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Topic Review
Rice OsHKT1;3 Variants
In rice, the high-affinity K+ transporter, OsHKT1;3, functions as a Na+-selective transporter. mRNA variants of OsHKT1;3 have been reported previously, but their functions remain unknown. In this study, five OsHKT1;3 variants (V1-V5) were identified from japonica rice (Nipponbare) in addition to OsHKT1;3_FL. Absolute quantification qPCR analyses revealed that the transcript level of OsHKT1;3_FL was significantly higher than other variants in both the roots and shoots. Expression levels of OsHKT1;3_FL, and some variants, increased after 24 h of salt stress. Two electrode voltage clamp experiments in a heterologous expression system using Xenopus laevis oocytes revealed that oocytes expressing OsHKT1;3_FL and all of its variants exhibited smaller Na+ currents. The presented data, together with previous data, provide insights to understanding how OsHKT family members are involved in the mechanisms of ion homeostasis and salt tolerance in rice.
  • 875
  • 29 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Hormonal Mechanisms of Fleshy Fruit
Recent research on tomato shows that ethylene, acting through transcription factors, is responsible for the initiation of tomato ripening. Several other hormones, including abscisic acid (ABA), jasmonic acid (JA) and brassinosteroids (BR), promote ripening by upregulating ethylene biosynthesis genes in different fruits. Changes to histone marks and DNA methylation are associated with the activation of ripening genes and are necessary for ripening initiation. Light, detected by different photoreceptors and operating through ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5(HY5), also modulates ripening. Re-evaluation of the roles of ‘master regulators’ indicates that MADS-RIN, NAC-NOR, Nor-like1 and other MADS and NAC genes, together with ethylene, promote the full expression of genes required for further ethylene synthesis and change in colour, flavour, texture and progression of ripening.
  • 873
  • 25 May 2021
Topic Review
The SR Splicing Factors
Serine/arginine-rich (SR) proteins are important splicing factors in plant development and abiotic/hormone-related stresses. However, evidence that SR proteins contribute to the process in woody plants has been lacking. Using phylogenetics, gene synteny, transgenic experiments, and RNA-seq analysis, we identified 24 PtSR genes and explored their evolution, expression, and function in Popolus trichocarpa. The PtSR genes were divided into six subfamilies, generated by at least two events of genome triplication and duplication. Notably, they were constitutively expressed in roots, stems, and leaves, demonstrating their fundamental role in P. trichocarpa. Additionally, most PtSR genes (~83%) responded to at least one stress (cold, drought, salt, SA, MeJA, or ABA), and, especially, cold stress induced a dramatic perturbation in the expression and/or alternative splicing (AS) of 18 PtSR genes (~75%). Evidentially, the overexpression of PtSCL30 in Arabidopsis decreased freezing tolerance, which probably resulted from AS changes of the genes (e.g., ICE2 and COR15A) critical for cold tolerance. Moreover, the transgenic plants were salt-hypersensitive at the germination stage. These indicate that PtSCL30 may act as a negative regulator under cold and salt stress. Altogether, this study sheds light on the evolution, expression, and AS of PtSR genes, and the functional mechanisms of PtSCL30 in woody plants.
  • 873
  • 10 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Genome Size and Life Forms of Araceae
The genome size of an organism is an important trait that has predictive values applicable to various scientific fields, including ecology. The main source of plant C-values is the Plant DNA C-values database of the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, which currently contains 12,273 estimates. However, it covers less than 3% of known angiosperm species and has gaps in the life form and geographic distribution of plants. New C-values for the aroid family (Araceae), collected in the Piedras Blancas National Park area in southern Costa Rica, including terrestrial, epiphytic and aquatic life forms are combined with C-value entries in the RBGK database for Araceae. The analysis reveals a wider range of C-values for terrestrial aroids, consistent with other terrestrial plants, a trend toward slightly lower C-values for epiphytic forms, which is more consistent for obligate epiphytes, and comparatively low C-values for aquatic aroids.
