Molecular PlantPub Date : 2025-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2025.02.001
Ajeet Chaudhary, Yu-Chun Hsiao, Fang-Ling Jessica Yeh, Milan Župunski, Hongliang Zhang, Yalikunjiang Aizezi, Andrey Malkovskiy, Guido Grossmann, Hen-Ming Wu, Alice Y Cheung, Shou-Ling Xu, Zhi-Yong Wang
{"title":"FERONIA signaling maintains cell wall integrity during brassinosteroid-induced cell expansion in Arabidopsis.","authors":"Ajeet Chaudhary, Yu-Chun Hsiao, Fang-Ling Jessica Yeh, Milan Župunski, Hongliang Zhang, Yalikunjiang Aizezi, Andrey Malkovskiy, Guido Grossmann, Hen-Ming Wu, Alice Y Cheung, Shou-Ling Xu, Zhi-Yong Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.molp.2025.02.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molp.2025.02.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Plant cell expansion is regulated by hormones and driven by turgor pressure, which stretches the cell wall and can potentially cause wall damage or rupture. How plant cells avoid cell wall rupture during hormone-induced rapid cell expansion remains poorly understood. Here, we show that the wall-sensing receptor kinase FERONIA (FER) plays an essential role in maintaining cell wall integrity during brassinosteroid (BR)-induced cell elongation. Compared with the wild type, the BR-treated fer mutants display an increased initial acceleration of cell elongation, increased cell wall damage and rupture, reduced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and enhanced cell wall acidification. Long-term treatments of fer with high concentrations of BR cause stress responses and reduce growth, whereas osmolytes, reducing turgor, alleviate the defects. These results show that BR-induced cell elongation causes damage to cell walls and the release of cell wall fragments that activate FER, which promotes ROS production, attenuates apoplastic acidification, and slows cell elongation, thereby preventing further cell wall damage and rupture. Furthermore, we show that BR signaling promotes FER accumulation at the plasma membrane (PM). When the BR level is low, the GSK3-like kinase BIN2 phosphorylates FER to reduce FER accumulation and translocation from the endoplasmic reticulum to PM. BR-induced inactivation of BIN2 leads to dephosphorylation and PM accumulation of FER. Thus, BR signaling enhances FER-mediated cell wall integrity surveillance while promoting cell expansion, whereas FER acts as a brake to maintain a safe cell elongation rate. Collectively, our study reveals a vital signaling circuit that coordinates hormone signaling with mechanical sensing to prevent cell rupture during hormone-induced cell expansion.</p>","PeriodicalId":19012,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Plant","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":17.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143365275","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Molecular PlantPub Date : 2025-02-03Epub Date: 2024-12-17DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2024.12.009
Congcong Jiang, Jinhong Kan, Guangqi Gao, Christoph Dockter, Chengdao Li, Wenxue Wu, Ping Yang, Nils Stein
{"title":"Barley2035: A decadal vision for barley research and breeding.","authors":"Congcong Jiang, Jinhong Kan, Guangqi Gao, Christoph Dockter, Chengdao Li, Wenxue Wu, Ping Yang, Nils Stein","doi":"10.1016/j.molp.2024.12.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molp.2024.12.009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Barley (Hordeum vulgare ssp. vulgare) is one of the oldest founder crops in human civilization and has been widely dispersed across the globe to support human society as a livestock feed and a raw material for the brewing industries. Since the early half of the 20th century, it has been used for innovative research on cytogenetics, biochemistry, and genetics, facilitated by its mode of reproduction through self-pollination and its true diploid status, which have contributed to the accumulation of numerous germplasm and mutant resources. In the era of molecular genomics and biology, a multitude of barley genes and their related regulatory mechanisms have been identified and functionally validated, providing a paradigm for equivalent studies in other Triticeae crops. This review highlights important advances on barley research over the past decade, focusing mainly on genomics and genomics-assisted germplasm exploration, genetic dissection of developmental and adaptation-related traits, and the complex dynamics of yield and quality formation. In the coming decade, the prospect of integrating these innovations in barley research and breeding shows great promise. Barley is proposed as a reference Triticeae crop for the discovery and functional validation of new genes and the dissection of their molecular mechanisms. The application of precise genome editing as well as genomic prediction and selection, further enhanced by artificial intelligence-based tools and applications, is expected to promote barley improvement to efficiently meet the evolving global demands for this important crop.</p>","PeriodicalId":19012,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Plant","volume":" ","pages":"195-218"},"PeriodicalIF":17.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142847120","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Molecular PlantPub Date : 2025-02-03Epub Date: 2024-12-30DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2024.12.015
Qinyi Ye, Chuanen Zhou, Hao Lin, Dong Luo, Divya Jain, Maofeng Chai, Zhichao Lu, Zhipeng Liu, Sonali Roy, Jiangli Dong, Zeng-Yu Wang, Tao Wang
{"title":"Medicago2035: Genomes, functional genomics, and molecular breeding.","authors":"Qinyi Ye, Chuanen Zhou, Hao Lin, Dong Luo, Divya Jain, Maofeng Chai, Zhichao Lu, Zhipeng Liu, Sonali Roy, Jiangli Dong, Zeng-Yu Wang, Tao Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.molp.2024.12.015","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molp.2024.12.015","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Medicago, a genus in the Leguminosae or Fabaceae family, includes the most globally significant forage crops, notably alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Its close diploid relative Medicago truncatula serves as an exemplary model plant for investigating legume growth and development, as well as symbiosis with rhizobia. Over the past decade, advances in Medicago genomics have significantly deepened our understanding of the molecular regulatory mechanisms that underlie various traits. In this review, we comprehensively summarize research progress on Medicago genomics, growth and development (including compound leaf development, shoot branching, flowering time regulation, inflorescence development, floral organ development, and seed dormancy), resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses, and symbiotic nitrogen fixation with rhizobia, as well as molecular breeding. We propose avenues for molecular biology research on Medicago in the coming decade, highlighting those areas that have yet to be investigated or that remain ambiguous.</p>","PeriodicalId":19012,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Plant","volume":" ","pages":"219-244"},"PeriodicalIF":17.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142915301","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Molecular PlantPub Date : 2025-02-03Epub Date: 2025-01-17DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2025.01.012
