@article{wang_recurrent_2026,
	title = {Recurrent sex chromosome turnover mediated by distinct {ARR17} and {PISTILLATA} duplications in willows},
	issn = {1474-760X},
	url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-026-04026-w},
	doi = {10.1186/s13059-026-04026-w},
	abstract = {Sex chromosome turnovers evolve via translocation or duplication of established sex-determining genes, or their replacement by newly evolved ones. Few cases of replacements by new factors have been documented in dioecious plants, but are suspected in Salix, in which both XY and ZW systems occur, with sex-linked regions (SLRs) of different species on various chromosomes. The male-determining genes in XY species’ SLRs are partial duplicates of autosomal ARR17-like genes and regulate the expression of downstream genes involved in stamen development by producing small RNAs that suppress the expression of intact copies.},
	language = {en},
	urldate = {2026-03-20},
	journal = {Genome Biology},
	author = {Wang, Yuàn and Xue, Zhi-Qing and Zhang, Ren-Gang and Zhu, Zhi-Ying and Hörandl, Elvira and Wang, Xiao-Ru and Mao, Yan-Fei and Charlesworth, Deborah and He, Li},
	month = mar,
	year = {2026},
	keywords = {Pericentromeric regions, Recombination landscape, Salix, Sex chromosome turnovers, Sex determination, Translocation},
}

Sex chromosome turnovers evolve via translocation or duplication of established sex-determining genes, or their replacement by newly evolved ones. Few cases of replacements by new factors have been documented in dioecious plants, but are suspected in Salix, in which both XY and ZW systems occur, with sex-linked regions (SLRs) of different species on various chromosomes. The male-determining genes in XY species’ SLRs are partial duplicates of autosomal ARR17-like genes and regulate the expression of downstream genes involved in stamen development by producing small RNAs that suppress the expression of intact copies.

@article{eklof_contrasting_2026,
	title = {Contrasting {Patterns} of {Local} {Adaptation} and {Adaptive} {Potential} {Under} {Climate} {Change} for {Old}-{Growth} and {Planted} {Stands} of {Norway} {Spruce} ({Picea} abies)},
	volume = {19},
	copyright = {© 2026 The Author(s). Evolutionary Applications published by John Wiley \& Sons Ltd.},
	issn = {1752-4571},
	url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/eva.70217},
	doi = {10.1111/eva.70217},
	abstract = {Genetic diversity is a key prerequisite for adaptation to changing environments. Maintaining genetic diversity in forest trees is crucial amid climate change, given their long generation times. Forest management practices can affect the genetic diversity of forest ecosystems through selective felling or reforestation strategies following harvests. To assess how managed forests respond to climate-driven changes, we investigated patterns of genetic diversity and local adaptation by contrasting old-growth and recently planted stands of Norway spruce (Picea abies). We assess both neutral and adaptive genetic variation by sequencing pooled samples collected from 45 first stands across northern Sweden. Our results reveal no significant differences in overall genetic diversity between natural and planted populations, indicating that current forest management practices have not substantially reduced genetic variation. Analyses of adaptive variation demonstrate strong signatures of local adaptation in old-growth populations, with clear correlations between genetic and environmental distances. In contrast, planted stands show weaker adaptive signals and are also at greater risk of non-adaptiveness under future climate scenarios. While current forest management practices preserve much of the neutral genetic diversity necessary for long-term forest health, our findings highlight the importance of conserving and promoting adaptive genetic variation available in old-growth stands to ensure resilience against ongoing climate change.},
	language = {en},
	number = {3},
	urldate = {2026-03-20},
	journal = {Evolutionary Applications},
	author = {Eklöf, Helena and Bernhardsson, Carolina and Ingvarsson, Pär K.},
	year = {2026},
	note = {\_eprint: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/eva.70217},
	keywords = {Norway spruce, forest regeneration, forestry, genetic differentiation, genetic diversity},
	pages = {e70217},
}

Genetic diversity is a key prerequisite for adaptation to changing environments. Maintaining genetic diversity in forest trees is crucial amid climate change, given their long generation times. Forest management practices can affect the genetic diversity of forest ecosystems through selective felling or reforestation strategies following harvests. To assess how managed forests respond to climate-driven changes, we investigated patterns of genetic diversity and local adaptation by contrasting old-growth and recently planted stands of Norway spruce (Picea abies). We assess both neutral and adaptive genetic variation by sequencing pooled samples collected from 45 first stands across northern Sweden. Our results reveal no significant differences in overall genetic diversity between natural and planted populations, indicating that current forest management practices have not substantially reduced genetic variation. Analyses of adaptive variation demonstrate strong signatures of local adaptation in old-growth populations, with clear correlations between genetic and environmental distances. In contrast, planted stands show weaker adaptive signals and are also at greater risk of non-adaptiveness under future climate scenarios. While current forest management practices preserve much of the neutral genetic diversity necessary for long-term forest health, our findings highlight the importance of conserving and promoting adaptive genetic variation available in old-growth stands to ensure resilience against ongoing climate change.

