PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
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2025
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IF 10.5
Xuefeng Wei,Guangjin Fan,Song Yang,Xianchao Sun,Lin Cai
Summary Delivery of exogenous nucleic acid to intact plants is a desirable but challenging technology due to the dominant transport barrier posed by the plant cell wall. Here, we found that three different morphologies of g-C 3 N 4 nanomaterials synthesized from urea can assist in the delivery of exogenous nucleic acids into mature leaf cells of Nicotiana benthamiana . Among these, g-C 3 N 4 carbon dots (CDs) showed a higher ability to deliver exogenous nucleic acid compared to nanoporous and g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets. The delivery ability of exogenous dsRNA and plasmid DNA by g-C 3 N 4 could also be restrained by stomatal closure and the endocytosis pathways in plant cells. Furthermore, the coupling of g-C 3 N 4 CDs with dsCP (CDs@dsCP), which is the dsRNA matching a specific fragment of the Coat protein -encoding gene of TMV, resulted in a superior antiviral effect compared with other morphologies of g-C 3 N 4 @dsRNAs and other loaded dsRNAs, which match Replicase , RNA-dependent Replicase or Movement protein of TMV. Significantly, a single spray of CDs@dsCP provided virus protection for at least 5 days. In addition, the g-C 3 N 4 CDs and g-C 3 N 4 CDs@dsRNA had no adverse effects on plant growth and development. Overall, our study presents a novel biocompatible and convenient tool for gene expression or gene silencing in intact plant leaves by spraying g-C 3 N 4 nanomaterials encapsulated with DNA or dsRNA, the efficiency of which is affected by the morphology of the g-C 3 N 4 nanomaterial, stomatal state and plant endocytosis pathway, and a highly promising solution for plant virus disease, which is an unsolved problem in plant disease control.
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高影响因子
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
·
2025
·
IF 10.5
Caiyun Tian,Chengzhe Zhou,Shengjing Wen,Cheng Zhang,Anru Zheng,Lele Jiang,Niannian Yang,Zhuo Tang,Xiaowen Hu,Zhendong Zhang,Jiaxin Fang,Zhong Wang,Yuqiong Guo
Drought priming is a critical agronomic strategy for enhancing plant drought tolerance, yet the optimal priming intensity and transcriptional regulatory mechanisms underlying subsequent drought responses in the tea plant ( Camellia sinensis ) remain poorly characterised. In this study, we systematically evaluated tea plants exposed to recurrent drought stress under varying priming intensities. Results demonstrated that moderate drought priming specifically conferred superior drought tolerance compared to non-primed controls. Integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic profiling identified flavonoid biosynthesis as the key pathway associated with priming-induced drought resilience. Exogenous flavonoid application and overexpression of six biosynthesis genes ( CsCHS , CsCHI , CsFLS , CsDFR , CsANS and CsANR ) functionally validated flavonoids' role in drought adaptation. Notably, transcriptional regulators CsYABBY1 and CsMYB114 were identified as hub transcription factors demonstrating transcriptional activation potential towards flavonoid biosynthesis. Combinatorial transient overexpression and silencing assays revealed that both CsYABBY1 and CsMYB114 coordinately upregulate flavonoid biosynthesis genes, redirecting metabolic flux towards flavonoid accumulation to enhance drought tolerance. Multimodal validation through yeast one-hybrid assays, dual-luciferase reporter systems and electrophoretic mobility shift assays, as well as molecular docking, confirmed or simulated direct binding of CsYABBY1 and CsMYB114 to promoter regions of flavonoid biosynthesis genes for transcriptional activation. These findings establish a synergistic regulatory model where CsYABBY1 and CsMYB114 cooperatively enhance flavonoid accumulation through transcriptional reprogramming, thereby conferring acquired drought tolerance. This study provides mechanistic insights for developing adaptive cultivation practices and advances molecular breeding strategies for drought-resilient tea cultivars.
