J Integr Plant Biol

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Rewiring the SPX‐mediated signaling for climate‐resilient and nutrient‐efficient crops

Xuge Lou, Keke Yi

doi: 10.1111/jipb.70255

Version of Record online: 01 April 2026

This Commentary summarizes the original work by Liao et al. on the role of NITROGEN LIMITATION ADAPTATION (NLA) in cold tolerance, places it within the broader context of climate change and nutrient constraints, and discusses the engineered NLA^Δ12 allele and its implications for overcoming the trade-off between cold tolerance and phosphorus use efficiency.

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Metabolic engineering of rice endosperm for crocin biosynthesis

Lijuan Wang, Jianjie Gao, Wenhui Zhang, Yongdong Deng, Hao Zhang, Rihe Peng, Bo Wang, Jing Xu, Hongjuan Han, Zhenjun Li, Yu Wang, Cen Qian, Yongsheng Tian, Quanhong Yao

DOI: 10.1111/jipb.70246

Version of Record online: 01 April 2026

Crocins are carotenoids and are the main active ingredients of the precious medicinal plant saffron. Metabolic engineering was used to develop a rice germplasm, ‘crocin rice’, which biosynthesizes crocins and various other carotenoids, and is expected to be used to improve human nutrition and health.

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Coordinating nitrogen‐responsive root and shoot growth for enhanced nitrogen‐use efficiency

Xiaoming Zheng, Qian Qian

doi: 10.1111/jipb.70247

Version of Record online: 01 April 2026

The transcription factor WRINKLED1a coordinates nitrogen-responsive root and shoot growth in rice, improving nitrogen-use efficiency and yield stability.

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A conserved fungal Egh16‐like effector suppresses host defense by disrupting ATP binding of wheat MPK3

Jiangang Kang, Gang Niu, Yihui Liao, Daiying Xu, Huaijian Xu, Qing Yang, Daiyuan Sun, Kaili Duan, Yang Yang, Chenfang Wang, Qinhu Wang, Huiquan Liu, Jin-Rong Xu, Cong Jiang

DOI: 10.1111/jipb.70241

Version of Record online: 30 March 2026

Fusarium graminearum deploys the conserved effector Cee1 to interfere with wheat immune signaling. Upon entry into host cells, Cee1 associates with the ATP-binding domain of the immune kinase TaMPK3, impairing its activity and defense responses. This work highlights the ATP-binding pocket of plant kinases as a target for pathogen effectors.

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Fungal effector FolCP1b promotes infection by sequestering host subtilase SlSBT1 to protect apoplastic effectors from degradation

Zhengang Miao, Baoshan Wang, Limin Song, Wenxing Liang

DOI: 10.1111/jipb.70244

Version of Record online: 30 March 2026

Upon infection, the pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici sends the decoy protein FolCP1b into the plant cell. FolCP1b binds to the subtilase defense enzyme SlSBT1, trapping it in the cytoplasm and pregenting it from reaching and destroying other fungal proteins outside the cell, thereby promoting infection.

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TADs, CGVs, and compartmentalization in genomes: Providing a new way for crop domestication and improvement

Qamar U. Zaman, Robert J. Henry, Zhihua Mu, Shuangqian Shen, Jie Luo, Rajeev K. Varshney

DOI: 10.1111/jipb.70240

Version of Record online: 30 March 2026

This review discusses how environmentally responsive modulation of 3D genome architecture may contribute to adaptive traits and crop improvement. In parallel, under unusual environmental conditions, cryptic genetic variations in plants play a role in adaptation, although how higher-order chromatin structure influences this remains unclear.

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12‐hydroxylauric acid, a novel growth regulator, promotes plant organ development

Yan Peng, Mengling Zhang, Zengdong Tan, Hongxiang Lou, Bao Yang, Yuting Zhang, Zhicong Zhao, Ruyi Fan, Haiyan Fan, Jie Chen, Xuan Yao, Shaoping Lu, Hu Zhao, Liang Guo, Kede Liu

DOI: 10.1111/jipb.70243

Version of Record online: 30 March 2026

The pleiotropic gene BnaA09.CYP78A9 regulates silique length, seed number per silique and seed size in rapeseed (Brassica napus). 12-hydroxylauric acid, the catalytic product of the CYP78A9 enzyme, enhances fruit and seed size across multiple crops.

