INTRODUCTION: Genetic transformation, combined with genome editing strategies, has provided essential insights into plant biology and revolutionized crop improvement. MicroTom ( Solanum lycopersicum ‘MicroTom’) is widely used for functional characterization due to its short life cycle and clear genetic background. However, traditional tissue culture-dependent genetic transformation systems for MicroTom are constrained by low efficiency, long durations, and highly trained individuals. Therefore, developing a rapid and efficient tissue culture-independent genetic transformation system is necessary. RATIONALE: Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is the most widely used method for gene transfer in plants. During this process, wounded plant cells secrete phenolic compounds that induce Agrobacterium cells to transfer and integrate foreign DNA into plant chromosomes. In this study, we established a novel transformation protocol using two-week-old MicroTom seedlings as recipients. After removing the apical cotyledons and true leaves, the wounded hypocotyls were directly inoculated with an A. tumefaciens suspension. Based on the somatic cell reprogramming mechanism triggered by wounding signaling, the wound hypocotyls formed calli and regenerated adventitious shoots, accompanied by the integration of foreign DNA. RESULTS: Two-week-old seedlings with hypocotyl diameters exceeding 1.5 mm were optimal for Agrobacterium infection. After a 2-day preculture in darkness, the hypocotyls were infected with A. tumefaciens suspension (OD ₆₀₀=0.6) for 10 min and then cocultured in darkness at 90% relative humidity for 3 d. Callus differentiation was observed at the hypocotyl ends at 10 days post-inoculation (dpi), and adventitious shoots regenerated at 20 dpi. Mature T ₀-generation seeds could be harvested within 4–5 months post-inoculation. Approximately 87.6% of the wounded hypocotyls regenerated adventitious shoots at 20 dpi, and PCR analysis confirmed that 28.6% of the regenerated shoots contained the foreign gene. Through antibiotic screening combined with an EGFP reporter system, the stable expression rate of the foreign gene in T ₁-generation lines reached 73.5%. CONCLUSION: Compared to conventional tissue culture-dependent systems, the established in planta transformation in this study offers improved transformation efficiency, a shorter transformation cycle, and simplified nonsterile operational procedures. This system provides a robust platform for functional genomics studies and significantly lowers technical barriers in tomato molecular breeding.

FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) is a signaling protein synthesized in leaves and transported to the shoot apical meristem, where it functions as florigen, a key inducer of flowering and developmental transitions. Substantial progress has been made in elucidating the mechanisms underlying FT synthesis, transport, and the assembly and regulation of the florigen activation complex (FAC), providing a solid foundation for understanding plant developmental regulatory networks. Recently, a study integrated multiple regulatory layers, including protein-DNA interactions, liquid-liquid phase separation, and spatiotemporal expression patterns, thereby extending the traditional static FAC model into a dynamic and multilayered assembly framework. This work offers new molecular insights into how plants integrate environmental cues to regulate reproductive development. In this review, we summarize recent advances in FT and FAC research, highlight key outstanding questions, and discuss future directions, aiming to provide fresh perspectives for elucidating plant developmental regulation and for potential applications in crop improvement.

INTRODUCTION: To establish an efficient Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation system for peanuts and lay a foundation for the study of peanut gene functions and variety breeding.

RATIONALE: In this study, 11 peanut varieties were selected, and the cotyledonary leaflets from the variety with the highest bud cluster induction rate were screened out as experimental materials. By screening and optimizing influencing factors such as Agrobacterium strains, the optical density (OD) value of the bacterial suspension, the concentration of acetosyringone (AS), the concentration of surfactants, the infection method and duration, and the co-culture time, transgenic plants of peanut cotyledonary leaflets were obtained.

RESULTS: The results showed that using the embryo leaflet of Huayu 9133 as the receptor, the recombinant Agrobacterium containing eGFP (green fluorescent protein) and GUS (β-glucosidase) protein was used to infect and transform. It was found that when the infection solution was MS liquid+LBA4404 strain+100 μmol∙L^-1 AS+150 mg∙L^-1 surfactant Silwet-77 + bacterial solution OD600 was 0.7, the infection method was vacuuming for 15 min + soaking for 20 min + co-culture for 4 d, the peanut conversion rate was the highest. The positive rates of CaMV 35S:eGFP and AhUBQ4:GUS were 52.67% and 57.67%, respectively.The transgenic plants were induced by tissue culture method. The transgenic plants containing eGFP protein were identified as transgenic positive plants by eGFP green fluorescence and PCR detection, and the transgenic plants containing GUS protein were identified as transgenic positive plants by GUS staining and PCR detection.

CONCLUSION: This experiment successfully established and optimized the peanut genetic transformation system, which provided a reference for the study of peanut gene function, the cultivation of resistant varieties, quality improvement and biotechnology research.

CaMV 35S:eGFP侵染材料荧光示意图(a: 再生芽丛明场, b: 再生芽丛荧光, c: 再生苗明场, d: 再生苗荧光)

Totipotency and pluripotency of plant cells serve as the theoretical basis for plant regeneration, underpinning various techniques such as plant tissue culture, genetic transformation, cutting, and grafting. In recent years, advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms of plant regeneration—particularly key transcription factors, hormonal signaling networks and epigenetic factors—have led to the development of a series of molecular tools capable of manipulating cell fate, offering new strategies to enhance regenerative capacity. This review summarizes the molecular and chemical tools that play central roles in four key regenerative processes: shoot regeneration, root regeneration, somatic embryogenesis, and grafting. It also discusses practical considerations such as delivery methods for these tools, selection of culture systems, and strategies for efficacy evaluation. Furthermore, the review explores future directions, including the rational combination of genetic and chemical tools to develop novel delivery systems and overcome epigenetic barriers, thereby providing theoretical and practical guidance for designing efficient regeneration protocols tailored to different species and regeneration objectives.

3D reconstruction technology involves using computer graphics and image processing technologies to extract the geometric and topological information of the target object from the two-dimensional image data. This information is then used to create a three-dimensional mathematical model that can be processed by a computer, enabling the virtual reconstruction of the target object. In plant science research, the construction of three-dimensional models has become an effective way to study plant growth and development, morphological structure and functional mechanism. These models provide robust support for multi-scale imaging, measurement and analysis, demonstrating significant application potential in the field of agriculture and forestry. In recent years, advancements in plant 3D reconstruction technology have led to diverse applications in botanical research, covering plant morphological structure modeling, growth and development dynamic monitoring, and plant breeding. In this paper, we summarize the development process of 3D reconstruction technology and its application in plant studies across different scales (from organs and tissues to cells). We focus on the basic principles and applications of these technologies, aiming to provide theoretical and technical support for multimodal cross-scale imaging and plant phenotypic and functional research. Additionally, this work offers a novel approach to understand the principles of plant growth and development and the mechanisms underlying their responses to environmental changes.

