Plant Biotechnology Journal最新文献

{"title":"A TAF10 ‐ ERF109 Transcriptional Module Directs Flavonoid‐Based Stress Resilience and Yield Enhancement in Foxtail Millet and Wheat","authors":"Meng Zhang, Kangwei Wang, Jiayin Fan, Yue Zheng, Qi Zhang, Haoyang Du, Shenghui Xiao, Jinguang Huang, Kang Yan, Shizhong Zhang, Qiang He, Guanqing Jia, Chengchao Zheng, Xianmin Diao, Guodong Yang, Changai Wu","doi":"10.1111/pbi.70711","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.70711","url":null,"abstract":"To ensure sustainable agricultural production under escalating environmental constraints such as drought and salinity, innovative strategies are urgently needed. Here, we reveal in foxtail millet ( <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"> <jats:italic>Setaria italica</jats:italic> </jats:styled-content> ) that transcription factors TAF10 and ERF109 form a functional complex which co‐activates the expression of key flavonoid biosynthesis genes ( <jats:italic>SiPAL</jats:italic> , <jats:italic>SiF3′H</jats:italic> , <jats:italic>SiFLS</jats:italic> , <jats:italic>SiF3H</jats:italic> ), thereby enhancing abiotic stress tolerance. Application of specific flavonoids (apigenin, naringenin, hesperetin) rescues stress‐sensitive phenotypes in <jats:italic>ERF109‐RNAi</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>taf10</jats:italic> lines. Importantly, field‐based application protocols for apigenin were established in both foxtail millet and wheat ( <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"> <jats:italic>Triticum aestivum</jats:italic> </jats:styled-content> ), leading to yield increases of 12.3%–19.6% in wheat and 15.8%–23.9% in foxtail millet under drought and saline field conditions. Our study not only delineates a conserved transcriptional mechanism regulating flavonoid‐mediated stress resilience but also delivers a translatable, eco‐friendly biostimulant strategy to enhance crop productivity in stress‐affected environments.","PeriodicalId":221,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biotechnology Journal","volume":"50 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.8,"publicationDate":"2026-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148321703","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":"Identification of Critical Amino Acid Residues Required for the Polar Localization of a Rice Manganese Transporter.","authors":"Noriyuki Konishi,Jian Feng Ma","doi":"10.1111/pbi.70708","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.70708","url":null,"abstract":"Rice has developed an efficient system for manganese (Mn) uptake, mediated by two distinct transporters, OsNramp5 and OsMTP9. These transporters exhibit polar localization at the root exodermis and endodermis; however, the mechanisms underlying their polar localization and their role in Mn uptake remain unclear. Here, we identified key amino acid residues critical for the polar localization of OsNramp5 at the distal side. Through analysis of chimeric proteins between OsNramp5 and its non-polar homologues, we found that the C-terminal cytosolic region of OsNramp5 is essential for its polar localization. Site-directed mutagenesis further revealed that aspartate 500 and four valine residues at positions 494, 495, 498 and 506 are crucial for polarity. Substitution of these valine residues with isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, or threonine partially or fully maintained polar localization, whereas substitution with alanine, serine, or asparagine resulted in loss of polarity. These findings suggest that β-branching and high hydrophobicity of amino acid side chains are likely required for OsNramp5 polarity. Furthermore, we found that adaptor protein 2-dependent clathrin-mediated endocytosis is not involved in the polar localization of OsNramp5. Finally, we provided experimental evidence showing the significant role of OsNramp5 polarity in efficient Mn uptake in rice; plants expressing non-polarly localized OsNramp5 exhibited reduced Mn uptake compared to those with polarly localized OsNramp5. In addition, we found that cadmium accumulation in shoots could be reduced by manipulating OsNramp5 polarity in combination with its overexpression, without a growth penalty.","PeriodicalId":221,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biotechnology