Abiotic articles within Nature Communications

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• Article
  10 May 2024 | Open Access

  The translocation of a chloride channel from the Golgi to the plasma membrane helps plants adapt to salt stress

  In Arabidopsis roots, NaCl induces the translocation of AtCLCf from the Golgi to the plasma membrane, mediated by the small GTPase AtRABA1b, where AtCLCf functions as a Cl⁻ efflux channel and confers salinity tolerance to the plant.

  • Sivamathini Rajappa
  • , Pannaga Krishnamurthy
  •  & Prakash P. Kumar

• Article
  16 April 2024 | Open Access

  A fine-scale Arabidopsis chromatin landscape reveals chromatin conformation-associated transcriptional dynamics

  Plants utilize transcriptional dynamics to adapt to cold stress. Here, Zhang et al. describe a network of chromatin interactions between gene promoters across the Arabidopsis genome that could facilitate co-regulation of gene expression during cold stress.

  • Yueying Zhang
  • , Qianli Dong
  •  & Huakun Zhang

• Article
  13 March 2024 | Open Access

  A transposon insertion in the promoter of OsUBC12 enhances cold tolerance during japonica rice germination

  Japonica rice generally has greater capacity for low temperatures germination (LTG) than indica rice. Here, the authors report an E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme-encoding gene OsUBC12 can increase LTG in japonica rice by negatively regulate ABA signaling via promoting the proteasomal degradation of OsSnRK1.1.

  • Chuanzhong Zhang
  • , Hongru Wang
  •  & Jun Fang

• Article
  11 January 2024 | Open Access

  A CYBDOM protein impacts iron homeostasis and primary root growth under phosphate deficiency in Arabidopsis

  Iron deposition in cell walls inhibits Arabidopsis root growth under phosphate deficiency. A protein with iron reductase activity belonging to an uncharacterized CYBDOM family was identified which modulates this process and affects iron homeostasis.

  • Joaquín Clúa
  • , Jonatan Montpetit
  •  & Yves Poirier

• Article
  11 January 2024 | Open Access

  Ferric reduction by a CYBDOM protein counteracts increased iron availability in root meristems induced by phosphorus deficiency

  The study identified an Arabidopsis ascorbate-dependent metalloreductase belonging to the CYBDOM family, which functions in maintaining cell elongation and meristem integrity by preventing iron-dependent root growth arrest under phosphate deficiency.

  • Rodolfo A. Maniero
  • , Cristiana Picco
  •  & Ricardo F. H. Giehl

• Article
  04 January 2024 | Open Access

  Proximity to Photosystem II is necessary for activation of Plastid Terminal Oxidase (PTOX) for photoprotection

  Plastid terminal oxidase (PTOX) is efficient in photoprotection in stress-tolerant plants. Transferring this activity to different species requires modifications to the thylakoid structure to allow PTOX access to the Photosystem II acceptor pool.

  • Pablo Ignacio Calzadilla
  • , Junliang Song
  •  & Giles Nicholas Johnson

• Article
  18 November 2023 | Open Access

  Adaptive traits of cysts of the snow alga Sanguina nivaloides unveiled by 3D subcellular imaging

  Sanguina nivaloides thrives in red snowfields worldwide. It cannot be cultivated. Using environmental samples, 3D electron microscopy combined with functional analyzes revealed unique cell architecture features adapted to life in a snowy environment.

  • Jade A. Ezzedine
  • , Clarisse Uwizeye
  •  & Eric Maréchal

• Article
  25 October 2023 | Open Access

  A mitochondrial pentatricopeptide repeat protein enhances cold tolerance by modulating mitochondrial superoxide in rice

  Cold stress hampers rice growth and yield. This paper demonstrates that mitochondrial superoxide plays a key role in cold responses, and identifies a pentatricopeptide repeat protein which modulates mitochondrial superoxide and rice cold tolerance.

