Article
Plant Sciences
Cheng Chen, Fu Liu, Kaixuan Zhang, Xiaolei Niu, Hui Zhao, Qiuxu Liu, Milen Georgiev, Xiaoheng Xu, Xinquan Zhang, Meiliang Zhou
Summary: Jasmonates can promote the synthesis of cyanogenic glucosides by activating the expression of related genes. LjbHLH7, as a transcription factor, can directly activate the expression of CYP79D3 gene, the first step of CNglc synthesis, enhancing the plant's insect resistance. In addition, the interaction between LjJAZ4 and LjbHLH7 inhibits its transcriptional activity.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Shouzhen Teng, Qiming Liu, Guoxin Chen, Yuan Chang, Xuean Cui, Jinxia Wu, Pengfei Ai, Xuehui Sun, Zhiguo Zhang, Tiegang Lu
Summary: This study demonstrates the importance of the bHLH transcription factor OsbHLH92 in regulating plant architecture morphogenesis in rice, and its knockout lines show erect leaves, which can increase planting density and crop productivity. Additionally, new components of the brassinosteroid (BR) signaling pathway are identified, expanding our knowledge of typical and atypical bHLH family members in rice.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bo Yang, Sen Yang, Baodian Guo, Yuyin Wang, Wenyue Zheng, Mengjun Tian, Kaixin Dai, Zehan Liu, Haonan Wang, Zhenchuan Ma, Yan Wang, Wenwu Ye, Suomeng Dong, Yuanchao Wang
Summary: Plant pathogens rely on effector proteins such as Avh241 to suppress host immune responses by targeting critical components like NDR1, allowing for successful colonization. Avh241 disrupts the function of NDR1 by suppressing NDR1-mediated immune responses, showcasing an effective counter-defense mechanism used by Phytophthora during infection.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Mila C. Blekemolen, Zunyong Liu, Martin Stegman, Cyril Zipfel, Libo Shan, Frank L. W. Takken
Summary: The effector Avr2 from the root-invading pathogen Fusarium oxysporum can suppress immune signaling induced by various pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). It targets the plant kinase BIK1 to interfere with its phosphorylation, mono-ubiquitination, and subcellular localization, thereby suppressing immune activation. This study reveals BIK1 as an effector target of a root-invading vascular pathogen, highlighting its conserved role in root and shoot immunity.
MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Jane Chepsergon, Celiwe Innocentia Nxumalo, Brenda S. C. Salasini, Aquillah M. Kanzi, Lucy Novungayo Moleleki
Summary: Oomycetes of the genus Phytophthora, including Phytophthora parasitica, are successful plant pathogens due to their secretion of effector proteins that alter host physiological processes. In this study, we identified 333 candidate RxLR effectors in P. parasitica and found that 71 of them are highly conserved among P. parasitica strains. These conserved effectors, designated as core RxLR effectors (CREs), exhibit enrichment of intrinsically disordered regions in the N terminus and contain important short linear motifs (SLiMs) in the C terminus. One of the CREs, PpRxLR1, was shown to interact with host defense proteins and carry a ubiquitin-like SLiM that may mediate these interactions. This research improves our understanding of Phytophthora RxLR effector function and may contribute to the development of control strategies.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Jane Chepsergon, Celiwe Innocentia Nxumalo, Brenda S. C. Salasini, Aquillah M. Kanzi, Lucy Novungayo Moleleki
Summary: A bioinformatics study identified core RxLR effectors in Phytophthora parasitica, which contain short linear motifs (SLiMs) that may play a crucial role in effector translocation.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jing Cheng, Ying Shi, Jun Wang, Changqing Duan, Keji Yu