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Systemic stomatal immunity: A rapid gate-closing circuit unveiled in plants

Fengling Wu, Fanrong Peng, Jing Guo, Ming Wu, Jianguo Wu

doi: 10.1111/jipb.70245

Version of Record online: 24 March 2026

This Commentary highlights a recent study discovering Systemic Stomatal Immunity, a rapid, targeted immune program, filling a research gap by showing local challenge triggers distal stomatal closure within hours.

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Advances in plant natural products: Biosynthesis, bioengineering, and applications

Alisdair R. Fernie, Guoyin Kai, Jie Luo

doi: 10.1111/jipb.70242

Version of Record online: 23 March 2026

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FcMAPK4-phosphorylated FcNOR activates FcERF5 to promote fig fruit softening through activation of FcPG12 expression

Yuan Wang, Zhiyi Fan, Yining Wang, Alexander Vainstein, Yuexuan Qiu, Yinan Sun, Huiqin Ma

doi: 10.1111/jipb.70239

Version of Record online: 23 March 2026

In Ficus carica fruit, the MAP kinase FcMAPK4 phosphorylates the NAC transcription factor FcNOR, which cooperates with ethylene response factor FcERF5 to activate the pectin degradation gene FcPG12, thereby promoting rapid softening of fig fruit.

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The AcLFYL1-AcCSE module enhances kiwifruit resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae by regulating cell density and lignin biosynthesis

Wenpeng Song, Yantao Wu, Yangyang Li, Wei Li, Yue Huang, Junyang Yue, Pu Liu, Xueren Yin, Yongsheng Liu, Faming Wang, Songhu Wang, Wei Tang

DOI: 10.1111/jipb.70232

Version of Record online: 23 March 2026

Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae causes destructive kiwifruit canker. Resistant kiwifruit shows higher lignin and cell density. AcLFYL1 directly activates AcCSE to promote lignin biosynthesis and cell density, enhancing canker resistance, providing genetic targets for resistance breeding.

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A century of vitamin E research: The innovative journey from basic biology to synthetic bio-manufacturing

Ruiqi Zhang, Yuqing Ren, Yuehe Zhao, Hongyan Zheng, Yanzhong Luo, Yuan Liu, Lei Wang, Lan Zhang

doi: 10.1111/jipb.70235

Version of Record online: 22 March 2026

For a century, Vitamin E has been studied for its health benefits. This review traces its journey from basic biological discovery, and the recent identification of its link to chlorophyll degradation, to the modern era of sustainable microbial manufacturing, highlighting the innovative technologies that define its future production.

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PanGraphRNA: An efficient and flexible bioinformatics platform for graph pangenome-based RNA-seq data analysis

Yifan Bu, Zhixu Qiu, Wen Sun, Yishui Han, Yifan Liu, Jing Yang, Minggui Song, Zenglin Li, Songyu Liu, Yuzhou Zhang, Chuang Ma

doi: 10.1111/jipb.70231

Version of Record online: 19 March 2026

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Pentatricopeptide repeat proteins in crops: Advances in functional mechanisms and breeding applications

Mingming Wu, Maohong Cai, Rongrong Zhai, Jing Ye, Guofu Zhu, Faming Yu, Shenghai Ye, Xiaoming Zhang

doi: 10.1111/jipb.70217

Version of Record online: 19 March 2026

Pentatricopeptide repeat proteins coordinate nucleus-organelle communication by modulating RNA metabolism within chloroplasts and mitochondria. This review highlights how they control critical processes like photosynthesis, seed development, fertility restoration, and stress survival in crops, and explores their potential as programmable tools for RNA manipulation in organelles.

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Convergence and parallelism in the evolution of plant metabolism

Federico Scossa, Mustafa Bulut, Thomas Naake, John C. D'Auria, Alisdair R. Fernie

doi: 10.1111/jipb.70236

Version of Record online: 19 March 2026

Similar traits in different organisms may originate from shared ancestry or evolve independently. The terminology used to define phenotypic similarity is often confusing. This review attempts to clarify the definitions and present examples from plant domestication and specialized metabolism to explain how complex traits evolve repeatedly in plants.

