A Mediator subunit creates a direct bridge for communication between a phytochrome interacting factor and the general transcriptional machinery to regulate shad

Sucrose metabolism plays a critical role in development, stress response, and yield formation of plants. Sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) is the key rate-limiting enzyme in the sucrose synthesis pathway. To date, genome-wide survey and comprehensive analysis of the SPS gene family in soybean (Glycine max) have yet to be performed. In this study, seven genes encoding SPS were identified in soybean genome. The structural characteristics, phylogenetics, tissue expression patterns, and cold stress response of these GmSPSs were investigated. A comparative phylogenetic analysis of SPS proteins in soybean, Medicago truncatula, Medicago sativa, Lotus japonicus, Arabidopsis, and rice revealed four families. GmSPSs were clustered into three families from A to C, and have undergone five segmental duplication events under purifying selection. All GmSPS genes had various expression patterns in different tissues, and family A members GmSPS13/17 were highly expressed in nodules. Remarkably, all GmSPS promoters contain multiple low-temperature-responsive elements such as potential binding sites of inducer of CBF expression 1 (ICE1), the central regulator in cold response. qRT-PCR proved that these GmSPS genes, especially GmSPS8/18, were induced by cold treatment in soybean leaves, and the expression pattern of GmICE1 under cold treatment was similar to that of GmSPS8/18. Further transient expression analysis in Nicotiana benthamiana and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) indicated that GmSPS8 and GmSPS18 transcriptions were directly activated by GmICE1. Taken together, our findings may aid in future efforts to clarify the potential roles of GmSPS genes in response to cold stress in soybean.

Brassica crops (genus Brassica) represent globally important vegetables and oilseeds, yet are continuously threatened by insect pests that reduce yield and quality. While classical physiological and chemical defense mechanisms such as the glucosinolate–myrosinase system have been well documented, recent advances in genomics and molecular biology are beginning to unravel the genetic basis of insect resistance in Brassica species. Notably, emerging evidence highlights the central role of jasmonic acid (JA) signaling and the transcription factor MYC2 as a master regulator of inducible defense responses, where stress-induced degradation of JAZ repressors releases MYC2 to activate downstream defense genes and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. This review synthesizes the current understanding of defense mechanisms in Brassica against herbivores, highlights identified resistance genes and their functional roles, and examines the knowledge gaps that hinder progress in molecular breeding. We then explore future molecular approaches including high-throughput omics, gene editing, and resistance gene mining that hold promise for designing durable insect-resistant Brassica cultivars. To our knowledge, major insect resistance loci are relatively scarce compared to pathogen-resistant loci. We argue for integrated strategies combining classical breeding, biotechnology, and ecological management to accelerate the development of resilient Brassica germplasm.

Brassica crops (genus Brassica) represent globally important vegetables and oilseeds yet are continuously threatened by insect pests that reduce yield and quality. While classical physiological and chemical defence mechanisms such as the glucosinolate–myrosinase system have been well documented, recent advances in genomics and molecular biology are beginning to unravel the genetic basis of insect resistance in Brassica species. Notably, emerging evidence highlights the central role of jasmonic acid (JA) signalling and the transcription factor MYC2 as a master regulator of inducible defence responses, where stress-induced degradation of JAZ repressors releases MYC2 to activate downstream defence genes and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. This review synthesizes the current understanding of defence mechanisms in Brassica against herbivores, highlights identified resistance genes and their functional roles, and examines the knowledge gaps that hinder progress in molecular breeding. We then explore future molecular approaches including high-throughput omics, gene editing, and resistance gene mining that hold promise for designing durable insect-resistant Brassica cultivars. Recognising the scarcity of major insect-resistance loci relative to pathogen resistance, we argue for integrated strategies combining classical breeding, biotechnology, and ecological management to accelerate the development of resilient Brassica germplasm.