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This article explores the impact of different types of mycorrhizal symbiosis on the chemical composition of roots and leaves in temperate woody species. The study found that plants associated with ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi had slower decomposition rates and exhibited chemical traits that suppress decomposition compared to plants associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The study also suggests that mycorrhizal associations can influence plant defense responses and the abundance of defense-related phenolic compounds. Another study conducted at the University of Minnesota found that different plant-fungus combinations had significant effects on plant growth and chemical composition. However, the results may not be generalizable to other environmental settings. Another study found that mycorrhizal colonization generally improved plant growth and increased nitrogen content, but the effects on lignin and condensed tannins varied depending on the plant species and type of mycorrhizal fungi. The study also found that mycorrhizal colonization had different effects on lignin molecular composition in gymnosperms and angiosperms. Overall, mycorrhizal colonization can influence the chemical traits and lignin composition of plants, but more research is needed to understand the ecological implications. [Extracted from the article]

This article explores the upper boundary of tree cover in drylands, specifically in arid and humid savannas. The researchers use data from the BIODESERT survey to test predictions made by Holdo & Nippert. The results show that the upper boundary on tree cover increases with mean annual precipitation up to a certain threshold, and then declines beyond that threshold. The study supports the mechanisms proposed by Holdo & Nippert, but also identifies some differences in the observed patterns. The findings suggest that factors such as competition for water, light limitation, and grazing can influence tree cover in savannas, and that future global change scenarios may further modify these mechanisms. [Extracted from the article]

This article explores the role of the WAK3 gene in Arabidopsis plants' immune responses to harpins, proteins produced by certain bacteria that activate plant defenses. The researchers used T-DNA insertion mutants to study WAK3 and found that it is essential for the necrosis and acquired resistance responses triggered by harpins. They also discovered that genetic variation in harpin perception may impact plant fitness. The study benefited from the use of the 1001 Genomes data, which eliminated the need for lengthy genetic mapping. This research provides valuable insights into the genetic basis of plant immune responses and its potential implications for crop protection. [Extracted from the article]

Summary: Plants possess a large variety of nonacquisitive belowground organs, such as rhizomes, tubers, bulbs, and coarse roots. These organs determine a whole set of functions that are decisive in coping with climate, productivity, disturbance, and biotic interactions, and have been hypothesized to affect plant distribution along environmental gradients.We assembled data on belowground organ morphology for 1712 species from Central Europe and tested these hypotheses by quantifying relationships between belowground morphologies and species optima along ecological gradients related to productivity and disturbance. Furthermore, we linked these data with species co‐occurrence in 30 115 vegetation plots from the Czech Republic to determine relationships between belowground organ diversity and these gradients.The strongest gradients determining belowground organ distribution were disturbance severity and frequency, light, and moisture. Nonclonal perennials and annuals occupy much smaller parts of the total environmental space than major types of clonal plants. Forest habitats had the highest diversity of co‐occurring belowground morphologies; in other habitats, the diversity of belowground morphologies was generally lower than the random expectation.Our work shows that nonacquisitive belowground organs may be partly responsible for plant environmental niches. This adds a new dimension to the plant trait spectrum, currently based on acquisitive traits (leaves and fine roots) only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study published in the New Phytologist journal examines the genetic diversity of grapevines and their ability to withstand extreme heatwaves caused by climate change. The researchers conducted experiments on a grapevine diversity panel in South France during a record heatwave in 2019. They discovered that certain genomic regions were linked to heat tolerance, suggesting that genetic diversity could be used to breed fruit crops that can withstand heatwaves. The study also investigated the role of leaf size, leaf mass per area, and evaporative cooling in heat tolerance. The researchers identified candidate genes that may contribute to heat tolerance in grapevines. [Extracted from the article]

This article examines the relationship between sunflower plants and the parasitic plant broomrape. The study reveals that broomrape infiltrates sunflower roots by entering the host cells, creating a new compartment. The researchers also observed cell divisions in the sunflower roots near the attachment sites, potentially leading to root enlargement. The study suggests that the parasitic plant damages the host cell walls with enzymes, but the host plants only exhibit minimal defense responses. These findings contribute to our understanding of parasitic plant interactions and may aid in the development of resistance strategies. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses a study that examines the relationship between functional traits of plants and mean annual precipitation (MAP). The researchers analyzed data from the AusTraits database, which includes information on various traits of plant species in Australia. They found that certain traits, such as leaf area and leaf nitrogen per area, were strongly correlated with MAP. The study also investigated the influence of plant growth form on these relationships and found that woody taxa exhibited stronger responses to climate variables compared to nonwoody taxa. Overall, the findings suggest that MAP is an important factor in shaping plant functional traits. [Extracted from the article]

This article examines the impact of aboveground insect herbivory on the diversity and composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal communities in plant roots. The study suggests that herbivory can affect the assembly of AM fungal communities, but the specific effects vary. While herbivory did not significantly reduce AM fungal richness, it did increase community evenness. The study also found that herbivory altered the composition and structure of AM fungal communities, leading to increased phylogenetic diversity. Additionally, plants with herbivores benefited more from AM fungi in terms of phosphorus acquisition compared to herbivore-free plants. These findings highlight the potential influence of aboveground herbivory on plant performance and nutrient acquisition. [Extracted from the article]

