@article{ramanathan_effects_2026,
	title = {The {Effects} of {Acorn} {Origin}, {Environmental} {Microbiomes} and {Local} {Adaptation} on the {Leaf} {Metabolome}},
	volume = {52},
	issn = {1573-1561},
	url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-026-01692-9},
	doi = {10.1007/s10886-026-01692-9},
	abstract = {Plants are associated with microbial communities, which are inherited through the seed and acquired from the environment. These microbiomes influence plant physiology, chemistry, and functioning. Yet, we lack insights into how seed origin and the environmental microbiome jointly influence the leaf metabolome. We used untargeted metabolomics (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) on leaves of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) seedlings to examine metabolic responses to different seed origins and environmental microbiomes, as well as home and away environments. For this, acorns were collected from three mother trees and grown in a multifactorial design with soil and canopy microbiomes originating from the local mother tree (i.e., the home treatment) and neighbouring trees (i.e., the away treatment). We also measured two plant traits—plant height and leaf chlorophyll content—to examine relationships between plant traits and the metabolome. The leaf metabolome did not differ significantly between plants growing with different soil and canopy microbiomes. However, the leaf metabolome differed among acorn origins and between seedlings growing in home vs. away treatments. We found no clear link between plant traits and the leaf metabolome. This study is one of the first to disentangle the combined effects of seed origin and environmental microbiomes on plant leaf chemistry, and the home vs. away framework provides novel insights into local adaptation effects on plant metabolomes within forest ecosystems. These findings have practical implications for the use of local genotypes and the development of microorganism-based management practices in sustainable forestry and agriculture.},
	language = {en},
	number = {1},
	urldate = {2026-02-13},
	journal = {Journal of Chemical Ecology},
	author = {Ramanathan, Chandrasekar and Goris, Lisse and Mishra, Arti and Lihavainen-Bag, Jenna and Pawlowski, Katharina and Albrectsen, Benedicte Riber and Tack, Ayco J.M.},
	month = feb,
	year = {2026},
	keywords = {GC-MS, Local adaptation, Metabolomics, Microbiome, Plant-microbe interactions, Quercus robur},
	pages = {18},
}

Plants are associated with microbial communities, which are inherited through the seed and acquired from the environment. These microbiomes influence plant physiology, chemistry, and functioning. Yet, we lack insights into how seed origin and the environmental microbiome jointly influence the leaf metabolome. We used untargeted metabolomics (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) on leaves of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) seedlings to examine metabolic responses to different seed origins and environmental microbiomes, as well as home and away environments. For this, acorns were collected from three mother trees and grown in a multifactorial design with soil and canopy microbiomes originating from the local mother tree (i.e., the home treatment) and neighbouring trees (i.e., the away treatment). We also measured two plant traits—plant height and leaf chlorophyll content—to examine relationships between plant traits and the metabolome. The leaf metabolome did not differ significantly between plants growing with different soil and canopy microbiomes. However, the leaf metabolome differed among acorn origins and between seedlings growing in home vs. away treatments. We found no clear link between plant traits and the leaf metabolome. This study is one of the first to disentangle the combined effects of seed origin and environmental microbiomes on plant leaf chemistry, and the home vs. away framework provides novel insights into local adaptation effects on plant metabolomes within forest ecosystems. These findings have practical implications for the use of local genotypes and the development of microorganism-based management practices in sustainable forestry and agriculture.