@article{cainzos_loss_2026,
	title = {Loss of {qE} {Does} {Not} {Necessarily} {Lead} to {Photoinhibition}: {Sustained} {Non}-{Photochemical} {Quenching} in the {Absence} of {PsbS} and {Zeaxanthin}},
	copyright = {© 2026 The Author(s). Plant, Cell \& Environment published by John Wiley \& Sons Ltd.},
	issn = {1365-3040},
	shorttitle = {Loss of {qE} {Does} {Not} {Necessarily} {Lead} to {Photoinhibition}},
	url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/pce.70477},
	doi = {10.1111/pce.70477},
	abstract = {Photosynthetic light-harvesting complexes mediate light absorption and energy dissipation. By modulating the photosystems' absorption cross-section, they affect both photosynthetic activity and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). These processes are often studied by spectrally integrated chlorophyll fluorescence, masking their associated spectral information. We explore in Aspen and Arabidopsis npq mutants how qE affects the development of NPQ spectra under two contrasting conditions: in the absence and the presence of photoinhibition. We introduce a new parameter, the development of new emitting species (NESD), during time- and spectrally resolved NPQ inductions, and develop a pipeline to resolve PSII energy-partitioning heterogeneity. LHCII, PsbS, and zeaxanthin are required for NESD. Combining gas exchange, P700 oxidation, and spectrally resolved kinetics, we show that under photoinhibitory conditions, NES can develop even without PsbS or zeaxanthin, producing sustained quenching independent of photoinhibition of PSII or PSI. Furthermore, the absence of LHCII and CURVATURE THYLAKOID 1 leads to increased photoinhibition, indicating that long-term photoprotection relies on LHCII and thylakoid plasticity, whereas PsbS and zeaxanthin mainly facilitate LHCII-dependent quenching. Finally, we show the limitations of traditional parameters in discriminating between photoinhibition and photoprotective sustained quenching and propose time-resolved monitoring of CO₂ assimilation and Y(II) for their accurate assessment.},
	language = {en},
	urldate = {2026-03-13},
	journal = {Plant, Cell \& Environment},
	author = {Cainzos, Maximiliano and Hu, Chen and Pissolato, Maria Dolores and Fataftah, Nazeer and Nanda, Sanchali and Jansson, Stefan},
	month = mar,
	year = {2026},
	note = {\_eprint: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/pce.70477},
	keywords = {NPQ, high light, new emitting species development, photoinhibition, photosynthesis: carbon reactions, photosynthesis: electron transport, sustained quenching},
}

Photosynthetic light-harvesting complexes mediate light absorption and energy dissipation. By modulating the photosystems' absorption cross-section, they affect both photosynthetic activity and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). These processes are often studied by spectrally integrated chlorophyll fluorescence, masking their associated spectral information. We explore in Aspen and Arabidopsis npq mutants how qE affects the development of NPQ spectra under two contrasting conditions: in the absence and the presence of photoinhibition. We introduce a new parameter, the development of new emitting species (NESD), during time- and spectrally resolved NPQ inductions, and develop a pipeline to resolve PSII energy-partitioning heterogeneity. LHCII, PsbS, and zeaxanthin are required for NESD. Combining gas exchange, P700 oxidation, and spectrally resolved kinetics, we show that under photoinhibitory conditions, NES can develop even without PsbS or zeaxanthin, producing sustained quenching independent of photoinhibition of PSII or PSI. Furthermore, the absence of LHCII and CURVATURE THYLAKOID 1 leads to increased photoinhibition, indicating that long-term photoprotection relies on LHCII and thylakoid plasticity, whereas PsbS and zeaxanthin mainly facilitate LHCII-dependent quenching. Finally, we show the limitations of traditional parameters in discriminating between photoinhibition and photoprotective sustained quenching and propose time-resolved monitoring of CO₂ assimilation and Y(II) for their accurate assessment.

@article{alonso-serra_growth_2026,
	title = {On growth and flow: hydraulic aspects of aboveground meristems},
	volume = {249},
	copyright = {© 2025 The Author(s). New Phytologist © 2025 New Phytologist Foundation.},
	issn = {1469-8137},
	shorttitle = {On growth and flow},
	url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/nph.70713},
	doi = {10.1111/nph.70713},
	abstract = {Water is essential for plant growth under both normal and stress conditions. Aboveground, two key meristems control plant development: the shoot apical meristem and the vascular cambium. Here, stem cell maintenance and cell differentiation are affected by hydraulic fluctuations across seasons, days, or even hours. Water fluxes, turgor pressure, osmotic gradients, and tissue mechanics are integrated by molecular signals to provide a robust control of meristematic activity. Despite this fundamental connection, our understanding of how meristems sense and respond to hydraulic changes is only beginning to emerge. Thus, integrating insights from research on plant stress and development opens exciting avenues to study meristem plasticity.},
	language = {en},
	number = {2},
	urldate = {2026-03-18},
	journal = {New Phytologist},
	author = {Alonso-Serra, Juan},
	year = {2026},
	note = {\_eprint: https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/nph.70713},
	keywords = {biomechanics, cambium, hydraulics, meristem, shoot apical meristem, water},
	pages = {722--728},
}

