Research articles

Phytophthora secretes a conserved trypsin-like serine protease, PsTry1, that suppresses apoplastic immunity by cleaving the extracellular ___domain of the co-receptor BAK1, revealing a novel mechanism by which pathogens overcome apoplastic immune defences.

Cryo-EM structures of four TEF30-associated photosystem II repair complexes from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii reveal versatile roles of TEF30 in the reassembly of the photosystem II core monomer, dimer and supercomplex through multiple intermediate states.

A receptor–kinase module involving KOIN and CRPK1 integrates membrane trafficking and kinase signalling to mediate cold-induced root growth inhibition in Arabidopsis via the 14-3-3–CBF3–SHR pathway.

This study identifies SCEP3 as a conserved central element of the plant synaptonemal complex. SCEP3 is critical for synapsis, heterochiasmy and crossover interference. SCEP3 also promotes a subset of crossover events.

The enzyme involved in RNA primer removal during ptDNA replication has long remained mysterious. Researchers have now found that PEN1 is responsible for this process, thereby filling a critical gap in our understanding of ptDNA replication.

Efficient delivery systems are urgently needed for genome editing in monocot plants. Here, this study develops a system of virus-induced genome editing in tillers (ViGET) to achieve heritable editing in wheat bypassing transgene and tissue culture.

Ma et al. report a regulatory mechanism by which lysine acetylation of the m⁶A reader protein OsECT3 modulates its m⁶A-binding activity under cold stress. The reduced acetylation level stabilizes cold-responsive mRNAs to enhance cold tolerance in rice.

On the basis of the whole-genome sequences of cultivated and wild hops, this study describes the evolution of sex chromosomes, including degeneration and dosage compensation, and identifies a candidate gene for the X–A balance sex-determination system in these species.

Epiphytes have larger ranges than closely related terrestrial species. However, a large proportion of species in epiphyte-rich clades are rare with small range sizes, regardless of their lifeform.

High-efficiency leucoplast transit peptides are identified and shown to enhance carotenoid production and herbicide resistance through fused passenger proteins, offering a new method for manipulating plastid-related traits across species.

Genome-wide comparative analysis of DNA binding for 200 transcription factors in two maize inbred lines reveals prevalent genotype-specific variation that is associated with gene expression differences and agronomic traits.

This study establishes that Ca²⁺-dependent protein kinases phosphorylate TIR domains at a conserved serine to block NADase activity across kingdoms. In plants, this represses SNC1-mediated immunity to balance growth and defence under osmotic stress.

This study reconstructs the evolution of leaf venation networks, describing the transition from fewer, corrugated veins to high vein density and smoother loops. It also suggests herbivory as a potential driver of venation architectural changes.

A species-level phylogenetic analysis of the high-elevation flora of the European Alps reveals that the flora is young and colonist rich. Its assembly was primarily driven by the Pleistocene climatic cycles, rather than ancient orogenic events.

Land plants diverged from streptophyte algae around 460 million years ago. Marine Charophyceae fossils from the Upper Ordovician confirm that morphological innovations key to the evolution of terrestrial flora predate the emergence of land plants.

Inactivation of double-strand break repair pathways greatly increases the integration of plastid DNA into the nuclear genome of tobacco plants, highlighting the mutagenic potential of organellar DNA and its role in shaping plant nuclear genomes.

Long-read chromatin assay reveals (1) a novel class of accessible chromatin regions, (2) accessibility within individual LTR retrotransposons and (3) the relationship between diffuse accessibility, gene body methylation and hAT transposon insertion.

Alamos et al. show that Agrobacterium engages in density-dependent interactions that dictate transformation efficiency and transgene expression. These findings enable a quantitative model to improve metabolic engineering in a predictive manner.

This study reports that herbivory-induced volatiles can trigger plant–soil feedbacks that boost performance and yields of cereals in the field.

New fern transcriptomes reveal repeated whole-genome duplications, unique gene families and distinct lignocellulosic evolution, providing a comprehensive database that underscores the ancient divergence and genetic uniqueness of ferns.