This article examines the changes in leaf respiration during the night, specifically focusing on the decrease in leaf respiratory O2-uptake and CO2-efflux. The authors analyze data from various studies and find that these decreases indicate a decrease in leaf mitochondrial electron transport and ATP demand. The article emphasizes the need for further research to understand the underlying mechanisms and species-specific differences in nocturnal changes in leaf respiration. The authors also discuss the implications of changes in the respiratory quotient (RQ), suggesting that the relative composition of respiratory substrates may shift during the early hours of the dark period. They highlight the importance of studying factors that affect RQ, such as substrate composition and demand for respiratory intermediates. Overall, this information is valuable for understanding the relationship between environmental and metabolic regulation of respiration and its impact on carbon uptake. [Extracted from the article]

This article explores the role of Early Phosphorylated Protein 1 (EPP1) in the common symbiosis signaling pathway in Medicago truncatula, a legume plant. The study reveals that EPP1 is phosphorylated and its expression is dependent on the perception of Nod Factors (NF) released by rhizobia bacteria. When EPP1 is downregulated, there is a decrease in calcium spiking and a significant reduction in nodule formation. On the other hand, overexpression of EPP1 leads to increased activation of symbiotic responses. These findings suggest that EPP1 plays a crucial role in the early stages of rhizobial infection and the common symbiosis signaling pathway. Another study investigates the role of a protein called MtEPP1 in the symbiotic relationship between Medicago truncatula plants and rhizobia bacteria. The researchers discover that overexpression of a phosphorylated version of MtEPP1 results in increased root-hair branching and nodule formation in the plants. They also observe that the overexpression of MtEPP1 activates the expression of symbiotic genes involved in early signaling, rhizobial infection, and nodule development. However, the overexpression of MtEPP1 does not lead to the formation of spontaneous nodules. The findings suggest that MtEPP1 plays a crucial role in activating the common symbiotic signaling pathway in M. truncatula plants. [Extracted from the article]

Summary: The first land ecosystems were composed of organisms considered simple in nature, yet the morphological diversity of their flora was extraordinary. The biological significance of this diversity remains a mystery largely due to the absence of feasible study approaches.To study the functional biology of Early Devonian flora, we have reconstructed extinct plants from fossilised remains in silico. We explored the morphological diversity of sporangia in relation to their mechanical properties using finite element method. Our approach highlights the impact of sporangia morphology on spore dispersal and adaptation.We discovered previously unidentified innovations among early land plants, discussing how different species might have opted for different spore dispersal strategies. We present examples of convergent evolution for turgor pressure resistance, achieved by homogenisation of stress in spherical sporangia and by torquing force in Tortilicaulis‐like specimens. In addition, we show a potential mechanism for stress‐assisted sporangium rupture. Our study reveals the deceptive complexity of this seemingly simple group of organisms.We leveraged the quantitative nature of our approach and constructed a fitness landscape to understand the different ecological niches present in the Early Devonian Welsh Borderland flora. By connecting morphology to functional biology, these findings facilitate a deeper understanding of the diversity of early land plants and their place within their ecosystem. See also the Commentary on this article by Niklas, 241: 523–524. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Plant Science Retreat (EPSR) is an annual event that brings together early career plant scientists to develop their scientific network. This year, the EPSR took place at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, with close to 70 PhD candidates from nine different countries participating. The event included poster presentations, talks, workshops, and excursions, covering a wide range of research areas in plant science. Topics discussed included plant development, responses to abiotic stresses, evolutionary biology, genetics, biophysics, and biotechnology. The retreat also addressed important issues such as scientific integrity and the well-being of graduate students. The organizers of the EPSR expressed their satisfaction with the event and look forward to the next edition in Paris in 2024. [Extracted from the article]

Silke Robatzek, a Heisenberg Professor at Ludwig-Maximilian-University in Munich, Germany, discusses her interest in plant science and her decision to pursue a career in research. She is motivated by her curiosity and a desire to contribute to society through discovering new knowledge. Robatzek also highlights the importance of mentors and role models in her career, and she mentions her favorite papers from the New Phytologist journal. She expresses her fascination with olive trees and their genetic diversity in terms of plant immunity. [Extracted from the article]

The December 2023 edition of the journal New Phytologist covers a range of topics in plant science, including plant biology, ecology, and environmental health. The issue includes articles on the effects of climate change on forests, the role of roots in water uptake, and the regulation of leaf morphogenesis in Arabidopsis. The journal aims to facilitate scientific research and discussion in the field of plant science, and it encourages cross-disciplinary approaches. It is owned by the New Phytologist Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes plant science and offers free access to Tansley reviews and Tansley insights. [Extracted from the article]

