{"title":"Spatial Regulation of the Plant Circadian Clock.","authors":"Ho-Wei Wu, James C W Locke","doi":"10.1146/annurev-arplant-083123-102431","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-arplant-083123-102431","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The plant circadian clock enables the precise timing of physiological processes across the day-night cycle by generating endogenous 24-h rhythms in gene expression. In <i>Arabidopsis</i>, an iteration between experiments and modeling has uncovered a core oscillator comprising interlocked transcriptional feedback loops. However, emerging techniques now reveal that circadian dynamics vary across organs, tissues, and even individual cells, highlighting the need for spatially resolved clock models. In this review, we explore evidence for spatial variation in clock regulation, including differences in sensitivity to environmental cues, the timing of clock components, and the nature of downstream outputs. We discuss how local cellular rhythms are coordinated to achieve robust organism-level timing and consider how spatial regulation of the clock may contribute to the control of diverse developmental processes.</p>","PeriodicalId":8335,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of plant biology","volume":" ","pages":"373-397"},"PeriodicalIF":26.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147466833","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}
Xi Yang, Kaiyu Guan, Min Chen, Jennifer E Johnson, Rong Li, Hyungsuk Kimm, Genghong Wu, Jongmin Kim, Hamid Dashti, Sheng Wang, Manuel Lerdau, Christian Frankenberg, Joseph A Berry
{"title":"Sensing Plant Photosynthesis Using Solar-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence: From Chloroplasts to the Globe.","authors":"Xi Yang, Kaiyu Guan, Min Chen, Jennifer E Johnson, Rong Li, Hyungsuk Kimm, Genghong Wu, Jongmin Kim, Hamid Dashti, Sheng Wang, Manuel Lerdau, Christian Frankenberg, Joseph A Berry","doi":"10.1146/annurev-arplant-090324-115537","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-arplant-090324-115537","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Photosynthesis is the fundamental biological process that introduced oxygen into Earth's atmosphere and continues to power life, from the earliest single-celled organisms to entire global ecosystems. Yet, measuring photosynthesis across scales has been challenging because traditional techniques have not transcended scales. The emergence of remote-sensing techniques to measure solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) provides a unique approach to estimate photosynthesis across spatiotemporal scales, representing a new age for optical remote sensing to study photosynthesis and shaping the decades of satellite SIF research. Here, focusing on spatiotemporal scales, we review the mechanisms that drive the relationship between SIF and photosynthesis. Remotely sensed SIF is modulated by biological drivers, environmental drivers, the interaction between biological and environmental drivers, and the viewing geometry. Studying fluorescence at small scales provides the ecophysiological understanding needed to disentangle the biological and environmental drivers of SIF at larger scales. Leveraging progress in satellite SIF, future research should focus on cross-scale mechanistic understanding of the drivers of SIF and using SIF as a metric for plant function beyond photosynthesis.</p>","PeriodicalId":8335,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of plant biology","volume":"77 1","pages":"529-560"},"PeriodicalIF":26.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147980258","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":"Development, Anatomy, and Integrated Function of Grass Leaf Veins and Graminoid Stomata.","authors":"Alec S Baird, Michael T Raissig","doi":"10.1146/annurev-arplant-061824-093832","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-arplant-061824-093832","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Grasses (Poaceae) dominate many natural and agricultural ecosystems. Grasses form longitudinal leaves with parallel venation and highly specialized, graminoid stomatal complexes. Theoretical concepts and experimental studies highlight that these anatomical features contribute to physiologically innovative properties, including enhanced capacity and dynamics of water transport and gas exchange. The genetic and molecular regulators underlying vein and epidermal patterning in grasses continue to be elucidated in model species, though integration of these processes is lacking. This review summarizes our current understanding of leaf vein and leaf epidermal development, describes the morphological and physiological characteristics of grass leaves, and highlights those related to water transport pathways and gas exchange. We conclude that an integrative anatomical and physiological framework linking water transport supply and demand must be considered for developmental research and novel crop design. This will enable an understanding of the causes and consequences of anatomical patterns of diverse grass leaves and their translational potential for agriculture in a changing climate.</p>","PeriodicalId":8335,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of plant biology","volume":" ","pages":"449-477"},"PeriodicalIF":26.