  • Xiaofeng Zu
  • , Lilan Luo
  •  & Xiaofeng Cao

• Article
  19 October 2023 | Open Access

  A silicon transporter gene required for healthy growth of rice on land

  Rice actively accumulates silicon as amorphous silica (phytoliths), which protects the plant from various stresses. Here, the authors show that SlET4, a polarly localizes Si transporter, exports Si from leaf cells to the leaf surface and is required for healthy growth of rice on land.

  • Namiki Mitani-Ueno
  • , Naoki Yamaji
  •  & Jian Feng Ma

• Article
  21 September 2023 | Open Access

  The CBL1/9-CIPK1 calcium sensor negatively regulates drought stress by phosphorylating the PYLs ABA receptor

  ABA signaling and Ca²⁺ signaling regulatory networks are crucial for how plants respond to drought stress. Here, the authors reported that the functional module of the CBL1/9-CIPK1-PYLs regulatory network plays a negative role in ABA signaling and its response to drought stress.

  • Zhang You
  • , Shiyuan Guo
  •  & Cun Wang

• Article
  03 August 2023 | Open Access

  Functional annotation of proteins for signaling network inference in non-model species

  An artificial-intelligence network is used to generate highly accurate predictions of proteins’ functionality. The predictions on the identity of regulatory proteins is used to create regulatory networks and make discoveries about complex biological systems.

  • Lisa Van den Broeck
  • , Dinesh Kiran Bhosale
  •  & Rosangela Sozzani

• Article
  24 July 2023 | Open Access

  The OsSGS3-tasiRNA-OsARF3 module orchestrates abiotic-biotic stress response trade-off in rice

  Gu et al. report that the OsSGS3-tasiRNA-OsARF3 module plays an important role in coordinating the trade-off between heat tolerance and disease resistance, which positively regulates thermotolerance but negatively modulates immunity in rice.

  • Xueting Gu
  • , Fuyan Si
  •  & Junzhong Liu

• Article
  03 June 2023 | Open Access

  Flavodiiron-mediated O₂ photoreduction at photosystem I acceptor-side provides photoprotection to conifer thylakoids in early spring

  Generally, net O₂ consumption becomes dominant when photosynthesis is suppressed at night in green organisms. Here, Bag et al. show that Scots pine and Norway spruce needles display strong O₂ consumption when extremely low temperatures coincide with high solar irradiation during early spring.

  • Pushan Bag
  • , Tatyana Shutova
  •  & Stefan Jansson

• Article
  22 February 2023 | Open Access

  Cross-stress gene expression atlas of Marchantia polymorpha reveals the hierarchy and regulatory principles of abiotic stress responses

  How plants respond to multiple stresses occurring simultaneously is poorly understood. Here the authors describe how gene expression in Marchantia polymorpha responds to different combinations of seven abiotic stresses and provide online resources to facilitate data visualization and usability.

  • Qiao Wen Tan
  • , Peng Ken Lim
  •  & Marek Mutwil

• Article
  23 January 2023 | Open Access

  Potassium nutrient status drives posttranslational regulation of a low-K response network in Arabidopsis

  Potassium is essential for plant growth and development. Here the authors present evidence that plants respond to low potassium availability by modulating the abundance and phosphorylation status of proteins in CBL-CIPK-channel modules.

  • Kun-Lun Li
  • , Ren-Jie Tang
  •  & Sheng Luan

• Article
  13 December 2022 | Open Access

  Genome of Paspalum vaginatum and the role of trehalose mediated autophagy in increasing maize biomass

  Paspalum vaginatum is a stress tolerant wild relative of maize and sorghum. Here, the authors assemble its genome at pseudomolecule level and reveal the role of trehalose mediated autophagy in increasing maize biomass productivity under nutrient-deficit conditions.

  • Guangchao Sun
  • , Nishikant Wase
  •  & James C. Schnable

• Article
  11 July 2022 | Open Access

  Translational fidelity and growth of Arabidopsis require stress-sensitive diphthamide biosynthesis

  Diphthamide is a post-translationally modified histidine residue present in animal and yeast TRANSLATION ELONGATION FACTOR2. Here the authors show that diphthamide modification of eEF2 is conserved in Arabidopsis thaliana and contributes to translational fidelity and growth via cell proliferation.