Hai-Jun Liu, Jie Liu, Zhiwen Zhai, Mingqiu Dai, Feng Tian, Yongrui Wu, Jihua Tang, Yanli Lu, Haiyang Wang, David Jackson, Xiaohong Yang, Feng Qin, Mingliang Xu, Alisdair R Fernie, Zuxin Zhang, Jianbing Yan
{"title":"Maize2035: A decadal vision for intelligent maize breeding.","authors":"Hai-Jun Liu, Jie Liu, Zhiwen Zhai, Mingqiu Dai, Feng Tian, Yongrui Wu, Jihua Tang, Yanli Lu, Haiyang Wang, David Jackson, Xiaohong Yang, Feng Qin, Mingliang Xu, Alisdair R Fernie, Zuxin Zhang, Jianbing Yan","doi":"10.1016/j.molp.2025.01.012","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molp.2025.01.012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Maize, a cornerstone of global food security, has undergone remarkable transformations through breeding, yet further increase in global maize production faces mounting challenges in a changing world. In this Perspective paper, we overview the historical successes of maize breeding that laid the foundation for present opportunities. We examine both the specific and shared breeding goals related to diverse geographies and end-use demands. Achieving these coordinated breeding objectives requires a holistic approach to trait improvement for sustainable agriculture. We discuss cutting-edge solutions, including multi-omics approaches from single-cell analysis to holobionts, smart breeding with advanced technologies and algorithms, and the transformative potential of rational design with synthetic biology approaches. A transition toward a data-driven future is currently underway, with large-scale precision agriculture and autonomous systems poised to revolutionize farming practice. Realizing these futuristic opportunities hinges on collaborative efforts spanning scientific discoveries, technology translations, and socioeconomic considerations in maximizing human and environmental well-being.</p>","PeriodicalId":19012,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Plant","volume":" ","pages":"313-332"},"PeriodicalIF":17.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143008774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Wheat2035: Integrating pan-omics and advanced biotechnology for future wheat design.","authors":"Yingyin Yao, Weilong Guo, Jinying Gou, Zhaorong Hu, Jie Liu, Jun Ma, Yuan Zong, Mingming Xin, Wei Chen, Qiang Li, Zihao Wang, Ruijie Zhang, Cristobal Uauy, Faheem Shehzad Baloch, Zhongfu Ni, Qixin Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.molp.2025.01.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molp.2025.01.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Wheat (Triticum aestivum) production is vital for global food security, providing energy and protein to millions of people worldwide. Recent advancements in wheat research have led to significant increases in production, fueled by technological and scientific innovation. Here, we summarize the major advancements in wheat research, particularly the integration of biotechnologies and a deeper understanding of wheat biology. The shift from multi-omics to pan-omics approaches in wheat research has greatly enhanced our understanding of the complex genome, genomic variations, and regulatory networks to decode complex traits. We also outline key scientific questions, potential research directions, and technological strategies for improving wheat over the next decade. Since global wheat production is expected to increase by 60% in 2050, continued innovation and collaboration are crucial. Integrating biotechnologies and a deeper understanding of wheat biology will be essential for addressing future challenges in wheat production, ensuring sustainable practices and improved productivity.</p>","PeriodicalId":19012,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Plant","volume":" ","pages":"272-297"},"PeriodicalIF":17.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142952204","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Molecular PlantPub Date : 2025-02-03Epub Date: 2025-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2025.01.010
Wang Kun, He Shoupu, Zhu Yuxian
{"title":"Cotton2035: From genomics research to optimized breeding.","authors":"Wang Kun, He Shoupu, Zhu Yuxian","doi":"10.1016/j.molp.2025.01.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molp.2025.01.010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cotton is the world's most important natural fiber crop and serves as an ideal model for studying plant genome evolution, cell differentiation, elongation, and cell wall biosynthesis. The first draft genome assembly for Gossypium raimondii, completed in 2012, marked the beginning of global efforts in studying cotton genomics. Over the past decade, the cotton research community has continued to assemble and refine the genomes for both wild and cultivated Gossypium species. With the accumulation of de novo genome assemblies and resequencing data across virous cotton populations, significant progress has been made in uncovering the genetic basis of key agronomic traits. Achieving the goal of cotton genomics-to-breeding (G2B) will require a deeper understanding of the spatiotemporal regulatory mechanisms involved in genome information storage and expression. We advocate for a cotton ENCODE project to systematically decode the functional elements and regulatory networks within the cotton genome. Technological advances, particularly on single-cell sequencing and high-resolution spatiotemporal omics, will be essential for elucidating these regulatory mechanisms. By integrating multi-omics data, genome editing tools, and artificial intelligence, these efforts will empower the genomics-driven strategies needed for future cotton G2B breeding.</p>","PeriodicalId":19012,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Plant","volume":" ","pages":"298-312"},"PeriodicalIF":17.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143024188","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}