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Metabolite‐mediated plant immunity: From traditional defensors to artificial elicitors

Jiajun Tang, Weiwei Xie, Yunjiang Cheng, Alisdair R. Fernie, Feng Zhu

DOI: 10.1111/jipb.70225

Version of Record online: 17 March 2026

This review summarizes the roles of plant metabolites in immunity and pathogen-induced reprogramming; it also explores nanoscience, de novo domestication, and artificial intelligence for the development of next-generation elicitors.

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Unlocking the genetic basis of quantitative hybrid sterility in rice

Xin Gou, Ruiying Liu, Yaoguang Liu, Yongyao Xie

doi: 10.1111/jipb.70229

Version of Record online: 17 March 2026

This commentary summarizes hybrid sterility models in plants, with an emphasis on a recent study that addresses the genetic basis of the RIS/RIA-RID-RIR system underlying S44-mediated hybrid sterility between Oryza longistaminata and indica rice, revealing a novel killer-protector-target model integrated with modifiers that regulate reproductive isolation.

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An efficient transformation and gene editing system for Lilium species

Yajie Zhao, Yixuan Li, Jinxin Shi, Yutong Chen, Jingwei Wei, Jinlong Li, Yiqing Wang, Dingyi Liu, Dong Jing, Shuo Long, Manman Zhang, Junwei Tang, Jian Wu

doi: 10.1111/jipb.70237

Version of Record online: 17 March 2026

A transformation system exploits lily bulb scale propagation and de novo formation of bulblets, integrating tissue culture with non-tissue culture approaches. Through optimized scale propagation and disinfection treatments, it achieves efficient stable gene overexpression and editing in lily.

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Transcriptional adapter ADA2 regulates yield and end‐use quality through liquid–liquid phase separation in wheat

Xiaobang Zhang, Ruijie Zhang, Yuhan Zhang, Tao Yang, Longfei Wu, Yuan Cao, Jun Xiao, Jigang Li, Xin Gao, Xinyou Cao, Jie Liu, Mingming Xin, Yuan Zong, Zhongfu Ni, Qixin Sun, Yingyin Yao

doi: 10.1111/jipb.70227

Version of Record online: 16 March 2026

The transcriptional adapter ADA2 interacts with the histone acetyltransferase GCN5 to regulate starch and storage protein content in wheat grains through histone acetylation. ADA2 undergoes phase separation and is modulated by GCN5, affecting histone acetyltransferase activity and gene transcription. An elite ADA2-B haplotype correlates with improved grain size.

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OsCPN10a, cooperating with OsCPN20 and OsHSP60‐3B negatively regulate ABA signaling and enhance seed storability in rice

Sufeng Liao, Yidong Wei, Yongsheng Zhu, Kunyang Li, Ting Chen, Shuai Zhao, Fangxi Wu, Jinlan Wang, Pengbo Yu, Hongguang Xie, Liping Chen, Qiuhua Cai, Huaan Xie, Jianfu Zhang

doi: 10.1111/jipb.70230

Version of Record online: 16 March 2026

Abscisic acid signaling homeostasis is essential for seed storability. The molecular chaperone OsCPN10a enhances rice seed storability by forming a trimeric chaperone complex with OsCPN20-OsHSP60-3B that attenuates abscisic acid signaling via direct interaction with OsPYL10-OsABIL1, thereby maintaining starch integrity and offering a promising target for crop improvement.

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Developing a robust multiplex CRISPR/Cas12i3‐5M system for trait stacking in soybean

Wenxin Lin, Haijie Wu, Huaqin Kuang, Xiangchi Feng, Mengyan Bai, Fanghui He, Ruixuan Liang, Yizhi Zeng, Meina Li, Fanjiang Kong, Baohui Liu, Yuefeng Guan

doi: 10.1111/jipb.70233

Version of Record online: 16 March 2026

The high-efficiency multiplex gene editing technology based CRISPR-Cas12i3-5M is capable of simultaneously editing 13 target sites in soybean, and was used to generate germplasm with high oleic acid content and no beany flavor.