  • Hongliang Zhang
  • , Julia Quintana
  •  & Ute Krämer

• Article
  01 July 2022 | Open Access

  A natural uORF variant confers phosphorus acquisition diversity in soybean

  Improving phosphorus (P) acquisition efficiency is important for sustainable agriculture. Here, the authors report a natural variation in an upstream open reading frame of a SEC12-like gene GmPHF1 is crucial for protein abundance and spatial distribution of GmPHF1, which contribute to P acquisition diversity in soybean.

  • Zilong Guo
  • , Hongrui Cao
  •  & Hong Liao

• Article
  01 June 2022 | Open Access

  Cloning of the broadly effective wheat leaf rust resistance gene Lr42 transferred from Aegilops tauschii

  The Aegilops tauschii-derived leaf rust resistance gene Lr42 has been widely used for breeding resistance wheat cultivars, but the molecular basis is unknown. Here, the authors show that Lr42 encodes an NLR-type of disease resistance gene by bulked segregant mapping in Ae. tauschii and confirm its function in common wheat.

  • Guifang Lin
  • , Hui Chen
  •  & Sanzhen Liu

• Article
  14 March 2022 | Open Access

  Apoplastic class III peroxidases PRX62 and PRX69 promote Arabidopsis root hair growth at low temperature

  Arabidopsis root hair growth is enhanced at low temperatures. Here the authors show that the class III peroxidases PRX62 and PRX69 modulate ROS homeostasis and cell wall characteristics, and promote root hair elongation at low temperature.

  • Javier Martínez Pacheco
  • , Philippe Ranocha
  •  & José M. Estevez

• Article
  28 January 2022 | Open Access

  Phloem iron remodels root development in response to ammonium as the major nitrogen source

  Ammonium affects plant root development through different mechanisms than nitrate. Here, the authors show that the Arabidopsis cell wall-localized ferroxidase LPR2 is required to attenuate root growth in response to ammonium.

  • Xing Xing Liu
  • , Hai Hua Zhang
  •  & Chong Wei Jin

• Article
  10 December 2021 | Open Access

  Interdependent iron and phosphorus availability controls photosynthesis through retrograde signaling

  Iron deficiency induces chlorosis in plants but only when phosphate supply is sufficient. Here, the authors show that phosphate-dependency is governed by a ROS-mediated retrograde signaling pathway involving the PHT4;4 chloroplast ascorbate transporter and the bZIP58 nuclear transcription factor.

  • Hye-In Nam
  • , Zaigham Shahzad
  •  & Hatem Rouached

• Article
  05 November 2021 | Open Access

  A giant NLR gene confers broad-spectrum resistance to Phytophthora sojae in soybean

  While multiple resistance-to-Phytophthora sojae loci/alleles have been mapped in soybean, many of them have become ineffective to newly evolved isolates. Here, the authors show that a 27.7-kb nucleotide-binding site-leucine-rich repeat gene confers broad-spectrum resistance to P. sojae in soybean.

  • Weidong Wang
  • , Liyang Chen
  •  & Jianxin Ma

• Article
  05 August 2021 | Open Access

  Natural variation in a type-A response regulator confers maize chilling tolerance

  The genetic basis of low-temperature tolerance in maize is unclear. Here, the authors show that the type-A Response Regulator 1 (ZmRR1) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MPK8) are positive and negative regulators of maize chilling tolerance, and ZmRR1 is phosphorylated by ZmMPK8 during cold treatment.

  • Rong Zeng
  • , Zhuoyang Li
  •  & Shuhua Yang

• Article
  12 July 2021 | Open Access

  The Welwitschia genome reveals a unique biology underpinning extreme longevity in deserts

  Welwitschia mirabilis is a unique plant that only has two leaves, but it can survive in hostile conditions of the African desert. Here, the authors report its chromosome-level genome assembly and discuss how gene function and regulation have given rise to its unique morphology and environmental adaptions.

