Developmental constraint underlies the replicated evolution of grass awns.

Replicated trait evolution can provide insights into the mechanisms underlying the evolution of biodiversity. One example of replicated evolution is the awn, an organ elaboration in grass inflorescences. Awns are likely homologous to leaf blades.

Complex petal spot formation in the Beetle Daisy (Gorteria diffusa) relies on spot-specific accumulation of malonylated anthocyanin regulated by paralogous GdMYBSG6 transcription factors.

Gorteria diffusa has elaborate petal spots that attract pollinators through sexual deception, but how G. diffusa controls spot development is largely unknown. Here, we investigate how pigmentation is regulated during spot formation.

Stiffness transitions in new walls post-cell division differ between gemmae and thaliana leaves.

Plant morphogenesis is governed by the mechanics of the cell wall-a stiff and thin polymeric box that encloses the cells. The cell wall is a highly dynamic composite material. New cell walls are added during cell division.

Compartmentalisation: A strategy for optimising symbiosis and tradeoff management.

Plant root architecture is developmentally plastic in response to fluctuating nutrient levels in the soil. Part of this developmental plasticity is the formation of dedicated root cells and organs to host mutualistic symbionts. Structures like nitrogen-fixing nodules serve as alternative nutrient acquisition strategies during starvation conditions.

Accumulation of the gaseous hormone ethylene helps roots sense compact soil.

Soil compaction, in which soil grains are pressed together leaving less pore space for air and water, is a persistent problem in mechanized agriculture. Most plant roots fail to penetrate soil if it is too dense. One might assume that they are physically unable to penetrate the compact soil.

KAI2 regulates seedling development by mediating light-induced remodelling of auxin transport.

Photomorphogenic remodelling of seedling growth is a key developmental transition in the plant life cycle. The α/β-hydrolase signalling protein KARRIKIN-INSENSITIVE2 (KAI2), a close homologue of the strigolactone receptor DWARF14 (D14), is involved in this process, but it is unclear how the effects of KAI2 on development are mediated. Here, using a combination of physiological, pharmacological, genetic and imaging approaches in Arabidopsis thaliana (Heynh.

Mechanical buckling can pattern the light-diffracting cuticle of Hibiscus trionum.

Many species have cuticular striations that play a range of roles, from pollinator attraction to surface wettability. In Hibiscus trionum, the striations span multiple cells at the base of the petal to form a pattern that produces a type of iridescence. It is postulated, using theoretical models, that the pattern of striations could result from mechanical instabilities.

An oomycete effector subverts host vesicle trafficking to channel starvation-induced autophagy to the pathogen interface.

Eukaryotic cells deploy autophagy to eliminate invading microbes. In turn, pathogens have evolved effector proteins to counteract antimicrobial autophagy. How adapted pathogens co-opt autophagy for their own benefit is poorly understood.

Publisher Correction: The calcium-permeable channel OSCA1.3 regulates plant stomatal immunity.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Combining tensile testing and microscopy to address a diverse range of questions.

Both plants and animals sense and respond to mechanical stresses that arise internally or are externally imposed. In many cases, tissues respond by changing their gene expression or their mechanical properties, which has an impact on how they develop. Many tools have been developed to measure mechanical properties and to investigate responses to mechanical stress.

N-acetyltransferase AAC(3)-I confers gentamicin resistance to Phytophthora palmivora and Phytophthora infestans.

Background: Oomycetes are pathogens of mammals, fish, insects and plants, and the potato late blight agent Phytophthora infestans and the oil palm and cocoa infecting pathogen Phytophthora palmivora cause economically impacting diseases on a wide range of crop plants. Increasing genomic and transcriptomic resources and recent advances in oomycete biology demand new strategies for genetic modification of oomycetes. Most oomycete transformation procedures rely on geneticin-based selection of transgenic strains.

Hydrodynamic Shape Changes Underpin Nuclear Rerouting in Branched Hyphae of an Oomycete Pathogen.

Multinucleate fungi and oomycetes are phylogenetically distant but structurally similar. To address whether they share similar nuclear dynamics, we carried out time-lapse imaging of fluorescently labeled nuclei. Nuclei underwent coordinated bidirectional movements during plant infection.

SMAX1/SMXL2 regulate root and root hair development downstream of KAI2-mediated signalling in Arabidopsis.

Karrikins are smoke-derived compounds presumed to mimic endogenous signalling molecules (KAI2-ligand, KL), whose signalling pathway is closely related to that of strigolactones (SLs), important regulators of plant development. Both karrikins/KLs and SLs are perceived by closely related α/β hydrolase receptors (KAI2 and D14 respectively), and signalling through both receptors requires the F-box protein MAX2. Furthermore, both pathways trigger proteasome-mediated degradation of related SMAX1-LIKE (SMXL) proteins, to influence development.

Opening the dialogue: Research networks between high- and low-income countries further understanding of global agro-climatic challenges.

Societal Impact Statement In the modern world it has become increasingly urgent to balance human food security needs with environmental needs. These needs are not necessarily mutually exclusive, and can be synergistic. The Cambridge-India Network for Translational Research in Nitrogen (CINTRIN) seeks to reduce nitrogen fertilizer overapplication (and the resulting environmental pollution) in Indian agriculture: a situation with various scientific and sociopolitical drivers, which equally have various sociopolitical and scientific solutions.

The pea branching RMS2 gene encodes the PsAFB4/5 auxin receptor and is involved in an auxin-strigolactone regulation loop.

Strigolactones (SLs) are well known for their role in repressing shoot branching. In pea, increased transcript levels of SL biosynthesis genes are observed in stems of highly branched SL deficient (ramosus1 (rms1) and rms5) and SL response (rms3 and rms4) mutants indicative of negative feedback control. In contrast, the highly branched rms2 mutant has reduced transcript levels of SL biosynthesis genes.

Time-resolved dual transcriptomics reveal early induced Nicotiana benthamiana root genes and conserved infection-promoting Phytophthora palmivora effectors.

Background: Plant-pathogenic oomycetes are responsible for economically important losses in crops worldwide. Phytophthora palmivora, a tropical relative of the potato late blight pathogen, causes rotting diseases in many tropical crops including papaya, cocoa, oil palm, black pepper, rubber, coconut, durian, mango, cassava and citrus. Transcriptomics have helped to identify repertoires of host-translocated microbial effector proteins which counteract defenses and reprogram the host in support of infection.

The plant defense and pathogen counterdefense mediated by Hevea brasiliensis serine protease HbSPA and Phytophthora palmivora extracellular protease inhibitor PpEPI10.

Rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg) is an important economic crop in Thailand. Leaf fall and black stripe diseases caused by the aggressive oomycete pathogen Phytophthora palmivora, cause deleterious damage on rubber tree growth leading to decrease of latex production.