Climate change‐driven extreme weather events, combined with increasing temperatures, harsh soil conditions, low water availability and quality, and the introduction of many man‐made pollutants, pose a unique challenge to plants. Although our knowledge of the response of plants to each of these individual conditions is vast, we know very little about how a combination of many of these factors, occurring

● Elevated atmospheric CO2 (eCa) may benefit plants during drought by reducing stomatal conductance (gs) but any ‘water savings effect’ could be neutralized by concurrent stimulation of leaf area. We investigated whether eCa enhanced water savings, thereby ameliorating the impact of drought on carbon and water relations in trees. ● We report leaf‐level gas exchange and whole‐plant and soil water relations

It is critically important for plants to control the trade‐off between normal growth and pathogen immunity. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. Here we report such a mechanism controlled by WRKY70 and its partner CHYR1 in Arabidopsis. We found that both levels of the WRKY70 target gene SARD1 and the phosphorylated forms of WRKY70 were increased in WRKY70OE plants upon

Polyploidy is a dominant feature of extant plant diversity. However, major research questions, including whether polyploidy is important to long‐term evolution or is just ‘evolutionary noise’, remain unresolved due to difficulties associated with the generation and analysis of data from polyploid lineages. Many of these difficulties have been recently overcome, such that it is now often relatively

Diatoms are globally important phytoplankton that dominate coastal and polar‐ice assemblages. These environments exhibit substantial changes in salinity over dynamic spatiotemporal regimes. Rapid sensory systems are vital to mitigate the harmful consequences of osmotic stress. Population‐based analyses have suggested that Ca2+ signalling is involved in diatom osmotic sensing. However, mechanistic insight

The development of calcification by the coccolithophores had a profound impact on ocean carbon cycling, but the evolutionary steps leading to the formation of these complex biomineralised structures are not clear. Heterococcoliths consisting of intricately‐shaped calcite crystals are formed intracellularly by the diploid life cycle phase. Holococcoliths consisting of simple rhombic crystals can be

Plants are often attacked by multiple insect herbivores. How plants deal with an increasing richness of attackers from a single or multiple feeding guilds is poorly understood. We subjected black mustard (Brassica nigra) plants to 51 treatments representing attack by an increasing species richness (1, 2 or 4 species) of either phloem feeders, leaf chewers, or a mix of both feeding guilds when keeping

Phytosterols are primary plant metabolites that have fundamental structural and regulatory functions. They are also essential nutrients for phytophagous insects, including pollinators, that cannot synthesize sterols. Despite the well‐described composition and diversity in vegetative plant tissues, few studies have examined phytosterol diversity in pollen.

The genetic basis of flowering time changes across environments, and pleiotropy may limit adaptive evolution of populations in response to local conditions. However, little is known about how genetic architecture changes among environments.

Increases in leaf mass per area (LMA) are commonly observed in response to environmental stresses and are achieved through increases in leaf thickness and/or leaf density. Here, we investigated how the two underlying components of LMA differ in relation to species native climates and phylogeny, across deciduous and evergreen species. Using a phylogenetic approach, we quantified anatomical, compositional

The tree seed mycobiome has received little attention despite its potential role in forest regeneration and health. The aim of the present study was to analyze the processes shaping the composition of seed fungal communities in natural forests as seeds transition from the mother plant to the ground for establishment. We used metabarcoding approaches and confocal microscopy to analyze the fungal communities

Iron (Fe) from rice grains is a major source of dietary intake; however, the molecular mechanisms responsible for loading of Fe to the grains are poorly understood. We functionally characterized a vacuolar iron transporter gene, OsVIT2 in terms of expression pattern, cellular localization, and mutant phenotypes. OsVIT2 was expressed in the parenchyma cell bridges of nodes, in the mestome sheath of

Wood density is the product of carbon allocation for structural growth and reflects the trade‐off between mechanical support and water conductivity. We tested a conceptual framework based on the assumption that micro‐density depends on direct and indirect relationships with endogenous and exogenous factors. The dynamics of wood formation, including timings and rates of cell division, cell enlargement

Plants display remarkable developmental flexibility as they continuously sense and respond to changes in their environment. This flexibility allows them to select the optimal timing for critical developmental decisions such as when to flower. Ambient temperature is a major environmental factor that influences flowering; the mechanisms involved in ambient temperature‐responsive flowering have attracted

Plant hormones can adjust the physiology and development of plants to enhance their adaption to biotic and abiotic challenges. Jasmonic Acid (JA), one of the immunity hormones in plants, triggers genome‐wide transcriptional changes in response to insect attack and wounding. Although JA is known to affect the development of trichomes, epidermal appendages that form a protective barrier against various

