Ensuring global food security under accelerating climate change requires transformative approaches to crop improvement that extend beyond the limits of traditional breeding and gene editing. While domestication and modern agriculture have delivered substantial gains in productivity, these advances often came at the cost of genetic diversity, stress resilience, and developmental plasticity. Plants, however, inherently exhibit remarkable flexibility in their morphology and development, as evidenced by the vast diversity of organ shapes, cell types, and adaptive responses that have evolved across lineages. This natural design space provides a foundation for reimagining plant architecture using synthetic biology. Recent advances in plant synthetic biology, including programmable transcription factors, CRISPR-based regulatory systems, synthetic gene circuits, orthogonal signalling pathways, and plant artificial chromosomes, now enable precise, modular, and environmentally responsive manipulation of developmental processes. These tools allow researchers to rewire hormone pathways, tune quantitative gene expression, integrate multiple environmental signals, and create novel regulatory modules that operate independently of endogenous networks. Beyond understanding plant development, these capabilities open avenues for engineering crops with dynamic architectures, enhanced plasticity, and improved resilience to complex and fluctuating stresses. In this review, we synthesise insights from natural diversity, developmental biology, and synthetic regulatory engineering to outline how plant architecture can be rationally redesigned. We argue that integrating synthetic biology with modern breeding and modelling frameworks will be essential for generating the next generation of programmable crops; i.e., varieties capable of sustaining productivity and stability in an era of unprecedented environmental and geopolitical changes.
Endogenous constitutive promoters from Nicotiana benthamiana provide quantitatively defined transcriptional strengths across multiple species, enabling reliable alternatives to the CaMV 35S promoter for plant synthetic biology. In plant synthetic biology, precise control of gene expression requires constitutive promoters with quantitatively defined transcriptional strengths. Here, we identified endogenous constitutive promoter candidates from Nicotiana benthamiana. The transcriptional activities of the selected promoters were measured using GFP-based and dual-luciferase reporter assays in plants and benchmarked against the CaMV 35S promoter, revealing substantial variation in promoter strengths. Promoter activities were further evaluated in heterologous species, including Brassica rapa, Capsicum annuum, and Zea mays, using protoplast-based dual-luciferase assays. Cross-species analyses showed that relative promoter ranking was partially retained among dicot species, whereas transcriptional activity varied substantially depending on species and was generally reduced in maize. Together, this study defines a set of endogenous constitutive promoters across a range of transcriptional strengths, providing quantitative guidance for selecting endogenous alternatives to the CaMV 35S promoter in plant biotechnology and synthetic biology applications.
Single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization (smFISH) has emerged as a powerful tool to study gene expression dynamics with unparalleled precision and spatial resolution in a variety of biological systems. Recent advancements have expanded its application to encompass plant studies, yet a demand persists for a simple and robust smFISH method adapted to plant tissue sections. Here, we present an optimized smFISH protocol (cryo-smFISH) for visualizing and quantifying single mRNA molecules in plant tissue cryosections. This method exhibits remarkable sensitivity, capable of detecting low-expression transcripts, including long non-coding RNAs. Integrating a deep learning-based algorithm in our image analysis pipeline, our method enables us to assign RNA abundance precisely in nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments. The method also enables a robust combination with immunofluorescence, as cryosectioning enhances antibody penetration. This allows for the sequential visualization and quantification of both RNAs and endogenous proteins within the same cells. Finally, this study demonstrates the use of smFISH to validate single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) expression patterns in plant tissues. By extending the smFISH method to plant cryosections, an even broader community of plant scientists will be able to exploit the multiple potentials of quantitative transcript analysis at cellular and subcellular resolutions.
