Christine H Foyer

University of Birmingham · School of Biosciences

Soybean ( Glycine max [L.] Merr.) is one of the world's most important sources of oil and vegetable protein. Much of the energy required for germination and early growth of soybean seeds is stored in fatty acids, mainly as triacylglycerols (TAGs), and the main seed storage proteins are β‐conglycinin (7S) and glycinin (11S). Recent research advances...

Plants are an intrinsic part of the soil community, which is comprised of a diverse range of organisms that interact in the rhizosphere through continuous molecular communications. The molecular dialogue within the plant microbiome involves a complex repertoire of primary and secondary metabolites that interact within different liquid matrices and...

Plants face constant threats from pathogens, leading to growth retardation and crop failure. Cell-surface leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases (LRR-RLKs) are crucial for plant growth and defense, but their specific functions, especially to necrotrophic fungal pathogens, are largely unknown. Here, we identified an LRR-RLK (Solyc06g069650) in to...

Aphids often overcome host plant resistance by developing virulence. However, the underlying mechanisms and the precise modifications involved remain poorly understood. Additionally, the molecular response of resistant host plants during compatible (virulent aphid) and incompatible (avirulent aphid) interactions is another area requiring further in...

ELONGATED HYPOCOTOYL5 (HY5) and PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTORs (PIFs) are two types of important light-related regulators of plant growth, however, their interplay remains elusive. Here, we report that the activated tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ) HY5 (SlHY5) triggers the transcription of a Calcium-dependent Protein Kinase SlCPK27 . SlCPK27 intera...

The challenge of feeding an additional 2 billion people by 2050 is one of the most pressing issues of our generation. The required changes in the current food system must be achieved while reducing the negative environmental impacts of current farming practices on our climate and biodiversity and avoiding deforestation. This formidable challenge mu...

This Special Issue was assembled to mark the 25th anniversary of the proposal of the d -mannose/ l -galactose (Smirnoff-Wheeler) ascorbate biosynthesis pathway in plants ( Wheeler et al., 1998 ). The issue aims to assess the current state of knowledge and to identify outstanding questions about ascorbate metabolism and functions in plants.

Quiescence is an essential property of meristematic cells, which restrains the cell cycle while retaining the capacity to divide. This crucial process not only facilitates life-long tissue homeostasis and regenerative capacity but also provides protection against adverse environmental conditions, enabling cells to conserve the proliferative potency...

Hypoxia occurs when the oxygen levels fall below the levels required for mitochondria to support respiration. Regulated hypoxia is associated with quiescence, particularly in storage organs (seeds) and stem cell niches. In contrast, environmentally-induced hypoxia poses significant challenges for metabolically-active cells that are adapted to aerob...

Enhancing carbohydrate export from source to sink tissues is considered to be a realistic approach for improving photosynthetic efficiency and crop yield. The rice sucrose transporters OsSUT1, OsSWEET11a and OsSWEET14 contribute to sucrose phloem loading and seed filling. Crucially, Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae ( Xoo ) infection in rice enhances t...

The superoxide anion radical (O2·−) is a one-electron reduction product of molecular oxygen. Compared with other forms of reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide has limited reactivity. Nevertheless, superoxide reacts with nitric oxide, ascorbate, and the iron moieties of [Fe–S] cluster-containing proteins. Superoxide has largely been neglected a...

Many governments have set ambitious targets for tree planting and increased woodland cover as a key part of actions to reach net‐zero carbon emissions by 2050. However, many uncertainties remain concerning how and where to expand tree cover, what species to plant, and how best to manage new plantations. Much contemporary forestry has been based on...

Trehalose (Tre) is a non-reducing disaccharide found in many species, including bacteria, fungi, invertebrates, yeast, and even plants, where it acts as an osmoprotectant, energy source, or protein/membrane protector. Despite relatively small amounts in plants, Tre concentrations increase following exposure to abiotic stressors. Trehalose-6-phospha...

Trehalose (Tre) is a non-reducing disaccharide found in many species, including bacteria, fungi, invertebrates, yeast, and even plants, where it acts as an osmoprotectant, energy source, or protein/membrane protector. Despite relatively small amounts in plants, Tre concentrations increase following exposure to abiotic stressors. Trehalose-6-phospha...

The WHIRLY (WHY) DNA/RNA binding proteins fulfil multiple but poorly characterised functions in leaf development. WHY1 transcript levels were highest in the bases of 7-day old barley leaves. Immunogold labelling revealed that the WHY1 protein was more abundant in the nuclei than the proplastids of the leaf bases. Transcript and metabolite profiling...

Concepts, regarding the operation of the ascorbate/glutathione cycle and the associated water/water cycle in the processing of metabolically-generated hydrogen peroxide and other forms of reactive oxygen species (ROS), are well established in the literature. However, our knowledge of functions of these cycles and their component enzymes continues t...

Climate change threatens global food and nutritional security through negative effects on crop growth and agricultural productivity. Many countries have adopted ambitious climate change mitigation and adaptation targets that will exacerbate the problem, as they require significant changes in current agri-food systems. In this review, we provide a r...

