Volume 7 Issue 3, March 2021

Manipulating three important genes in the CLAVATA–WUSCHEL signalling pathway quantitatively enhances grain-yield-related traits in maize.

Root nodules that form on legumes, such as garden pea and soybean, are the salient feature of symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria. It is now shown that formation of these unique lateral root organs necessitates co-option of elements mediating radial root patterning.

Managing root nitrate transport is required by plants to meet ongoing nitrogen demands, and is coordinated by bidirectional communication between roots and shoots. Shoot-derived signals can now be directly linked to the activation of nitrate transport by CEPH, a targeted NRT2;1-specific phosphatase.

The lipid biopolymer suberin is an integral component of the root diffusion barrier, yet its deposition changes dynamically in response to both developmental and physiological cues. A new study identified GELP family proteins as strong candidates for suberin polymerases and degradases acting in suberin remodelling.

Agriculture attempts to satisfy the demand for food of a growing human population but contributes to environmental degradation. However, there are technological options for agriculture to deliver food security and potentially reduce atmospheric CO₂.

Managing agricultural microbiomes is an efficient approach to improve crop performance in agroecosystems. This Review summarizes the current state of knowledge from less to more targeted approaches to manage soil, plant and pest-associated microbiomes. The authors also identify the knowledge gaps in relation to current agricultural practices in microbiome management.

Light-dependent protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase (LPOR) is a light-activated enzyme that catalyses a vital step in chlorophyll biosynthesis and acts as a key regulator of plant greening. In this Review, the authors summarize recent progress in the functional, chemical and structural understanding of LPOR photocatalysis in plants.

Species once considered extinct have now, through improved taxonomic knowledge and collection activities, been restored, with lessons for conservation policies both in Europe and globally.

Two gene editing strategies for engineering quantitative variation of yield-related traits in maize are demonstrated: creating promoter-edited weak alleles of CLE genes or null alleles of redundant compensating CLE genes using CRISPR–Cas9.

Genome-wide chromatin profiling revealed a role of the histone demethylase FLD and its associating factor LD in regulating overlapping bidirectional transcription by modulating H3K4me1 levels and DNA topology. The effect of FLD depends on DNA topoisomerase I.

Codon usage bias of transposons (TEs) causes ribosome stalling, inducing truncated RNAs that are guided to siRNA bodies for epigenetically activated small interfering RNA (easiRNA) biogenesis. This process selectively targets TEs to the easiRNA biogenesis pathway for silencing and involves SGS3 phase separation.

Systemic nitrogen signalling controls root nitrogen acquisition. The regulatory pathways involve the CEP–CEPD network and the high-affinity nitrate transporter NRT2.1. In this study, the authors identified CEPH, a type 2C protein phosphatase, acting downstream of the CEPD/CEPDLs to regulate the activity of NRT2.1 and nitrate uptake in Arabidopsis.

Cuticular conductance to water is a key factor in determining plant survival in drought but is difficult to measure. Using an electrical resistance analogy for leaf gas exchange results in a more accurate calculation of gas exchange parameters.

The wheat Pm4 gene conferring race-specific powdery mildew resistance is identified to encode a chimeric kinase-MCTP protein. Its two alternative splice variants interact to form an ER-associated complex and are both essential for resistance function.

Plants use extracellular vesicles to deliver small RNAs that could silence fungal virulence genes to their fungal pathogens. In this study, the authors profile the components of these extracellular vesicles and investigate regulators contributing to the specific RNA loading and stabilization.

Suberin is a complex hydrophobic biopolymer in the cell wall of various plant cell types, including the young root endodermis. Here, the authors identified two sets of auxin-regulated enzymes that mediate suberin biosynthesis and remodelling in the differentiated root endodermis in Arabidopsis.

Mg-protoporphyrin IX monomethyl ester cyclase catalyses the formation of the isocyclic ring in the synthesis of chlorophyll. Kinetic analyses and mass spectrometry identified intermediates in the reaction.