Current Plant BiologyPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-12-04DOI: 10.1016/j.cpb.2025.100575
Israel D.K. Agorsor
{"title":"Rhizosphere engineering for improved plant–beneficial microbe interactions: Concepts and some remaining questions","authors":"Israel D.K. Agorsor","doi":"10.1016/j.cpb.2025.100575","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpb.2025.100575","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The rhizosphere, often defined as the narrow layer of soil around plant roots, is a hotbed of microbial activity and is enriched with plant-derived metabolites that shape the root-associated microbiome. Several species of free-living rhizosphere microbes (known as rhizobacteria) have been identified in laboratory and small-scale experiments that enhance plant growth and adaptation to challenging environments. However, efforts to utilize these beneficial microbes on large scales have not always produced the anticipated results. A key bottleneck is the low rhizosphere competence of many of these rhizobacteria, described as their inability to effectively outcompete other soil-resident microbes and to colonize and thrive in the rhizosphere. Yet, root exudates contain metabolites that select for beneficial microbes, suggesting that the rhizosphere could be engineered to enable beneficial microbes applied in the field overcome their low rhizosphere competence and ultimately improve plant performance. This Review summarizes our current knowledge of how root exudates modulate root–microbe associations and discusses some outstanding questions, namely: (i) whether root exudation profiles could be rationally engineered to enhance the accumulation of specific metabolites in the rhizosphere to promote plant–beneficial microbe interactions, and the challenges that may come with this endeavour, and (ii) whether root exudation can be temporally engineered to benefit the plant at different developmental stages. Opportunities for rhizosphere engineering based on the dynamic nature of root exudate compositions are briefly discussed. Thus, this Review largely focuses on the significant promise of rhizosphere engineering to promote effective plant–beneficial microbe associations for improved plant performance and yield, while highlighting some potential pitfalls.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38090,"journal":{"name":"Current Plant Biology","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 100575"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145691787","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Current Plant BiologyPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2026-01-15DOI: 10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100583
Muriel Wulfhorst , Katharina Sielemann , Nicola Schmidt , Prisca Viehöver , Aaron Kolbecher , Frank Johannes , Vinicius Vilperte , Britta Schulz , Tony Heitkam , Daniela Holtgräwe
{"title":"Towards epigenetics in sugar beet – the ONT based reference 5mC methylome of Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris","authors":"Muriel Wulfhorst , Katharina Sielemann , Nicola Schmidt , Prisca Viehöver , Aaron Kolbecher , Frank Johannes , Vinicius Vilperte , Britta Schulz , Tony Heitkam , Daniela Holtgräwe","doi":"10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100583","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100583","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, influence phenotypic plasticity and affect numerous plant traits. Genome-wide DNA methylation patterns differ among cell types, species, and developmental stages. Still, it remains poorly understood in non-model plants. Thus, the potential of epigenetic breeding approaches targeting DNA methylation in crop plants is not fully realised. This study focuses on sugar beet (<em>Beta vulgaris</em> L. ssp. <em>vulgaris</em>) and comprises the first long read-based reference DNA methylome for this species, generated using Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) sequencing. The detection of 5-methyl cytosine (5mC) in the three sequence contexts (CG, CHG, and CHH) was performed with DeepSignal-plant. The 5mCartograph tool was developed to provide a detailed overview of 5mC methylation probabilities: A genome-wide 5mC reference methylome was established for the genotype KWS2320, including gene- and repeat-specific analyses and the identification of 2088 gene body methylated (gbM) genes, while 10,839 genes remained unmethylated. Genome-wide analysis re-detected more than 99 % of the 204.8 Mio reference cytosines, based on ONT read sets of at least 17.5 × mapped genome coverage. Of these cytosines, 14.5 % were classified as ‘highly methylated’ in young sugar beet leaves. Methylation levels followed typical plant patterns, being highest in CG (89.8 %), followed by CHG (62.8 %) and CHH (10.1 %) context. This detailed methylome provides a robust foundation for future studies - such as epi-pangenome generation - and supports potential breeding applications in crop improvement.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38090,"journal":{"name":"Current Plant Biology","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 100583"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037409","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Current Plant BiologyPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2026-01-23DOI: 10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100586
Diego Fernando Nieto-Giraldo , Javier Torres-Osorio , José Mauricio Rodas Rodríguez