INTRUDUCTION: Xanthopappus subacaulis, endemic to the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, is a perennial medicinal plant from the genus Xanthopappus of the family Asteraceae, with important economic, ecological and medicinal values. However, genomic information for this species remains limited, hindering further genetic studies and resource utilization. Determining an appropriate sequencing strategy for its whole genome is a key prerequisite for subsequent genomic studies.
RATIONALE: In order to determine the appropriate sequencing strategy for the whole genome of X. subacaulis, we analyzed and evaluated its genome size, heterozygosity, repeat and GC content using flow cytometry and genome survey analysis based on BGI sequencing.
RESULTS: Flow cytometry analyses using Opisthopappus longilobus and Solanum lycopersicum as reference genomes indicated that X. subacaulis was a diploid, with an estimated genome size of 1.94 G and 1.75 G respectively, and a DNA-C value of 0.99 pg. We generated approximately 100.3 G of clean short read sequencing data, with a GC content of 38.5%. K-mer analysis indicated that the genome size of X. subacaulis was 2 198.50 Mb, with a heterozygosity rate of 0.69%, and repeat content of 80.15%. The analysis of the long terminal repeat retrotransposons (LTR-RTs) indicated that the LTR/Copia was the most abundant LTR family, accounting for 30.72% of the whole genome, while the Gypsy family and the unknown LTRs accounted for 33.66% and 16.54%, respectively. Moreover, their peak insertion time began approximately three million years ago (Mya), with a marked amplification occurring within the last 1 Mya. These results suggested that the large-scale insertion of LTR elements was (most) likely one of the important factors leading to the genomic complexity of X. subacaulis.
CONCLUSION: This study clarifies the key genomic characteristics of X. subacaulis, which provides valuable reference data resources for subsequent genetic map construction and functional gene mining of X. subacaulis, and also lays a foundation for determining its whole-genome sequencing strategy.

Growth morphology and genomic characteristics of Xanthopappus subacaulis. (A) Growth morphology of X. subacaulis (bar=5 cm); (B) Depth and frequency distribution of K-mer and insertion time analysis of long terminal repeat retrotransposons (LTR-RTs)

In 2025, Chinese plant scientists achieved an explosive growth (a twofold increase) in the number of papers published in the three international comprehensive academic journals (Nature, Science, and Cell) compared to 2024. The number of papers published in mainstream plant science journals also continued to steadily increase relative to 2024. Significant research progress was made in fields such as plant hormones and secondary metabolism, plant biochemical analysis and bioinformatics, photosynthesis and light signaling, stress tolerance mechanisms, and plant systematics and evolution. Among them, “Epigenetic variation drives plant stress adaptation” and “AI-driven protein engineering enables breakthrough in precise chromosome manipulation” were selected as two of the “Top Ten Advances in Life Sciences in China” in 2025. Here we summarize the achievements of plant science research in China in 2025, and briefly introduces 160 representative important research advances, aiming to help readers understand the overall development trend of plant science in China and its position in international plant science, and to evaluate future research direction to meet major national strategic needs.

INTRODUCTION: Anthracnose, primarily caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is a main diseaseaffecting mangoes, leading to significant postharvest losses by deteriorating fruit quality and reducing shelf life. 

RATIONALE: Addressing postharvest anthracnose is a critical challenge in the mango industry. Biological control methods, such as utilizing antagonistic bacteria, offer sus-tainable alternatives to chemical treatments. This study investigates the efficacy of Ba-cillus velezensis in inhibiting C. gloeosporioides and its potential in preserving mango fruit quality. 

RESULTS: The application of B. velezensis culture filtrate (CF) effectively inhibited spore germination and mycelial growth of C. gloeosporioides. At CF concentrations of 2% and 4%, mycelial inhibition rates were 75.18% and 80.96%, respectively. In vivo experiments demonstrated that both bacterial suspension (CB) and CF treatments significantly re-duced lesion expansion on mangoes, with inhibition rates of 44.33% and 65.00%, respectively. Treated fruits exhibited a slower decrease in titratable acids and maintained higher levels of total phenols and flavonoids, indicating delayed ripening and extended shelf life. 

 CONCLUSION: Bacillus velezensis exhibits strong antagonistic activity against C. gloeosporioides, effectively controlling mango anthracnose and preserving fruit quality. Its application as a biocontrol agent holds promise for sustainable postharvest management in mango production.

Tendrils are specialized climbing organs that play a key role in the survival and environmental adaptation of plants. Through structural support, light capture, and resources competition, tendrils significantly improve the ecological adaptability of plants. Tendrils are derived from inflorescences, leaves, stems and other organs. The occurrence of tendrils is regulated by gene families such as TCP, HD-ZIP, and MADS-box families, and is influenced by auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin, jasmonic acid and other plant hormones. Tendrils exhibit convergent evolution in function, morphology, and molecular mechanisms, and display characteristics of independent evolution, reflecting the adaptive strategies of plants to their living environment. This review systematically synthesizes the biological characteristics and molecular mechanisms of development in plant tendrils. Future studies will focus on evolutionary mechanisms across species and interactions between environmental signals and plant hormones for plant tendrils.

With global warming and population growth accelerating, crop breeding must advance towards greater precision, efficiency and sustainability. Riding the wave of rapid AI development, AI-driven smart breeding has emerged as the cutting edge of plant breeding. Leveraging technologies such as high-throughput phenotyping through machine learning and deep learning, genome-wide association studies for genomic selection, and multiomics big data analysis, it integrates and edits genetic information while linking phenotypes with genomes. This approach promises revolutionary changes in agricultural breeding, enhancing crop productivity, improving quality, and refining traits. Looking ahead, precision agriculture and personalised breeding represent key developmental trajectories. Strategies focusing on environmental adaptability and climate change mitigation will aid in addressing ecological challenges. The cutting-edge technologies of smart breeding, significantly enhancing breeding efficiency and precision, will shape the future direction and progress of plant breeding.

INTRODUCTION: Parrotia subaequalis, is a critically endangered wild plant species listed in the National Key Protected Wild Plants List of China and classified as Critically Endangered (CR) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). As a relic species from the Tertiary period, it holds significant scientific value for studying the early origin and differentiation of the Hamamelidaceae family in China. Despite its ecological and ornamental importance, P. subaequalis faces numerous threats to its survival, including low natural survival rates due to limited light adaptation, difficulties in pollination and seed set, and challenges in vegetative propagation methods such as cutting and seed sowing. Tissue culture technology offers a promising approach to rapidly propagate this endangered species, overcoming the limitations of traditional propagation methods. 

 RATIONALE: This study aimed to establish an efficient tissue culture and rapid propagation system for P. subaequalis by investigating the effects of different disinfection methods, basic media, and combinations of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on lateral bud germination, proliferation, and adventitious root formation. By optimizing these factors, we sought to increase the survival rate and proliferation coefficient of P. subaequalis in vitro, thereby providing a reliable source of plant material for conservation and production purposes. 

RESULTS: Disinfection effects: The optimal disinfection method involved treating the shoot segments with 75% ethanol for 30 seconds followed by 0.52% NaClO for 5 minutes, resulting in an 83.33% survival rate. Lateral Bud Germination: The WPM basic medium showed the highest germination rate (72%) among the tested media (MS, 1/2MS, WPM). The addition of 1.0 mg∙L–1 KT significantly increased the germination rate to 91%, but without inducing multiple shoots. The combination of 1.5 mg∙L–1 6-BA and 0.003 mg∙L–1 TDZ yielded the best proliferation results, with a proliferation coefficient of 4.17. Adventitious root formation: Inducing adventitious roots in P. subaequalis was challenging, with high concentrations of auxins causing browning and death of shoots. The addition of 0.2 mg∙L–1 NAA to 1/2MS medium resulted in a 60% rooting rate. Acclimatization and transplantation: Rooted plantlets were successfully acclimatized and transplanted into a mixed substrate of peat moss and perlite (3:1, v/v) with a survival rate exceeding 90% after 30 days. 