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147343388","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":"Computational Modeling of Plant Roots: Development Meets Physiology and Adaptation.","authors":"J A Saccheri, Kirsten Ten Tusscher","doi":"10.1146/annurev-arplant-083123-073106","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-arplant-083123-073106","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Developmental patterning-such as longitudinal zonation of roots in growth domains, the transversal subdivision into layers of distinct cell types, and asymmetric growth during tropisms-is inherently multiscale and multiprocess. Consequently, computational models integrating these processes and scales are powerful tools to test whether our current understanding of involved players is both necessary and sufficient. Additionally, models help identify missing factors and reveal how the whole exceeds the sum of its parts. In this review, we discuss influential models that have advanced our understanding of root development and its adaptation to environmental conditions. We also highlight the potential for further integration of growth, mechanics, physiology, and physicochemical processes in these models. Such expansions are critical to advance the explanatory power of current models beyond genetic causes and identify the importance of cell size, nutrients, forces, pH, and ionic charge for developmental processes.</p>","PeriodicalId":8335,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of plant biology","volume":" ","pages":"617-640"},"PeriodicalIF":26.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145965028","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":"m6A RNA Methylation in Plants: From Molecular Insights to Applications.","authors":"Peizhe Song, Zhihe Cai, Guifang Jia","doi":"10.1146/annurev-arplant-070225-033859","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-arplant-070225-033859","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Epitranscriptomics, the study of dynamic and site-specific RNA modifications, has emerged as a crucial layer of gene regulation in plants, paralleling the role of classical epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA and histone modifications. Among these, <i>N</i>6-methyladenosine (m6A) has been identified as a central mark involved in the control of the delicate gene expression patterns during plant development and stress responses. This review highlights recent advances in characterizing m6A distribution, identifying its regulatory components, and deciphering its molecular functions, with an emphasis on insights from <i>Arabidopsis</i>. We further explore its roles in developmental transitions, environmental adaptation, and epigenetic plasticity. By elucidating the multilayered functions of m6A, we underscore its application as a target for crop improvement with epitranscriptome-based yield enhancement and programmable gene editing, offering new frontiers for precision agriculture.</p>","PeriodicalId":8335,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of plant biology","volume":" ","pages":"257-288"},"PeriodicalIF":26.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147275441","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":"The Genetic Basis and Domestication of Root System Architecture in Cereals.","authors":"Frank Hochholdinger, Peng Yu","doi":"10.1146/annurev-arplant-060625-084713","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-arplant-060625-084713","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cereal root systems are critical for nutrient and water uptake as well as for anchorage and thus for plant productivity. This review synthesizes the current understanding of the morphological and cellular organization and the genetic regulation of the different cereal root types. We highlight conserved and lineage-specific developmental mechanisms across maize, rice, and barley. Genetic dissection of cereal root system formation has uncovered key regulators of root initiation and elongation as well as genes controlling root architecture via the root setpoint angle. Moreover, we discuss genes that determine cell and tissue identity and genes that link root traits to domestication. By integrating molecular genetics with developmental and evolutionary perspectives, we highlight how insights into the molecular mechanisms of root system architecture can contribute to the production of high-yielding and at the same time sustainable crops, ensuring global food security.</p>","PeriodicalId":8335,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of plant biology","volume":" ","pages":"399-423"},"PeriodicalIF":26.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145965077","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}
Christelle Aurélie Maud Robert, Paul Himmighofen, Sarah McLaughlin, Tristan M Cofer, Sheharyar Ahmed Khan, Alexandra Siffert, Joëlle Sasse
{"title":"Environmental and Biological Drivers of Root Exudation.","authors":"Christelle Aurélie Maud Robert, Paul Himmighofen, Sarah McLaughlin, Tristan M Cofer, Sheharyar Ahmed Khan, Alexandra Siffert, Joëlle Sasse","doi":"10.1146/annurev-arplant-083123-082752","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-arplant-083123-082752","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Root exudation is the process by which plants release organic and inorganic metabolites from their roots into the surrounding soil. Root exudation is a dynamic process and shapes plant-environment interactions at the root-soil interface. Little is known about the biological and environmental factors that shape the exuded metabolome, hereafter referred to as the exudome, despite its importance in structuring soil processes. Here, we emphasize plant physiological and morphological traits that modulate the exudome in a species- and developmental stage-specific manner. We further discuss how environmental factors drive exudation processes. We highlight evidence of a potential circadian exudation rhythm and further illustrate how the physical (temperature, structure), chemical (moisture, pH, nutrients, pollutants), and biological (micro- and macrofauna) properties of soil alter the root exudome composition and release patterns. Exploring the factors that directly or indirectly modulate exudation will enhance our understanding of how this dynamic process mediates plant-environment interactions.</p>","PeriodicalId":8335,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of plant biology","volume":" ","pages":"317-339"},"PeriodicalIF":26.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143596189","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}
