The Plant Cell

Faithful pollen wall formation requires tight control of both the amplitude and duration of tapetal transcriptional activity. However, how such dynamic restraint is achieved during anther development remains poorly understood. Here, we identify a phosphorylation-dependent regulatory module in which SBI-PP2A-C1/C5 constrains the functional activity window of the tapetal transcription factor bHLH08…

DELLA proteins are negative regulators of gibberellin (GA) signaling. Under GA-deficient conditions, DELLA accumulates in the nucleus and interacts with numerous transcription factors (TFs) via the GRAS domain. Recent studies have shown that DELLA interacts with TFs via the LHR1 subdomain and histone H2A via the PFYRE subdomain, respectively. It is essential for DELLA-mediated global transcriptio…

The demethylation status of pectin, a major plant cell wall polysaccharide, is regulated by pectin methylesterases (PMEs) and their endogenous inhibitors (PMEIs). While PME-mediated removal of methyl groups increases pectin susceptibility to enzymatic degradation and facilitates wall remodeling, this process is suppressed by PMEIs to strengthen the wall, preventing pathogen invasion. How biotroph…

Cold stress is a major environmental factor limiting the cultivation and productivity of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.). While microRNAs (miRNAs) are well-established post-transcriptional regulators, the functional roles of microRNA-encoded peptides (miPEPs) in cold adaptation remain poorly understood. Through quantitative proteomics, we identified miPEP171b, encoded within the pri-miR171b transcr…

Abstract Kernel development is a pivotal determinant of grain yield in maize (Zea mays), a cereal crop that is fundamentally important for global food security. Here, we elucidated the essential role of VIM family genes in maize endosperm development by characterizing a miniature seed9 (mn9) mutant, in which the kernel size is reduced. Through map-based cloning, we demonstrated that the mn9 pheno…

Not all genes are essential for plant survival. With the rise of pan-genomics, it is evident that certain genes can be lost without negatively affecting fitness. Naturally occurring loss-of-function (LoF) mutations provide a valuable perspective on gene dispensability, offering insights into deleterious and adaptive gene loss. In this study, we identified 91,751 naturally occurring LoF variants f…

The transition of plants from water to land required major evolutionary innovations, including mechanisms to cope with environmental stress. DNA repair via the homologous recombination (HR) pathway is central in maintaining genome integrity, and its evolutionary conservation highlights its importance across plant lineages. Our analysis supports conservation of genes involved in the main activitie…

The redox balance between NADPH-dependent thioredoxin reductase C (NTRC) and 2-Cys peroxiredoxins (PRXs) helps chloroplast photosynthetic performance acclimate rapidly to environmental cues. The Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) 2cpab mutant, which lacks chloroplast 2-Cys PRXs A and B, shows impaired embryogenesis and cotyledon development. This phenotype indicates that these enzymes have a rele…

Leaf senescence impacts crop yield, quality, and post-harvest performance; for example leaf senescence limits the shelf life of cut flowers. Although the senescence process has been extensively studied at the whole-leaf level, its regulation at the single cell-type level remains largely unknown. Here, we tracked the cell death process during leaf senescence at the single cell-type resolution thro…

Vascular cambium produces cells to form xylem, or wood, in tree stems. Here we explored transregulatory pathways in this cell lineage development. We tested 20 of the 95 putative vascular cambium-specific (VCS) transcription factor (TF) genes through gain-of-function transgenesis in Black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) and found that a SHORT-ROOT (PtrSHR1) gene induced some of the most prominen…

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) leaf rolling enhances canopy architecture and photosynthetic efficiency, thereby improving yield potential. Through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of 802 Xian and Geng rice accessions, we identified 32 loci associated with the leaf rolling index (LRI) and characterized OUTWARD ROLLED LEAF 4 (ORL4) as a regulatory gene from natural germplasm. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated kno…

Semi-dwarf varieties of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) carrying Reduced height (Rht) genes revolutionized wheat production. Rht8, a widely deployed semi-dwarfing allele, encodes RNHL1 (Ribonuclease H-Like 1), yet the molecular mechanisms underlying its growth regulation remain unclear. Here, we uncover a liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS)-mediated transcriptional pathway by which RNHL1 controls …

Light triggers diurnal dynamics in stomatal apertures. To balance carbon dioxide uptake for photosynthesis against water loss through transpiration, plants employ mechanisms to prevent excessive stomatal opening. However, the dynamic regulatory mechanism governing stomatal apertures in diurnal stomatal movements remains poorly understood. Here, we report that ROP (RHO OF PLANTS) GUANINE NUCLEOTID…

The number of seeds a plant produces depends on the number of ovules initiated within the carpels by meristematic tissue called the placenta. Previous studies indicated that ERECTA-LIKE1 (ERL1) and ERL2 receptors and their extracellular ligand EPIDERMAL PATTERNING FACTOR-LIKE2 (EPFL2) promote ovule initiation. Here, we expand this regulatory network by demonstrating that in Arabidopsis (Arabidops…