Plant Cells Research Articles

Lead-acid battery desulfation using a high-frequency pulse desulfator in standalone PV systems

The work presented in this article contributes to the study of a standalone photovoltaic (PV) system with battery storage by creating an electronic board that allows for the recovery of the battery's capacity using pulse technology that uses high-energy pulses from the PV panel to break down and remove the sulfation buildup, which is a contributing factor in the failure of most lead-acid batteries. Different methods or treatments can be used to lessen the impact of sulfation or even get rid of it and achieve battery rejuvenation. Battery sulfation is a process in which sulfate crystals form on the plates of a lead-acid battery, impeding its ability to retain a charge, and decreasing the battery’s overall effectiveness. This process can happen due to various reasons, such as charging for a shorter time than required, charging for a longer period of time than required, or even not charging it for quite some time. Sulfation affects a battery’s lifespan and comes with adverse effects on its performance, though it can be prevented.

Multi-step constant current-constant voltage charging method to improve CC-CV method on lead acid batteries

Multi-step constant current-constant voltage charging method to improve CC-CV method on lead acid batteries

Impact of homologous overexpression of PR10a gene on improving salt stress tolerance in transgenic Solanum tuberosum

Abiotic stresses severely affected crop productivity and considered to be a major yield limiting factor for crop plant. The tolerance to these stresses is a very complex phenomenon involving a wide array of molecular, biochemical and physiological changes in plant cells. Therefore, it is challenging to understand the molecular basis of abiotic stress tolerance to manipulate it for improving abiotic stress tolerance of major crops. Biotechnological approaches and genetic engineering including homologous gene overexpression can be implemented to understand gene functions under well-defined conditions. The Pathogenesis-related proteins (PR10) such as PR10a play multiple roles in biotic and abiotic stress tolerance and, hence, plant development. A PR10a gene from potato cv. Deseree was introduced into three cultivars of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation. Transgenic plants were selected on a medium containing 1.0 mg/l phosphinothricin (PPT) and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), herbicide (BASTA®) leaf paint assay, and Real-Time- quantitative PCR analyses (qPCR). All of the selected transformants showed completely tolerance to the application of PPT application. Experiments designed for testing salt tolerance revealed that there was enhanced salt tolerance of the transgenic lines in vitro in terms of morphological (plant FW, plant DW and plant height) and antioxidant activates as compared to the non-transgenic control plants. qRT-PCR showed that the expression of PR10a gene in the transgenic potato is higher than that in non-transgenic control under salt stress. The relative PR10a gene-expression patterns in the transgenic plants shed lights into the molecular response of homologues overexpressed PR10a potato to salt-stress conditions. The obtained results provide insights on the fact that PR10a plays a major role regarding salt stress tolerance in potato plants

Investigation of the effects of tri-ammonium citrate electrolyte additive for lead-acid battery using lead foil as negative grid

This study aims to create a lead foil anode for lead-acid batteries with high specific energy, lightweight, and corrosion-resistant. The research also discovered that incorporating tri-ammonium citrate (AC) into the electrolyte significantly enhances the cycling performance of the pure lead level foil negative electrode under high-rate-partial-state-of-charge (HRPSoC) conditions. This addition also increases the specific capacity at high rates, resulting in a 2.3-fold improvement in HRPSoC cycling performance at a 1C rate and a 52 % increase in discharged capacity at a 4C rate, compared to the control blank plate without AC. Through X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and other material characterization methods, as well as electrochemical tests, it is proved that AC improves the morphology of lead sulfate into a lamellar stacked structure. It can also effectively refine lead sulfate grains and inhibit sulfation. In addition, pure lead foil batteries exhibit superior capacity cycle stability at a high multiplication rate compared to grid lead-based alloy batteries. Pure lead foil batteries also have a significantly longer cycle life, with a 65 % increase in discharge-specific capacity at a 4C multiplication rate and a 2.2 times and 1.8 times increase in cycle life at 1C and 2C multiplication rates, respectively.

