Plant Cell Reports最新文献

{"title":"Exploring the regulatory roles of AtGLR3.4 receptors in mitochondrial stress and ROS management in Arabidopsis.","authors":"Azime Gokce, Askim Hediye Sekmen","doi":"10.1007/s00299-025-03558-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00299-025-03558-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Key message: </strong>atglr3.4.1 knockout disrupts H₂O₂-scavenging enzymes, increasing ROS and redox imbalance. This upregulates COX5B, UPOX, and UCP. AtGLR3.4.2 maintains redox homeostasis, highlighting AtGLR3.4 receptors' role in mitochondrial stress. Glutamate receptors (iGluRs/mGluRs) play a crucial role in cognitive processes in mammals. Studies in humans have shown that the overexpression of glutamate receptors increases Ca²⁺ influx into the cell, leading to nitric oxide (NO) accumulation, which in turn induces mitochondrial stress. Dysregulated activity of (iGluRs/mGluRs) is linked to depression, psychosis, and neurodegenerative diseases in humans. In plants, GLRs are involved in carbon and nitrogen metabolism and seed germination. Research in Arabidopsis has shown that GLRs play a key role in generating and responding to stress signals. However, it remains unknown how GLR-mediated changes in NO levels affect mitochondria in plants. To address this question, our study investigated the effects of AtGLR3.4.1 and AtGLR3.4.2 receptors on mitochondrial stress under nitrosative stress conditions. For this purpose, we used A. thaliana wild type and atglr3.4 mutants (atglr3.4.1 and atglr3.4.2). To induce mitochondrial stress, we applied 80 µM Complex I inhibitor Rotenone. We examined the accumulation of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), the effectiveness of the antioxidants responsible for their scavenging, cellular redox balance, and the expression of mitochondrial stress-related genes. The absence of AtGLR3.4.1 increased ROS accumulation by inhibiting catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and disrupting the GSH/GSSG and NAD/NADH ratios. In atglr3.4.2 mutants, ROS-related oxidative damage was regulated by the ascorbate-glutathione cycle. atglr3.4.1 knockout increases the transcription of stress-related genes (COX5B, UPOX, and UCP), highlighting its role in oxidative stress management. These findings highlight AtGLR3.4 is crucial for preventing excessive ROS and redox homeostasis under mitochondrial stress responses.</p>","PeriodicalId":20204,"journal":{"name":"Plant Cell Reports","volume":"44 7","pages":"164"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12213875/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144542003","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genome-wide identification of peanut ERFs and functional characterization of AhERF28 in response to salt and drought stresses.","authors":"Haohong Tang, Haonan Shi, Qian-Hao Zhu, Zhaojie He, Xiaohu Ma, Kai Wang, Feng Liu, Shuaishuai Cheng, Xianpeng Xiong, Jie Sun","doi":"10.1007/s00299-025-03557-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00299-025-03557-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Key message: </strong>Genome-wide identified 116 ERF members in cultivated peanut. Comprehensive analysis shows that AhERF28 is the key factor for peanut in its response to salt and drought stresses. Ethylene response factor (ERF) belongs to the AP2/ERF (APETALA2/ERF) superfamily, which is widely involved in plant responses to various abiotic stresses, including drought and salt stresses. Although members of the ERF family have been reported in multiple plant species, the members and functions of the peanut ERF family are largely unknown. In this study, a total of 116 ERFs were identified in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) via genome-wide identification. The peanut ERFs were classified into ERF and DREB subfamilies. Through phylogenetic tree analysis, the 116 ERFs were divided into 11 different subgroups, and the genes in the same group had conserved motifs, exon coding sequences, and domains. The ERF family genes demonstrated differential expression across 22 tissues. Further analysis revealed that AhERFs contain a variety of cis-acting elements in their promoters. Among them, there are 6, 11, and 15 elements related to development, hormones, and abiotic/biotic stress, respectively. In addition, by analyzing the transcriptome data under salt and drought treatments and qRT-PCR verification of AhERFs, it was found that the expression level of AhERF28 increased after both salt and drought treatments. Further research indicates that silencing AhERF28 enhanced the tolerance of peanut to salt and drought stress, likely due to an increased capacity of ROS scavenging. This study identified the ERF members in the cultivated peanut and revealed the potential role of AhERF28 in salt and drought stresses, which provides a new perspective for understanding the functions of ERFs in peanut response to abiotic stress processes and a theoretical basis for crop improvement.