Characterization and expression analysis of transcription factors in unveil their critical roles in salt stress resistance.

Introduction: Transcription factors (TFs) are essential regulators of gene expression, orchestrating plant growth, development, and responses to environmental stress. , a halophytic species renowned for its exceptional salt resistance, provides an ideal model for investigating the regulatory mechanisms underlying salt tolerance.

Methods: Here, we present a comprehensive genome-wide identification and characterization of TFs in .

CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing: playing a versatile role in mitigating the challenges of sustainable rice improvement.

Just as Gregor Mendel's laws of inheritance laid the foundation for modern genetics, the emergence of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/Cas systems has catalyzed a new era in precision genome engineering. CRISPR/Cas has revolutionized rice ( L.) breeding by enabling precise, transgene-free edits to improve yield, nutrition, and stress tolerance.

JMJ720 encodes an H3K9me2 demethylase that regulates grain size in rice.

Grain size is a crucial determinant of rice yield, yet the molecular mechanisms controlling this trait remain only partially understood. Here, we identified the JMJ720 locus as a key regulator of grain size through map-based cloning. The jmj720 mutant was found to exhibit significantly larger grains when compared to the wild type (WT).

OsSPT38 encodes a novel SUMO E3 ligase that enhances rice stress resilience and grain yield.

Abiotic stresses severely threaten global food security, underscoring the need for resilient crop varieties. We identified OsSPT38, a previously uncharacterized SUMO E3 ligase in rice, and discovered a rare gain-of-function mutation (Gly212Asp) that enhances both stress resilience and yield. This phenotype was validated in 18 additional independent mutants and by base editing in the elite indica cultivar Huanghuazhan.

The tRNA editing complex ADAT2/3 promotes cancer cell growth and codon-biased mRNA translation.

Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are subject to various chemical modifications that influence their stability or function. Adenosine to Inosine (A-to-I) editing in the tRNA anticodon at position A34 is an important modification that expands anticodon-codon recognition at the wobble position and is required for normal mRNA translation. The relevance of tRNA editing in cancer remains unexplored.

-HsfA1- module mediates heat priming-enhanced blast resistance in rice.

As global climate change exacerbates extreme heat events, the interplay between heat stress and blast disease resistance in rice remains poorly understood. In this study, through integrated transcriptome profiling and systematic phenotyping of mutants in several thermosensory pathways, we identified HsfA1 as a positive regulator of heat priming-enhanced blast resistance in rice. Systematic analysis of microRNA (miRNA) dynamics, bioinformatics prediction, and RNA pull-down experiments revealed that , a temperature-responsive miRNA, directly suppresses the expression of by targeting the second exon of messenger RNA (mRNA).

RGA1-Mediated Crosstalk of Hormonal, Metabolic, and Redox Networks Sustains Anther Fertility Under Drought Stress in Rice.

The Gα subunit RGA1, a crucial component of heterotrimeric G proteins, has been well-documented to enhance drought resistance in rice seedlings. However, its role during the reproductive stages has remained unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the function of RGA1 in mitigating drought-induced defects in anther and pollen development during pollen mother cell meiosis with Zhonghua 11 (WT), a Gα-deficient mutant (d1), and an RGA1-overexpressing line (OE-1).

FungiSNC: An integrated database for fungi small non-coding RNAs based on high-throughput sequencing.

Introduction: Small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) have been proven to play crucial roles in various biological processes such as development, stress responses, virulence, and pathogenicity. However, to the best of our knowledge, none of the currently available databases can store, manage, and analyze the vast amounts of sncRNA sequencing data. A comprehensive web-based platform for the integration and analysis of sncRNAs in fungi and their potential functions is still lacking.

Spatial yield gains in empty-row optimized rice-crab co-culture are linked to -driven nitrogen compensation in border rows.

Introduction: The rice-crab coculture system is ecologically sustainable with efficient resource utilization, but the soil nitrogen cycling mechanisms underlying yield limitations in different coculture models remain unclear. Here, we aimed to identify yield-limiting factors by comparing rice productivity between the conventional rice-crab coculture model (CK) and an optimized model (12 rows cultivated-1 row empty, ERC-12). We hypothesized that ERC-12 enhances crab activity in empty rows, thereby stimulating nifH-mediated soil nitrogen fixation to offset yield losses caused by reduced planting density.

Unlocking the Role of Rice Root Metabolites in Modulating Chemotaxis.

Understanding the chemotactic crosstalk between rice and root-knot nematodes is essential for developing sustainable pest management strategies. Rice plants release chemicals that can modulate the behavior of the rice root-knot nematode , a major plant-parasitic nematode. In this study, two rice cultivars, Pusa Basmati 1121 (nematode-susceptible) and Kalo Bhutia 213 (highly nematode-resistant), were used to collect metabolites released from rice roots, and their role in influencing rice- interactions was studied.

Critical period of weed-crop competition in irrigated chickpea as a tool for judicious weed control.

Studies to appraise critical period of weed competition (CPWC) in Desi and Kabuli chickpea were undertaken during 2017-18 and 2018-19 winter growing seasons. Desi (Punjab-2008) and Kabuli (Noor-2009) chickpea crops were subjected to different durations of weed competition [competition for 20 days after sowing (DAS), 40, 60 and 80 DAS] as well as weed-free periods [weed-free till 20, 40, 60 and 80 DAS]. Season-long weed check and weed-free plots were also maintained for both chickpea genotypes.

