Plant Biotechnology Journal最新文献

{"title":"Development and Application of Prime Editors for the Induction of Site-Specific, Heritable Edits in Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]","authors":"Nirmal Khadka, Hien Thuy Bui, Ajay Gupta, Steve A. Whitham, Bing Yang","doi":"10.1111/pbi.70678","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pbi.70678","url":null,"abstract":"<p>CRISPR-Cas9-based Prime Editors (PEs) enable precise and programmable DNA modifications without requiring double-strand breaks or donor DNA templates (Anzalone et al. <span>2019</span>). A PE consists of a nickase Cas9 (nCas9) fused to a reverse transcriptase (RT), guided by a Prime Editing guide RNA (pegRNA) (Figure 1a). This system expands the scope of genome editing with improved precision and minimal off-target effects, making it as a powerful toolkit for crop improvement (Chen and Liu <span>2023</span>). Since their development, multiple PE variants (PE1-PE7) have been engineered to improve editing efficiency (Yan et al. <span>2024</span>; Doman et al. <span>2023</span>). In plants, most applications rely on PE2/PE3-based systems using M-MLV-RT, particularly in monocots such as rice and maize. However, PE applications in dicots remains limited. Recent innovations, including evolved RT variants (e.g., PE6c) and RNA-stabilising strategies (e.g., PE7), have significantly improved editing efficiency (Cao et al. <span>2024</span>).</p><p>Here, we present the development of three soybean-tailored prime editing systems: SoyPE3, SoyPE6c and SoyPE7. Both nCas9 and RT were codon-optimised for soybean expression (Figure 1b-i, ii, iii). The nCas9 component includes an AtUbi10 intron to enhance transcript stability and two mutations (R221K, N394K) to improve activity (Spencer and Zhang <span>2017</span>). The RT in SoyPE3 and SoyPE7 was engineered (eM-MLV-RT) with six mutations (E69K, V223A, E302R, L435G, N454K and D524N) to enhance activity at lower temperature and abolish RNase H function (Figure 1b-i, iii) (Arezi and Hogrefe <span>2008</span>). SoyPE6c incorporates an evolved Tf1-RT from yeast (Figure 1b-ii), while SoyPE7 includes a La(1–194) RNA-binding domain fusion. The PE components were expressed under strong constitutive promoters, and constructs were assembled using a modular Gateway system (Figure 1b). An engineered pegRNA (epegRNA) system incorporating a tRNA-HDV processing module was used to improve stability and expression (Figure 1b-iv, v) (Gupta et al. <span>2024</span>). Detailed information regarding the cloning vectors is included in Supporting Information and Methods. The pegRNA and ngRNA were co-expressed and delivered into soybean via <i>Agrobacterium</i>-mediated transformation.</p><p>To assess performance, we targeted two highly conserved homeologous genes, <i>GmFAD2.1A</i> and <i>GmFAD2.1B</i>, which regulate fatty acid composition. Disruption of these genes increases oleic acid content in soybean seeds (Do et al. <span>2019</span>). The pegRNA was designed to introduce premature stop codons at conserved positions in both genes (Figure 1c). Hairy root assay using <i>A. rhizogenes-</i>mediated transformation was established (Figure S1). Five, six and five GFP-positive hairy roots from SoyPE3, SoyPE6c and SoyPE7, respectively, were analysed. All roots from SoyPE6c and SoyPE3, and four from SoyPE7, exhibited edits at both <i>GmFA","PeriodicalId":221,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biotechnology Journal","volume":"24 8","pages":"4948-4950"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/pbi.70678","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147831396","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":"Spatiotemporal Metabolome and Single-Nucleus Transcriptome Integration Illuminates an Auxin Gradient Orchestrated by NtTAC1 Underlying Leaf Angle Regulation in Tobacco","authors":"Lin Wang,&nbsp;Junping Gao,&nbsp;Chen Wang,&nbsp;Guoyun Xu,&nbsp;Zhen Ma,&nbsp;Shuaibin Wang,&nbsp;Zhaopeng Luo,&nbsp;Mingzhu Wu,&nbsp;Jianfeng Zhang,&nbsp;Jun Yang,&nbsp;Peijian Cao,&nbsp;Xiaodong Xie","doi":"10.1111/pbi.70672","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pbi.70672","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Plant architecture is key to crop yield, with leaf angle being critical for high-density cultivation. Although <i>TAC1</i> represents a promising regulator of leaf angle for breeding, its molecular mechanism remains poorly understood, particularly at single-nucleus resolution. Here, we performed single-nucleus RNA sequencing on <i>NtTAC1</i> knockdown lines exhibiting reduced leaf angle. This analysis generated a transcriptional atlas comprising 20 distinct clusters corresponding to 14 cell types and identified the endodermis as a central regulatory hub. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis and trajectory inference revealed that the auxin transporter <i>NtPIN3</i> acts as a key downstream effector of <i>NtTAC1</i>. The two genes are co-expressed in endodermal cells and promote their differentiation from meristematic cells. Spatial metabolomics further demonstrated that <i>NtTAC1</i> suppression elevates auxin levels and alters its spatial distribution, resulting in asymmetric auxin accumulation preferentially in the abaxial region and consequent reduction in leaf angle. Silencing <i>NtPIN3</i> recapitulated the <i>NtTAC1</i> disruption phenotype, confirming that the <i>NtTAC1-NtPIN3</i> axis regulates both auxin asymmetry and cell wall remodelling. Consistently, both knockdown lines exhibited enhanced lignin deposition, linking disrupted auxin flow to secondary wall thickening. Moreover, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of <i>SlTAC1</i> in tomato suppressed <i>SlPIN3</i> expression, indicating evolutionary conservation of this module. Collectively, our findings uncover a cell-type-resolved mechanism underlying leaf angle regulation and provide a mechanistic framework for precision engineering of crop architecture adapted to high-density cultivation.</p>","PeriodicalId":221,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biotechnology Journal","volume":"24 8","pages":"4897-4915"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/pbi.70672","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147751352","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":"Designed Alleles of ZmRap2.7 Decouple the Trade-Off Between Early Flowering and Yield Penalty","authors":"Shumin Wang,&nbsp;Junjie He,&nbsp;Lufei Zhang,&nbsp;Li Guo,&nbsp;Ruchang Ren,&nbsp;Xu Han,&nbsp;Lishuan Wu,&nbsp;Huayuan Zhang,&nbsp;Dezhi Deng,&nbsp;Xiangyang Guo,&nbsp;Fang Yang,&nbsp;Chenglong Wang,&nbsp;Feng Tian,&nbsp;Yameng Liang","doi":"10.1111/pbi.70679","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pbi.70679","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Flowering time genes often exhibit pleiotropic effects. In particular, early flowering is frequently associated with reduced grain yield due to a shorter growth period. This trade-off poses a major challenge for developing early-maturing and high-yielding varieties, a key breeding objective in modern maize production. Here, we demonstrate that <i>ZmRap2.7</i>, a well-known flowering repressor in maize, positively regulates ear and kernel development. Knocking out <i>ZmRap2.7</i> promoted flowering but reduced ear size and kernel weight. Integrated genetic and molecular analyses revealed a multi-pathway regulatory network: <i>ZmRap2.7</i> delays flowering by directly repressing the florigen <i>ZCN8</i> in leaves and regulating several flowering time genes in the shoot apical meristem (SAM); it increases ear size by inhibiting <i>ZmMADS4</i> to sustain inflorescence meristem activity; and it enhances kernel weight by activating <i>ZmGRAS11</i> to promote cell expansion during kernel development. A comprehensive transcriptomic comparison across four tissues showed that SAM and ear exhibited a greater overlap in differentially expressed genes, providing a potential molecular basis for the flowering-yield trade-off. To mitigate this trade-off, we edited the promoter and upstream enhancer of <i>ZmRap2.7</i> and obtained three edited lines with specific downregulation of <i>ZmRap2.7</i> in the SAM. This tissue-specific alteration likely underpins the decoupling of flowering time from yield-related traits, enabling early flowering without compromising yield. Our findings highlight the utility of <i>cis</i>-regulatory editing as a promising strategy for decoupling pleiotropic trade-offs in crop improvement, particularly for genes with tissue-differential regulatory architecture.