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高影响因子
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
·
2025
·
IF 10.5
Tengfei Zhang,Jie Zang,Boming Yang,Qiuxia Wang,Jijun Yan,Peiyong Xin,Jinfang Chu,Huabang Chen,Zhaogui Zhang
Vitamin B1 (VB1) plays a crucial role in sustaining plant health and enabling adaptive responses to environmental stress. The complex maize genome implies a sophisticated VB1 synthesis pathway, with the mechanisms by which VB1 benefits plants remaining elusive. Here, we identified two VB1 biosynthetic genes, THIAMINE REQUIRING 1 ( ZmTH1 ) and its paralog THIAMINE MONOPHOSPHATE SYNTHASE 1 (ZmTMPS1 ), from a natural mutant pale leaf and depauperate growth 1 ( pldg1 ). We elucidated their specific roles in regulating multiple thiamin diphosphate (TDP)-dependent metabolic pathways and their effects on plant growth and stress tolerance. ZmTH1 encodes a chloroplast-localised, bifunctional enzyme comprising phosphomethylpyrimidine kinase (HMPP-K) and thiamine monophosphate synthase (TMP-S) domains. Functional dissection revealed that these domains functioned synergistically, with disruption of one domain significantly attenuating the other, although both can function independently. A frameshift mutation in ZmTH1 ( Zmth1 ) resulted in reduced biosynthesis of VB1, TMP and TDP. Consequently, the activity of TDP-dependent enzymes was impaired, disrupting multiple TDP-dependent metabolic pathways. Additionally, ZmTMPS1 , localised to the cytosol and nucleus, exhibited limited TMP-S activity that partially compensated for ZmTH1 mutation in pldg1 but cannot fully restore VB1 levels. Overexpression of ZmTH1 or exogenous VB1 application enhanced maize seedling tolerance to cold and drought stresses by increasing TDP-dependent enzyme activity. These findings advance the understanding of VB1 metabolism in maize and provide genetic targets for improving stress resilience and crop performance.
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高影响因子
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
·
2025
·
IF 10.5
Jing Wang,Shunyu Xiang,Xiaoyan Wang,Yang Shen,Changyun Liu,Xin Zhu,Weina Liu,Shanzhi Wang,Xiaozhou Ma,Jin Huang,Xianchao Sun
Summary Zinc (Zn 2+ ) is an essential micronutrient that regulates plant growth, immunity and antiviral defence mechanisms. However, its limited bioavailability often necessitates excessive application, resulting in inefficiencies in production and environmental stress. In response, we propose an environmentally friendly and sustainable approach to enhance the utilization of Zn 2+ . We developed CNC@PDA@Zn 2+ by embedding Zn 2+ into the polydopamine (PDA) coating of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). Leveraging the high cell permeability of CNCs, this material increased the transport capacity of Zn 2+ in plants and demonstrated the ability to inactivate viral particles in vitro . Moreover, CNC@PDA@Zn 2+ showed a superior induction of resistance while reducing Zn 2+ content, specifically by reprogramming the expression and localization of the resistance-related non-specific lipid transfer protein 2 (nsLTP2), which enhanced the salicylic acid (SA) signalling pathway in plants. Furthermore, the high conservation of nsLTP2 in flowering plants increases the potential application range of CNC@PDA@Zn 2+ . Importantly, CNC@PDA@Zn 2+ represents the most effective Zn 2+ -based antiviral nanomaterial to date, achieving its effects at the lowest reported Zn 2+ concentration. Overall, our results highlight that CNC@PDA@Zn 2+ can more effectively upregulate the conserved nsLTP2, thereby inducing viral defence responses via the SA pathway. This strategy not only improves the operation and utilization rate of Zn 2+ but also reduces its environmental residues, laying a theoretical foundation for the development of antivirus defence.
