Lateral organ boundaries (LOB) domain (LBD) genes, a gene family encoding plant-specific transcription factors, play important roles in plant growth and development. At present, though there have been a number of genome-wide analyses on LBD gene families and functional studies on individual LBD proteins, the diverse functions of LBD family members still confuse researchers and an effective strategy is required to summarize their functional diversity. To further integrate and improve our understanding of the phylogenetic classification, functional characteristics and regulatory mechanisms of LBD proteins, we review and discuss the functional characteristics of LBD proteins according to their classifications under a phylogenetic framework. It is proved that this strategy is effective in the anatomy of diverse functions of LBD family members. Additionally, by phylogenetic analysis, one monocot-specific and one eudicot-specific subclade of LBD proteins were found and their biological significance in monocot and eudicot development were also discussed separately. The review will help us better understand the functional diversity of LBD proteins and facilitate further studies on this plant-specific transcription factor family.

Significance: Developing a male-sterility system that is effective in multiple species is essential for hybrid seed production in different plants, especially for plants without cloned male-sterility genes. Here, we identified the transcriptional regulation mechanism for maize male-sterility gene ZmMs7 and thereby developed a dominant male-sterility system that was proved to be effective in maize, rice, and Arabidopsis . Compared with current male-sterility systems, this system has potential advantages, e.g., utilization of a single transgene cassette, high stability of male sterility under different genetic backgrounds, and producing fluorescent transgenic and normal color nontransgenic F ₁ hybrid seeds which can be used flexibly in different countries where transgenic crop cultivation is prohibited or allowed. Therefore, it is a simple, cost-effective, and multiple-crop-applicable biotechnology.

The GDSL lipase MHZ11 affects OsCTR2 phosphorylation status to facilitate ethylene signaling partially through modulating sterol homeostasis.

Ethylene plays essential roles during adaptive responses to water-saturating environments in rice, but knowledge of its signaling mechanism remains limited. Here, through an analysis of a rice ethylene-response mutant mhz1, we show that MHZ1 positively modulates root ethylene responses. MHZ1 encodes the rice histidine kinase OsHK1. MHZ1/OsHK1 is autophosphorylated at a conserved histidine residue and can transfer the phosphoryl signal to the response regulator OsRR21 via the phosphotransfer proteins OsAHP1/2. This phosphorelay pathway is required for root ethylene responses. Ethylene receptor OsERS2, via its GAF domain, physically interacts with MHZ1/OsHK1 and inhibits its kinase activity. Genetic analyses suggest that MHZ1/OsHK1 acts at the level of ethylene perception and works together with the OsEIN2-mediated pathway to regulate root growth. Our results suggest that MHZ1/OsHK1 mediates the ethylene response partially independently of OsEIN2, and is directly inhibited by ethylene receptors, thus revealing mechanistic details of ethylene signaling for root growth regulation.