The SCR/SHR-CYCD6;1 module is essential for root ground tissue maturation. This study reveals that NAC1 restricts excessive periclinal cell divisions in root endodermis to control ground tissue maturation. Mechanistically, NAC1 interacts with TOPLESS and fine-tunes the expression of CYCD6;1 through coordination with SCR and SHR.

To solve the long-suffered hybrid sterility in inter-subspecific hybrid rice, the authors performed a genome design and determined that four loci, S5, f5, pf12 and Sc, are the minimal targets for overcoming inter-subspecific hybrid sterility. The pf12 gene was cloned and its artificial neutral alleles at this locus that can rescue hybrid fertility were created. Naturally compatible alleles of…

In this study, tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) was engineered into viral vectors for safe, effective, and DNA-free delivery of large CRISPR/Cas enzymes in multiple crop species/genotypes. Virus-free plants with heritable mutations were regenerated with high efficiency from infected somatic tissues upon antiviral treatment. The TSWV-based delivery system is promising to overcome gene delivery…

Modern semi-dwarf rice varieties depend on a high nitrogen fertilizer supply to achieve high yields. A better understanding of nitrogen metabolic processes that respond to nitrogen supply is essential for improving nitrogen-use efficiency. This study reveals a novel mechanism underlying strigolactone and gibberellin crosstalk in metabolic adaptations to changes in nitrogen availability, which…

Alkali stress is one of major constraints for crop production, but little is known about the mechanisms through which wheat responds to alkali stress. This study uncovers that two D-clade type 2C protein phosphatases, TaPP2C.D1/8, negatively modulate alkali stress tolerance by dephosphorylating Thr926 of TaHA2 and thereby inhibiting plasma membrane H+-ATPase activity. The calcium-binding protein…

A chromosome-level genome assembly of Isodon rubescens enables comparative genomic analyses that reveal lineage-specific expansion of tandem-duplicated CYP706V genes in Isodon plants. Two cytochrome P450 oxidases, IrCYP706V2 and IrCYP706V7, are uncovered to initiate ent-kaurene oxidation in shoot apices, where oridonin is highly accumulated. The genome of I. rubescen also encodes multiple…

Crop breeding schemes can be significantly accelerated by using (doubled) haploid plants. In this work, the authors created a double mutant of two egg cell-specific genes encoding aspartic endopeptidases, which can be used as a female haploid-induction system in Arabidopsis and provids a novel tool and strategy of haploidization also for rice. This discovery represents a significant breakthrough…