Plant viruses are a group of intracellular pathogens that persistently threaten global food security. Significant advances in plant virology have been achieved by Chinese scientists over the last 20 years, including basic research and technologies for preventing and controlling plant viral diseases. Here, we review these milestones and advances, including the identification of new crop‐infecting viruses, dissection of pathogenic mechanisms of multiple viruses, examination of multilayered interactions among viruses, their host plants, and virus‐transmitting arthropod vectors, and in‐depth interrogation of plant‐encoded resistance and susceptibility determinants. Notably, various plant virus‐based vectors have also been successfully developed for gene function studies and target gene expression in plants. We also recommend future plant virology studies in China.

Constitutive activation of plant immunity is detrimental to plant growth and development. Here, we uncover the role of a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in fine-tuning the balance of plant immunity and growth. We find that a lncRNA termed salicylic acid biogenesis controller 1 (SABC1) suppresses immunity and promotes growth in healthy plants. SABC1 recruits the polycomb repressive complex 2 to its neighboring gene NAC3, which encodes a NAC transcription factor, to decrease NAC3 transcription via H3K27me3. NAC3 activates the transcription of isochorismate synthase 1 (ICS1), a key enzyme catalyzing salicylic acid (SA) biosynthesis. SABC1 thus represses SA production and plant immunity via decreasing NAC3 and ICS1 transcriptions. Upon pathogen infection, SABC1 is downregulated to derepress plant resistance to bacteria and viruses. Together, our findings reveal lncRNA SABC1 as a molecular switch in balancing plant defense and growth by modulating SA biosynthesis.

Broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) is an orphan crop with the potential to improve cereal production and quality, and ensure food security. Here we present the genetic variations, population structure and diversity of a diverse worldwide collection of 516 broomcorn millet genomes. Population analysis indicated that the domesticated broomcorn millet originated from its wild progenitor in China. We then constructed a graph-based pangenome of broomcorn millet based on long-read de novo genome assemblies of 32 representative accessions. Our analysis revealed that the structural variations were highly associated with transposable elements, which influenced gene expression when located in the coding or regulatory regions. We also identified 139 loci associated with 31 key domestication and agronomic traits, including candidate genes and superior haplotypes, such as LG1, for panicle architecture. Thus, the study’s findings provide foundational resources for developing genomics-assisted breeding programs in broomcorn millet.

Robust plant immune systems are fine-tuned by both protein-coding genes and non-coding RNAs. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) refer to RNAs with a length of more than 200 nt and usually do not have protein-coding function and do not belong to any other well-known non-coding RNA types. The non-protein-coding, low expression, and non-conservative characteristics of lncRNAs restrict their recognition. Although studies of lncRNAs in plants are in the early stage, emerging studies have shown that plants employ lncRNAs to regulate plant immunity. Moreover, in response to stresses, numerous lncRNAs are differentially expressed, which manifests the actions of low-expressed lncRNAs and makes plant–microbe/insect interactions a convenient system to study the functions of lncRNAs. Here, we summarize the current advances in plant lncRNAs, discuss their regulatory effects in different stages of plant immunity, and highlight their roles in diverse plant–microbe/insect interactions. These insights will not only strengthen our understanding of the roles and actions of lncRNAs in plant–microbe/insect interactions but also provide novel insight into plant immune responses and a basis for further research in this field.

Eukaryotic cells contain numerous membraneless organelles that are made from liquid droplets of proteins and nucleic acids and that provide spatiotemporal control of various cellular processes. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation and rapid stress-induced alterations of these organelles are relatively uncharacterized. Here, we investigated the roles of DEAD-box helicases in the formation and alteration of membraneless nuclear dicing bodies (D-bodies) in Arabidopsis thaliana. We uncovered that RNA helicase 6 (RH6), RH8, and RH12 are previously unidentified D-body components. These helicases interact with and promote the phase separation of SERRATE, a key component of D-bodies, and drive the formation of D-bodies through liquid-liquid phase separations (LLPSs). The accumulation of these helicases in the nuclei decreases upon Turnip mosaic virus infections, which couples with the decrease of D-bodies. Our results thus reveal the key roles of RH6, RH8, and RH12 in modulating D-body formation via LLPSs.