Journal","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.8,"publicationDate":"2026-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148313883","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":"PmD479 is an Unutilized Gene for Powdery Mildew Resistance in Common Wheat.","authors":"Heng Tang,Bo Lyu,Yang Yu,Liwen Wang,Xiaomei Liu,Xuan Zheng,Baiqiang Yan,Ziqi Li,Tingting Zhang,Xuefei Chen,Lin Wang,Jing Zhang,Qiaoling Luo,Xuancheng Hao,Xingfeng Li,Junhua Peng,Lynn Epstein,Fei Ni,Fei He,Jiajie Wu,Daolin Fu","doi":"10.1111/pbi.70704","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.70704","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":221,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biotechnology Journal","volume":"35 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.8,"publicationDate":"2026-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148305136","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":"GhTTLL12 Coordinates With Transcriptional Regulators GhMML3 and GhMYB86 to Orchestrate Cotton Fibre Development Through Modulating Microtubule Dynamics.","authors":"Xiaowei Ma,Xubinmiao Huang,Jinfang Li,Ting Zhao,Zhenfeng Ling,Shengcai Huang,Zesheng Rui,Yue Shi,Yulin Xing,Lei Sun,Mengting Wang,Haoxi Song,Rui Chen,Zequan Chen,Lei Shao,Nangan Sun,Junduo Wang,Juyun Zheng,Lei Fang","doi":"10.1111/pbi.70706","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.70706","url":null,"abstract":"Microtubules (MTs) are crucial for cell division, growth, development and morphogenesis in plants. Cotton fibres are single-celled trichomes that originate from the epidermal cells of the ovule, making them an excellent model for studying plant cell differentiation and rapid elongation. However, the roles of MTs in cotton fibre development remain incompletely understood. In this study, we identified GhTTLL12, a tubulin-tyrosine ligase-like protein 12, as a positive regulator of fibre initiation and elongation via Gh-Gb introgression analysis. GhTTLL12 was preferentially expressed during the rapid elongation stage of cotton fibres. Overexpression of GhTTLL12 enhanced plant height, root length, fibre cell protrusion number and fibre length in cotton. Conversely, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of GhTTLL12 led to opposite phenotypes, thereby significantly reducing fibre quality. MT co-sedimentation and immunofluorescence assays demonstrated that GhTTLL12 binds directly to MTs and promotes their assembly while facilitating the formation of transverse MT arrays in elongating fibres. Further investigation of the molecular mechanisms revealed that after GhTTLL12 is recruited into the nucleus by GhTUB8, it promotes mitosis in ovule epidermal cells upon activation by GhMML3, increasing the number of fibre cell protrusions. GhMYB86, a negative regulator of cotton fibre elongation, represses GhTTLL12 transcription in the nucleus, leading to attenuated mitotic activity. Cytoplasmic GhTTLL12 modulates fibre cell elongation by regulating MT assembly and ordered arrangement. Collectively, our findings define a GhMML3/GhMYB86-GhTTLL12-GhTUB8 regulatory module that links stage-specific transcriptional regulation to MT remodelling during cotton fibre development, providing new insights into the improvement of fibre quality and yield.","PeriodicalId":221,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biotechnology Journal","volume":"108 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.8,"publicationDate":"2026-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148305134","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":"Field Trials and Baking Studies of Ultra-Low Asparagine, Genome Edited (CRISPR/Cas9) and Mutant (TILLING) Wheat","authors":"Navneet Kaur,&nbsp;Sarah Raffan,&nbsp;Suzanne J. Clark,&nbsp;Shpresa Musa,&nbsp;Katharina Scherf,&nbsp;J. Stephen Elmore,&nbsp;Tanya Y. Curtis,&nbsp;Emma Honan,&nbsp;Nigel G. Halford","doi":"10.1111/pbi.70661","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pbi.70661","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Field trials were conducted of wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i>) cv. Cadenza in which asparagine synthetase gene, <i>TaASN2</i>, had been knocked out, either on its own or together with a partial knockout of the related gene, <i>TaASN1</i>, using CRISPR/Cas9. Chemical mutagenesis (TILLING) <i>TaASN2</i> nulls in the Claire background were also included. The main aim was to assess the free asparagine content of the