{"title":"Systematic Review of Plant AQPs: Molecular mechanisms, intracellular trafficking, and emerging roles in stress adaptation","authors":"Diego Fernando Nieto-Giraldo , Javier Torres-Osorio , José Mauricio Rodas Rodríguez","doi":"10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100586","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100586","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aquaporins (AQPs) are integral membrane proteins that play essential roles in maintaining water and solute homeostasis across all domains of life. In plants, more than 30 AQP isoforms are commonly expressed, each displaying distinct spatial and temporal patterns depending on cell type, membrane localization, and developmental stage. This systematic review traces the historical development of plant AQP research, with particular emphasis on the mechanisms regulating their activity, including structural and conformational modifications as well as transcriptomic regulation, which modulates AQP abundance and function in response to environmental and physiological cues. The review highlights the physiological roles of AQPs and their contribution to adaptation under diverse physiological stresses, drawing on evidence from 229 publications spanning 1992–2025. Following the PRISMA protocol and through bibliometric analysis, current knowledge is synthesized regarding cell-specific AQP functions, subfamily-specific modulation, and interactions with hormonal signaling pathways. Emerging evidence for AQPs as cation channels is also discussed, alongside the insights provided by transcriptomic studies into AQP regulation under stress conditions. By integrating historical context with an updated critical synthesis, this review underscores the complexity and versatility of plant AQPs and the multilayered regulatory networks that govern their activity, while identifying persistent knowledge gaps and avenues for future research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38090,"journal":{"name":"Current Plant Biology","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 100586"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076925","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Exogenous priming and manipulation of metabolic/regulatory genes for crop stress tolerance","authors":"Sunil Kumar Sahu , Manish Kumar Patel, Avinash Mishra","doi":"10.1016/j.cpb.2025.100572","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpb.2025.100572","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Environmental stresses pose unprecedented threats to global food security, imperiling crop yields across diverse agroecological zones and demanding innovative intervention strategies. The articles compiled in this special issue of Current Plant Biology collectively demonstrate that exogenous priming and genetic manipulation of metabolic/regulatory genes represent powerful, complementary approaches for enhancing crop resilience to abiotic and biotic stresses. Through the integration of chemical elicitors, microbial priming agents, and targeted genetic modifications, the contributions herein illuminate molecular pathways underlying stress adaptation and provide practical frameworks for advancing climate-resilient agriculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38090,"journal":{"name":"Current Plant Biology","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 100572"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146187336","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Dissecting specialized metabolism in space: A MALDI-MSI atlas of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids in Hippeastrum papilio (Ravenna) Van Scheepen","authors":"Nuwan Sameera Liyanage , Natacha Mérindol , Sajjad Sobhanverdi , Kenneth Munk Pedersen , Christian Janfelt , Isabel Desgagné-Penix","doi":"10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100579","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100579","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Amaryllidoideae produce specific specialized metabolites called Amaryllidaceae alkaloids (AAs), known for their pharmacological potential. The spatial distribution and biosynthesis within plant tissues, however, remain poorly understood. This study investigates organ- and tissue-specific localization in <em>Hippeastrum papilio</em>, from precursors to galanthamine and haemanthamine, using matrix-assisted-laser-desorption/ionization mass-spectrometry-imaging (MALDI-MIS). AAs consistently accumulated in epidermal and vascular tissues; leaves showed uniform distribution across ages and positions, bulbs had higher concentrations in outer-scales and basal-plates, while roots displayed compartmentalized patterns, with galanthamine uniquely abundant in vascular bundles. Haemanthamine and galanthamine were detected in leaf and bulb mucilage, while precursors were scarce. Multivariate analyses revealed that precursors clustered separately from end-products, enriched in middle-scales and apical leaves of bulbs. Nonetheless, biosynthetic intermediates occurred in all tissues, indicating widespread AA biosynthesis. Transcript profiling confirmed differential expression of biosynthetic genes across leaves, bulbs, and roots, consistent with the widespread and multi-organ biosynthesis of AAs revealed by MSI. These findings suggest a coordinated metabolic network in <em>H</em>. <em>papilio</em>, challenging existing hypotheses on organ-specific AA biosynthesis and hinting at the transport of end products. This study refines current models of alkaloid biosynthesis and underscores the value of <em>H. papilio</em> as a promising resource for sustainable production of therapeutic AAs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38090,"journal":{"name":"Current Plant Biology","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 100579"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925057","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Current Plant BiologyPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-11-29DOI: 10.1016/j.cpb.2025.100571
Claudia Allan , Evelyne Maes , Ancy Thomas , Charles Hefer , Wenting Liu , Liadan Dickie , Volker Nock , Claudia-Nicole Meisrimler
