{"title":"Modular cytokinin evolution: Integrating heat stress and development during terrestrialization.","authors":"Pei-Wen Wang, Huan-Chi Tien, Chia-Yi Cheng, Ting-Ying Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.tplants.2026.05.007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2026.05.007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cytokinin signaling, long regarded primarily as a developmental regulator, has emerged as a central integrator of plant terrestrial adaptation. Comparative genomic and structural phylogenetics indicate a stepwise assembly of the phosphorelay, where receptor domains diversified alongside lineage-specific shifts in cytokinin usage, from cis-zeatin-enriched systems in early-diverging lineages toward trans-zeatin-dominant signaling in vascular plants, while downstream executors remained evolutionarily constrained. Cross-lineage transcriptomic comparisons under heat stress suggest a rewiring of physiological outputs. Although growth repression is deeply conserved, broader metabolic responses differ across clades: trehalose-associated osmoprotection in early land plants, whereas angiosperms transitioned to redox- and transport-based strategies. Overall, cytokinin signaling forms a modular framework that enabled early environmental buffering and was subsequently refined to support the complex architectures of vascular plants.</p>","PeriodicalId":23264,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Plant Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":20.8,"publicationDate":"2026-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148228445","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":"Trehalose 6-phosphate: A master regulator of plant development.","authors":"Malleshaiah SharathKumar, Vasiliki Zacharaki, Sarah Muniz Nardeli, Tanja Seibert, Vanessa Wahl","doi":"10.1016/j.tplants.2026.05.001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2026.05.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Trehalose 6-phosphate (T6P), a trehalose synthesis intermediate and sugar phosphate, serves as a signaling molecule coordinating sucrose status with plant growth and development. Beyond its metabolic role, the T6P pathway integrates exogenous and other endogenous cues to regulate key developmental transitions, including embryogenesis, seed maturation and filling, shoot branching, vegetative and reproductive phase transitions, and tuber and lateral root formation. Dynamic spatiotemporal expression patterns of T6P-pathway genes correlate with developmental stages, though their specific contributions to the initiation and progression of these transitions remain under investigation. Here, we provide recent insights and future perspectives on the T6P pathway, emphasizing its role in orchestrating diverse plant developmental programs across model and crop species and highlighting emerging mechanistic insights into its functions.</p>","PeriodicalId":23264,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Plant Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":20.8,"publicationDate":"2026-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148228468","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":"Stress combination in biology, ecology, and medicine: embracing complexity to resolve our central challenges.","authors":"Ron Mittler, Sara I Zandalinas, Matthias C Rillig","doi":"10.1016/j.tplants.2026.05.005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2026.05.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Biological systems are continuously subjected to a high level of environmental factor/stressor complexity, and this complexity has been gradually increasing in recent years due to climate change and rising pollution levels. The simultaneous or sequential occurrence of different stressors impacting a biological system creates unique interactions between various pathways and processes. These interactions could lead to opposing outcomes, presenting a significant challenge for the health of cells, organisms, and even ecosystems. Recent studies have identified different regulators, physiological processes, and signal transduction events that control the response of plants to conditions involving stressor combinations. In this opinion article, we describe these studies, discuss the different facets of stressor combinations, and highlight the importance of studying this process in biology, ecology, and medicine.</p>","PeriodicalId":23264,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Plant Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":20.8,"publicationDate":"2026-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148228421","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":"A plant-microbe codriven perspective on the nitrogen cycle.","authors":"Min Liu, Xingliang Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.tplants.2026.05.009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2026.05.009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The nitrogen (N) cycle is traditionally framed as a microbe-dominated process, with plants treated largely as passive sinks. We challenge this dichotomy by proposing a codriven framework where N cycling emerges from tight plant-microbe coregulation. While microorganisms execute biochemical machinery for transformations, plants actively steer the rate, location, and pathways of these processes through strategic carbon allocation, chemical signaling, and root trait deployment. We argue that plants dynamically balance 'Outsourcing' strategies that stimulate microbial N mobilization with 'Do-It-Yourself' foraging to synchronize N supply with plant demand. Reframing the N cycle as a coregulated system shifts theory from reaction-based to control-based, providing a mechanistic foundation to integrate plant traits into next-generation biogeochemical models, improving N use efficiency and reducing environmental risks.</p>","PeriodicalId":23264,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Plant Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":20.8,"publicationDate":"2026-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148228415","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}
Yuqin Wu, Shuangfeng Wang, Friedrich Kragler, Jianjun Zhao, Lei Yang
