Research Briefing

The OsLHT1a allele of the amino acid transporter gene OsLHT1 in the Oryza sativa spp. japonica rice variety, which differs from the OsLHT1b allele in the Oryza sativa spp. indica variety, enhances organic nitrogen use efficiency in high-organic-matter soils through recruitment of a specific rhizosphere microbiota that boosts amino acid production and uptake.

We reveal the structural basis of transport activity and substrate selectivity of LciA, a key bicarbonate channel that is part of the CO₂-concentrating mechanism in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Using these insights, we engineered formate–nitrite transporter (FNT) family proteins to achieve or enhance bicarbonate transport, thereby expanding the toolkit for boosting plant photosynthesis.

Detailed study of the role of plant canopy architecture on crop yield and N₂O emissions remains limited. Our study reveals that a clumped canopy architecture in crops such as rice, wheat, maize and soybean can simultaneously improve yields and reduce nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions, thus representing a promising strategy to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability globally.

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analyses map transcriptional networks during plant development, but rare cell populations or expression values for several genes are often missing. As the origin or position of cells correlates with specific gene expression markers, we spatially resolved gene expression during barley meristem development by integrating a scRNA-seq dataset from cells with unknown position with spatial transcriptomics. This dataset is publicly available through the online web-based BARVISTA application.

This study uses single-cell spatial transcriptomics to explore the early interactions between potato leaf cells and the pathogen Phytophthora infestans, revealing cellular heterogeneity in gene expression at the infection site and providing a valuable resource for future enhancement of potato disease resistance.

Opportunity crops in Africa show varied climate resilience, with several projected to outperform current staple crops under future climate scenarios. Root and tuber crops are notably resilient whereas legumes and vegetable crops face declines, especially in the Sahel, highlighting the need for targeted adaptation strategies.

Biomolecular condensates organize immune signalling, yet their roles in stomata remain unclear. We show that, in guard cells, the RNA-binding protein SAIR1 forms biomolecular condensates upon pathogen perception, which enhance the translation of defence-related mRNAs to prompt stomatal closure. This mechanism probably provides a rapid, frontline immune response in plants.

Despite the extensive use of Arabidopsis thaliana as a model system, parts of its biology remain unknown, including the architecture of its largest cellular protein assembly, the nuclear pore complex (NPC). Using cryo-electron tomography, we have obtained the three-dimensional architecture of the A. thaliana NPC, which suggests it has both conserved and distinct features.

Dichogamy — the temporal separation of anther dehiscence and stigma receptivity — is ubiquitous in angiosperms. Using field investigations, Mendelian inheritance experiments, multi-omics analysis based on haplotype-resolved genomes and validation of gene function, we identify SMPED1 as a novel gene that controls the synchrony of sex organ behaviour in angiosperms.

Arabidopsis thaliana mutants for the MAIL family proteins MAIL1 and MAIN show widespread gene misregulation, but their molecular function is unknown. A genetic screen and genome-wide approaches now reveal that MAIL family proteins containing a plant mobile domain bind specific DNA motifs to prevent Polycomb-mediated deposition of repressive H3K27me3 at target genes, thus safeguarding their expression.

We identified the nutrient-responsive chromatin-associated complex for growth (CACG), which is critical for plant growth. Under nutrient-rich conditions, active TOR kinase promotes the translation of CACG components. CACG binds stress-responsive genes marked by histone acetylation, suppressing their growth-limiting transcription. During nutrient deficiency, inactive TOR reduces the translation of CACG components, alleviating transcriptional repression to prioritize stress tolerance over growth.

We found that the fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum secretes an apoplastic effector that disrupts N-glycosylation of the maize immune receptor ZmLecRK1, leading to its degradation by selective autophagy. This mechanism enables the pathogen to evade host defences and successfully colonize maize.

A conserved GHR motif is shown to guide the DCL1-mediated cleavage of pre-miRNAs during plant miRNA biogenesis. This discovery advances our understanding of the mechanisms underlying RNA processing and, as cleavage at this motif results in the production of known non-canonical miRNAs, offers insights into miRNA maturation and function.

Our study presents a haplotype-resolved chromosome-level genome assembly of the hexaploid sweet potato cultivar ‘Tanzania’, revealing mosaic genomic patterns along haplotype-phased chromosomes. These findings enhance understanding of sweet potato genome architecture and offer valuable genomic resources to accelerate breeding efforts.

Two CYBDOM proteins, BhDB from desiccation-tolerant Boea hygrometrica and AtDB1 from Arabidopsis thaliana, drive apoplastic ascorbic acid (AsA) regeneration by transporting electrons from intracellular AsA to apoplastic monodehydroascorbate (MDA; the oxidative form of AsA). MDA then stimulates CYBDOM–RbohD interactions to activate selective autophagy and enhance drought tolerance. These processes are promoted in B. hygrometrica.

We find that tree species richness is a major driver of photosynthesis in global forests. A global map of the species richness–photosynthesis relationship, obtained from multiple satellite-based observational datasets and extensive field data, reveals stronger effects of tree species diversity on ecosystem photosynthesis in tropical regions than in boreal forests.

Cryo-electron microscopy structures of four photosystem II (PSII) intermediate complexes associated with the protein TEF30 from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii reveal that TEF30 facilitates PSII core assembly and prevents premature association of peripheral antennae during PSII repair. Structural analysis suggests a gradual transition of PSII dimers with distinct assembly patterns during the maturation process.

The factors involved in the removal of RNA primers during plastid DNA (ptDNA) replication have been unclear. We now identify a plastid-localized 5′–3′ exonuclease (PEN1) that mediates the removal of RNA primers in ptDNA replication and provide structural insight into its mechanism of action in this process.

Using whole-genome sequences of cultivated and wild hops, we describe the evolution of sex chromosomes, including degeneration and dosage compensation, and identify a candidate gene for the X–autosome (X–A) balance sex-determination system in hops.

The efficient delivery of proteins into plastids is key to using plastid protein engineering in biotechnology applications, a fact that is often overlooked. This study identifies transit peptides that efficiently import different passenger proteins into major plastid types across plant species, offering an effective tool for manipulating plastid-related traits.