The miR166a-MpATHB8 module regulates anthocyanin accumulation to increase rust resistance in Malus 'Profusion' leaves.

Down-regulation of VvPLL3 enhances grapevine resistance to Erysiphe necator via defense activation and cell wall remodeling.

Artificial microRNA-based gene silencing approach in PM-susceptible Vitis vinifera cv to stably silence the 'Chardonnay' ortholog of AtPMR6, VvPLL3 improves foliar resistance against the PM fungus.

The bp-miR156c–BpSPL2 module positively regulates drought tolerance by mediating lateral root development and reactive oxygen species scavenging in Betula platyphylla

GmERF109 Positively Enhances Soybean Resistance to Phytophthora sojae by Transcriptionally Activating GmG4DT‐Like to Promote Glyceollin I Accumulation

ABSTRACT Phytophthora root rot, a devastating disease caused by Phytophthora sojae, poses a significant threat to worldwide soybean ( Glycine max ) production. Therefore, enhancing crop resistance to this pathogen is a major breeding objective. However, the signalling mechanisms underlying the response of soybean plants to P. sojae infection, and the networks and targets of key transcription factors TFs, are not yet fully understood. Here, we reveal the mechanisms and function of GmERF109, which differs in expression between soybean cultivars resistant and susceptible to P. sojae race 1 and encodes an AP2/ERF transcription factor. Molecular evaluation and disease resistance analysis show that GmERF109 is a nucleus‐localized transcription factor that positively regulates soybean resistance to P. sojae. We also demonstrate that GmERF109 targets and activates the expression of GmG4DT‐like, a gene whose role in the biosynthesis of the phytoalexin glyceollin was confirmed through overexpression and RNA interference (RNAi) analyses. GmG4DT‐like also enhances P. sojae resistance. GmG4DT‐like and GmERF109 greatly increased the content of the glyceollin I isomer. Overall, our results suggest that GmERF109 enhances glyceollin accumulation by positively regulating the expression of its target gene GmG4DT‐like, thereby improving soybean resistance to P. sojae. These findings provide novel insights into soybean resistance to Phytophthora root rot and will be useful in efforts to create resistant soybean cultivars.

OsJAC1 Positively Regulates Brown Planthopper Resistance in Rice Through Priming of Diterpenoid Biosynthesis and Amplification of Jasmonic Acid Signaling

Brown planthopper (BPH) is a devastating rice pest worldwide, and enhancing intrinsic plant resistance represents a sustainable strategy for its control. Here, we report that OsJAC1, a gene encoding a protein harboring dirigent and jacalin-related lectin domains, positively regulates BPH resistance in rice by priming diterpenoid biosynthesis and amplifying jasmonic acid (JA) signaling. Overexpression of OsJAC1 (OE) in japonica cv. Zhonghua 11 significantly enhanced resistance, whereas CRISPR/Cas9 knockout (KO) increased susceptibility. Transcriptomic profiling revealed that OE plants constitutively upregulated diterpenoid biosynthetic genes, including OsCPS4, OsKSL4 and CYP99A3, with further induction upon BPH infestation, accompanied by enrichment of MYB and bHLH transcription factors. Targeted metabolomics showed elevated momilactone A and B levels in OE plants. Hormonal assays demonstrated that JA accumulation was amplified in OE after BPH attack. Collectively, OsJAC1 confers resistance via a dual mechanism: constitutive priming of diterpenoid metabolism and attack-triggered amplification through JA signaling, but the precise biochemical function remains to be determined. Our findings uncover a regulatory cascade from transcriptional activation to phytoalexin accumulation and identify OsJAC1 as a promising target for breeding BPH-resistant rice.

The transcription factor ZmMYB3R targets CYCB1;2 to modulate maize drought tolerance.

It is established that the MYB3R-CYCB1;2 module positively regulates maize drought tolerance by coordinating developmental and physiological adaptations, which provides a valuable molecular target for breeding drought-resilient crops.

The miR1866-OsUBP7 regulatory module promotes grain yield and seed dormancy through abscisic acid signaling in rice.

Higher grain weight and stronger seed dormancy are key objectives for improving rice (Oryza sativa) yield and inhibiting pre-harvest sprouting. Therefore, identifying genes that coordinately regulate grain weight and seed dormancy is an urgent priority. Here, we report that knocking out miR1866 (KO1866) increased grain weight and reinforced dormancy. We identified the transcript of ubiquitin-specific processing protease 7 (OsUBP7), which encodes a protein with deubiquitination activity in vitro, as the primary target of miR1866. Consistent with miRNA-directed repression, OsUBP7 transcript abundance generally showed a spatiotemporal pattern opposite to miR1866 accumulation during rice development. Overexpression of native OsUBP7 (UBP7-OE) or a miR1866-resistant form (mUBP7-OE) phenocopied KO1866 by producing heavier grains with stronger dormancy. The miR1866-OsUBP7 module also altered the expression of genes associated with sucrose and starch metabolism, cell-cycle control, grain development, and abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis and signaling. Accordingly, KO1866, UBP7-OE, and mUBP7-OE plants contained more ABA and responded more sensitively to exogenous ABA than wild type. OsUBP7 interacted with OsDA1 (encoded by Os06g0182500) and UBIQUITIN-CONJUGATING ENZYME (OsUCE1; encoded by Os02g0833300), thereby affecting hull cell division and ABA signaling and ultimately regulating grain weight and seed dormancy, respectively. Our results indicate that the miR1866-OsUBP7 module regulates grain weight and seed dormancy in rice, highlighting its potential for engineering crops with improved yields and stronger seed dormancy.