Whole-pathway stimulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis by UDP-glycose: flavonoid glycosyltransferase gene (UFGT) providing new insights into natural product development based on plant cell factory

Anthocyanins are a type of plant natural products (PNPs) that play a crucial role in various fields, including food, medicine, cosmetics, and dyes. However, their primary source is plant extraction, leading to significant ecological damage and resource wastage issues. To address the challenge of achieving ecologically sustainable high-throughput anthocyanin production, this study proposes a plant cell factory (PCF) strategy based on suspension cell culture (SCC). In this study, the key gene VdUFGT involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis was cloned from Vitis davidii, and gene overexpression was conducted using Agrobacterium-mediated methods. Notably, the vgt3 transgenic cell line exhibited 4.4-fold increase in anthocyanin content, reaching 286.9 μg/g (FW) in solid medium, along with enhanced levels of flavonoids and proanthocyanidins. Integrative analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics demonstrated that VdUFGT significantly promoted the expression of genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis, leading to the enhanced accumulation of various flavonoids, including anthocyanins. A small-scale plant cell factory was established, achieving an impressive production of 4.11 mg/g (DW) of anthocyanin within just 12 days, which is 8.5 times higher than that of the WT cell line, with the yield of purified freeze-dried anthocyanin powder reaching 3.17%. The plant cell factory, employing genetic engineering and suspension cell culture, offers a safe, ecological, economical, and efficient approach for the high-throughput production of plant natural products such as anthocyanins.

The Role of Glutamate Metabolism and the GABA Shunt in Bypassing the Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle in the Light

Glutamate is an essential amino acid in both the energy and biosynthetic processes in plant cells. The aim of this work was to study changes in glutamate metabolism upon irradiation of maize (Zea mays L.) leaves with light of different spectral compositions, as well as to identify mechanisms regulating the work of enzymes involved in the studied process. A study was conducted of light-induced changes in glutamate metabolism in maize leaves, mediated by redirecting the glutamate flow to the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) shunt. Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) was more active in darkness, and the irradiation by red light inhibited the expression of both the Gdh1 and Gdh2 genes. EGTA and ruthenium red abolished the effects of light, indicating the participation of Ca2+ ions in phytochrome signal transduction. Contrary to GDH, glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) activity was moderately higher in the light, stimulated by red light, while far-red light reversed the effect. The effect of light on Gad expression was more pronounced than on GAD activity. Irradiation by red light also resulted in the increase in activity of GABA transaminase (GTA), which was abolished by far-red light. The third enzyme of the GABA shunt, succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH), was also activated by light. The effect of light on the expression of Ssadh1, but not on Ssadh2, was phytochrome-dependent. It is concluded that irradiation by light shifts glutamate metabolism from GDH to GAD with the activation of GABA transaminase and SSADH. This suggests that the GABA pathway plays a role in the maintenance of the tricarboxylic acid cycle in the light via bypassing its reactions when the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex is inhibited and the cycle switches to the open mode.

AtLEC2-Mediated Enhancement of Endoplasmic Reticulum-Targeted Foreign Protein Synthesis in Nicotiana benthamiana Leaves: Insights From Transcriptomic Analysis.

Many proteins used in industrial and pharmaceutical applications are typically synthesized within the secretory pathway. While yeast and mammalian cells have been engineered to enhance the production of endomembrane-targeted proteins, similar strategies in plant cells remain underexplored. This study investigates the potential of arabidopsis leafy cotyledon 2 (AtLEC2), a key regulator of seed development, to enhance the production of proteins targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Through transient expression experiments, we demonstrate that AtLEC2 selectively increases the production of ER-targeted GUS without affecting its cytosolic variant. Moreover, leaves agroinfiltrated with AtLEC2 show a significant increase in ER-GFP accumulation compared to controls lacking AtLEC2. Transcriptomic analysis reveals that AtLEC2 promotes ribosome and chloroplast biogenesis, along with the upregulation of genes involved in photosynthesis, translation, and membrane synthesis. Notably, seed-specific poly(A) binding proteins involved in RNA stability and translation initiation, as well as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase-linked to ER hypertrophy-are highly upregulated. This study establishes a novel connection between AtLEC2 and the enhancement of ER-targeted foreign protein synthesis, paving the way for innovative strategies in plant cellular engineering.

A magnetic macroporous α-Fe2O3/Mn2O3 nanocomposite as an efficient adsorbent for simple and rapid removal of Pb(II) from wastewater and electronic waste leachate.