Identification of new genomic loci for seed protein and oil content in the soybean pangenome using genome-wide association and haplotype analyses.

The soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] pangenome has been studied and shown to be an invaluable resource for investigating structural variations (SVs), from which different genomic markers were successfully developed and employed for genome-wide association studies (GWAS).

Integrating QTL mapping, BSA-seq and RNA-seq to identify candidate genes regulating seed storability from Dongxiang wild rice.

Rice seed storability (SS) is crucial for germplasm preservation, agricultural production, grain storage, and food security. Dongxiang wild rice ( Griff., hereafter DXWR) is a common wild rice adapted to the northernmost area worldwide and possesses strong SS.

Gene editing unlocks superior mutants from once detrimental RFL for enhanced rice yield traits.

RICE FLORICULA LEAFY/ABERRANT PANICLE ORGANIZATION 2 (RFL/APO2) is a master regulator of panicle morphogenesis and development in rice. Traditionally, mutations in RFL have led to severe growth phenotypes and decreased rice yield, labeling it as detrimental. However, the present study challenged this perception by utilizing CRISPR/Cpf1 and single-base gene-editing technologies to generate a series of site-directed rfl mutants.

The Endosperm-Specific Gene Regulates Seed Vigor and Grain Quality.

Seed vigor critically determines sowing performance, while grain quality fundamentally influences commercial value. Elucidating the genetic mechanisms governing these traits is critical for enhancing both seed vigor and grain quality in rice cultivation. Here, we demonstrate that the endosperm-specific gene is highly expressed in germinating seeds and developing seeds at the early filling stage.

OsMATE7-mediated flavonol accumulation regulates pollen tube growth in rice.

Flavonols have been implicated in male sterility and pollen tube growth for over three decades; however, the molecular mechanisms mediating their accumulation in pollen grains remain poorly understood. In this study, a multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) transporter, OsMATE7, was identified as a key regulator of flavonol accumulation in mature pollen grains, thereby promoting pollen tube growth in rice (Oryza sativa). Mutation of OsMATE7 resulted in a significant reduction in seed setting rates.

Interactions of Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cd in Soil-Rice Systems: Implications for Reducing Cd Accumulation in Rice.

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in rice ( L.) poses serious health risks for human, necessitating effective mitigation strategies. This study investigated the effects of Cd stress on iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and Cd accumulation and translocation in rice varieties with high (MY46) or low (ZS97B) Cd accumulation capacities grown in acidic and alkaline soils.

NRPStransformer, an Accurate Adenylation Domain Specificity Prediction Algorithm for Genome Mining of Nonribosomal Peptides.

Nonribosomal peptides serve as pivotal sources for drug discovery. Accurate prediction of the substrate specificity of adenylation domains in nonribosomal peptide synthetases is crucial for genome mining of nonribosomal peptides, yet current prediction methods fall short in accuracy. In this work, we analyzed 4,100 adenylation domains from documented nonribosomal peptide synthetases and found that the flavodoxin-like subdomain universally governs substrate specificity in all bacterial adenylation domains and that its phylogenetic analysis can correlate the sequences of adenylation domains and their substrate specificity.

Comprehensive analysis of R2R3-MYB transcription factors reveals OsMYB1 as a key regulator of anthocyanin biosynthesis in rice.

R2R3-MYB transcription factors (TFs) are key regulators of plant development, stress responses, and secondary metabolism, with a central role in anthocyanin biosynthesis. However, a comprehensive understanding of the R2R3-MYB TFs involved in anthocyanin accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa L.) remains limited.

Control strategies for rice "straighthead" through physicochemical and biological methods on arsenic transformation and transportation.

Straighthead is a widespread physiological disease affecting rice, characterized by sterile florets and distorted palea and lemma, which can reduce grain yield by up to 100%. In recent decades, arsenic (As) has emerged as a focal point in straighthead research. This paper elucidates the relationship between As toxicity and straighthead while reviewing preventive measures, including water and fertilizer management and the application of resistant cultivars.

ABERRANT CARBOHYDRATE PARTITIONING 1 modulates sucrose allocation by regulating cell wall formation in rice.

Sucrose (Suc) is transported from source leaves to sink tissues to sustain plant growth, development, and crop yield. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying carbohydrate partitioning still remain largely unclear. Here, we report a rice (Oryza sativa) mutant aberrant carbohydrate partitioning 1 (acp1), which hyperaccumulates carbohydrates in leaves and exhibits leaf chlorosis and premature senescence.

A fungal chromatin remodeler drives transcription by establishing an open chromatin architecture and activated histone environment.

Chromatin remodelers are central regulators of chromatin architecture and transcriptional dynamics, yet the mechanisms underlying the establishment of transcriptionally permissive chromatin and an activated histone environment remain elusive. In the filamentous fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, we demonstrate that remodeling the structure of chromatin 1 (RSC1) functions as a critical regulator in this process. RSC1 is indispensable for establishing open chromatin architecture, and its activity is tightly correlated with altered nucleosome occupancy.