  • Tao Wan
  • , Zhiming Liu
  •  & Qingfeng Wang

• Article
  28 April 2021 | Open Access

  Initiation and amplification of SnRK2 activation in abscisic acid signaling

  SnRK2 kinase activity is rapidly activated in response to ABA. Here the authors show that initial activation of SnRK2s is achieved by B2 and B3 RAF kinase-mediated phosphorylation of the activation loop and that transphosphorylation between SnRK2s then amplifies the response.

  • Zhen Lin
  • , Yuan Li
  •  & Pengcheng Wang

• Article
  02 March 2021 | Open Access

  A molecular switch in sulfur metabolism to reduce arsenic and enrich selenium in rice grain

  Contamination of paddy soils can lead to toxic arsenic accumulation in rice grains and low levels of the micronutrient selenium. Here the authors show that a gain of function mutant affecting an O-acetylserine (thiol) lyase enhances sulfur and selenium assimilation while reducing arsenic accumulation in grains.

  • Sheng-Kai Sun
  • , Xuejie Xu
  •  & Fang-Jie Zhao

• Article
  13 March 2020 | Open Access

  Plant Raf-like kinases regulate the mRNA population upstream of ABA-unresponsive SnRK2 kinases under drought stress

  SnRK2 protein kinases play key roles in signaling during plant responses to abiotic stress. Here Soma et al. report three Arabidopsis Raf-like MAP kinase kinase kinases phosphorylate and activate a subclass of SnRK2s that rapidly respond to osmotic stress independently of ABA signaling.

  • Fumiyuki Soma
  • , Fuminori Takahashi
  •  & Kazuko Yamaguchi-Shinozaki

• Article
  30 January 2020 | Open Access

  A RAF-SnRK2 kinase cascade mediates early osmotic stress signaling in higher plants

  Rapid activation of SnRK2 kinases is central to plant responses to osmotic stress and abscisic acid. Here the authors show that a group of Raf-like kinases are very quickly activated by osmotic stress, and then phosphorylate and activate SnRK2s.

  • Zhen Lin
  • , Yuan Li
  •  & Pengcheng Wang

• Article
  12 June 2019 | Open Access

  Variation of a major facilitator superfamily gene contributes to differential cadmium accumulation between rice subspecies

  Grain of indica rice accumulates more toxic cadmium (Cd) than japonica, but the underlying genetic basis is unclear. Here, the authors show that natural variation of OsCd1 contributes to divergence in grain Cd accumulation and transferring japonica allele to indica rice leads to reduced Cd accumulation.

  • Huili Yan
  • , Wenxiu Xu
  •  & Zhenyan He

• Article
  05 April 2019 | Open Access

  Network Walking charts transcriptional dynamics of nitrogen signaling by integrating validated and predicted genome-wide interactions

  Temporal control of transcriptional networks enables organisms to adapt to changing environment. Here, the authors use a scaled-up cell-based assay to identify direct targets of nitrogen-early responsive transcription factors and validate a network path mediating dynamic nitrogen signaling in Arabidopsis.

  • Matthew D. Brooks
  • , Jacopo Cirrone
  •  & Gloria M. Coruzzi

• Article
  13 March 2019 | Open Access

  Calcium-activated 14-3-3 proteins as a molecular switch in salt stress tolerance

  Salinity triggers an increase in cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration in plants. Here, the authors propose a model whereby 14-3-3 proteins decode this calcium signature and regulate Na⁺ extrusion via Ca²⁺-dependent regulation of PKS5 and SOS2 kinases that in turn regulate the Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter SOS1 and PM H⁺-ATPase

  • Zhijia Yang
  • , Chongwu Wang
  •  & Yan Guo

• Article
  25 January 2019 | Open Access

  The genome of broomcorn millet

  Broomcorn millet is one of the earliest domesticated plants and has the highest water use efficiency among cereals. Here, the authors report its genome assembly and annotation, which provides a valuable resource for breeders and paves the way for studying plant drought tolerance and C₄ photosynthesis.

