Featured
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Article
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Arabidopsis SBT5.2 and SBT1.7 subtilases mediate C-terminal cleavage of flg22 epitope from bacterial flagellin
Plants initiate specific defense responses by recognizing flg22 peptide epitope derived from flagellin, the major structural protein of the bacterial flagellum. Here, the authors identified two plant subtilases, SBT5.2 and SBT1.7, as specific proteases responsible for cleaving the peptide epitope.
- Sayaka Matsui
- , Saki Noda
- & Yoshikatsu Matsubayashi
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Matters Arising
| Open Access
The wheat stripe rust resistance gene YrNAM is Yr10
- Katherine Dibley
- , Matthias Jost
- & Peng Zhang
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Article
| Open Access
A pair of atypical NLR-encoding genes confers Asian soybean rust resistance in soybean
Asian soybean rust (ASR) is a devastating disease of soybean. Here, the author report the identification of an atypical pair of nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) encoding genes and how they function together to confer broad-spectrum resistance to ASR.
- Qingnan Hao
- , Hongli Yang
- & Xinan Zhou
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Article
| 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
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Article
| Open Access
A plant NLR receptor employs ABA central regulator PP2C-SnRK2 to activate antiviral immunity
Huang et al. show how plant Sw-5b NLR mimics the ABA receptor to activate ABA-dependent antiviral immunity via the PP2C-SnRK2 complex. They reveal that Sw-5b NLR induces ABA accumulation, upregulates ABA response genes, and triggers defense against viral infections by releasing SnRK2 from PP2C inhibition.
- Shen Huang
- , Chunli Wang
- & Xiaorong Tao
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Article
| Open Access
A membrane associated tandem kinase from wild emmer wheat confers broad-spectrum resistance to powdery mildew
Powdery mildew is a fungal leaf disease that reduces yield and grain quality in susceptible wheat varieties. Here, the authors report the cloning of the wild emmer wheat originated powdery mildew resistance gene Pm36 as a membrane associated tandem kinase and its possible resistance mechanism.
- Miaomiao Li
- , Huaizhi Zhang
- & Zhiyong Liu
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Article
| Open Access
Decoding early stress signaling waves in living plants using nanosensor multiplexing
Upon stress, plants activate a signaling cascade leading to resistance or stress adaptation. Here, Ang & Saju et al. use sensor multiplexing to elucidate the interplay between H2O2 and SA signaling as plants mount stress-specific defense responses.
- Mervin Chun-Yi Ang
- , Jolly Madathiparambil Saju
- & Rajani Sarojam
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Article
| Open Access
Defects in the cell wall and its deposition caused by loss-of-function of three RLKs alter root hydrotropism in Arabidopsis thaliana
Plants have evolved strategies to protect root tips from the damage of stresses. Chang et al., show that root tips are covered with wax, which can efficiently protect root tips from osmotic stress and alter root hydrotropism in Arabidopsis.
- Jinke Chang
- , Xiaopeng Li
- & Jia Li
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Article
| Open Access
A double-stranded RNA binding protein enhances drought resistance via protein phase separation in rice
Drought is one of the major abiotic stresses affecting rice growth and development. Here, the authors identify a dsRNA-binding protein positively regulates rice drought resistance through promoting stability of OsNCED4 mRNAs, transcript of a key gene for the biosynthesis of abscisic acid, via protein phase separation.
- Huaijun Wang
- , Tiantian Ye
- & Lizhong Xiong
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Article
| Open Access
Wheat powdery mildew resistance gene Pm13 encodes a mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein
Wheat powdery mildew is one of the most destructive diseases threatening global wheat production. Here, the authors report the cloning of powdery mildew resistance gene Pm13 from the wild wheat species Aegilops longissima encoding a mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) protein.
- Huanhuan Li
- , Wenqiang Men
- & Wenxuan Liu
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Article
| 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
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Article
| Open Access
Natural variation of STKc_GSK3 kinase TaSG-D1 contributes to heat stress tolerance in Indian dwarf wheat
Indian dwarf wheat (Triticum sphaerococcum) is thermotolerant, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Here, the authors report the cloning of the heat tolerance gene encoding a STKc_GSK3 kinase and its variation affects phosphorylation level of downstream TaPIF4 in determining thermotolerance.
