The genome of Arundinella anomala, a C₄ grass with variant Kranz anatomy and interveinal distinctive cells, is sequenced and annotated, followed by single-cell transcriptomes for comparative analyses between C₄ bundle sheath cells and interveinal distinctive cells.

This study presents the structure and mechanism of the algal bicarbonate channel LciA and its application in engineering FNT family proteins to achieve bicarbonate transport activity, expanding the toolbox to boost plant photosynthesis.

The authors found esterified pectin localized at the stiff poles of maize stomata, modulating stomatal opening. These results reveal novel targets for stomatal engineering and breeding crops with higher water use efficiency.

Spatially resolved gene expression during barley development was done by integrating an scRNA-seq dataset from cells with unknown position with spatial transcriptomics. This dataset is publicly available through the online web-based BARVISTA application.

The false smut fungus attacks rice by secreting a ‘weapon’ that targets a key protein in the plant’s flowers. This single move simultaneously stops the rice from making grains and shuts down its natural immune defences. The discovery of this strategy offers an opportunity to develop disease-resistant rice in the future.

Cereal protein biofortification can improve nutrition while maintaining yield and lowering environmental impact. This Review shows how genetics and breeding can enhance protein quality in staple cereals to support healthier and more sustainable diets.

Photorespiration was long considered a futile cycle leading to a net carbon loss. However, evidence is accumulating that substantial metabolic benefits exist.

Heat stress threatens wheat productivity, necessitating genetic solutions for heat stress tolerance. We identified TaHST2, a key heat stress tolerance regulator, and demonstrated that intronic variations and epigenetic modifications silence TaHST2 in heat-tolerant wheat, probably as an adaptive consequence of hexaploidization and domestication.

A computational model based on early inflorescence development in wheat and rice has revealed how the timing of primordia initiation and meristem transition jointly shapes architectural diversity. It not only predicted independent mechanisms for ‘paired spikelet’ formation but also guided the identification of RA2-D, a gene that accelerates heading and can boost grain yield.

This study reveals that the rice false smut fungus disrupts floret development and suppresses immunity by secreting the effector Sxp1, which targets a lipid transfer protein and interferes with lipid signalling required for pollen fertility and immune responses.

TaHST2 negatively regulates thermotolerance in wheat as it encodes a ubiquitin hydrolase that represses heat tolerance by stabilizing TaHSC701/702. During domestication, TaHST2 was progressively suppressed to select for improved thermotolerance.

We identify ZmMYB127 as a central regulator of maize endosperm filling, which executes dual transcriptional activities to coordinate development of the aleurone layer and nutrient accumulation in grain. This coordination enhances grain yield and quality, underscoring ZmMYB127 as a potential target for improving maize breeding.

An atlas of ~1 million Arabidopsis nuclei captures leaf development under drought stress. Drought advances leaf maturation transcriptional programmes in a dose-dependent manner. Mesophyll-specific FRO6 overexpression partially restores growth, revealing a link between stress and development.