A magnetic nanocomposite adsorbent, comprised of macroporous iron oxide/manganese oxide (α-Fe2O3/Mn2O3), is prepared, characterized, and used for lead(II) removal from both industrial wastewater and leachate of electronic waste. The synergistic interaction between iron oxide and manganese oxide significantly enhances the adsorption performance. The surface characteristics and structural composition of the nanocomposite are examined using high-resolution transmission microscopy, X-ray spectroscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller methods. Under optimized conditions, the present method offers a significantly high adsorption capacity (377.5 ± 8.9 mg.g-1), short contact time (10 min), and an excellent removal efficiency (98.0 ± 0.9%) compared with most of the previously suggested methods. The adsorption kinetics of Pb(II) on the nanocomposite surface follows pseudo-second-order kinetics and exhibits a good fit with the Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) model. These findings highlight the applicability of the α-Fe2O3/Mn2O3 magnetic nanocomposite as a promising efficient adsorbent for the rapid removal of lead(II) from hazardous wastewater. Moreover, the proposed nanocomposite adsorbent exhibits remarkable stability and can be easily isolated from the test sample solution for subsequent reuse. The efficacy of the developed adsorptive removal procedure is confirmed by achieving a complete lead(II) ion removal from some industrial wastewater discharged from lead battery factories and from the leachate of electronic waste.

Enhanced HSP70 binding to m6A-methylated RNAs facilitates cold stress adaptation in mango seedlings

BackgroundCold stress poses a serious challenge to tropical fruit production, particularly in mango. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications are key regulators of gene expression, enabling plants to respond to stress responses, enhance adaptation and improve resilience to environmental challenges.ResultsIn our study, transcriptome-wide m6A methylation profiling under cold stress identified 6,499 differentially methylated m6A peaks and 2,164 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in mango seedlings. Among these genes, six exhibited both significant increases in m6A modification levels and gene expression, 21 showed a significant increase in m6A levels but a concurrent downregulation of gene expression, and 26 showed reduced m6A levels but exhibited increased gene expression, highlighting distinct regulatory patterns in m6A-mediated gene expression control. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed significant involvement in pathways such as potassium ion import, nitrate response, and transcription regulation. Notably, HSP70 was one of the upregulated genes in response to cold stress. RNA immunoprecipitation (RNA-IP) assays confirmed the association of HSP70 with m6A-modified RNAs in vivo, supporting its role in regulating stress-responsive transcripts. Additionally, immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated the formation of HSP70 condensates in plant cells under cold stress, indicating a potential mechanism for localized RNA stabilization. Fluorescence polarization assays demonstrated that HSP70 binds preferentially to m6A-modified RNAs, suggesting its role in forming protective condensates under cold conditions. This interaction between m6A modification and HSP70 points to a potential mechanism that helps stabilize stress-responsive transcripts, contributing to the plant’s enhanced cold tolerance.Conclusionsm6A modifications play a vital role in regulating gene expression under cold stress, offering new insights into mango’s stress responses and potential breeding strategies for cold tolerance.

GmERFVII transcription factors upregulate PATHOGENESIS-RELATED10 and contribute to soybean cyst nematode resistance.

Low oxygen availability within plant cells arises during plant development but is exacerbated under environmental stress conditions. The group VII ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR (ERFVII) transcription factors have been identified as pivotal regulators in the hypoxia response to abiotic stress. However, their roles in transcriptional regulation during biotic stresses remain less defined. In this study, we investigated the biological function and regulatory mechanism of soybean (Glycine max) ERFVII transcription factors during soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines Ichinohe) infection. We provide evidence that soybean cyst nematode infection induces responses at the infection sites similar to those induced by hypoxia, characterized by the stabilization of ERFVII proteins and increased expression of hypoxia-responsive genes. Hypoxia pretreatment of soybeans enhances their resistance to nematode infection. We demonstrate that ERFVII members GmRAP2.12 and GmRAP2.3 act as transcriptional activators to drive the expression of GmPR10-09g, a member of the PR10 gene family highly induced by soybean cyst nematode and positively impacting nematode resistance. Transgenic hairy root analysis of nematode infection for either GmRAP2.12 or N-end rule pathway components (GmATE or GmPRT6) indicates a positive role of ERFVIIs in soybean defense responses against cyst nematode. The results of our study emphasize the important functions of GmERFVIIs in strengthening soybean's immune responses against cyst nematode by transcriptional activation of GmPR10.