 CONCLUSION: This study successfully established a tissue culture and rapid propagation system for P. subaequalis, significantly improving its survival rate and proliferation coefficient. The optimized protocols, including the use of WPM medium for lateral bud germination, a combination of 1.5 mg∙L–1 6-BA and 0.003 mg∙L–1 TDZ for proliferation, and 0.2 mg∙L–1 NAA for root induction, provide a reliable method for the large-scale propagation of this endangered species. This system not only contributes to the conservation of P. subaequalis but also facilitates its utilization in landscaping and timber production. Future research could focus on exploring the regeneration capacity of different color morphs and geographical populations of P. subaequalis to further enhance its conservation and sustainable use.

INTRODUCTION: Plant tissue culture technology is characterized by growth that is not restricted by seasons, high efficiency in plant propagation, and high survival rates. It can effectively ensure the quality and quantity of new and superior varieties of Xanthoceras sorbifolium, and is beneficial for the conservation and rapid dissemination of germplasm resources, thus promoting the development of the Xanthoceras industry. Therefore, it is now urgent to solve the browning problem of explants during the tissue culture process of Xanthoceras, in order to lay the foundation for establishing a stable and efficient regeneration system for this species.
RATIONALE: Currently, the growth cycle of somatic embryogenesis culture in X. sorbifolium is relatively long, and the acquisition of embryogenic callus tissue is quite challenging, resulting in poor reproducibility of the regeneration system established through somatic embryogenesis. Some studies have directly induced adventitious buds via organogenesis in X. sorbifolium and found that when cotyledons and stem segments are used as explants to induce adventitious buds, browning of the explants is common, leading to a low proliferation rate of adventitious buds and affecting the growth of the explants. Therefore, this study focuses on analyzing the difficulties in inducing adventitious buds during the tissue culture process of X. sorbifolium, explores the most suitable growth conditions for inducing adventitious buds, and discusses the impact of factors such as the type of cytokinin, temperature, light intensity, and the tenderness of the explants on the browning of X. sorbifolium tissue culture, in order to provide a basis for establishing an efficient and stable regeneration system for X. sorbifolium.
RESULTS: The browning issue severely affects the growth condition of X. sorbifolium explants and the efficiency of adventitious bud induction. After identifying the optimal disinfection method and the best medium for adventitious bud induction, we investigated the factors affecting the browning of X. sorbifolium cotyledons one by one. We found that the highest induction rate of adventitious buds was achieved when 2.5 mg∙L^-1 6-BA was added to the medium, and thus we selected it as the suitable cytokinin for inducing adventitious buds. The cotyledons of X. sorbifolium were cultured under the best conditions of a light intensity of 19.5 µmol∙m^-2∙s^-1 and a temperature of 26°C. Although culturing in the dark can inhibit browning, it cannot induce adventitious buds. The tenderness of the explants has an important impact on browning; the more tender the explants are, the lower the degree of browning. When the cotyledons of X. sorbifolium harvested from July 1^st to July 8^th were used for tissue culture, almost no browning occurred. At this time, the fruit coat is not cracked, the cotyledons are plump and firm, the seed coat is white, and it is easy to remove. These cotyledons are the best experimental materials for the tissue culture of X. sorbifolium.
CONCLUSION: Using the cotyledons of X. sorbifolium as the experimental material, the optimal medium for inducing adventitious buds and the factors influencing explant browning were investigated. The results showed that the best disinfection method for cotyledons was to treat them with 75% ethanol for 30 seconds, followed by 0.1% effective chlorine for 10 minutes, resulting in a contamination rate of 29.33% and a mortality rate of 12%. The optimal medium formulation for inducing adventitious buds was MS+2.5 mg∙L^-1 6-BA+1.0 mg∙L^-1 NAA+30 g∙L^-1 sucrose+6.8 g∙L^-1 agar+0.1 g∙L^-1 myo-inositol, with an induction rate of 72.22%. Among different types of cytokinins, the addition of 6-BA to the medium resulted in the lowest explant mortality rate (12.50%) and the highest induction rate (73.61%). The optimal culture conditions were 19.5 µmol∙m^-2∙s^-1 light intensity at 26°C, with an induction rate of 72.22%. The cotyledons from VI stage seeds collected between July 1^st and July 8^th were plump and firm, with white seed coats that were easy to remove, making them the best material for inhibiting browning in Xanthoceras tissue culture, with the highest adventitious bud induction rate (97.22%).

Adventitious bud induction (A) and browning inhibition (B) of Xanthoceras sorbifolium. When establishing a regeneration system for X. sorbifolium through tissue culture methods, severe browning poses a significant challenge. Therefore, through the process of inducing adventitious buds, explant materials that can alleviate the browning of cotyledon tissue culture have been identified. (A) Bar=5 mm; (B) Bar=2 cm

With Al for Science (A4Science) emerging as a new paradigm for scientific research, artificial intelligence (AI) is driving a transition toward data-driven and intelligent research in plant science. Roots, as the key organs responsible forwater and nutrient acquisition, environmental sensing, and above-below ground interactions, are decisive for crop productivity and ecosystem functioning. However, due to their hidden growth in soil, structural complexity, and limited observability, our understanding of root structure and function has long lagged behind that of above ground parts. Recent advances in Al have provided new tools and pathways for decoding the "underground black box". Using Al as a key driver to integrate multi-source root and environmental data, advanced algorithms, and the broader knowledge base of root science has emergedas a frontier direction in below ground research. In this context, we systematically review the major applications and emerging trends of Al in root studies, encompassing data acquisition, structural modeling, mechanistic inference, and management decision support. Al-based image analysis enables automated recognition and quantification of root architectures, while modeling and data-fusion approaches reveal the multi-scale and multi-process interactions between roots and soil. Al applications in root phenotyping, architectural simulation, and deciphering root exudate-microbiome interactions are also showing great potential, offering unprecedented tools to advance our understanding of root function. However, the application of Al in root research stil faces several challenges, including the difficulty of acquiring high-quality field data, insufficient integration across experimental scales, and limited capacity to model the complexity of root-soil-environment interactions. Looking ahead, the deep integration of multi-source data, cross-disciplinary algorithmic advancements, and the coordinated development of digital agriculture platforms are expected to propel root science into a new era of intelligent research, offering innovative pathways for crop improvement and the advancement of smart agriculture.

Recent research has discovered that an ancient homoploid interspecific hybridization event between ancestral species of the tomato lineage (Solanum sect. Lycopersicon) and sect. Etuberosum lineage in the nightshade family (Solanaceae) gave rise to the ancestral species of the potato lineage (sect. Petota) and generated the innovative "potato" tuber trait. This hybridization event not only introduced this key innovative trait but also triggered the exploitation of new ecological niches, ultimately leading to the explosive emergence of species within the potato clade. This study, together with related case studies in recent years, collectively reveals the universality of the molecular mechanism of homoploid hybrid speciation—namely, "generating innovative traits through the alternate inheritance of highly diverged alleles from both parental lineages". These findings hold significant implications for revising the traditional bifurcating speciation model and advancing the paradigm shift in artificial breeding practices.

