The Plant Journal最新文献

{"title":"Out of the blue: family-wide loss of anthocyanin biosynthesis in Cucurbitaceae","authors":"Nancy Choudhary,&nbsp;Marie Hagedorn,&nbsp;Boas Pucker","doi":"10.1111/tpj.71136","DOIUrl":"10.1111/tpj.71136","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Plant pigmentation secrets are among the oldest interests of plant scientists, with pigments such as chlorophyll, carotenoids, flavonoids and betalains contributing to the diversity of hues in higher plants. Anthocyanins, a class of flavonoids responsible for vibrant shades of pink, red and blue pigmentation, are almost ubiquitous in angiosperms but are replaced by betalains in some families in the order Caryophyllales. We investigated anthocyanin pigmentation in Cucurbitaceae, one of the largest fruit and vegetable families, characterised by white and yellow flowers and red, orange and green fruits predominantly pigmented by carotenoids. Using a comprehensive collection of 258 datasets representing 183 unique species across all 15 tribes of Cucurbitaceae, along with a phylogenomics approach, we observed a systematic absence of genes involved in anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin biosynthesis. Absence of the structural genes <i>DFR</i>, <i>ANS</i>, <i>arGST</i>, <i>LAR</i> and <i>ANR</i>, along with the anthocyanin-related regulatory MYB genes, was consistently confirmed by synteny and phylogenetic analysis. Our findings reveal that complete loss of the anthocyanin pathway can occur at the family level and suggest that similar losses may have been overlooked in other lineages. In light of this new discovery, we propose a stepwise loss of anthocyanin pigmentation in Cucurbitaceae, likely accompanied by a partial functional replacement with carotenoid pigmentation.</p>","PeriodicalId":233,"journal":{"name":"The Plant Journal","volume":"127 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/tpj.71136","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149035608","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":"Understanding and engineering receptor–ligand interactions","authors":"Verónica G. Doblas,&nbsp;Isabel Monte,&nbsp;Elwira Smakowska-Luzan,&nbsp;Adam D. Steinbrenner","doi":"10.1111/tpj.71135","DOIUrl":"10.1111/tpj.71135","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;Plants perceive cues from their internal and external environment and activate context-appropriate responses. The sensors in these processes are receptors: proteins able to perceive specific ligands to transduce appropriate cellular signals. They are essential for mediating plant growth, development, and stress responses. The field of receptor–ligand interactions has grown enormously in recent years. We have moved from defining and characterizing key receptors for classical ligands, such as plant hormones in growth pathways and pathogen-derived elicitors in defense pathways, to a far greater understanding of diverse ligand–receptor networks, complex spatiotemporal regulation, and downstream signaling functions, often in non-traditional model organisms. In this special issue, a series of timely reviews highlights new and emerging themes in receptor–ligand interactions, as well as new depth regarding classical receptor pathways. By understanding molecular mechanisms of receptor function, the engineering of recognition and signaling networks becomes feasible.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Cell-surface receptors perceive peptides derived from plant-interacting organisms, damaged plant cells, or plant cells actively releasing such peptides during development or in response to environmental perturbations. In many cases, protein precursors require the action of peptidases to release peptide ligands. Subtilases are peptidases that process peptide ligands involved in development or immunity. Matsui and Hirakawa reviewed how different peptide families are cleaved by subtilases and discussed both subtilases' specificity and regulation. In addition to subtilases, papain-like cysteine proteases and metacaspases are also involved in the proteolytic cleavage and release of peptides described as phytocytokines (Matsui &amp; Hirakawa, &lt;span&gt;2026&lt;/span&gt;). Conceptually analogous to animal cytokines, phytocytokines are small-secreted peptides with immunity modulation functions. Koenig et al. compare how phytocytokines and cytokines are processed by distinct proteases, released, and secreted to the extracellular space, where they are perceived by specific receptors to modulate immune responses (Koenig et al., &lt;span&gt;2026&lt;/span&gt;). Due to their role in immunity, phytocytokines are targets for plant-interacting microbes that sometimes exploit phytocytokine mimicry to manipulate the plant host signaling pathways.