- Jie Cao
- , Zhen Qin
- & Mingming Xin
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Article
| Open Access
A root cap-localized NAC transcription factor controls root halotropic response to salt stress in Arabidopsis
This study reports that the SOMBRERO, a root cap-localized transcription factor, determines root halotropic response to salt stress via spatiotemporally modulating AUX1-depdenent auxin redistribution in the root tip.
- Lulu Zheng
- , Yongfeng Hu
- & Yi Han
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Article
| Open Access
Natural variation in BnaA9.NF-YA7 contributes to drought tolerance in Brassica napus L
Rapeseed production is often threatened by drought stress. Here, the authors report transcription factor BnaA9.NFYA7 negatively regulates rapeseed drought tolerance through ABA signal transduction pathway via feedback inhibition of the expression of BnaABF3/4s-related genes.
- Jia Wang
- , Lin Mao
- & Liezhao Liu
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Article
| Open Access
PsAF5 functions as an essential adapter for PsPHB2-mediated mitophagy under ROS stress in Phytophthora sojae
ROS is an important defense means against pathogens for host. Here the authors show that PsAF5 functions as a mitophagy adapter and regulates mitochondrial homeostasis in Phytophthora sojae under ROS stress, which is crucial for its infection.
- Wenhao Li
- , Hongwei Zhu
- & Xili Liu
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Article
| Open Access
Discovery of plant chemical defence mediated by a two-component system involving β-glucosidase in Panax species
In this work, the authors discovered that Panax species, the valuable medicinal plants, have evolved a two-component chemical defence system comprising a chloroplast-localized β-glucosidase and 20(S)-protopanaxadiol ginsenosides.
- Li-Juan Ma
- , Xiao Liu
- & Jian-Bo Wan
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Article
| Open Access
Wheat Pm55 alleles exhibit distinct interactions with an inhibitor to cause different powdery mildew resistance
Powdery mildew threatens worldwide wheat production. Here, the authors report the cloning of two powdery mildew resistant Pm55 alleles and show that they exhibit distinct interactions with the inhibitor SuPm55 to cause different resistance.
- Chuntian Lu
- , Jie Du
- & Ruiqi Zhang
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Article
| 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
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Article
| 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
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Article
| 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
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Article
| Open Access
A plant cell death-inducing protein from litchi interacts with Peronophythora litchii pectate lyase and enhances plant resistance
The plant apoplastic space is a critical battlefield in plant-microbe interactions. Here, the authors show that a positive regulator of plant immunity PIP1 recognizes pectate lysates secreted by oomycetes and elicits immunity via SERK3.
- Wen Li
- , Peng Li
- & Zide Jiang
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Article
| Open Access
Epigenetic modifications regulate cultivar-specific root development and metabolic adaptation to nitrogen availability in wheat
The analysis of wheat cultivars reveals that variations in histone modification, rather than DNA sequence, are closely linked to the expression of nitrogen metabolism genes and distinct agronomic traits. The findings suggest that epigenetic regulation plays a crucial role in cultivar-specific adaptation to low nitrogen conditions in wheat.
- Hao Zhang
- , Zhiyuan Jin
- & Jun Xiao
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Article
| Open Access
A papain-like cysteine protease-released small signal peptide confers wheat resistance to wheat yellow mosaic virus
Soil-borne wheat yellow mosaic virus (WYMV) poses a serious threat to global wheat production. Here, the authors report that the nuclear inclusion protease-a produced by WYMV interacts with a small peptide catalyzed by TaRD21A protease activity to mediate WYMV resistance through activating MAPK signaling pathway.
- Peng Liu
- , Chaonan Shi
- & Jian Yang
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Article
| Open Access
Loss-of-function of an α-SNAP gene confers resistance to soybean cyst nematode
Here, the authors show that the soybean GmSNAP02 gene confers a unique mode of resistance to the soybean cyst nematode Heterodera glycines through loss-of-function mutations that implicate GmSNAP02 as a nematode virulence target.