INTRODUCTION: In agricultural production, the utilization of heterosis has brought significant benefits to society and economic development by markedly increasing crop yield, stress resistance, and quality. Foxtail millet (Setaria italica var. germanica), as an important coarse grain crop in the arid and semi-arid regions of northern China, holds a significant position in dry land ecological agriculture. However, the slow increase in the yield of foxtail millet has limited the further realization of its production potential. Utilizing heterosis has thus become one of the effective ways to increase the yield of foxtail millet. Nevertheless, research on the physiological and molecular mechanisms of its heterosis is still relatively weak, and the mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, to understand the physiological mechanisms of heterosis in foxtail millet is of great importance for improving the yield of hybrid varieties.
RATIONALE: The Changzagu series of foxtail millet hybrids (Changzagu466, Changzagu2922, and Changzagu333) exhibit significant heterosis in yield. In order to elucidate its mechanism, we systematically analyzed the yield advantages of these hybrids and their influencing factors by measuring yield-related traits and key physiological indicators of the hybrids and their parental lines.
RESULTS: Throughout the entire growth period, the chlorophyll content of the three hybrid varieties was higher than that of their parents. Among them, Changzagu466 exhibited the highest chlorophyll content at the jointing stage, reaching 13.86 mg∙g^-1 FW. During the seedling and jointing stages, the root activity of the three hybrids was significantly higher than that of their parents. Specifically, Changzagu466 showed the highest root activity at the seedling stage, measuring 1.76 mg∙g^-1∙h^-1, which was 7.8 times and 5.5 times higher than its female and male parents, respectively. The root activity values of Changzagu2922 at the seedling stage were 0.38 and 0.66 mg∙g^-1∙h^-1 higher than its female and male parents, respectively. Meanwhile, Changzagu333 displayed pronounced advantages at the jointing stage, with root activity values 0.31 and 0.62 mg∙g^-1∙h^-1 higher than its female and male parents, respectively. In terms of yield-related traits, compared to their parents, the hybrids showed significant improvements in both grain filling rate and spikelet number. Changzagu466 reached its maximum grain filling rate of 1.58 g∙d^-1 per panicle at 19 days after flowering. Both Changzagu466 and Changzagu333 had significantly higher spikelet numbers than their parents, while Changzagu2922 also showed a significant increase in spikelet numbers. In addition, the hybrid varieties also demonstrate certain advantages in root nitrogen accumulation and nitrogen translocation efficiency. Among them, Changzagu2922 exhibits the strongest root nitrogen accumulation advantage and the highest nitrogen translocation efficiency (nearly 56%), both are significantly higher than that of its male parent line M22.
CONCLUSION: The Changzagu series of foxtail millet hybrids effectively enhances photosynthetic capacity, nutrient absorption and utilization efficiency by significantly increasing chlorophyll content, root activity during the early growth stages, and root nitrogen accumulation. Meanwhile, the significant increase in grain filling rate and spikelet number of the hybrids further enhances both grain weight and grain number per panicle, ultimately achieving high yield.

Foxtail millet and parental trait comparison chart

Somatic embryogenesis in plants is a classic example of cell fate reprogramming, in which somatic cells reverse their developmental trajectory to regain totipotency, thereby serving as a valuable tool in plant biotechnology for the propagation of endangered species and the production of transgenic crops with improved traits. However, the precise cellular origins and the molecular mechanisms driving somatic cell reprogramming remain incompletely understood. A recent study revealed that the LEC2-SPCH module can synergistically activate local auxin biosynthesis, guiding stomatal-lineage precursor cells in the cotyledon epidermis to undergo cell fate transition and develop into somatic embryos. This study not only captured the entire process of a single plant somatic cell developing into a somatic embryo for the first time but also provided critical evidence for deciphering somatic reprogramming. Capitalizing on these findings, this review summarizes the regulatory mechanisms underlying cell fate reprogramming during somatic embryogenesis, with a particular focus on the synergistic interplay between auxin signaling and epigenetic reprogramming. We further discuss the potential of leveraging core reprogramming factors to enhance crop regeneration systems and outline promising future research directions.

INTRODUCTION: The TCP protein family is a plant-specific group of transcription factors known to regulate key biological processes, including growth, development, and stress responses. Despite their critical roles, the TCP gene family in Bergenia purpurascens remains uncharacterized. This study aims to systematically identify and analyze the BpTCP gene family in B. purpurascens using transcriptome-based bioinformatics approaches, providing insights into their potential functions in cold adaptation and secondary metabolism.

RATIONALE: B. purpurascens exhibits remarkable resilience to abiotic stresses, particularly cold, and contains abundant secondary metabolites. Given the documented roles of TCP genes in stress responses and metabolic regulation in other plants, we hypothesized that BpTCP genes may contribute to these traits. A comprehensive analysis of this gene family could reveal novel mechanisms underlying stress adaptation and metabolite synthesis, supporting future genetic improvement or biotechnological applications.

RESULTS: Through transcriptome-based bioinformatics analysis, we identified 16 BpTCP genes in B. purpurascens, which were phylogenetically classified into two major groups, with all members containing conserved TCP domains and closely related proteins sharing similar motif patterns. Tissue-specific expression profiling revealed distinct spatial expression patterns across different tissues, suggesting functional diversification among family members. Notably, partial genes, including BpTCP10, BpTCP1 and BpTCP12, exhibited significant expression changes under cold stress, implying their potential cold-responsive roles. Furthermore, expression levels of specific BpTCP genes correlated significantly with accumulation of various secondary metabolites, particularly flavonoids and phenolics, suggesting their regulatory involvement in metabolic pathways.

CONCLUSION: This study provides the first genome-wide characterization of the BpTCP gene family in B. purpurascens, demonstrating its potential roles in growth, cold stress response, and secondary metabolism. The differential expression of BpTCP genes under stress and their correlation with metabolite levels lay a foundation for future functional studies.

      

Expression pattern and metabolic correlation analysis of TCP gene family in Bergenia purpurascens.  A total of 16 BpTCP genes were identified in Bergenia purpurascens and classified into two major phylogenetic groups. All BpTCP genes contain conserved TCP domains, and proteins from the same evolutionary branch share similar motif compositions. Different BpTCP genes exhibit distinct tissue-specific expression patterns and display distinctive responses to cold stress. Furthermore, certain BpTCP genes demonstrate significant correlations with the accumulation of diverse metabolites.

INTRODUCTION: 14-3-3 proteins are a highly conserved protein family that specifically recognize phosphorylated target proteins and play crucial roles in plant abiotic stress responses. By interacting with AREB/ABF (ABA-responsive element binding protein/ABA-responsive element binding factor) transcription factors, 14-3-3 proteins participate in ABA signal transduction and regulate abiotic stress tolerance. TaGRF3-D is a 14-3-3 protein gene in wheat (Triticum aestivum), and our previous studies revealed that the expression of this gene was upregulated under ABA and abiotic stress.
RATIONALE: To explore the biological function of the TaGRF3-D gene, we cloned the gene, and investigated its subcellular localization and function under drought stress.
RESULTS: The results revealed that TaGRF3-D is highly conserved in monocotyledonous plants and is localizes in the nucleus and plasma membrane. Compared with the wild type, the Arabidopsis thaliana transgenic lines overexpressing TaGRF3-D presented significantly longer roots under PEG and ABA treatments and showed a markedly greater survival rate after drought stress. Yeast two-hybrid analysis revealed that TaGRF3-D interacted with wheat TaABF3-B, TaABF4-A, TaABF15-D, TaABF16-B, TaABF17-D, and TaABF18-B, but not with TaABF1-D, TaABF2-A or TaABF19-A.
CONCLUSION: These results suggest that TaABF3-D responds to ABA signaling by interacting with wheat TaABF transcription factors, thereby increasing the drought stress tolerance of transgenic plants.

