Leveraging a phased pangenome for haplotype design of hybrid potato.

The tetraploid genome and clonal propagation of the cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) dictate a slow, non-accumulative breeding mode of the most important tuber crop. Transitioning potato breeding to a seed-propagated hybrid system based on diploid inbred lines has the potential to greatly accelerate its improvement.

Root-specific theanine metabolism and regulation at the single-cell level in tea plants ().

Root-synthesized secondary metabolites are critical quality-conferring compounds of foods, plant-derived medicines, and beverages. However, information at a single-cell level on root-specific secondary metabolism remains largely unexplored. L-Theanine, an important quality component of tea, is primarily synthesized in roots, from which it is then transported to new shoots of tea plant.

Mapping the molecular landscape of Lotus japonicus nodule organogenesis through spatiotemporal transcriptomics.

Legumes acquire nitrogen-fixing ability by forming root nodules. Transferring this capability to more crops could reduce our reliance on nitrogen fertilizers, thereby decreasing environmental pollution and agricultural production costs. Nodule organogenesis is complex, and a comprehensive transcriptomic atlas is crucial for understanding the underlying molecular events.

A cucumber protein, Phloem Phosphate Stress-Repressed 1, rapidly degrades in response to a phosphate stress condition.

Under depleted external phosphate (Pi), many plant species adapt to this stress by initiating downstream signaling cascades. In plants, the vascular system delivers nutrients and signaling agents to control physiological and developmental processes. Currently, limited information is available regarding the direct role of phloem-borne long-distance signals in plant growth and development under Pi stress conditions.

Constitutive basis of root system architecture: uncovering a promising trait for breeding nutrient- and drought-resilient crops.

Unlabelled: Root system architecture (RSA) plays a pivotal role in efficient uptake of essential nutrients, such as phosphorous (P), nitrogen (N), and water. In soils with heterogeneous nutrient distribution, root plasticity can optimize acquisition and plant growth. Here, we present evidence that a constitutive RSA can confer benefits for sorghum grown under both sufficient and limiting growth conditions.

Plasmodesmal endoplasmic reticulum proteins regulate intercellular trafficking of cucumber mosaic virus in Arabidopsis.

Plasmodesmata (PD) are plasma membrane-lined cytoplasmic nanochannels that mediate cell-to-cell communication across the cell wall. A range of proteins are embedded in the PD plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and function in regulating PD-mediated symplasmic trafficking. However, knowledge of the nature and function of the ER-embedded proteins in the intercellular movement of non-cell-autonomous proteins is limited.

Vacuolar MATE/DTX protein-mediated cucurbitacin C transport is co-regulated with bitterness biosynthesis in cucumber.

Membrane-localized transporters constitute important components for specialized metabolism in plants. However, due to the vast array of specialized metabolites produced by plants, and the large families of transporter genes, knowledge about the intracellular and intercellular transport of plant metabolites is still in its infancy. Cucurbitacins are bitter and defensive triterpenoids produced mainly in the cucurbits.

Root-secreted bitter triterpene modulates the rhizosphere microbiota to improve plant fitness.

Underground microbial ecosystems have profound impacts on plant health. Recently, essential roles have been shown for plant specialized metabolites in shaping the rhizosphere microbiome. However, the potential mechanisms underlying the root-to-soil delivery of these metabolites remain to be elucidated.

The tea plant CsLHT1 and CsLHT6 transporters take up amino acids, as a nitrogen source, from the soil of organic tea plantations.

Organic tea is more popular than conventional tea that originates from fertilized plants. Amino acids inorganic soils constitute a substantial pool nitrogen (N) available for plants. However, the amino-acid contents in soils of tea plantations and how tea plants take up these amino acids remain largely unknown.

A nonS-locus F-box gene breaks self-incompatibility in diploid potatoes.

Potato is the third most important staple food crop. To address challenges associated with global food security, a hybrid potato breeding system, aimed at converting potato from a tuber-propagated tetraploid crop into a seed-propagated diploid crop through crossing inbred lines, is under development. However, given that most diploid potatoes are self-incompatible, this represents a major obstacle which needs to be addressed in order to develop inbred lines.

Shading Promoted Theanine Biosynthesis in the Roots and Allocation in the Shoots of the Tea Plant ( L.) Cultivar Shuchazao.

Shading was thought as an effective approach to increase theanine in harvested tea shoots. Previous studies offered conflicting findings, perhaps since the integration of theanine metabolism and transport in different tissues was not considered. Theanine is synthesized primarily in the roots and is then transported, via the vascular system, to new vegetative tissues.

