PLANT PHYSIOLOGY

Abstract Anther tapetum degradation is essential for normal pollen formation in rice, yet the underlying regulatory network remains poorly understood. We isolated a novel male sterility rice mutant, osglox5, and confirmed that the target gene LOC_Os11g06870 encodes a glyoxal/galactose oxidase protein with both glyoxal oxidase (GLOX) and galactose oxidase (GAO) activities and is required for hydro…

Alison R Gill; The origins of water conducting tissues as clues to bryophyte evolution, Plant Physiology, , kiag604, https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiag604

Abstract Dwarfing cultivation is a transformative strategy in modern fruit tree management, yet the molecular underpinnings of interstock-induced dwarfism remain elusive in persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.). Here, we unveil DkMYB117, a novel R2R3-MYB transcription factor, as a key molecular switch orchestrating scion dwarfing via gibberellin (GA) catabolism. Using the dwarfing interstock ‘Nantong…

Abstract Mitochondria are preferentially transmitted from the maternal plant in most angiosperms, including rice, and paternal mitochondria are generally eliminated during microgametogenesis and/or in zygotes. The mechanism by which paternal mitochondria are eliminated progresses during plant reproductive processes. In the present study, we examined the distribution of paternal mitochondria in ri…

Abstract The Arabidopsis thaliana PHOSPHATE 1 (PHO1) was first identified as an inorganic phosphate (Pi) exporter mediating Pi loading into the root xylem. PHO1 is the prototypical member of a family of eukaryotic proteins possessing both an SPX and EXS domain. Recent cryo-EM structures of both the Arabidopsis PHO1 homologue PHO1;H1 and its mammalian orthologue Xenotropic and Polytropic Retroviru…

Abstract As a typical climacteric fruit, the apple (Malus domestica) ripening is predominantly regulated by ethylene. Light-emitting diode (LED) white light, an energy-efficient and widely promoted light source, can significantly inhibit ethylene biosynthesis during apple ripening, however, its underlying regulatory mechanism remains unclear. This study demonstrates that LED white light inhibits …

Abstract Indole-3-acetaldoxime (IAOx) has long been placed in auxin metabolism as a tryptophan-derived precursor that may feed indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production through indole-3-acetonitrile (IAN) and indole-3-acetamide (IAM). However, recent genetic and biochemical evidence indicates that IAOx-derived IAA formation is not adequately explained by a single obligate linear pathway. Here, we dis…

Gunjan Sharma, Akanksha Bhatnagar; A B-Box Protein BReaks Brassinosteroid Regulation of Photomorphogenesis in the Dark and Light, Plant Physiology, , kiag5

Xiaolin Gu, Jie Wang, Liyun Nie, Shuo Zhang, Yi Zou, Zhiqiang Wu; A poly(A)-independent PacBio strategy for organellar transcriptome profiling, Plant Physi

PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTORs (PIFs) are transcription factors that act as central signaling hubs in light regulated processes. All PIFs contain an Active Phytochrome B Binding (APB) motif and a DNA-binding basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) domain. In the shade-avoider Arabidopsis thaliana, PIF7 is a major promoter of hypocotyl elongation in response to vegetation proximity, becoming active when re…

Pollen wall formation requires precise coordination between tapetum differentiation, metabolism, and programmed cell death. In Arabidopsis, the microspore-derived peptide CLE19 restricts tapetal activity to maintain pollen wall homeostasis, yet how CLE19 signaling achieves developmental specificity and robustness remains unclear. Here, we identify the receptor-like kinase BARELY ANY MERISTEM 3 (B…

A compact plant architecture is a crucial agronomic trait that enhances crop yields by allowing for increased planting densities, thereby meeting the growing food requirements. We previously identified a GRAS family transcription factor, SCARECROW-LIKE28 (CsSCL28), from cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) that regulates this process. However, the underlying regulatory mechanism remains unknown. Here we…

Volatile esters are key contributors to the characteristic aroma in fruit, and their accumulation directly dictates fruit quality and consumer acceptance. Alternative oxidase pathway is known to its role in regulating fruit quality, but its molecular mechanism in ester aroma accumulation remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that the alternative oxidase pathway acts as the dominant respiratory p…

Flower senescence significantly impacts the postharvest quality of cut roses (Rosa hybrida). E3 ligases orchestrate a diverse array of processes in plants, including organ development and stress responses. However, the molecular mechanisms of E3 ligases in flower senescence remain largely unknown. Here, we report that Senescence-associated RING-type E3 ligase (RhSAREL), a RING-H2 E3 ligase gene, …

Across the tree of life, diverse organisms synthesize hydrocarbons (HCs) from fatty acids using various enzymes. In plants and insects, HCs are typically excreted (e.g. waxes, pheromones), whereas in algae, they seem to be mostly intracellular and membrane-associated. To date, all studied organisms have been found to possess only one HC-forming pathway. In most green algae, unesterified fatty aci…

Spikelet degeneration and pollen sterility are primary constraints on grain set in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), yet their molecular underpinnings remain poorly defined. We characterized degenerated spikelets 1 (ds1), a wheat mutant displaying apical spikelet degeneration and middle spikelet sterility. Relative to wild type (WT), ds1 exhibited a 17.0% reduction in spike length, an 88.8% decline i…

The growth, development, and yield of the globally important economic crop, apple, are severely restricted by soil salinisation, which is driven by multiple environmental and human factors. Thus, breeding salt-tolerant apple varieties by deciphering key salt-stress response mechanisms is crucial for sustainable production. Although RING-H2-type E3 ubiquitin ligases play vital roles in plant adapt…

Epigenetic regulation governs plant growth, development, and environmental adaptation through dynamic control and stress memory mechanisms. However, research and application of plant epigenetics face several limitations. Functional redundancy within epigenetic gene families obscures phenotypic changes resulting from single-gene mutagenesis. Loss-of-function mutations in core epigenetic factors fr…

The freshness of cucumber fruits mainly results from the six-carbon compounds (C6 aroma), which exhibit a unique flavor. Actually, the aroma content is greatly affected by environmental factors. However, how the light affects C6 content in cucumber and its regulatory mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we found that C6 aroma content in cucumber fruits increased significantly under the suppl…