Nature Plants, Published online: 12 April 2024; doi:10.1038/s41477-024-01670-7

In global drylands, soils tend to be more fertile beneath tree, shrub and grass islands. Soil fertility was greater beneath taller and wider plants but was unaffected by either grazing pressure or the type of herbivore.

Nature Plants, Published online: 12 April 2024; doi:10.1038/s41477-024-01685-0

The effects of pest spillover from organic agriculture

Nature Plants, Published online: 11 April 2024; doi:10.1038/s41477-024-01669-0

The ‘non-canonical’ type-B BZR/BES transcription factor, MpBZR3, has been shown to be a regulator of the development of female and male reproductive organs in the model bryophyte Marchantia polymorpha.

Nature Plants, Published online: 11 April 2024; doi:10.1038/s41477-024-01674-3

In this Perspective, Mascher et al. look back on 30 years of genetic and genomic research in cereal crops. Genome sequences have revealed common evolutionary patterns as well as differences between species and will support applications in breeding.

Nature Plants, Published online: 11 April 2024; doi:10.1038/s41477-024-01667-2

The carbon fixation machinery α-carboxysome of the marine cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus is composed of an icosahedral-like proteinaceous shell that encapsulates the enzymes RuBisCO and carbonic anhydrase. Our cryo-EM structure reveals how thousands of protein components self-assemble into the α-carboxysome and characterizes the multivalent interactions by which the scaffolding protein CsoS2 crosslinks the shell with internal RuBisCO molecules.

Nature Plants, Published online: 11 April 2024; doi:10.1038/s41477-024-01671-6

BZR/BES transcription factors are widely recognized as mediators of brassinosteroid (BR)-responsive gene expression in seed plants, but details of how they act in species that lack BR perception are unclear. A study now uncovers an ancient mission of a BZR/BES transcription factor in sexual organ development in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha.

Nature Plants, Published online: 11 April 2024; doi:10.1038/s41477-024-01684-1

Interacting with both sides

Nature Plants, Published online: 10 April 2024; doi:10.1038/s41477-024-01668-1

NARROW LEAF1 (NAL1) exerts a multifaceted influence on rice leaf morphology and yield. Recent crystal study proposed that histidine 233 (H233) is part of the catalytic triad. Here we report that H234 instead of H233 is a component of the catalytic triad alongside D291 and S385.

Nature Plants, Published online: 05 October 2023; doi:10.1038/s41477-023-01533-7

This study reveals the role played by the RNR10-DNR1-auxin module in modulating rice root system architecture and nitrogen uptake, making it a promising target for enhancing nitrogen-use efficiency and grain yield for future sustainable agriculture.

Nature Plants, Published online: 05 October 2023; doi:10.1038/s41477-023-01535-5

Pre-zygotic reproductive barriers are a vital defence against interspecific pollen transfers in plants. This study shows that SPRI2/SRS7, a transcription factor, regulates the formation of interspecific reproductive barriers in Arabidopsis.