@article{kumar_high_2026,
	title = {A high spatial resolution transcriptomics of tension wood reveals the genetic program of contractile {G}-layer formation},
	volume = {17},
	issn = {1664-462X},
	url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1929884/full},
	doi = {10.3389/fpls.2026.1929884},
	abstract = {Tension wood (TW) formation in Populus involves the differentiation of G-fibers that deposit a cellulose-rich, contractile gelatinous layer (G-layer). Despite extensive study, the biosynthetic programs underlying G-layer formation have remained incompletely resolved, in part due to imprecise sampling of developmental stages. Here, we generate a high spatial-resolution transcriptome atlas of developing Populus tremula wood by tangential cryo-sectioning of TW and normal wood (NW) forming tissue. We overlaid microscopically determined cell wall thickening profiles with whole-transcriptome data, resulting in seven distinguishable TW and three NW stages and a clear separation of early and late G-layer-specific transcriptional programs during TW formation. Across 22,363 expressed genes, 90 co-expression clusters captured major programs defining cell wall biosynthesis, signaling, cytoskeleton dynamics, and stress responses. Differential expression analysis identified 2,898 genes specifically regulated during early or late G-layer formation—indicating a massive transcriptional reorganization unique to TW. Genes involved in cellulose, rhamnogalacturonan I, arabinogalactan II, and callose metabolism showed distinct induction patterns, including CAZymes not previously implicated in G-layer formation. We also identified G-layer-specific genes, including XTH26 (PtXTH5), SCL18, AGL29, and genes encoding FLA12-like AGPs and LIM protein. Thirty transcription factors different than the secondary wall-inducing NACs and MYBs, and several genes involved in hormonal regulation specifically induced at the onset of G-layer formation represent novel putative regulators of the tertiary G-layer differentiation. Together, this spatially resolved transcriptome provides the most detailed map to date of the molecular program underlying TW formation, offering new insights into G-layer biosynthesis, signaling networks, and cell wall specialization in woody plants.},
	language = {English},
	urldate = {2026-10-16},
	journal = {Frontiers in Plant Science},
	publisher = {Frontiers},
	author = {Kumar, Manoj and Grones, Carolin and Allen, Holly and Lundberg-Felten, Judith and Delhomme, Nicolas and Sundberg, Bjorn and Mellerowicz, Ewa J.},
	month = sep,
	year = {2026},
	keywords = {Populus, contractile cell wall, gelatinous layer, tension wood, transcriptomics},
}

Tension wood (TW) formation in Populus involves the differentiation of G-fibers that deposit a cellulose-rich, contractile gelatinous layer (G-layer). Despite extensive study, the biosynthetic programs underlying G-layer formation have remained incompletely resolved, in part due to imprecise sampling of developmental stages. Here, we generate a high spatial-resolution transcriptome atlas of developing Populus tremula wood by tangential cryo-sectioning of TW and normal wood (NW) forming tissue. We overlaid microscopically determined cell wall thickening profiles with whole-transcriptome data, resulting in seven distinguishable TW and three NW stages and a clear separation of early and late G-layer-specific transcriptional programs during TW formation. Across 22,363 expressed genes, 90 co-expression clusters captured major programs defining cell wall biosynthesis, signaling, cytoskeleton dynamics, and stress responses. Differential expression analysis identified 2,898 genes specifically regulated during early or late G-layer formation—indicating a massive transcriptional reorganization unique to TW. Genes involved in cellulose, rhamnogalacturonan I, arabinogalactan II, and callose metabolism showed distinct induction patterns, including CAZymes not previously implicated in G-layer formation. We also identified G-layer-specific genes, including XTH26 (PtXTH5), SCL18, AGL29, and genes encoding FLA12-like AGPs and LIM protein. Thirty transcription factors different than the secondary wall-inducing NACs and MYBs, and several genes involved in hormonal regulation specifically induced at the onset of G-layer formation represent novel putative regulators of the tertiary G-layer differentiation. Together, this spatially resolved transcriptome provides the most detailed map to date of the molecular program underlying TW formation, offering new insights into G-layer biosynthesis, signaling networks, and cell wall specialization in woody plants.