@article{tiziani_deciphering_2026,
	title = {Deciphering underexplored rhizosphere processes: citric acid root acquisition and metabolic journey},
	issn = {0022-0957},
	shorttitle = {Deciphering underexplored rhizosphere processes},
	url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erag066},
	doi = {10.1093/jxb/erag066},
	abstract = {Root-exuded organic acids are crucial in mitigating iron (Fe) and phosphorus (P) deficiencies. Their biosynthesis and secretion require significant metabolic investment. Recent studies have shown that roots can also uptake exudates. We hypothesized that citric acid uptake increases under Fe and P deficiencies, declines over time, and contributes to primary metabolism. We investigated citric acid uptake, translocation, and metabolization in Fe- and P-deficient in hydroponically-grown tomato plants. We applied 13C-labeled citric acid analysed through bulk stable isotope and compound-specific stable isotope analysis. Physiological parameters, root morphology, and elemental composition were also assessed. Deficient plants showed reduced P and Fe content, reduced photosynthesis, altered root morphology and an altered citric acid uptake, which could not be attributed to morphological differences. Iron deficiency reduced citric acid uptake, indicating its role in rhizospheric Fe mobilization, while P deficiency increased the uptake emphasizing resource use efficiency. Unexpectedly, citric acid uptake increased with plant development. In Fe deficiency, citric acid-derived carbon is allocated to secondary metabolites, while in P deficiency, it supports the TCA and GS-GOGAT cycles. This study is the first to demonstrate citric acid uptake as a multifunctional process, underscoring its critical role in plant responses to nutrient starvation, especially under P deficiency.},
	urldate = {2026-02-13},
	journal = {Journal of Experimental Botany},
	author = {Tiziani, Raphael and Trevisan, Fabio and Hodek, Ondrej and Jämtgård, Sandra and Moritz, Thomas and Bouaicha, Oussama and Chibesa, Mirriam C and Fracasso, Ilaria and Mimmo, Tanja},
	month = feb,
	year = {2026},
	pages = {erag066},
}

Root-exuded organic acids are crucial in mitigating iron (Fe) and phosphorus (P) deficiencies. Their biosynthesis and secretion require significant metabolic investment. Recent studies have shown that roots can also uptake exudates. We hypothesized that citric acid uptake increases under Fe and P deficiencies, declines over time, and contributes to primary metabolism. We investigated citric acid uptake, translocation, and metabolization in Fe- and P-deficient in hydroponically-grown tomato plants. We applied 13C-labeled citric acid analysed through bulk stable isotope and compound-specific stable isotope analysis. Physiological parameters, root morphology, and elemental composition were also assessed. Deficient plants showed reduced P and Fe content, reduced photosynthesis, altered root morphology and an altered citric acid uptake, which could not be attributed to morphological differences. Iron deficiency reduced citric acid uptake, indicating its role in rhizospheric Fe mobilization, while P deficiency increased the uptake emphasizing resource use efficiency. Unexpectedly, citric acid uptake increased with plant development. In Fe deficiency, citric acid-derived carbon is allocated to secondary metabolites, while in P deficiency, it supports the TCA and GS-GOGAT cycles. This study is the first to demonstrate citric acid uptake as a multifunctional process, underscoring its critical role in plant responses to nutrient starvation, especially under P deficiency.

@article{liu_photosynthesis-related_2026,
	title = {Photosynthesis-related genetic and transcriptomic variations contribute to adaptive trait diversity in global {Arabidopsis} thaliana populations},
	issn = {1471-2229},
	url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-026-08279-2},
	doi = {10.1186/s12870-026-08279-2},
	abstract = {Photosynthesis is the foundational process for carbon fixation in terrestrial ecosystems. Although allelic variations in photosynthesis-related genes have the potential to enhance carbon assimilation efficiency, their functional roles in local adaptation are still not well understood. In this study, we systematically examined the genetic and transcriptomic diversity among globally distributed natural accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana, focusing on 1,103 genes associated with photosynthetic pathways. By assembling chloroplast genomes from 28 representative accessions and integrating whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing data from over 1,000 accessions, we identified extensive allelic variation. Notably, 34.0\% of these genes exhibited regulatory variations through expression quantitative trait locus mapping, including key components such as Rubisco and Rubisco activase. Functional validation demonstrated that overexpression of these genes increased cotyledon size and root length. Additionally, genome-wide and transcriptome-wide association studies revealed that natural selection acting on these allelic variations significantly contributes to local environmental adaptation. Our findings elucidate the connection between genetic variation in photosynthetic pathways and their ecological significance, providing valuable insights for optimizing carbon fixation in dynamic environments.},
	language = {en},
	urldate = {2026-02-13},
	journal = {BMC Plant Biology},
	author = {Liu, Wei and Hao, Ruili and Liu, Li and Hou, Jing and Lei, Mengyu and Han, Yu and Zhu, Mingjia and Liang, Lei and Yu, Le and Si, Huan and Liu, Jianquan and Zan, Yanjun and Ji, Yan},
	month = feb,
	year = {2026},
	keywords = {Arabidopsis thaliana, Local adaptation, Natural variation, Photosynthesis pathways},
}