- Mariola Usovsky
- , Vinavi A. Gamage
- & Andrew M. Scaboo
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Article
| 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
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Article
| Open Access
Polyethyleneimine-coated MXene quantum dots improve cotton tolerance to Verticillium dahliae by maintaining ROS homeostasis
Verticillum wilt is an important cotton disease caused by fungal pathogen Verticillium dahiae. Here, the authors assemble the genomes of defoliating and non-defoliating isolates of the pathogen, identify virulence gene SP3, and develop a disease control strategy using polyethyleneimine-coated MXene quantum dots.
- Ping Qiu
- , Jiayue Li
- & Longfu Zhu
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Article
| Open Access
Single amino acid change alters specificity of the multi-allelic wheat stem rust resistance locus SR9
Among all wheat rust resistance genes, SR9 has the largest number of alleles. Here, the authors use gene cloning, complementation and comparative genetics to resolve the relationship among Sr9 alleles, confirm their allelic identities, and show that a single amino acid change leads to resistance to Ug99.
- Jianping Zhang
- , Jayaveeramuthu Nirmala
- & Evans Lagudah
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Article
| Open Access
Increasing atmospheric dryness reduces boreal forest tree growth
How trees respond to increasing atmospheric dryness has important implications for forest growth. Here, the authors use a network of tree-ring records to quantify the multidecadal impact of vapour pressure deficit trends on boreal forests in Canada.
- Ariane Mirabel
- , Martin P. Girardin
- & Peter B. Reich
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Article
| 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
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Article
| Open Access
A transcriptional activator effector of Ustilago maydis regulates hyperplasia in maize during pathogen-induced tumor formation
Ustilago maydis causes tumor on maize seedlings. Here we show that U. maydis secrets the transcriptional activator effector Sts2 to induce leaf developmental regulators which activate the bundle sheath cell division for tumor formation.
- Weiliang Zuo
- , Jasper R. L. Depotter
- & Gunther Doehlemann
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Article
| 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
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Article
| Open Access
Endocytosis-mediated entry of a caterpillar effector into plants is countered by Jasmonate
The authors find that cotton bollworms secrete effectors into plant to weaken JA signaling via host endocytosis system while JA inhibits endocytosis to restrict effector imports. The defense and counter-defense loop between effector and JA reflects a robust arms race between plant and insect.
- Zi-Wei Yan
- , Fang-Yan Chen
- & Ying-Bo Mao
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Article
| Open Access
Cloning of the wheat leaf rust resistance gene Lr47 introgressed from Aegilops speltoides
Leaf rust is one of the most severe foliar diseases of wheat. Here, the authors report the cloning of Lr47, a broadly effective leaf rust resistance gene introgressed into wheat from Aegilops speltoides, and show it encodes a coiled-coil nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat protein.
- Hongna Li
- , Lei Hua
- & Shisheng Chen
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Article
| 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
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Article
| Open Access
Arabidopsis TCP4 transcription factor inhibits high temperature-induced homeotic conversion of ovules
Global warming threatens food security and plant survival. This paper demonstrates that Class II TCP transcription factors are critical for specifying ovule identity and inhibiting the conversion of ovules into carpelloids under high temperature.
- Jingqiu Lan
- , Ning Wang
- & Genji Qin
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Article
| Open Access
High-efficiency green management of potato late blight by a self-assembled multicomponent nano-bioprotectant
Unlike the other plant pathogens, Phytophtora infestans, the causative pathogen of potato late blight, can hardly take up dsRNA, which is a key obstacle in using dsRNA for disease control. Here, the authors design a self-assembled multicomponent nano-bioprotectant for potato late blight management.
- Yuxi Wang
- , Mingshan Li
- & Xiaodan Wang
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Article
| Open Access
A pathogen-induced putative NAC transcription factor mediates leaf rust resistance in barley
Rph7 is a previously mapped barley leaf rust resistance locus, but the causal resistance gene remains unclear. Here, combining a fine mapping approach with RNA-Seq based analysis, the authors clone Rph7 and show it encodes putative NAC transcription factor containing a C-terminal BED domain.
- Chunhong Chen
- , Matthias Jost
- & Peter M. Dracatos
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Article
| Open Access
Phosphate starvation response precedes abscisic acid response under progressive mild drought in plants
Even mild drought impacts crop production significantly. Here, the authors develop an experimental mild drought system induced by ridges in the field and find that phosphate starvation response occurs before ABA response in early mild drought.