Plant-derived physiologically active substances represent a rapidly evolving interdisciplinary research field with significant implications for human health, nutrition and industry. Utilizing CiteSpace-based bibliometric and visualization analyses, this study systematically reviewed 8,096 documents from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC-SCIE) published between 2000 and 2024. The results highlighted exponential growth in research outputs, emphasizing a notable shift from basic compound isolation and antioxidant assays towards advanced mechanistic studies, functional food applications and innovative nano-delivery systems. The thematic evolution illustrated a clear transition across distinct research stages, driven by technological advances in metabolomics and synthetic biology, rising consumer demands for natural products and stringent regulatory frameworks. China, India, and the United States emerged as global research leaders, with expanding international collaboration networks facilitating knowledge dissemination. Core institutions, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences and India's Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, significantly influenced global research dynamics through extensive interdisciplinary cooperation. Emerging hotspots identified through keyword burst analysis encompassed plant immunity modulation, gut microbiota interactions, metabolic disease interventions and molecular dynamics simulations. Future research priorities highlighted include integrative multi-omics methodologies, climate-resilient phytochemical production, synthetic biology-driven compound biosynthesis and enhanced clinical translation frameworks. Overall, this bibliometric investigation provides an essential roadmap for guiding future research strategies, promoting interdisciplinary collaborations and facilitating sustainable industrial exploitation of plant-derived bioactive substances.
Understanding how transcription factors (TFs) regulate target promoters is central to molecular biology. However, widely used reporter-based assays typically require specialized instrumentation, costly substrates, and labor-intensive procedures. The recently developed RUBY reporter gene, which enables visible betalain accumulation, offers a simple and equipment-free alternative for monitoring gene expression. Here, we established a pEAQ-RUBY reporter system for efficient analysis of TF-mediated promoter regulation. We first optimized a quantitative method for betalain extraction in tobacco and identified 40% ethanol as a safe and effective solvent. We then constructed pGreenII 0800-RUBY reporter vectors by replacing the LUC coding sequence with RUBY while preserving the multiple cloning site for flexible promoter insertion. Four commonly used effector vectors were evaluated, and pEAQ exhibited the highest expression efficiency. Using this system, we confirmed the positive regulation of SARD1 on the SA biosynthetic gene promoter ICS1 and MYC2 on the JA biosynthetic gene promoters AOS, LOX2, and OPR3. We also validated the negative regulation of TCP20 and TCX8 on the LOX2 promoter. All results were consistent with previous reports. Collectively, the pEAQ-RUBY reporter system provides a simple, visible, and safe alternative to conventional luciferase-based assays for studying transcriptional regulation in plants.
Under saline conditions, plants consistently maintain cytosolic Na+ concentrations between 10 and 30 mM, sequestering excess Na+ to the vacuole. We demonstrate that this cytosolic Na+ homeostasis is regulated by inward Na+-permeable channels and outward Na+:H+ antiporters at both the plasma membrane and tonoplast. Sodium's interplay with K+ transport adds complexity and selective transport is crucial to avoid conflicting ion fluxes. Our models predict that Na+:H+ antiport regulation at the plasma membrane significantly impacts cytosolic Na+ levels, while channel and antiport regulation are equally important at the tonoplast. The energetic implications of these transport mechanisms are discussed. In contrast to the cytosol, chloroplast Na+ concentrations vary significantly between species and increase with soil salinity, raising questions as to how C4 and CAM plants acquire pyruvate under saline conditions. However, modelling transport activity at the chloroplast membrane requires far more knowledge of the associated transport systems and the chloroplastic Na+ content.
Due to "Plant Awareness Disparity" (PAD) people tend to be unaware of, uninformed, or uninterested in the plants around them. Because this phenomenon contributes to a lack of support for the conservation of plants relative to animals, public awareness campaigns against PAD must be launched. Since the severity of PAD varies across demographic groups (e.g., gender, education, and age), such a campaign should be designed with demographic differences in mind. To inform campaign design, we surveyed 318 people in Southeast Michigan with a combination of quantitative and qualitative questions designed to assess various axes of PAD (Attention, Attitude, Knowledge, and Relative Interest) and general perceptions of nature. Results were statistically analyzed across gender, education, and age groups and assessed in the context of strategies for mitigation across demographics and axes. We found greater Relative Interest and Attention toward plants in non-males compared to males and greater Knowledge in the 18-29 age group relative to those 30 and over. Most notably, in a question where participants were asked to construct an ecosystem using abiotic and biotic features, bees were the most commonly selected biotic feature across demographics. We discuss how future plant conservation campaigns can overcome PAD by employing bees specifically as "ambassadors" to increase care for plants and support for policies that protect threatened plant species. This strategy could close demographic gaps in PAD and increase support for plant conservation policies, benefiting society and natural environments.
