Here's a round up of the top papers you've been sharing this week on Bluesky. Papers behind a paywall are marked 💰otherwise they're free to access at time of checking.

1. SHOOT GRAVITROPISM 9 links sensory timing to the initial lateral root growth angle
Farkas, S. Z. et al. · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2 posts · 93 likes · 42 reposts on Bluesky

Plants strategically respond to gravity and actively set defined growth angles. These gravitropic set-point angles (GSAs) shape the width and depth of the root system, determining soil exploration for water and nutrient uptake. Despite its physiological importance, the concept by which lateral roots establish their growth angle has remained largely unclear. Here, we show that temporal regulation of gravity responsiveness within a defined developmental phase sets the initial GSA in lateral roots.

2. Breeding drought-tolerant crops for sustainable agriculture
Raza, A. et al. · Agriculture & Food Security · 5 posts · 31 likes · 24 reposts on Bluesky

We propose an innovative approach termed the “OGS trio,” which encompasses omics integration, genetic engineering, and speed breeding. This trio stands composed to transform efforts against drought stress, offering significant potential for developing drought-tolerant crops to achieve and food security amidst climate change.

Ali Raza @aliraza6.bsky.social · on Bluesky

Happy to share our🆕 #OpenAccess review "𝘽𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩-𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚💦🌾🌿" is now published in 𝘼𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 & 𝙁𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙎𝙚𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙮 | @springernature.com 🤩🎊🎉🔁

🖇️ link.springer.com/article/10.1...

✔️Congrts to all authors👏

@abioticstress.bsky.social @planteditors.bsky.social

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3. The preprophase band is dispensable for robust cell division orientation in wood‐forming cambium stem cells
Liu, X. et al. · New Phytologist · 3 posts · 31 likes · 22 reposts on Bluesky

We investigated how cell division plane orientation is controlled in Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) Cambium stem cells.

4. Targeting granule initiation and amyloplast structure to create giant starch granules in wheat
McNelly, R. et al. · Science Advances · 2 posts · 48 likes · 11 reposts on Bluesky

We demonstrate that both space and substrate constraints limit starch granule size in wheat and provide an approach to achieve substantial increases in granule size.

Rose McNelly @rosemcn.bsky.social · on Bluesky

If you're attending #PlantBio2026 drop by my poster (#000-007)! It's all about my latest work producing GIANT starch granules in wheat 🌾

Or read about the work here ⤵️
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

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5. Plant diversity modifies multi-trophic interactions in croplands, grasslands and forests
Wan, N. F. et al. · Science Advances · 3 posts · 39 likes · 12 reposts on Bluesky

Multitrophic interactions can strongly influence the structure and functioning of ecosystems, but how plant diversity influences the direction and predictability of multitrophic interactions across agricultural and natural ecosystems remains unclear. Using 149 field studies across five continents, we found that, on average, increasing plant diversity tended to exert differential top-down and bottom-up effects in croplands versus grasslands and forests.

Christoph Scherber @cscherber.bsky.social · on Bluesky

New @Science Advances paper out showing #Biodiversity effects on multitrophic interactions in #croplands, grasslands and forests! www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

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6. Engineering Auronidin Production in Marchantia polymorpha Enables a New Class of Plant-Derived Textile Pigments
Lormet, A., Haseloff, J., Romani, F. · ACS Synthetic Biology · 2 posts · 29 likes · 15 reposts on Bluesky

Plant-derived pigments offer sustainable alternatives to synthetic colorants, yet their practical deployment in textiles is limited by restricted chemical diversity and low abundance. Liverworts represent a source of diverse chemical compounds, and the model liverworts Marchantia polymorpha are emerging as chassis for bioengineering and synthetic biology. Here, we report the biotechnological application of auronidins, a rare class of flavonoid pigments, as textile dyes. Using M. polymorpha, we engineered enhanced auronidin production through controlled expression of the R2R3-MYB transcription factor MpMYB14.

