The genome of the carnivorous bladderwort plant Utricularia gibba is described here; despite having undergone at least three rounds of whole-genome duplication, its genome is unusually small and virtually devoid of intergenic DNA. Bladderworts are carnivorous plants found in fresh water and damp soil, where they feed on minute prey such as protozoa and rotifers. They lack clearly distinguishable roots, leaves or stems but produce tiny orchid-like flowers. The genome of one of these plants, Utricularia gibba, has now been sequence and analysed. The genome is unusually small (at 82 megabases), in part due to the near absence of intergenic DNA, but it encodes a typical number of genes for a plant and is sufficient to regulate the development and reproduction of a complex organism. Though Although remaining small, the genome has undergone at least three rounds of whole-genome duplication since common ancestry with tomato (Solanum) and grape (Vitis). It has been argued that the evolution of plant genome size is principally unidirectional and increasing owing to the varied action of whole-genome duplications (WGDs) and mobile element proliferation1. However, extreme genome size reductions have been reported in the angiosperm family tree. Here we report the sequence of the 82-megabase genome of the carnivorous bladderwort plant Utricularia gibba. Despite its tiny size, the U. gibba genome accommodates a typical number of genes for a plant, with the main difference from other plant genomes arising from a drastic reduction in non-genic DNA. Unexpectedly, we identified at least three rounds of WGD in U. gibba since common ancestry with tomato (Solanum) and grape (Vitis). The compressed architecture of the U. gibba genome indicates that a small fraction of intergenic DNA, with few or no active retrotransposons, is sufficient to regulate and integrate all the processes required for the development and reproduction of a complex organism.

Background: Agaves are succulent monocotyledonous plants native to xeric environments of North America. Because of their adaptations to their environment, including crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM, a water-efficient form of photosynthesis), and existing technologies for ethanol production, agaves have gained attention both as potential lignocellulosic bioenergy feedstocks and models for exploring plant responses to abiotic stress. However, the lack of comprehensiveAgavesequence datasets limits the scope of investigations into the molecular-genetic basis ofAgavetraits.Results: Here, we present comprehensive, high qualityde novotranscriptome assemblies of twoAgavespecies,A. tequilanaandA. deserti,built from short-read RNA-seq data. Our analyses support completeness and accuracy of thede novotranscriptome assemblies, with each species having a minimum of approximately 35,000 protein-coding genes. Comparison of agave proteomes to those of additional plant species identifies biological functions of gene families displaying sequence divergence in agave species. Additionally, a focus on the transcriptomics of theA. desertijuvenile leaf confirms evolutionary conservation of monocotyledonous leaf physiology and development along the proximal-distal axis.Conclusions: Our work presents a comprehensive transcriptome resource for twoAgavespecies and provides insight into their biology and physiology. These resources are a foundation for further investigation of agave biology and their improvement for bioenergy development.

Maize BLH transcription factors maintain the intercalary meristems to ensure sufficient internode elongation and prevent vein anastomosis to pattern the scatter

Phenotypic and transcriptome analysis indicate that NARROW ODD DWARF, the MID-COMPLEMENTING ACTIVITY homolog, regulates organ growth, tissue patterning, and pat

In recent years, agricultural crops have increasingly been attacked by more destructive insect pests, forcing modern farming to depend mainly on chemical insecticides. Although valuable, their widespread and intensive misuse has raised serious concerns about environmental and public health impacts. RNAi has been proposed as a safer alternative due to its high specificity, adaptability, and low ecological footprint. So far, dsRNA has proven effective in controlling various pest species, either through topical application or via genetically modified plants. Despite advances, large-scale implementation of RNAi remains challenging due to technical and biological hurdles that contribute to inconsistent performance. Key aspects such as dsRNA design, delivery techniques, and cellular uptake mechanisms still require refinement. Additionally, ensuring environmental stability, addressing biosafety concerns, and developing cost-effective production methods are essential for its practical application. In this review, we explore recent advances in the design and implementation of dsRNA, as well as the strategies that could support the successful integration of RNAi technology into pest management programs.

Interactions between MADS box transcription factors are critical in the regulation of floral development, and shifting MADS box protein-protein interactions are predicted to have influenced floral evolution. However, precisely how evolutionary variation in protein-protein interactions affects MADS box protein function remains unknown. To assess the impact of changing MADS box protein-protein interactions on transcription factor function, we turned to the grasses, where interactions between B-class MADS box proteins vary. We tested the functional consequences of this evolutionary variability using maize (Zea mays) as an experimental system. We found that differential B-class dimerization was associated with subtle, quantitative differences in stamen shape. In contrast, differential dimerization resulted in large-scale changes to downstream gene expression. Differential dimerization also affected B-class complex composition and abundance, independent of transcript levels. This indicates that differential B-class dimerization affects protein degradation, revealing an important consequence for evolutionary variability in MADS box interactions. Our results highlight complexity in the evolution of developmental gene networks: changing protein-protein interactions could affect not only the composition of transcription factor complexes but also their degradation and persistence in developing flowers. Our results also show how coding change in a pleiotropic master regulator could have small, quantitative effects on development.