Phenotypes of the TaGRF3-D transgenic lines and the wild type (WT) under drought stress (A) and interaction between the TaGRF3-D protein and the ABF protein (B). Bars=1 cm

INTRODUCTION: The wild populations of Microsorum punctatum face endangerment due to habitat degradation and low spore reproductive efficiency. Fern life cycles involve alternating gametophyte and sporophyte generations, where gametophyte development and sporophyte transition represent critical bottlenecks in in vitro propagation, heavily influenced by environmental factors and culture conditions. Although asexual propagation techniques such as green globular bodies (GGBs) have been successfully applied in some fern species, low sporophyte induction efficiency and proliferation challenges persist, hindering large-scale production. This study employed M. punctatum spores to systematically investigate sterile germination mechanisms, gametophyte proliferation, and sporophyte regeneration. A dual-pathway rapid propagation system was established, integrating high-efficiency prothallus proliferation with GGBs induction, aiming to provide both theoretical insights and practical solutions for conserving endangered fern resources and advancing industrial-scale cultivation.
RATIONALE: The unique alternation of generations life cycle in ferns, characterized by independent gametophyte survival, provides a theoretical framework for in vitro propagation. Studies have demonstrated that gametophyte homogenization culture and GGBs induction can overcome sporophyte regeneration barriers, while medium composition and phytohormone ratios critically regulate developmental phase transitions. To address the challenges of low spore propagation efficiency and habitat sensitivity in M. punctatum, this study leverages its gametophyte proliferation potential and rhizome meristematic activity in sporophytes. By optimizing aseptic systems and induction conditions, as well as mimicking the natural fertilization microenvironment, a dual-path regeneration system integrating prothallus proliferation and GGB-based propagation was established, laying a theoretical foundation for efficient conservation of endangered ferns.
RESULTS: Spore germination was optimally achieved in 1/2MS medium. Prothalli exhibited vigorous proliferation in MS medium supplemented with 0.3 mg·L^-1 6-BA and 1.5 mg·L^-1 NAA, reaching a proliferation coefficient of 9.6 after 60 days of culture. Fragmented prothalli transferred to 1/4MS medium with sterile water supplementation achieved a young sporophyte induction coefficient of 10.0 following 90 day cultivation. GGBs were successfully induced from young sporophytes in 1/2MS medium containing 1.5 mg·L^-1 6-BA and 0.1 mg·L^-1 NAA, showing 93.3% induction efficiency and a remarkable proliferation coefficient of 32.0. The GGB differentiation into plantlets was most efficient in 1/2MS medium, yielding a conversion rate of 92%. Acclimatized plantlets demonstrated over 90% survival rate post-transplantation.
CONCLUSION: This study successfully established an efficient in vitro rapid propagation system for M. punctatum spores. Optimization of sterilization duration and culture medium types significantly enhanced spore germination rates. A prothallus culture protocol with a high proliferation coefficient was developed, overcoming bottlenecks in gametophyte mass propagation. Liquid immersion-assisted fertilization technology enabled efficient induction of young sporophytes, while the GGBs induction system markedly shortened the regeneration cycle. For the first time, a dual-pathway rapid propagation strategy—“prothallus proliferation-sporophyte induction” combined with “GGBs cyclic regeneration” was proposed. The study demonstrated that the meristematic properties of M. punctatum GGBs are distinct from callus tissue, providing a robust technical framework for the conservation of endangered ferns and industrial-scale seedling production.

Formation of antheridia, archegonia, and sporophyte production in Microsorum punctatum

Horticultural plants are of great significance in cultural inheritance, economic development, and ecosystem sustainability. However, the advancement of horticultural practices is hindered by challenges such as climate change, labor shortages, and inefficient resource utilization. Plant information sensing technology provides innovative solutions to these challenges. Among these technologies, plant wearable sensors have emerged as promising tools for monitoring plant physiological and biochemical information due to their high flexibility, extensibility, spatiotemporal resolution, and biocompatibility, and are becoming essential tools for acquiring data on the plants and their growing environments. Nevertheless, a systematic review of wearable sensor applications in horticultural plant research remains lacking. This review focuses on horticultural plant information detection and comprehensively discusses and summarizes plant wearable sensors’ status of research and applications in the following areas: growth monitoring, moisture content detection, stem sap flow analysis, electrical signal acquisition and chemical substance detection. Finally, we propose future development directions to provide references for information detection in horticultural plants.

INTRODUCTION: Viola × wittrockiana, a member of the Violaceae family, is recognized as a commercially valuable ornamental species due to its diverse flower colors and potential medicinal applications. However, its vegetative propagation via tissue culture has been limited by challenges such as low regeneration efficiency, procedural complexity in existing protocols, and genotype-dependent regeneration capacity. Previous attempts to establish regeneration systems for this species have been reported, but issues including inconsistent callus differentiation, low adventitious bud formation rates, and high dependency on explant quality remain unresolved. Consequently, the development of a stable and efficient regeneration system is considered critical for enabling biotechnological advancements, including genetic transformation and large-scale propagation of elite cultivars. A systematic approach focusing on genotype screening, explant selection, and optimization of plant growth regulator combinations is required to address these limitations and facilitate the species’ genetic improvement.
RATIONALE: Regeneration capacity in plants is highly influenced by genotype. This study aimed to optimize the regeneration system for V. × wittrockiana by screening eight cultivars and selecting petioles as superior explants due to their higher callus differentiation potential. Key factors, including plant growth regulators (2,4-D, KT, 6-BA) and carbohydrate sources (sucrose, maltose, trehalose), were systematically evaluated. Repeated induction cycles were employed to enrich high-regeneration genotypes, enhancing overall efficiency and reproducibility.
RESULTS: Petioles were identified as superior explants, exhibiting a significantly higher callus induction rate (91.90%) compared to leaves (49.65%) across eight V. × wittrockiana cultivars, with the highest differentiation efficiency (15.83%) observed in the PXP cultivar. The optimal callus induction medium was determined to be 1/2MS (sugar-free) supplemented with 30 g∙L^-1 sucrose, 1.5 mg∙L^-1 2,4-D, and 1.5 mg∙L^-1 KT, achieving a differentiation rate of 18.52%. For adventitious bud induction, the highest regeneration efficiency (67.33±3.06)% was obtained through repeated induction cycles using 1/2MS (sugar-free) containing 30 g∙L^-1 trehalose, 0.05 mg∙L^-1 2,4-D, and 3 mg∙L^-1 6-BA. Proliferation of adventitious buds was maximized on MS (sugar-free) medium with 30 g∙L^-1 trehalose, 0.5 mg∙L^-1 2,4-D, and 1 mg∙L^-1 6-BA, yielding a proliferation coefficient of 3.29±0.22. Rooting of regenerated shoots was successfully achieved (84.44±6.93)% on 1/2MS medium containing 0.1 mg∙L^-1 NAA, followed by acclimatization with a survival rate exceeding 85%, validating the efficacy of the established regeneration protocol.
CONCLUSION: This study established a petiole-based high-efficiency regeneration system for V. × wittrockiana through genotype screening, media optimization, and repeated induction of high-regeneration genotypes. The protocol significantly improved adventitious bud differentiation rates (67.33%), addressing long-standing challenges in regeneration of this species. The system provides a robust technical foundation for genetic transformation, gene function studies, and large-scale propagation, thereby facilitating the commercial development and biotechnological advancement of this economically valuable species.