Plants are vital to human health and well-being, as well as helping to protect the environment against the negative impacts of climate change. They are an essential part of the ‘One Health’ strategy that seeks to balance and optimize the health of people, animals and the environment. Crucially, plants are central to nature-based solutions to climat...

Call for papers for the special issue on "Improving Crop Nutrient Status: Discovery, Innovation & Translation" in the Journal of Experimental Botany, edited by Derek Stewart, Christine Foyer, Robert Hancock and Raul Huertas. *Submission is now open, and the deadline is February 29, 2024* >Relevant information about the special issue can be foun...

The blackening of cut carrots causes substantial economic losses to the food industry. Blackening was not observed in carrots that had been stored underground for less than a year, but the susceptibility to blackening increased with the age of the carrots that were stored underground for longer periods. Samples of black, border, and orange tissues...

Key message GmTSA and GmALS were screened out for salt stress in soybean and explore the poteintial amino acid secondary metabolism pathways. Abstract Soybean (Glycine max L.) is an oil and protein crop of global importance, and salinity has significant effects on soybean growth. Here, a population of soybean chromosome segment substitution lines...

In addition to the challenge of meeting global demand for food production, there are increasing concerns about food safety and the need to protect consumer health from the negative effects of foodborne allergies. Certain bio‐molecules (usually proteins) present in food can act as allergens that trigger unusual immunological reactions, with potentia...

Aims: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are key regulators of plant growth, development and stress tolerance. Stress-induced changes in ROS levels trigger multilevel signalling. However, the precise mechanisms by which ROS signals are translated into changes in gene expression remain poorly defined. Focussing on six key antioxidant enzymes, we perform...

The WHIRLY (WHY) family of DNA/RNA binding proteins fulfill multiple but poorly characterized functions in plants. We analysed WHY protein functions in the Arabidopsis Atwhy1,Atwhy3, Atwhy1why3 single and double mutants and wild type controls. The Atwhy3 and Atwhy1why3 double mutants showed a significant delay in flowering, having more siliques per...

Hydrogen cyanamide (HC) has been widely used in horticulture to trigger bud burst following dormancy. Its use has been banned in some countries due to human health concerns, however the search for effective safe alternatives is delayed by lack of knowledge of the mechanism of HC action. Earlier studies demonstrate that HC stimulates the production...

The blackening of cut carrots decreases their shelf life and causes severe economic losses but the molecular and metabolic mechanisms that underpin this phenomenon remain poorly characterized. Studies were therefore undertaken to determine the molecular and metabolic causes of the blackening. The susceptibility of blackening was dependent on the pe...

The blackening of cut carrots decreases their shelf life and causes severe economic losses but the molecular and metabolic mechanisms that underpin this phenomenon remain poorly characterized. Studies were therefore undertaken to determine the molecular and metabolic causes of the blackening. The susceptibility of blackening was dependent on the pe...

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and calcium (Ca2+ ) signalling are interconnected in the perception and transmission of environmental signals that control plant growth, development and defence. The concept that systemically propagating Ca2+ and ROS waves function together with electric signals in directional cell-to-cell systemic signalling and even...

Light plays an important role in determining plant architecture, which greatly influences crop yield. However, the precise mechanisms by which light signaling regulates bud outgrowth remain to be identified. Here, we show that light regulates bud outgrowth via both HY5 and brassinosteroid (BR)-dependent pathways in tomato. Inactivation of the red-l...

Quiescence is a crucial survival attribute in which cell division is repressed in a reversible manner. While quiescence has long been viewed as an inactive state, recent studies have shown that it is an actively regulated process that is controlled by environmental stimuli. Here we provide a perspective of the quiescent state and discuss how this p...

We consider the science, policy, and implementation (science-policy-society interface) issues around the agrifood system and the UK's transition to net zero. We conclude that agrifood policy should become more targeted, and the marriage of top-down and bottom-up approaches is key to co-create a pathway that is plausible for each stakeholder.

The SWEET (SUGARS WILL EVENTUALLY BE EXPORTED TRANSPORTERS) family of transporters in plants is identified as a novel class of sugar carriers capable of transporting sugars, sugar alcohols, and hormones. Functioning in intercellular sugar transport, SWEETs influence a wide range of physiologically important processes. SWEETs regulate the developmen...

Catalase (CAT) is an extensively studied if somewhat enigmatic enzyme that is at the heart of eukaryotic antioxidant systems with a canonical role in peroxisomal function. The CAT family of proteins exert control over a wide range of plant growth and defence processes. CAT proteins are subject to many types of post-translational modification (PTM),...

Phytosulfokine (PSK) is a plant pentapeptide hormone that fulfills a wide range of functions. Although PSK has frequently been reported to function in the inverse regulation of growth and defense in response to (hemi)biotrophic pathogens, the mechanisms involved remain largely unknown. Using the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and Pseudomonas syringa...

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are essential signals that regulate plant growth, development and defense. Low molecular weight antioxidants, such as ascorbate and glutathione, and antioxidant enzyme are present in most, if not all, plant cell compartments, where they serve either to propagate redox signals or limit ROS signalling. The ascorbate/glut...