{"title":"Ca2+ and ROS signalling exhibit divergent root-specific dynamics in Arabidopsis responses to abiotic stress and PAMPs","authors":"Claudia Allan , Evelyne Maes , Ancy Thomas , Charles Hefer , Wenting Liu , Liadan Dickie , Volker Nock , Claudia-Nicole Meisrimler","doi":"10.1016/j.cpb.2025.100571","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpb.2025.100571","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plant resilience relies on detecting and responding to osmotic stress and pathogens. Calcium (Ca<sup>2+</sup>) and hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) are key signalling molecules in plant stress, yet their interplay with protein modifications remains unclear. This study utilises a label-free quantitative proteomic approach to elucidate proteins involved in early signalling events in <em>Arabidopsis thaliana</em> (<em>A. thaliana</em>) roots exposed to osmotic stress induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG) and pathogen associated molecular pattern (PAMP)-triggered immunity by flagellin 22 (flg22). We identified over 300 phosphoproteins that changed in abundance within five minutes of stress exposure, including 153 phosphorylation and 49 methionine oxidations. Key signalling proteins included the mechanosensitive Ca<sup>2+</sup> channel MSL9, which may interact with kinases (CPK8), actins (ACT2, ACT7), and antioxidant enzymes (APX1–3, CAT1–3) to coordinate Ca<sup>2+</sup> influx and ROS regulation during early stress responses. Using the bi-directional dual-flowRootChip (bi-dfRC) we tested the effect of solute gradients of PEG, NaCl, flg22, Pep-13 and H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> on early systemic signallling response of Ca<sup>2+</sup> and H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>. Our results demonstrated directional Ca<sup>2+</sup> signals that propagated through stele tissues, with varying speeds depending on the stressor. In contrast, symplastic H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> accumulation displayed distinct patterns from the observed Ca<sup>2+</sup> signals. This study integrated stress-specific Ca<sup>2+</sup> and symplastic H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> signalling data with protein interaction networks, linking oxidative modifications induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) with Ca<sup>2+</sup> influx to provide insights into early molecular signalling events in <em>Arabidopsis</em> roots during PAMP-triggered immunity and abiotic stress.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38090,"journal":{"name":"Current Plant Biology","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 100571"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145691786","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Current Plant BiologyPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-11-21DOI: 10.1016/j.cpb.2025.100569
Róisín C. McGarry, Brian G. Ayre
{"title":"Viral expression vectors differentially impact gain-of-function analyses in model and non-model plants","authors":"Róisín C. McGarry, Brian G. Ayre","doi":"10.1016/j.cpb.2025.100569","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpb.2025.100569","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cotton (<em>Gossypium hirsutum</em>) is the world’s most important fiber crop. However, cotton’s recalcitrance to standard genetic technologies and long life cycle challenge functional analysis and limit mechanisms for genetic improvement. Plant viruses are powerful tools for genetic analyses, and their applications provided new insights into cotton biology. Virus-induced gene silencing with the cloned Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) supports transient loss-of-function analyses while the geminivirus Cotton leaf crumple virus (CLCrV) is used for gain and loss of function in cotton. Both viruses have limitations and finding ways to combine the attributes of each is highly desired. TRV gain-of-function vectors were constructed and rigorously tested in <em>Nicotiana benthamiana</em> and cotton. Systemic delivery of transgenes, including signals impacting meristem fate, from the TRV gain-of-function virus was compared with CLCrV in cotton. We demonstrate that although gene delivery was strong in <em>N. benthamiana</em>, TRV gain-of-function vectors were less effective in cotton and did not advance systemic transgene expression. In contrast, gain of function from CLCrV was consistently demonstrated in systemic cotton tissues. These findings are valuable in considering applications for transient expression and the translation of tools from model to non-model plants.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38090,"journal":{"name":"Current Plant Biology","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 100569"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145584397","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Current Plant BiologyPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100581
Xing Xinyu , Li Yinglun , Gou Wenbo , Yang Si , Wen Weiliang , Zuo Qiang , Tan Xi , Zhao Jinling , Guo Xinyu
{"title":"Multi-sensor information fusion to characterise 3D spatial distribution of water stress in strawberries","authors":"Xing Xinyu , Li Yinglun , Gou Wenbo , Yang Si , Wen Weiliang , Zuo Qiang , Tan Xi , Zhao Jinling , Guo Xinyu","doi":"10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100581","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100581","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Moisture plays a critical role in crop growth and development, making accurate, efficient, and non-destructive detection and monitoring of crop water stress essential for advancing crop science research and optimizing production management. Traditional non-destructive methods for monitoring water stress primarily rely on color imaging or partial 2D spectral analysis. However, these methods are limited to two-dimensional features and fail to capture the spatial variability of water stress within the three-dimensional canopy structure of crops. To address this limitation, this study integrates RGB-D cameras and thermal infrared cameras and introduces a method for calculating the 3D spatial distribution characteristics of crop water stress using RGB-D-T fusion analysis. This approach enables high-precision detection and analysis of water stress in strawberry plants. An RGB-D-T acquisition system was designed and implemented to collect RGB images, depth images, and thermal infrared images of strawberries subjected to different moisture gradient treatments. Using the YOLOv8-seg deep learning model, semantic segmentation of the crop canopy and the wet reference surface was performed. The segmentation results