Observation of somatic embryo developmental stages during pansy regeneration. (A) Spherical embryo; (B) Heart-shaped embryo; (C) Torpedo-shaped embryo; (D) Cotyledon embryo; (E) Mature adventitious bud. Bar=1 cm

INTRODUCTION: Marigold (Tagetes erecta), an important ornamental and medicinal plant, has a unique capitulum characteristic of the Asteraceae family with distinct ray and disc florets. However, the lack of efficient genetic transformation system has limited the research on the mechanism of floral organ development of marigold. Floral transient transformation system offers a rapid approach to study the function of genes expressed specifically in floral organs. This study aimed to establish an efficient transient transformation system for marigold corollas and to analyze the promoter activity of TeCYC2c, which highly expressed in corollas, thereby laying the technical foundation for the rapid verification of floral gene function.
RATIONALE: A fusion expression vector, incorporating the CaMV35S promoter and the GUS reporter gene, was constructed to facilitate the transient transformation in marigold corollas. The study delved into the effects of bacterial strain type (GV3101, LBA4404, EHA105), bacterial suspension concentration (OD₆₀₀ values 0.5-2.0), infection duration (10- 40 min), and co-culture time (1-4 d) on the transient transformation efficiency of the GUS gene. Based on this transient transformation system for the marigold corollas, the promoter activity of the TeCYC2c gene was investigated. A 1 735 bp upstream sequence of the TeCYC2c gene was cloned and four promoter deletion expression vectors, with the GUS gene as the reporter gene, were constructed based on the distribution and quantity of elements predicted by PlantCARE. Subsequently, these vectors were employed for transient transformation of marigold corollas to facilitate an in-depth analysis of promoter activity.
RESULTS: The transient transformation efficiency in marigold corollas demonstrated that the GV3101 strain achieved the highest infection efficiency; the bacterial suspension concentration, quantified at an OD₆₀₀ value of 1.0, yielded the most robust transformation efficiency; the infection time was observed to exert no substantial influence on transient transformation efficacy; moreover, a co-culture time of 24 hours was identified as the optimal condition for the process. The results of GUS staining and GUS activity assay revealed that the core region of the promoter was located at -650 to -1 bp. It was speculated that the light-responsive elements within this region positively up-regulated the expression of downstream genes, while the hormone-responsive and stress-responsive elements unique to pTeCYC2c (-1 735) and pTeCYC2c (-1 406) might have an inhibitory effect on promoter-driven downstream gene expression.
CONCLUSION: This study established an efficient transient transformation system for marigold corollas, optimized through strain selection and parameter tuning. The identification of the TeCYC2c promoter core region (-650 to -1 bp) and its regulatory elements provides critical insights into the regulatory mechanism of the TeCYC2c gene. The transient transformation system and promoter analysis method lay a technical foundation for accelerating functional studies of floral development genes in marigold, with potential applications in the genetic improvement of ornamental plants.

GUS staining of marigold (Tagetes erecta) corollas under different transient transformation conditions. (A) GUS staining of marigold corollas infected by three different bacterial strains; (B) GUS staining under four different concentrations (OD₆₀₀) of bacterial suspension; (C) GUS staining under four different infection duration; (D) GUS staining under four different co-culture time. (A)-(D) Bars=1 cm

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in the regulation of seed dormancy release and germination. Low levels of ROS can promote seed germination, while excessively high levels of ROS can reduce seed vigor and germination rate. Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) is an important agronomic trait that can cause severe decrease of crop yield and grain quality. Pre-harvest sprouting and seed dormancy are two manifestations of the same trait. Therefore, studying the dual role of ROS in seed dormancy and germination can reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying pre-harvest sprouting. For this purpose, this paper summarized the subcellular locations and metabolic pathways of ROS production during seed germination, focusing on the interaction of ROS with biomacromolecules, plant hormones and other small molecules and the signaling pathways of ROS functionalization. This review provides a theoretical basis for understanding the mechanisms of ROS in the process of crop pre-harvest sprouting.

INTRODUCTION: Ficus hirta Vahl is a common Chinese herbal medicine and edible plant resource in the Lingnan area of China. It contains coumarins, flavonoids and other chemical compounds, which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral and antitumor effects. However, F. hirta exhibits significant morphological variation in leaf shapes due to its high genetic diversity. 

RATIONALE: To investigate the relationship between the leaf shape differences and the contents of major active compounds, herein, LC-MS/MS was performed to determine the contents of psoralen and bergapten in F. hirta roots from three different leaf shapes (entirc leaf, EL; lobed leaf, LL; Palmately deeply leaf, PDL), and transcriptome sequencing was further employed to explore the potential molecular mechanisms underlying these contents variations. 

RESULTS: Results showed that PDL exhibited significantly higher psoralen content compared to EL and LL, while EL with significantly higher bergapten content than that in LL, but no significant difference was observed between EL and PDL. A total of 60.9 Gb clean reads were obtained, and 46 194 unigenes were assembled. F. hirta had the highest homology with Morus notabilis, according to the homologous sequencing alignment. 2 355, 2 067 and 2 001 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened from three comparison groups PDL_vs_EL, PDL_vs_LL, and LL_vs_EL, respectively. These DEGs were primarily enriched in the pathways such as phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, starch and sucrose metabolism, and plant-pathogen interaction etc. 

CONCLUSION: There were differences in the contents of psoralen and bergapten among the three leaf shapes of F. hirta. The phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and plant-pathogen interaction pathway may play crucial roles in the biosynthesis and accumulation of psoralen and bergapten in F. hirta. This study preliminarily revealed the correlation between the leaf morphology and major active compounds of F. hirta, and extended its public transcriptome database, which will provide reference for further utilizing different leaf shape of F. hirta germplasm resources and quality breeding.

INTRODUCTION: Melilotus albus (M. albus) is an excellent forage crop, suitable for crop rotation and soil and water conservation. However, the stable genetic transformation system and gene editing system of M. albus have not been reported, which limits its application in gene function analysis and the creation of new germplasm resources.

RATIONALE: The plant can produce hairy roots after infection by Agrobacterium rhizogenes harboring Ri plasmids. MtLAP1 expression can activate the anthocyanin synthesis process and then produce purple/red anthocyanin accumulation in the transgenic hairy roots.

RESULTS: This study verified that the 35S::MtLAP1 expression cassette can induce the accumulation of anthocyanins in regenerants, resulting in red color visible to the naked eye. When using the hypocotyls of Melilotus albus as explants, the induction efficiency of hairy root was as high as 62%, and the positive rate was as high as 30.8%. In addition, the research results showed that the gene editing vector, which carried the 35S::MtLAP1 expression cassette and co-expressed the Cas9 and sgRNA modules driven by the constitutive strong promoter of Arabidopsis Ubiquitin-10, could achieve an editing efficiency of 42.5% targeted to Phytoene Desaturase gene in M. albus.

CONCLUSION: This study successfully established a rapid inducing and screening system for positive hairy roots and developed an efficient genome-editing tool for M. albus, laying a foundation for functional gene studies and the development of high-quality new germplasm resources in this species.

Hairy root induction, the-naked-eye screening system and MaPDS gene editing in Melilotus albus.

Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) refers to the phenomenon in which cereal crop seeds germinate on the mother plant under humidity conditions prior to harvest, representing a major constraint on crop yield and seed production. In recent years, with the increasing frequency of extreme climate, PHS have become more common, resulting in substantial economic losses in agriculture. The PHS process primarily involves two key physiological stages: the release of seed dormancy and the initiation of germination. This paper provides a systematic review of research advances in the mechanisms underlying rice seed dormancy and germination over the past two decades. Furthermore, a chromosomal distribution map of cloned rice genes associated with seed dormancy and germination has been constructed, offering precise genetic information for PHS resistance breeding in rice. Additionally, this paper summarizes the regulatory roles of epigenetic factors and non-coding RNAs in rice seed dormancy and germination. It further discusses the molecular mechanisms through which environmental factors such as light, temperature, and water influence these processes, and proposes potential research directions concerning the interaction between environmental cues and plant hormones in the regulation of PHS. Drawing on recent application cases of PHS-resistant genes, this study also outlines future prospects for rice PHS resistance breeding strategies.