Strigolactones and karrikins are butenolide molecules that regulate plant growth. They are perceived via the α/β‐hydrolase DWARF14 (D14) and its homologue KARRIKIN INSENSITIVE2 (KAI2), respectively. Plant‐derived strigolactones have a butenolide ring with a methyl group that is essential for bioactivity. By contrast, karrikins are abiotic in origin, and the butenolide methyl group is non‐essential

Environmentally induced changes in the epigenome help individuals to quickly adapt to fluctuations in the conditions of their habitats. We explored those changes in Arabidopsis thaliana plants subjected to multiple biotic and abiotic stresses, and identified transposable element (TE) activation in plants infested with the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae. We performed a genome‐wide analysis mRNA expression

Condensins are best known for their role in shaping chromosomes. However, other functions as organizing interphase chromatin and transcriptional control have been reported in yeasts and animals, but little is known about their function in plants. To elucidate the specific composition of condensin complexes and the expression of CAP‐D2 (condensin I) and CAP‐D3 (condensin II) we performed biochemical

Many flowering plant taxa contain allopolyploids which share one or more genomes in common. In the Brassica genus, crop species B. juncea and B. carinata share the B genome, with 2n = AABB and 2n = BBCC genome complements respectively. Hybridization results in 2n = BBAC hybrids, but the fate of these hybrids over generations of self‐pollination has never been reported. We produced and characterised

The genes required for host‐specific pathogenicity in Fusarium oxysporum can be acquired through horizontal chromosome transfer (HCT). However, it is unknown if HCT commonly contributes to the diversification of pathotypes. Using comparative genomics and pathogenicity phenotyping, we explored the role of HCT in the evolution of F. oxysporum f. sp. fragariae, the cause of Fusarium wilt of strawberry

Greening of cotyledons during de‐etiolation is critical for harvesting light energy and sustaining plant growth. PIF3 and HY5 antagonistically regulate protochlorophyllide synthesis in the dark. However, the mechanism by which the PIF3/HY5 module regulates genes involved in protochlorophyllide synthesis is not clear. Using genetic, molecular and biochemical techniques we identified that the B‐BOX protein

Human alteration of natural habitats may change the processes governing species interactions in wild communities. Wild populations are increasingly impacted by agricultural intensification, yet it is unknown whether this alters biodiversity mediation of disease dynamics. We investigated the association between plant diversity (species richness, diversity) and infection risk (virus richness, prevalence)

Calcium (Ca2+) is a second messenger for plant cell surface and intracellular receptors mediating pattern‐triggered and effector‐triggered immunity (respectively, PTI and ETI). Several CYCLIC NUCLEOTIDE‐GATED CHANNELS (CNGCs) were shown to control transient cytosolic Ca2+ influx upon PTI activation. The contributions of specific CNGC members to PTI and ETI remain unclear. ENHANCED DISEASE SUSCEPTIBLITY1

The patterning of adaxial–abaxial tissues plays a vital role in the morphology of lateral organs, which is maintained by antagonism between the genes that specify adaxial and abaxial tissue identity. The homeo‐domain leucine zipper class III (HD‐ZIP III) family genes regulate adaxial identity; however, little is known about the physical interactions or transcriptionally regulated downstream genes of

NIN (NODULE INCEPTION) is a transcription factor that plays a key role during root nodule initiation. However, it’s role in later nodule developmental stages is unclear. Both NIN mRNA and protein accumulated at the highest level in the proximal part of the infection zone in Medicago truncatula nodules. Two nin weak allele mutants, nin‐13/16, form a rather normal nodule infection zone, whereas a fixation

Salt stress triggers the overdose accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in crop plants, leading to severe oxidative damage to living tissues. MicroRNAs act as master regulators orchestrating the stress responsive regulatory networks as well as salt tolerance. However, the fundamental roles of miRNAs in modulating salt tolerance in cereal crops, especially in salt‐triggered ROS scavenging remain

Plant roots are specialized belowground organs that spatiotemporally shape their development in function of varying soil conditions. This root plasticity relies on intricate molecular networks driven by phytohormones, such as auxin and jasmonate (JA). Loss‐of‐function of the NOVEL INTERACTOR OF JAZ (NINJA), a core component of the JA signaling pathway, leads to enhanced triterpene biosynthesis, in

This article is a Commentary on Bogdziewicz et al. (2021), 229: 2357–2364.