Emilia sonchifolia L. (E. sonchifolia) is a traditionally medicinal plant widespread in tropical and subtropical regions and is valued for its diverse bioactive properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-tumor activities. In October 2021, two groups of E. sonchifolia-one non-symptomatic (Mock) and the other exhibiting yellow vein symptoms (Vln)-were identified from an experimental nursery in Yulin City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. The virus infecting symptomatic plants was isolated, sequenced, and confirmed to be closely related to Emilia yellow vein virus Fz1 (EYVV-Fz1) from Fujian province, and was designated Emilia yellow vein virus Gx (EYVV-Gx). To reveal gene expression changes and enriched biological pathways in response to begomovirus infection in the medicinal plant E. sonchifolia, transcriptome analysis between Mock and Vln plants was conducted using integrated Single Molecule Real Time (SMRT)-seq and Illumina-seq technologies. A total of 195 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected, and enriched in pathways related to reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, cell wall remodeling, hormone signaling, transcriptional regulation, as well as stress and immune related responses. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) validations revealed that gene expression was group-dependent and tissue-specific. These findings provide new insights into infection-associated transcriptional responses of E. sonchifolia under natural begomovirus infection and represent the first transcriptomic analysis of this species based on the combined use of Illumina and SMRT sequencing. This study provides a valuable resource for future molecular studies and may support improvements in cultivation strategies for medicinal plants.
Global climate change has altered the eco-evolutionary trajectories of plant species, leading to observed shifts in phenotypes, such as earlier flowering. However, disentangling the contributions of plasticity and adaptation to trait changes remains challenging. The resurrection approach is a powerful method to study genetic and plastic responses by contrasting ancestral and descendant lineages from the same populations under common conditions. We compiled a database of resurrection studies to examine plant evolutionary responses to global change using a meta-analysis (46 studies) and quantitative and qualitative review (61 studies). Studies varied widely in the number of focal populations and intervening years separating generations, yet most involved annual plant species in North America and Europe. We found evidence for rapid, contemporary evolution in over half of the cases. Moreover, evolution was often adaptive. As hypothesized, annuals showed greater magnitudes of evolutionary change than perennials. Across studies, annual descendants evolved earlier phenology and more resource-acquisitive leaf traits relative to ancestors. Under drought stress, annual and perennial species both evolved earlier phenology. Furthermore, in response to drought, annuals evolved increased plasticity in phenological and physiological traits but reduced plasticity in leaf traits, whereas perennials showed no evidence for evolution in plasticity. Our study reveals that rapid evolution is common but not ubiquitous and highlights the key role of drought escape in plant responses to a warming world. Our review also suggests promising avenues for future resurrection research.