Membrane protein trafficking is one of the most important events of eukaryotic cells, which plays a crucial role in cell biology processes such as cell division, differentiation, growth, extracellular nutrient absorption, intracellular signal transduction, and stress defense. Membrane protein transport mainly involves vesicular trafficking pathways including endocytosis, exocytosis, and vacuolar/lysosomal degradation. Adaptor proteins (APs) play an important regulatory role in vesicular trafficking processes such as recognition of membrane receptor proteins, cargo sorting, recruitment and assembly of clathrin, and recruitment of accessory proteins. Currently, five AP complexes have been identified in eukaryotic organisms, namely AP-1, AP-2, AP-3, AP-4, and AP-5. This article mainly reviews the composition, structure, subcellular localization, and biological functions of the plant AP complexes based on the research progress of animal and yeast cell AP. Finally, we initinal some questions about potential function of AP complex and present future perspectives in plants.

Smart agriculture, as a core direction of modern agricultural development, is driving the transformation of agricultural production from experience-driven to data-driven, and from manual operations to intelligent and automated systems. This paper systematically reviews the applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in smart agriculture and the current status, trends, and challenges of smart cultivation, constructing a “sensing-decision-execution-management” closed-loop framework to elucidate its role and value across the entire agricultural process. The sensing layer leverages multi-source sensors, imaging technologies, and the Internet of Things (IoT) to achieve precise monitoring of crops and environmental conditions; the decision layer integrates data-driven algorithms and crop growth models to enable intelligent prediction and optimization of fertilization, irrigation, and pest and disease management; the execution layer employs unmanned agricultural machinery, drones, and robots to perform high-precision autonomous operations; and the management layer utilizes cloud-edge collaboration and digital twins to realize visualized and sustainable farm management. Although smart agriculture is developing rapidly, challenges remain in data assimilation and standardization, and the level of equipment intelligence and environmental adaptability still needs improvement. Moreover, with the massive acquisition and utilization of agricultural data, issues of data security and privacy protection have become increasingly prominent, posing significant challenges to the sustainable development of smart agriculture. The paper highlights that the core goal of smart cultivation is to increase yield, improve quality, reduce costs, and promote green development, while further advancing multi-source sensing integration, intelligent decision-making loops, autonomous operations, and low-carbon farming. The findings provide a reference for the theoretical framework of smart agriculture and offer technical support for the practical implementation of agricultural IoT, AI, and digital agriculture, playing a significant role in promoting efficient, intelligent, and sustainable agricultural production.

INTRODUCTION: Apoplastic barriers differentiated from the root endoderm play important roles in plant stress resistance and nutrient uptake, and the development of suberin lamellae has become a popular research topic in recent years.
RATIONALE: Hydroponic experiments with potassium concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 4.0 mmol∙L^-1 were conducted, using the cultivated tobacco variety Zhongyan 100 as the experimental material, to explore the effects of different potassium supplies on the endodermal suberization and its physiological and molecular mechanisms.
RESULTS: Low potassium (0.1 mmol∙L^-1) stress significantly enhanced the endodermal suberization: the absolute length of the fully suberized region ranged from 0-2 cm in the control to 4-6 cm, and the relative proportion increased from 0-15.0% to 33.2%-44.3%. These findings indicate that suberization is one of the key morphological adaptation mechanisms in tobacco under low potassium stress. Phenotypic analysis revealed that under low potassium stress, root elongation increased while plant biomass decreased, and the potassium ion content and accumulation in both the aboveground and root parts decreased. Additionally, the flow rate and potassium ion concentration in the xylem sap decreased, indicating reduced transport efficiency. Endogenous hormone analysis revealed that low potassium stress increased the abscisic acid (ABA) content in roots while suppressing ethylene and methyl jasmonate levels, forming a specific hormonal regulatory network. The transcriptome data further supported the molecular basis of suberization development, showing significant upregulation of genes related to suberin synthesis and transport (e.g., CYP86, GPAT, and ABCG) and their upstream positive regulatory factors (MYB36, MYB41, MYB92, and MYB93).
CONCLUSION: This study is the first to reveal that low potassium stress regulates the suberization developmental program of tobacco roots through ABA-mediated hormonal signaling reprogramming, providing a novel perspective for understanding the adaptation mechanisms of plants to potassium stress.

Fluorescence imaging of transverse sections of the endodermis development in tobacco roots under three potassium concentrations (bars=130 μm)

INTRODUCTION: The shoot apices and axillary buds determine crop growth and yield potential, with their developmental states directly shaping shoot architecture. However, there are currently few cDNA libraries constructed for shoot apices and/or axillary buds in soybean ( Glycine max). RATIONALE: By constructing cDNA libraries for shoot apices and axillary buds, we can gain an in-depth understanding of the core mechanisms underlying plant architecture in soybean at the molecular level, thereby providing theoretical foundations and genetic resources for the design of high-yielding and well-adapted soybean varieties. RESULTS: This study constructed a yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) nuclear system cDNA library using shoot apices and axillary buds from the cultivar Williams 82 grown under long-day and short-day conditions at different developmental stages. Equal amounts of RNA extracted from these tissues were pooled and subjected to cDNA library construction using the Gateway method, followed by transcript diversity analysis. The resultant library had a capacity of 1.2×10⁷ CFU, with 100% recombination rate and an average length exceeding 1 000 bp of the inserted fragments, covering 29 170 genes. This cDNA library meets the library construction standards and is suitable for subsequent Y2H screening. Using the key floral transition and shoot architecture regulator SOC1a as a bait, we first tested the toxicity and self-activation of the recombinant pGBKT7-SOC1a and then performed library screening. A total of 32 positive clones were obtained, and after DNA sequencing, BLAST alignment, and functional annotation, 14 candidate interacting proteins were identified. Among them, five encoded genes were cloned into pGADT7 vector and subjected to pairwise retransformation assays with pGBKT7-SOC1a, confirming physical interactions between two of these proteins and SOC1a. Furthermore, the interaction between SOC1a and one of the candidate proteins, SEP2, was demonstrated through co-immunoprecipitation and luciferase complementation imaging assays. CONCLUSION: This study establishes a high-quality Y2H cDNA library for soybean meristematic tissues and identifies novel SOC1a-interacting proteins, providing critical molecular insights into SOC1a-mediated regulation of soybean shoot architecture development.

Under the background of the digital and intelligent transformation in education, knowledge graphs, as a typical representative of new digital technologies, are deeply integrated with teaching and learning, becoming a hotspot in the field of education. Leveraging Xuexitong smart education platform and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, a systematic knowledge graph for the course of plant biology was constructed in this study, and teaching practices were conducted to explore its substantive role in teaching and learning. The application results indicate that the course knowledge graph not only helps students organize the relationships between learning points, broaden their knowledge horizons, and thus build a systematic knowledge system, but also assists students in formulating personalized learning paths to improve learning abilities. For teachers, the course knowledge graph serves as a powerful tool for efficiently managing teaching resources. Personalized learning data drives teachers to clearly grasp individual student differences, provide precise guidance, and continuously enhance teaching quality. This tripartite collaborative learning ecosystem of teacher-knowledge graph-student provides a highly valuable practical model for the digital and intelligent transformation of education.

Maize is a main cereal crop in China. The number of tassel branches significantly affects density-tolerant plant architecture, which is the key to increasing yield. Currently, multiple genes associated with tassel branch number, many of which are closely related to plant hormone pathways, have been cloned and identified. This review summarizes the roles and signaling pathways of auxin, cytokinin, strigolactone, gibberellin and abscisic acid in regulating maize tassel branch number, preliminarily investigates the interaction mechanisms among hormones and the impact of environmental factors on hormonal regulatory mechanisms, and outlines the hormonal regulation network for tassel branch number in maize. These findings suggest that plant hormones integrate environmental factors to regulate the tassel branch number. This review aims to provide a theoretical reference for revealing the molecular mechanisms of phytohormone regulation of maize tassel branch number and to lay a scientific foundation for novel cultivars of the maize ideotype through plant hormones.

