AoB PLANTS

a) Inflorescence of Stereosandra javanica (photo credit: Chen Shu, 12 June 2022, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/121542719, image licenced under CC BY-NC 4.0, accessed 03 June 2025). b) Habit and floral illustration of Stereosandra javanica (illustration: C. Barrett). c) Map of occurrence data (‘preserved specimen’) downloaded from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (https://doi.org/10.15468/dl.y8tg3v, accessed 03 June 2025).

🌿🍄 New article in @aobp.bsky.social addressing how full mycoheterotrophy evolved in orchids, with first-ever genomic data for Stereosandra javanica.

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/qrpf

#PlantScience

Xylem vessel anatomy and hydraulic function scale in concert along the tip-to-base axis of an angiosperm tree Trees rely on tube-like vessels to transport water, yet how these vessels adjust along a plant's height is not fully understood. We studied a Fagus sylvati

♻️ Xylem vessel anatomy and hydraulic function scale in concert along the tip-to-base axis of an angiosperm tree by Swetlana Kreinert and co-authors.

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/10.1093/aobp...

#PLantScience

Macrotyloma uniflorum

🌱🌾 New article in @aobp.bsky.social addressing how genetic structure and seed traits in underutilised horsegram species could support breeding for climate resilience.

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/qrpn

#PlantScience

Neighbour sensing through rhizodeposits in sorghum affects plant physiology and productivity Plants “talk” underground. In sorghum, we show that chemical signals released by roots (rhizodeposits) from neighboring plants reduce growth and photosynth

♻️ Neighbour sensing through rhizodeposits in sorghum affects plant physiology and productivity by Shiran Ben-Zeev and co-authors.

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/10.1093/aobp...

#PlantScience

Green AoB PLANTS “Meet the Editor” flyer featuring Associate Editor Juliana Medeiros (Holden Arboretum, USA). The graphic highlights her research focus on plant anatomical and physiological acclimation to abiotic environments, her commitment to rigorous and inclusive science, advice for publishing (“build your paper around a strong central finding”), her favorite plants (rhododendrons and coffee), and her interests outside science, including assemblage art and caring for houseplants and aquariums. A circular photo shows her working in a lab under red light.

🌿Great journals are shaped by thoughtful editors.

Juliana Medeiros @heyrhododendron.bsky.social brings a passion for rigorous science, inclusive editing, and strong scientific storytelling to AoB PLANTS.

Get to know her in our latest #MeetTheEditor feature 👇

#PlantScience #AoBPLANTS

Plants clonal strategies are well associated with aridity gradients: insights from Lamiaceae family in the SW and Central Asia Our study demonstrates that plant clonality is strongly structured by aridity gradients across Southwest and Central Asia. Using an extensive dataset of La

♻️ Plants clonal strategies are well associated with aridity gradients: insights from Lamiaceae family in the SW and Central Asia by Chonour Mahmoudi and co-authors.

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/10.1093/aobp...

#PlantScience

Plant neighbours, not consumers, drive intraspecific phytochemical changes of two grassland species in a field experiment Plants use chemicals to respond to consumers, competitors, and the wider environment. Most work has focused on consumers in driving the diversity of these

♻️ Plant neighbours, not consumers, drive intraspecific phytochemical changes of two grassland species in a field experiment by Joshua Brian and co-authors.

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/10.1093/aobp... v

#PLantScience

Evaluation of Echinochloa frumentacea under saline–alkaline conditions and its comparison with five forage species Our research identifies Echinochloa frumentacea as a salt-tolerant forage crop. In saline-alkaline conditions, E. frumentacea can survive under moderate sa

♻️ Evaluation of Echinochloa frumentacea under saline–alkaline conditions and its comparison with five forage species by Xueqin Wang and co-authors.

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/10.1093/aobp...

#PlantScience

Stable size structure of the Pediocactus bradyi population average over the 1988–2017 study period. We show these population attributes as estimated from a population

🌵🌧️ New article in @aobp.bsky.social exploring whether root contraction, a drought-escape strategy in Pediocactus bradyi, truly shapes long-term population dynamics in the desert.

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/qrgq

#PlantScience

Evolution of floral traits and mating systems under drought: a range-wide study of Mimulus cardinalis Climate change is intensifying droughts globally, challenging species to adapt to novel conditions. While plant physiological and phenological responses to

♻️ Evolution of floral traits and mating systems under drought: a range-wide study of Mimulus cardinalis by Olivia Wilborn-Pilotte and co-authors.

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/10.1093/aobp...

#PlantScience

Fagus sylvatica vessels.

🌍🌱 New article in @aobp.bsky.social examining how vessel diameter, length and pit traits jointly regulate sap flow efficiency along the stem.

