Strigolactones initiate the formation of haustorium-like structures in .

Strigolactones serve as germination signals for several root-parasitic plant species within the Orobanchaceae family. Yet, their role in the life cycle of the facultatively parasitic genus has remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate that strigolactones initiate the formation of haustorium-like structures in .

Identification challenges of Castilleja (Orobanchaceae) on iNaturalist.

Citizen science platforms like iNaturalist play a crucial role in biodiversity monitoring. However, the identification of plants from the genus Castilleja (Indian Paintbrush), which comprises about 200 species with often similar features and frequent introgression, presents considerable challenges. Our study examines the agreement between initial identifications (often made by computer vision algorithms), subsequent identifications, and the final Research-Grade identifications for Castilleja species on iNaturalist.

GLABRA2 transcription factor integrates arsenic tolerance with epidermal cell fate determination.

Arsenic poses a global threat to living organisms, compromising crop security and yield. Limited understanding of the transcriptional network integrating arsenic-tolerance mechanisms with plant developmental responses hinders the development of strategies against this toxic metalloid. Here, we conducted a high-throughput yeast one-hybrid assay using as baits the promoter region from the arsenic-inducible genes ARQ1 and ASK18 from Arabidopsis thaliana, coupled with a transcriptomic analysis, to uncover novel transcriptional regulators of the arsenic response.

GIGANTEA adjusts the response to shade at dusk by directly impinging on PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR 7 function.

For plants adapted to bright light, a decrease in the amount of light received can be detrimental to their growth and survival. Consequently, in response to shade from surrounding vegetation, they initiate a suite of molecular and morphological changes known as the shade avoidance response through which stems and petioles elongate in search for light. Under sunlight-night cycles, the plant's responsiveness to shade varies across the day, being maximal at dusk time.

A potential role of heat-moisture couplings in the range expansion of .

Parasitic weeds in the genera , (broomrapes) and (witchweeds) have a devastating impact on food security across much of Africa, Asia and the Mediterranean Basin. Yet, how climatic factors might affect the range expansion of these weeds in the context of global environmental change remains unexplored. We examined satellite-based environmental variables such as surface temperature, root zone soil moisture, and elevation, in relation to parasitic weed distribution and environmental conditions over time, in combination with observational data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).