A natural variant of COOL1 gene enhances cold tolerance for high-latitude adaptation in maize.

Low temperature severely limits the growth, yield, and geographical distribution of maize (Zea mays L.). How maize adapts to cold climates remains largely unclear.

Genetic variation in a heat shock transcription factor modulates cold tolerance in maize.

Understanding how maize (Zea mays) responds to cold stress is crucial for facilitating breeding programs of cold-tolerant varieties. Despite extensive utilization of the genome-wide association study (GWAS) approach for exploring favorable natural alleles associated with maize cold tolerance, few studies have successfully identified candidate genes that contribute to maize cold tolerance. In this study, we used a diverse panel of inbred maize lines collected from different germplasm sources to perform a GWAS on variations in the relative injured area of maize true leaves during cold stress-a trait very closely correlated with maize cold tolerance.

Trans-complementation of the viral movement protein mediates efficient expression of large target genes via a tobacco mosaic virus vector.

The development of plant virus-based expression systems has expanded rapidly owing to their potential applications in gene functional and disease resistance research, and industrial production of pharmaceutical proteins. However, the low yield of certain proteins, especially high-molecular-mass proteins, restricts the production scale. In this study, we observed that the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)-mediated expression of a foreign protein was correlated with the amount of the movement protein (MP) and developed a TMV-derived pAT-MP vector system incorporating trans-complementation expression of MP.

RcSPL1-RcTAF15b regulates the flowering time of rose ().

Rose (), which is an economically valuable floral species worldwide, has three types, namely once-flowering (OF), occasional or re-blooming (OR), and recurrent or continuous flowering (CF). However, the mechanism underlying the effect of the age pathway on the duration of the CF or OF juvenile phase is largely unknown. In this study, we observed that the transcript levels were substantially upregulated during the floral development period in CF and OF plants.

OsPHR2 modulates phosphate starvation-induced OsMYC2 signalling and resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae.

Phosphate (Pi) and MYC2-mediated jasmonate (JA) pathway play critical roles in plant growth and development. In particular, crosstalk between JA and Pi starvation signalling has been reported to mediate insect herbivory resistance in dicot plants. However, its roles and mechanism in monocot-bacterial defense systems remain obscure.

Involvement of the R2R3-MYB transcription factor MYB21 and its homologs in regulating flavonol accumulation in Arabidopsis stamen.

Commonly found flavonols in plants are synthesized from dihydroflavonols by flavonol synthase (FLS). The genome of Arabidopsis thaliana contains six FLS genes, among which FLS1 encodes a functional enzyme. Previous work has demonstrated that the R2R3-MYB subgroup 7 transcription factors MYB11, MYB12, and MYB111 redundantly regulate flavonol biosynthesis.

SPX4 interacts with both PHR1 and PAP1 to regulate critical steps in phosphorus-status-dependent anthocyanin biosynthesis.

Phosphate (Pi) is the plant-accessible form of phosphorus, and its insufficiency limits plant growth. The over-accumulation of anthocyanins in plants is often an indication of Pi starvation. However, whether the two pathways are directly linked and which components are involved in this process await identification.

Rice Functions in Seed Dormancy under the Control of Abscisic Acid and Gibberellic Acid Signaling Pathways.

Seed dormancy is a natural phenomenon in plants. It ensures that seeds complete the grain-filling stage before germination and prevents germination in unsuitable ecological conditions. In this study, we determined the previously unknown function of the rice () gene () in seed dormancy.

A new insight to explore the regulation between -nitrosylation and -glycosylation.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a signal molecule in plants and animals. GSNO reductase1 (AtGSNOR1) catalyzes metabolism of -nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) which is a major biologically active NO species. The loss-of-function mutant overaccumulates GSNO with inherent high -nitrosylation level and resistance to the oxidative stress inducer paraquat (1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium dichloride).

Rab-H1b is essential for trafficking of cellulose synthase and for hypocotyl growth in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Cell-wall deposition of cellulose microfibrils is essential for plant growth and development. In plant cells, cellulose synthesis is accomplished by cellulose synthase complexes located in the plasma membrane. Trafficking of the complex between endomembrane compartments and the plasma membrane is vital for cellulose biosynthesis; however, the mechanism for this process is not well understood.

Improving rice grain length through updating the GS3 locus of an elite variety Kongyu 131.

Background: Traditional crop breeding has made significant achievement meet food needs worldwide. However, the way has some inevitable problems including time-consuming, laborious, low predictability and reproducibility. In this study, we updated the GRAIN SIZE 3 (GS3) locus to improve the grain length of a major cultivate variety of Kongyu 131 at Heilongjiang Province, the northernmost region of China.

Genetic variations in ARE1 mediate grain yield by modulating nitrogen utilization in rice.

In crops, nitrogen directly determines productivity and biomass. However, the improvement of nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE) is still a major challenge in modern agriculture. Here, we report the characterization of are1, a genetic suppressor of a rice fd-gogat mutant defective in nitrogen assimilation.

Nitric Oxide Regulates Protein Methylation during Stress Responses in Plants.