  • 872
  • 08 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Duckweed Species in Saudi Arabia
Duckweeds, or Lemnaceae, are widespread aquatic plants. Morphology-based identification of duckweed species is difficult because of their structural complexity. Hence, molecular tools provide significant advantages for characterizing and selecting species or clones for sustainable commercial use.
  • 870
  • 18 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Carbon&Amino Acid Metabolism in Plants
Over the past few decades, considerable effort has been made to understand plant primary metabolism. While the biochemistry and the underlying genetics of central carbon and nitrogen metabolism have been thoroughly studied, there is still a lack of knowledge on how these metabolic branches are regulated and regulate and interact with each other. Improving our current understanding of such regulatory loops is of particular interest given that all oxygenic phototrophs are frequently exposed to environmental changes, including periods of unfavorable conditions that distinctly lower plant growth and yield. To understand how adjustments of metabolism towards a fluctuating environment are achieved on the short- and long-term timescale will also facilitate genetic engineering approaches. One major goal of such attempts is to produce more robust plant varieties that are able to sustain high photosynthetic efficiencies and yields during persistent phases of abiotic stresses. This Special Issue of Plants aims to highlight the metabolic acclimation and signaling mechanisms of plant central carbon and nitrogen metabolism towards environmental changes, particularly involving alterations in CO2 and O2 concentration, light availability and intensity, as well as fluctuations in temperature and water supply during different stages of plant development. Thus, the major focus will be on the acclimation and the regulatory interplay that, among others, involve the operation and interaction of photosynthesis, photorespiration and respiration.
  • 869
  • 10 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Genome Editing for Sustainable Crop Improvement
Climate change poses a serious threat to global agricultural activity and food production. Plant genome editing technologies have been widely used to develop crop varieties with superior qualities or can tolerate adverse environmental conditions. Unlike conventional breeding techniques (e.g., selective breeding and mutation breeding), modern genome editing tools offer more targeted and specific alterations of the plant genome and could significantly speed up the progress of developing crops with desired traits, such as higher yield and/or stronger resilience to the changing environment. 
  • 869
  • 24 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Phyto-Beneficial Traits of Rhizosphere Bacteria
Beneficial interactions between plants and some bacterial species have been long recognized, as they proved to exert various growth-promoting and health-protective activities on economically relevant crops. As well, rhizosphere bacteria direct activity against some phytopathogenic fungal species (such as Aspergillus and Fusarium spp.) have been also observed, resulting highly interesting since these pathogens cause major yield losses in cereal crops and are well-known mycotoxin producers.
  • 867
  • 20 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Genus Decalepis
The steno-endemic species from the genus Decalepis are facing a high level of threat due to destructive wild harvesting. The genus claimed its paramount importance to mankind due to its unique tuberous root characteristics and exhibits a wide range of biological and medicinal properties, and is used in pharmaceutical and food industries. Plants of this genus are endemic to limited areas of peninsular India, such as the Eastern and Western Ghats, and according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), species from the genus Decalepis are considered globally critically endangered.
  • 867
  • 18 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Japanese Apricot via RNA-Seq
The problem of pistil abortion in Japanese apricot is very common but has not been well studied. Therefore, in the current study, we used RNA-Seq to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying pistil abortion. This entry provides a theoretical basis for stimulating flower and pistil development and has practical significance for improving yield and quality of Japanese apricot.
  • 863
  • 18 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Myrtus communis L. subsp. communis
Myrtus communis subsp. communis is an evergreen shrub or a small tree, growing spontaneously throughout the Mediterranean basin. The stem is branched from the basal portion and the bark is brownish or reddish in color. The leaves are simple, opposite, sessile or sub-sessile, glossy, and dark green in color, lanceolate or ovoid-elliptical in shape with entire or slightly revolute margins and acute apices; they are very aromatic due to the presence of numerous secretory cavities. The flowers, white in color with yellowish streaks, are solitary or coupled at the leaf axil. The fruits are ellipsoidal or subspherical berries, red-violet or blackish in color at maturity, with persistent calyx residues.