Photosynthesis is the foundational process for carbon fixation in terrestrial ecosystems. Although allelic variations in photosynthesis-related genes have the potential to enhance carbon assimilation efficiency, their functional roles in local adaptation are still not well understood. In this study, we systematically examined the genetic and transcriptomic diversity among globally distributed natural accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana, focusing on 1,103 genes associated with photosynthetic pathways. By assembling chloroplast genomes from 28 representative accessions and integrating whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing data from over 1,000 accessions, we identified extensive allelic variation. Notably, 34.0% of these genes exhibited regulatory variations through expression quantitative trait locus mapping, including key components such as Rubisco and Rubisco activase. Functional validation demonstrated that overexpression of these genes increased cotyledon size and root length. Additionally, genome-wide and transcriptome-wide association studies revealed that natural selection acting on these allelic variations significantly contributes to local environmental adaptation. Our findings elucidate the connection between genetic variation in photosynthetic pathways and their ecological significance, providing valuable insights for optimizing carbon fixation in dynamic environments.

@article{moazzami_farida_dopamine_2026,
	title = {Dopamine modulates antioxidant and phenolic responses to alleviate nickel stress in {Salvia} officinalis},
	issn = {1471-2229},
	url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-026-08365-5},
	doi = {10.1186/s12870-026-08365-5},
	abstract = {Nickel (Ni) contamination is a significant constraint to agricultural sustainability and medicinal plant productivity, leading to oxidative stress, nutrient imbalance, and disruption of secondary metabolism. Dopamine (DA) has been reported as a stress-mitigating agent in plants. Still, its role in shaping antioxidants and phenolic responses to Ni toxicity in medicinal species, such as Salvia officinalis, remains poorly understood.},
	language = {en},
	urldate = {2026-02-13},
	journal = {BMC Plant Biology},
	author = {Moazzami Farida, Seyed Hamed and Rahmani, Nosrat and Taghizadeh, Marzieh and Albrectsen, Benedicte Riber},
	month = feb,
	year = {2026},
	keywords = {Antioxidant defense, Dopamine, Heavy metal, Nickel stress, Phenolic metabolism, Salvia officinalis l},
}

Nickel (Ni) contamination is a significant constraint to agricultural sustainability and medicinal plant productivity, leading to oxidative stress, nutrient imbalance, and disruption of secondary metabolism. Dopamine (DA) has been reported as a stress-mitigating agent in plants. Still, its role in shaping antioxidants and phenolic responses to Ni toxicity in medicinal species, such as Salvia officinalis, remains poorly understood.

@article{ma_pangenome_2026,
	title = {A pangenome insight into the genome divergence and flower color diversity among {Rhododendron} species},
	volume = {27},
	issn = {1471-2164},
	url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-025-12461-5},
	doi = {10.1186/s12864-025-12461-5},
	abstract = {The Rhododendron genus (Rhododendron L.), recognized as the most extensive woody plant genus in the Northern Hemisphere, captivates with its strikingly beautiful corollas and variety of flower colors. In addition, the Rhododendron genus exhibits a complex evolutionary history and substantial species diversification. To comprehensively understand the genomic complexity and flower color diversity within this genus, comparative genomics has emerged as a promising approach, enabling analysis at a super-species level.},
	language = {en},
	number = {1},
	urldate = {2026-02-13},
	journal = {BMC Genomics},
	author = {Ma, Hai-Yao and Nie, Shuai and Liu, Hai-Bo and Shi, Tian-Le and Zhao, Shi-Wei and Chen, Zhao-Yang and Bao, Yu-Tao and Li, Zhi-Chao and Mao, Jian-Feng},
	month = jan,
	year = {2026},
	keywords = {DNA Transposable Elements, Evolution, Molecular, Flower color, Flowers, Gene duplication, Gene loss, Genetic Variation, Genome, Plant, Genomics, Phylogeny, Pigmentation, Retroelements, Rhododendron, Transposable element},
	pages = {101},
}

The Rhododendron genus (Rhododendron L.), recognized as the most extensive woody plant genus in the Northern Hemisphere, captivates with its strikingly beautiful corollas and variety of flower colors. In addition, the Rhododendron genus exhibits a complex evolutionary history and substantial species diversification. To comprehensively understand the genomic complexity and flower color diversity within this genus, comparative genomics has emerged as a promising approach, enabling analysis at a super-species level.