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Constitution and function of intergenic genome regions in cultivated versus annual wild soybean in China

Xiaoshuai Hao, Xinyang Hu, Yongpeng Pan, Qi Zhang, Ran Ou, Fenfen Jiang, Fangdong Liu, Jiaoping Zhang, Wubin Wang, Guangnan Xing, Junyi Gai, Jianbo He

doi: 10.1111/jipb.70223

Version of Record online: 16 March 2026

Three-case restricted two-stage multi-locus multi-allele genome-wide association study identified main-effect genes and detected the regulatory effects of intergenic loci on genes, enabling comprehensive dissection of the genic-intergenic genetic system for quantitative traits and providing a strategy for studying their genetic basis.

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Functional characterization of two O-methyltransferases and a glycosyltransferase catalyzing the last two steps of phillyrin biosynthesis in Forsythia suspensa

Zhiyao Wang, Naichao Zhang, Peimin Wu, Fei Chen, Ying Cao, Jing Wang, Yiming Qin, Wenhui Zheng, Yinghua Sheng, Shuai Chen, Baojing Li, Lei Wei, Junli Zhang, Yuqing Liu, Ninghua Tan, Wei Wang, Min Chen

DOI: 10.1111/jipb.70216

Version of Record online: 15 March 2026

The O-methyltransferases FsE4MT01 and FsE4MT02, and the and glycosyltransferase FsP4′GT catalyze the terminal methylation and glycosylation steps in biosynthesis of the unique antiviral lignan phillyrin in Forsythia suspensa; these enzymes may enable metabolic engineering for enhanced phillyrin production.

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Correction to “The miR172a–ERF416/413 module regulates soybean seed traits”

DOI: 10.1111/jipb.70228

Version of Record online: 15 March 2026

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Synergistic engineering of Casδ nuclease for robust genome editing

Fanghui Ge, Chenchen Peng, Yang Du, Ying Chen, Zilong Zhao, Meixia Yu, Huairu Feng, Yuyang Xie, Siwei Sun, Shengnan Liu, Beibei Xin, Haiming Zhao, Sen Wu, Chao Bian, Zhijia Yang, Jinsheng Lai, Jian Chen

doi: 10.1111/jipb.70222

Version of Record online: 15 March 2026

A hierarchical engineering strategy was used to enhance the editing activity of Casδ, yielding an optimized variant termed enCasδ. This variant enables robust genome editing in animal cells and plants, with overall editing performance comparable to that of SpCas9 and other Cas12 nucleases.

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SlGRF1 mediates gibberellin signaling to control cut‐budding in tomato

Yaping Xu, Yinhuan Xie, Huimin Jia, Qianqian Li, Xinqin Liu, Ting Ma, Zhaobo Lang, Qingfeng Niu

doi: 10.1111/jipb.70219

Version of Record online: 15 March 2026

Upon wounding, cytokinin increases to initiate callus formation. Gibberellin enhances this, but later blocks bud formation by suppressing SlGRF1. Wounding-induced protein SlGRF1 triggers buds via NAM1, EPF4, and ER2. Hormonal shifts control cut-budding phases.

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GSK3 regulates DOG1L4 to enhance pre‐harvest sprouting resistance in wheat

Huixue Dong, Danning Yang, Yu He, Qian Chen, Xiaojiang Guo, Mengping Cheng, Maolian Li, Zhongwei Yuan, Jirui Wang

doi: 10.1111/jipb.70234

Version of Record online: 15 March 2026

GLYCOGEN SYNTHASE KINASE 3 (GSK3), a negative regulator of brassinosteroid signaling, phosphorylates and stabilizes the seed dormancy protein DOG1L4, which in turn activates ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE 5 (ABI5) to enhance seed dormancy. GSK3 also phosphorylates ABI5. This dual-target mechanism suggests a strategy for controlling seed dormancy and germination in crops.

