Plants manage the high cost of immunity activation by suppressing the expression of defense genes during normal growth and rapidly switching them on upon pathogen invasion. TGAs are key transcription factors controlling the expression of defense genes. However, how TGAs function, especially in monocot plants like rice with continuously high levels of endogenous salicylic acid (SA) remains elusive. In this study, we characterized the role of OsTGA5 as a negative regulator of rice resistance against blast fungus by transcriptionally repressing the expression of various defense-related genes. Moreover, OsTGA5 repressed PTI responses and the accumulation of endogenous SA. Importantly, we showed that the nucleus-localized casein kinase II (CK2) complex interacts with and phosphorylates OsTGA5 on Ser-32, which reduces the affinity of OsTGA5 for the JIOsPR10 promoter, thereby alleviating the repression of JIOsPR10 transcription and increasing rice resistance. Furthermore, the in vivo phosphorylation of OsTGA5 Ser-32 was enhanced by blast fungus infection. The CK2 α subunit, depending on its kinase activity, positively regulated rice defense against blast fungus. Taken together, our results provide a mechanism for the role of OsTGA5 in negatively regulating the transcription of defense-related genes in rice and the repressive switch imposed by nuclear CK2-mediated phosphorylation during blast fungus invasion.

Germinated whole seeds possess elevated levels of bioactive nutrients; however, their application is hindered by several constraints. The germination process is typically time-consuming, and germinated seeds present challenges in terms of storage and transportation compared to dry seeds. This study introduces a novel processing method for rice, termed prolonged priming (PLP), aiming to combine the benefits of germinated and dry seeds. PLP involves soaking the seeds until the embryo exposure stage, followed by redrying. At 10 h (hour) germination post PLP, the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in Hanyou73 (HY73) and IRAT exceeded 20 mg/100 g. Additionally, there was an induction of various nutrient components, including an increase in protein content, a reduction in amylose levels, and an elevation in fatty acid content, among others. Malondialdehyde levels, indicating oxidative damage, remained stable, and PLP preserved better seed integrity compared to routine priming in the desiccation-tolerant HY73. Collectively, the PLP treatment demonstrates an optimization of the nutritional value and storage in germinated brown rice (GBR). This novel process holds potential for enhancing the nutritional profile of GBR and may be applicable to other crop species.

Mesona chinensis Benth is a significant botanical resource utilized for both medicinal and dietary purposes, and the Xiaoye variety (XY) exhibited the highest antioxidant activity among the varieties. Despite its importance, metabolic information regarding its medicinal and nutritional properties remains sparse. This study examined the secondary metabolites of four M. chinensis Benth varieties using UHPLC-MS/MS and identified 102, 105, and 286 metabolites exhibiting differential accumulation in the XY variety compared to the Taiwan variety (TW), Minxuan variety (MX), and Zengcheng variety (ZC), respectively, among the 1287 metabolites identified. These metabolites are predominantly involved in secondary metabolic pathways such as “Tropane, Piperidine, and Pyridine Alkaloid Biosynthesis” and “Flavone and Flavonol Biosynthesis”. In addition, we identified the ten most significant differential metabolites that influence antioxidant activity, with flavonoids recognized as the primary contributors to the variation in antioxidant activities. In this study, we have outlined the metabolic landscape of M. chinensis Benth. These findings may aid in elucidating the mechanism behind the antioxidant activity of XY, which provides valuable insights for breeding, quality assurance, and product innovation related to M. chinensis Benth.

Zengcheng (ZC), a superior cultivar of Mesona chinensis Benth, is distinguished by its unique sensory attributes and exceptional phytochemical quality, rendering it the cultivar of choice for commercial production. In this investigation, we employed comprehensive targeted metabolomics to systematically delineate the volatile metabolome of ZC in comparison to three relevant counterparts grown under uniform field conditions and harvested at the same developmental stage. Our primary objectives were to (i) quantitatively characterize the metabolomic divergence between ZC and the comparative cultivars, and (ii) elucidate the molecular basis underlying ZC’s characteristic flavor signature. Through high-throughput gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, a total of 1767 volatile metabolites were confidently annotated, with terpenoids and esters identified as the predominant chemical classes. Notably, ZC exhibited significantly elevated levels of terpenoids, esters, and aldehydes, which collectively conferred an intensified green, sweet, herbal, and fruity aroma. Key discriminatory metabolites included geranyl formate and geranic acid (imparting a pronounced green note), which were identified as pivotal determinants of ZC’s unique flavor profile. These findings provide mechanistic insights into the biochemical pathways governing flavor development in M. chinensis Benth and establish a robust foundation for precision-breeding strategies aimed at enhancing sensory quality and developing elite cultivars.

Lesion mimic mutants are valuable for studying plant cell death and defence mechanisms. Here, we identify a rice lesion mimic mutant, osasa2‐1 , which exhibits spontaneous cell death and enhanced disease resistance. The mutant displays white spots on leaves that develop into large brown lesions. Histological analysis reveals increased cell death and H ₂ O ₂ accumulation. Map‐based cloning identified the causal gene as OsASA2 (LOC_Os03g15780). The osasa2‐1 mutant carries a G496 deletion that introduces a premature stop codon, likely resulting in nonsense‐mediated decay of the mutant transcript. We demonstrate that OsASA2 interacts with OsASA1, OsASB1 and OsASB2. Its loss‐of‐function leads to hyperactivation of anthranilate synthase (AS) activity, enhancing tryptophan biosynthesis and metabolic flux into downstream pathways. The osasa2‐1 mutant exhibits elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, increased callose deposition and upregulation of defence‐related genes, contributing to enhanced resistance against both the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae and the bacterial blight pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae . Our findings highlight a novel regulatory role for OsASA2 in conferring broad‐spectrum disease resistance by modulating AS activity and the tryptophan biosynthetic pathway in rice.