</p>","PeriodicalId":20204,"journal":{"name":"Plant Cell Reports","volume":"44 7","pages":"165"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144542004","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":"Enhanced seed oil content by overexpressing LPAAT and WRI1 genes in tobacco plant.","authors":"Mohamad Reza Shams, Khadige Razvi, Hassan Rahnama, Sahar Dashchi, Hossein Hadavand Mirzaii","doi":"10.1007/s00299-025-03554-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00299-025-03554-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Key message: </strong>WRI1 and LPAAT gene overexpression enhances oil content and seed weight in tobacco plants, indicating potential candidate genes for enhancing seed oil in transgenic oil seed crops. The boosting triacylglycerols (TAG) assembly reactions (pull), the increasing fatty acid (FA) production (push), and the combination of these strategies were used to enhance seed oil content in transgenic tobacco plants. Three lines containing WRINKLED1 (WRI) (A1, A2, A7), two lines containing Lysophosphatidic Acid Acyltransferase (LPAAT) (B2, B3), and two lines containing WRI + LPAAT (AB1, AB2) transgenes were grown in greenhouse conditions and their T3 generations were used for further analysis. Total seed oil content in transgenic plants significantly increased within the range of 23.92-41%, respectively, in B3 and A7 lines than the non-transgenic tobacco plants. In addition, significantly elevated soluble sugar contents within 103.33-136.05 mg/g DW and 88.85-114.3 mg/g DW were observed, respectively, in the leaves and seeds of transgenic lines compared to control plants. We suggested that the enhanced accumulations of total soluble sugar in the seeds and leaves contribute to reallocation of the photosynthetic precursors for enhanced oil synthesis in transgenic plants. Expression analysis of WRI1 and LPAAT genes in transgenic plants showed a weak positive correlation with oil content (r ≈ 0.42). Overexpression of WRI1 and LPAAT increased seed size and weight, potentially explaining oil accumulation due to increased seed weight. Finally, no synergistic effect was observed in the simultaneous expression of WRI1 and LPAAT genes, suggesting potential limitations in the availability of oil biosynthesis precursors and interactions with other genes. Meanwhile, these findings show that WRI1 and LPAAT are reliable targets for genetic transformation of oil seed crops for improvement their seed oil yield.</p>","PeriodicalId":20204,"journal":{"name":"Plant Cell Reports","volume":"44 7","pages":"163"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144542002","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":"The Radiation Sensitive 23B protein regulates root development partly through the E3 ubiquitin ligase EDA40.","authors":"Sidra Javed, Xiangzheng Chai, Liuying Huang, Junzhe Wang, Shengbao Xu","doi":"10.1007/s00299-025-03532-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00299-025-03532-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Key message: </strong>The Radiation Sensitive 23B (RAD23B) protein functions upstream of the E3 ubiquitin ligase Embryo Sac Development Arrest 40 (EDA40), collaborating to regulate root architecture and affects the length of the root apical meristem. An optimal root system architecture plays a crucial role in water and mineral uptake in plants, primarily governed by the regulation of primary and lateral root development. Radiation Sensitive 23B (RAD23B), an ubiquitin-like/ubiquitin-associated (UBL/UBA) shuttle protein, mediates protein degradation through the ubiquitin/26S proteasome system (UPS) and is essential for plant root development. However, the mechanisms by which RAD23B regulates root development and whether this regulation depends on the UPS, are still unclear. In this study, an activation tagging-based suppressor screen was performed in the rad23b background, leading to the identification of Embryo Sac Development Arrest 40 (EDA40) as a new root growth regulator. EDA40 encodes an E3 ubiquitin ligase, which serves as a part of UPS. The overexpression of EDA40 rescues the root growth defects of rad23b, while the eda40 null mutant exhibits obvious root developmental defects. However, the overexpression of RAD23B is unable to suppress the root defects of eda40. Notably, the rad23b eda40 double mutant displays a root defect as severe as rad23b, suggesting that RAD23 may function upstream of EDA40. Together, these findings uncover a novel genetic relationship between RAD23B and EDA40 in root development and offer new insights into the role of the UPS in shaping root system architecture.