  • Changsong Zou
  • , Leiting Li
  •  & Heng Zhang

• Article
  25 January 2019 | Open Access

  Chromosome conformation capture resolved near complete genome assembly of broomcorn millet

  Broomcorn millet is one of the oldest crops cultivated by human that has strong abiotic stress tolerance. To facilitate genome assisted breeding of this and related species, the authors report its genome assembly and conduct comparative genome structure and evolution analyses with foxtail millet.

  • Junpeng Shi
  • , Xuxu Ma
  •  & Jinsheng Lai

• Article
  11 December 2018 | Open Access

  Proteasomal degradation of BRAHMA promotes Boron tolerance in Arabidopsis

  Boron is essential for plant survival but high levels can impair growth and cause DNA damage. Here the authors show that Arabidopsis can ameliorate Boron toxicity via proteasomal degradation of BRAHMA to minimize open chromatin and reduce the likelihood of DNA double strand breaks.

  • Takuya Sakamoto
  • , Yayoi Tsujimoto-Inui
  •  & Toru Fujiwara

• Article
  29 November 2018 | Open Access

  Structure of the hyperosmolality-gated calcium-permeable channel OSCA1.2

  In plants, hyperosmolality stimuli triggers opening of the osmosensitive channels, leading to a rapid downstream signaling cascade. Here, the authors solve the cryo-EM structure of an osmosensitive channel from Arabidopsis OSCA1.2 in its inactivated state.

  • Xin Liu
  • , Jiawei Wang
  •  & Linfeng Sun

• Article
  17 August 2018 | Open Access

  Early selection of bZIP73 facilitated adaptation of japonica rice to cold climates

  Japonica rice can grow further north than wild or indica rice and is more tolerant of cold climates. Here, the authors show that bZIP73 likely underwent selection in the early phase of rice domestication to facilitate cold tolerance in japonica by modulating ABA and ROS homeostasis.

  • Citao Liu
  • , Shujun Ou
  •  & Chengcai Chu

• Article
  11 June 2018 | Open Access

  Rice actin binding protein RMD controls crown root angle in response to external phosphate

  The orientation of plant roots responds to gravity and influences nutrient acquisition. Here the authors show that the formin RMD buffers movement of specialized gravity-sensing organelles and report enhanced RMD expression during phosphate deficiency that could alter root angle to improve phosphate uptake.

  • Guoqiang Huang
  • , Wanqi Liang
  •  & Dabing Zhang

• Article
  12 April 2018 | Open Access

  Rice auxin influx carrier OsAUX1 facilitates root hair elongation in response to low external phosphate

  Plant root architecture can adapt to different nutrient conditions in the soil. Here Giri et al. show that the rice auxin influx carrier AUX1 mobilizes auxin from the root apex to the differentiation zone and promotes root hair elongation when roots encounter low external phosphate.

  • Jitender Giri
  • , Rahul Bhosale
  •  & Malcolm J. Bennett

• Article
  12 April 2018 | Open Access

  A mechanistic framework for auxin dependent Arabidopsis root hair elongation to low external phosphate

  Plant root hairs elongate in response to low soil phosphate. Here Bhosale et al. show that root hair elongation requires auxin synthesis mediated by TAA1, auxin transport by AUX1 in the lateral root cap and epidermis, and signaling via the auxin-inducible ARF19, RSL2 and RSL4 transcription factors.

  • Rahul Bhosale
  • , Jitender Giri
  •  & Ranjan Swarup

• Article
  02 March 2018 | Open Access

  Resource acquisition and reproductive strategies of tropical forest in response to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation

  It has been suggested that tree phenology may be regulated by climatic oscillations. Here, Detto et al. present a 30 year tropical forest dataset that suggests leaf and fruit production is coordinated with ENSO cycles, with greater leaf fall observed prior to El Niño followed by greater seed production.

