloned and their molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, using genome wide association study (GWAS), we identified a QTL-YIGE1, which encodes an unknown protein that regulates EL by affecting pistillate floret

● Telomere length has been implicated in the organismal response to stress, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. ● Here we examine the impact of telomere length changes on Arabidopsis thaliana responses to three contrasting abiotic environments, and measure 32 fitness, development, physiology and leaf-level anatomy traits. ● We report that telomere length in wild type and short telomere mutants

Existing global regionalization schemes for plants consider the compositional affinities among biotas, but these have not explicitly considered phylogenetic information. Here, we present for the first time, a phytogeographical delineation of the global vascular flora based on species-level evolutionary relationships. We analysed 8737 820 geographical occurrence records for vascular plants together

Generalised dose–response curves are essential to understand how plants acclimate to atmospheric CO2. We carried out a meta-analysis of 630 experiments in which C3 plants were experimentally grown at different [CO2] under relatively benign conditions, and derived dose–response curves for 85 phenotypic traits. These curves were characterised by form, plasticity, consistency and reliability. Considered

During plant-pathogenic fungi and host plants interactions, numerous pathogen-derived proteins are secreted resulting in the activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway. For efficient trafficking of secretory proteins, including those important in disease progression, the cytoplasmic coat protein complex II (COPII) exhibits a multifunctional role whose elucidation remains limited. Here

Plants evolved in association with a diverse community of microorganisms. The effect of plant phylogeny and domestication on host–microbiome co-evolutionary dynamics are poorly understood. Here we examined the effect of domestication and plant lineage on the composition of the endophytic microbiome of 11 Malus species, representing three major groups: domesticated apple (M. domestica), wild apple progenitors

Some robust trait-trait relationships between species, including the leaf economic spectrum (LES), are regarded as important plant strategies but whether these relationships represent plant strategies in reality remains unclear. We propose a novel approach to distinguish trait-trait relationships between species that may represent plant strategies vs. those relationships that are due to common drivers

The Arctic tundra is becoming more productive, with further significant change expected over the coming decades. Biome-scale increases in Arctic plant productivity have, at least partly, been attributed to the expansion of tall woody shrubs (Mekonnen et al., 2021a). Increasing productivity and shrub abundance will have profound consequences: from influencing surface energy balance and permafrost stabilization

Rice (Oryza sativa) is a staple food crop and serves as a model cereal plant. It contains two biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) for the production of labdane-related diterpenoids (LRDs), which serve important roles in combating biotic and abiotic stress. While plant BGCs have been subject to genetic analyses, these analyses have been largely confined to the investigation of single genes. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated

Early terrestrial plants colonizing land probably relied on arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) associations to meet their nutrient needs (Smith & Read, 2008; but see Bidartondo et al., 2011). Despite occasional diversifications towards other mycorrhizal association strategies (Hoeksema, 2010; Feijen et al., 2018), the AM symbiosis shows a remarkable persistence over evolutionary time (Brundrett & Tedersoo