7. Revisiting the case for assisted colonisation under rapid climate change
Gardner, C. J., Bullock, J. M. · Journal of Applied Ecology · 1 post · 26 likes · 17 reposts on Bluesky

Active translocation into newly suitable areas has been suggested as a strategy to conserve species otherwise unable to expand their ranges; however, assisted colonisation has not been widely adopted because the deliberate introduction of non‐native species poses invasion risks and runs counter to traditional conservation approaches. We use the future of forest ecosystems in Great Britain as a thought experiment to argue that mass‐scale assisted colonisation will likely be required not to conserve threatened species, but to maintain functional ecosystems.

8. Programmable design of synthetic plant immune receptors for pathogen protein recognition 💰
Zhu, H. et al. · Science · 3 posts · 51 likes · 31 reposts on Bluesky

The limited diversity and recognition scope of natural plant immune receptors impede resistance breeding against rapidly evolving pathogens. Here we report programmable design of synthetic plant immune receptors (SPIRs). De novo designed binding modules targeting pathogen proteins were grafted into the integrated decoy (ID) domain of a plant immune receptor.

Nature Plants @natplants.nature.com · on Bluesky

"Programmable design of synthetic plant immune receptors for pathogen protein recognition"
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

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9. A noncoding SNP in ELF3 alters ELF3β expression and confers adaptation of Arabidopsis to a continental climate
Buckley, C. R. et al. · Plant Physiology · 1 post · 29 likes · 15 reposts on Bluesky

We found that naturally occurring variation in the core clock gene EARLY FLOWERING 3 (ELF3) determines circadian period length and has been selected for in hot, seasonal climates.

10. Self-buckling of pressurized cylindrical tubes 💰
Andersen, M. O. et al. · Soft Matter · 1 post · 29 likes · 10 reposts on Bluesky

We study the buckling of cylindrical hollow tubes under self-weight and internal pressure, inspired by the palisade mesophyll cells. We present results from desktop-scale experiments and FEM simulations.

Anja Geitmann @geitmannlab.bsky.social · on Bluesky

Why do primary plant tissues hold their shape? We are told it's because of turgor pressure—but how does that work mechanically?

We investigated how pressurized cylindrical structures support themselves.

Read here:
doi.org/10.1039/d6sm...

Funded by @hfspo.bsky.social
www.plantbiomechanics.net

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11. Nanoscale regulation of ROS signaling at the plasma membrane tunes the plant response to osmotic stress 💰
Poitout, A. et al. · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 1 post · 24 likes · 7 reposts on Bluesky

We show that osmotic stimulation induces the formation of localized, H 2 O 2 -rich nanoenvironments at the cytoplasmic face of the plasma membrane (PM) in Arabidopsis root cells. Using a PM-tethered H 2 O 2 biosensor, we found that these oxidized nanodomains arise from the clustering of RESPIRATORY BURST OXIDASE HOMOLOGs (RBOHs) and RHO OF PLANTS 6 (ROP6), in coordination with aquaporin-mediated H 2 O 2 transport via the PLASMA MEMBRANE INTRINSIC PROTEIN2;7 (PIP2;7).

12. Flower engineering by yeasts: reversal of nectar sugar concentration gradient within Darwin's syndrome inflorescences
Herrera, C. M. · bioRxiv · 1 post · 25 likes · 6 reposts on Bluesky

This study assessed yeast ability to shape features of the vertical inflorescences of Gladiolus illyricus (Iridaceae), a Darwin's syndrome plant (acropetalous protandrous flowers pollinated by insects foraging from bottom to top). When yeasts were excluded from inflorescences a declining gradient in nectar sugar concentration built up from the oldest, female-stage flowers at bottom up to the youngest, male-stage ones at top. This plant-intrinsic gradient was reversed in inflorescences with yeasts, where sugar concentration increased from the female-stage flowers harboring dense yeasts population to male-stage ones with few yeasts.

13. Atmospheric dryness as a coordinated driver of fire activity and biomass accumulation in northwestern boreal Canada
Girardin, M. P. et al. · International Journal of Wildland Fire · 1 post · 15 likes · 9 reposts on Bluesky

Background Atmospheric dryness, measured as vapor pressure deficit (VPD), is rising with climate warming, yet its joint impacts on tree growth, fire activity and biomass dynamics remain understudied at broad spatial scales. We examine how interannual variability in VPD relates jointly to tree growth, annual area burned (AAB) and aboveground biomass dynamics across western North American boreal forests.