Summary: Although intrinsic postzygotic reproductive barriers can play a fundamental role in speciation, their underlying evolutionary causes are widely debated. One hypothesis is that incompatibilities result from genomic conflicts. Here, I synthesize the evidence that conflict generates incompatibilities in plants, thus playing a creative role in plant biodiversity. While much evidence supports a role for conflict in several classes of incompatibility, integrating knowledge of incompatibility alleles with natural history can provide further essential tests. Moreover, comparative work can shed light on the relative importance of conflict in causing incompatibilities, including the extent to which their evolution is repeatable. Together, these approaches can provide independent lines of evidence that conflict causes incompatibilities, cementing its role in plant speciation. Jenn Coughlan is a finalist of the 2023 New Phytologist Tansley Medal competition for excellence in plant science. See Slater & Dolan (2023, 240: 2171–2172) for more details. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is an Editorial to the Virtual issue on 'Remote sensing' that includes the following papers Chavana‐Bryant et al. (2017), Coupel‐Ledru et al. (2022), Cushman & Machado (2020), Disney (2019), D'Odorico et al. (2020), Dong et al. (2022), Fischer et al. (2019), Gamon et al. (2023), Gu et al. (2019), Guillemot et al. (2020), Jucker (2021), Koh et al. (2022), Konings et al. (2019), Kothari et al. (2023), Martini et al. (2022), Richardson (2019), Santini et al. (2021), Schimel et al. (2019), Serbin et al. (2019), Smith et al. (2019, 2020), Still et al. (2021), Stovall et al. (2021), Wang et al. (2020), Wong et al. (2020), Wu et al. (2021), Wu et al. (2017), Wu et al. (2018), Wu et al. (2019), Xu et al. (2021), Yan et al. (2021). Access the Virtual Issue at www.newphytologist.com/virtualissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reduced ABA sensitivity of ferns may be explained by lower ABA sensitivity of fern ABA receptors (Sun I et al i ., [44]). Keywords: abscisic acid (ABA) response; evolution of signalling pathways; ferns; guard cell signalling; stomatal physiology EN abscisic acid (ABA) response evolution of signalling pathways ferns guard cell signalling stomatal physiology 1722 1728 7 11/06/23 20231201 NES 231201 Data availability The data that support the findings of this study are included as Dataset S1. 1c) and hence potentially low ABA uptake, showed a clear and relatively strong ( I c i . 35%) ABA-specific stomatal closure, suggesting high ABA sensitivity of the ABA-signalling pathway in this species. To understand the varying degrees of ABA responsiveness in diverse ferns, it is important to measure fern guard cell ABA levels under stress conditions and in response to exogenous ABA application and characterize the affinity of ABA receptors in respective species. [Extracted from the article]

Summary: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) is an extremely valuable resource that is being used to address many fundamental and applied questions in plant science, conservation, ecology and evolution. However, databases of this size require data manipulation skills that pose a barrier to many potential users. Here, we present rWCVP, an open‐source R package that aims to facilitate the use of the WCVP by providing clear, intuitive functions to execute many common tasks. These functions include taxonomic name reconciliation, geospatial integration, mapping and generation of multiple different summaries of the WCVP in both data and report format. We have included extensive documentation and tutorials, providing step‐by‐step guides that are accessible even to users with minimal programming experience. rWCVP is available on cran and GitHub. This article is part of the Special Collection 'Global plant diversity and distribution'. See https://www.newphytologist.org/global-plant-diversity for more details. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In general, QuantAS provides an accurate quantitative method for isoform quantification, reduces systematic errors in experiments, and demonstrates high compatibility and specificity, while other methods, such as HiFENS, based on Fluorescence I in situ i hybridization (FISH) technique for endogenous splicing isoforms detection, which still relies on isoform-specific regions (Shilo I et al i ., [21]). Keywords: absolute quantification; alternative splicing; digital PCR; QuantAS; quantitative real-time PCR EN absolute quantification alternative splicing digital PCR QuantAS quantitative real-time PCR 928 939 12 10/09/23 20231101 NES 231101 Data availability All data supporting the findings are contained in this manuscript and Supporting Information. The method utilizes isoform-specific primers to overcome the isoform identification difficulty caused by different AS events and is designed by using the functional coding region as the isoform structure classification unit to ensure isoform independence (Fig. [Extracted from the article]

It is likely that both an increase of the GL2-like-HD-Zip proteins activity in future nonhair cells located in root hair-forming files, and a reduction in differentiating ectopic root hair cells may trigger root hair patterning in I R. rosea i and I B. nivea i . Keywords: evolution; gene regulatory network; root hair pattern; superrosid species; Type I pattern; Type III pattern EN evolution gene regulatory network root hair pattern superrosid species Type I pattern Type III pattern 940 944 5 10/09/23 20231101 NES 231101 The gene regulatory network (GRN) underpinning hair patterning of the Arabidopsis root has been intensively studied in the last decades (Grierson I et al i ., [10]), making it an ideal system for comparative studies seeking to understand the evolution of development. Evolution, gene regulatory network, superrosid species, root hair pattern, Type I pattern, Type III pattern. [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: data synthesis; database; germination; open science; plant reproduction; repository; seed; trait EN data synthesis database germination open science plant reproduction repository seed trait 466 470 5 09/25/23 20231015 NES 231015 Data availability The data and code used to produce this article are available at https://github.com/efernandezpascual/seedarcms. The need for a global archive of primary seed germination data The seed ecology community has recently recognized the need to synthesize knowledge, setting the research agenda for functional seed ecology (Saatkamp I et al i ., [34]). I SeedArc i compiles primary seed germination data to synthesize the seed germination spectrum at a global scale. The theory underlying the seed germination spectrum has been laid out by decades of work on seed ecology (Baskin & Baskin, [1]), but empirical studies testing major ecological hypotheses at both global and local scales remain elusive without a standardized seed germination database. [Extracted from the article]

