Microbe articles from across Nature Portfolio

N⁶-methyladenosine and ubiquitination modifications play crucial roles in plant-virus interaction. Here, E3 ligase TaHAKAI is found to target the WYMV P2 for degradation and inhibit viral infection in wheat while increasing yield through m⁶A.

This study identifies lineage-specific XEG1/XLP1 gene pair in the genus Phytophthora, revealing that selective pressure on these genes drives functional differentiation. This selection is closely linked to the host range and adaptability of Phytophthora species.

Plant roots are exposed to a diverse range of soil-dwelling microbial “friends” and “foes.” Here, via single-nucleus RNA-seq, the authors reveal cell type-specific responses to beneficial and pathogenic microbes in roots and identify regulators of root-microbiome interactions.

The authors show that immunosuppression is highly conserved in the bacterial order Xanthomonadales. This feature, which preceded their specialization as host-adapted pathogens, probably contributes to their prominence as core members of the plant microbiota.

The Botrytis cinerea pectin lyase BcPNL1 produces oligogalacturonides that activate expression of jasmonic acid repressor genes, contributing partially to the higher susceptibility of nitrogen-sufficient detached leaves.

By integrating theoretical modelling and single-cell analysis of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in Nicotiana plants, a recent study reveals how agrobacterial density governs synergistic and antagonistic effects on transformation outcomes. These insights led to the development of a dual binary vector system that mitigates immune-triggered antagonism, enabling more efficient engineering of complex metabolic pathways in plants.

Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) ___domain proteins possess NADase activity and trigger plant immunity via their enzymatic products. Two recent studies have elucidated the mechanism by which TIR NADase-derived 2′cADPR and pRib-AMP/ADP activate EDS1–PAD4–ADR1 (EPA) signalling, thereby inducing immune responses in plants.