Salicylic acid (SA) is essential for plant immunity, but excessive SA accumulation accelerates leaf senescence, necessitating tight control of its biosynthesis. Although AVRPPHB SUSCEPTIBLE3 (PBS3) is a key enzyme in SA biosynthesis, how PBS3 abundance is regulated to coordinate immunity and longevity remains unclear. Using genetic, biochemical, and physiological analyses, we show that PBS3 functions as a quantitative regulator of the immunity-longevity balance. Loss of PBS3 compromises disease resistance but delays senescence, whereas graded increases in PBS3 abundance progressively enhance pathogen-induced SA accumulation, systemic acquired resistance (SAR), and senescence severity. We further identify the E3 ubiquitin ligase PLANT U-BOX PROTEIN 13 (PUB13) as a direct regulator of PBS3. PUB13 physically associates with PBS3 and promotes its polyubiquitination and degradation through the 26S proteasome pathway. Disruption of PUB13 stabilizes PBS3, resulting in elevated SA accumulation, enhanced SAR, and accelerated leaf senescence. Time-course analyses revealed that pathogen-induced PBS3 accumulation and SA biosynthesis are transient in wild-type plants but remain elevated in pub13 mutants, indicating that PUB13 promotes the attenuation of immune-associated SA production after defense activation. Together, our findings establish the PUB13-PBS3 module as a post-translational mechanism that fine-tunes SA biosynthesis, enabling effective immunity while preventing prolonged SA accumulation and its detrimental effects on plant longevity.
Plant diseases threaten global food security, causing up to 40% crop yield losses and more than $220 billion in annual economic damage. This review synthesizes recent advances in understanding the genomic variations and mutational events underlying plant-pathogen interactions and durable plant disease resistance. Key insights into evolutionary dynamics, genetic variability, and coadaptive strategies reveal the complexity of host-pathogen relationships and the implications for developing durable disease resistance. Integrative approaches combining genome-wide association studies and functional genomics have uncovered the polygenic and epistatic architecture of quantitative resistance. Advances in pan-genomics and high-throughput sequencing have revealed extensive genetic variability in cultivated/elite germplasm and wild relatives. Emerging technologies, including gene editing, multi-omics, and machine learning, enable predictive modeling of resistance traits and support evolution that informs plant breeding strategies. Collectively, these advances provide a robust framework for developing durable resistance and sustainable crop protection in the face of global agricultural challenges.
The existing methods of callose quantification from plant tissues include epifluorescence microscopy, fluorescence spectrophotometry, immunofluorescence microscopy, and indirect assessment of both callose synthase and β-(1,3)-glucanase activities. However, some of these methods have significant limitations, which include being time-consuming, non-specific to callose, labor-intensive, subjective, high autofluorescence, low sensitivity, being more qualitative rather than quantitative, and requiring the acquisition of software resources and technical skills. Therefore, there is a pressing need to explore alternative methods for callose quantification in plant tissues. It was hypothesized that immunofluorescence spectrophotometry or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that uses callose-specific antibodies could overcome some of the limitations of the current callose quantification methods. Biotic stress was administered by inoculating tissue culture-derived banana plantlets with Xanthomonas vasicola pv. musacearum (Xvm) bacteria which induced callose production. Banana corm tissue samples were collected at 14 days post-inoculation (dpi) for callose quantification using the new immunofluorescence spectrophotometry method. Callose production in the corms of Xvm-inoculated and control groups varied significantly in both the banana genotypes (independent sample t-test, p < 0.05). The immunofluorescence spectrophotometry method described here could be applied for the quantification of callose in different plant tissues with high specificity to callose, sensitivity, reliability, and reproducibility. Additionally, the use of a 96-well plate makes this method suitable for high throughput callose quantification studies with minimal sampling and analysis biases.
Fungi are integral components of the mangrove microbiome, playing critical roles in decomposition, nutrient cycling, and symbiosis. Our study synthesizes the findings from a global systematic review of fungal ITS metabarcoding studies conducted in mangrove ecosystems. This review consolidates data from 23 original research articles (1,154 samples) and provides a comprehensive overview of the diversity, community structure, and ecological functions of fungi in these critical coastal habitats. The analyses revealed a consistent core fungal mycobiome in mangroves worldwide. This community is dominated by Ascomycota, with Basidiomycota as the second most abundant phylum. A consistent set of ten highly abundant genera underpins this core community, and fungal diversity and composition are strongly influenced by the specific substrate. Non-rhizospheric sediment harbors the highest diversity, while live plant organs host a more specialized and less diverse community, slightly dominated by potential plant pathogens. Rhizospheric sediment supports a unique assemblage rich in wood-decomposing fungi. The primary ecological role of fungi in mangroves is decomposition, which is essential for breaking down lignocellulosic litter, cycling nutrients, and storing carbon in sediments. A surprisingly high relative abundance of fungi classified as plant pathogens was identified on mangrove plant tissues, suggesting an underappreciated role of fungal diseases in these ecosystems. Metabarcoding provides a far broader view of fungal diversity than traditional collection and culturing methods. It has uncovered a vast number of uncultured taxa and has been particularly effective in revealing the significant, and likely underestimated, presence of macrofungi in mangrove soils. Our study also highlights that current short-read metabarcoding can severely underestimate certain fungal groups, particularly the endomycorrhizal Glomeromycota, due to technical limitations. Altogether, our synthesis provides a global baseline against which future mangrove mycobiome studies can be benchmarked.
