The Plant CellPub Date : 2025-07-23DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koaf181
Christian Damian Lorenzo
{"title":"Forever green: A Temporal physiological and metabolic analysis reveals genetic drivers of the staygreen trait in maize.","authors":"Christian Damian Lorenzo","doi":"10.1093/plcell/koaf181","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koaf181","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":501012,"journal":{"name":"The Plant Cell","volume":"703 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144693210","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":"Dark-inducible BGH2 suppresses GLK transcription factors and maintains plastid homeostasis to promote light adaptation.","authors":"Ryo Tachibana,Rino Akema,Akiko Yoshihara,Chihiro Ujihara,Kaisei Nishida,Shunshu Ri,Ayumi Yamagami,Takuya Miyakawa,Koichi Kobayashi,Ryouichi Tanaka,Takeshi Nakano","doi":"10.1093/plcell/koaf180","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koaf180","url":null,"abstract":"Light is an essential energy source for plants, but it can cause harmful photooxidative damage that induces cell death. When dark-germinated plants are exposed to the light, etioplasts differentiate into chloroplasts, converting protochlorophyllide (Pchlide) into chlorophyll, while excessive free Pchlide accumulation in etioplasts causes reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and cell death under light conditions. Despite this knowledge, the molecular mechanisms by which dark-germinated plants adapt to the light environment via transcriptional regulation of chlorophyll biosynthesis remain unclear. We previously identified BRZ-INSENSITIVE-PALE GREEN 4 (BPG4) as a light-inducible chloroplast homeostasis factor. Here, we identified the BPG4 paralog BPG4 HOMOLOGOUS GENE 2 (BGH2) as a nucleus-localized plastid regulator required for light adaptation in Arabidopsis thaliana. Dark-inducible BGH2 interacts with GOLDEN2-LIKE 1 (GLK1) and GLK2, master transcription factors regulating chlorophyll biosynthesis. This interaction suppresses excessive photosynthesis-associated nuclear gene (PhANG) expression, avoids Pchlide overaccumulation in the dark, prevents ROS generation, and promotes healthy cotyledon greening during de-etiolation. BPG4 and BGH2 expression is regulated by GLK and PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR transcription factors under light and dark conditions. Overall, our findings suggest that BGH2 plays an essential role in fine-tuning chlorophyll biosynthesis and etioplast homeostasis by inhibiting GLK transcriptional activity and excessive PhANG expression in the dark.","PeriodicalId":501012,"journal":{"name":"The Plant Cell","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144684239","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}
The Plant CellPub Date : 2025-07-22DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koaf182
Margot Raffeiner
{"title":"Metacaspase-Peps-PEPR: The three musketeers in boosting wheat resistance against Fusarium head blight.","authors":"Margot Raffeiner","doi":"10.1093/plcell/koaf182","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koaf182","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":501012,"journal":{"name":"The Plant Cell","volume":"211 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144684244","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}
The Plant CellPub Date : 2025-07-22DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koaf176
Manwinder S Brar, Rohit Kumar, Bharath Kunduru, Elizabeth Leonard, Christopher S McMahan, Nishanth Tharayil, Rajandeep S Sekhon
{"title":"Temporal analysis of physiological phenotypes identifies metabolic and genetic underpinnings of senescence in maize","authors":"Manwinder S Brar, Rohit Kumar, Bharath Kunduru, Elizabeth Leonard, Christopher S McMahan, Nishanth Tharayil, Rajandeep S Sekhon","doi":"10.1093/plcell/koaf176","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koaf176","url":null,"abstract":"Delayed leaf senescence (staygreen) is an important agronomic trait associated with enhanced resilience to abiotic and biotic stresses and improved productivity. While senescence induces large-scale metabolomic changes, the characterization of metabolic shifts and the identification of key metabolites and pathways determining the staygreen trait remain limited. Here, we generated a temporal map of the physiological and metabolic variation in genetically diverse maize (Zea mays) inbred lines spanning the staygreen spectrum. Integrated analysis of the captured phenotypic variation revealed substantial metabolic perturbations and identified 42 primary and 141 specialized leaf metabolites. Non-staygreen inbred lines