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Upon processing and release of self- and non-self-ligands, plants employ cell-surface receptors for ligand perception and initiation of downstream signaling. Ngou et al. describe how ligand perception by the receptors induces the association with phylogenetically related components to activate distinct downstream signaling pathways (Ngou et al., &lt;span&gt;2026&lt;/span&gt;). Notably, receptor-like kinases (RLKs) share a common evolutionary origin, and their diversification and modular evolution enabled receptors to acquire new functions. Pathogen pressure probably led to the diversificat","PeriodicalId":233,"journal":{"name":"The Plant Journal","volume":"127 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13595898/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149015111","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 telomere-to-telomere gap-free reference genome and DNA methylome unveil epigenetic regulation of proanthocyanidin biosynthesis during apricot fruit development","authors":"Xu Qiang,&nbsp;Tingting Zhang,&nbsp;Meng Wang,&nbsp;Ting Ren,&nbsp;Guoqing Bai,&nbsp;Ying Zhang,&nbsp;Zhikun Chen,&nbsp;Xiying Du,&nbsp;Yun Jia,&nbsp;Zhonghu Li,&nbsp;Ming Yue","doi":"10.1111/tpj.71138","DOIUrl":"10.1111/tpj.71138","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Apricot (<i>Prunus armeniaca</i> L.) is an economically significant fruit crop worldwide with remarkable germplasm diversity, and its fruit quality is primarily determined by key metabolites (e.g., sugars, organic acids, and flavonoids). However, current apricot genome assemblies remain incomplete, with substantial unanchored regions that hamper analyses of genomic evolution and the regulatory mechanisms underlying fruit quality. Here, we generated the first gap-free telomere-to-telomere (T2T) <i>de novo</i> assembly of the <i>P. armeniaca</i> genome (248.3 Mb) and annotated 22 786 protein-coding genes across eight chromosomes. Combined analyses of metabolomic and transcriptomic data, we characterized the transcriptomic and metabolic landscape of apricot across five developmental stages and assigned 3198 metabolites and their co-expressed genes to five functional metabolic-gene modules. DNA methylome profiling further revealed dynamic epigenetic reprogramming during fruit development, characterized by decreases in CG and CHG methylation and an increase in CHH methylation. Notably, higher CHH DNA methylation in promoter regions was associated with the upregulation of leucoanthocyanidin reductase (<i>PaLAR</i>) and dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (<i>PaDFR</i>), contributing to anthocyanin biosynthesis during ripening. Moreover, we identified <i>PaTT2</i> as a potential regulator of proanthocyanidin biosynthesis and directly activates <i>PaLAR</i>, as evidenced by Y1H and dual-luciferase assays. Our study sheds light on the epigenetic and metabolic regulatory networks of apricot, serving as a valuable foundation for molecular breeding and genetic enhancement.</p>","PeriodicalId":233,"journal":{"name":"The Plant Journal","volume":"127 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13595490/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149015108","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":"Dynamic evolution and hierarchical regulation of rDNA in polyploid oat","authors":"Ziyang Wan,&nbsp;Haorang Wang,&nbsp;Jie Qin,&nbsp;Wentao Ding,&nbsp;Xin Wang,&nbsp;Qianqian Ge,&nbsp;Handong Su","doi":"10.1111/tpj.71140","DOIUrl":"10.1111/tpj.71140","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Ribosomal DNA (rDNA) encodes the RNA core of ribosomes, yet it remains one of the least understood components of eukaryotic genomes, particularly in complex polyploids. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of rDNA organization, evolution, and transcription across the <i>Avena</i> genus. We show that rDNA copy number varies extensively across loci and genotypes, and is partially structured by populations. Despite widespread sequence polymorphism, rRNA coding regions exhibit greater sequence conservation than noncoding regions, which retain considerably high levels of sequence diversity. Comparative analyses across ploidy levels further reveal that rDNA evolution is highly structured, lineage-specific, and asymmetric, with polyploidization accompanied by extensive remodeling of rDNA composition and preferential retention of particular subgenome-derived variants. At the transcriptional level, rDNA arrays are not used uniformly, but instead show context-dependent expression of specific variants across developmental and environmental conditions. Using oat–maize addition lines, we further demonstrate complete