Water is essential for plant growth under both normal and stress conditions. Aboveground, two key meristems control plant development: the shoot apical meristem and the vascular cambium. Here, stem cell maintenance and cell differentiation are affected by hydraulic fluctuations across seasons, days, or even hours. Water fluxes, turgor pressure, osmotic gradients, and tissue mechanics are integrated by molecular signals to provide a robust control of meristematic activity. Despite this fundamental connection, our understanding of how meristems sense and respond to hydraulic changes is only beginning to emerge. Thus, integrating insights from research on plant stress and development opens exciting avenues to study meristem plasticity.

@article{aguilar-trigueros_connecting_2025,
	title = {Connecting the dots: {Network} structure as a functional trait in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi},
	issn = {2572-2611},
	shorttitle = {Connecting the dots},
	url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ppp3.70058},
	doi = {10.1002/ppp3.70058},
	abstract = {Societal Impact Statement Soil health and sustainable land management are critical to addressing global challenges such as food security, climate resilience, and biodiversity loss. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form underground networks that enhance plant nutrient uptake and improve soil structure, yet their functional diversity remains poorly understood, limiting their application in agriculture and ecosystem restoration. By proposing potential fungal transport strategies, we provide a framework for predicting AM fungal contributions across different environments. This knowledge can inform agricultural practices, conservation strategies, and land-use policies, ultimately supporting efforts to harness beneficial microbes for resilient and sustainable ecosystems. Summary Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi construct extensive mycelial networks in soil, serving as critical mediators of plant–soil interactions and nutrient exchange. However, the ability to harness AM fungal diversity for ecosystem management remains constrained by gaps in functional understanding. Trait-based frameworks offer a promising approach to overcoming these limitations, yet their development has been hindered by methodological challenges and the complexity of AM fungal symbioses. Here, we propose that mycelial network connectivity, a structural trait reflecting the organization of fungal hyphae for nutrient transport, provides a mechanistic basis for distinguishing AM fungal functional groups. Drawing on network theory, we identify two key trade-offs that shape AM fungal transport strategies: (1) a trade-off between transport efficiency and resilience to structural disruption and (2) a positive correlation between network heterogeneity and soil heterogeneity. Based on these relationships, we classify AM fungi into potential functional groups and argue that these connectivity-based classifications provide a predictive framework for understanding AM fungal ecological strategies across environmental gradients, with implications for sustainable land management. Future research should integrate experimental measurements of fungal carbon allocation, network plasticity, and species-specific responses to environmental change to refine this framework further. By linking mycelial architecture to functional diversity, this approach enhances our ability to predict AM fungal contributions to ecosystem processes and optimize their use in applied contexts.},
	language = {en},
	urldate = {2026-03-17},
	journal = {PLANTS, PEOPLE, PLANET},
	author = {Aguilar-Trigueros, Carlos A. and Frew, Adam},
	month = jun,
	year = {2025},
	note = {\_eprint: https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ppp3.70058},
	pages = {1--10},
}

Societal Impact Statement Soil health and sustainable land management are critical to addressing global challenges such as food security, climate resilience, and biodiversity loss. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form underground networks that enhance plant nutrient uptake and improve soil structure, yet their functional diversity remains poorly understood, limiting their application in agriculture and ecosystem restoration. By proposing potential fungal transport strategies, we provide a framework for predicting AM fungal contributions across different environments. This knowledge can inform agricultural practices, conservation strategies, and land-use policies, ultimately supporting efforts to harness beneficial microbes for resilient and sustainable ecosystems. Summary Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi construct extensive mycelial networks in soil, serving as critical mediators of plant–soil interactions and nutrient exchange. However, the ability to harness AM fungal diversity for ecosystem management remains constrained by gaps in functional understanding. Trait-based frameworks offer a promising approach to overcoming these limitations, yet their development has been hindered by methodological challenges and the complexity of AM fungal symbioses. Here, we propose that mycelial network connectivity, a structural trait reflecting the organization of fungal hyphae for nutrient transport, provides a mechanistic basis for distinguishing AM fungal functional groups. Drawing on network theory, we identify two key trade-offs that shape AM fungal transport strategies: (1) a trade-off between transport efficiency and resilience to structural disruption and (2) a positive correlation between network heterogeneity and soil heterogeneity. Based on these relationships, we classify AM fungi into potential functional groups and argue that these connectivity-based classifications provide a predictive framework for understanding AM fungal ecological strategies across environmental gradients, with implications for sustainable land management. Future research should integrate experimental measurements of fungal carbon allocation, network plasticity, and species-specific responses to environmental change to refine this framework further. By linking mycelial architecture to functional diversity, this approach enhances our ability to predict AM fungal contributions to ecosystem processes and optimize their use in applied contexts.