The mutation of Hrubri_0242 in Herbaspirillum rubrisubalbicans M1 altered the regulation of genes associated with polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) metabolism, including phaC1, phaP1, phaP2, phaZ1, and phaZ2, disrupting the coordinated balance between biopolymer synthesis, stabilization, and degradation. Quantitative GC-FID analyses, fluorescence microscopy, and gene expression analysis were used to evaluate PHB metabolism, intracellular granule formation, and transcriptional responses under nitrogen-replete and nitrogen-limited conditions. Quantitative GC-FID analyses revealed a dynamic accumulation-consumption cycle of PHB in the wild-type strain, whereas the hr0242:Tn5 mutant exhibited reduced production, impaired turnover, and earlier depletion of intracellular reserves. Although both strains synthesized PHB under nitrogen-replete and nitrogen-limited conditions, accumulation was less sustained in the mutant, indicating compromised storage capacity. Fluorescence microscopy confirmed the presence of intracellular granules in both strains, with lower intensity and frequency in the mutant. Gene expression analysis revealed coordinated regulation of genes involved in PHB metabolism in the wild type according to nitrogen availability, whereas the mutant exhibited reduced phaP1 expression, compensatory activation of phaP2, and increased expression of depolymerases, resulting in enhanced polymer turnover. In addition to metabolic effects, disruption of Hrubri_0242 significantly reduced swarming motility, indicating broader physiological consequences. Together, these findings demonstrate that Hrubri_0242 functions as an integrative transcriptional regulator linking nitrogen-responsive gene expression to PHB metabolic homeostasis and motility, thereby contributing to physiological adaptation in H. rubrisubalbicans M1.
Cooling water systems of coastal nuclear power plants in China are frequently threatened by blockages caused by marine organisms. However, long-term studies on macrobenthic community dynamics and their associations with environmental factors are scarce, limiting the precise prevention of such blockage risks. This study conducted quantitative monitoring of macrobenthos and synchronous measurement of water environmental factors at 24 sampling stations in three functional areas (water intake, harbor basin, and drainage outlet) adjacent to the Northeast Fujian NPP from 2018 to 2024. Community structure characteristics were analyzed using the Shannon-Wiener and Margalef indices. The Grappler Method Risk Index (GMRI) was employed to screen species at risk of blocking cooling water systems, and the Mantel test and random forest models were applied to explore the associations between the macrobenthic community and environmental factors. A total of 161 macrobenthic species were identified. Polychaetes (71 species, accounting for 44.1%) were the absolute dominant group, followed by crustaceans (35 species) and Mollusks (30 species). The interannual fluctuation range of the polychaete proportion was 41.1-57.8%, reaching a peak in 2023. There were significant differences in community structure among different areas (PERMANOVA, p < 0.05), with the largest inter-regional difference in 2024 (R2 = 0.36). The annual average number of species (9 species), density (155.25 ind./m2), and biomass (29.58 g/m2) in the drainage outlet were higher than those in the water intake and harbor basin. The GMRI identified Protankyra bidentata (spiny sea cucumber, GMRI values of 50.67% to 64.98% from 2019 to 2023) and Actiniaria sp. (sea anemone, a GMRI value of 54.63% in 2021) as medium-risk species for cooling water system blockage, while most other organisms were classified as low risk or extremely low risk. The Mantel test and random forest analysis confirmed that nitrogen nutrients (NO3-) and phosphorus (PO43-) were significantly positively correlated with the polychaete community. Furthermore, NO3- and NH4+ each explained 13.66% of the variation in the diversity index (H'), serving as key factors driving community structure. This study demonstrates the co-dominance of thermal and nutrient drivers in shaping macrobenthic communities over a multi-year scale, and identifies specific, morphologically suited taxa as potential blockage risks. The findings provide a scientific basis for targeted risk-species monitoring and support the integration of long-term ecological data into NPP cooling water system security management.
Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is a globally devastating wheat disease. The identification of novel loci for durable resistance is crucial for sustainable control of the disease. Chinese wheat landrace Xuxumai (XXM) has exhibited consistent high-level adult-plant resistance to stripe rust in China. To elucidate the genetic basis of its resistance, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population was developed from a cross between XXM and susceptible cultivar Taichung 29. Disease severity (DS) of the parents and 149 RILs was evaluated across multiple field seasons. High-density SNP genotyping facilitated the construction of a genetic linkage map, which was used for quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping. Three stable QTL, designated QYr.XXM-1AL, QYr.TC29-1BL, and QYr.TC29-2BS, were identified on chromosomes 1A, 1B, and 2B, respectively. Collectively, they explained up to 20.86% of the phenotypic variance. Comparative analysis indicated that QYr.XXM-1AL and QYr.TC29-1BL are likely novel loci, while QYr.TC29-2BS coincides with a known gene-rich region. RILs possessing all three QTL showed significantly lower DS (mean reduction of 50%) compared to those with 0 to 2 QTL. Furthermore, Kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) markers closely linked to QYr.XXM-1A were developed and validated. This study reveals novel genetic resources for stripe rust resistance in XXM. The major QTL QYr.XXM-1A and its associated KASP markers hold substantial promise for enhancing the efficiency of marker-assisted selection in wheat breeding programs.
Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L., family Cucurbitaceae) processing generates substantial quantities of underutilized by-products, including peel/rind, stems, and leaves, which may serve as valuable sources of bioactive compounds. This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical composition, quantify free amino acids, assess antimicrobial activity, and investigate molecular interactions of these by-products to support their potential for food and pharmaceutical valorization. Phytochemical screening and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) were employed to identify major secondary metabolites. Free amino acids were quantified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Antimicrobial activity of methanolic extracts from different plant parts was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans using the agar well diffusion method. Molecular docking analysis was performed to assess interactions between identified amino acids and target proteins, including S. aureus tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (PDB: 1JIJ) and C. albicans Sap1 protease (PDB: 2QZW). Phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of sterols, triterpenes, flavonoids, phenolics, saponins, and carotenoids, with peel/rind and leaves showing the richest profiles. GC-MS analysis revealed glutamine (28.0%), alanine (11.2%), and aspartic acid (9.3%) as the predominant free amino acids. Methanolic extracts exhibited significant, concentration-dependent antimicrobial activity, with stronger inhibition observed against Gram-positive bacteria and C. albicans. Molecular docking demonstrated favorable binding affinities of selected amino acids toward target enzymes, supporting the observed biological activity. The findings highlight muskmelon by-products as promising sources of bioactive compounds with notable antimicrobial potential. While amino acids demonstrated favorable in silico interactions, the antimicrobial activity is primarily attributed to phytochemical constituents. These results support the potential application of muskmelon waste in functional food development and natural antimicrobial formulations. Further studies, including MIC/MBC determination and phytochemical-targeted docking, are recommended to validate and expand these findings.