INTRODUCTION: Cibotium barometz is a medicinal fern species with high economic value, Chinese people produce the traditional medicine herb “Gou-ji” using its robust rhizome. To balance the conservation of wild plant resources with the sustainable development of herbal medicine, much more effort is needed in scientific research on C. barometz, which might be crucial to mitigate conflicts between wild resource protection and the development of the traditional medicine industry. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) is a commonly used method for characterizing plant gene molecular function, and an appropriate reference gene is pivotal for this technique. Currently, limited literature focuses on the gene function studies for C. barometz, and little validated reference genes is available. 

RATIONALE: Previous studies have demonstrated that the expression stability of reference genes is influenced by multiple factors, including species, tissue type, developmental stage, stress treatment, and sequence specificity. Consequently, distinct reference genes are required for different research subjects. When employing RT-qPCR to analyze gene expression pattern in C. barometz tissues, it is essential to pre-validate the stability of reference genes within the novel experimental system. This validation process ensures the accuracy and reliability of experimental results by maintaining proper data normalization. 

RESULTS: In this study, 12 commonly used plant reference genes were identified as candidate genes from transcriptome data of C. barometz rhizome. The amplification efficiency of candidate reference genes was calculated by template gradient dilution method, and eight pairs of reference gene primers with high amplification efficiency were screened out. The Ct values of these eight reference genes in ten tissues of C. barometz were measured using RT-qPCR method; the software RefFinder and Normfinder determined that the best reference genes are CbUBC4 and CbEF1A, respectively. If studying the gene expression patterns of C. barometz at different developmental stages, it was suggested that CbEF1A and CbUBC4 should be used as optimal reference genes. The reference genes CbUBC4 and CbUBC28 were recommended under mechanical injury and waterlogging conditions. 

CONCLUSION: CbUBC4, CbEF1A and CbUBC28 were validated as stable reference genes in C. barometz across distinct experimental contexts, demonstrating their suitability for normalization in gene expression studies for RT-qPCR assay. From a methodological rigor perspective, we recommended that the stability of reference genes should be evaluated prior to conducting qRT-PCR experiments, particularly when analyzing samples from diverse tissues or distinct developmental stages of a specific tissue.

INTRODUCTION: Global climate change and soil degradation have posed new challenges to the breeding efficiency of wheat (Triticum aestivum). Traditional breeding cycles are lengthy and inefficient, making it difficult to meet the ever-growing demand for food. As a major high-quality wheat producing region in China, Xinjiang urgently needs to establish a rapid generation-advancement system and an efficient genetic transformation platform tailored to its local cultivars, in order to shorten breeding cycles and expand the range of transgenic recipient materials.

RATIONALE: Compared to conventional greenhouse conditions, all five materials showed a significant reduction in generation time under artificial climate chamber conditions. XinChun 37 exhibited the greatest reduction, shortening its lifecycle from 92 days to 59 days; In Agrobacterium-mediated embryo transformation assays, XinChun 37 achieved a transformation efficiency of 23.30%, outperforming the other three Xinjiang cultivars but remaining lower than the Fielder control. XinChun 9, XinChun 44, and HeChun 137 also demonstrated measurable transformation efficiencies.

RESULTS: Under artificial climate chamber conditions compared to conventional greenhouse conditions, all five materials showed a significant reduction in generation time. XinChun 37 exhibited the greatest reduction, shortening its lifecycle from 92 days to 59 days; In Agrobacterium-mediated embryo transformation assays, XinChun 37 achieved a transformation efficiency of 23.30%, outperforming the other three Xinjiang cultivars but remaining lower than the Fielder control. XinChun 9, XinChun 44, and HeChun 137 also demonstrated measurable transformation efficiencies.

CONCLUSION: This study successfully established a novel rapid generation-advancement system for the main wheat cultivars of Xinjiang and, for the first time, compared their embryonic genetic transformation efficiencies. These findings will greatly shorten breeding cycles and provide key technological support for expanding the selection of transgenic recipient materials, thereby contributing to germplasm innovation and food-security strategies in Xinjiang and beyond.

The effects of speed breeding on agronomic traits of different spring wheat varieties. Under artificial climate chamber rapid-generation conditions, wheat grew well with normal fertility, all lines showed significantly shortened growth cycles and reduced spike length, while the number of effective tillers increased markedly.

Compared to animal cells, the cell wall is a unique structure in plants. Enclosing the plant cell membrane, it not only provides rigid support to protect plant cells but also participates in various biological processes such as intercellular communication and material transport. In recent years, increasing evidence on how the cell wall regulates plant growth and development has garnered widespread attention. Existing studies have demonstrated its involvement in biological processes like meristem regulation and the establishment of organ anisotropy. This review summarizes recent advances in the regulation of plant life course by the cell wall, particularly during plant development, while also discussing unresolved key biological questions and potential future research directions in this field.

INTRODUCTION: As an important ornamental species, chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) depends on precise flowering time regulation, which is a key factor affecting its economic value and market demand. The bud sport of cut chrysanthemum cultivar 'Jinshan' maintains vegetative growth under normal cultivation conditions and fails to initiate floral transition. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms responsible for its flowering defect remain unclear.

RATIONALE: To explore the molecular basis of the flowering inhibition in the ‘Jinshan’ bud sport, we conducted a comparative analysis using both the wild-type and the bud sport lines. Sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) molecular markers were used to evaluate their genetic backgrounds. In addition, transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed on leaf and shoot apical meristem (SAM) tissues to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with floral transition.

RESULTS: SRAP analysis revealed a high degree of genomic similarity between the bud sport and wild-type lines, suggesting that large-scale genetic structural variations are unlikely to be the cause of the floral defect. Transcriptomic analysis identified a substantial number of DEGs between the two lines. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses indicated significant enrichment of plant hormone signal transduction pathways in both leaf and SAM tissues. Further analysis of flowering-related regulatory networks revealed widespread transcriptional dysregulation. In the photoperiod pathway, abnormal expression of the CO-FT module may have impaired the perception and transmission of flowering signals. In the autonomous pathway, upregulation of MAF2 (a homolog of FLC) and downregulation of FLD likely led to the repression of downstream floral integrators. In the gibberellin (GA) signaling pathway, a significant downregulation of the gibberellin receptor GID1, as well as the downregulation of the GA biosynthesis enzyme GA3ox and the upregulation of the GA deactivating enzyme GA2ox, may result in a reduction in active gibberellin content. In the early regulation network of flower organ formation, the expression of SOC1, AP1, FUL, AFL, and SPLs was significantly downregulated, and LFY expression in the apical meristem was nearly absent. These changes may collectively block floral primordium formation and flower organ differentiation in the bud sport.

CONCLUSION: This study reveals that the abnormal expression of multiple key genes in the photoperiod, autonomous, and gibberellin signaling pathways contribute to the failure of floral transition in the bud sport. These findings provide preliminary insights into the potential mechanism underlying flowering inhibition in the 'Jinshan' bud sport at the transcriptomic level, and provide theoretical support and candidate genes for molecular breeding of flowering time in chrysanthemum. 

Disrupted regulatory network of flowering in the bud sport of chrysanthemum ‘Jinshan’.