@article{forsman_effects_2026,
	title = {Effects of high light and elevated temperature on the structure of photosystem {II} isolated from {Arabidopsis} thaliana},
	volume = {164},
	issn = {1573-5079},
	url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-026-01238-w},
	doi = {10.1007/s11120-026-01238-w},
	abstract = {Photosystem II (PS II) is a large membrane-bound pigment-protein complex responsible for extracting electrons and protons from water during photosynthesis and releasing molecular oxygen into the atmosphere. While light is required to drive the photochemical reactions, high light and high temperature can be damaging to PS II. To gain insight into potential structural consequences of such conditions, we performed an exploratory study where isolated PS II complexes (C2S2) from Arabidopsis thaliana were exposed to high light and elevated temperature and employed cryo-electron microscopy for structural determination. This resulted in a ‘high light’ structure (2.74 Å global resolution) which is compared to the published 2.44 Å structure of intact Arabidopsis-PSII vitrified under dim light conditions (control). The high light structure is missing several of the subunits present in the control, including the strongly bound light-harvesting antenna complexes as well as several small transmembrane and extrinsic subunits. Beyond the loss of subunits, the clearest evidence of specific photodamage was found on the acceptor side of the D1 and D2 subunits near the non-heme iron, including the loss of the bicarbonate ligand of the non-heme iron. Finally, we were able to observe that high light/elevated temperature conditions result in the movement of the D1:His252 residue, potentially forming a serine protease triad that may trigger auto-proteolysis of the D1 subunit.},
	language = {en},
	number = {5},
	urldate = {2026-10-16},
	journal = {Photosynthesis Research},
	author = {Forsman, Jack and Graça, André T. and Hall, Michael and Schröder, Wolfgang P. and Messinger, Johannes},
	month = oct,
	year = {2026},
	keywords = {Cryo-EM, High light, High temperature, Photosynthesis, Photosystem II, Structure},
	pages = {50},
}

Photosystem II (PS II) is a large membrane-bound pigment-protein complex responsible for extracting electrons and protons from water during photosynthesis and releasing molecular oxygen into the atmosphere. While light is required to drive the photochemical reactions, high light and high temperature can be damaging to PS II. To gain insight into potential structural consequences of such conditions, we performed an exploratory study where isolated PS II complexes (C2S2) from Arabidopsis thaliana were exposed to high light and elevated temperature and employed cryo-electron microscopy for structural determination. This resulted in a ‘high light’ structure (2.74 Å global resolution) which is compared to the published 2.44 Å structure of intact Arabidopsis-PSII vitrified under dim light conditions (control). The high light structure is missing several of the subunits present in the control, including the strongly bound light-harvesting antenna complexes as well as several small transmembrane and extrinsic subunits. Beyond the loss of subunits, the clearest evidence of specific photodamage was found on the acceptor side of the D1 and D2 subunits near the non-heme iron, including the loss of the bicarbonate ligand of the non-heme iron. Finally, we were able to observe that high light/elevated temperature conditions result in the movement of the D1:His252 residue, potentially forming a serine protease triad that may trigger auto-proteolysis of the D1 subunit.

@article{edwards_frosty_2026,
	title = {A {Frosty} {Genetic} {Screen} {Unmasks} a {Major} {Regulatory} {Role} for {SHORT} {VEGETATIVE} {PHASE} of {Flowering} in {Response} to a {Cold} {Snap}},
	volume = {178},
	copyright = {© 2026 The Author(s). Physiologia Plantarum published by John Wiley \& Sons Ltd on behalf of Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society.},
	issn = {1399-3054},
	url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ppl.71146},
	doi = {10.1111/ppl.71146},
	abstract = {Flowering in plants is controlled by internal and environmental signals, with temperature playing a critical role. Accordingly, Arabidopsis thaliana plants show temperature-dependent variation in flowering time. Because unexpected cold periods can occur at any time, plants have evolved mechanisms to detect such cold snaps and delay flowering. Plants are more cold-tolerant in the vegetative stage, whereas flowers are sensitive and often show reduced reproductive success due to damage to floral structures and gametes. At the molecular level, delayed flowering can be caused by repression of the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) gene, and several MADS-box transcription factors repress FT expression in response to cold. In this article, we used a forward genetic screen to investigate how a cold snap affects the transition to flowering. We germinated an A. thaliana EMS M2 population at 20°C, gradually lowered the temperature to 10°C, and selected early-flowering mutants. Whole-genome sequencing identified seven mutant alleles of SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP), which we named frosty. Yeast two-hybrid assays showed that the corresponding FROSTY protein isoforms differ in their ability to interact with the MADS-box proteins AGL6 and SOC1. These findings establish a central role for SVP in repressing flowering in response to a cold snap and provide novel alleles, several of which affect splice junctions. Our study offers new insights into the molecular mechanisms that govern temperature-responsive flowering in Arabidopsis and highlights the dynamic interplay between SVP and environmental cues.},
	language = {en},
	number = {5},
	urldate = {2026-10-16},
	journal = {Physiologia Plantarum},
	author = {Edwards, Ashleigh and Shankar, Naveen and Jurca, Manuela and Han, Min Kyun and Thordal-Christensen, Hans and Wenkel, Stephan},
	year = {2026},
	pages = {e71146},
}