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/qmw2

#PlantScience

Intraspecific variation and phenotypic plasticity of olive varieties in response to contrasting environmental conditions This study explores how cultivated olive trees adjust their leaf, stem, and branch traits across two contrasting environments. By examining 17 varieties in

♻️ Intraspecific variation and phenotypic plasticity of olive varieties in response to contrasting environmental conditions by Siham Wakib and co-authors.

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/10.1093/aobp...

#PlantScience

Retrospective phenology in western Mediterranean plants: revealing climate change patterns through herbarium specimens Herbarium records reveal widespread earlier timing of Mediterranean plant life cycles under warming. Flowering shifted earlier by ~3.6 days per decade (~12

♻️ Retrospective phenology in western Mediterranean plants: revealing climate change patterns through herbarium specimens by Andros Solakis-Tena and co-authors.

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/10.1093/aobp...

#PlantScience

Biochemical and anatomical leaf characteristics of oak trees contribute to differences in photosynthetic capacity between leaf habits We used a comparative framework to demonstrate how the biochemistry and internal anatomy of deciduous oak leaves support greater photosynthetic capacity th

♻️ Biochemical and anatomical leaf characteristics of oak trees contribute to differences in photosynthetic capacity between leaf habits by Mina Momayyezi and co-authors.

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/10.1093/aobp...

#PlantScience

Photographs of the sterile line 014A (a), maintainer line 014B (b), restorer line 014C (c), and the hybrid 014A × 014C (d), and microscopic morphology of flower buds from the sterile line (e), maintainer line (f) and restorer line (g) at three different developmental stages, corresponding (from left to right) to stages 1, 2, and 3.

🌶️🌱 New article in @aobp.bsky.social exploring the regulatory network behind cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in chilli pepper and how hormone signaling and sugar metabolism shape fertility restoration in hybrid breeding.

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/qrgm

#PlantScience

Elevation pattern of resource allocation in Picea crassifolia Kom. and its coupling mechanism with soil factors in Helan Mountains, China In arid and semi-arid regions, subalpine coniferous forests are highly sensitive to soil conditions. Elevation changes affect both soil nutrients and tree

♻️ Elevation pattern of resource allocation in Picea crassifolia Kom. and its coupling mechanism with soil factors in Helan Mountains, China by Kuan Zhang and co-authors.

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/10.1093/aobp...

#PlantScience

Boxplot showing the relative growth rates, total accumulated biomass, and biomass partitioning of three Amazonian forest species after 62 days of the experiment. ww = well-watered and ds = drought-stressed plants. Relative growth rates according to height (RGR-h) and diameter (RGR-d), total leaf area (TLA), stem dry mass (SDM), root dry mass (RDM), total dry mass (TDM), leaf dry mass (LDM), leaf mass fraction (LMF), leaf area ratio (LAR), stem mass fraction (SMF), root mass fraction (RMF), and the root/shoot ratio (R/S) were calculated. Different letters indicate significant differences between treatments for each species (P < .05). In the boxes, lines indicate the medians and × indicates the means. For Tachigali vulgaris under drought stress, the values correspond only to living saplings (n = 2).

🌳💧 New article in @aobp.bsky.social exploring how three key Amazonian tree species respond to severe drought, revealing contrasting survival and recovery strategies with implications for reforestation under climate change.

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/qrgn

#PlantScience

Genomic resources and genetic improvement of vital tropical and subtropical fruit crops: current status and prospects Tropical and subtropical fruits are nutrient-rich and essential for human health, yet their low production limits their availability for growing population

♻️ Genomic resources and genetic improvement of vital tropical and subtropical fruit crops: current status and prospects by Anupama Roy and co-authors.

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/10.1093/aobp...

#PlantScience

Nutrient availability increases photosynthetic capacity without altering the cost of resource use for photosynthesis Recent developments in land surface modelling allow the prediction of photosynthetic capacity from climate following least-cost optimality principles. Yet,

♻️ Nutrient availability increases photosynthetic capacity without altering the cost of resource use for photosynthesis by Jan Lankhorst and co-authors.

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/10.1093/aobp...

#PlantScience

Evidence of plasticity in Triodanis perfoliata: differential flowering response to interannual spring temperature and variation across North America Shifts in flowering time driven by increases in temperature have been documented across a range of flowering plant species. However, intraspecific dynamics

♻️ Evidence of plasticity in Triodanis perfoliata: differential flowering response to interannual spring temperature and variation across North America by Leidy Laura Arias Martinez and Jennifer Weber

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/10.1093/aobp...

#PlantScience

Representative Lamiaceae species illustrating the four BGFs. Photographs show habit (left column), excavated belowground organs (middle column), and schematic diagrams (right column). (a) Phlomoides laciniata—main root; (b) Stachys inflata—hypogeogenous rhizome; (c) Phlomis olivieri—epigeogenous rhizome; (d) Stachys lavandulifolia—stoloniferous form.

🌍🌱 New article in @aobp.bsky.social addressing how belowground growth forms shape plant responses to environmental stress along precipitation gradients.