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Two mycorrhiza-responsive MADS transcription factors, OsMADS61 and OsMADS26, regulate both direct and mycorrhizal nitrate transport pathways

Yuhan Ren, Congfan Yang, Haoyan Ji, Kun Xie, Haoran Mao, Dechao Zeng, Lingxiao Wang, Shuangshuang Wang, Guohua Xu, Aiqun Chen

DOI: 10.1111/jipb.70224

Version of Record online: 12 March 2026

In rice, the transcription factors OsMADS26 and OsMADS61 orchestrate direct and symbiotic nitrate uptake pathways via transcriptionally activating the nitrate transporter genes OsNPF4.5 and OsNAR2.1/NRT2.2 by recognizing the CrAG cis-element in their promoters, consequently enhancing nitrogen acquisition and utilization efficiencies during arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.

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LpMPK6 regulates leaf color in perennial ryegrass by inhibiting LpMYBR1-modulated transcription of LpNRT1.5

Liaoliao Ye, Xiuhua Tang, Zhijian Cao, Cun Wang, Jinwei Yang, Zhiquan Qiang, Tao Qin

DOI: 10.1111/jipb.70226

Version of Record online: 12 March 2026

In perennial ryegrass, the MAP kinase LpMPK6 phosphorylates the transcription factor LpMYBR1 to suppress transcription of the nitrate transporter gene LpNRT1.5, thereby inhibiting root-to-shoot nitrate transport and causing leaf chlorosis under nitrogen deficiency.

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SlARF11–SlGATA5 stimulates tomato leaf angle by feedback regulation with brassinosteroid signaling

Qihui Wang, Ruoxuan Wang, Xi Wang, Junfeng Luo, Qiongqiong Zhang, Xin Liu, Jing Jiang

DOI: 10.1111/jipb.70215

Version of Record online: 12 March 2026

Leaf angle in tomato is regulated by a regulatory module involving the non-canonical auxin response factor SlARF11, which interacts with SlGATA5, facilitating SlGATA5 binding to the promoters of genes involved in brassinosteroid signaling, cell elongation, and lignin deposition.

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CasY7: An optimized Cas12i system for enhanced genome editing in monocot crops

Dating Zhong, Yanxiao Dong, Hong Pan, Yanan Fu, Yining Zhao, Shuting Ruan, Wencong Yu, Yiwen Wang, Qianlan Yin, Yanfei Zhang, Yisen Huang, Jiaqi Shen, Hongling Zhang, Yuxuan Wu, Jieting Xu, Yuming Lu

DOI: 10.1111/jipb.70181

Version of Record online: 11 March 2026

The Cas12i-derived nuclease CasY7 system achieved high editing efficiency in rice, maize, and wheat, notably enabling multiplex editing. This establishes CasY7 as a robust CRISPR tool for crop improvement.

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HSP101-encoding NEO-TETRAPLOID RICE FERTILITY GENE 1 regulates tapetum development through interaction with SAPK2 in polyploid rice

Lichong Cao, Weicong Huang, Hang Yu, Sanglin Liu, Jianmin Yin, Zijun Lu, Jinwen Wu, Xiangdong Liu

doi: 10.1111/jipb.70218

Version of Record online: 11 March 2026

In neo-tetraploid rice, the NTRF1–SAPK2 heat shock protein–kinase module coordinates abscisic acid signaling with reactive oxygen species homeostasis to ensure timely tapetal programmed cell death and subsequent pollen maturation, providing a resource for the genetic improvement of polyploid rice.

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The SAG101–NRG1 branch of TIR signaling activates phenylalanine-derived SA biosynthesis in Nicotiana benthamiana

Lu Xu, Mingsong Wu, Yanan Liu, Xin Li, Yuelin Zhang

DOI: 10.1111/jipb.70214

Version of Record online: 11 March 2026

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Transcriptome-wide association study identifies the ZmbZIP89–ZmSAUR21 module as a key regulator of root growth and drought tolerance in maize

Tianze Zhu, Houmiao Wang, Yunyun Wang, Xiaoyi Yang, Shuai Fang, Wei Li, Wenye Rui, Baoqing Wang, Yimei Tian, Dan Sun, Haoxin Gao, Zefeng Yang, Chenwu Xu, Pengcheng Li

DOI: 10.1111/jipb.70220

Version of Record online: 11 March 2026

The maize Small Auxin-Up RNA gene ZmSAUR21 is activated by the transcription factor ZmbZIP89 and regulates root development, providing a direct target for breeding maize with stronger, deeper root systems, that are more resilient to drought.