</p>","PeriodicalId":20204,"journal":{"name":"Plant Cell Reports","volume":"44 7","pages":"162"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144529380","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":"Blue light regulates jasmonic acid synthesis via CRY1a and boosts antioxidant enzymes activity in Solanum lycopersicum to resist Botrytis cinerea.","authors":"Yunfei Cai, Jiali Ying, Youju Ye, Shuangshuang Wen, Renjuan Qian","doi":"10.1007/s00299-025-03559-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00299-025-03559-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Key message: </strong>Blue light treatment can stimulate antioxidant enzyme activity and induce JA synthesis through CRY1a enhancing the resistance of Solanum lycopersicum to Botrytis cinerea. Light signals are prevalent in the environment and significantly influence the growth, development, plant resistance, and pathogenicity of phytopathogenic fungi. The agricultural application of spectral engineering through optimized red and blue light proportions has been used as a practical methodology for synergistically improving plant photobiology, nutritional metabolism, and environmental adaptation capabilities. However, its role in plant disease resistance has not been comprehensively explored. In our study, the pathogenicity analysis indicates that blue light significantly enhances the resistance of Solanum lycopersicum to Botrytis cinerea. Transcriptomic profiling revealed that blue light activates OPR3 and JAR1 expression, concomitant with elevated jasmonic acid biosynthesis and significantly enhanced activities of key antioxidant enzymes including peroxidase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase in S. lycopersicum. Furthermore, the mutation of the blue light receptor cryptochrome 1a (CRY1a) was found to enhance S. lycopersicum resistance to B. cinerea. For the pathogen B. cinerea, blue light was observed to induce DHN-melanin synthesis-related genes Bop2, Bcbrn2, Bcpks4, and Bcpks21 expression, and the development of its infection cushion was notably slower under blue light in B. cinerea. The above results indicate that blue light can control tomato gray mold by enhancing S. lycopersicum resistance and suppressing B. cinerea infection, which suggests that blue light may possess potential application value in disease management for facility-based S. lycopersicum cultivation. Our study reveals how blue light and light receptor CRY1a function in S. lycopersicum to defend necrotrophic fungal pathogens.</p>","PeriodicalId":20204,"journal":{"name":"Plant Cell Reports","volume":"44 7","pages":"160"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144529376","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":"The PpAHL17-PpHYH module is involved in light-independent anthocyanin accumulation in fruit peel of Prunus persica.","authors":"Xiaoyu Zhang, Shihang Sun, Xin Liu, Junren Meng, Mingzhu Yuan, Ang Li, Wenyi Duan, Lei Pan, Zhiqiang Wang, Wenfang Zeng, Liang Niu","doi":"10.1007/s00299-025-03549-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00299-025-03549-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Key message: </strong>The PpAHL17-PpHYH module is involved in the accumulation of light-independent anthocyanins in peach peel. PpAHL17 activated the expression of PpHYH and positively regulated the synthesis of anthocyanin. The red color of peach peel is derived from the accumulation of anthocyanins, which significantly impacts its market value. While the understanding of the mechanism underlying light-dependent anthocyanin accumulation in peach peel is comprehensive, the process of light-independent anthocyanin accumulation remains elusive. Here, we examined two peach varieties, 'Zhongyou 4' (light-dependent) and 'Luxing' (light-independent), which showed different patterns of anthocyanin accumulation after shading bagging treatments. Analysis of these two peach varieties using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) revealed that the genes PpAHL17 and PpHYH play a key role in regulating light-independent anthocyanin accumulation in peach peel. Under dark conditions, PpAHL17 and PpHYH have a high expression in the peel of the light-independent varieties, but not in the light-dependent varieties. Results from transient overexpression experiments demonstrated that the upregulation of PpAHL17 and PpHYH genes enhanced the biosynthesis of anthocyanins in peach peel. Furthermore, PpAHL17 can bind to the PpHYH promoter, thereby activating its expression, and PpHYH positively regulated the expression of anthocyanin synthesis-related genes PpF3H, PpUFGT, and PpMYB10.1. Our research provides new perspectives on the mechanisms governing the accumulation of anthocyanins in peach peel in the absence of light.