silencing of alien maize rDNA, while endogenous oat rDNA preserves a stable internal transcriptional hierarchy. Together, these findings establish rDNA as a dynamic genomic system shaped by genome merger, selection, and hierarchical regulation during polyploid evolution. More broadly, they provide a framework for understanding how ribosomal gene diversity contributes to regulatory plasticity, genome stability, and cellular robustness in complex crop genomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":233,"journal":{"name":"The Plant Journal","volume":"127 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13595461/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149015123","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":"Harnessing two UDP-glycosyltransferases from Saponaria officinalis toward heterologous production of endosomal escape enhancer saponins in Gypsophila elegans hairy roots","authors":"Tongtong Qu,&nbsp;Helga Schinkel,&nbsp;Tessa Moses,&nbsp;Kaylan Reddy,&nbsp;René de Vaumas,&nbsp;Stefan Schillberg,&nbsp;Alain Goossens,&nbsp;Elia Lacchini","doi":"10.1111/tpj.71109","DOIUrl":"10.1111/tpj.71109","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Soapwort (<i>Saponaria officinalis</i>) synthesizes a vast repertoire of specialized metabolites with bioactive properties. Among those, a specific type of highly glycosylated oleanane-derived triterpenoid saponins has potential applications in the pharmaceutical industry due to their anticancer activity and enhancement of endosomal escape for targeted therapeutics. Saponarioside A and saponarioside B are representative of this group and the major bioactive saponins in soapwort. Recently, the enzymes involved in the biosynthetic pathway of saponarioside B have been characterized. SO1861, another soapwort saponin known for its endosomal escape properties, shares common structural features with these saponins, suggesting saponariosides may represent SO1861 precursors. However, the late-pathway biosynthetic steps converting saponariosides into SO1861 remain unknown. Here, we report the identification and function of the uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glycosyltransferase (UGT), UGT73EU1, and uncover an additional function of the previously characterized UGT73M2, both involved in the late biosynthetic pathway leading to SO1861 and its structural derivatives. We demonstrate their activity and utility through <i>in vitro</i> assays with recombinant UGT proteins produced in a cell-free tobacco system. Furthermore, overexpression of <i>UGT73EU1</i> in hairy root cultures of <i>Gypsophila elegans</i>, a close relative of <i>Saponaria</i>, led to the accumulation of triterpenoid saponins typically not produced by this species. Our work showcases the potential of producing high-value saponins in plants through genetic engineering approaches.</p>","PeriodicalId":233,"journal":{"name":"The Plant Journal","volume":"127 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13595893/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149015062","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 monolignol O-methylation in Cleome hassleriana","authors":"Chunliu Zhuo,&nbsp;David Burks,&nbsp;Xirong Xiao,&nbsp;Rajeev K. Azad,&nbsp;Xiaolan Rao,&nbsp;Fang Chen,&nbsp;Richard A. Dixon","doi":"10.1111/tpj.71123","DOIUrl":"10.1111/tpj.71123","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Catechyl (C) lignin, a linear homopolymer restricted to seed coats of a limited number of plant species, has favorable properties for chemical and biomaterial manufacture. In the seed coat of <i>Cleome</i> <i>hassleriana</i>, lignin composition switches from guaiacyl (G-) lignin to C-lignin during development. This involves loss of expression of caffeoyl-CoA 3-<i>O</i>-methyltransferase (ChCCoAOMT) and caffeic acid 3-<i>O</i>-methyltransferase (ChCOMT), and upregulation of a cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (ChCAD5) and laccase (ChLAC8) with substrate preference for the caffeyl moiety. How the loss of monolignol <i>O</i>-methylation is regulated is not understood. We reconstructed coexpression networks of the above enzymes with transcription factor (TF) candidates based on RNA sequencing data. Using a dual-luciferase reporter assay, we identified ChMYB20 as an activator of the ChCCoAOMT and ChCOMT promoters, and ChMYB6-like as a repressor. ChMYB5 and ChMYB42 induced ChCAD5, ChLAC8, and ChMYB6-like, and ChNAC92-like induced ChMYB5 and ChMYB42. The roles of the TFs in the network were further confirmed by expressing them in <i>Cleome</i> hairy roots. ChMYB5 and ChMYB42 suppressed monolignol <i>O</i>-methyltransferase genes, activated downstream C-lignin-associated genes, and also activated each other, suggesting they are players in the switch from G- to C-lignin biosynthesis via blockage of monolignol <i>O</i>-methylation. Models for the gene regulatory networks are presented.