  • Matteo Detto
  • , S. Joseph Wright
  •  & Helene C. Muller-Landau

• Article
  30 October 2017 | Open Access

  Combining chemical and genetic approaches to increase drought resistance in plants

  Plants respond to abiotic stress via the phytohormone ABA. Here, Cao et al. report a series of new ABA receptor agonists, named AMFs, which have higher receptor-binding affinities and show that, when employed in tandem with ABA receptor overexpression, can significantly increase drought resistance

  • Min-Jie Cao
  • , Yu-Lu Zhang
  •  & Jian-Kang Zhu

• Article
  21 September 2017 | Open Access

  Arabidopsis R1R2R3-Myb proteins are essential for inhibiting cell division in response to DNA damage

  Inhibition of cell division maintains genome integrity in response to DNA damage. Here Chen et al. propose that DNA damage causes cell cycle arrest in the Arabidopsis root via Rep-MYB transcription factor-mediated repression of G2/M-specific gene expression in response to reduced cyclin-dependent kinase activity.

  • Poyu Chen
  • , Hirotomo Takatsuka
  •  & Masaaki Umeda

• Article
  24 May 2017 | Open Access

  Natural allelic variation of FRO2 modulates Arabidopsis root growth under iron deficiency

  Iron is an essential micronutrient for plants and a lack of iron availability limits crop yield in many parts of the world. Here the authors show that natural variation in root growth ofArabidopsis plants under iron deficiency can be caused by allelic variation at the FRO2locus.

  • Santosh B. Satbhai
  • , Claudia Setzer
  •  & Wolfgang Busch

• Article
  15 May 2017 | Open Access

  Low phosphate activates STOP1-ALMT1 to rapidly inhibit root cell elongation

  Low Pi availability inhibits primary root growth, but the sensory mechanisms are not known. Here the authors uncover a signalling pathway regulating Pi-mediated root growth inhibition inArabidopsis, involving the transcription factor STOP1, its direct target ALMT1, a malate channel, and ferroxidase LPR1.

  • Coline Balzergue
  • , Thibault Dartevelle
  •  & Thierry Desnos

• Article
  23 March 2017 | Open Access

  Natural variation in CTB4a enhances rice adaptation to cold habitats

  Low temperature is a major factor limiting productivity in rice. Here the authors show that theCTB4a gene confers cold tolerance to japonicavarieties adapted to cold habitats at the booting stage of development, and propose that CTB4a acts via an interaction with the beta subunit of ATP synthase.

  • Zhanying Zhang
  • , Jinjie Li
  •  & Zichao Li

• Article
  20 February 2017 | Open Access

  Environmental conditions regulate the impact of plants on cloud formation

  Volatile organic compounds (VOC) emitted by vegetation influence cloud formation, yet the impact of environmental stresses remains little known. Here, manipulation experiments reveal insect infestation and heat stress are linked to induced VOC and constitutive VOC emissions shifts, respectively.

  • D. F. Zhao
  • , A. Buchholz
  •  & Th. F. Mentel

• Article
  28 August 2015 | Open Access

  A novel thiol-reductase activity of Arabidopsis YUC6 confers drought tolerance independently of auxin biosynthesis

  YUC6 is a flavin monooxygenase required for the synthesis of the plant hormone auxin. Chaet al. discover that in Arabidopsis, this enzyme also plays a role in combatting oxidative stress independently of auxin biosynthesis, by acting as a thiol-reductase.

  • Joon-Yung Cha
  • , Woe-Yeon Kim
  •  & Dae-Jin Yun

• Article | 07 August 2014

  Natural variation in arsenate tolerance identifies an arsenate reductase in Arabidopsis thaliana

  Arsenic tolerance in plants is critical for their adaptation to some soils and has therefore played an important role in plant distribution. Here, the authors identify a quantitative trait locus encoding an arsenate reductase enzyme that confers arsenic tolerance in plants.

  • Eduardo Sánchez-Bermejo
  • , Gabriel Castrillo
  •  & Antonio Leyva