Summary: In recent years, single‐cell genomics, coupled to imaging techniques, have become the state‐of‐the‐art approach for characterising biological systems. In plant sciences, a variety of tissues and species have been profiled, providing an enormous quantity of data on cell identity at an unprecedented resolution, but what biological insights can be gained from such data sets? Using recently published studies in plant sciences, we will highlight how single‐cell technologies have enabled a better comprehension of tissue organisation, cell fate dynamics in development or in response to various stimuli, as well as identifying key transcriptional regulators of cell identity. We discuss the limitations and technical hurdles to overcome, as well as future directions, and the promising use of single‐cell omics to understand, predict, and manipulate plant development and physiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to determine the contribution of GmFLS2a/b to soybean resistance against I Ralstonia i , we first generated soybean I fls2a/b i mutant plants using CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing. Keywords: bacterial wilt; CRISPR; disease; pathogen; Ralstonia; resistance; soybean EN bacterial wilt CRISPR disease pathogen Ralstonia resistance soybean 17 22 6 09/11/23 20231001 NES 231001 Data availability All the data and materials integral to this study are available within the article and the Supporting Information. However, upon stem injection, both mutant lines showed enhanced susceptibility, suggesting that, once I Ralstonia i is inside plant tissues, GmFLS2 contributes significantly to soybean defense against I Ralstonia i , likely by perceiving the polymorphic flg22 SP Rso sp and initiating defense signaling. [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: Glomeromycota; mycorrhizal phenotype; mycorrhizal responsiveness; quantitative synthesis; unusual observations EN Glomeromycota mycorrhizal phenotype mycorrhizal responsiveness quantitative synthesis unusual observations 13 16 4 09/11/23 20231001 NES 231001 Data availability Data are made available in the form of Notes S3 and S4. As an example, we know that plant mycorrhizal growth responses can get negative under very low light availability (Konvalinkova & Jansa, [9]), which describes nonetheless an unusual set of growth conditions in the mycorrhizal literature. Context-dependent plant responses to arbuscular mycorrhiza mainly reflect biotic experimental settings Plant growth stimulation, by contrast, can be observed frequently across experimental settings that include plant pathogens or root-feeding nematodes (Veresoglou & Rillg, [15]). [Extracted from the article]

Alison Smith, a Professor of Plant Biochemistry at the University of Cambridge, discusses her interest in plant science and her career in research. She explains that her fascination with the productivity of gardening as a child led her to study Biochemistry in university and eventually specialize in photosynthetic organisms. Smith finds motivation in working with students and postdocs, as well as in the endless fascination of scientific discoveries. She also mentions several mentors and colleagues who have influenced her, including notable women plant scientists. Smith appreciates the variety of topics covered in the journal New Phytologist and highlights some of her favorite papers. Finally, she shares her favorite plant, the rose, for its showiness, and her favorite photosynthetic organisms, microalgae, for their diversity and potential in biotechnology. [Extracted from the article]

C-terminal conformational changes in SCF-D3/MAX2 ubiquitin ligase are required for KAI2-mediated signaling Our I in silico i analyses of KAI2 recruitment by MAX2-CTH show high sequence conservation between 200 KAI2 and D14 sequences both in the engaged and the CTH-dislodged states of MAX2. (e, g) Residues involved in forming the D14/KAI2-MAX2-CTH interface are colored on KAI2 surface by amino acid conservation across 200 KAI2/ D14 sequences (left). Keywords: KAI2; karrikin; MAX2; plant hormones; signaling; strigolactone; ubiquitin ligase EN KAI2 karrikin MAX2 plant hormones signaling strigolactone ubiquitin ligase 2067 2075 9 08/23/23 20230915 NES 230915 Data availability The data that support the findings of this study are available in the Supporting Information of this article. [Extracted from the article]

Summary: Knowledge of relationships between phylogenetic structure of a biological assemblage and ecological factors that drive the variation of phylogenetic structure among regions is crucial for understanding the causes of variation in taxonomic composition and richness among regions, but this knowledge is lacking for the global flora of ferns. Here, we fill this critical knowledge gap.We divided the globe into 392 geographic units on land, collated species lists of ferns for each geographic unit, and used different phylogenetic metrics (tip‐ vs basal‐weighted) reflecting different evolutionary depths to quantify phylogenetic structure. We then related taxonomic and phylogenetic structure metrics to six climatic variables for ferns as a whole and for two groups of ferns (old clades vs polypods) reflecting different evolutionary histories across the globe and within each continental region.We found that when old clades and polypods were considered separately, temperature‐related variables explained more variation in these metrics than did precipitation‐related variables in both groups. When analyses were conducted for continental regions separately, this pattern holds in most cases.Climate extremes have a stronger relationship with phylogenetic structure of ferns than does climate seasonality. Climatic variables explained more variation in phylogenetic structure at deeper evolutionary depths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytoskeleton, endoplasmic reticulum, fruit quality, plant development, autophagy, membrane contact sites Keywords: autophagy; cytoskeleton; endoplasmic reticulum; fruit quality; membrane contact sites; plant development EN autophagy cytoskeleton endoplasmic reticulum fruit quality membrane contact sites plant development 1732 1734 3 11/06/23 20231201 NES 231201 What inspired your interest in plant science? He is especially interested in understanding the molecular basis of endoplasmic reticulum-membrane contact sites that control organelles interaction, and the biological relevance of these interactions in plant development, reproduction, and fruit quality formation. [Extracted from the article]