Induction of Alkaline Bands in Chara by External Electric Current Reveals the Influence of Plasma Membrane H+ Fluxes on Cyclosis-Mediated Signaling

Long-distant communications in plants and giant plant cells are essential for optimal cell functioning under variable environmental conditions. In characean internodal cells exposed to spotted or flickering light, the redox balance in dimly lit chloroplasts is sensitive to the reducing power produced in brightly illuminated chloroplasts of a distal cell region located upstream in the directed cytoplasmic flow. The distant communication is mediated by excessive production in the high-light region of reducing metabolites that are exported into the streaming cytoplasm and delivered by cytoplasmic flow to light-starving chloroplasts. These target chloroplasts perceive the transportable metabolic signal, which is reflected in the transient increase of modulated chlorophyll fluorescence F '. Previous studies of cyclosis-mediated F ' transients revealed that they are sensitive to natural H+ fluxes across the plasma membrane and that the signal transduction is suppressed in cell areas with massive H+ influx. In this study with Chara australis R. Br., we show that the injection of inward electric current is accompanied by proton influx sufficient for the creation of artificial alkaline band. The combined application of PAM chlorophyll microfluorometry, local light stimuli, and measurements of pericellular pH showed that the microfluidic signal transduction is notably suppressed under artificially produced alkaline band where H+ influx acidifies the cytoplasm. It is hypothesized that changes in cytoplasmic pH regulate the rates of electron flows directed to NADP reduction and O2 reduction, which may disturb long-distance redox control system involving production and consumption of reducing equivalents.

Re-localization of a repeat-containing fungal effector by apoplastic protein Chitinase-like 1 blocks its toxicity

A fungal effector that is toxic to plant cells was identified in Verticillium dahliae. The effector contains a non-canonical Common in several Fungal Extracellular Membrane proteins (CFEM) domain, a tandem repeat region consisting of four 14-amino acid repeats rich in proline, and a C-terminal region, thus is designated V. dahliae tetrapeptide repeat protein (VdTRP). The membrane targeting of VdTRP is vital for its cell toxicity. CFEM mediates the membrane targeting and the tandem repeat region exerts the toxic function upon cell membrane. The chitinase-like 1 (CTL1), an essential apoplastic protein of cotton, can redirect VdTRP from cell membrane to apoplast. Transgenic cotton overexpressing CTL1 greatly enhances cotton resistance to V. dahliae without affecting cotton growth and development, implicating its potential application in breeding cotton with high wilt resistance. Our data demonstrates that genetic manipulation of effector target constitutes potential strategy for improving crop resistance to fungal pathogens.

Packaging "vegetable oils": Insights into plant lipid droplet proteins.

Plant neutral lipids, also known as "vegetable oils", are synthesized within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane and packaged into subcellular compartments called lipid droplets (LDs) for stable storage in the cytoplasm. The biogenesis, modulation, and degradation of cytoplasmic LDs in plant cells are orchestrated by a variety of proteins localized to the ER, LDs, and peroxisomes. Recent studies of these LD-related proteins have greatly advanced our understanding of LDs not only as steady oil depots in seeds but also as dynamic cell organelles involved in numerous physiological processes in different tissues and developmental stages of plants. In the past 2 decades, technology advances in proteomics, transcriptomics, genome sequencing, cellular imaging and protein structural modeling have markedly expanded the inventory of LD-related proteins, provided unprecedented structural and functional insights into the protein machinery modulating LDs in plant cells, and shed new light on the functions of LDs in nonseed plant tissues as well as in unicellular algae. Here, we review critical advances in revealing new LD proteins in various plant tissues, point out structural and mechanistic insights into key proteins in LD biogenesis and dynamic modulation, and discuss future perspectives on bridging our knowledge gaps in plant LD biology.

Plant PI4P is required for bacteria to translocate type-3 effectors.

Type-3 effectors (T3E) of phytopathogenic Gram-negative bacteria fulfill a virulent role, causing disease, or an avirulent role, inducing immunity, following their translocation into plant cells. This study aimed to validate the hypothesis that bacterial T3E translocation requires lipidic compounds in plant cell membranes. Based on genetic, molecular, and biochemical assays, we determined that phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI4P) associated with plant cell membranes is essential for the translocation of T3E by bacterial pathogens. Replicate experimental data revealed that PI4P cooperates with the type-3 translocase HrpF to facilitate the translocation of effectors TAL and Xop from Xanthomonas oryzae and Hop from Pseudomonas syringae into the cells of Oryza sativa and Nicotiana benthamiana, respectively. Genetic and molecular analyses confirmed that, once translocated into plant cells, the distinct effectors induce disease or immunity. Combined genetic and pharmacological analyses revealed that when PI4P content is suppressed via genetic or pharmacological measures, the T3 effector translocation is considerably suppressed, resulting in serious inhibition of bacterial infection. Overall, these findings demonstrate that cooperative functioning of HrpF-PI4P is conserved in bacterial effectors and plants.