grain and the conversion of free asparagine to acrylamide, a toxic contaminant, in bread, toast and biscuits. Over 2 years of trials combined, the <i>TaASN2</i> and <i>TaASN1/2</i> CRISPR knockouts resulted in a reduction of free asparagine in the grain of 59% and 93%, respectively, compared with Cadenza. The reduction in the <i>TaASN2</i> total knockout TILLING line compared with Claire was 50%. Yield was not affected in the edited lines but was reduced in the TILLING lines. Acrylamide in bread made from a <i>TaASN1/2</i> CRISPR line was below detection levels, while in a <i>TaASN2</i> CRISPR line it was 14% of the Cadenza control. Even after 4 min of toasting, acrylamide levels remained at 8% and 23%, respectively, of the control. The concentration in bread made from the TILLING <i>TaASN2</i> knockout was 21% that for the Claire control, rising to 46% after 4 min of toasting. Acrylamide in biscuits made from a <i>TaASN1/2</i> CRISPR line was reduced by 93% compared with the control. The relationship between acrylamide and colour was altered in the edited and mutant lines compared with the controls, with less acrylamide forming for the same degree of colour.</p>","PeriodicalId":221,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biotechnology Journal","volume":"24 7","pages":"4704-4715"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/pbi.70661","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147584075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Transcription Factor OsWRKY64 Interacts With OsART1 to Positively Regulate Al Resistance in Rice","authors":"Changzhao Chen,&nbsp;Qiang Zhang,&nbsp;Yonggang Xu,&nbsp;Jibo Yang,&nbsp;Jing Yan,&nbsp;Mengmeng Jiang,&nbsp;Lu Zheng,&nbsp;Tingwu Liu,&nbsp;Jiu Huang,&nbsp;Renfang Shen,&nbsp;Xiaofang Zhu","doi":"10.1111/pbi.70638","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pbi.70638","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i>) exhibits notable aluminium (Al) tolerance, as the C₂H₂-transcription factor OsART1 plays a crucial role in regulating Al tolerance in rice by modulating the expression of specific genes. However, the posttranscriptional regulation of OsART1 remains poorly understood. In this study, we identified and characterised OsWRKY64, which interacts with OsART1. OsWRKY64 was localised in the nucleus. Tissue expression analysis indicated that <i>OsWRKY64</i> was primarily expressed in the roots, and its transcription and protein accumulation were significantly induced by Al. The <i>oswrky64</i> mutants and the <i>OsWRKY64</i> overexpression lines exhibited decreased or increased expression of genes regulated by OsART1, which consequently led to phenotypes sensitive or resistant to Al, respectively. Further analysis indicated that OsWRKY64 interacted with OsART1 to promote its stability, thereby accelerating the transcriptional activity of OsART1 on its downstream genes. Additionally, OsART1 upregulated <i>OsWRKY64</i> expression by directly binding to the <i>OsWRKY64</i> promoter, thus forming a negative feedback loop between OsART1 and OsWRKY64. Overall, our results demonstrated that OsWRKY64 influences Al resistance by interacting with and stabilising OsART1 to accelerate its transcriptional activity.</p>","PeriodicalId":221,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biotechnology Journal","volume":"24 7","pages":"4656-4671"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/pbi.70638","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147577855","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Functional Characterisation of HAIRPLUS (NtHAP) Genes Involved in Trichome Development and Specialised Metabolism of Tobacco","authors":"Hai Liu,&nbsp;Reid Farmer,&nbsp;Raja Payyavula,&nbsp;Chengalrayan Kudithipudi,&nbsp;Michael P. Timko","doi":"10.1111/pbi.70655","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pbi.70655","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Plant glandular trichomes are specialised epidermal structures capable of synthesising, storing and secreting numerous varieties of secondary metabolites in different classes and are central to plant defence and the biosynthesis of high-value metabolites. In this study, we characterised the <i>HAIRPLUS</i> (<i>HAP</i>) gene family and uncovered its role as a conserved regulator of trichome development and metabolism in tobacco. Four homologues, <i>NtHAP1a</i>, <i>NtHAP1b</i>, <i>NtHAP2a</i> and <i>NtHAP2b</i>, were identified and functional studies using RNAi and CRISPR-Cas9 revealed that <i>NtHAP</i>s act as negative regulators of glandular trichome development. Suppression of <i>NtHAP</i>s resulted in increased trichome density and enlarged glandular heads, as well as enhanced accumulation of diterpenoids (e.g., neophytadiene) and increased nicotine levels. Additionally, NtHAP1 appeared to have a stronger effect on trichome density. This study establishes the <i>NtHAP</i> genes as key negative regulators of glandular trichome development in tobacco, expanding their functional scope from trichome morphogenesis to metabolic regulation and highlighting their evolutionary conservation across Solanaceae. These findings pave the way for both fundamental research into trichome biology and practical applications in metabolic engineering and crop improvement, such as pest resistance.</p>","PeriodicalId":221,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biotechnology Journal","volume":"24 7","pages":"4640-4655"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/pbi.70655","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147536462","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Bioluminescent Reporter System for Real-Time Monitoring of the Unfolded Protein Response in Plants","authors":"Yao Liu,&nbsp;Yue Niu,&nbsp;Yunxi Zhao,&nbsp;Wenwen Zhang,&nbsp;Yonglun Lv,&nbsp;Minqing Liu,&nbsp;Qian Zhang,&nbsp;Jiaojiao Wang,&nbsp;Xin Zhang,&nbsp;Yanjie Li,&nbsp;Hui Zhang,&nbsp;Yingying Zhang,&nbsp;Yan Bao","doi":"10.1111/pbi.70631","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pbi.70631","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The unfolded protein response (UPR) is a critical mechanism for maintaining endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis under stress. Here, we developed a bioluminescent reporter system, <i>AtbZIP60-LUC</i>, in Arabidopsis to dynamically monitor ER stress by coupling IRE1-mediated splicing of <i>bZIP60</i> mRNA to firefly luciferase (LUC) expression. Under ER stress, IRE1 removes a 23-bp sequence from <i>bZIP60u</i>, producing a spliced <i>bZIP60s</i> transcript in-frame with LUC, enabling luciferin-dependent luminescence. Transgenic <i>AtbZIP60-LUC</i> lines exhibited specificity for canonical ER stressors (heat, DTT, tunicamycin) but not osmotic stressors (NaCl, mannitol), confirmed by bioluminescence, qPCR, and immunoblotting. Time-course assays revealed rapid LUC induction by DTT (peak at 1 h) and delayed activation by tunicamycin (peak at 1–2 h), followed by signal decline, reflecting adaptive UPR dynamics. Heat stress optimization identified 38°C as optimal, inducing robust LUC expression after 2–3 h without compromising viability, while 42°C caused irreversible damage. Genetic validation in <i>ire1a ire1b</i> mutants abolished LUC induction, confirming IRE1 dependency, whereas constitutive UPR activation via maize 16-kDa γ-zein (16γz) overexpression triggered LUC expression without stress. Extending this system to tobacco and tomato, we engineered <i>NbbZIP60-LUC</i> and <i>SlbZIP60-LUC</i>, which similarly responded to heat (38°C), DTT, tunicamycin, and ER-localized protein aggregation (16γz, zeolin) in transient and stable assays. This work establishes <i>bZIP60-LUC</i> as versatile, non-invasive tools for real-time UPR monitoring in plants, offering insights into ER stress dynamics and enabling cross-species studies of stress adaptation mechanisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":221,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biotechnology Journal","volume":"24 7","pages":"4468-4470"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/pbi.70631","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147502297","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genomic and Transcriptomic Analyses Provide Insights Into Erysiphe necator Pathogenicity and Grapevine Response","authors":"Bo Mu,&nbsp;Ruixin Tang,&nbsp;Zhaolin Teng,&nbsp;Jinfu Chen,&nbsp;Kaicheng Cui,&nbsp;Feng Wei,&nbsp;Wenxiang Kong,&nbsp;Shunyuan Xiao,&nbsp;Xiangnan Xu,&nbsp;Jia-Yue Feng,&nbsp;Ying-Qiang Wen","doi":"10.1111/pbi.70646","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pbi.70646","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Grapevine powdery mildew, caused by the fungus <i>Erysiphe necator</i>, is one of the most prevalent obligate biotrophic pathogens in