Flowering in plants is controlled by internal and environmental signals, with temperature playing a critical role. Accordingly, Arabidopsis thaliana plants show temperature-dependent variation in flowering time. Because unexpected cold periods can occur at any time, plants have evolved mechanisms to detect such cold snaps and delay flowering. Plants are more cold-tolerant in the vegetative stage, whereas flowers are sensitive and often show reduced reproductive success due to damage to floral structures and gametes. At the molecular level, delayed flowering can be caused by repression of the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) gene, and several MADS-box transcription factors repress FT expression in response to cold. In this article, we used a forward genetic screen to investigate how a cold snap affects the transition to flowering. We germinated an A. thaliana EMS M2 population at 20°C, gradually lowered the temperature to 10°C, and selected early-flowering mutants. Whole-genome sequencing identified seven mutant alleles of SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP), which we named frosty. Yeast two-hybrid assays showed that the corresponding FROSTY protein isoforms differ in their ability to interact with the MADS-box proteins AGL6 and SOC1. These findings establish a central role for SVP in repressing flowering in response to a cold snap and provide novel alleles, several of which affect splice junctions. Our study offers new insights into the molecular mechanisms that govern temperature-responsive flowering in Arabidopsis and highlights the dynamic interplay between SVP and environmental cues.

@article{anjam_single-cell_2026,
	title = {Single-cell laser ablation uncovers the blueprint of plant development},
	issn = {1360-1385},
	url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1360138526001329},
	doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2026.04.029},
	abstract = {Understanding how positional information within plant tissues shapes developmental programs in real time has long remained a challenge due to technical limitations in precisely accessing and manipulating defined cellular domains within complex tissues. Recent advances in single-cell laser ablation, particularly when combined with confocal microscopy, now allow precise spatiotemporal perturbation of selected cells. This technology has enabled researchers to dissect cellular functions, communication dynamics, and mechanical responses with unprecedented accuracy. Here, we review how laser ablation has emerged as a transformative approach in plant biology, from unraveling the signaling networks governing meristem maintenance and root patterning to modeling wound responses and immune activation.},
	urldate = {2026-05-29},
	journal = {Trends in Plant Science},
	author = {Anjam, Muhammad S. and Di Fino, Luciano Martín and Ma, Xuemin and Marhavý, Peter},
	month = may,
	year = {2026},
	keywords = {mechanobiology, phytohormone crosstalk, single-cell ablation, tissue regeneration, wound signaling},
}

Understanding how positional information within plant tissues shapes developmental programs in real time has long remained a challenge due to technical limitations in precisely accessing and manipulating defined cellular domains within complex tissues. Recent advances in single-cell laser ablation, particularly when combined with confocal microscopy, now allow precise spatiotemporal perturbation of selected cells. This technology has enabled researchers to dissect cellular functions, communication dynamics, and mechanical responses with unprecedented accuracy. Here, we review how laser ablation has emerged as a transformative approach in plant biology, from unraveling the signaling networks governing meristem maintenance and root patterning to modeling wound responses and immune activation.

@article{sharathkumar_trehalose_2026,
	title = {Trehalose 6-phosphate: {A} master regulator of plant development},
	volume = {31},
	issn = {1360-1385},
	shorttitle = {Trehalose 6-phosphate},
	url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1360138526001378},
	doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2026.05.001},
	abstract = {Trehalose 6-phosphate (T6P), a trehalose synthesis intermediate and sugar phosphate, serves as a signaling molecule coordinating sucrose status with plant growth and development. Beyond its metabolic role, the T6P pathway integrates exogenous and other endogenous cues to regulate key developmental transitions, including embryogenesis, seed maturation and filling, shoot branching, vegetative and reproductive phase transitions, and tuber and lateral root formation. Dynamic spatiotemporal expression patterns of T6P-pathway genes correlate with developmental stages, though their specific contributions to the initiation and progression of these transitions remain under investigation. Here, we provide recent insights and future perspectives on the T6P pathway, emphasizing its role in orchestrating diverse plant developmental programs across model and crop species and highlighting emerging mechanistic insights into its functions.},
	number = {10},
	urldate = {2026-10-09},
	journal = {Trends in Plant Science},
	author = {SharathKumar, Malleshaiah and Zacharaki, Vasiliki and Muniz Nardeli, Sarah and Seibert, Tanja and Wahl, Vanessa},
	month = oct,
	year = {2026},
	keywords = {T6P–SnRK1 axis, crop improvement, crop resilience, energy management, trehalose 6-phosphate synthase genes, trehalose6-phosphate phosphatase genes},
	pages = {1269--1281},
}

Trehalose 6-phosphate (T6P), a trehalose synthesis intermediate and sugar phosphate, serves as a signaling molecule coordinating sucrose status with plant growth and development. Beyond its metabolic role, the T6P pathway integrates exogenous and other endogenous cues to regulate key developmental transitions, including embryogenesis, seed maturation and filling, shoot branching, vegetative and reproductive phase transitions, and tuber and lateral root formation. Dynamic spatiotemporal expression patterns of T6P-pathway genes correlate with developmental stages, though their specific contributions to the initiation and progression of these transitions remain under investigation. Here, we provide recent insights and future perspectives on the T6P pathway, emphasizing its role in orchestrating diverse plant developmental programs across model and crop species and highlighting emerging mechanistic insights into its functions.