14. Root developmental zonation is independent of cell wall pH
Krupař, P. et al. · Nature Plants · 1 post · 15 likes · 9 reposts on Bluesky

Here we show that while on the organ level apoplast acidification promotes root growth, the cellular surface pH and strain rate profiles are largely independent of each other. We introduce WALLΦ, a genetically encoded fluorescent sensor for non-invasive cell wall pH measurements. Using WALLΦ, we examined the cell wall pH gradients in Arabidopsis on the organ and cellular scale and found, contrary to the acid growth theory, a lack of a clear correlation of local growth rate with cell wall acidity.

15. Back into the wild: harnessing the power of wheat wild relatives for future crop and food security
Farooq et al. · Journal of Experimental Botany · 1 post · 14 likes · 9 reposts on Bluesky

This review explores the potential of Wheat wild relatives (WWRs) to overcome the limitations of current wheat varieties and enhancing climate resilience. Key topics include the genetic diversity and adaptability of WWRs to harsh environments, recent breakthroughs in cross-breeding and genomics, and the emerging field of de novo domestication.

16. Rapid reconstitution and kinase-controlled regulation of algal pyrenoid condensates in engineered
Nicotiana benthamiana
Kazachkova, Y. et al. · bioRxiv · 3 posts · 14 likes · 6 reposts on Bluesky

Here, we engineered N. benthamiana to make its chloroplast Rubisco holoenzyme compatible with C. reinhardtii pyrenoid proteins. Disruption of native N. benthamiana RBCS genes and complementation with the C. reinhardtii RBCS2 generated a Rubisco-recombinant background where transient expression of the Rubisco linker protein EPYC1 was sufficient to drive the formation of Rubisco–EPYC1 condensates.

17. CRISPR-mediated centromere fission generates neo-chromosomes with distorted meiotic inheritance in Arabidopsis
Burns, R. et al. · bioRxiv · 1 post · 18 likes · 7 reposts on Bluesky

Centromeres are essential for chromosome segregation and are epigenetically defined by CENH3/CENP-A nucleosomes. Centromere position along chromosomes varies within and between species, ranging from telocentric to metacentric architectures. Yet, how centromere position influences chromosome inheritance and karyotype evolution remains poorly understood. To reposition the centromere, we used CRISPR-Cas9 to break the centromeric satellite array of Arabidopsis thaliana chromosome 3.

18. Better breeding leveraging more biology
Powell et al. · Trends in Plant Science · 2 posts · 13 likes · 7 reposts on Bluesky

Increasing climate-driven variability of cropping systems is testing the limits of current statistical models to predict crop performance across environments. To improve long-term genetic gain of breeding programs, prediction models must capture plant-environment interactions across diverse genetic backgrounds, environmental conditions and management practices.

19. Global analysis suggests nitrogen deposition as an underestimated driver of vegetation greening
Trepel, J. et al. · Ecography · 1 post · 16 likes · 7 reposts on Bluesky

Here, we assess how nitrogen deposition, alongside other global change drivers such as fire, and changes in temperature, precipitation and human land use, is related to changes in vegetation greenness (enhanced vegetation index; EVI) from 2001 to 2024, and whether protected areas (PAs) mitigate these impacts. We found that increases in greenness were strongly and positively linked to nitrogen deposition and this pattern held across major ecosystem types.

20. Fusarium oxysporum –induced ABA signaling triggers root vascular remodeling for plant defense 💰
Aliaga Fandino, A. C. et al. · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2 posts · 21 likes · 4 reposts on Bluesky

Root vascular pathogens like Fusarium oxysporum (Fo) severely impact agriculture by colonizing the xylem, thereby disrupting the transport of water, nutrients, and signaling molecules within host plants. However, their effects on root growth and vascular development before xylem invasion, and the underlying molecular mechanisms, remain poorly understood. Here, we show that Fo triggers a rapid, systemic, abscisic acid (ABA) that seems to induce a developmental reprogramming in Arabidopsis that occurs prior to vascular colonization.

Cover image: Arabidopsis thaliana by Jose Gutierrez Higa / iNaturalist CC BY