ASPB Plant Science Research Articles of the Week – May 23, 2024

Plant Physiology Article of the Week: Spider Mite Herbivory Induces an ABA-Driven Stomatal Defense
The spotlight is on Irene Rosa-Diaz, James Rowe, Ana Cayuela-Lopez, Vicent Arbona, Isabel Díaz and Alexander M. Jones. Their study highlights the interplay between biotic and abiotic stresses in plants and reinforces the relationship between these stress types.

The Plant Cell Article of the Week: CAM Evolution is Associated With Gene Family Expansion in an Explosive Bromeliad Radiation The spotlight is on Clara Groot Crego, Jaqueline Hess, Gil Yardeni, Marylaure de La Harpe, Clara Priemer, Francesca Beclin, Sarah Saadain, Luiz A. Cauz-Santos, Eva M. Temsch, Hanna Weiss-Schneeweiss, Michael H. J. Barfuss, Walter Till, Wolfram Weckwerth, Karolina Heyduk, Christian Lexer, Ovidiu Paun and Thibault Leroy. They performed an analysis which shows that rewiring of photosynthetic metabolism is mainly obtained through regulatory evolution rather than coding sequence evolution.

Plant Direct Article of the Week: Genome-wide Characterization and Expression Analysis of GATA Transcription Factors Under Combination of Light Wavelengths and Drought Stress in Potato
GATA is one of the prominent transcription factor families conserved among many organisms in eukaryotes and has different biological roles in many pathways, particularly in light regulation in plants. Although GATA transcription factors (TFs) have been identified in different crop species, their roles in abiotic stress tolerance have not been studied in potato. In this study, 32 GATA TFs in potato (Solanum tuberosum) were identified by in silico analyses, and expression levels of selected six genes were investigated in drought-tolerant (Sante) and sensitive (Agria) cultivars under light, drought, and combined (light + drought) stress conditions in order for the interactions between drought stress and the light response mechanisms in potato plants with the ultimate aim to enhance potato resilience to climate change by manipulating the TFs that play a role in these pathways in the future.

Plant Physiology Webinar on Vegetable Crops, June 5 The June 2024 Plant Physiology Focus Issue spotlights research on vegetable crops, which encompass over 200 plant species used as human food that have been domesticated from their wild progenitors, influenced by human preferences and diverse environmental factors. Basic research in plant physiology and genetics provides critical guidance for their cultivation practices and breeding. Join us to hear from speakers Xingwang Liu, Sijia Chen, and Cheng-Ruei Lee, who will share findings from their work appearing in this Focus Issue. The webinar is hosted by Plant Physiology Monitoring Editor Yann-rong Lin and moderated by Assistant Features Editor Kumari Billakurthi.