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高影响因子
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
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2025
·
IF 10.5
Mingyue Zhao,Jingming Wang,Xinyuan Hao,Jieyang Jin,Junwei Tang,Yueyue Wang,Mengting Zhang,Tingting Jing,Wilfried Schwab,Ting Gao,Xinchao Wang,Chuankui Song
Summary Cold stress severely limits tea plant ( Camellia sinensis ) productivity, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying cold adaptation remain elusive. Here, we identified a cold-inducible glycosyltransferase, CsUGT71A60, through integrative genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and proteomic profiling. Natural variation in CsUGT71A60 was strongly associated with cold tolerance, as evidenced by linkage disequilibrium analysis of flanking SNPs. Functional characterization revealed that CsUGT71A60 specifically catalyses the glycosylation of cis-zeatin to form cis-zeatin 9-O-glucoside in vitro and in vivo. Overexpression of CsUGT71A60 in Arabidopsis enhanced cold tolerance and agronomic traits, including germination rate, tiller number and seed weight, while delaying flowering. Transient silencing of CsUGT71A60 in tea plants disrupted cis-zeatin homoeostasis, impairing antioxidant defences and osmotic regulation under cold stress. Mechanistically, the transcription factor ARR (TEA021099) directly binds to CRM elements in the CsUGT71A60 promoter, activating its expression to fine-tune cytokinin signalling. This study unveils a dual-function glycosyltransferase that orchestrates stress tolerance and developmental plasticity, offering a strategic target for breeding climate-tolerance crops without yield penalties.
研究领域:
植物学
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遗传学
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分子生物学
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高影响因子
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
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2022
·Vol. 20
·期 9
·1770-1785
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IF 13.263
Lei Fang,Zhiyuan Zhang,Ting Zhao,Na Zhou,Huan Mei,Xingqi Huang,Fang Wang,Zhanfeng Si,Zegang Han,Shan Lu,Yan Hu,Xueying Guan,Tianzhen Zhang
Summary After polyploidization originated from one interspecific hybridization event in Gossypium , Gossypium barbadense evolved to produce extra-long staple fibres than Gossypium hirsutum (Upland cotton), which produces a higher fibre yield. The genomic diversity between G. barbadense and G. hirsutum thus provides a genetic basis for fibre trait variation. Recently, rapid accumulation of gene disruption or deleterious mutation was reported in allotetraploid cotton genomes, with unknown impacts on fibre traits. Here, we identified gene disruptions in allotetraploid G. hirsutum (18.14%) and G. barbadense (17.38%) through comparison with their presumed diploid progenitors. Relative to conserved genes, these disrupted genes exhibited faster evolution rate, lower expression level and altered gene co-expression networks. Within a module regulating fibre elongation, a hub gene experienced gene disruption in G. hirsutum after polyploidization, with a 2-bp deletion in the coding region of GhNPLA1D introducing early termination of translation. This deletion was observed in all of the 34 G. hirsutum landraces and 36 G. hirsutum cultivars, but not in 96% of 57 G. barbadense accessions. Retrieving the disrupted gene GhNPLA1D using its homoeolog GhNPLA1A achieved longer fibre length in G. hirsutum . Further enzyme activity and lipids analysis confirmed that GhNPLA1A encodes a typical phospholipase A and promotes cotton fibre elongation via elevating intracellular levels of linolenic acid and 34:3 phosphatidylinositol. Our work opens a strategy for identifying disrupted genes and retrieving their functions in ways that can provide valuable resources for accelerating fibre trait enhancement in cotton breeding.
研究领域:
植物遗传学
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分子育种
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基因组学
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作物科学
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生物化学
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高影响因子
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
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2026
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IF 12.8
Shubin Li,Tao Sun,Dailin Liu,Tong Zhang,Lei Chen,Weiwen Zhang
The single crossover occurring via homologous recombination is a common phenomenon existing among microbes like Escherichia coli , Bacillus subtilis , Vibrio natriegens , Gluconobacter oxydans and most cyanobacteria species, threatening the stability of engineered strains and challenging iterative genetic engineering. Among them, we take the fast-growing cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus UTEX 2973 (Syn2973) as a representative study due to its promising roles for CO 2 fixation and bioconversion. We established three marker-free platforms to achieve stable genome recombination: (i) T4CROSS, which employs two plasmids and four rounds of single crossover; (ii) TRIPLEARM, which uses a single plasmid containing three homologous arms for three rounds of single crossover; and (iii) CRISPRARM, which integrates CRISPR/Cpf1-mediated genome editing with homologous recombination. As proof of concept, we employed the CRISPRARM platform for a three-step sequential engineering of the sucrose biosynthetic pathway. The final engineered strain produced 7.12 g L −1 of sucrose within 4 days.
