Powdery mildew poses a major threat to black currant production, yet some cultivars naturally withstand infection far better than others. This study reveals that resistant black currants deploy a multilayered defense system involving physical structures, specialized metabolites, and the assembly of protective microbial communities on leaf surfaces. By integrating metabolomics and phyllosphere microbiome profiling, the research identifies key leaf metabolites—such as salicylic acid, trans-zeatin, and griseofulvin—that help recruit beneficial bacteria and fungi linked to disease suppression. These metabolites also directly reduce pathogen growth. Together, these processes explain how resistant cultivars mount a coordinated defense that limits pathogen invasion and maintains plant health.

Tomato fruit size, a trait that strongly influences market value and yield, is governed by intricate developmental processes. This study uncovers a previously unknown translational regulatory pathway mediated by the RNA-binding protein SlRBP1. Through fruit-specific gene manipulation, researchers show that SlRBP1 is essential for normal cell division and expansion within the tomato pericarp. The findings reveal that SlFBA7 and SlGPIMT are direct downstream gene targets whose translation is controlled by SlRBP1, and silencing either gene produces small fruits similar to SlRBP1-suppressed plants. This work highlights translational regulation as a key but underexplored mechanism for improving fruit size and overall productivity.

This study leverages advanced genomics and machine learning to refine the understanding of key fruit quality traits in peaches. Using whole-genome resequencing data from an F1 progeny of two distant peach cultivars, the researchers constructed an ultra-high-density genetic map, identifying key quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for traits such as fruit shape, color, and maturity. Notably, the study introduces machine learning models for more accurate phenotyping of fruit color, revealing two previously undetectable QTLs for peach flesh color variation. These innovations provide a new framework for precision breeding, enhancing peach quality and other complex traits through improved mapping and phenotyping strategies.

Understanding the genetic resistance to biotic stresses in peach (Prunus persica) and apricot (Prunus armeniaca) is crucial for sustainable fruit production. A comprehensive study was conducted using Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) across multiple environments, identifying key genetic markers associated with resistance to seven major pests and diseases. This study uncovered genotype-by-environment interactions (G × E), highlighting the complexity of breeding for disease resistance in these crops. The results provide valuable insights into the genetic architecture of resistance, offering a solid foundation for marker-assisted selection (MAS) in future fruit tree breeding programs aimed at improving pest and disease tolerance.

Drought severely jeopardizes global apple production, yet the core molecular mechanisms enabling stress resistance remain insufficiently understood. This study reveals that strigolactones (SLs) significantly enhance drought tolerance by activating the gene MsABI5, which promotes proline biosynthesis via MsP5CS2.2. Meanwhile, MsABI5 also increases MsNAC022 expression and suppresses the negative regulator MsSMXL1, relieving transcriptional inhibition that limits stress responses. Together, the regulatory architecture improves water retention, reduces membrane damage, and maintains chlorophyll stability under drought. These findings uncover a hormone-responsive module that can serve as a valuable genetic target for developing drought-resilient apple cultivars.

Gray blight poses a major threat to global tea production, yet the epigenetic mechanisms regulating plant immunity have remained unclear. A new study uncovers that the arginine methyltransferase CsPRMT5 suppresses disease resistance by mediating H4R3 symmetric dimethylation, which inhibits immune-related genes. When CsPRMT5 is reduced, histone H4R3sme2 levels decline, allowing stronger activation of defense pathways, including enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and elevated expression of CsMAPK3. Both gene-silenced tea leaves and Arabidopsis mutants showed improved resistance after infection. The discovery highlights histone methylation as a regulatory switch controlling tea plant immunity and offers a potential molecular target for breeding disease-resistant cultivars.