vineyards, posing a significant threat to grape production. Despite its impact, research on <i>E. necator</i> pathogenicity and grapevine responses remains limited. In this study, we assembled a high-quality 69.93 Mb genome for <i>E. necator</i> isolate NAFU1, identifying 248 candidate-secreted effector proteins (CSEPs). RNA-Seq analysis of <i>E</i>. <i>necator</i> NAFU1 and the grapevine host during various infection stages revealed that expression of many genes, especially those encoding CSEPs<i>,</i> was induced in planta to facilitate host colonisation. Detailed analysis identified <i>CSEP118</i> as a key highly induced effector gene, plays an important role in suppression of host defence. CSEP118 appears to interfere with the grapevine defence response to infection by targeting VviTrxz, a grapevine thioredoxin. Comparative transcriptome analysis of susceptible (<i>Vitis vinifera</i> cv. Cabernet Sauvignon) and resistant (<i>Vitis piasezkii</i> accession Baishui-40) grapevines upon infection by <i>E. necator</i> identified <i>VviTCP14</i>, encoding a transcription factor, to be a likely negative regulator of grapevine resistance against <i>E. necator</i>. Supporting this, <i>VviTCP14</i>-silenced plants exhibited increased expression of resistance-related genes such as those encoding stilbene synthases (<i>STSs</i>) and elevated stilbene contents when compared with the wild type grapevine. In summary, this study utilised a multi-omics approach to understand mechanisms underlying <i>E. necator</i> effector-triggered suppression of grapevine immunity and transcriptional regulation of host defence response during grapevine-powdery mildew interaction. The regulatory mechanisms uncovered in this study should provide valuable insights for improving grapevine resistance to powdery mildew.</p>","PeriodicalId":221,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biotechnology Journal","volume":"24 7","pages":"4599-4618"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/pbi.70646","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147523913","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Disruption of Asparagine Synthetase Is Associated to Increased Biomass in Lotus japonicus","authors":"Sara Rosa-Téllez,&nbsp;Margarita García-Calderón,&nbsp;David Barbosa Medeiros,&nbsp;Antonio J. Márquez,&nbsp;Alisdair R. Fernie,&nbsp;Marco Betti","doi":"10.1111/pbi.70637","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pbi.70637","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Asparagine (Asn) constitutes the major form of nitrogen translocated within <i>Lotus japonicus</i> plants. In this work we use knock-out (KO) LORE1 mutants-deficient in the asparagine synthetase gene (<i>LjASN1)</i>, which is the most highly expressed <i>ASN</i> gene in plants grown under non-symbiotic (NS) conditions, but much less expressed under symbiotic (S) conditions. The analysis of two different <i>Ljasn1</i> homozygous mutant lines grown under NS or S conditions indicated that a much higher biomass was produced in <i>Ljasn1</i> mutants grown under NS conditions compared to the WT (wild-type), whereas little difference with the WT was observed in mutant plants under S conditions. Metabolomic analysis revealed that <i>Ljasn1</i> mutant plants are quite distinct to WT plants when grown under NS conditions, but not under S conditions. Asn levels were considerably reduced in <i>Ljasn1</i> mutant plants compared to the WT when plants were grown under NS but not under S conditions. A general decrease in amino acids and an increase in carbon compounds, such as sugars and oxo-acids, was detected in NS roots and shoots, respectively, which may explain the growth phenotypes observed. RNAseq analysis showed changes related to oxidative metabolism under NS conditions, and C/N metabolism under S conditions. The data indicate that the <i>LjASN1</i> deficiency produces important changes in the C/N balance and metabolite allocation of <i>L. japonicus</i> plants resulting in higher biomass content and lower Asn levels, two interesting traits for biotechnological crops engineering.</p>","PeriodicalId":221,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biotechnology Journal","volume":"24 7","pages":"4471-4483"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/pbi.70637","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147502300","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}