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PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
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2019
·Vol. 18
·期 7
·1550-1561
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IF 6.84
Qi Gao,Huifeng Luo,Yongping Li,Zhongchi Liu,Chunying Kang
Summary Fruit colour affects consumer preference and is an important trait for breeding in strawberry. Previously, we isolated the Reduced Anthocyanins in Petioles ( RAP ) gene encoding a glutathione S-transferase (GST) that binds anthocyanins to facilitate their transport from cytosol to vacuole in the diploid strawberry Fragaria vesca . The parent of rap was the F. vesca variety ‘Yellow Wonder’ that develops white fruit due to a natural mutation in the FveMYB10 gene. Here, we investigated the application potential of RAP in modulating fruit colours by overexpression of RAP in F. vesca and knockout of RAP in the cultivated strawberry Fragaria × ananassa . Unexpectedly, the RAP overexpression in Yellow Wonder background caused formation of red fruit. In addition, the red coloration occurs precociously at floral stage 10 and continues in the receptacle during early fruit development. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the anthocyanin biosynthesis genes were not up-regulated in RAP-ox; rap myb10 flowers at anthesis and largely inhibited at the turning stage in fruit, suggesting a coloration mechanism independent of FveMYB10 . Moreover, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to knockout RAP in cultivated strawberry which is octoploid. Six copies of RAP were simultaneously knocked out in the T0 generation leading to the green stem and white-fruited phenotype. Several T1 progeny have segregated away the CRISPR/Cas9 transgene but maintain the green stem trait. Our results indicate that enhancing the anthocyanin transport could redirect the metabolic flux from proanthocyanidin to anthocyanin production at early developmental stages of fruit and that RAP is one promising candidate gene in fruit colour breeding of strawberry.
研究领域:
植物生物学
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遗传学
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分子生物学
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农学
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高影响因子
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
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2023
·
IF 13.8
Shaozhuo Xu,Manyi Sun,Jia-Long Yao,Xiuxia Liu,Yongsong Xue,Guangyan Yang,Rongxiang Zhu,Weitao Jiang,Runze Wang,Cheng Xue,Zhiquan Mao,Jun Wu
Summary Stone cells are often present in pear fruit, and they can seriously affect the fruit quality when present in large numbers. The plant growth regulator NAA, a synthetic auxin, is known to play an active role in fruit development regulation. However, the genetic mechanisms of NAA regulation of stone cell formation are still unclear. Here, we demonstrated that exogenous application of 200 μ M NAA reduced stone cell content and also significantly decreased the expression level of PbrNSC encoding a transcriptional regulator. PbrNSC was shown to bind to an auxin response factor, PbrARF13. Overexpression of PbrARF13 decreased stone cell content in pear fruit and secondary cell wall (SCW) thickness in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. In contrast, knocking down PbrARF13 expression using virus-induced gene silencing had the opposite effect. PbrARF13 was subsequently shown to inhibit PbrNSC expression by directly binding to its promoter, and further to reduce stone cell content. Furthermore, PbrNSC was identified as a positive regulator of PbrMYB132 through analyses of co-expression network of stone cell formation-related genes. PbrMYB132 activated the expression of gene encoding cellulose synthase ( PbrCESA4b/7a/8a) and lignin laccase ( PbrLAC5 ) binding to their promotors. As expected, overexpression or knockdown of PbrMYB132 increased or decreased stone cell content in pear fruit and SCW thickness in Arabidopsis transgenic plants. In conclusion, our study shows that the ‘PbrARF13-PbrNSC-PbrMYB132’ regulatory cascade mediates the biosynthesis of lignin and cellulose in stone cells of pear fruit in response to auxin signals and also provides new insights into plant SCW formation.
