Adenylate cyclases (ACs), much like guanylate cyclases (GCs), are increasingly recognized as essential parts of many plant processes including biotic and abiotic stress responses. In order to identify novel ACs, we have applied a search motif derived from experimentally tested GCs and identified a number of Arabidopsis thaliana candidates including a clathrin assembly protein (AT1G68110; AtClAP). AtClAP contains a catalytic centre that can complement the AC-deficient mutant cyaA in E. coli, and a recombinant AtClAP fragment (AtClAP^261–379) can produce cyclic adenosine 3′,5′ monophosphate (cAMP) from adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in vitro. Furthermore, an integrated analysis of gene expression and expression correlation implicate cAMP in pathogen defense and in actin cytoskeletal remodeling during endocytic internalization.

Societal Impact Statement: Crop wild relatives (CWR) in Zimbabwe are reservoirs of beneficial agronomic traits, yet they remain under‐documented and poorly conserved. This study developed Zimbabwe's first national CWR checklist based on a conceptual framework combining floristic, ecological, and ethnobotanical data, revealing over 2700 taxa, with nearly 1000 edible species integral to local livelihoods and global crop improvement. In the face of climate change and biodiversity loss, these plants offer locally adapted food sources and breeding material for climate‐resilient agriculture. This study provides a critical foundation for conservation and policy strategies to safeguard CWR and enhance food system resilience in Zimbabwe and beyond. Summary: Crop wild relatives (CWR) are wild plant species genetically related to cultivated crops and are reservoirs of genetic diversity. Despite Zimbabwe's considerable plant biodiversity across five floristic regions, a comprehensive national inventory of its CWR has not previously been available. This study presents the first national CWR checklist for Zimbabwe. A conceptual framework combining floristic, ecological, and ethnobotanical data was applied to evaluate edible CWR in terms of documented taxonomy, uses, biogeographic status, extinction risk, breeding potential, and vernacular nomenclature. The assessment identified over 2746 CWR taxa belonging to 123 families and 401 genera and related to 251 cultivated crops. Edible CWR accounted for nearly 40% of taxa with recorded uses and spanned 53 families, with Orchidaceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae, Convolvulaceae, Lamiaceae and Euphorbiaceae being most represented. These taxa serve diverse dietary functions, including as vegetables, cereals, legumes, fruits, spices, oils and beverages. About 90% are native to Zimbabwe, with one third being floristic region specific. However, only 34% of edible CWR have undergone extinction risk assessment, and a mere 0.2% have documented traits of breeding value. Vernacular names in six local languages were recorded for 26% of edible taxa. The Eastern Highlands region emerged as a key biodiversity hotspot. The crucial documentation gaps are threat assessment and breeding use of CWR. The study highlights the underutilized potential of Zimbabwe's edible CWR for crop improvement and conservation. Strategic action is urgently needed to harness their socio‐economic value for food system resilience in Zimbabwe and beyond.

Crop wild relatives (CWRs) are wild plant species genetically related to cultivated crops and represent vital reservoirs of genetic diversity for food security and agricultural resilience. Zimbabwe, with its five floristic regions, hosts substantial plant biodiversity, yet a comprehensive national inventory of its CWRs has been lacking. This study presents a desk-based assessment to develop a national checklist of Zimbabwean CWRs, applying a conceptual framework that evaluates edible CWRs in terms of taxonomic composition, use categories, biogeographic status, extinction risk, breeding potential, and vernacular nomenclature. An integrated approach combining floristic, ecological, and ethnobotanical data was employed to contextualize their utility in food systems and conservation. Findings reveal that Zimbabwe harbors over 2,700 CWR taxa across more than 100 plant families and nearly 400 genera, related to approximately 260 cultivated crops. Documented uses span food, fodder, medicine, ornamental, and industrial applications, with edible uses comprising nearly 40% of taxa with recorded utility. Edible CWRs span 53 families, predominantly Orchidaceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae, Convolvulaceae, Lamiaceae, and Euphorbiaceae, and serve diverse dietary roles including vegetables, fruits, spices, herbs, cereals, oils, and beverages. Around 90% CWR are native, and one-third are regionally endemic, with the Eastern Highlands region identified as a biodiversity hotspot. Despite their significance, only 30% of edible CWRs have been assessed for extinction risk, and just 0.2% have documented confirmed or potential traits for crop improvement. Vernacular names were recorded in six local languages for 26% of edible taxa, highlighting significant cultural knowledge and integration into local food systems. This study underscores the underutilized potential of edible CWRs in plant breeding and conservation planning. Their diversity, cultural embeddedness, and adaptive traits present significant opportunities for enhancing food security and advancing sustainable development in Zimbabwe and beyond. Strategic conservation and utilization of these genetic resources are urgently needed.

Herbaria serve as invaluable spatio-temporal repositories of plant diversity information. Digitization of herbarium collections enhances the accessibility, discoverability, and long-term preservation of this important plant information, yet financial and infrastructural constraints often prevent herbaria in resource-constrained regions from digitizing their collections. Consequently, critical plant diversity data gaps remain due to underrepresentation of these collections in global biodiversity databases. Here, we describe an AI-assisted modular digitization toolkit specifically designed for herbaria operating under limited funding, developed and refined through our experience digitizing the crop wild relative (CWR) collection of the National Herbarium of Zimbabwe. The toolkit comprises three core components: (1) a portable, cost-effective photostation assembled from commodity parts, (2) a streamlined cascade workflow for systematic digital imaging, and (3) an AI-assisted data management pipeline for image quality control, label transcription, data analysis, and presentation. Compared to manual transcription and legacy optical character recognition approaches, AI-based transcription achieves lower time cost while maintaining high accuracy, and AI-driven data management delivers accessibility and reduced expenditure relative to conventional database infrastructure. The toolkit is designed to allow herbarium staff full autonomy over the digitization procedure, ensuring institutional ownership and the capacity for independent continuation beyond initial project support. By prioritizing affordability, modularity, and simplicity, this toolkit provides a replicable framework that may enable resource-constrained herbaria to locally generate high-quality scientific data for conservation and the sustainable utilization of plant genetic resources.

One strategy for improving responses and adaptation systems of plants to stress is to target molecules involved in signaling and transduction of the stimuli effected by stresses. One such molecule is adenylyl cyclase (AC) an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of adenosine 5-triphosphate (ATP) to the second messenger, 3,5-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). cAMP, in turn, transduces signals in response to the various biotic and abiotic stress factors. Surprisingly, as far as five decades ago, attempts to isolate ACs and/or detect cAMP from the research model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, were inconclusive or a matter of serious debates due to the absence of appropriate techniques or advanced technologies. This chapter, therefore, herein takes the reader on a journey from the 1970s to the present day, unraveling the challenges encountered, developments made, and successes realized in efforts and attempts to identify and characterize ACs in A. thaliana. The chapter covers from the early age of unsuccessful attempts to the more recent and successful advanced technologies such as the motif search approach, omics analysis and homologous cloning. Perspectives on the direction that future knowledge-building around this important group of plant proteins are also shared.