{"title":"Metabolic innovations: The study of the less ordinary","authors":"Alisdair R. Fernie, Shijuan Yan","doi":"10.1016/j.pbi.2025.102767","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pbi.2025.102767","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":11003,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in plant biology","volume":"87 ","pages":"Article 102767"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144829190","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sarah Lederer , Anja Liese , Justin Lee , Tina Romeis
{"title":"Sense and sensitivity - decoding calcium signalling across cellular, autocrine, paracrine and endocrine pathways in plant resilience","authors":"Sarah Lederer , Anja Liese , Justin Lee , Tina Romeis","doi":"10.1016/j.pbi.2025.102782","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pbi.2025.102782","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Calcium (Ca<sup>2+</sup>) signalling plays a central role in plant immunity, as underscored by recent findings showing that many disease resistance mechanisms result in formation of Ca<sup>2+</sup>-permeable pores, and that optogenetic activation of Ca<sup>2+</sup> influx is sufficient to trigger immune responses. This review emphasizes on Ca<sup>2+</sup> decoding, i.e. how diverse intracellular proteins interpret Ca<sup>2+</sup> signals to drive cellular reactions. States of “Ca<sup>2+</sup> responsiveness” — defined by the distinct sensitivities of various decoders and additional sensitization mechanisms — contribute to the regulation of immunity, possibly including the mutual potentiation of pattern- and effector-triggered immunity pathways. Additionally, the “PRIMER-bystander” model of immune signalling is interpreted within this decoding framework. Here, infected cells are proposed to enter a primed (PRIMER) immune state through strong Ca<sup>2+</sup> signals derived from resistosome pores, while adjacent bystander cells respond to spreading signalling molecules from their neighbours. Through this spatial arrangement, coordination is achieved between cell-autonomous (autocrine) responses and non-autonomous (paracrine or endocrine) signalling, allowing robust immune propagation across plant tissues. By framing plant immunity through this Ca<sup>2+</sup> “sense and sensitivity” paradigm, insights are provided into immune system robustness, and potential targets may be identified for future development of disease-resistant, climate-resilient crops.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11003,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in plant biology","volume":"87 ","pages":"Article 102782"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144916862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Rapid origin and turnover of genomic imprinting by transposable elements","authors":"Gerardo Del Toro-De León, Claudia Köhler","doi":"10.1016/j.pbi.2025.102764","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pbi.2025.102764","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Genomic imprinting, the preferential expression of alleles based on their parent-of-origin, is an epigenetic mechanism that plays a key role in endosperm development and establishment of hybridization barriers. While imprinting is frequently associated with DNA methylation asymmetries and transposable elements (TEs), growing evidence suggests that this connection is not applying to all imprinted genes. This review synthesizes recent findings across different plant species, highlighting how TEs not only initiate imprinting through epigenetic reprogramming but also participate in its turnover, driving rapid evolutionary changes. We discuss the contribution of chromatin context to imprinting, and the emerging evidence of imprinting mechanisms independent of DNA methylation and TEs. We propose a dynamic and lineage-specific regulation of imprinting shaped by epigenetic context, TE activity, and developmental timing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11003,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in plant biology","volume":"87 ","pages":"Article 102764"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144738813","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Forging the pollen fortress: Cell biological mechanisms of exine formation","authors":"Yuan Zhou, Anna A. Dobritsa","doi":"10.1016/j.pbi.2025.102742","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pbi.2025.102742","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>During its development, pollen becomes surrounded by a complex cell wall known as the exine. Exine is preceded by the primexine–a thin, transient extracellular structure essential for the formation of a well-developed exine but challenging to visualize and study. Exine formation requires a partnership between the developing pollen and the inner sporophytic anther layer, the tapetum. The tapetum produces enzymes and materials necessary for exine development, which are delivered to the surface of developing pollen and become assembled into the distinct layers and patterns of exine. However, how exine materials are transported, and how the events occurring in the tapetum and in developing pollen are coordinated, remains poorly understood. This review highlights recent advances in understanding primexine structure and composition, the trafficking of exine materials toward the pollen surface, and the recently discovered communication mechanism involving the tapetum, developing pollen, and the middle layer of the anther.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11003,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in plant biology","volume":"86 ","pages":"Article 102742"},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144231908","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Asymmetrical cell division in brown algae: How far can we take the paradigm?","authors":"Bénédicte Charrier","doi":"10.1016/j.pbi.2025.102758","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pbi.2025.102758","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Asymmetrical cell division (ACD) is considered to be the major event leading to cellular differentiation, a crucial step in the development of multicellular organisms. However, when exactly a cell or tissue is considered differentiated is unclear. Focusing on brown algae, this review highlights the different cell division events during embryogenesis and in meristematic cells that establish symmetries or asymmetries in the resulting growing tissues. These examples show that global mechanisms at the embryo or stem cell level can act after and beyond the initial cell division event, which may therefore be less important. Therefore, this review suggests that the use of the term ACD should be restricted to cases where the different cellular functions 1) are characterised at the most comprehensive level possible and 2) are a direct consequence of cell division.