James H Rowe, Max Josse, Bijun Tang, Alexander M Jones
{"title":"Quantifying Plant Biology with Fluorescent Biosensors.","authors":"James H Rowe, Max Josse, Bijun Tang, Alexander M Jones","doi":"10.1146/annurev-arplant-061824-090615","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-arplant-061824-090615","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Plant biology is undergoing a spatial omics revolution, but these approaches are limited to snapshots of a plant's state. Direct, genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors complement the omics approaches, giving researchers tools to assess energetic, metabolic, and signaling molecules at multiple scales, from fast subcellular dynamics to organismal patterns in living plants. This review focuses on how biosensors illuminate plant biology across these scales and the major discoveries to which they have contributed. We also discuss the core principles and common pitfalls affecting biosensor engineering, deployment, imaging, and analysis to help aspiring biosensor researchers. Innovative technologies are driving forward developments both biological and technical with implications for synergizing biosensor research with other approaches and expanding the scope of in vivo quantitative biology.</p>","PeriodicalId":8335,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of plant biology","volume":" ","pages":"285-315"},"PeriodicalIF":26.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143735602","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":"Ingenious Male-Female Communication Ensures Successful Double Fertilization in Angiosperms.","authors":"Sheng Zhong, Zijun Lan, Li-Jia Qu","doi":"10.1146/annurev-arplant-083123-071512","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-arplant-083123-071512","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The colonization of land by plants marked a pivotal transformation in terrestrial ecosystems. In order to adapt to the terrestrial environment, angiosperms, which dominate the terrestrial flora with around 300,000 species, have evolved sophisticated mechanisms for sexual reproduction involving intricate interactions between male and female structures, starting from pollen deposition on the stigma and culminating in double fertilization within the ovule. The pollen tube plays a crucial role by navigating through female tissues to deliver sperm cells. The molecular intricacies of these male-female interactions, involving numerous signaling pathways and regulatory proteins, have been extensively studied over the past two decades. This review summarizes recent findings on the regulatory mechanisms of these male-female interactions in angiosperms. We aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of plant reproductive biology and highlight the implications of these mechanisms for crop improvement and the development of new agricultural technologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":8335,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of plant biology","volume":" ","pages":"401-431"},"PeriodicalIF":26.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143424581","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}
Abdulrahman Alhabsi, Yu Ling, Martin Crespi, Anireddy S N Reddy, Magdy Mahfouz
{"title":"Alternative Splicing Dynamics in Plant Adaptive Responses to Stress.","authors":"Abdulrahman Alhabsi, Yu Ling, Martin Crespi, Anireddy S N Reddy, Magdy Mahfouz","doi":"10.1146/annurev-arplant-083123-090055","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-arplant-083123-090055","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Plants thrive in dynamic environments by activating sophisticated molecular networks that fine-tune their responses to stress. A key component of these networks is gene regulation at multiple levels, including precursor messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) splicing, which shapes the transcriptome and proteome landscapes. Through the precise action of the spliceosome complex, noncoding introns are removed and coding exons are joined to produce spliced RNA transcripts. While constitutive splicing always generates the same messenger RNA (mRNA), alternative splicing (AS) produces multiple mRNA isoforms from a single pre-mRNA, enriching proteome diversity. Remarkably, 80% of multiexon genes in plants generate multiple isoforms, underscoring the importance of AS in shaping plant development and responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. Recent advances in CRISPR-Cas genome and transcriptome editing technologies offer revolutionary tools to dissect AS regulation at molecular levels, unveiling the functional significance of specific isoforms. In this review, we explore the intricate mechanisms of pre-mRNA splicing and AS in plants, with a focus on stress responses. Additionally, we examine how leveraging AS insights can unlock new opportunities to engineer stress-resilient crops, paving the way for sustainable agriculture in the face of global environmental challenges.</p>","PeriodicalId":8335,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of plant biology","volume":" ","pages":"687-717"},"PeriodicalIF":26.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143424564","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}