</p>","PeriodicalId":233,"journal":{"name":"The Plant Journal","volume":"127 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13592876/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149015049","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":"PgZHD18-PgWDR5b increases basal thermotolerance in Physalis grisea by lignin biosynthesis dependent on H3K4me3","authors":"Hong Li,&nbsp;Guanzhuo Kong,&nbsp;Yihan Zhang,&nbsp;Yan Ren,&nbsp;Jiayin Niu,&nbsp;Xiaochun Zhao,&nbsp;Qiaofang Shi,&nbsp;Yihe Yu","doi":"10.1111/tpj.71131","DOIUrl":"10.1111/tpj.71131","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Physalis grisea</i> is a widely valued orphan crop with medicinal properties and edible functional fruits. Under global warming, high temperature stress (HTS) severely restricts the growth and development of <i>P. grisea</i>, while the epigenetic regulatory mechanism underlying its HTS response remains largely unclear. In this study, we identified the ZINC FINGER HOMEODOMAIN (ZHD) transcription factor PgZHD18 as a positive regulator of basal thermotolerance in <i>P. grisea</i>. Functional assays showed that <i>PgZHD18</i> enhances basal thermotolerance by improving ROS scavenging capacity, alleviating membrane damage, and maintaining chlorophyll stability. Further molecular verification revealed that PgZHD18 directly binds to the promoters of key lignin biosynthetic genes (<i>PgPAL1</i>, <i>PgC3H1</i>, <i>PgC4H</i>, <i>PgCAD3</i>) and activates their transcription, thus promoting lignin accumulation. Moreover, PgZHD18 interacts with the Trithorax Group (TrxG) protein PgWDR5b, which increases H3K4me3 deposition at the promoters of lignin biosynthetic genes and further amplifies their transcriptional activation, synergistically enhancing basal thermotolerance. Collectively, our findings reveal a dual regulatory module of transcriptional activation coupled with epigenetic modification in plant heat response, and provide a theoretical basis and molecular targets for breeding heat-resistant crop varieties.</p>","PeriodicalId":233,"journal":{"name":"The Plant Journal","volume":"127 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13591493/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149011862","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":"CurT dosage quantitatively affects thylakoid structure and PSII performance in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803","authors":"Matthias Ostermeier,&nbsp;Anne-Christin Pohland,&nbsp;Patrick Reinmöller,&nbsp;Marcel Dann","doi":"10.1111/tpj.71132","DOIUrl":"10.1111/tpj.71132","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The photosynthetic thylakoid membrane systems of many oxygenic photosynthesizers form elaborate three-dimensional structures. Curvature Thylakoid (CurT/CURT1) proteins are central regulators of thylakoid architecture in cyanobacteria and plants, driving both grana stacking and the formation of thylakoid convergence zones (TCZs) by promoting membrane curvature while also contributing to green-algal chloroplast and cyanobacterial cell division. While the functional role of grana stacks in terrestrial photosynthesis is well established, the physiological significance of cyanobacterial TCZs remains unclear. Here, we investigate the physiological role of TCZs and thylakoid ultrastructure in <i>Synechocystis</i> sp. PCC 6803 by quantitatively assessing how CurT protein abundance shapes thylakoid membrane organization, TCZ frequency, and thylakoid layering, and how these architectural features relate to photosynthetic efficiency and growth in a set of <i>curT</i> expression mutants. By correlating cellular CurT levels with thylakoid structural and physiological parameters of the system, we define a quantitative relationship between CurT abundance, thylakoid architecture, photosystem II (PSII) performance, and growth. Our results reveal a non-linear threshold-like relationship best captured through a logarithmic regression model: minimal CurT suffices to restore TCZ formation, partially recovering PSII activity and growth rate, while CurT overexpression further enhances late-stage biomass accumulation through an apparently PSII-activity independent mechanism. Together, these findings identify CurT as a dose-dependent key determinant of thylakoid structure and underscore the functional importance of thylakoid membrane architecture for efficient photosynthesis and growth.