{"title":"Systemic mobile RNAs: From molecular mechanisms to agricultural applications.","authors":"Yuqin Wu, Shuangfeng Wang, Friedrich Kragler, Jianjun Zhao, Lei Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.tplants.2026.05.012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2026.05.012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Plants employ mobile RNAs as systemic signals to coordinate growth, development, and environmental responses across tissues. Recent techniques have identified diverse RNAs that move cell-to-cell and long-distance, potentially via plasmodesmata, extracellular vesicles, and the phloem. Members of these RNAs have been shown to regulate numerous key processes such as leaf polarity, tuberization, and flowering time. Furthermore, we discuss the mechanisms governing RNA mobility, including sequence motifs, RNA-binding proteins, and epitranscriptomic modifications, and highlight their applications, such as mobile clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat/CRISPR-associated protein 9 for transgene-free breeding and RNA-based nanocarriers for sustainable pest management. Taken together, we summarize recent insights into the mechanisms and functions of mobile RNAs and progress in agricultural applications of them, offering innovative strategies for sustainable crop improvement and protection in the future.</p>","PeriodicalId":23264,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Plant Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":20.8,"publicationDate":"2026-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148219882","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":"Philosophical foundations of plant awareness for sustainability.","authors":"Joanna Kacprzyk","doi":"10.1016/j.tplants.2026.05.008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2026.05.008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Plant awareness disparity is the human tendency to overlook plants, with negative consequences for education, biodiversity conservation, and sustainability. Philosophy, as a way of life, can promote plant awareness by re-examining how humans perceive and value plant life. I propose four complementary modes of perception, based on hierarchy, similarity, relation, and otherness, each revealing how cultural assumptions shape human attention and ethical attitudes toward plants. Drawing on phenomenology, Indigenous worldviews, Eastern thought, ecofeminism, everyday aesthetics, and vegetal ontology traditions, I integrate philosophical thought with the emerging construct of plant awareness. Practicing seeing plants differently through philosophy can retrain human perception toward them and nurture humility, gratitude, and responsibility. Such reflection on the plant-human bond reinforces the dialogue between science, education, and the humanities, and strengthens the ethical foundations of sustainability.</p>","PeriodicalId":23264,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Plant Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":20.8,"publicationDate":"2026-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148219891","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}
Caroline Müller, Thomas Dussarrat, Nicole M van Dam
{"title":"What is a plant chemotype, anyway?","authors":"Caroline Müller, Thomas Dussarrat, Nicole M van Dam","doi":"10.1016/j.tplants.2026.05.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2026.05.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Many plant species exhibit chemical polymorphisms in the composition of specialized metabolites belonging to certain chemical families. This has led to the classification of chemotypes, that is, groups of plants that can be distinguished by their chemical profiles of metabolites within a single chemical family. We present existing definitions and approaches for classifying chemotypes and describe the factors that determine them. We argue that it should always be stated explicitly on which organ the chemotype specification is based on, because chemical profiles can differ among organs. Moreover, the chemical family must be stated explicitly, as plants may be grouped differently when other metabolites are taken into account. We argue that gaining more knowledge about chemotypes is highly relevant to both basic and applied science.</p>","PeriodicalId":23264,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Plant Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":20.8,"publicationDate":"2026-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148158276","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":"Minimal small RNA precursors unlock virus-based precision RNAi.","authors":"Adriana E Cisneros, Alberto Carbonell","doi":"10.1016/j.tplants.2026.05.002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2026.05.002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Artificial small RNAs (art-sRNAs) mediate highly specific RNAi in plants, but their broader use has been constrained by long precursor architectures and dependence on transgenic delivery. Recent work shows that accurate and efficient art-sRNA biogenesis can be achieved using precursors of minimal size rather than full-length endogenous scaffolds, without compromising silencing efficacy. We discuss how minimal art-sRNA precursors represent a versatile platform for precision RNAi and, critically, unlock RNA viruses as stable, programmable platforms for the production of highly specific art-sRNAs. In other words, minimal art-sRNA precursors transform RNA viruses from generators of heterogeneous small RNA populations into nontransgenic, programmable vectors that deliver defined art-sRNAs for precision gene silencing and antiviral protection.</p>","PeriodicalId":23264,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Plant Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":20.8,"publicationDate":"2026-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148164706","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}
Trends in Plant SciencePub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-03-18DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2026.02.010
Alessandro M Varani, Douglas S Domingues, Clarisse Palma-Silva, Marie-Anne Van Sluys
{"title":"Operationalizing tropical plant genomics in Brazil.","authors":"Alessandro M Varani, Douglas S Domingues, Clarisse Palma-Silva, Marie-Anne Van Sluys","doi":"10.1016/j.tplants.2026.02.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tplants.2026.02.010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Tropical regions harbor most of Earth's plant diversity but remain under-represented in genomic resources. Using Brazil as a case study, we highlight locally led initiatives generating high-quality genome assemblies and a national plant genomics database, and also outline a road map for equitable, culturally grounded, and conservation-relevant tropical plant genomics.</p>","PeriodicalId":23264,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Plant Science","volume":" ","pages":"758-761"},"PeriodicalIF":20.8,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147487210","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}
Trends in Plant SciencePub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-04-22DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2026.04.004
Alessandro Chiolerio, Monica Gagliano, Silvio Pilia, Paolo Pilia, Giuseppe Vitiello, Mohammad Mahdi Dehshibi, Andrew Adamatzky
{"title":"Discriminating eclipse cues from weather.","authors":"Alessandro Chiolerio, Monica Gagliano, Silvio Pilia, Paolo Pilia, Giuseppe Vitiello, Mohammad Mahdi Dehshibi, Andrew Adamatzky","doi":"10.1016/j.tplants.2026.04.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tplants.2026.04.004","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23264,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Plant Science","volume":" ","pages":"737-738"},"PeriodicalIF":20.8,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147782085","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}