Summary: This study identifies VvibHLH93 as a new transcription factor in the PA pathway of grapes and demonstrates its role in suppressing PA accumulation through the repression of two VviLAR genes. Additionally, VvibHLH93 is also associated with other genes and transcription factors in the flavonoid pathway.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Qingqing Fu, Yunlei Wang, Jing Yang, Yu Jiao, Wenjuan Li, Fan Yang, Xiao Yin, Boxing Shang, Ruiqi Liu, Yiyuan Zhang, Ayisuwake Saileke, Guotian Liu, Steven van Nocker, Huiling Hu, Yan Xu
Summary: The Plasmopara viticola effector PvAvh77 induces cell death, suppresses plant immunity intracellularly, and triggers responses extracellularly. It was observed that the PvAvh77 gene was strongly up-regulated during the initial stages of P. viticola infection in Vitis vinifera. PvAvh77 can induce non-specific cell death when expressed in Vitis riparia and in tobacco.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Tianli Li, Gan Ai, Xiaowei Fu, Jin Liu, Hai Zhu, Ying Zhai, Weiye Pan, Danyu Shen, Maofeng Jing, Ai Xia, Daolong Dou
Summary: This study characterizes the functional properties of the core RXLR effector RXLR242 in P. capsici and its manipulation of host plant immunity. RXLR242 interacts with RAB proteins and disrupts protein trafficking, thereby promoting Phytophthora infection.
MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jingjie Zhang, Weiyue Chen, Xiaopeng Li, Hongyong Shi, Minghui Lv, Liming He, Wenhua Bai, Shujing Cheng, Jinfang Chu, Kai He, Xiaoping Gou, Jia Li
Summary: An apical hook is a crucial structure in dicotyledonous plants that protects the shoot apical meristem during seed germination and hypocotyl elongation. Previous studies have shown that the phytohormones BR and JA regulate apical hook formation antagonistically. This study reveals that JAs repress BRs by inhibiting the transcriptional activation of BZR1 by MYC2, disrupting the interaction between BZR1 and its partner transcription factors, and downregulating the expression of target genes important for apical hook development.
Article
Plant Sciences
Shuyun Chen, Tao Ma, Shiren Song, Xinlong Li, Peining Fu, Wei Wu, Jiaqi Liu, Yu Gao, Wenxiu Ye, Ian B. Dry, Jiang Lu
Summary: This study reveals that the oomycete pathogen HaRxLL470 effector protein enhances susceptibility of host plants to H. arabidopsidis by interacting with the host protein HY5 and compromising its function as a transcription factor, thereby suppressing the plant's immune response.
Article
Plant Sciences
Meng Na Pu, Gang Liang
Summary: Iron (Fe) is important for plants, and the expression of Fe deficiency-responsive genes is modulated by the transcription factor POPEYE (PYE). This study shows that PYE directly represses the transcription of bHLH Ib genes and negatively regulates its own transcription. The nuclear localization of PYE and its interaction with bHLH IVc members are crucial for maintaining Fe homeostasis in Arabidopsis.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Biao Gu, Wenxin Gao, Zeqi Liu, Guangda Shao, Qin Peng, Yinyu Mu, Qinhu Wang, Hua Zhao, Jianqiang Miao, Xili Liu
Summary: As a destructive plant pathogen, Phytophthora infestans secretes specific proteins called RxLR effectors that facilitate infection. One of these effectors, PiAvr3b, causes a specific immune response and also suppresses the general immune response. The molecular basis of these dual activities has been unknown, but this study found that specific amino acids in PiAvr3b were responsible for both activities. The localization of PiAv3b within the cell also plays a role in its ability to stimulate or suppress immune responses.
MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Su-Kui Jin, Ming-Qiu Zhang, Yu-Jia Leng, Li-Na Xu, Shu-Wen Jia, Shui-Lian Wang, Tao Song, Ruo-An Wang, Qing-Qing Yang, Tao Tao, Xiu-Ling Cai, Ji-Ping Gao
Summary: OsNAC129 is a gene associated with seed development and plant growth. Loss-of-function of OsNAC129 increases grain length, grain weight, and apparent amylose content, while overexpression of OsNAC129 has the opposite effect. This gene negatively regulates grain size and starch biosynthesis.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ye-Eun Seo, Xin Yan, Doil Choi, Hyunggon Mang
Summary: Pathogens induce cell death in host plants for successful proliferation, and the regulation of plasma membrane H+-ATPases (PMAs) plays a crucial role in this process. This study reveals a mechanism by which pathogens manipulate PMA activity through interaction with host proteins, leading to cell death.
MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Shaista Naqvi, Qin He, Franziska Trusch, Huishan Qiu, Jasmine Pham, Qingguo Sun, John M. Christie, Eleanor M. Gilroy, Paul R. J. Birch
Summary: Blue-light phototropin receptors may negatively regulate plant immunity by promoting susceptibility to pathogen infection. Stphot1 and Stphot2 play different roles in promoting infection and suppressing immune responses, with the kinase activity of Stphot1 being crucial for immune suppression.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Barbara Karpinska, Nurhayati Razak, Euan K. James, Jenny A. Morris, Susan R. Verrall, Peter E. Hedley, Robert D. Hancock, Christine H. Foyer
Summary: The WHIRLY DNA/RNA binding proteins play important roles in leaf development, particularly in regulating chloroplast development and transcription. Knockdown of WHY1 in barley lines resulted in slower development and changes in certain transcripts and metabolites compared to the wild type.
BIOCHEMICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jing Zhou, Yetong Qi, Jiahui Nie, Lei Guo, Ming Luo, Hazel McLellan, Petra C. Boevink, Paul R. J. Birch, Zhendong Tian
Summary: This study revealed that the oomycete effector Pi22798 promotes homodimerization of the potato transcription factor StKNOX3, enhancing colonization and infection by Phytophthora infestans.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yun-Yu Chen, Miriam Schreiber, Micha M. Bayer, Ian K. Dawson, Peter E. Hedley, Li Lei, Alina Akhunova, Chaochih Liu, Kevin P. Smith, Justin C. Fay, Gary J. Muehlbauer, Brian J. Steffenson, Peter L. Morrell, Robbie Waugh, Joanne R. Russell
Summary: The pericentromeric regions of barley show reduced diversity compared to wild barley, and there are different types of variations and linkage disequilibrium between the domesticated and wild gene pools. The chromosome 7H clearly differentiates barley types associated with different geographical origins.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Carmen Escudero-Martinez, Max Coulter, Rodrigo Alegria Terrazas, Alexandre Foito, Rumana Kapadia, Laura Pietrangelo, Mauro Maver, Rajiv Sharma, Alessio Aprile, Jenny Morris, Pete E. Hedley, Andreas Maurer, Klaus Pillen, Gino Naclerio, Tanja Mimmo, Geoffrey J. Barton, Robbie Waugh, James Abbott, Davide Bulgarelli
Summary: This study utilizes metagenomics information to uncover QTLs and candidate genes underlying rhizosphere microbiome composition in barley.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Li -Na Yang, Maozhi Ren, Jiasui Zhan
Summary: Infectious plant diseases pose a significant threat to global agriculture, economy, and ecology. There is a concern that these diseases may worsen with climate change, and computer modeling provides an opportunity to address this issue. This study highlights the problems with current modeling strategies and emphasizes the need to incorporate evolutionary principles into polytrophic, eco-evolutionary frameworks to enhance predictions. It discusses the potential feedback of evolutionary shifts induced by climate change on future plant disease epidemics and the role of technological advances in generating and integrating relevant knowledge for better modeling predictions.
TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Susan Breen, Hazel McLellan, Paul R. J. Birch, Eleanor M. Gilroy
Summary: The growth-defense trade-off in plants refers to the need for plants to balance resource allocation between growth and defense against pests and pathogens. Light perception plays a crucial role in growth control and can influence defense mechanisms. Plant pathogens secrete effector proteins that manipulate defense signaling, and some of these effectors target light signaling pathways. Additionally, plant pathogens also react to and regulate their own growth, development, and virulence in response to light. Recent research suggests that manipulating light wavelengths may be a novel approach to control or prevent disease outbreaks in plants.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Haixia Wang, Shumei Wang, Wei Wang, Lin Xu, Lydia R. J. Welsh, Marek Gierlinski, Stephen C. Whisson, Piers A. Hemsley, Petra C. Boevink, Paul R. J. Birch
Summary: Cytoplasmic RXLR effectors from Phytophthora infestans enter plant host cells via clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Transient silencing of clathrin heavy chain or the endosome marker gene attenuated P. infestans infection and reduced translocation of RXLR effectors into host cells. Co-localization of RXLR effectors with clathrin-coated vesicles and immunoprecipitation experiments confirmed the uptake of RXLR effectors via clathrin-mediated endocytosis.
Article
Plant Sciences
Hazel McLellan, Petra C. Boevink, Paul R. J. Birch
Summary: Recent research has shown that disrupting the interaction between pathogen effectors and their host target proteins can decrease infection. With the identification of more effector-target pairs and the exposure of their structures and interaction surfaces, it may soon be possible to genetically modify plants to become nonhosts.
TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Sidsel Birkelund Schmidt, Lawrie K. Brown, Allan Booth, John Wishart, Pete E. Hedley, Peter Martin, Soren Husted, Timothy S. George, Joanne Russell
Summary: Future crops need to be sustainable in the face of climate change. Modern barley varieties have suffered genetic erosion, losing genetic diversity and becoming vulnerable to climate change. Utilizing diversity in landrace populations, combined with information about local environmental and climatic conditions, allows targeted selection of key traits and genotypes, enabling crop production in marginal soils. Genomics technologies and big data can be used to support sustainable agriculture through germplasm development from landrace collections.
TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Yun Song, Ying Wang, Qianqian Yu, Yueying Sun, Jianling Zhang, Jiasui Zhan, Maozhi Ren
Summary: Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) family members are highly conserved protein kinases in mammals and plants, playing a pivotal role in the perception and transduction of diverse signals involved in plant development and stress responses. Recent research has shown that GSK3s are involved in plant adaptation to various stresses and their crosstalk with hormones. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of GSK3s in plant stress responses provides opportunities for developing stress-resilient crops using genetic engineering technology.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Binhong Hu, Songqing Liu, Yuanyue Luo, Jingyu Pu, Xin Deng, Wenjing Zhou, Yuqing Dong, Yichuan Ma, Gang Wang, Fan Yang, Tianhui Zhu, Jiasui Zhan
Summary: Environmental exposure to hazardous materials, including cadmium, can cause reproductive toxicity through oxidative stress and inflammation. In this study, it was found that procyanidin oligosaccharide B2 (PC-B2) protected against cadmium-induced uterine toxicity by increasing antioxidant enzymes, reducing proinflammatory cytokines, and inhibiting cadmium deposition in the uterus. Interestingly, PC-B2 also promoted beneficial gut microbiota and inhibited harmful microbiota, further protecting the uterus. This study provides insights into the mechanisms of cadmium-induced toxicity and suggests the potential use of PC-B2 in preventing reproductive toxicity caused by cadmium exposure.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Jose Gonzalez-Jimenez, Bjorn Andersson, Lars Wiik, Jiasui Zhan
Summary: Modelling the yield loss of crops due to pathogens is challenging, but this study successfully developed a dynamic simulation model that integrates an epidemiological model and a crop growth model. The model was able to accurately predict the yield losses caused by late blight disease in potato crops using meteorological variables. The study also highlighted the impact of disease growth rate and time of infection on yield reduction, as well as the potential effects of climate change on disease management in potato production.
FIELD CROPS RESEARCH
(2023)