Gain-of-function of the 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase gene ACS1G induces female flower development in cucumber gynoecy.

Unisexual flowers provide a useful system for studying plant sex determination. In cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), three major Mendelian loci control unisexual flower development, Female (F), androecious [a; 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate {ACC} synthase 11, acs11], and Monoecious (M; ACS2), referred to here as the Female, Androecious, Monoecious (FAM) model, in combination with two genes, gynoecious (g, the WIP family C2H2 zinc finger transcription factor gene WIP1) and the ethylene biosynthetic gene ACC oxidase 2 (ACO2).

Neurodevelopmental outcome of preterm infants enrolled in myo-inositol randomized controlled trial.

Objective: This study evaluates the 24-month follow-up for the NICHD Neonatal Research Network (NRN) Inositol for Retinopathy Trial.

Study Design: Bayley Scales of Infants Development-III and a standardized neurosensory examination were performed in infants enrolled in the main trial. Moderate/severe NDI was defined as BSID-III Cognitive or Motor composite score <85, moderate or severe cerebral palsy, blindness, or hearing loss that prevents communication despite amplification were assessed.

Regulation of plant architecture by a new histone acetyltransferase targeting gene bodies.

Axillary meristem development determines both plant architecture and crop yield; this critical process is regulated by the PROLIFERATING CELL FACTORS (TCP) family of transcription factors. Although TCP proteins bind primarily to promoter regions, some also target gene bodies for expression activation. However, the underlying regulatory mechanism remains unknown.

Using syndemic theory to understand food insecurity and diet-related chronic diseases.

Syndemic Theory (ST) provides a framework to examine mutually enhancing diseases/health issues under conditions of social inequality and inequity. ST has been used in multiple disciplines to address interacting infectious diseases, noncommunicable diseases, and mental health conditions. The theory has been critiqued for its inability to measure disease interactions and their individual and combined health outcomes.

CsIVP functions in vasculature development and downy mildew resistance in cucumber.

Domesticated crops with high yield and quality are frequently susceptible to pathogen attack, whereas enhancement of disease resistance generally compromises crop yield. The underlying mechanisms of how plant development and disease resistance are coordinately programed remain elusive. Here, we showed that the basic Helix-Loop-Helix (bHLH) transcription factor Cucumis sativus Irregular Vasculature Patterning (CsIVP) was highly expressed in cucumber vascular tissues.

A Plant SMALL RNA-BINDING PROTEIN 1 Family Mediates Cell-to-Cell Trafficking of RNAi Signals.

In plants, RNA interference (RNAi) plays a pivotal role in growth and development, and responses to environmental inputs, including pathogen attack. The intercellular and systemic trafficking of small interfering RNA (siRNA)/microRNA (miRNA) is a central component in this regulatory pathway. Currently, little is known with regards to the molecular agents involved in the movement of these si/miRNAs.

The wax gourd genomes offer insights into the genetic diversity and ancestral cucurbit karyotype.

The botanical family Cucurbitaceae includes a variety of fruit crops with global or local economic importance. How their genomes evolve and the genetic basis of diversity remain largely unexplored. In this study, we sequence the genome of the wax gourd (Benincasa hispida), which bears giant fruit up to 80 cm in length and weighing over 20 kg.

Theanine transporters identified in tea plants (Camellia sinensis L.).

Theanine, a unique non-proteinogenic amino acid, is an important component of tea, as it confers the umami taste and relaxation effect of tea as a beverage. Theanine is primarily synthesized in tea roots and is subsequently transported to young shoots, which are harvested for tea production. Currently, the mechanism for theanine transport in the tea plant remains unknown.

Down-regulation of the Sucrose Transporter Causes Male Sterility by Altering Carbohydrate Supply.

In plants, male sterility is an important agronomic trait, especially in hybrid crop production. Many factors are known to affect crop male sterility, but it remains unclear whether Suc transporters (SUTs) participate directly in this process. Here, we identified and functionally characterized the cucumber () CsSUT1, a typical plasma membrane-localized energy-dependent high-affinity Suc-H symporter.

Effects of Myo-inositol on Type 1 Retinopathy of Prematurity Among Preterm Infants <28 Weeks' Gestational Age: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Previous studies of myo-inositol in preterm infants with respiratory distress found reduced severity of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and less frequent ROP, death, and intraventricular hemorrhage. However, no large trials have tested its efficacy or safety.

Objective: To test the adverse events and efficacy of myo-inositol to reduce type 1 ROP among infants younger than 28 weeks' gestational age.