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11003,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in plant biology","volume":"86 ","pages":"Article 102758"},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144632558","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Plant galls induced by insects: Coordinated developmental reprogramming and defence manipulation","authors":"Yan Ma , Zeynep Begüm Şen , Hing Pan Ng","doi":"10.1016/j.pbi.2025.102757","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pbi.2025.102757","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Galls, especially those induced by insects, represent one of the most dramatic examples of plant developmental reprogramming, combining complex <em>de novo</em> organogenesis with compromised defence. Insect-induced galls are not just a fascinating natural phenomenon but a unique system for future discoveries in developmental biology, plant defence, and evolutionary ecology. Gall development is under the control of their insect manipulators and in sync with insect growth to provide tailored nutritive and protective environments. But this alone does not explain the huge diversity in their morphology which evolved within complex ecological niches. In this review, we summarise recent findings in this underexplored field and examine the defining features of insect-induced galls compared to non-gall herbivores, microbial gall inducers, and symbionts. By exploring commonalities and differences in developmental reprogramming, defence and nutrition, we highlight the uniqueness of insect-induced galls and their potential for discoveries in plant biology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11003,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in plant biology","volume":"86 ","pages":"Article 102757"},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144633300","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xiaofeng Fang , Alexander I. May , Katharina Sporbeck , Lukas Hauer , Roland L. Knorr
{"title":"Wet scissors: How biomolecular condensates cut cellular membranes","authors":"Xiaofeng Fang , Alexander I. May , Katharina Sporbeck , Lukas Hauer , Roland L. Knorr","doi":"10.1016/j.pbi.2025.102740","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pbi.2025.102740","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Membrane shape is a fundamental determinant of cellular organisation. Reshaping of membranes is crucial for dynamic processes including organelle and cell division, endocytosis and membrane trafficking. Membrane fission (or scission) is a discontinuous, topological shape change that is central in many such processes. Specialised remodelling proteins, such as dynamins and ESCRT proteins, are capable of forming oligomeric spirals that drive membrane fission in cells. In this review, we summarise evidence demonstrating that capillary forces generated by liquid-like biomolecular condensates can facilitate cellular membrane reshaping and drive fission events. We draw on our recent findings that condensates are implicated in multivesicular body formation to describe the molecular and physical principles that allow biomolecular condensates to cut membranes. We further discuss possible interactions between novel condensate-mediated fission processes and established reshaping processes. We propose that condensates make an important contribution to membrane remodelling events involved in the biogenesis of diverse cellular structures. The characterisation of condensate-mediated membrane reshaping promises to transform our understanding of intracellular organisation and dynamics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11003,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in plant biology","volume":"86 ","pages":"Article 102740"},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144205630","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Extracellular vesicle-mediated RNA warfare: A cross-kingdom battleground","authors":"Brisa Davila, Baoye He","doi":"10.1016/j.pbi.2025.102741","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pbi.2025.102741","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nano-sized, lipid bilayer vesicles secreted by cells that carry proteins, RNAs, and other bioactive molecules to mediate intercellular communication. While EV research is well established in animals, studies on plant-derived EVs have only recently emerged, uncovering their critical roles in plant-microbe interactions and cross-kingdom RNA communication. Plant EVs have been shown to selectively deliver small RNAs (sRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) to fungal pathogens, suppressing virulence and enhancing plant immunity. Progress in plant EV research has been accelerated by advancements in isolation techniques, such as high-resolution density gradient and immunoaffinity purification. However, challenges remain, including elucidating EV biogenesis, cargo selection, and the mechanisms by which EVs cross plant and fungal cell walls. This review provides an overview of recent progress in plant EV research, with a particular emphasis on EV-mediated cross-kingdom RNA communication and identifies promising directions for future investigation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11003,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in plant biology","volume":"86 ","pages":"Article 102741"},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144190354","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Benjamin P. Lapointe , Neha Sharma Kaur , Anne-Lise Routier-Kierzkowska , Agata Burian
{"title":"From stress to growth: Mechanical tissue interactions in developing organs","authors":"Benjamin P. Lapointe , Neha Sharma Kaur , Anne-Lise Routier-Kierzkowska , Agata Burian","doi":"10.1016/j.pbi.2025.102759","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pbi.2025.102759","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plant cells usually grow in a coordinated manner due to rigid cell wall connections. However, individual tissue layers may differ in their growth capacity or elastic properties, creating tissue-level mechanical stresses. While mechanical forces are recognized as a key factor controlling growth and organ posture, the origin and exact patterns of tissue stresses in different organs remain unclear. This review synthesizes current knowledge of tissue mechanics in stems, roots, and leaves, emphasizing stress pattern changes during development, their potential causes, and the tissue-specific regulation of organ growth.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11003,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in plant biology","volume":"86 ","pages":"Article 102759"},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144604741","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Vacuolar signaling, biogenesis, and quality control in plants","authors":"Jose Julian , Yasin Dagdas","doi":"10.1016/j.pbi.2025.102756","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pbi.2025.102756","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The plant vacuole, traditionally viewed as a static storage organelle, has recently emerged as a dynamic hub orchestrating signaling, metabolic integration, and stress responses. This review synthesizes recent advances that position the vacuole as a pivotal regulator of plant development and environmental adaptation. We discuss the vacuole's multifaceted roles in ion sequestration, lipid trafficking, mechanosensing, and signal transduction, highlighting its central role in preserving cellular homeostasis. We summarize recent data supporting two distinct forms of vacuolar biogenesis: inheritance from existing organelles and <em>de novo</em> formation. Lastly, we discuss our recent findings that define a vacuolar quality control (VQC) pathway, safeguarding tonoplast integrity during stress. Collectively, these insights redefine our understanding of the vacuole's essential contributions to plant physiology and resilience, advocating for an updated conceptual framework that recognizes the vacuole as a central hub for developmental processes and environmental adaptation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11003,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in plant biology","volume":"86 ","pages":"Article 102756"},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144517646","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}