</p>","PeriodicalId":20204,"journal":{"name":"Plant Cell Reports","volume":"44 7","pages":"161"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144529379","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":"Chromosome pairing during meiosis in Brassica hybrid allodiploids with evolutionarily related genomes.","authors":"Xiaoying Li, Yue Liu, Zhengqing Xie, Baoming Tian, Tanusree Datta, Yuxiang Yuan, Xiaochun Wei, Fang Wei, Gongyao Shi","doi":"10.1007/s00299-025-03533-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00299-025-03533-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Key message: </strong>Varying rates in chromosome pairing, chromosomal fragmentation and chromosome loss during meiosis, indicates homologous recombination pathway of DNA damage repair was challenged to different degrees in three Brassica hybrid allodiploids. Sequence similarity of combined genomes in plant hybrid species can shape chromosome pairing and synapsis during meiosis, but the extent remains unclear. The present study investigated meiotic chromosomal behaviors in three typical Brassica hybrid allodiploids (AB, AC and BC) as models with the evolutionarily related genomes from B. rapa (AA), B. nigra (BB) and B. oleracea (CC). The results showed that chromosome allosyndesis occurred at the pachytene with the varying rate and led to different frequencies of univalents, bivalents, and multivalents, and finally caused the imbalanced segregation with retard chromosomes in daughter cells during meiosis in allodiploids AB, AC and BC. Notably, allodiploid AC displayed an increased incidence of bivalent formation, chromosome bridges, and chromosomal fragmentation. Conversely, allodiploid BC was prone to chromosome loss, particularly within the C genome, and exhibited the highest frequency of lagging chromosomes, resulting in micronuclei and spindle disarray. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that in allodiploid AC the up-regulated genes were predominantly involved in synapsis (ASY1, RBR1), microtubule assembly (AUG4, AUG5, AUG6), and DNA damage repair (BRCA1, BRCA2, FAS1) pathways. In contrast, genes related to DNA damage repair (PMS1, LIG4, ALT2) were mostly transcription-deficient in allodiploids AB and BC, predisposing these hybrids to extensive DNA damage and chromosome lag. Collectively, these findings underscore the profound impact of genomic combinations with sequence divergence on chromosom pairing during meiosis in plant hybrid species.</p>","PeriodicalId":20204,"journal":{"name":"Plant Cell Reports","volume":"44 7","pages":"158"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144529377","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":"LncRNAs co-expressed with targeted genes to regulate sugarcane response to Sporisorium scitamineum infection.","authors":"Wanying Zhao, Zhennan Zhao, Dongjiao Wang, Yuanyuan Zhang, Peixia Lin, Zihao Zhang, Youxiong Que, Qibin Wu","doi":"10.1007/s00299-025-03555-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00299-025-03555-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Key message: </strong>A detailed regulatory network of LncRNAs and their co-expressed genes were constructed to identify key LncRNAs involved in sugarcane resistant to Sporisorium scitamineum infection. Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are implicated in a wide array of biological processes, including the regulation of plant immunity. However, the specific roles of LncRNAs during sugarcane interaction with Sporisorium scitamineum remain poorly characterized. Herein, we provided an in-depth analysis of LncRNA expression profiles in sugarcane under S. scitamineum stress. A total of 13,861 LncRNAs were identified in sugarcane post S. scitamineum infection. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and cis-target dissection identified 311 LncRNAs exhibiting significant co-expression relationships with 250 genes. Additionally, network analysis revealed that 531 LncRNAs interacted with 365 core transcription factors (TFs). GO and KEGG pathway enrichment indicated that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) regulated by LncRNA were primarily involved in flavonoid-flavanone biosynthesis, secondary metabolism, and plant hormone signaling, suggesting that LncRNAs play a pivotal role in regulating antioxidant responses, growth, development, and stress response. Furthermore, this study also identified 29 core TFs potentially regulated by LncRNAs that respond to smut pathogen infection in sugarcane. Overall, we constructed a detailed regulatory network of LncRNAs and their co-expressed genes in sugarcane activated by smut pathogen infection. These findings provide valuable insights for future investigations into the molecular functions of LncRNAs and genes relevant to sugarcane smut resistance breeding.