Biology subjects

Winkler, J. B.

Publications and source records attributed to Winkler, J. B..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

GSNOR-dependent nitric oxide homeostasis promotes recovery from repeated climate stress across generations in Arabidopsis thaliana

Climate change exposes plants to recurrent and interacting stresses, yet the extent to which these effects persist across generations, and the mechanisms involved, remain unclear. We propagated Arabidopsis thaliana wild type (WT, Col-0) and nitric oxide homeostasis mutant gsnor1-3 (hereafter, gsnor-ko) for five successive generations. Plants were grown under control, drought, elevated CO2, O3, warm temperature, and combined treatment scenarios for the first three generations (G1-G3), followed by two recovery generations under control conditions (G4-G5). We quantified rosette growth, photosynthetic traits, seed production, and transcriptome dynamics by RNA-seq. Across environments, gsnor-ko showed reduced vegetative growth and reproductive output relative to WT. Transcriptomic responses were strongly scenario- and generation-dependent, with the largest differential expression shifts observed under warm-climate and combined-treatment conditions. Compared with WT, gsnor-ko displayed broader gene overlap across generations and stronger retention or reconfiguration of stress-responsive states after stress withdrawal. Functional enrichment and candidate-gene analyses identified pathways/components linked to DNA methylation, heterochromatin maintenance, histone ubiquitination, m6A RNA regulation, and methyl-donor metabolism. Together, these results support a model in which GSNOR activity promotes transcriptomic recovery after repeated climate stress, whereas impaired GSNOR function shifts responses toward multi-generational persistence and epigenetically associated regulatory reconfiguration. HighlightGSNOR-dependent nitric oxide homeostasis promotes transcriptomic resetting after repeated climate stress, whereas impaired NO homeostasis favours multigenerational persistence and chromatin- and RNA-linked regulatory reconfiguration. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=118 SRC="FIGDIR/small/742973v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (31K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@6031c6org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@163be5borg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1665e9eorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1cde833_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2026

Common, species-specific, and accession-specific responses of foliar phytohormones and morphological traits to drought and herbivory

BackgroundPlants are exposed to various environmental challenges. With ongoing climate change, droughts and insect outbreaks are expected to become more frequent. Thus, a better understanding is needed of how different plant species respond to such single and combined challenges. This study investigated common versus species-specific responses to environmental challenges in three perennial plant species of different growth forms and whether responses differ intraspecifically among accessions. Clones of different accessions of the herbaceous species Tanacetum vulgare, the woody vine Solanum dulcamara, and the tree Populus nigra were subjected to similar control, herbivory, drought, and combined (drought and herbivory) treatments for the same periods. After the exposure, concentrations of foliar phytohormones and various morphological traits were measured. ResultsAcross all species, several foliar phytohormones and one of ten morphological traits responded consistently to the environmental challenges. Jasmonoyl-isoleucine was induced by herbivory and the combined treatment, abscisic acid (ABA) by drought and the combined treatment, and indole acetic acid by the combined treatment in all species. Root mass remained unchanged in all species. However, structural equation models (SEMs) revealed a shared regulatory pathway across species in which ABA connected treatment and root mass, indicating a common hormonal response potentially linking challenges to growth responses. Despite these common patterns, species-specific responses were pronounced. In P. nigra, a unique induction of salicylic acid was found under the combined treatment, while aboveground mass and root-shoot ratio remained unaffected by any treatment, in contrast to the other two species. Species-specific SEMs further indicated distinct phytohormone-mediated pathways underlying morphological variation. Phenotypic plasticity reflected these species-specific patterns, with none of the phytohormones or morphological traits exhibiting uniform plasticity across species. Intraspecific variation further shaped responses, as phytohormone and morphological trait plasticity depended on accession, indicating substantial accession-specific plant responses. ConclusionsOur results indicate that some responses to comparable challenges may be conserved across species, while others are species-specific. The combined treatment elicited the most pronounced responses, and such complex responses may become more frequent under current global change. Our study highlights that comprehensive understanding of plant responses requires systematic comparisons at both interspecific and intraspecific scales.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2025

Compartmentalized above- and belowground defenses in Tanacetum vulgare are tailored to localized antagonists

Specialized metabolites, specially terpenoids, play a key role in plant defense. However, how terpenoid diversity governs inducible chemistry and root architectural development remain poorly understood. We used a combination of high-throughput root phenotyping and targeted metabolite profiling to examine three leaf terpenoid chemotypes of common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare). Using a phenotyping platform, we tested whether (i) root-chewing wireworms induce root terpenoids locally and alter shoot terpenoids systemically, (ii) phloem-feeding aphids elicit chemotype-dependent responses, and (iii) chemotypes differ in root-system development. After root establishment, the plants were exposed to wireworms (Agriotes spp.) and aphids (Macrosiphoniella tanacetaria), both separately and together, and were then monitored for 60 days. The chemotypes differed in inducible chemistry and root architecture. Chemotype 1 developed the fastest-growing root systems and the highest root:shoot ratios. Wireworms increased stored root sesquiterpenoid levels by more than twofold in chemotypes 1 and 2, whereas chemotype 3 was largely unresponsive. Aphids didn t alter root terpenoids, but significantly increased leaf monoterpenoid emissions in chemotype 1 without affecting stored pools. Therefore, storage and emission were decoupled and depended on both organ and chemotype. Our analysis reveals a compartmentalized, chemotype-specific defense strategy in tansy, highlighting the coordinated regulation of the root system and inducible chemistry. HighlightIn Tanacetum vulgare, wireworms boost root sesquiterpenoids and aphids elevate leaf monoterpenoid emissions; chemotype governs terpenoid defense and root system architecture.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Multiomics plasticity in seed traits of pan-genome wheat cultivars

The molecular basis of cultivar-level variations in polyploid wheat that enables environmental adaptation while maintaining yield and quality in polyploid wheat remains poorly understood. We conducted a detailed phenotypic assessment and multiomics analysis of nine pan-genome polyploid wheat cultivars grown under control and drought conditions. We aimed to investigate the subgenome-level variations, cultivar differences and biochemical mechanisms affecting plant fitness under moderate drought stress. Intrinsic water use efficiency, grain yield, and grain protein content and quality differed among cultivars, supporting the plasticity of drought stress responses. Biased proteome and metabolome abundance changes in response to moderate drought stress during the vegetative stage indicate different strategies for the utilization of homeologous protein isoforms assigned to the A, B, and D subgenomes. Drought effects were detected at the protein level, but significant changes were observed in central carbon pathway metabolites and micronutrient profiles. The subgenomic localization of seed storage proteins highlight differences in nutrient reservoir accumulation and emphasizes the enhanced role of S-rich prolamins in the stress response. Subgenomic variations define cultivar phenotypes by producing molecules that accumulate and enable the underlying trade-offs between environmental adaptation and yield- or quality-related traits. These variations can be used to select crops with increased stress resistance without compromising yield.

plant biology↗