were enriched in primary metabolites represented by sugar alcohols (notably mannitol and erythritol), and amino acids including phenylalanine and arginine. In contrast, the staygreen inbred lines accumulated higher levels of specialized metabolites, primarily phenylpropanoids. Metabolome-to-genome mapping identified 56 candidate genes expressed in adult maize leaves responsible for the metabolic changes that occur during senescence. Reverse genetics validated the role of naringenin chalcone and eriodictyol in maize and Arabidopsis thaliana leaf senescence, demonstrating a conserved function of these flavonoids across monocots and dicots. Together, our results reveal the coordinated physiological and metabolic programs that govern senescence and provide a curated set of metabolites and genes underlying this complex process.","PeriodicalId":501012,"journal":{"name":"The Plant Cell","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144684445","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":"Arabidopsis GELP53 overexpression modulates polysaccharide acetylation and defense through oligosaccharide-mediated signaling.","authors":"Lavi Rastogi,Muhammad-Moazzam Hussain,Shivangi Tyagi,Kristi Kabyashree,Naman Kharbanda,Puneet Srivastva,Rakesh Chaudhary,Tushar Kanti Maiti,Vengadesan Krishnan,Gopaljee Jha,Aline Voxeur,Tripti Shrivastava,Prashant Anupama-Mohan Pawar","doi":"10.1093/plcell/koaf184","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koaf184","url":null,"abstract":"O-acetylation is a crucial substitution found in hemicelluloses and pectin, which are necessary for maintaining the flexibility and structural integrity of the cell. Cell wall acetyl transferases and esterases maintain balanced polysaccharide O-acetylation levels, however the role of esterases in cell wall polysaccharide O-acetylation metabolism is not well explored. Therefore, we investigated the role of the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) GDSL Esterase/Lipase Protein (GELP) family member AtGELP53. Here, we show that AtGELP53 is localized in the plasma membrane. Analysis of AtGELP53-overexpressing independent transgenic lines revealed a decrease in xyloglucan acetylation, changes in acetylation of other polysaccharides, and alterations in cell wall composition. Molecular docking and in vitro protein activity assays showed that AtGELP53 might deacetylate xyloglucan and xylan. Elicitor-based, transcriptomic, and proteomic analyses in AtGELP53-overexpressing lines suggested that oligosaccharide-mediated signaling activates the cell wall and defense-related genes primarily through xyloglucan deacetylation. Furthermore, AtGELP53-overexpressing plants showed resistance against Pseudomonas syringae and Ralstonia solanacearum through activation of elicitor-mediated defense responses. Overall, our findings outline the role of AtGELP53 in polysaccharide acetylation, cell wall remodeling, and defense through oligosaccharide signaling.","PeriodicalId":501012,"journal":{"name":"The Plant Cell","volume":"53 2 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144684241","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}
The Plant CellPub Date : 2025-07-18DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koaf178
Juping Zhang,Jian Yao,Kunrong He,Chunlan Yu,Jie Du,Jiancan Du,Qiantang Fu,Ruifeng Yao,Gregg A Howe,Xiao Han,Yanru Hu
{"title":"Jasmonate signaling coordinates with the SOD7-KLU pathway to regulate seed size in Arabidopsis thaliana.","authors":"Juping Zhang,Jian Yao,Kunrong He,Chunlan Yu,Jie Du,Jiancan Du,Qiantang Fu,Ruifeng Yao,Gregg A Howe,Xiao Han,Yanru Hu","doi":"10.1093/plcell/koaf178","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koaf178","url":null,"abstract":"Seed size is crucial for crop yield and plant ecological fitness. The phytohormone jasmonate regulates Arabidopsis thaliana seed size, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we established that CORONATINE INSENSITIVE1 (COI1)-mediated jasmonate signaling acts maternally to repress seed growth. Accordingly, jasmonate signaling suppresses the expression of KLUH (KLU), encoding an inducer of integument cell proliferation. KLU regulates the effects of COI1-mediated signaling on seed size. The JASMONATE ZIM-DOMAIN (JAZ) repressors of jasmonate signaling interact with SUPPRESSOR OF DA1-1 (SOD7) and DEVELOPMENT-RELATED PcG TARGET IN THE APEX4 (DPA4), two transcription factors that directly repress KLU. Overexpression of SOD7 largely rescues the seed size phenotype of coi1 mutants and JAZ1-overexpressing JAZ1-ΔJas plants. Furthermore, SOD7 associates with MYC2 and MYC4, two master transcriptional regulators of jasmonate signaling. SOD7 and MYC2 synergistically decrease KLU transcription