- Yukari Nagatoshi
- , Kenta Ikazaki
- & Yasunari Fujita
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Article
| Open Access
Divergent sequences of tetraspanins enable plants to specifically recognize microbe-derived extracellular vesicles
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are important in plant-microbe interactions. Here we show that the divergent sequences within tetraspanins localized at EV membranes enable plant innate immune system to distinguish between self and non-self EVs.
- Jinyi Zhu
- , Qian Qiao
- & Yuanchao Wang
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Article
| Open Access
DeSUMOylation of a Verticillium dahliae enolase facilitates virulence by derepressing the expression of the effector VdSCP8
Verticillium dahliae, a soil-borne fungal pathogen, causes vascular wilt in a wide variety of economically important crops. This study reveals a sophisticated pathogenic mechanism of VdUlpB-deSUMOylated enolase to facilate fungal virulence by derepressing the expression of the effector VdSCP8.
- Xue-Ming Wu
- , Bo-Sen Zhang
- & Hui-Shan Guo
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Article
| Open Access
Autophagy promotes jasmonate-mediated defense against nematodes
Autophagy plays a critical role in plant immunity. Here the authors show that in tomato, autophagy promotes defense against root-knot nematodes by promoting degradation of negative regulators of jasmonic acid signaling.
- Jinping Zou
- , Xinlin Chen
- & Jie Zhou
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Article
| Open Access
The NAC transcription factors SNAP1/2/3/4 are central regulators mediating high nitrogen responses in mature nodules of soybean
Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) in legumes is suppressed by the presence of soil inorganic. nitrogen (N). Here the authors characterize a transcriptional regulatory network underlying the N-inhibition of SNF in soybean nodules.
- Xin Wang
- , Zhimin Qiu
- & Yuefeng Guan
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Article
| Open Access
XCP1 cleaves Pathogenesis-related protein 1 into CAPE9 for systemic immunity in Arabidopsis
The protein PR1 is crucial for plant immunity but has unclear bioactivity. Here PR1 is shown to release a phytocytokine CAPE and trigger systemic acquired resistance (SAR) via a caspase-like enzyme specific for CAPE production (ESCAPE).
- Ying-Lan Chen
- , Fan-Wei Lin
- & Yet-Ran Chen
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Article
| 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
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Article
| Open Access
ERFVII action and modulation through oxygen-sensing in Arabidopsis thaliana
Oxygen is essential for plant life. Here the authors define new functions and components of the plant oxygen sensing mechanism providing an understanding of the biochemistry of sensing and physiological responses allowing plant roots to survive in the soil.
- Agata Zubrycka
- , Charlene Dambire
- & Michael J. Holdsworth
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Article
| Open Access
Architecture and autoinhibitory mechanism of the plasma membrane Na+/H+ antiporter SOS1 in Arabidopsis
SOS1 is a unique electroneutral Na+ /H+ antiporter at the plasma membrane of higher plants and plays a central role in resisting salt stress. Here, the authors report the structures of SOS1 in occluded state, identify the key autoinhibitory elements, and elucidate their molecular mechanism.
- Yuhang Wang
- , Chengcai Pan
- & Yan Zhao
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Article
| Open Access
Differential CaKAN3-CaHSF8 associations underlie distinct immune and heat responses under high temperature and high humidity conditions
The authors reveal a mechanism in understanding the responses to Ralstonia solanacearum in pepper under high temperature and high humidity conditions, that is differential associations between transcription factors mediate distinct immune and heat responses.
- Sheng Yang
- , Weiwei Cai
- & Shuilin He
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Article
| 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
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Article
| Open Access
Sequencing trait-associated mutations to clone wheat rust-resistance gene YrNAM
Wheat stripe (yellow) rust is a devastating disease posing a threat to global production. Here, the authors report the cloning of a wheat stripe rust resistance gene encoding a protein with a NAM domain and a ZnF-BED domain using a strategy called sequencing trait-associated mutations (STAM).
- Fei Ni
- , Yanyan Zheng
- & Jiajie Wu
The translocation of a chloride channel from the Golgi to the plasma membrane helps plants adapt to salt stress