Protein homeostasis (proteostasis) is crucial for proper cellular function, including the production of peptides with biological functions through controlled proteolysis. Proteostasis has roles in maintenance of cellular functions and plant interactions with the environment under physiological conditions. Plant stress continues to reduce agricultural yields causing substantial economic losses; thus

High‐throughput phenotyping systems are powerful, dramatically changing our ability to document, measure, and detect biological phenomena. Here, we describe a cost‐effective combination of a custom‐built imaging platform and deep‐learning‐based computer vision pipeline. A minimal version of the Maize Ear Scanner (MES) was built with low‐cost and readily available parts. The scanner rotates a maize

Vitis amurensis (Shanputao) is the most cold tolerant Vitis species and so is of great interest to grape breeders and producers in areas with low winter temperatures. Here, we report its high‐quality, chromosome‐level genome assembly based on a combination of sequence data from Illumina and PacBio platforms, BioNano optical mapping and high‐throughput chromosome conformation Capture (Hi‐C) mapping

Allopolyploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) carries three pairs of homoeologous genomes but its meiotic pairing is diploid‐like. This is the effect of the Ph (pairing homoeologous) system which restricts chromosome pairing to strictly homologous. Ph1 is the locus with the strongest effect. Disabling Ph1 permits pairing between homoeologues and is routinely used in chromosome engineering to introgress

The maize (Zea mays) genome encodes three indole‐3‐glycerolphosphate synthase enzymes (IGPS1, 2, and 3) catalyzing the conversion of 1‐(2‐carboxyphenylamino)‐l‐deoxyribulose‐5‐phosphate to indole‐3‐glycerolphosphate. Three further maize enzymes (BX1, benzoxazinoneless 1; TSA, tryptophan synthase α subunit; and IGL, indole glycerolphosphate lyase) convert indole‐3‐glycerolphosphate to indole, which

In flowering plants, double fertilization between male and female gametophytes, which are separated by distance, largely depends on the unique pattern of the male gametophyte (pollen): two nonmotile sperm cells suspended within a tube‐producing vegetative cell. A morphological screen to elucidate the genetic control governing the strategic patterning of pollen has led to isolation of a sticky generative

Population genetic theory has been well developed for diploid species, but its extension to study genetic diversity, variation and evolution in autopolyploids, a class of polyploids derived from the genome doubling of a single ancestral species, requires the incorporation of multisomic inheritance. Double reduction, which is characteristic of autopolyploidy, has long been believed to shape the evolutionary

Aethionema arabicum is an important model plant for Brassicaceae trait evolution, particularly of seed (development, regulation, germination, dormancy) and fruit (development, dehiscence mechanisms) characters. Its genome assembly was recently improved but the gene annotation was not updated. Here, we improved the Ae. arabicum gene annotation using 294 RNA‐seq libraries and 136,307 full‐length PacBio

Bacterial spot, which is caused by several Xanthomonas species, is an economically important disease in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Great efforts have been made for the identification of resistant sources and the genetic analysis of resistance. However, the development of resistant commercial varieties is slow due to the existence of multiple species of the pathogen and a poor understanding of the

Casein kinase I (CK1), a ubiquitous Ser/Thr protein kinase in eukaryotes, plays a critical role in higher plant flowering. Arabidopsis CK1 family member MUT9‐LIKE KINASEs, such as MLK1 and MLK3, have been shown to phosphorylate histone H3 at threonine 3 (H3T3), an evolutionarily conserved residue, and the modification is associated with the transcriptional repression of euchromatic and heterochromatic

What is the definition of a flowering time gene? The answer is more complicated than you might think. Of course, flowering time genes control the transition from the vegetative to the reproductive phase. But there is increasing evidence that many of these genes have much broader functions (Auge et al., 2019). For example, FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), known for its role in repressing the floral transition

Ribosome assembly factors guide the complex process by which ribosomal proteins and the ribosomal RNAs form a functional ribosome. However, the assembly of plant plastid ribosomes is poorly understood. In the present study, we discovered a maize (Zea mays) plastid ribosome assembly factor based on our characterization of the embryo defective 15 (emb15) mutant. Loss of function of Emb15 retards embryo

Phytohormones are integral to the regulation of fruit development and maturation. This review expands upon current understanding of the relationship between hormone signaling and fruit development, emphasizing fleshy fruit and highlighting recent work in the model crop tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and additional species. Fruit development comprises fruit set initiation, growth, and maturation and