Summary: Previous paleobotanical work concluded that Paleogene elements of the sclerophyllous subhumid vegetation of western Eurasia and western North America were endemic to these disjunct regions, suggesting that the southern areas of the Holarctic flora were isolated at that time. Consequently, molecular studies invoked either parallel adaptation to dry climates from related ancestors, or long‐distance dispersal in explaining disjunctions between the two regions, dismissing the contemporaneous migration of dry‐adapted lineages via land bridges as unlikely.We report Vauquelinia (Rosaceae), currently endemic to western North America, in Cenozoic strata of western Eurasia. Revision of North American fossils previously assigned to Vauquelinia confirmed a single fossil‐species of Vauquelinia and one of its close relative Kageneckia.We established taxonomic relationships of fossil‐taxa using diagnostic character combinations shared with modern species and constructed a time‐calibrated phylogeny.The fossil record suggests that Vauquelinia, currently endemic to arid and subdesert environments, originated under seasonally arid climates in the Eocene of western North America and subsequently crossed the Paleogene North Atlantic land bridge (NALB) to Europe. This pattern is replicated by other sclerophyllous, dry‐adapted and warmth‐loving plants, suggesting that several of these taxa potentially crossed the North Atlantic via the NALB during Eocene times. See also the Commentary on this article by Hill & Kahn, 238: 2261–2263. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because BA produced by I Clostridium i could not be detected in soil, we used an indirect approach to evaluate I in situ i BA biosynthesis in response to rice root exudates by examining the expression of bacterial BA biosynthesis-related genes, I butyrate kinase i ( I buk i ) and I phosphotransbutyrase i ( I ptb i ; Fig. Keywords: butyric acid; Clostridium; induced systemic resistance (ISR); plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR); rice; volatiles EN butyric acid Clostridium induced systemic resistance (ISR) plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) rice volatiles 1755 1761 7 05/02/23 20230601 NES 230601 Introduction I Clostridium i species (phylum Firmicutes) are gram-positive endospore-forming anaerobic bacteria that inhabit diverse environments including animal and human gut, sewage, lake sediments, and paddy soil. Rice seeds immersed in a Clostridium spp. suspension were sown on Murashige and Skoog (MS) agar medium containing Clostridium spp. 14-d-old seedlings were inoculated with Xoo (OD600 = 1.0) by leaf clipping method using scissors. These results are consistent with the relative abundance and percent of I Clostridium i present in total read counts, indicating that I Clostridium i species were enriched in the rhizosphere and were less frequent in the endosphere and bulk soil (Figs 1e, S2a-e). [Extracted from the article]

Multiple facets of cutting-edge mycorrhizal research: 11th International Conference on Mycorrhiza (ICOM 11), Beijing, China, 1-5 August 2022 AM, arbuscular mycorrhizal; EM, ectomycorrhizal. gl Mycorrhizas and global change ICOM 11 facilitated an interesting discussion on how mycorrhizal fungi are affected by and respond to global change. Interestingly, almost all non-AM forming plants that specifically retain a portion of this gene set have been shown to host other kinds of intracellular symbioses such as intracellular bacteria, orchid mycorrhizas, or ericoid-like mycorrhizas (Radhakrishnan I et al i ., [8]). Keywords: 11th International Conference on Mycorrhiza (ICOM 11); arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF); ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF); global change; hyphosphere; Meeting report; mycorrhizas EN 11th International Conference on Mycorrhiza (ICOM 11) arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) global change hyphosphere Meeting report mycorrhizas 1771 1774 4 05/02/23 20230601 NES 230601 Mycorrhizal fungi form mutualistic relationships with most plants on Earth (Steidinger I et al i ., [13]) and play key roles in plant health and development. [Extracted from the article]

In the present work, the exogenous 0.001-10 mM ATP was applied to the ex-ATeam line, and the effects of exogenous ATP on the values of FRET ratio of the ex-ATeam line were monitored. Different from the role of intracellular ATP as energy currency molecule, extracellular ATP (eATP) is considered to be a signaling molecule for regulating many physiological processes of cells (Colombo I et al i ., [10]). Higher concentration of exogenous ATP (5-10 mM) did not further increased the values of FRET ratio, implying that the ATeam1.03-nD/nA sensors in the ex-ATeam line could be saturated with such higher concentration of exogenous ATP at such conditions. Keywords: Arabidopsis; ATeam1.03-nD/nA signals; extracellular ATP; Forster resonance energy transfer; ratiometric fluorescent sensor EN Arabidopsis ATeam1.03-nD/nA signals extracellular ATP Forster resonance energy transfer ratiometric fluorescent sensor 1343 1350 8 04/17/23 20230515 NES 230515 Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) is an important energy currency molecule for living organisms, which ensures the energy supply for biochemical reactions and the survival of organisms. [Extracted from the article]