What inspired your interest in plant science? It was a windy road for me. The short answer is my Dad. I grew up in Athens, Ohio (USA), which is nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Throughout my young life I was surrounded by nature. My father was a mycologist in the Botany Department at Ohio University (now Emeritus); he taught courses on fungi, medicinal plants, the role of plants

Plants are living information‐processing organisms with highly adaptive behavior, allowing them to prosper in a harsh and fluctuating environment in spite of being sessile. Lacking a central nervous system, plants are distributed systems orchestrating complex computational processes performed at the tissue level. Here I consider plant tropisms as a useful input–output system boasting a robust mathematical

Mucilage, a gel‐like layer formed around wetted seeds in a process called myxospermy, has importance as a proxy for studying cell wall polysaccharide biosynthesis and interactions and as a source of valuable health supplements and hydrocolloids. Arabidopsis thaliana has provided unrivalled insight into mucilage/cell wall synthesis, but its lack of commercial utility presents an opportunity to develop

Iron (Fe) is a major micronutrient and is required for plant growth and development. Nongrass species have evolved a reduction‐based strategy to solubilize and take up Fe. The secretion of Fe‐mobilizing coumarins (e.g. fraxetin, esculetin and sideretin) by plant roots plays an important role in this process. Although the biochemical mechanisms leading to their biosynthesis have been well described

• Rice (Oryza sativa) is the staple food for over half the world’s population. Drought stress imposes major constraints on rice yields. Intriguingly, labdane‐related diterpenoid (LRD) phytoalexins in maize (Zea mays) affect drought tolerance, as indicated by the increased susceptibility of an insertion mutant of the class II diterpene cyclase ZmCPS2/An2 that initiates such biosynthesis. Rice also produces

In most legumes, two typical features found in leaves are diverse compound forms and the pulvinus‐driven nyctinastic movement. Many genes have been identified for leaf‐shape determination, but the underlying nature of leaf movement as well as its association with the compound form remains largely unknown. Using forward‐genetic screening and whole‐genome resequencing, we found that two allelic mutants

Pathogens have evolved various strategies to overcome host immunity for successful infection. Maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) can cause lethal necrosis in maize (Zea mays) when it coinfects with a virus in the Potyviridae family. However, MCMV pathogenicity determinant remains largely unknown. Here we show that the P31 protein of MCMV is important for viral accumulation and essential for symptom

•Stomata exert control on fluxes of CO2 and H2O in the majority of vascular plants and thus are pivotal for planetary fluxes of carbon and water. However, in mosses, the significance and possible function of the sporophytic stomata are not well understood, hindering understanding of the ancestral function and evolution of these key structures of land plants.

Herbivore‐induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) are widely recognized as an ecologically important defensive response of plants against herbivory. Although the induction of this “cry for help” has been well‐documented, only a few studies has investigated the inhibition of HIPVs by herbivores, and little is known about whether herbivores have evolved mechanisms to inhibit the release of HIPVs. To examine

There are multiple hypotheses for the spectacular plant diversity found in deserts. We explore how different factors, including the roles of ecological opportunity and selection, promote diversification and disparification in Encelia, a lineage of woody plants in the deserts of the Americas. Using a nearly complete species‐level ddRAD‐based phylogeny along with a broad set of phenotypic traits, we

Sorgoleone, a hydrophobic compound exuded from root hair cells of Sorghum spp., accounts for much of the allelopathic activity of the genus. The enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of this compound have been identified and functionally characterized. Here, we report the successful assembly of the biosynthetic pathway and the significant impact of in vivo synthesized sorgoleone on the heterologous

The nucellus tissue in flowering plants provides nutrition for the development of the female gametophyte (FG) and young embryo. The nucellus degenerates as the FG develops, but the mechanism controlling the coupled process of nucellar degeneration and FG expansion remains largely unknown. The degeneration process of the nucellus and spatiotemporal auxin distribution in the developing ovule before fertilization

Glycosylation is a conserved set of post‐translational modifications that exists in all eukaryotic cells. During the last decade, the role of glycosylation in plant pathogenic fungi has received significant attention and considerable progress has been made, especially in Ustilago maydis and Magnaporthe oryzae. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of the role of N‐glycosylation, O‐glycosylation

Re‐establishment of heritable latitudinal clines in growth‐related traits has been recognized as evidence for adaptive evolution in invasive plants. However, less is known about latitudinal clines in defense and joint clinal evolution of growth and defense in invasive plants. We planted 14 native Argentinean populations and 14 introduced Chinese populations of Alternanthera philoxeroides in replicate

Morphological diversity (disparity) is an essential but often neglected aspect of biodiversity. Hence, it seems timely and promising to re‐emphasize morphology in modern evolutionary studies. Disparity is a good proxy for the diversity of functions and interactions with the environment of a group of taxa. In addition, geographical and ecological patterns of disparity are crucial to understand organismal

Golgi is a critical compartment for both the reutilization of the essential micronutrient manganese (Mn) and its detoxification. However, whether Mn plays a role in the Golgi remains to be demonstrated in plants. We characterized the function of PML3, a member of the Unknown Protein Family UPF0016, in Mn transport and the regulation of plant growth, Golgi glycosylation and cell wall biosynthesis in

Photosynthetic capacity per unit irradiance is greater, and the marginal carbon revenue of water (∂A/∂E) is smaller, in shaded leaves than sunlit leaves, apparently contradicting optimization theory. I tested the hypothesis that these patterns arise from optimal carbon partitioning subject to biophysical constraints on leaf water potential. In a whole plant model with two canopy modules, I adjusted

• The signaling pathway mediated by the receptor‐like kinase ERECTA (ER) plays important roles in plant immune responses, but the underlying mechanism is unclear.

