Sheath blight (ShB), caused by the necrotrophic fungus Rhizoctonia solani, is a globally destructive rice disease responsible for significant yield losses. However, the absence of characterized genes ...

Heavy metal pollution severely impacts plant health by inhibiting growth, photosynthesis, enzyme activities, and causing oxidative stress. Plants respond to such stress by activating complex defense m...

Plant cells exhibit an extraordinary regenerative potential, achieving cellular totipotency by dedifferentiating to form new tissues. While significant progress has been made in understanding cell fat...

Understanding the genetic mechanism of cold adaptation in cashmere goats and dairy goats is very important to improve their production performance. The purpose of this study was to comprehensively analyze the genetic basis of goat adaptation to cold environments, clarify the impact of environmental factors on genome diversity, and lay the foundation for breeding goat breeds to adapt to climate change. A total of 240 dairy goats were subjected to genome resequencing, and the whole genome sequencing data of 57 individuals from 6 published breeds were incorporated. By integrating multiple approaches such as phylogenetic analysis, population structure analysis, gene flow and population history exploration, selection signal analysis, and genome-environment association analysis, an in-depth investigation was carried out. Phylogenetic analysis unraveled the genetic relationships and differentiation patterns among dairy goats and other goat breeds. Through signal analysis (θπ, FST, XP-CLR), we identified numerous candidate genes associated with cold adaptation in dairy goats (STRIP1, ALX3, HTR4, NTRK2, MRPL11, PELI3, DPP3, BBS1) and cashmere goats (MED12L, MARC2, MARC1, DSG3, C6H4orf22, CHD7, MYPN, KIAA0825, MITF). Genome-environment association (GEA) analysis confirmed the link between these genes and environmental factors. Moreover, a detailed analysis of the critical genes C6H4orf22 and STRIP1 demonstrated their significant roles in the geographical variations of cold adaptation and allele frequency differences among different breeds. This study contributes to understanding the genetic basis of cold adaptation, providing crucial theoretical support for precision breeding programs aimed at improving production performance in cold regions by leveraging adaptive alleles, thereby ensuring sustainable animal husbandry.

Nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) proteins assemble into genetically linked pairs to mediate effector-triggered immunity (ETI) in plants. Here, we characterize the paired NLRs NRCX and NARY (NRCX adjacent resistance gene Y) in Nicotiana benthamiana. CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of NRCX caused severe dwarfism and constitutively activated immunity, marked by PR1 upregulation and enhanced resistance to Phytophthora capsici. Co-silencing or double knockout of the adjacent NLR NARY partially rescued the nrcx phenotype, revealing NARY as a compensatory regulator that modulates growth and immunity. Structural analysis revealed that NARY harbors non-canonical Walker B and MHD motifs, which lack autoactivation capacity despite their divergence from canonical NLR executors. Split-luciferase and co-immunoprecipitation assays showed that NRCX and NARY interact exclusively through their CC domains, forming a non-canonical regulatory complex. Notably, simultaneous silencing of NRC2/3 and NARY incompletely restored growth in nrcx mutants, implicating additional factors in immune modulation. Our findings establish NARY as a compensatory NLR partner of NRCX that fine-tunes immunity without triggering cell death, revealing a novel mechanism for balancing growth and defense in Solanaceae.