Summary: The 'One Hundred Important Questions Facing Plant Science Research' project aimed to capture a global snapshot of the current issues and future questions facing plant science. This revisiting builds on the original 2011 paper. Over 600 questions were collected from anyone interested in plants, which were reduced to a final list of 100 by four teams of global panellists. There was remarkable consensus on the most important topics between the global subpanels. We present the top 100 most important questions facing plant science in 2022, ranging from how plants can contribute to tackling climate change, to plant‐defence priming and epigenome plasticity. We also provide explanations of why each question is important. We demonstrate how focussing on climate change, community and protecting plant life has become increasingly important for plant science over the past 11 years. This revisiting illustrates the collaborative and international need for long‐term funding of plant science research, alongside the broad community‐driven efforts to actively ameliorate and halt climate change, while adapting to its consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: adaptation; environment; plant diversity; plant science questions; societal importance; species interactions EN adaptation environment plant diversity plant science questions societal importance species interactions 464 469 6 03/21/23 20230415 NES 230415 Introduction In 2011, we published 100 important questions for plant science research pertaining to (A) society, (B) environment and adaptation, (C) species interactions, (D) understanding and utilising plant cells, and (E) diversity (Grierson I et al i ., [33]). Despite relevance to urgent challenges including climate change prediction, adaptation, mitigation, food security and human health, plant science has received far less funding than fields such as health research (e.g. £50 M for plant science vs £4.8 B for health research in the UK in 2018). One hundred important questions for plant science - reflecting on a decade of plant research Plant science has made important contributions to improving models of climate change and its consequences (Ikeda I et al i ., [40]; Rötter I et al i ., [76]; Merganicová I et al i ., [60]; Kawamiya I et al i ., [48]) (A6, D22). [Extracted from the article]

Revisiting regulatory coherence: accounting for temporal bias in plant gene co-expression analyses Keywords: co-expression network; dynamic correlation; gene regulation; Oryza sativa; regulatory decoherence; stress response; temporal bias; wgcna EN co-expression network dynamic correlation gene regulation Oryza sativa regulatory decoherence stress response temporal bias wgcna 16 24 9 03/06/23 20230401 NES 230401 Introduction Plants evolve to maximize their individual performance under dynamically changing environments. Third, even within an isogenic homogeneous population, population-level correlations may be confounded by saturation in gene regulation, thereby failing to characterize the dynamic network rewiring and, thus, generating false negatives in tests for environmental responses of gene-gene interactions (Figs 2, 3). Our observation that co-expression increases - it becomes more coherent - with the onset of two stresses in rice is seemingly inconsistent with a recent study which used gene expression data collected from human monocytes to infer population correlation among transcripts (Lea I et al i ., [43]). [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the advancements in seed ecology and evolutionary biology research, specifically focusing on the study of seed dormancy. The authors highlight the importance of collaboration between physiologists and ecologists in understanding the functions of seeds. They also emphasize the significance of open science and the availability of large datasets in testing hypotheses related to seed dispersal, persistence in soil seedbanks, and germination. The article presents a recent study on the diversity of seed dormancy across different biomes and addresses criticisms regarding the selection of predictors for seed dormancy and the role of fire in its evolution. The authors acknowledge the limitations of current data and call for further research and data sharing to enhance our understanding of seed ecology and evolution. [Extracted from the article]

Changes in carotenoid profile can influence the content of important molecules such as xanthophylls (photoprotection), apocarotenoid growth regulators, and signaling molecules and plant hormones. Keywords: apocarotenoids; carotenoids; metabolic engineering; photosynthesis; phytohormones; stress tolerance; yield EN apocarotenoids carotenoids metabolic engineering photosynthesis phytohormones stress tolerance yield 1946 1950 5 02/21/23 20230315 NES 230315 Carotenoids are isoprenoid compounds synthesized by all photosynthetic organisms and several heterotrophic microorganisms. Therefore, enhancing carotenoid content, in particular provitamin A carotenoids, has been one of the preferred targets of plant genetic engineering, resulting in biofortified cereals, fruits, and tubers, including rice, tomato, and potato. [Extracted from the article]

An intron with an IR ratio of 0.5 means that this intron is retained in 50% of the transcripts. Keywords: detained intron; ferns; genome; intron retention; post-transcriptional regulation; Salviniales EN detained intron ferns genome intron retention post-transcriptional regulation Salviniales 1490 1494 5 02/06/23 20230301 NES 230301 Intron retention (IR), a form of alternative splicing, plays a key role in post-transcriptional gene regulation. Our RNA-seq coverage plots clearly showed that there were minimal number of reads (if not none) that span intron-exon junctions (Figs 2b, S1), and all the introns in these 17 genes had low IR ratios across the three time points. [Extracted from the article]