TORquing chromatin: the regulatory role of TOR kinase on chromatin function.

The Target of Rapamycin (TOR) kinase is a critical regulator of plant growth and development, integrating environmental and internal signals to modulate cellular processes. This review explores the emerging role of TOR in chromatin regulation, with a focus on its nuclear activities and interactions with chromatin remodeling factors. We highlight the mechanisms by which TOR influences chromatin structure and gene expression, including its involvement in histone modifications and DNA methylation. Additionally, the review discusses the interplay between TOR signaling, the cytoskeleton, and nuclear functions, emphasizing the potential of TOR to act as a bridge between cytoskeletal dynamics and chromatin regulation. Finally, besides TOR-mediated cyto-nuclear shuttling and metabolic regulation, we address the translational control of chromatin components by TOR as additional layers impacting the chromatin landscape. We also propose future research directions to further elucidate the complex regulatory network governed by TOR in plant cells.

Activation of Cryptic Secondary Metabolite Biosynthesis in Tobacco BY-2 Suspension Cells by Epigenetic Modifiers.

Cultured plant cells often biosynthesize secondary metabolites to a lesser extent relative to the mother plants. This phenomenon is associated with epigenetic alterations of the biosynthetic gene(s). Here we investigated the effectiveness of epigenetic modifiers, such as inhibitors of histone deacetylase (HDAC) and DNA methyltransferase (DNMT), to activate cryptic secondary metabolite biosynthesis in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) BY-2 cells. The BY-2 suspension cells cultured with an HDAC inhibitor, suberoyl bis-hydroxamic acid, exhibited strong biosynthesis of four compounds that were originally present at trace concentrations. The induced compounds were identified as caffeoylputrescine (1), 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosylferulic acid (2), 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (3), and feruloylputrescine (4). Biosynthetic activation of compounds 1-4 was reproduced by two other HDAC inhibitors. Treatment of the cells with a DNMT inhibitor (zebularine) also activated the biosynthesis of compounds 1-4, but had a limited effectiveness relative to the HDAC inhibitors, indicating that histone acetylation levels are involved more than DNA methylation levels in the epigenetic regulation of the biosynthesis of compounds 1-4 in the BY-2 cells. Following our previous demonstration using cultured cells of a monocotyledonous plant, this study demonstrates the utility of epigenetic modifiers to activate cryptic secondary metabolite biosynthesis in cultured cells of a dicotyledonous plant.

Heart cockle shells transmit sunlight to photosymbiotic algae using bundled fiber optic cables and condensing lenses.

Many animals convergently evolved photosynthetic symbioses. In bivalves, giant clams (Cardiidae: Tridacninae) gape open to irradiate their symbionts, but heart cockles (Cardiidae: Fraginae) stay closed because sunlight passes through transparent windows in their shells. Here, we show that heart cockles (Corculum cardissa and spp.) use biophotonic adaptations to transmit sunlight for photosynthesis. Heart cockles transmit 11-62% of photosynthetically active radiation (mean = 31%) but only 5-28% of potentially harmful UV radiation (mean = 14%) to their symbionts. Beneath each window, microlenses condense light to penetrate more deeply into the symbiont-rich tissue. Within each window, aragonite forms narrow fibrous prisms perpendicular to the surface. These bundled "fiber optic cables" project images through the shell with a resolution of >100 lines/mm. Parameter sweeps show that the aragonite fibers' size (~1 µm diameter), morphology (long fibers rather than plates), and orientation (along the optical c-axis) transmit more light than many other possible designs. Heart cockle shell windows are thus: (i) the first instance of fiber optic cable bundles in an organism to our knowledge; (ii) a second evolution, with epidermal cells in angiosperm plants, of condensing lenses for photosynthesis; and (iii) a photonic system that efficiently transmits useful light while protecting photosymbionts from UV radiation.

The origin and metabolic fate of 4-hydroxybenzoate in Arabidopsis.