Soil salinity poses a major threat to rice production. It is well-established that microRNAs (miRNAs) function as pivotal regulators in mediating plant responses to abiotic stress. The miR5810-OsMRLP6 module has previously been shown to regulate rice yield by modulating photosynthesis. However, whether miR5810 is involved in salt stress response remained unclear. In this study, we found that salt stress induced miR5810 expression but conversely suppressed OsMRLP6 expression. Genetic evidence showed that both miR5810-knockdown (STTM5810) and OsMRLP6-overexpressing (MRLP6-ox) plants exhibited enhanced salt tolerance, with higher survival rates, increased chlorophyll content, and greater fresh weight. In contrast, miR5810-overexpressing (miR5810-ox) and OsMRLP6-knockout (mrlp6-ko) plants displayed opposite phenotypes. Consistently, reverse transcription quantitative PCR assays revealed that STTM5810 and MRLP6-ox plants upregulated genes involved in K+/Na+ transport and oxidative stress responses under salt treatment. Physiological analyses further showed that STTM5810 and MRLP6-ox plants alleviated salt-induced oxidative damage by enhancing ROS scavenging capacity and promoting K+/Na+ homeostasis. Furthermore, salt stress assays using the ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC) suggested that miR5810-OsMRLP6 module functions in an ROS-mediated salt signaling pathway. Taken together, our results indicate that miR5810-OsMRLP6 module regulates rice salt tolerance by modulating ROS accumulation and K+/Na+ homeostasis. These findings highlight a dual-benefit strategy with significant translational potential for improving salt tolerance and productivity in rice.
Mungbean is an important legume crop native to India. In this study, 500 indigenous mungbean accessions collected from diverse eco-geographical regions of India were evaluated for agronomic trait genetic variability and core collection development. The accessions were grown in an augmented design during 2019 and 2020, and data were recorded for seven quantitative and 13 qualitative traits. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), frequency distribution, and box-plot analyses revealed substantial phenotypic variation among the accessions. Traits including plant height (PHT), number of pods per plant (NPP), hundred-seed weight (HSW), and single-plant yield (SPY) exhibited high heritability coupled with high genetic advance, indicating the predominance of additive genetic effects. Principal component analysis showed that the first three principal components explained 70% of the total phenotypic variation. The Shannon-Weaver diversity index further indicated high levels of genetic diversity within the population. Based on quantitative traits, the accessions were grouped into six major clusters and 42 sub-clusters, with SPY, NPP, HSW, PHT, and days to 50% flowering (DFF) contributing substantially to genetic divergence. Correlation analysis suggested that direct selection for SPY and indirect selection through associated traits, including NPP, HSW, PHT, NSP, and pod length (POL), may enhance yield improvement. The germplasm collection also possessed desirable traits such as high yield potential, contrasting maturity groups, and plant types suitable for mechanical harvesting and bold-seeded type. A representative core set comprising 50 accessions was developed using the PowerCore program, providing valuable genetic resources for mungbean breeding and genetic improvement programs.
Plant-based infection models provide cost effective and biologically relevant systems for investigating bacterial pathogenesis and virulence in living hosts. The mung bean seedling model enables the study of bacterial biofilms on living surfaces by allowing attachment and biofilm development on plants, but its broader use has been limited by methodological complexity and variability in experimental outcomes. Here, we present a modified mung bean seedling biofilm infection model for assessing Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence that improves both consistency and practicality. The assay incorporates a bleach-based seed sterilization protocol that effectively reduces surface associated contaminants while maintaining high seed germination percentages. Additional refinements, including dehulling germinated seedlings, a shortened bacterial inoculation period, and plate-based incubation of seedlings at 37 °C, minimize variability in plant health outcomes while supporting development of gnotobiotic plants. Plant mortality, cotyledon emergence, and root branching were identified as rapid and quantitative measures of biofilm associated disease. Using this modified assay, reproducible differences in virulence were detected among P. aeruginosa strains, including reduced pathogenicity in a pqsR quorum sensing mutant. This simplified mung bean seedling model provides an accessible platform for studying biofilm associated virulence and screening genes involved in biofilm-mediated pathogenicity on a biotic surface.