</p>","PeriodicalId":20204,"journal":{"name":"Plant Cell Reports","volume":"44 7","pages":"159"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144529378","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":"Transcription factor ERF1 promotes seed germination by repressing jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathway.","authors":"Changliang Chen, Wenbo Kai, Yupeng Cao, Yanchun Yan, Wei Wu","doi":"10.1007/s00299-025-03548-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00299-025-03548-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Key message: </strong>ERF1 integrates JA and ABA signaling pathway through MYC2 to promote seed germination, which regulates ROS homeostasis and cell wall expansion. Seed germination is a crucial step in the plant life cycle and an important trait related to agricultural production. Jasmonates (JAs) are one of the major plant hormones mediating many plant growth and development processes, including their inhibitory effects on seed germination. But how JA signaling pathway is regulated during germination is not well understood. ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR 1 (ERF1), a key component of ethylene signaling pathway, has long been confirmed as a positive regulator of the jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathway. In this study by integrating gene expression, phytohormone, biochemical and germination analysis, we proved that overexpression of ERF1 could inhibit JA signaling transduction through the nitrate signaling to accelerate the seed germination process. We also proved that ERF1 maintained reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis through inhibiting the NADPH oxidase RBOHD expression and activity and optimized the cell wall structure at cellular level by repressing the JA signaling pathway. By inhibiting the expression of MYC2, ERF1 integrated abscisic acid (ABA) and JA signaling pathway to promote seed germination. Our research findings provide novel insights into the crosstalk between the JA and ABA signaling pathways mediated by ERF1 during seed germination.</p>","PeriodicalId":20204,"journal":{"name":"Plant Cell Reports","volume":"44 7","pages":"157"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144497880","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":"Female gametophyte development, pollen‒pistil interactions and embryogenic patterns in chicory (Cichorium intybus): a self-incompatibility perspective.","authors":"Samela Draga, Fabio Palumbo, Damiano Riommi, Marta Adelina Mendes, Alex Cavalleri, Giovanni Gabelli, Silvia Farinati, Alessandro Vannozzi, Gianni Barcaccia","doi":"10.1007/s00299-025-03546-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00299-025-03546-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Key message: </strong>Cytological and molecular investigations in chicory revealed crucial aspects related to female gametophyte development, pollen‒stigma interactions, and self-incompatibility responses. The Asteraceae family, one of the largest of angiosperms, comprises approximately 24,000 species and exhibits considerable variation in reproductive biology. Cichorium intybus (commonly known as chicory) is among the most well-known and widespread species of the family. In addition to its economic and commercial value, chicory is considered one of the most interesting species in its family for the study of sporophytic self-incompatibility (SSI). Information regarding megasporogenesis, megagametogenesis, pollen tube development, and embryogenesis in this species is almost entirely absent in the scientific literature. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), we conducted a detailed investigation of female gametophyte development, providing a comprehensive characterization of the cytological stages involved in megasporogenesis and megagametogenesis. To investigate the dynamics and timing of pollen tube development and pollen rejection, we microscopically examined the interactions between pollen and stigmas in both cross- and self-pollinated plants. The response was similar to those documented in other Asteraceae species with a 'semidry' type of stigma. Integrated RNA-seq analyses further highlighted transcriptional changes during self- and non-self-pollen recognition and led to the identification of potential candidate genes involved in pollen tube development and callose deposition (in the case of self-incompatibility reactions). In parallel, for the first time, we characterized both the embryogenesis process and embryo sac degeneration in a compatible and incompatible crosses, respectively.</p>","PeriodicalId":20204,"journal":{"name":"Plant Cell Reports","volume":"44 7","pages":"156"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12198316/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144497879","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}