SPLAYED (SYD) is a SWItch/Sucrose Non‐Fermentable (SWI/SNF)‐type chromatin remodeler identified in Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis). It is believed to play both redundant and differential roles with its closest homolog BRAHMA (BRM) in diverse plant growth and development processes. To better understand how SYD functions, we profiled the genome‐wide occupancy of SYD and its impact on the global transcriptome

Shifting from a livestock‐based protein diet to a plant‐based protein diet has been proposed as an essential requirement to maintain global food sustainability, which requires the increased production of protein‐rich crops for direct human consumption. Meanwhile, the lack of sufficient genetic diversity in crop varieties is an increasing concern for sustainable food supplies. Countering this concern

Abscisic acid (ABA) induces chlorophyll degradation and leaf senescence; however, the molecular mechanism remains poorly understood, especially in woody plants. In this study, we found that MdABI5 plays an essential role in the regulation of ABA‐triggered leaf senescence in Malus domestica (apple). Through yeast screening, three transcription factors, MdBBX22, MdWRKY40 and MdbZIP44, were found to interact

Iron (Fe) is an essential element for the development and physiology of plants owing to its presence in numerous proteins involved in central biological processes. Here, we established an exhaustive, manually curated inventory of genes encoding Fe‐containing proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana, and summarised their subcellular localisation, spatiotemporal expression, and evolutionary age. We have currently

Receptor‐like kinases (RLKs) play significant roles in mediating innate immunity and development of plants. The evolution of plant RLKs has been characterized by extensive variation in copy numbers and domain configurations. However, much remains unknown about the origin, evolution, and early diversification of plant RLKs. Here, we perform phylogenomic analyses of RLKs across plants (Archaeplastida)

To cope with the presence of unfavorable compounds, plants are capable to biotransform xenobiotics, translocate both parent compounds and metabolites, perform compartmentation and segregation at cellular or tissue level. Such a scenario also applies to mycotoxins, fungal secondary metabolites with a preeminent role in plant infection. In this work, we aimed to describe the effect of the interplay between

The phytohormone cytokinin plays a significant role in nearly all aspects of plant growth and development. Cytokinin signaling has primarily been studied in the dicot model Arabidopsis, with relatively little work done in monocots, which include rice (Oryza sativa) and other cereals of agronomic importance. The cytokinin signaling pathway is a phosphorelay comprised of the histidine kinase receptors

Lignocellulosic biomass is an abundant byproduct from cereal crops that can potentially be valorized as a feedstock to produce biomaterials. Zea mays CINNAMYL ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE 2 (ZmCAD2) is involved in lignification, and is a promising target to improve the cellulose‐to‐glucose conversion of maize stover. Here, we analyzed a field‐grown zmcad2 Mutator transposon insertional mutant. Zmcad2 mutant

Crop production is facing unprecedented challenges. Despite the fact that the food supply has significantly increased over the past half‐century, ~8.9 and 14.3% people are still suffering from hunger and malnutrition, respectively. Agricultural environments are continuously threatened by a booming world population, a shortage of arable land, and rapid changes in climate. To ensure food and ecosystem

Pathogens secrete effector proteins into host cells to suppress host immunity and promote pathogen virulence, although many features at the molecular interface of host–pathogen interactions remain to be characterized. In a yeast two‐hybrid assay, we found that the Pseudomonas syringae effector HopZ1a interacts with the Arabidopsis transcriptional regulator Abscisic Acid Repressor 1 (ABR1). Further

Carotenoids are isoprenoid compounds synthesized by all photosynthetic and some non‐photosynthetic organisms. They are essential for photosynthesis and contribute to many other aspects of a plant's life. The oxidative breakdown of carotenoids gives rise to the formation of a diverse family of essential metabolites called apocarotenoids. This metabolic process either takes place spontaneously through

Small‐molecule plant hormones principally control plant growth, development, differentiation, and environmental responses. Nine types of plant hormones are ubiquitous in angiosperms, and the molecular mechanisms of their hormone actions have been elucidated during the last two decades by genomic decoding of model plants with genetic mutants. In particular, the discovery of hormone receptors has greatly

The European hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) is a tree crop of economic importance worldwide, but especially for northern Turkey, where the majority of production takes place. Hazelnut production is currently challenged by environmental stresses, such as a recent outbreak of severe powdery mildew disease; furthermore, allergy to hazelnuts is an increasing health concern in some regions. In order to

Imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) is a powerful technique that enables analysis of various molecular species at a high spatial resolution with low detection limits. In contrast to the matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI‐MS) approach, surface‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (SALDI) can be more effective in the detection of small molecules due to the absence of interfering

ETHYLENE OVERPRODUCER1 (ETO1), ETO1‐LIKE1 (EOL1), and EOL2 are members of the Broad complex, Tramtrack, Bric‐a‐brac (BTB) protein family that collectively regulate type‐2 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid synthase (ACS) activity in Arabidopsis thaliana. Although ETO1 and EOL1/EOL2 encode structurally related proteins, genetic studies suggest that they do not play an equivalent role in regulating

We report here a detailed analysis of the proteome adjustments that accompany chromoplast differentiation from chloroplasts during bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) fruit ripening. While the two photosystems are disassembled and their constituents degraded, the cytochrome b6f complex, the ATPase complex, and Calvin cycle enzymes are maintained at high levels up to fully mature chromoplasts. This is also

Plants have short‐term stress memory that enables them to maintain the expression state of a substantial subset of heat‐inducible genes during stress recovery after heat stress. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms controlling stress‐responsive gene expression at the recovery stage in plants, however. In this article, we demonstrate that histone H3K4 methyltransferases SDG25 and ATX1 are

High salinity, one of the most widespread abiotic stresses, inhibits photosynthesis, reduces vegetation growth, blocks respiration and disrupts metabolism in plants. In order to survive their long‐term lifecycle, trees, such as Populus species, recruit the abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathway to adapt to a saline environment. However, the molecular mechanism behind the ABA‐mediated salt stress response

Parallel adaptation results from the independent evolution of similar traits between closely related lineages and allows us to test to what extent evolution is repeatable. Similar gene expression changes are often detected but the identity of genes shaped by parallel selection and the causes of expression parallelism remain largely unknown. By comparing genomes and transcriptomes of four distinct foothill–alpine

The floral quartet model proposes that plant MADS box proteins function as higher order tetrameric complexes. However, in planta evidence for MADS box tetramers remains scarce. Here, we applied a strategy using in vivo fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) based on the distance change and distance symmetry of stable tetrameric complexes in tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) leaf cells to improve

Secretions from glandular trichomes potentially protect plants against a variety of aggressors. In the tomato clade of the Solanum genus, glandular trichomes of wild species produce a rich source of chemical diversity at the leaf surface. Previously, 7‐epi‐zingiberene produced in several accessions of Solanum habrochaites was found to confer resistance to whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) and other insect

Starch synthesis is an elaborate process employing several isoforms of starch synthases (SSs), starch branching enzymes (SBEs) and debranching enzymes (DBEs). In cereals, some starch biosynthetic enzymes can form heteromeric complexes whose assembly is controlled by protein phosphorylation. Previous studies suggested that SSIIa forms a trimeric complex with SBEIIb, SSI, in which SBEIIb is phosphorylated

The tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle is one of the most important metabolic pathways in nature. Oxygenic photoautotrophic bacteria, cyanobacteria, have an unusual TCA cycle. The TCA cycle in cyanobacteria contains two unique enzymes that are not part of the TCA cycle in other organisms. In recent years, sustainable metabolite production from carbon dioxide using cyanobacteria has been looked at as a

Symbiotic rhizobium‐legume interactions, such as root hair curling, rhizobial invasion, infection thread expansion, cell division and proliferation of nitrogen‐fixing bacteroids, and nodule formation, involve extensive membrane synthesis, lipid remodeling, and cytoskeleton dynamics. However, little is known about these membrane‐cytoskeleton interfaces and related genes. Here, we report the roles of

In 1917, sex chromosomes in plants were discovered in a liverwort with hetermorphic U and V chromosomes. Such hetermorphy is unexpected because, different from XY chromosomes in diploid‐dominant plants, in haploid‐dominants, the female U and the male V experience largely symmetrical potential recombination environments. We here use molecular cytogenetics and super‐resolution microscopy to study Frullania

The chloroplast signal recognition particle 54 kDa (CpSRP54) protein is a member of the CpSRP pathway known to target proteins to thylakoid membranes in plants and green algae. Loss of CpSRP54 in the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum lowers the accumulation of a selection of chloroplast encoded subunits of photosynthetic complexes, indicating a role in the co‐translational part of the CpSRP pathway