S2 Salicylic acid (SA) suppresses new protein synthesis in wild-type (WT) and npr1-1 mutants. Keywords: chemical proteomics; integrated stress response; plant immunity; salicylic acid (SA); salicylic acid-binding proteins EN chemical proteomics integrated stress response plant immunity salicylic acid (SA) salicylic acid-binding proteins 1486 1489 4 02/06/23 20230301 NES 230301 Higher plants rely on the hypersensitive response, an immune response that triggers rapid cell death, to prevent the spread of infecting pathogens (Pennazio, [14]). Chemical proteomics reveals an ISR-like response elicited by salicylic acid in Arabidopsis Chemical proteomics, plant immunity, integrated stress response, salicylic acid-binding proteins, salicylic acid (SA). [Extracted from the article]

In addition to studies on central carbon and whole plant metabolism, with isotopes, investigations into lipid metabolism are also an important focus and greatly intrigue me. Carbon assimilation, carbon partitioning, central carbon metabolism, isotope labeling, lipid metabolism, metabolic flux analysis, spatiotemporal metabolism, emergent properties Therefore, it should not be too surprising that the papers I mention here emphasize dynamic central carbon or lipid metabolism or whole plant metabolism unveiled using isotopes, by some excellent scientists in the field. Keywords: carbon assimilation; carbon partitioning; central carbon metabolism; emergent properties; isotope labeling; lipid metabolism; metabolic flux analysis; spatiotemporal metabolism EN carbon assimilation carbon partitioning central carbon metabolism emergent properties isotope labeling lipid metabolism metabolic flux analysis spatiotemporal metabolism 710 713 4 01/09/23 20230201 NES 230201 What inspired your interest in plant science?. [Extracted from the article]

Studies on sporopollenin biosynthesis; the effect of inhibitors of carotenoid biosynthesis on sporopollenin accumulation. PpASCL, a moss ortholog of anther-specific chalcone synthase-like enzymes, is a hydroxyalkylpyrone synthase involved in an evolutionarily conserved sporopollenin biosynthesis pathway. Keywords: acetolysis-resistant spore walls; algaenans; anther-specific chalcone synthase-like; genomics; plant evolution and terrestrialization; polyketide pathway; sporopollenin biosynthesis; type III polyketide synthase EN acetolysis-resistant spore walls algaenans anther-specific chalcone synthase-like genomics plant evolution and terrestrialization polyketide pathway sporopollenin biosynthesis type III polyketide synthase 2009 2013 5 11/21/22 20221215 NES 221215 "Sporopollenin" is the chimaeric term derived in 1931 by Zetzsche from "pollenin" (John, 1814) and "sporonin" (Braconnot, 1829) for the chemically inert wall material of plant spores and pollen (Zetzsche & Kälin, 1931; Zetzsche & Vicari, 1931), which provides protection from subaerial stresses. Acetolysis-resistant spore walls, algaenans, anther-specific chalcone synthase-like, genomics, plant evolution and terrestrialization, sporopollenin biosynthesis, polyketide pathway, type III polyketide synthase. [Extracted from the article]

Materials and Methods CRISPR/Cas9 allele generation The CRISPR/Cas9 alleles of At I EXT3 i ( I AT1G21310 i ) were generated through the method described by Wang I et al i . Supporting this hypothesis, phenotypeless I atext3 i mutants were shown to have extensive changes in the expression of other AtEXT-encoding genes, or the accumulation of AtEXT proteins (Saha I et al i ., 2013; Chen I et al i ., 2015). Keywords: cell wall; cytokinesis; development; embryogenesis; EXTENSIN EN cell wall cytokinesis development embryogenesis EXTENSIN 1629 1633 5 11/07/22 20221201 NES 221201 EXTENSINs (EXTs) are a subclass of the very diverse family of cell wall proteins known as hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins. [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: bet-hedging; fire ecology; germination; postfire recruitment; seed dormancy EN bet-hedging fire ecology germination postfire recruitment seed dormancy 1232 1236 5 10/25/22 20221115 NES 221115 Seasonality and the bet-hedging strategy Seed dormancy (i.e. delayed germination even when conditions are favourable) is a key plant characteristic that occurs among many species worldwide. S1. gl GLO:F0R/15nov22:nph18436-fig-0002.jpg PHOTO (COLOR): 2 Schematic representation of the dynamics of seed recruitment for plants lacking seed dormancy (nondormant; top panel), and for plants with dormant seeds following the bet-hedging strategy (middle panel) and the best-bet strategy (bottom panel). Many seeds have acquired seed dormancy to facilitate long-distance dispersal and thus spread germination across the landscape. Long-distance seed dispersal "Bet-hedging" and "best-bet" are two strategies that select for seed dormancy in order to accumulate a seed bank and thus delay germination until conditions become more suitable. [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: EARLY FLOWERING 3 (ELF3); phytochrome B (phyB); PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR 7 (PIF7); root growth; thermomorphogenesis EN EARLY FLOWERING 3 (ELF3) phytochrome B (phyB) PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR 7 (PIF7) root growth thermomorphogenesis 9 14 6 09/12/22 20221001 NES 221001 Introduction Increasing ambient temperature within the physiological, nonstressful, range promotes the growth of the hypocotyl (Gray I et al i ., 1998) and of the primary root (Hanzawa I et al i ., 2013), whilst reducing the expansion of the cotyledons (Hahm I et al i ., 2020) of I Arabidopsis thaliana i seedlings. Conclusions phyB, ELF3 and PIF7 did not act as thermosensors in the primary root growth response to temperature. As 28°C compared with 20°C promoted primary root growth and warm temperatures reduced phyB and ELF3 activities when they act as thermosensors, had phyB and ELF3 acted as thermosensors, the primary roots of their loss-of-function mutants should have been long at 20°C. Warm temperatures enhance lateral root development in light-exposed roots (Wang I et al i ., 2016), but in our experiments with dark grown roots, at 28°C reduced the generation of lateral roots compared with 20°C (Fig. [Extracted from the article]