</p>","PeriodicalId":233,"journal":{"name":"The Plant Journal","volume":"127 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13592050/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149011928","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":"SARD1 and CBP60g redundantly regulate N-hydroxypipecolic acid- and salicylic acid-dependent systemic immunity but are dispensable for the activation of indolic defense metabolism","authors":"Mona Perrar,&nbsp;Marlene Gross,&nbsp;Patrick Petzsch,&nbsp;Karl Köhrer,&nbsp;Jürgen Zeier","doi":"10.1111/tpj.71130","DOIUrl":"10.1111/tpj.71130","url":null,"abstract":"<p>We investigated the roles of the cognate, redundantly acting transcription factors SARD1 and CPB60g in the metabolic reprogramming of leaves of <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i> suffering from bacterial infection or UV light exposure. Comprehensive metabolite analyses reveal that SARD1/CBP60g exert distinct influences on major stress-inducible metabolic pathways. The SARD1/CBP60g transcriptional node decisively boosts the biosynthesis of the systemic acquired resistance (SAR)-inducing metabolites N-hydroxypipecolic acid (NHP) and salicylic acid (SA), as well as their metabolism to major glucose conjugates. Additionally, it significantly promotes the biotic stress-induced accumulation of aromatic and branched-chain amino acids, and the generation of the antioxidant γ-tocopherol. By contrast, SARD1/CBP60g does not impact or yet exerts negative influence on the stress-induced biosynthesis of indolic defense compounds, including the phytoalexin camalexin, accumulation of Lys, Ser and Gly, and sterol desaturation. Significantly, we show that SARD1/CBP60g also acts downstream of NHP and SA in immune signaling, indicating a critical function of this transcriptional node in an NHP- and SA-driven immune amplification relay operating in SAR. RNA-sequencing analysis highlight that the transcriptional response to NHP is separable into two gene groups with different regulatory characteristics. One group consists of strongly SARD1/CBP60g-promoted genes that invariably contain NHP and SA-pathway genes and is enriched in SA-inducible genes. Genes of the other group, which overrepresents H₂O₂-inducible genes and concentrates genes of indolic metabolism, are not promoted by SARD1/CBP60g. Interestingly, SARD1/CBP60g oppositely affect the NHP-mediated priming of pathogen-induced SA and camalexin biosynthesis as well, illustrating that plants realize priming of distinct defenses by different mechanisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":233,"journal":{"name":"The Plant Journal","volume":"127 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13594504/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149015076","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 MdSLR1b-MdKNOX15-MdGA20ox2/MdGA2ox7 module regulates dwarfing by mediating the gibberellin pathway in apple","authors":"Rui Yan,&nbsp;Xinfeng Zeng,&nbsp;Yuan Wang,&nbsp;Ning Wang,&nbsp;Yilin Yang,&nbsp;Bingyi Liang,&nbsp;Xuemei Zhang,&nbsp;Guohui Qi,&nbsp;Peng Jia","doi":"10.1111/tpj.71137","DOIUrl":"10.1111/tpj.71137","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Dwarf and high-density cultivation is a major trend in the apple industry, yet the regulatory mechanisms remain largely unexplored. In this study, we identified <i>MdKNOX15</i>, a KNOX transcription factor highly expressed in spur-type and dwarfing rootstock varieties, as a critical regulator of plant height. Overexpression of <i>MdKNOX15</i> caused a gibberellin (GA)-deficient dwarf phenotype, whereas VIGS-mediated knockdown increased endogenous GA content and plant height. Exogenous GA alleviated, and uniconazole exacerbated, the dwarfism. Using DAP-seq and RNA-seq, we identified <i>MdGA2ox7</i> and <i>MdGA20ox2</i> as direct target genes. MdKNOX15 activated <i>MdGA2ox7</i> and repressed <i>MdGA20ox2</i> by binding to (T)TGAC elements in their promoters. Functional assays confirmed that <i>MdGA2ox7</i> negatively, and <i>MdGA20ox2</i> positively, regulates apple height. Furthermore, the DELLA homolog MdSLR1b physically interacted with MdKNOX15. Overexpression of <i>MdSLR1b</i> reduced plant height, while its knockdown alleviated the dwarfism induced by <i>MdKNOX15</i> overexpression. MdKNOX15 enhanced MdSLR1b protein stability, especially under GA treatment, and MdSLR1b amplified the transcriptional regulation of downstream genes by MdKNOX15. Collectively, we propose a molecular model in which the <i>MdKNOX15</i>–<i>MdSLR1b</i>–<i>MdGA2ox7</i>/<i>MdGA20ox2</i> module governs apple plant height, providing a theoretical basis for breeding dwarf apple varieties.</p>","PeriodicalId":233,"journal":{"name":"The Plant Journal","volume":"127 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13589610/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149007646","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}