</p>","PeriodicalId":221,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biotechnology Journal","volume":"24 8","pages":"4966-4983"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/pbi.70679","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147866112","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":"Engineering of Amygdalin Biosynthesis in Rice Endosperm for Pharmaceutical Production and Sitophilus oryzae Resistance","authors":"Ke Chen,&nbsp;Nan Chai,&nbsp;Shaotong Chen,&nbsp;Chanjuan Ye,&nbsp;Kangli Sun,&nbsp;Jie Guo,&nbsp;Xinqiao Zhou,&nbsp;Dagang Chen,&nbsp;Juan Liu,&nbsp;Yanduan Hu,&nbsp;Yi Zou,&nbsp;Rui Cao,&nbsp;Shu Jiang,&nbsp;Bocai Tang,&nbsp;Qinlong Zhu,&nbsp;Chuanguang Liu,&nbsp;Jiantao Tan","doi":"10.1111/pbi.70668","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pbi.70668","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;Amygdalin, a cyanogenic β-glycoside from Rosaceae kernels, has been applied to alleviate cough and asthma, and exhibits anti-tumour potential (He et al. &lt;span&gt;2020&lt;/span&gt;). A recent study has highlighted its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective effects against arsenic trioxide-induced injury, as well as its anti-aging properties (Guo et al. &lt;span&gt;2025&lt;/span&gt;). As a natural plant defence metabolite, it is hydrolyzed by animal β-glucosidases to release toxic hydrogen cyanide, deterring herbivores (Gleadow and Møller &lt;span&gt;2014&lt;/span&gt;). Rice weevil (&lt;i&gt;Sitophilus oryzae&lt;/i&gt;) is a major storage pest of rice, causing excessive yield losses exceeding 20% in developing countries (Nithya et al. &lt;span&gt;2025&lt;/span&gt;). Here, we aim to engineer amygdalin-rich rice that serves both as a bioreactor for officinal amygdalin production and a novel pest-resistant agent, which presents considerable potential for the biomanufacturing, medicinal and agricultural applications of amygdalin.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;To engineer amygdalin biosynthesis in rice endosperm, we screened candidate enzymes from almond and Japanese apricot (Thodberg et al. &lt;span&gt;2018&lt;/span&gt;; Yamaguchi et al. &lt;span&gt;2014&lt;/span&gt;). The conversion of phenylalanine to amygdalin occurs via two redox reactions and two glycosylation reactions (Figure 1a). For rice expression, the &lt;i&gt;PdCYP79D16&lt;/i&gt;, isoenzymes &lt;i&gt;PdCYP71AN24&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;PmCYP71AN24&lt;/i&gt;, iso-UDP glycosyltransferases (UGTs) &lt;i&gt;PdUGT94AF3&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;PdUGT85A19&lt;/i&gt;, and diglucosyltransferases &lt;i&gt;PdUGT94AF2&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;PdUGT94AF1&lt;/i&gt; were codon-optimized (Table S1). Recombinant &lt;i&gt;rPdCYP79D16&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;rPdCYP71AN24&lt;/i&gt; were linked using the F2A peptide to generate a single open reading frame (ORF). Likewise, &lt;i&gt;rPdUGT94AF3&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;rPdUGT94AF2&lt;/i&gt; were fused via P2A peptide. They were placed under endosperm-specific P&lt;sub&gt;GluB4&lt;/sub&gt; or P&lt;sub&gt;GluB1&lt;/sub&gt; promoters and inserted into a &lt;i&gt;Cre&lt;/i&gt;/&lt;i&gt;loxP&lt;/i&gt;-mediated marker auto-elimination vector, producing constructs &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;C&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;, &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;CC&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;, &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;CCU&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; and &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;CCUU&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;, and three variants (&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;CC'UU&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;, &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;CCUU'&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;, &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;CCU'U′&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;) with isozyme substitutions (Figure 1b). All constructs were introduced into NanGuiZhan (NGZ), producing T&lt;sub&gt;0&lt;/sub&gt; lines. Transgene insertion and expression were subsequently verified (Figure S1a,b).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We used HPLC to measure major metabolites in NGZ and transgenic grains (Figure S2). Phenylalanine was detected in all tested lines. By contrast, (&lt;i&gt;E&lt;/i&gt;)-phenylacetaldoxime was undetectable, most likely because &lt;i&gt;E&lt;/i&gt;-aldoxime undergoes rapid glucosylation in vivo (Thodberg et al. &lt;span&gt;2018&lt;/span&gt;). Lines expressing &lt;i&gt;rPdCYP79D16&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;rCYP71AN24s&lt;/i&gt; accumulated mandelonitrile (28.73–88.19 ng·g&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt;), prunasin (0.22–1.83 μg·g&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt;), and amygdalin (0.02–14.54 μg·g&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt;). &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;CCUU&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; showed