Environmental stress adaptation is crucial for the survival and pathogenicity of plant fungal pathogens. In this study, we identified a transcription factor FgMsn2 in Fusarium graminearum, an ortholog of Msn2 in budding yeast. Structural analysis showed that the C2H2 zinc-finger domain is highly conserved across fungi, while other regions are less conserved, suggesting that FgMsn2 may have species-specific functions. Subsequently, we revealed that FgMsn2 is critical for vegetative growth, and conidiogenesis. Deletion of FgMSN2 severely reduced the deoxynivalenol (DON) production and pathogenicity, while enhancing tolerance to oxidative, osmotic, cell wall and membrane stresses. Furthermore, our RNA-seq analysis revealed that FgMsn2 regulates genes involved in energy metabolism, lipid metabolism and stress responses, emphasizing its role in maintaining metabolic balance and stress adaptability. Notably, FgMsn2 influences mitochondrial morphology, as the Fgmsn2 mutant exhibited disrupted mitochondrial structures and reduced ATP production. The Fgmsn2 mutant also showed increased lipid droplet accumulation, indicating the FgMsn2’s role in lipid metabolism. Taken together, the FgMsn2 serves as a key regulator in fungal development, plant infection, stress responses, and metabolism. Our study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms of fungal stress adaptation and pathogenicity, suggesting a potential target for the development of more effective fungicides and disease management strategies.

Crown rot (CR), caused by Fusarium pseudograminearum and related species, is a soil-borne disease threatening global wheat (Triticum aestivum) production, with yield losses exceeding 50% under severe infections. The rapid spread of CR in China, driven by straw retention policies and warming climates, highlights the need for interdisciplinary solutions. This review systematically integrates advances in CR research and addresses pathogen biology, host resistance, and sustainable management. Research on pathogen biology has clarified the distribution of major Fusarium species, the infection process, toxin profiles, mating types, and virulence factors. Host resistance to CR is quantitatively controlled, and through quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping and omics-based approaches, several genes encoding transcription factors, receptor-like kinases and enzymes, signaling pathways and secondary metabolites involved in resistance have been identified. Advances in control strategies, including chemical and biological methods, as well as the application of nanotechnology, have shown promising results. The review also highlights future research directions, such as investigating the molecular mechanisms of pathogen-host interactions, identifying effectors and susceptibility genes for CR in wheat, and integrating multi-omics studies with high-resolution genetic maps to pinpoint CR resistance genes. These efforts are crucial for improving our understanding of the disease and developing effective management strategies.

Apple replant disease (ARD) poses a serious threat to apple cultivation, primarily caused by the accumulation of Fusarium species. Bacillus species have demonstrated significant potential as microbial agents, with capabilities in promoting plant growth, suppressing soil-borne pathogens, and improving soil quality. Here in this study, strain LRB-5 was isolated from a healthy apple root system and identified as Bacillus vallismortis based on physiological and biochemical characterization and molecular sequencing analysis. It exhibited broad-spectrum antifungal activity against various Fusarium species, including F. oxysporum, F. moniliforme, F. proliferatum, and F. solani, with inhibition rates exceeding 65%. LRB-5 extracellular metabolites significantly inhibited Fusarium mycelial growth and spore germination. Greenhouse experiments demonstrated that LRB-5 reduced ARD disease severity by more than 50%. The volatile organic compounds produced by LRB-5 exhibited both antimicrobial activity and growth-promoting properties. Further assays revealed LRB-5 can secrete various cell wall-degrading enzymes and possesses plant growth-promoting capabilities. Pot experiments showed LRB-5 had excellent colonization ability in the rhizosphere of Malus hupehensis Rehd. seedlings, significantly increasing seedling biomass, soil bacterial and actinomycete populations, and the activity of root protective enzymes. Moreover, LRB-5 significantly enhanced the activity of soil enzymes while reducing the contents of phlorizin, benzoic acid, and p-hydroxybenzoic acid in the rhizosphere soil. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism and quantitative real-time PCR analyses revealed that LRB-5 improved bacterial carbon utilization, increased microbial diversity indices, reduced the abundance of Fusarium spp., and altered the structure of soil microbial communities. Collectively, these rusults suggest that LRB-5 effectively alleviated ARD by protecting apple roots from Fusarium infection and phenolic acid toxicity, optimizing soil microbial communities, and promoting plant growth. Future research should explore the combined application of LRB-5 with other control measures, thereby promoting its practical implementation.