Methylation and nitric oxide (NO)-based S-nitrosylation are highly conserved protein posttranslational modifications that regulate diverse biological processes. In higher eukaryotes, PRMT5 catalyzes Arg symmetric dimethylation, including key components of the spliceosome. The Arabidopsis prmt5 mutant shows severe developmental defects and impaired stress responses.

Short and Solid Culm/RFL/APO2 for culm development in rice.

The culm development of rice is characterized by elongation and medullary cavity (MC) formation, which are determined by node formation meristem and residual meristem, respectively. Although many factors have been shown to affect culm elongation, molecules involved in MC formation remained to be identified. In this study, we show that a point mutation in SHORT and SOLID CULM (SSC), the rice homologue of Arabidopsis LFY, resulted in plants with drastically reduced culm length and completely abolished MC formation.

CRR1 encoding callose synthase functions in ovary expansion by affecting vascular cell patterning in rice.

The ovary of rice undergoes rapid expansion immediately after fertilization, and this process determines the final sink strength potential of caryopses. To date, work on rice grain development has mainly focused on endosperm filling, whereas information on the essential elements for ovary expansion remains limited. We report here a functional analysis of the ovary expansion retarded mutant crr1 in rice.

Isolation and Characterization of Three New Monoterpene Synthases from Artemisia annua.

Artemisia annua, an annual herb used in traditional Chinese medicine, produces a wealth of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, including the well-known sesquiterpene lactone artemisinin, an active ingredient in the treatment for malaria. Here we report three new monoterpene synthases of A. annua.

Involvement of a Putative Bipartite Transit Peptide in Targeting Rice Pheophorbide a Oxygenase into Chloroplasts for Chlorophyll Degradation during Leaf Senescence.

Leaf senescence is one of the major factors contributing to the productivity and the grain quality in crops. The regulatory mechanism of leaf senescence remains largely unknown. Here, we report the identification and characterization of a rice early senescence 1 (eas1) mutant, which displayed an early leaf senescence phenotype, accompanying by dwarfism and reduced tiller number, eventually leading to the reduction of grain yield.

Targeting insect mitochondrial complex I for plant protection.

Plant engineered to express double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) can target the herbivorous insect gene for silencing. Although mounting evidence has emerged to support feasibility of this new pest control technology, field application is slow largely due to lack of potent targets. Here, we show that suppression of the gene encoding NDUFV2, a subunit of mitochondrial complex I that catalyses NADH dehydrogenation in respiratory chain, was highly lethal to insects.

The effect of transposable elements on phenotypic variation: insights from plants to humans.

Transposable elements (TEs), originally discovered in maize as controlling elements, are the main components of most eukaryotic genomes. TEs have been regarded as deleterious genomic parasites due to their ability to undergo massive amplification. However, TEs can regulate gene expression and alter phenotypes.

The Arabidopsis CROWDED NUCLEI genes regulate seed germination by modulating degradation of ABI5 protein.

In Arabidopsis, the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays a vital role in inhibiting seed germination and in post-germination seedling establishment. In the ABA signaling pathway, ABI5, a basic Leu zipper transcription factor, has important functions in the regulation of seed germination. ABI5 protein localizes in nuclear bodies, along with AFP, COP1, and SIZ1, and was degraded through the 26S proteasome pathway.

Rice TUTOU1 Encodes a Suppressor of cAMP Receptor-Like Protein That Is Important for Actin Organization and Panicle Development.

Panicle development, a key event in rice (Oryza sativa) reproduction and a critical determinant of grain yield, forms a branched structure containing multiple spikelets. Genetic and environmental factors can perturb panicle development, causing panicles to degenerate and producing characteristic whitish, small spikelets with severely reduced fertility and yield; however, little is known about the molecular basis of the formation of degenerating panicles in rice. Here, we report the identification and characterization of the rice panicle degenerative mutant tutou1 (tut1), which shows severe defects in panicle development.

Site-specific nitrosoproteomic identification of endogenously S-nitrosylated proteins in Arabidopsis.

Nitric oxide (NO) regulates multiple developmental events and stress responses in plants. A major biologically active species of NO is S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), which is irreversibly degraded by GSNO reductase (GSNOR). The major physiological effect of NO is protein S-nitrosylation, a redox-based posttranslational modification mechanism by covalently linking an NO molecule to a cysteine thiol.

OST1 kinase modulates freezing tolerance by enhancing ICE1 stability in Arabidopsis.

Cold stress is a major environmental factor that limits plant growth and development. The C-repeat-binding factor (CBF)-dependent cold signaling pathway is extensively studied in Arabidopsis; however, the specific protein kinases involved in this pathway remain elusive. Here we report that OST1 (open stomata 1), a well-known Ser/Thr protein kinase in ABA signaling, acts upstream of CBFs to positively regulate freezing tolerance.

S-nitrosylation positively regulates ascorbate peroxidase activity during plant stress responses.

Nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are two classes of key signaling molecules involved in various developmental processes and stress responses in plants. The burst of NO and ROS triggered by various stimuli activates downstream signaling pathways to cope with abiotic and biotic stresses. Emerging evidence suggests that the interplay of NO and ROS plays a critical role in regulating stress responses.