the highest amygdalin level (average 14.54 μg·g&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt;), followed by &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;CCUU'&lt;/i&gt;","PeriodicalId":221,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biotechnology Journal","volume":"24 8","pages":"4860-4862"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/pbi.70668","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147725595","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":"Mapping and Functional Characterization of Homologous Genes AhSUCA06 and AhSUCA16 Underlying Sucrose, Oil and Protein Contents in Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)","authors":"Yuzhen Zheng,&nbsp;Feiyan Qi,&nbsp;Lei Shi,&nbsp;Ziqi Sun,&nbsp;Hongfei Liu,&nbsp;Hua Liu,&nbsp;Li Qin,&nbsp;Juan Wang,&nbsp;Chenyang Zhi,&nbsp;Mengmeng Wang,&nbsp;Ziqiang Mo,&nbsp;Stefano Pavan,&nbsp;Xiao Wang,&nbsp;Yaojun Hu,&nbsp;Huanhuan Zhao,&nbsp;Xiaona Li,&nbsp;Wenzhao Dong,&nbsp;Meng Zhang,&nbsp;XiaoDong Dai,&nbsp;Zheng Zheng,&nbsp;Xinyou Zhang","doi":"10.1111/pbi.70667","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pbi.70667","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Cultivated peanut (<i>Arachis hypogaea</i> L.) is an important oilseed and cash crop, and seed sucrose content (SSC), seed oil content (SOC) and seed protein content (SPC) are key determinants of seed flavour, texture, and overall quality. Identifying quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and candidate genes associated with SSC, SOC and SPC is therefore of considerable importance for peanut genetics and breeding. In this study, two recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations derived from reciprocal crosses between the lines Jihuatian1 (JHT1) and PI478819 (PI) were used to detect major QTLs for SSC, SOC and SPC through bulked segregant analysis combined with whole-genome sequencing (BSA-seq). Multiple lines of evidence supported the homologous gene pair <i>AhSUCA06</i> and <i>AhSUCA16</i> as candidate genes underlying the epistatic QTLs <i>qA06.1</i> and <i>qA16.1</i>, which exhibited major and stable effects across multiple phenotypic evaluations. Furthermore, the function of <i>AhSUCA06</i> was validated through CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genetic transformation. Subcellular localization assays using GFP fusion proteins, together with dual-luciferase reporter assays, demonstrated that <i>AhSUCA06</i> and <i>AhSUCA16</i>—both containing a DUF7950 domain of previously unknown function—localize to the nucleus and act as transcriptional repressors. In addition, DAP-seq analysis suggested that these genes may regulate pathways related to glycolysis and gluconeogenesis. Overall, this study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of SSC, SOC and SPC in peanut and offers valuable information to support the genetic improvement of seed quality traits in peanut breeding programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":221,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biotechnology Journal","volume":"24 8","pages":"4844-4859"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/pbi.70667","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147702135","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":"Regulatory Mechanism of CsMYB1-CsMYB82/CsbHLH48‑CsCAD4 Model for Resistance Against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides in Camellia sinensis","authors":"Rui Han,&nbsp;Yu Wang,&nbsp;Zekun Xue,&nbsp;Wang Wei,&nbsp;Cunqiang Ma,&nbsp;Jiake Zheng,&nbsp;Wuchen Yin,&nbsp;Zhen Zhao,&nbsp;Shujing Liu,&nbsp;Yuhua Wang,&nbsp;Jing Zhuang,&nbsp;Xuan Chen,&nbsp;Shifu Ma,&nbsp;Qiwei Huang,&nbsp;Xinghui Li","doi":"10.1111/pbi.70659","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pbi.70659","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Anthracnose caused by <i>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</i> is a major threat to tea cultivation; however, the molecular mechanism underlying different resistance among tea cultivars remains unclear. We identified distinct expression patterns of <i>CsMYB82</i> between anthracnose-resistant and susceptible varieties after infection with anthracnose from previous RNA-seq data. We further investigated the role of <i>CsMYB82</i> within a lignin-associated regulatory network during anthracnose responses. We found that <i>CsMYB1</i> negatively regulates <i>CsMYB82</i> expression by Y1H screen. Additionally, we identified the interaction between CsMYB82 and CsbHLH48 both in