@article{biswal_ectopic_2025,
	title = {Ectopic expression of pectate lyase \textit{{Ptxt}}{PL1}-27 in aspen affects leaf cuticle development},
	volume = {28},
	issn = {2589-0042},
	url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225022242},
	doi = {10.1016/j.isci.2025.113963},
	abstract = {Cuticle - a hydrophobic barrier of cutin and waxes covering the outer cell wall surface of plants - enables survival in terrestrial habitats. However, it is not understood how the hydrophobic cuticle precursors travel through the homogalacturonan-rich hydrophilic cell wall. To elucidate the role of homogalacturonan in cuticle development, we disrupted its integrity by overexpressing a pectate lyase, PtxtPL1-27, in aspen. PtxtPL1-27 had pleiotropic effects on shoot development, including the reduction of cuticle thickness and changes in cutin and wax composition, but the expression of cutin biosynthetic genes was little affected. Despite a reduction in homogalacturonan content in the leaves, labeling with the homogalacturonan-specific antibody JIM5 in the outer epidermal cell wall layer increased and displayed an altered pattern. Moreover, the ultrastructure of cell walls was changed concomitant with lipid accumulation. We propose that the disruption of homogalacturonan integrity affected the cutinsome-dependent transport and polymerization of cutin monomers in the cell wall.},
	number = {12},
	urldate = {2025-11-28},
	journal = {iScience},
	author = {Biswal, Ajaya K. and Banasiak, Alicja and Fernández-Moreno, Josefina-Patricia and Mitra, Madhusree and Harholt, Jesper and Derba-Maceluch, Marta and Majda, Mateusz and Kushwah, Sunita and Kumar, Vikash and Abreu, Ilka and Sivan, Pramod and Pattathil, Sivakumar and Immerzeel, Peter and Gorzsás, András and Moritz, Thomas and Hahn, Michael G. and Scheller, Henrik Vibe and Aharoni, Asaph and Mellerowicz, Ewa J.},
	month = dec,
	year = {2025},
	keywords = {Plant Biology, Plant anatomy, Plant development, Plant physiology},
	pages = {113963},
}

Cuticle - a hydrophobic barrier of cutin and waxes covering the outer cell wall surface of plants - enables survival in terrestrial habitats. However, it is not understood how the hydrophobic cuticle precursors travel through the homogalacturonan-rich hydrophilic cell wall. To elucidate the role of homogalacturonan in cuticle development, we disrupted its integrity by overexpressing a pectate lyase, PtxtPL1-27, in aspen. PtxtPL1-27 had pleiotropic effects on shoot development, including the reduction of cuticle thickness and changes in cutin and wax composition, but the expression of cutin biosynthetic genes was little affected. Despite a reduction in homogalacturonan content in the leaves, labeling with the homogalacturonan-specific antibody JIM5 in the outer epidermal cell wall layer increased and displayed an altered pattern. Moreover, the ultrastructure of cell walls was changed concomitant with lipid accumulation. We propose that the disruption of homogalacturonan integrity affected the cutinsome-dependent transport and polymerization of cutin monomers in the cell wall.

@article{jiao_integrating_2025,
	title = {Integrating parental breeding value, genetic gain, and gamete contribution for elite family selection in {Platycladus} orientalis},
	volume = {37},
	issn = {1993-0607},
	url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-025-01943-7},
	doi = {10.1007/s11676-025-01943-7},
	abstract = {Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco seed orchards play an important role in sustainable forestry in China but balancing genetic gain and genetic diversity remains a significant challenge. Two key factors influence the success of seed orchards: parental breeding value and gamete contribution, as they determine both the genetic gain and diversity of the seed crops produced. This study aimed to optimize breeding strategies by analyzing parental breeding value, gamete contribution, and genetic gain across two growth periods (89 families in 2008 and 52 families in 2021). We evaluated height, diameter at breast height, and stem volume of progeny in a primary seed orchard, uncovering significant genetic variation among families. Interestingly, no correlation was found between growth traits and gamete contribution, indicating their independence. Using comprehensive scoring and PCA-biplot analysis, we consistently identified several elite families with superior growth performance in both years. We propose an optimal breeding strategy that combines 30\% selective harvesting and 50\% selective thinning to effectively balance genetic gain and genetic diversity, addressing a critical goal in tree improvement programs. The selected families and optimized strategy provide a scalable framework not only for P. orientalis but also for other conifer species globally, enhancing both productivity and genetic diversity in afforestation efforts.},
	language = {en},
	number = {1},
	urldate = {2025-11-28},
	journal = {Journal of Forestry Research},
	author = {Jiao, Si-Qian and Li, Meiyu and Li, Zhi-Chao and Bao, Yu-Tao and Zhang, Hui-Jin and Yang, Xiao-Lei and El-Kassaby, Yousry Aly and Cheng, Shi-Ping and Mao, Jian-Feng},
	month = nov,
	year = {2025},
	keywords = {Breeding strategy, Comprehensive evaluation, Genetic gain, Platycladus orientalis, Progeny test},
	pages = {5},
}

Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco seed orchards play an important role in sustainable forestry in China but balancing genetic gain and genetic diversity remains a significant challenge. Two key factors influence the success of seed orchards: parental breeding value and gamete contribution, as they determine both the genetic gain and diversity of the seed crops produced. This study aimed to optimize breeding strategies by analyzing parental breeding value, gamete contribution, and genetic gain across two growth periods (89 families in 2008 and 52 families in 2021). We evaluated height, diameter at breast height, and stem volume of progeny in a primary seed orchard, uncovering significant genetic variation among families. Interestingly, no correlation was found between growth traits and gamete contribution, indicating their independence. Using comprehensive scoring and PCA-biplot analysis, we consistently identified several elite families with superior growth performance in both years. We propose an optimal breeding strategy that combines 30% selective harvesting and 50% selective thinning to effectively balance genetic gain and genetic diversity, addressing a critical goal in tree improvement programs. The selected families and optimized strategy provide a scalable framework not only for P. orientalis but also for other conifer species globally, enhancing both productivity and genetic diversity in afforestation efforts.

@article{wang_genetic_2025,
	title = {Genetic control of seasonal meristem arrest in trees},
	volume = {122},
	url = {https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2505641122},
	doi = {10.1073/pnas.2505641122},
	abstract = {Perennial plants, such as trees native to temperate and boreal regions, exhibit meristems that undergo annual cycles of activity and rest to synchronize their growth cycles with seasonal changes, ensuring survival under harsh winter conditions. The arrest of shoot meristem growth, known as growth cessation, is a critical initial step for trees to enter dormancy. This process is triggered by a combination of endogenous and exogenous signals, yet the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways underlying growth cessation remain poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that Populus orthologs of APETALA2-like transcription factors (AP2Ls), the primary regulators of global proliferative arrest (GPA) in Arabidopsis, play a crucial role in the regulation of seasonal growth cessation in hybrid aspen trees. In particular, AP2Ls act as important activators of the expression of FLOWERING LOCUS T2 (FT2), a key gene for short-day-induced growth cessation. This contrasts with the established role of AP2Ls as repressors of FT in annual plants. Yet, the pathway itself is conserved with the pathway regulating GPA in annual plants, a completely different process during the plant life cycle. Our research highlights both the conserved roles and functional diversities of AP2Ls in a more general balancing of meristem proliferation and arrest in perennial plants, providing insights into the evolutionary adaptation of growth regulation mechanisms across plant species.},
	number = {48},
	urldate = {2025-11-28},
	journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences},
	author = {Wang, Jun and Liao, Xiaoli and Wu, Zhihao and Sane, Shashank and Han, Shaopeng and Chen, Qihui and Shi, Xueping and Dai, Xiaokang and Klintenäs, Maria and Nilsson, Ove and Ding, Jihua},
	month = dec,
	year = {2025},
	note = {Publisher: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences},
	pages = {e2505641122},
}

Perennial plants, such as trees native to temperate and boreal regions, exhibit meristems that undergo annual cycles of activity and rest to synchronize their growth cycles with seasonal changes, ensuring survival under harsh winter conditions. The arrest of shoot meristem growth, known as growth cessation, is a critical initial step for trees to enter dormancy. This process is triggered by a combination of endogenous and exogenous signals, yet the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways underlying growth cessation remain poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that Populus orthologs of APETALA2-like transcription factors (AP2Ls), the primary regulators of global proliferative arrest (GPA) in Arabidopsis, play a crucial role in the regulation of seasonal growth cessation in hybrid aspen trees. In particular, AP2Ls act as important activators of the expression of FLOWERING LOCUS T2 (FT2), a key gene for short-day-induced growth cessation. This contrasts with the established role of AP2Ls as repressors of FT in annual plants. Yet, the pathway itself is conserved with the pathway regulating GPA in annual plants, a completely different process during the plant life cycle. Our research highlights both the conserved roles and functional diversities of AP2Ls in a more general balancing of meristem proliferation and arrest in perennial plants, providing insights into the evolutionary adaptation of growth regulation mechanisms across plant species.