研究领域:
植物生物学
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分子遗传学
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园艺学
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高影响因子
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
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2025
·
IF 10.5
Tengwei Yu,Zhikai Chang,Bingtang Chen,Lingtong Liu,Zhuyun Deng,Zizhang Wang,Tai Wang
Head rice yield (HRY) is a crucial quality trait that determines the final commodity yield and commercial value of rice. Conversely, chalkiness represents an undesirable appearance characteristic, significantly impairing rice marketability. Thus, developing rice germplasms with superior HRY and appearance traits is highly desirable for rice production and marketing. However, the master modules and regulatory networks underlying HRY and chalkiness remain largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the rice transcription factor OsMYB99 acts as a master regulator conferring high HRY and low chalkiness. Functional loss of OsMYB99 impairs cuticular wax biosynthesis and deposition in caryopses and causes accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in endosperms, consequently decreasing HRY and increasing chalkiness. Mechanistically, OsMYB99 functions as a transcription activator; it binds promoters and positively regulates the expression of wax biosynthesis gene OsGL1-4 and ROS scavenger OsMT2b . OsGL1-4 promotes cuticular wax biosynthesis and deposition in caryopses, while OsMT2b eliminates excess ROS in endosperms. Together, these actions lead to HRY enhancement and chalkiness reduction. Our study uncovers the master regulator OsMYB99 and its molecular network modulating HRY and chalkiness in rice, offering a strategy to improve these traits through modifying cuticular wax deposition and ROS production.
研究领域:
植物生物学
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分子遗传学
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作物科学
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水稻育种
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生物化学
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高影响因子
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
·
2025
·
IF 10.5
Bo He,Yanhao Hu,Xu He,Wang Chen,Wei Yan,Xin Zang,Jiahai Zhou,Yonghao Ye
Dihydroxyacid dehydratase (DHAD), a key enzyme in the branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) synthesis pathway, is a promising herbicide target. Currently, no commercial herbicides target DHAD, and no inhibitors are in development. Structural analysis suggests that coordination with iron–sulfur clusters and hydrophobic interactions with Tyr215 and Phe181 are crucial for inhibitor binding. Based on this model, we designed and synthesised derivatives 4aa–4bb with a benzoxazinone ring. Compound 4bb effectively inhibited Arabidopsis seed germination at 50 μg/mL, reversible by BCAA supplementation. In vitro, 4bb showed a stronger binding affinity to DHAD ( K d = 83.18 μM) than AHAS ( K d = 132.70 μM). Compound 4bb exhibits minimal side effects on wheat seed germination at lower concentrations while ensuring high safety for rice at higher dosages during post-emergence treatment. Greenhouse tests revealed over 75% inhibition of broadleaf weeds such as Eclipta prostrata and Amaranthus retroflexus . The selectivity between crops and weeds is not due to species-specific DHAD differences. Safety assessments showed no significant toxicity to human cell lines and microorganisms. This study confirms DHAD as a viable herbicide target and offers a structural basis for optimising inhibitors, positioning 4bb as a lead compound for new herbicides.
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高影响因子
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
·
2026
·
IF 8.8
Xupeng Li,Hyeon Keun Cho,Shuai Yang,Shuwei Li,Gang Wang,Young Moo Lee
This research was dedicated to the development of high-performance proton exchange membranes (PEMs) via the synthesis of two sulfonated poly(benzothiazole)-b-poly(benzimidazole) (sPBTx-PBI) block copolymers.The structural difference between them is primarily in the length of their hydrophilic chains. Excellent solubility was achieved through the incorporation of hexafluoroisopropyl and phenylphosphine oxide units. Partially cross-linked PEMs (sPBTx-PBI-y) were subsequently fabricated via thermal cross-linking of the hydrophobic PBI segments. The elongation of the hydrophilic block was found to promote water uptake, swelling, and proton conductivity at the expense of oxidative stability. Cross-linking effectively mitigated swelling and greatly improved durability while preserving high proton conductivity. The proton conductivity of the sPBT12-PBI-20% membrane reached 0.115 S cm −1 at 80 °C and 100% RH—exceeding Nafion 117—and maintained a stable operating voltage of 0.79 V over 20 h. Under anhydrous 200 °C conditions, single-cell power densities reached up to 510 mW cm −2 . These results demonstrate that partially cross-linking of sPBT-PBI block copolymers provides a promising pathway toward mechanically robust and highly conductive PEMs for wide-temperature fuel cell applications.
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高影响因子
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