vitro and in vivo. DNA-affinity purification sequencing (DAP-seq) revealed that <i>CsMYB82</i> directly binds to the promoter of <i>CsCAD4</i>, and this binding activity is enhanced in the presence of CsbHLH48. Functional analyses indicated that overexpression of <i>CsMYB82</i> or <i>CsCAD4</i> in tobacco and tea leaves was associated with increased susceptibility to anthracnose, whereas transient silencing of <i>CsMYB82</i> or <i>CsCAD4</i> via virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in tea leaves resulted in reduced disease symptoms accompanied by elevated lignin accumulation. The functional analysis of CsMYB1 showed the opposite phenotype. Collectively, these results suggest that <i>CsMYB82</i> participates in a transcriptional regulatory module involving <i>CsMYB1</i>, CsbHLH48, and <i>CsCAD4</i>, which modulates lignin biosynthesis and influences anthracnose responses in tea plants. This study provides mechanistic insights into the transcriptional regulation of lignin-associated defence responses and contributes to a better understanding of anthracnose resistance in tea.</p>","PeriodicalId":221,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biotechnology Journal","volume":"24 8","pages":"4725-4747"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/pbi.70659","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147615616","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":"OsMYB306-OsRAV11 Regulates Resistance of Rice to Striped Stem Borer by Modulating Serotonin Biosynthesis","authors":"Jia-Run Zhang,&nbsp;Long Wang,&nbsp;Yang-Fan Chen,&nbsp;Xiao-Hao Guo,&nbsp;Meng Jiang,&nbsp;Yuan-Yuan Tan,&nbsp;Qing Wang,&nbsp;Qiu Qian,&nbsp;Angharad M. R. Gatehouse,&nbsp;Qing-Yao Shu","doi":"10.1111/pbi.70680","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pbi.70680","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Striped stem borer (SSB; <i>Chilo suppressalis</i> Walker) is one of the most destructive pests in rice production. Previous studies have demonstrated that SSB infestation induces transcription of <i>OsT5H</i> (tryptamine-5-hydroxylase) and biosynthesis of serotonin, a newly recognised phytohormone, and that disruption of serotonin biosynthesis significantly increases SSB resistance. However, the regulatory module modulating serotonin biosynthesis remains to be identified and characterised. Here, we reveal an OsMYB306-OsRAV11 module that regulates <i>OsT5H</i> transcription and serotonin biosynthesis in response to SSB infestation in rice. OsMYB306 and OsRAV11 can bind to the <i>OsT5H</i> promoter and repress its transcription. In the module, OsRAV11 interacts with OsMYB306 and enhances its inhibitory effect on <i>OsT5H</i> transcription. CRISPR/Cas9-generated knockout mutants (<i>myb306</i>, <i>rav11</i> and <i>myb306 rav11</i>) exhibited elevated <i>OsT5H</i> expression, increased serotonin accumulation and reduced SSB resistance. Conversely, <i>OsRAV11</i> overexpression reduced <i>OsT5H</i> transcription. Our findings establish a transcriptional regulatory framework for the biosynthesis of serotonin in response to SSB infestation. These findings inform the development of new strategies for producing SSB-resistant rice by genome editing, potentially reducing reliance on chemical pesticides for SSB control.</p>","PeriodicalId":221,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biotechnology Journal","volume":"24 8","pages":"4951-4965"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/pbi.70680","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147831379","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":"Negative Regulators of Rice Agronomic Traits: Functional Insights and Applications in Genome Editing-Based Breeding","authors":"Wenhao Wu,&nbsp;Feng Jin,&nbsp;Huaxiang Xu,&nbsp;Ranran Liao,&nbsp;Zhongming Fang","doi":"10.1111/pbi.70684","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pbi.70684","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Rice is the staple crop for more than half of the global population, and improving grain yield, grain quality, and stress resistance remain central goals of modern rice breeding. Among current precision breeding strategies, genome editing has created new opportunities for crop improvement, but its success depends heavily on the selection of effective target genes. In this context, negative regulators of agronomic traits are particularly valuable because their disruption or attenuation can relieve constraints on desirable phenotypes and generate beneficial variation. In this review, we summarize recent progress in the identification and functional characterization of negative regulatory genes associated with rice grain yield, grain quality and stress resistance. We further integrate the current knowledge of their molecular functions, regulatory mechanisms, and genetic networks and discuss their potential applications in genome editing-assisted breeding. This review provides a target-oriented framework for understanding negative regulation in rice and facilitating the development of improved varieties with increased productivity, quality and stress resistance.