and inhibit seed growth, while JAZ1 interferes with their transcriptional activities and physical interaction. Notably, jasmonate signaling considerably impacts seed size under salinity stress, primarily through SOD7 and KLU. Collectively, our findings suggest that the JAZ repressors and MYC transcription factors of the jasmonate signaling pathway coordinate with the SOD7/DPA4-KLU pathway to incorporate jasmonate signals into seed development.","PeriodicalId":501012,"journal":{"name":"The Plant Cell","volume":"2 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144652864","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":"The metacaspase-Peps-PEPR immune module confers resistance to Fusarium head blight in wheat.","authors":"Yifan Dong,Qi An,Yi He,Yue Zhang,Ge Guo,Changsheng Zhang,Yicong Zhang,Xiaobo Xia,Yuhua Wang,Shiyu Zhang,Dong-Lei Yang,Wujun Ma,Ryan Whitford,Xiujuan Yang,Zhengguang Zhang,Gang Li","doi":"10.1093/plcell/koaf177","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koaf177","url":null,"abstract":"Pathogens constantly attack staple crops, leading to substantial yield losses. Plant-pathogen interactions activate endogenous plant-secreted peptides, which act as immunity inducers and are promising breeding targets for enhancing crop resistance to pathogens. However, the identification and mechanisms of immunogenic peptides in staple crops remain largely unexplored. Here, we demonstrated that plant elicitor peptides (TaPeps) in wheat (Triticum aestivum), processed by a metacaspase, are competent to trigger plant immunity and contribute to resistance against Fusarium head blight (FHB). Using exogenous phytocytokine peptide screens, we identified three potential TaPeps acting as elicitors that significantly improve FHB resistance. Mechanistically, these elicitors activate innate immune signals and calcium dynamics in response to the Fusarium pathogen via wheat PEP RECEPTOR 1 (TaPEPR1). Overexpression of endogenous PRECURSOR OF PEPs (TaPROPEPs) further reduces FHB severity. Moreover, we characterized the natural form of TaPeps in planta, revealing that the wheat type-II metacaspase TaMCA-IIa cleaves TaPROPEPs at a conserved arginine residue, promoting TaPep maturation and immune activation. In Tamca-IIa mutants, the efficiency of TaPep maturation was decreased and calcium dynamics were impaired, resulting in FHB susceptibility. Conversely, overexpressing TaMCA-IIa in wheat enhanced the immune response and FHB resistance without causing pleiotropic growth penalties. Our findings highlight TaPeps as potential immune-inducing biologicals for crop protection and uncover the metacaspase-Peps-receptor module in mediating plant disease resistance.","PeriodicalId":501012,"journal":{"name":"The Plant Cell","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144652857","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}
The Plant CellPub Date : 2025-07-15DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koaf149
Theresa Wildenhain, Cezary Smaczniak, Alexander Marsell, Jan Draken, Daniel Maag, Philipp Kreisz, Markus Krischke, Martin J Müller, Kerstin Kaufmann, Christoph Weiste, Wolfgang Dröge-Laser
{"title":"A subset of group S1 bZIP transcription factors controls resource management during starvation and recovery in Arabidopsis","authors":"Theresa Wildenhain, Cezary Smaczniak, Alexander Marsell, Jan Draken, Daniel Maag, Philipp Kreisz, Markus Krischke, Martin J Müller, Kerstin Kaufmann, Christoph Weiste, Wolfgang Dröge-Laser","doi":"10.1093/plcell/koaf149","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koaf149","url":null,"abstract":"Plants exhibit considerable phenotypic plasticity, allowing them to adapt their metabolism to the fluctuating energy supply in a natural environment. Using dark-induced senescence (DIS) as an experimental system, a mutant study combining phenotypic, transcriptomic and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) approaches identified distinct members of the Arabidopsis thaliana group S1 basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors that orchestrate the starvation response. Whereas excluding bZIP2, bZIP11 and bZIP44 to play a major role in DIS, bZIP1 and bZIP53 act partially redundantly to control a co-expression network governing amino acid catabolism and transport, gluconeogenesis and energy homeostasis. Moreover, bZIP1 and bZIP53 regulate genes involved in the asparagine–glutamine balance, two amino acids critical for carbon and nitrogen homeostasis. This transcriptional reprogramming in resource management is required for survival during starvation and regaining meristematic activity during the recovery from stress. Thus, our findings provide insights into the transcriptional control of plant resource and energy management during starvation. Overall, this work sheds light on the discrepancy between in vitro DNA binding and overexpression studies versus mutant analyses and in vivo DNA binding, providing a critical view on how to define specific transcription factor functions within large families.","PeriodicalId":501012,"journal":{"name":"The Plant Cell","volume":"97 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144639660","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}