The DELAY OF GERMINATION1 (DOG1) family genes (DFGs) in Arabidopsis thaliana are involved in seed dormancy, reserve accumulation, and desiccation tolerance. Decoding the molecular evolution of DFGs is key to understanding how these seed programs evolved. This article demonstrates that DFGs have diverged in the four lineages DOG1, DOG1‐LIKE4 (DOGL4), DOGL5, and DOGL6 while DOGL1, DOGL2, and DOGL3 arose

Rare, yet accumulating evidence in both plants and animals shows that whole genome duplication (WGD, leading to polyploidy) can break down reproductive barriers, facilitating gene flow between otherwise isolated species. Recent population genomic studies in wild, outcrossing Arabidopsis arenosa and Arabidopsis lyrata indicate that this WGD‐potentiated gene flow can be adaptive and highly specific in

Whereas the role of calcium ions (Ca2+) in plant signaling is well studied, the physiological significance of pH‐changes remains largely undefined. Here we developed CapHensor, an optimized dual‐reporter for simultaneous Ca2+ and pH ratio‐imaging and studied signaling events in pollen tubes (PTs), guard cells (GCs), and mesophyll cells (MCs). Monitoring spatio‐temporal relationships between membrane

The plant hormone auxin and its directional intercellular transport plays a major role in diverse aspects of plant growth and development. The establishment of auxin gradients requires the asymmetric distribution of members of the auxin efflux carrier PIN‐FORMED (PIN) protein family to the plasma membrane. An endocytic pathway regulates the recycling of PIN proteins between the plasma membrane and

Signaling peptides play crucial roles in plant growth, development and defense. We report here that the Arabidopsis thaliana secreted peptide, ROOT MERISTEM GROWTH FACTOR 7 (RGF7), functions as an endogenous elicitor to trigger plant immunity. Expression of the RGF7 precursor‐encoding gene (preRGF7) is highly induced in Arabidopsis leaves upon infection by the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae

Xanthophyll cycles are broadly important in photoprotection, and the reversible de‐epoxidation of xanthophylls typically occurs in excess light conditions. However, as presented in this review, compiling evidence in a wide range of photosynthetic eukaryotes shows that xanthophyll de‐epoxidation also occurs under diverse abiotic stress conditions in darkness. Light‐driven photochemistry usually leads

The transition from an engulfed autonomous unicellular photosynthetic bacterium to a semi‐autonomous endosymbiont plastid was accompanied by the transfer of genetic material from the endosymbiont to the nuclear genome of the host, ensued by the establishment of plastids‐to‐nucleus (retrograde) signaling. The retrograde coordinated activities of the two subcellular genomes ensures chloroplast biogenesis

● Many crops are polyploid or have a polyploid ancestry. Recent phylogenetic analyses have found that polyploidy often preceded the domestication of crop plants. One explanation for this observation is that increased genetic diversity following polyploidy may have been important during the strong artificial selection that occurs during domestication. ● To test the connection between domestication and

▪ Adaptation to drought involves complex interactions of traits that vary within and among species. To date, few data are available to quantify within‐species variation in functional traits and they are rarely integrated into mechanistic models to improve predictions of species response to climate change. ▪ We quantified intraspecific variation in functional traits of two Hakea species growing along

Pre‐mRNA splicing is an essential step for the regulation of gene expression. In order to specifically capture splicing variants in plants for genome‐wide association studies (GWAS), we developed a software tool to quantify and visualize Variations of Splicing in Population (VaSP). VaSP can quantify splicing variants from short‐read RNA‐seq datasets and discover genotype‐specific splicing (GSS) events

● The effects of climate change on tropical forests will depend on how diverse tropical tree species respond to drought. Current distributions of evergreen and deciduous tree species across local and regional moisture gradients reflect their ability to tolerate drought stress, and might be explained by functional traits. ● We measured leaf water potential at turgor loss (i.e., “wilting point”; πtlp)

The (maximum) growth rate (µmax) hypothesis predicts that cellular and tissue phosphorus levels should increase with increasing growth rate, and RNA should also increase as most of the phosphorus is required to make ribosomes. Using published data, we show that though there is a strong positive relationship between the µmax of all photosynthetic organisms and their phosphorus content (% dry weight)