</p>","PeriodicalId":221,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biotechnology Journal","volume":"24 8","pages":"4984-5001"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/pbi.70684","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147872684","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":"Correction to “FtBPM3 modulates the orchestration of FtMYB11-mediated flavonoids biosynthesis in Tartary buckwheat”","authors":"","doi":"10.1111/pbi.70698","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pbi.70698","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Ding, M., Zhang, K., He, Y., Zuo, Q., Zhao, H., He, M., Georgiev, M. I., Park, S. U. and Zhou, M. (2021) FtBPM3 modulates the orchestration of FtMYB11-mediated flavonoids biosynthesis in Tartary buckwheat. <i>Plant Biotechnol. J</i>, <b>19</b>, 1285-1287.</p><p>In the above article, the authors would like to correct Figure 1l and the labels of Figures 1h and 1k, as well as the description of Figure 1q. In Figure 1l, the input image of the pull-down assay was mistakenly taken from Figure 1v; the correct Figure 1l is shown below. In Figure 1h, the first panel label should be ‘FtBPM3-HA’ instead of ‘FtBPM3-GFP’. In Figure 1k, the third and last panel labels should be ‘nYFP+FtBPM3ΔC-cYFP’ and ‘nYFP-FtMYB11+FtBPM3ΔC-cYFP’, instead of ‘nYFP+FtBPM3ΔC-YFP’ and ‘nYFP-RRTF1+FtBPM3ΔC-cYFP’, respectively. In the main text describing Figure 1q, ‘FtBPM3-His’ should be ‘FtBPM3-GFP’.</p><p>We apologize for this error.</p>","PeriodicalId":221,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biotechnology Journal","volume":"24 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/pbi.70698","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148136150","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":"Transcriptional Regulation of the Novel Theacrine Synthase Gene CsTcS2 by the CsTINY–CsWRKY33 Module Underpins Theacrine Biosynthesis in Camellia sinensis","authors":"Ting Wu,&nbsp;Lihua Zhu,&nbsp;Chenyu Shao,&nbsp;Siyi Xie,&nbsp;Na Li,&nbsp;Xinyu Li,&nbsp;Fang Wang,&nbsp;Lvwen Peng,&nbsp;Huiying Jin,&nbsp;Fanghuizi Shang,&nbsp;Jianan Huang,&nbsp;Zhonghua Liu,&nbsp;Na Tian,&nbsp;Shuoqian Liu","doi":"10.1111/pbi.70665","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pbi.70665","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Theacrine (1,3,7,9-tetramethyluric acid) is a purine alkaloid detected in multiple wild and specialised tea germplasms (<i>Camellia sinensis</i>) from South China, including Kucha. However, the molecular mechanisms governing its biosynthesis remain poorly understood. Here, we identify CsTcS2 as a novel theacrine synthase in tea plant. Functional assays involving heterologous expression in <i>Nicotiana benthamiana</i>, antisense oligonucleotide-mediated gene silencing, transient overexpression in tea plants and co-expression with caffeine dehydrogenase (CsCDH) confirm its catalytic role in converting caffeine to theacrine. Transcription factors CsTINY and CsWRKY33 directly bind the CsTcS2 promoter and activate its transcription, as demonstrated by yeast one-hybrid, dual-luciferase reporter and electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Further molecular docking, yeast two-hybrid, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, luciferase complementation, co-immunoprecipitation and antisense inhibition experiments reveal a synergistic interaction between CsTINY and CsWRKY33 that regulates CsTcS2 expression and thus controls theacrine biosynthesis. Together, our findings unravel the transcriptional regulatory network underlying theacrine biosynthesis and provide a molecular foundation for breeding tea cultivars with elevated theacrine levels for health-promoting applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":221,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biotechnology Journal","volume":"24 8","pages":"4823-4843"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/pbi.70665","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147680674","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}