were fused with 3D point cloud data to generate a 3D dataset incorporating temperature, color, and semantic information. Subsequently, the three-dimensional distribution characteristics and dynamic changes in the canopy water stress index (CWSI) of strawberry plants were analyzed under varying moisture conditions. The results demonstrated that under low moisture gradients (15 %–30 %), the CWSI value increased significantly and exhibited a concentrated distribution, indicating severe water stress. Conversely, under high moisture gradients (75 %–90 %), the CWSI value approached zero, reflecting sufficient water supply and complete stress alleviation. Additionally, the study highlighted the variation in the temperature difference between strawberry leaves and the surrounding air, confirming the sensitivity of strawberries to water stress across different reproductive stages. The response to water deficit was most pronounced during the growth phase. By fusing multi-source data, this study achieves 3D visualization and precise quantification of water stress in strawberries, providing innovative insights and technical support for precision irrigation and crop phenotyping research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38090,"journal":{"name":"Current Plant Biology","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 100581"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077678","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of 1-MCP-induced disease resistance in Korla fragrant pear","authors":"Qi Zhang, Shuai Huang, Shifeng Cao, Xuewen Li, Xuemei Zhang, Yating Zhao, Yaxin Lei, Jing Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.cpb.2025.100576","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpb.2025.100576","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The effects of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on <em>Aspergillus niger (A. niger)</em>-infested Korla fragrant pears using transcriptomics and metabolomics were investigated. Differentially expressed genes were highly enriched in metabolic pathways associated with disease resistance, such as phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, fatty acid synthesis pathway, etc., under control and 1-MCP treatment conditions. Metabolomic analyses revealed differentially accumulated metabolites associated with 120 d and 210 d; phenylacetylglutamine, stearic acid, and so on were found to be accumulated at higher levels at these time points. Further analysis showed that 1-MCP treatment was associated with increased activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, peroxidase, 4-coumarate-CoA ligase, and fatty acid desaturase, as well as the content of lignin, flavonoids, and total phenolics, and was associated with up-regulated expression of the encoded genes. In addition, 1-MCP treatment was associated with decreased relative membrane permeability and malondialdehyde content, and was associated with changes in IUFA and U/S of the pericarp cell membrane. In conclusion, 1-MCP treatment is associated with enhanced disease resistance of pear against <em>A. niger</em> infestation, and this association is linked to changes in membrane lipid metabolism and phenylpropane metabolism.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38090,"journal":{"name":"Current Plant Biology","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 100576"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925055","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Current Plant BiologyPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-11-09DOI: 10.1016/j.cpb.2025.100563
Irish Lorraine B. Pabuayon , Jessica Joy B. Bicaldo , Zelalem A. Alemar , Isaiah Catalino M. Pabuayon , Glen L. Ritchie
{"title":"Dynamics of source-sink relationships in crops under marginal environments","authors":"Irish Lorraine B. Pabuayon , Jessica Joy B. Bicaldo , Zelalem A. Alemar , Isaiah Catalino M. Pabuayon , Glen L. Ritchie","doi":"10.1016/j.cpb.2025.100563","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpb.2025.100563","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In semi-arid environments, crop production is heavily impacted by drought, salinity, and low nutrient availability. These marginal environmental conditions disrupt photosynthetic efficiency, translocation, and assimilate partitioning, all of which lead to yield reductions. As a result, maximizing crop productivity under marginal environments requires plants to effectively balance assimilate production (source strength) with use or storage (sink strength). Understanding the relative trade-offs between resources devoted to plant sources and sinks is critical to the development of resilient, productive crops. This review synthesizes research identifying physiological, morphological, and developmental traits that improve source and sink strength under stress conditions in semi-arid regions. Key source-related traits include intrinsic water-use efficiency, sustained photosynthetic capacity under stress, the stay-green phenotype, and favorable leaf area and canopy architecture. Sink traits such as stable reproductive organ development, phenotypic plasticity, root-shoot balance, and optimized phenological timing are highlighted as critical to maintaining sink strength under limiting conditions. We also assess the potential of advanced genetic, biotechnological, and \"omics\" approaches to develop climate-resilient crops, while addressing inherent trade-offs. Finally, we discuss emerging tools and conceptual frameworks that hold promise for improving selection and management of source–sink traits in climate-resilient cropping systems. This review provides a framework for integrating physiological, morphological, and developmental traits into breeding programs aimed at improving source-sink dynamics and advancing sustainable crop production in semi-arid and other marginal environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38090,"journal":{"name":"Current Plant Biology","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100563"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145525672","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}