The contribution of p-coumarate β-oxidation and kaempferol cleavage to the pools of glycosylated, free and cell wall-bound 4-hydroxybenzoate is organ-dependent in Arabidopsis. 4-Hydroxybenzoate (4-HB) is a vital precursor for a number of plant primary and specialized metabolites, as well as for the assembly of the plant cell wall. In Arabidopsis, it is known that 4-HB is derived independently from phenylalanine and tyrosine, and that the metabolism of phenylalanine into 4-HB proceeds via at least two biosynthetic routes: the β-oxidation of p-coumarate and the peroxidative cleavage of kaempferol. The precise contribution of these precursors and branches to 4-HB production, however, is not known. Here, we combined isotopic feeding assays, reverse genetics, and quantification of soluble (i.e., free and glycosylated) and cell wall-bound 4-HB to determine the respective contributions of phenylalanine, tyrosine, β-oxidation of p-coumarate, and peroxidative cleavage of kaempferol to 4-HB biosynthesis in Arabidopsis tissues. Over 90% of 4-HB was found to originate from phenylalanine in both leaves and roots. Soluble 4-HB level varied significantly between organs, while the proportion of cell wall-bound 4-HB was relatively constant. In leaves and flowers, glycosylated and cell wall-bound 4-HB were the most and least abundant forms, respectively. Flowers displayed the highest specific content of 4-HB, while free 4-HB was not detected in roots. Although p-coumarate β-oxidation and kaempferol catabolism were found to both contribute to the supply of 4-HB in all tissues, the proportion of kaempferol-derived 4-HB was higher in roots than in leaves and flowers. Within the β-oxidative branch, p-coumaroyl-CoA ligase 4-CL8 (At5g38120) bore a preponderant role in the production of soluble and cell wall-bound 4-HB in leaves, while p-coumaroyl-CoA ligase At4g19010 appeared to control the biosynthesis of soluble 4-HB in flowers. Furthermore, analysis of a series of Arabidopsis T-DNA mutants corresponding to the three major UDP-glucosyltransferases known to act on 4-HB in vitro (UGT75B1, UGT89B1, and UGT71B1) showed that none of these enzymes appeared in fact to have a significant role in the glycosylation of 4-HB in vivo.

Applied potassium negates osmotic stress impacts on plant physiological processes: a meta-analysis

Abstract Potassium (K) availability in plant cells is critical for maintaining plant productivity across many terrestrial ecosystems. Yet, there is no comprehensive assessment of the mechanisms by which plants respond to potassium application in such conditions, despite the global challenge of escalating osmotic stress. Herein, we conducted a meta-analysis using data from 2381 paired observations to investigate plant responses to potassium application across various morphological, physiological, and biochemical parameters under both osmotic and non-osmotic stress. Globally, our results showed the significant effectiveness of potassium application in promoting plant productivity (e.g., +12~30% in total dry weight), elevating photosynthesis (+12~30%), and alleviating osmotic damage (e.g., -19~26% in malonaldehyde), particularly under osmotic stress. Moreover, we found evidence of interactive effects between osmotic stress and potassium on plant traits, which were more pronounced under drought than salt stress, and more evident in C3 than C4 plants. Our synthesis verifies a global potassium control over osmotic stress, and further offers valuable insights into its management and utilization in agriculture and restoration efforts.

Deciphering the molecular logic of WOX5 function in the root stem cell organizer.

Plant and animal stem cells receive signals from their surrounding cells to stay undifferentiated. In the Arabidopsis root, the quiescent center (QC) acts as a stem cell organizer, signaling to the neighboring stem cells. WOX5 is a central transcription factor regulating QC function. However, due to the scarcity of QC cells, WOX5 functions in the QC are largely unexplored at a genomic scale. Here, we unveil the transcriptional and epigenetic landscapes of the QC and the role of WOX5 within them. We find that WOX5 functions both as a transcriptional repressor and activator, affecting histone modifications and chromatin accessibility. Our data expand on known WOX5 functions, such as the regulation of differentiation, cell division, and auxin biosynthesis. We also uncover unexpected WOX5-regulated pathways involved in nitrate transport and the regulation of basal expression levels of genes associated with mature root tissues. These data suggest a role for QC cells as reserve stem cells and primed cells for prospective progenitor fates. Taken together, these findings offer insights into the role of WOX5 at the QC and provide a basis for further analyses to advance our understanding of the nature of plant stem cell organizers.