Most alpha‐gliadin genes of the Gli‐D2 locus on the D genome of hexaploid bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) encode for proteins with epitopes that can trigger coeliac disease (CD), and several contain a 33‐mer peptide with six partly overlapping copies of three epitopes, which is regarded as a remarkably potent T cell stimulator. To increase genetic diversity in the D genome, synthetic hexaploid wheat

The role of ethylene in plant development is mostly inferred from its exogenous application. The usage of the mutants affecting ethylene biosynthesis proffers a better alternative to decipher its role. In tomato, 1‐aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid synthase2 (ACS2) is a key enzyme regulating ripening‐specific ethylene biosynthesis. We characterized two contrasting acs2 mutants; acs2‐1 overproduces

The absorption of water and solutes by plant leaves has been recognised since more than two centuries. Given the polar nature of water and solutes, the mechanisms of foliar uptake have been proposed to be similar for water and electrolytes, including nutrient solutions. Research efforts since the 19th century focussed on characterising the properties of cuticles and applying foliar sprays to crop plants

During the sexual reproduction of higher plants, DNA methylation and transcription are broadly changed to reshape a microspore into two sperm cells (SCs) and a vegetative cell (VC). However, when and how the DNA methylation of SCs is established remains not fully understood. Here we investigate the DNA methylation (5 mC) dynamics of SC lineage and the VC in tomato using whole‐genome bisulfite sequencing

IMPORTIN‐α3/MOS6 (MODIFIER OF SNC1, 6) is one of nine importin‐α isoforms in Arabidopsis that recruit nuclear localization signal‐containing cargo proteins to the nuclear import machinery. IMP‐α3/MOS6 is required genetically for full autoimmunity of the nucleotide‐binding leucine‐rich repeat immune receptor mutant snc1 (suppressor of npr1‐1, constitutive 1) and MOS6 also contributes to basal disease

The CUP‐SHAPED COTYLEDON (CUC) genes (CUC1, CUC2, and CUC3) regulate organ boundary formation in Arabidopsis. However, the functions of their homologous genes in rice (Oryza sativa) are still unknown. Here, we have identified an orthologous gene of CUC1 and CUC2 in rice named OsNAM. Subcellular localization and yeast two‐hybrid assay results have suggested that OsNAM encodes a conserved nuclear NAC

Acclimation is the capacity to adapt to environmental changes within the life time of an individual. This ability allows plants to cope with the continuous variation in ambient conditions to which they are exposed as sessile organisms. Because environmental changes and extremes are becoming even more pronounced due to the current period of climate change, enhancing the efficacy of plant acclimation

A collection of small molecules called strigolactones (SLs) act as both endogenous hormones to control plant development and as ecological communication cues between organisms. SL signalling overlaps with that of a class of smoke‐derived compounds, karrikins (KARs), which have distinct yet overlapping developmental effects on plants. Although the roles of SLs in shoot and root development, in the promotion

Adventitious roots (ARs) are an important root type for plants and display a high phenotypic plasticity in response to different environmental stimuli. Previous studies found that dark‐light transition can trigger AR formation from the hypocotyl of etiolated Arabidopsis thaliana, which was used as model for identification of regulators of AR biogenesis. However, the central regulatory machinery for

Programmed cell death is crucial for development and homeostasis of all living organisms. In human cells, the double role of extra‐mitochondrial cytochrome c in triggering apoptosis and inhibiting survival pathways is well reported. In plants, however, the specific role of cytochrome c upon release from the mitochondria remains in part veiled yet death stimuli do trigger cytochrome c translocation

Histone chaperones mediate assembly and disassembly of nucleosomes and participate in essentially all DNA‐dependent cellular processes. In Arabidopsis thaliana, loss‐of‐functions of FAS1 or FAS2 subunits of the H3‐H4 histone chaperone complex CHROMATIN ASSEMBLY FACTOR 1 (CAF‐1) has a dramatic effect on plant morphology, growth and overall fitness. Altered chromatin compaction, systematic loss of repetitive

Tocochromanols constitute the different forms of vitamin E (VTE), essential components of the human diet, and display a high membrane protectant activity. By combining interval mapping and genome‐wide association studies (GWAS), we unveiled the genetic determinants of tocochromanol accumulation in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruits. To enhance the nutritional value of this highly consumed vegetable