  • 862
  • 21 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Elevated CO2 and Water Stress in Plants
Elevated CO2 is known to increase yields in C3 crops like rice and wheat, on the other hand, it does not cause a similar increase in C4 crops like maize and sorghum. Drought is known to reduce crop growth and yield.
  • 862
  • 20 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Lead and Zinc Uptake and Toxicity in Maize
Among heavy metals, zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) are common soil co-pollutants from anthropogenic activities, such as severe soil degradation, automobile emissions, mining, and others. Pb is one of the most toxic and widely reported metals in farmlands. Pb accumulation in soils affects environmental health and can impact human health and food quality.
  • 861
  • 03 Aug 2022
Topic Review
CRISPR-Cas9 Mediated Functional Genomics
The genome-editing tool, CRISPR-Cas9, reveals the functional features of several parts of the plant genome. Current developments in CRISPR, such as de novo meristem induction genome-engineering in dicots and temperature-tolerant LbCas12a/CRISPR, enable greater DNA insertion precision. 
  • 859
  • 18 Feb 2021
Topic Review
The Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic N-Terminal Acetyltransferases Machinery
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic N-terminal acetyltransferases (Nats) belong to the general control non-repressible 5 (GCN5)-related N-acetyltransferases (GNAT) superfamily which counts thousands of members in all three domains of life. 
  • 859
  • 08 Dec 2022
Topic Review
m6A RNA Methylation in Plant Circadian Clock
N6-adenosine methylation (m6A) is a prevalent form of RNA modification found in the expressed transcripts of many eukaryotic organisms. Moreover, m6A methylation is a dynamic and reversible process that requires the functioning of various proteins and their complexes that are evolutionarily conserved between species and include methylases, demethylases, and m6A-binding proteins. Notably, m6A has been found to be involved in a variety of factors in RNA processing, such as RNA stability, alternative polyadenylation, and miRNA regulation. The circadian clock in plants is a molecular timekeeping system that regulates the daily and rhythmic activity of many cellular and physiological processes in response to environmental changes such as the day-night cycle. m6A methylation has emerged as an additional layer of post-transcriptional regulation that is necessary for the proper functioning of the plant circadian clock. 
  • 859
  • 13 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Fungal Endophytes: Sources of Medicines
Fungal endophytes are well-established sources of biologically active natural compounds with many producing pharmacologically valuable specific plant-derived products.
  • 855
  • 25 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Transcriptional Regulators of Plant Adaptation to Heat Stress
Heat stress (HS) is becoming an increasingly large problem for food security as global warming progresses. As sessile species, plants have evolved different mechanisms to cope with the disruption of cellular homeostasis, which can impede plant growth and development.
  • 855
  • 12 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Application of MinION-Sequencing to-investigate the virome of 'Lamon-Bean’
‘Lamon bean’ is a protected geographical indication (PGI) for a product of four varieties of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown in a specific area of production, which is located in the Belluno district, Veneto region (N.E. of Italy). The ‘Lamon bean’ has been threatened by severe virus epidemics that have compromised its profitability. The full virome of seven bean samples showing different foliar symptoms was obtained by MinION sequencing. Evidence that emerged from sequencing was validated through RT-PCR and ELISA in a large number of plants, including different ecotypes of Lamon bean and wild herbaceous hosts that may represent a virus reservoir in the field. Results revealed the presence of bean common mosaic virus (BCMV), cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), peanut stunt virus (PSV), and bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV), which often occurred as mixed infections. Moreover, both CMV and PSV were reported in association with strain-specific satellite RNAs (satRNAs).
  • 855
  • 25 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Plant Transcription Factors and Drought
Transcription factors (TFs) play a significant role in signal transduction networks spanning the perception of a stress signal and the expression of corresponding stress-responsive genes. TFs are multi-functional proteins that may simultaneously control numerous pathways during stresses in plants—this makes them powerful tools for the manipulation of regulatory and stress-responsive pathways.
  • 854
  • 08 Jun 2021
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