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Cloning multiple DNA fragments for delivery of several genes of interest into the plant genome is one of the main technological challenges in plant synthetic biology. Despite several modular assembly methods developed in recent years, the plant biotechnology community has not widely adopted them yet, probably due to the lack of appropriate vectors and software tools. Here we present Plant X-tender, an extension of the highly efficient, scar-free and sequence-independent multigene assembly strategy AssemblX, based on overlap-depended cloning methods and rare-cutting restriction enzymes. Plant X-tender consists of a set of plant expression vectors and the protocols for most efficient cloning into the novel vector set needed for plant expression and thus introduces advantages of AssemblX into plant synthetic biology. The novel vector set covers different backbones and selection markers to allow full design flexibility. We have included ccdB counterselection, thereby allowing the transfer of multigene constructs into the novel vector set in a straightforward and highly efficient way. Vectors are available as empty backbones and are fully flexible regarding the orientation of expression cassettes and addition of linkers between them, if required. We optimised the assembly and subcloning protocol by testing different scar-less assembly approaches: the noncommercial SLiCE and TAR methods and the commercial Gibson assembly and NEBuilder HiFi DNA assembly kits. Plant X-tender was applicable even in combination with low efficient homemade chemically competent or electrocompetent Escherichia coli. We have further validated the developed procedure for plant protein expression by cloning two cassettes into the newly developed vectors and subsequently transferred them to Nicotiana benthamiana in a transient expression setup. Thereby we show that multigene constructs can be delivered into plant cells in a streamlined and highly efficient way. Our results will support faster introduction of synthetic biology into plant science.

While activation of resistance (R) proteins has been intensively studied, the mechanisms acting downstream of R protein activation remain elusive. We studied effector-triggered immunity (ETI) conditioned by the potato Ny-1 gene against potato virus Y. Transcriptomic, ultrastructural and biochemical analyses of four consecutive tissue sections in and surrounding the foci of viral infection at three different lesion developmental stages revealed processes that are spatiotemporally regulated. The transcriptional response in the cell death zone and surrounding tissue is dependent on SA. For some of the genes, spatiotemporal regulation is completely lost while for others, the regulation is different in SA-deficient line indicating multiple connections between hormonal signaling modules. The induction of RBOHD NADPH oxidase expression, together with expression of Thioredoxin H gene, occurs specifically in the border region of the lesion during ETI. In plants with silenced RBOHD, ETI is perturbed and virus spread is not arrested at the site of infection. Expression of RBOHD is under the control of SA. On the other hand, RBOHD activity is required for spatial regulation of SA accumulation. We identified an UDP-glucosyltransferase, encoding an enzyme involved in feedback activation of SA biosynthesis, that is derepressed at the border of the lesion in RBOHD silenced plants. Altogether, we revealed a novel aspect of viral ETI, the RBOHD-SA feedback loop required for its spatial regulation. SIGNIFICANCE To get towards sustainable resistance in the field, it is important to understand mechanisms of immune signaling. We here show novel aspects of spatial regulation in effector-triggered immunity (ETI) against potato virus Y. A detailed spatiotemporal analysis in and surrounding the foci of viral infection, on ultrastructural, biochemical and gene expression levels revealed that redox state maintenance is tightly spatiotemporally regulated. We also show the interconnection of salicylic acid and RBOHD through a feedback loop, regulated through UDP-glucosyltransferase, revealing the mechanism of this spatial regulation. The proper function of this loop is essential for successful ETI leading to viral arrest.

Today, academic researchers benefit from the changes driven by digital technologies and the enormous growth of knowledge and data, on globalisation, enlargement of the scientific community, and the linkage between different scientific communities and the society. To fully benefit from this development, however, information needs to be shared openly and transparently. Digitalisation plays a major role here because it permeates all areas of business, science and society and is one of the key drivers for innovation and international cooperation. To address the resulting opportunities, the EU promotes the development and use of collaborative ways to produce and share knowledge and data as early as possible in the research process, but also to appropriately secure results with the European strategy for Open Science (OS). It is now widely recognised that making research results more accessible to all societal actors contributes to more effective and efficient science; it also serves as a boost for innovation in the public and private sectors. However for research data to be findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable the use of standards is essential. At the metadata level, considerable efforts in standardisation have already been made (e.g. Data Management Plan and FAIR Principle etc.), whereas in context with the raw data these fundamental efforts are still fragmented and in some cases completely missing. The CHARME consortium, funded by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Agency, has identified needs and gaps in the field of standardisation in the life sciences and also discussed potential hurdles for implementation of standards in current practice. Here, the authors suggest four measures in response to current challenges to ensure a high quality of life science research data and their re-usability for research and innovation.