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Efficient CRISPR/Cas‐SF01 genome editing tools with high editing efficiency in allotetraploid oilseed rape

Mengyu Hao, Meili Zhou, Fei Pan, Tiantian Liu, Yilin Li, Nan Su, Ayub Ashfaq, Miaoying Song, Hui Wang, Wenxiang Wang, Jia Liu, Chao Li, Li Fu, Ping He, Qiong Hu, Desheng Mei, Hongtao Cheng

DOI: 10.1111/jipb.70221

Version of Record online: 09 March 2026

An efficient protoplast system was used to test gene editing and Cas-SF01 was developed for gene editing in oilseed rape and used to create plants with multilocular siliques and male sterility, with high precision and no off-target edits. Cas-SF01 recognizes more flexible DNA targets than CRISPR-Cas9.

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Plant strategies against herbivorous insects

Liuhong Zhu, Hanchi Yang, Peixuan Li, Lina Dong, Shang Zhao, Honghao Lv, Neil Crickmore, Xuguo Zhou, Youjun Zhang, Zhaojiang Guo

DOI: 10.1111/jipb.70209

Version of Record online: 08 March 2026

This review summarizes two centuries of research on plant resistance to herbivorous insects and proposes a unified framework encompassing physical, chemical, ecological modulation, and behavioral defenses. It highlights their coordination, key resistance genes, and breeding applications, offering new perspectives for sustainable pest management and crop improvement.

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Recent advances in genetic control of fiber length in upland cotton

Gangling Li, Tao Wang, Shuqian Yao, Haoliang Yan, Juwu Gong, Youlu Yuan, Haihong Shang

DOI: 10.1111/jipb.70213

Version of Record online: 08 March 2026

Construction of genetic regulatory networks affecting cotton fiber length and an interaction network among different hormones that affect cotton fiber length provides insight on the application of these genes in breeding and suggests potential issues that may arise during breeding applications.

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Exploration of diverse glycosyltransferases in Dracocephalum moldavica and engineering the production of bioactive flavonoid glycosides

Dan-Dan Xu, Ni-Hong Du, Jia-Hui Li, Jiang-Nan Li, Jie Fu, Ming-Xin Cui, Rong Ni, Jiao-Zhen Zhang, Ying Lu, Ping Xu, Hong-Xiang Lou, Ai-Xia Cheng

DOI: 10.1111/jipb.70212

Version of Record online: 04 March 2026

Identification of key enzymes in Dracocephalum moldavica that produce valuable flavonoid glycosides, then engineering these enzymes and optimizing sugar supply in Escherichia coli, resulted in efficient microbial production of scutellarin and phloretin di-C-glycoside.

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Functional characterization of plant UGT93s producing prenylated phenolic glycosides

Hong-Ye Li, Jian-Lin Zou, Bao Nie, Zi-Long Wang, Meng Zhang, Chun-Xue Zhao, Yan-Fang Yang, Xi-Ran Zhang, Xin-Yue Zhan, Li Wang, Min Ye

DOI: 10.1111/jipb.70202

Version of Record online: 04 March 2026

Characterization of 31 plant UGT93 glycosyltransferases and their ancestral enzyme showed a catalytic preference for prenylated phenolics and that aromatic and hydrophobic residues in the substrate binding domain are significant for this catalytic preference.

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A leucine-rich-repeat receptor-like kinase SERL1 phosphorylates and stabilizes OsALDH2B1 to promote alkaline tolerance and grain size in rice

Zemin Ma, Xuanlin Gao, Shuaizu An, Mengyuan Chen, Biaoming Zhang, Lei Zhou, Shengyuan Sun, Ming Li, Feng Yu, Shiyou Lü, Zhaohui Chu, Aiqing You, Yinggen Ke, Pingfang Yang

doi: 10.1111/jipb.70210

Version of Record online: 04 March 2026

The rice aldehyde dehydrogenase OsALDH2B1 enhances grain size and tolerance to alkaline soil by repressing GRAIN SIZE 3 and activating catalases. SERL1-mediated phosphorylation stabilizes OsALDH2B1 under stress, establishing a signaling axis that overcomes growth-defense trade-offs and provides a direct target for breeding high-yield, alkaline-resilient rice.

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