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/qmwz

#PlantScience

♻️ Trichome density and herbivore behaviour on tomato is influenced by herbivory, plant age, and leaf surface by Sunil Aryal and co-authors

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/10.1093/aobp...

#PlantScience

Summary of conceptual framework and experimental design. (a) Multiple drivers and their interactions affect focal plant growth and potentially phytochemical investment. (i) Attack from consumers like insect herbivores and fungal pathogens can stimulate induced defences, (ii) which plants use to maintain growth. (iii) Some plants invest mainly in constitutive defences, which mediate consumer impacts but do not change upon attack. (iv) Interspecific plant neighbours also affect focal plant growth directly or (v) indirectly through consumers. (vi) Neighbours could also directly stimulate inductive phytochemical changes. The holistic phytochemical response of plants involves within-plant trade-offs in response to these competing and potentially interacting pressures. Dotted line represents indirect effect. (b) Experimental design used in this study with the biomass and phytochemical response variables that we examined. We had plots for two focal species: Lespedeza capitata (legume) and Andropogon gerardi (C4 grass).

🧪🌾 New article in @aobp.bsky.social revealing that competitive environment, rather than herbivory, can drive short-term phytochemical responses in some plant species.

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/qmwx

@drjoshbrian.bsky.social @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social
#PlantScience

Taxonomic position of Eriocycla (Apiaceae): insights from molecular and morphological evidence This study addresses the long-standing taxonomic uncertainties surrounding the genus Eriocycla (Apiaceae), which has often been classified within Seseli du

♻️Taxonomic position of Eriocycla (Apiaceae): insights from molecular and morphological evidence by Yang-Zhao Li and co-authors

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/10.1093/aobp...

#PlantScience

Physiological and molecular responses to high-temperature stress at anthesis in Brazilian flooded rice In rice, high temperatures during flowering can reduce yields. However, genotype-specific variation can be leveraged to develop heat-tolerant varieties. Br

♻️ Physiological and molecular responses to high-temperature stress at anthesis in Brazilian flooded rice by Silmara da Luz Correia and co-authors

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/10.1093/aobp...

#PlantScience

Pattern-triggered immunity in blue and white seed cultivars of Papaver somniferum This study reveals how poppy plants activate immune defences against pathogens, focusing on pattern-triggered immunity (PTI). By testing four food-grade po

♻️ Pattern-triggered immunity in blue and white seed cultivars of Papaver somniferum by Jhonny Stalyn Hernández Orozco and co-authors

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/10.1093/aobp...

#PLantScience

Roots of Echinochloa frumentacea (25 days after sowing) under salt stress at 0 mmol L−1 (B0), 60 mmol L−1 (B1), 120 mmol L−1 (B2), 180 mmol L−1 (B3), 240 mmol L−1 (B4), 300 mmol L−1 (B5). Plants were treated with NaCl:Na2SO4:NaHCO3:Na2CO3 in ratio of 0.5:0.5:0:0 for A1, 0.25:0.5:0.25:0 for A2, 0.05:0.45:0.45:0.05 for A3, 0.1:0.4:0.4:0.1 for A4, and 0.25:0.25:0.25:0.25 for A5.

🧂🌿 New article in @aobp.bsky.social examining how root structure, ion balance and antioxidant activity contribute to salt tolerance in a forage grass.

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/qmww

#PlantScience

Targeted genome modification in protoplasts of a tea cultivar Kolkhida using RNA-guided Cas9 endonuclease The genome modification method for tea protoplasts was established. Three candidate genes were selected in the elite local tea cultivar Kolkhida. Construct

♻️ Targeted genome modification in protoplasts of a tea cultivar Kolkhida using RNA-guided Cas9 endonuclease by Anastasiya Egorova and co-authors

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/10.1093/aobp...

#PlantScience

Reaction norms of the ten tested genotypes for dry weight (a, b), height (c, d), and leaf area (e, f) between the competition (c) and no competition (NC) treatment within the water-limited (WL, left), well-watered (WW, right) treatments. Values presented for each line are the LS means obtained from a model, which included the lines (PI numbers for each line are presented in Supplementary Table S1), competition, experiment, water treatment factors, and competition by genotype interaction.

🔬🌿 New article in @aobp.bsky.social examining how sorghum plants respond to neighbouring plants through soil-mediated signals, even in the absence of shading.

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/qmwv

#PlantScience

Differences in functional traits and drought tolerance between heteromorphic leaves of Artemisia tridentata seedlings, a keystone species from a semiarid shrubland Seedlings of the drought-tolerant shrub big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) show leaves with different morphologies. Early leaves are larger and less pube

♻️ Differences in functional traits and drought tolerance between heteromorphic leaves of Artemisia tridentata seedlings, a keystone species from a semiarid shrubland by Marcelo Serpe and co-authors

Full #openaccess
👉 doi.org/10.1093/aobp...

#PlantScience