This article is an interview with Peter J. Franks, a plant scientist who specializes in plant physiology and plant-climate interactions. Franks discusses his interest in plant science, which was sparked by his experiences in rainforests and his fascination with the diverse uses of plants by indigenous tribes. He also explains his decision to pursue a career in research, driven by his curiosity and the desire to contribute to scientific knowledge. Franks mentions his role models in the field and highlights some recent papers in the journal New Phytologist that have made significant advancements in understanding stomatal control and signaling in plants. He also shares his favorite plant species, including the extinct Cooksonia and the living fossil Austrobaileya scandens. Overall, Franks' research aims to integrate geological, molecular, and physiological information to understand the co-evolution of Earth's climate and vegetation. [Extracted from the article]

On Sun Lau is an Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore, specializing in plant biology and developmental biology. He became interested in plant science during his undergraduate studies and has since focused on understanding how plants work, particularly in the areas of photomorphogenesis and stomatal development. Lau is motivated by his passion for science and the sense of accomplishment he feels when conducting research. He considers his mentors, Prof. Samuel Sun, Prof. Xing Wang Deng, and Prof. Dominique Bergmann, as role models who have influenced his career. Lau appreciates the diverse range of research covered in the journal New Phytologist, particularly the Tansley reviews and insights. As a scientist studying stomatal development, he pays close attention to articles in this field. Lau's favorite plant is Arabidopsis thaliana for its contributions to plant biology research, but he also admires cherry blossoms and purple oxalis for their beauty and unique characteristics. [Extracted from the article]

The adoption of a holistic approach to root research, that is, one that takes into account all categories of root traits, from anatomy to root morphology, physiology and architecture, as well as interactions with the rhizosphere microbiota, was emphasised as a crucial step in facing the challenges posed by global change. Keywords: Ambassador Program; ISRR11; rhizosphere; root phenotyping; root traits; Rooting2021; roots EN Ambassador Program ISRR11 rhizosphere root phenotyping root traits Rooting2021 roots 2149 2154 6 08/22/22 20220915 NES 220915 Emerging frontiers: root and rhizosphere research in the context of global environmental chan... Natural ecosystems and agricultural production have been threatened by multifaceted global environmental changes. ISRR11, rhizosphere, root traits, Ambassador Program, root phenotyping, Rooting2021, roots Root biology never sleeps: 11th Symposium of the International Society of Root Research (ISRR11) and the 9th International Symposium on Root Development (Rooting2021), 24-28 May 2021. [Extracted from the article]

This supports not only the existence of a trade-off between growth/reproduction and defence to herbivory without the participation of the plant endophytes, but also that the trade-off persists, at least in this species, in symbiotic (E+) plants (Fig. From these studies, we assume that the experimental design (E+ and E- plants) effectively disrupts any potential positive effect of the plant-microbe symbiosis in E- plants. Keywords: biological interactions; extreme environments; fungal endophytes; symbiosis; trade-off EN biological interactions extreme environments fungal endophytes symbiosis trade-off 384 387 4 06/20/22 20220715 NES 220715 Acknowledgements Our thanks to Marc-André Selosse for his constructive comments that allowed us to focus and highlight the fundamental aspects of our I Letter i . Fungal endophytes improve the performance of host plants but do not eliminate the growth/defence trade-off. [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: accessory buds; axillary buds; cataphylls; eucalypts; Eucalyptus; naked buds EN accessory buds axillary buds cataphylls eucalypts Eucalyptus naked buds 11 14 4 06/06/22 20220701 NES 220701 Data availability All new data are available in the three figures. Third, while many plant species have only a single bud in a leaf axil, the eucalypts have additional buds (accessory buds) at the base of the naked bud. A comment on Schoonderwoerd & Friedman (2021) 'Naked resting bud morphologies and their t... In a recent issue of I New Phytologist i , Schoonderwoerd & Friedman (2021) indicated that woody angiosperms with naked buds (buds that lack cataphylls) that can survive freezing temperatures are more common than was previously thought. Probably all eucalypts have naked buds (e.g. Jacobs, 1955; Chattaway, 1958a; Cremer, 1972; Burrows, 2013), but before considering how the buds of this group were classified by Schoonderwoerd & Friedman, the structure and function of these axillary buds needs to be reviewed. [Extracted from the article]