@article{aro_multivariate_2025,
	title = {Multivariate models improve accuracy of genomic prediction for spring frost tolerance in {Norway} spruce},
	volume = {18},
	copyright = {© 2025 The Author(s). The Plant Genome published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Crop Science Society of America.},
	issn = {1940-3372},
	url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/tpg2.70151},
	doi = {10.1002/tpg2.70151},
	abstract = {Warming spring temperatures increase the risk of frost damage to emerging Norway spruce (Picea abies) buds by advancing their spring phenology and increasing the frost event frequency. We present a field-based electrolyte leakage assay to assess basal frost tolerance in newly emerging buds. Using this assay, we estimated genetic parameters and tested the effectiveness of multivariate genomic selection (GS) models integrating frost tolerance, bud burst phenology, and height growth. Multivariate models significantly improved frost tolerance prediction accuracy, particularly when incorporating bud burst data, due to a strong genetic correlation between traits (r ≈ –0.63) and high heritability of bud burst (h2 ≈ 0.60). The observed genetic correlations suggest that early-flushing genotypes exhibit higher tolerance to spring frost. Our findings underscore the importance of basal frost tolerance as a complementary trait to traditional phenological frost-avoidance strategies. Additionally, we emphasize that early-stage bud burst assessments in controlled environments can accelerate genomic predictions, overcoming the limitations imposed by long growth cycles. Integrating multi-trait genomic prediction models optimized with bud burst as an assisting trait and optimized model parameters enhances prediction accuracy of spring frost tolerance and supports the development of climate-resilient breeding strategies in Norway spruce.},
	language = {en},
	number = {4},
	urldate = {2025-11-28},
	journal = {The Plant Genome},
	author = {Aro, Tuuli and Tan, Biyue and Chen, Zhi-Qiang and Hallingbäck, Henrik and Suontama, Mari and Westin, Johan and Wu, Harry and Hurry, Vaughan},
	year = {2025},
	note = {\_eprint: https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/tpg2.70151},
	pages = {e70151},
}

Warming spring temperatures increase the risk of frost damage to emerging Norway spruce (Picea abies) buds by advancing their spring phenology and increasing the frost event frequency. We present a field-based electrolyte leakage assay to assess basal frost tolerance in newly emerging buds. Using this assay, we estimated genetic parameters and tested the effectiveness of multivariate genomic selection (GS) models integrating frost tolerance, bud burst phenology, and height growth. Multivariate models significantly improved frost tolerance prediction accuracy, particularly when incorporating bud burst data, due to a strong genetic correlation between traits (r ≈ –0.63) and high heritability of bud burst (h2 ≈ 0.60). The observed genetic correlations suggest that early-flushing genotypes exhibit higher tolerance to spring frost. Our findings underscore the importance of basal frost tolerance as a complementary trait to traditional phenological frost-avoidance strategies. Additionally, we emphasize that early-stage bud burst assessments in controlled environments can accelerate genomic predictions, overcoming the limitations imposed by long growth cycles. Integrating multi-trait genomic prediction models optimized with bud burst as an assisting trait and optimized model parameters enhances prediction accuracy of spring frost tolerance and supports the development of climate-resilient breeding strategies in Norway spruce.

@article{chanwala_tug--war_2025,
	title = {The tug-of-war between growth and cold tolerance in plants: how to create resilient crops with maintained biomass},
	volume = {0},
	issn = {1674-2052},
	shorttitle = {The tug-of-war between growth and cold tolerance in plants},
	url = {https://www.cell.com/molecular-plant/abstract/S1674-2052(25)00396-X},
	doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2025.11.009},
	language = {English},
	number = {0},
	urldate = {2025-11-28},
	journal = {Molecular Plant},
	author = {Chanwala, Jeky and Kindgren, Peter},
	month = nov,
	year = {2025},
	pmid = {41311066},
	note = {Publisher: Elsevier},
}