The Plant CellPub Date : 2025-07-14DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koaf175
Yaqi Zhang, Lei Sun, Li Shan, Xi Zhao, Mingming Dong, Shuai Yin, Yuming Dong, Ting Wang, Sen Li, Lin Yang, Menghang An, Yingqi Shi, Tiantian Pei, Hongliang Zhu, Yiqun Weng, Xingwang Liu, Huazhong Ren
{"title":"A molecular module controlling silicon efflux from glandular trichomes is required for fruit bloom formation in cucumber","authors":"Yaqi Zhang, Lei Sun, Li Shan, Xi Zhao, Mingming Dong, Shuai Yin, Yuming Dong, Ting Wang, Sen Li, Lin Yang, Menghang An, Yingqi Shi, Tiantian Pei, Hongliang Zhu, Yiqun Weng, Xingwang Liu, Huazhong Ren","doi":"10.1093/plcell/koaf175","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koaf175","url":null,"abstract":"Silicon plays a vital role in plant physiology. Although the silicon transport mechanisms in monocots are well characterized, the molecular basis of silicon deposition in dicots remains elusive. Fruit bloom, an off-white substance covering the fruit surface and affecting its appearance, is crucial for the market-driven breeding and production of cucumbers (Cucumis sativus). However, the mechanisms regulating fruit bloom formation are not well understood. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying silicon deposition in glandular trichomes (GTs) and GT’s role in fruit bloom formation. Using map-based cloning, we identified a single-nucleotide polymorphism in CsaV3_3G017280, encoding a homolog of the rice (Oryza sativa) silicon efflux transporter Low Silicon Rice 2 (Lsi2), causing a premature translation termination mutation linked to the non-fruit-bloom phenotype. Knocking out CsLsi2 prevented silicon deposition on the fruit surface, leading to a non-fruit-bloom phenotype. The MYB transcription factor CsRAX3 directly activated CsLsi2, and the GT development–related factor TINY BRANCHED HAIR (TBH) regulated both CsRAX3 and CsLsi2, linking silicon deposition with GT development. Collectively, our observations establish a direct connection between Si deposition and GT development and provide a perspective on the mechanisms regulating fruit bloom formation.","PeriodicalId":501012,"journal":{"name":"The Plant Cell","volume":"671 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144629840","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":"The B1–TaHDA6 module negatively regulates root hair length through reactive oxygen species homeostasis in wheat","authors":"Wensheng Ke, Yidi Zhao, Yunjie Liu, Qun Yang, Zhaoyan Chen, Jinquan Guo, Ruizhao Wang, Weiya Xu, Dejie Du, Yufeng Zhang, Weilong Guo, Jie Liu, Mingming Xin, Zhaorong Hu, Huiru Peng, Yingyin Yao, Qixin Sun, Zhijian Chang, Zhongfu Ni, Jiewen Xing","doi":"10.1093/plcell/koaf174","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koaf174","url":null,"abstract":"Root hairs serve as a crucial interface between plants and soil, facilitating efficient water and nutrient uptake. However, the genetic mechanisms governing root hair traits in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) remain largely unexplored. In this study, we identified the awn inhibitor gene B1 as an important regulator of root hair length (RHL) through map-based cloning and reported a preferred allele for an ideotype of the root system in wheat. B1 suppressed RHL by decreasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) buildup, whereas a defective B1 resulted in increased RHL and enhanced nutrient uptake efficiency in wheat. In addition, B1 directly repressed the expression of ROOT HAIR DEFECTIVE SIX-LIKE2 (TaRSL2) and ROOT HAIR DEFECTIVE SIX-LIKE4 (TaRSL4), encoding two positive regulators of RHL, thereby activating TaRBOHH9 expression and accelerating ROS production. Furthermore, B1 interacted with TaHDA6, reducing histone H3K9ac and H3K14ac modifications and inhibiting the expression of downstream genes. Our work not only unveils the pivotal role of B1-mediated epigenetic regulation of RHL and nutrient uptake, but also presents editable molecular targets for breeding eco-friendly sustainable crops.","PeriodicalId":501012,"journal":{"name":"The Plant Cell","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144629841","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}