Wall-associated receptor kinases (WAKs) and WAK-likes (WAKLs) play pivotal roles in regulating plant immunity, through multiple downstream signaling components. However, knowledge of WAKs/WAKLs in wheat immune responses to rust diseases remain limited. In this study, we identified and characterized a wheat WAKL, TaWAKL8-2B, which is upregulated during wheat resistance to both Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) and Puccinia triticina (Ptt), indicating its role in wheat resistance to these two rust fungi. Transgenic wheat plants overexpressing TaWAKL8-2B exhibited enhanced resistance to stripe rust and leaf rust, accompanied by increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and up-regulated defense-related gene expression. Whereas, knockout TaWAKL8-2B reduced resistance to Pst and Ptt with less ROS accumulation, highlighting its positive role in wheat resistance. RNA-seq analysis revealed that 33 genes encoding ROS-scavenging enzymes were upregulated in TaWAKL8-2B-KO plants, explaining the reduced ROS. KEGG analysis enriched the monoterpenoid pathway, particularly the linalool biosynthesis pathway, with linalool synthases significantly downregulated in TaWAKL8-2B-KO plants. Correspondingly, linalool synthase content and linalool content decreased in knockout plants. Collectively, our findings uncover a novel mechanism by which TaWAKL8-2B positively modulates wheat rust resistance through modulating linalool biosynthesis and peroxidase activity. These results enhance our understanding of TaWAKL8-2B mediated immune signaling and offer a promising gene for improving wheat broad-spectrum resistance to rust diseases.

Heat stress (HS) disrupts intestinal homeostasis and hepatic lipid metabolism in poultry, yet effective interventions remain limited. We investigate the protective effects of dietary glycerol monolaur...

Fusarium head blight (FHB, also known as wheat scab or ear blight), caused primarily by the Fusarium graminearum, is a worldwide disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Studying the pathogen expansio...

Given that lactoferrin (LF) exerts an excellent protection of intestinal homeostasis, the underlying mechanisms, especially epigenetic regulations, are still unknown. This study aimed to investigate t...

Heat stress (HS) is a major environmental stress that inhibits plant growth and development. Plants have evolved various mechanisms to cope with heat stress, a key one being the HSF-HSP (Heat stress t...

Heat stress (HS) is a major environmental stress that inhibits plant growth and development. Plants have evolved various mechanisms to cope with heat stress, a key one being the HSF-HSP (Heat stress t...

Soil salinization and alkalization have become an increasingly severe global issues, significantly limiting both the yield and quality of apples (Malus × domestica). M9-T337 is a widely used apple dwa...

Trail development is more prevalent as tourism develops globally. The depth effect of trail development on plant diversity and native species’ stress response via tuning flavonoids in natural ecosyste...

Aphids are highly destructive agricultural pests characterized by complex life cycles and phenotypic variability, facilitating their adaptation to diverse climates and host plants. Their feeding behav...

Receptor-like cytoplasmic kinases (RLCKs) function as a central player in plant receptor kinases-mediated signaling, which regulate various aspects of plant immunity and growth. RLCKs receive signals ...

InDel markers are commonly used to assess genetic relationships among populations. In this study, we employed a whole-genome sequence comparison method to identify and develop InDel markers for the ri...

Litchi, a fruit that is highly sought-after worldwide, faces significant yield challenges due to litchi downy blight, primarily caused by Phytophthora litchii. Fluopicolide has exhibited remarkable ef...

Drought is a common environmental condition that significantly impairs plant growth. In response to drought, plants close their stomata to minimize transpiration and meanwhile activate many stress-res...

Trehalose-6-phosphate (T6P), an intermediate in trehalose metabolic pathways, is ubiquitously present in nearly all cellular organisms except vertebrates. The most well-characterized metabolic route i...

Wheat stripe rust, caused by an obligate biotrophic pathogen Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) seriously threatens wheat production. Discovering and utilizing of wheat resistance genes is the ...