Hydrogen cyanamide (HC) is known to stimulate the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and also alter growth through modification of the cell cycle. However, the mechanisms by which HC alters cell proliferation and redox homeostasis are largely unknown. This study used roGFP2 expressing Arabidopsis seedlings to measure the oxidation states o...

Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations (eCO2) regulate plant architecture and susceptibility to insects. We explored the mechanisms underpinning these responses in wild type (WT) peas and mutants defective in either strigolactone (SL) synthesis or signaling. All genotypes had increased shoot height and branching, dry weights and carbohydrate level...

Herbivory severely affects plant growth, posing a threat to crop production. Calcium ion (Ca²⁺) signaling and accumulation of jasmonates (JAs) are activated in plant response to herbivore attack, leading to the expression of defense pathways. However, little is known about how the Ca²⁺ signal modulates JA biosynthesis. We used diverse techniques, i...

Soil bacteria promote plant growth and protect against environmental stresses but the mechanisms involved remain poorly characterised, particularly when there is no direct contact between the roots and bacteria. Here, we explored the effects of Pseudomonas oryzihabitans PGP01 on the root system architecture (RSA) in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings....

Low light intensities affect the outbreak of plant diseases. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. High‐performance liquid chromatography analysis of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) revealed that apoplastic glucose (Glc) levels decreased in response to low light. Conversely, low‐light‐induced susceptibility to Pseudom...

Micronutrient deficiencies (hidden hunger), particularly in iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), remain one of the most serious public health challenges, affecting more than three billion people globally. A number of strategies are used to ameliorate the problem of micronutrient deficiencies and to improve the nutritional profile of food products. These includ...

The late embryogenesis abundant (LEA)5 protein is predominantly expressed in Arabidopsis leaves in the dark, the levels of LEA5 transcripts decreasing rapidly upon illumination. LEA5 is important in plant responses to environmental stresses but the mechanisms involved have not been elucidated. We therefore explored LEA5 functions in Arabidopsis mut...

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as singlet oxygen, superoxide (O2●−) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are the markers of living cells. Oxygenic photosynthesis produces ROS in abundance, which act as a readout of a functional electron transport system and metabolism. The concept that photosynthetic ROS production is a major driving force in chloropla...

Environmental stresses pose a significant threat to food security. Understanding the function of proteins that regulate plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses is therefore pivotal in developing strategies for crop improvement. The WHIRLY (WHY) family of DNA‐binding proteins are important in this regard because they fulfil a portfolio of imp...

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are essential regulators of plant growth, development and defense. The regulated compartment-specific production and processing of ROS are central to the reduction-oxidation (redox) balance of the intracellular and extracellular environments. ROS generation has often been considered to be harmful, because of the potent...

The WHIRLY (WHY) DNA/RNA binding proteins fulfil multiple but poorly characterised functions in leaf development. Here we show that WHY1 transcript levels were highest in the bases of 7-day old barley leaves. Immunogold labelling revealed that the WHY1 protein was more abundant in the nuclei than the proplastids of the leaf bases. To identify trans...

Catalase is a well known component of the cellular anti-oxidant network, but there have been conflicting conclusions reached regarding the nature of its peroxisome targeting signal. It has also been reported that catalase can be hijacked to the nucleus by effector proteins of plant pathogens. Using a physiologically relevant system where native unt...

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) displays wide plasticity to climate, however the physiology of dormancy along a seasonal continuum is poorly understood. Here we investigated the apparent disconnect between dormancy and the underlying respiratory physiology and transcriptome of grapevine buds, from bud set in summer to bud burst in spring. The establi...

Chloroplasts are photosynthetic organelles that fix carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into sugars using energy from sunlight, whilst releasing oxygen as a by-product. They are also crucial sensors for environmental change that produce a vast array of signalling molecules, perhaps the most important of which are reactive oxygen species (ROS) such a...

Abstract Urea‐based fertilizers are commonly used in the agricultural rice production. Urea produces gaseous ammonia upon contact with plants and soil. Although rice is considered to be a relatively ammonium‐tolerant crop, urea fertilization can have a negative impact on seedling establishment because of tissue ammonia accumulation. We investigated...

Plant growth is mediated by cell proliferation and expansion. Both processes are controlled by a network of endogenous factors such as phytohormones, reactive oxygen species (ROS), sugars and other signals, which influence gene expression and post translational regulation of proteins. Stress resilience requires rapid and appropriate responses in pl...

In honour of the 25th anniversary of Trends in Plant Science, we wanted to take a look back over some of the milestones from recent decades. Here, we asked authors of the June 2021 special issue to reflect on the changes that have occurred within the field of plant breeding during the past 25 years, as well as to contemplate what the future might h...

Iron (Fe) deficiency affects global crop productivity and human health. However, the role of light signaling in plant Fe uptake remains uncharacterized. Here, we find that light-induced Fe uptake in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is largely dependent on phytochrome B (phyB). Light induces the phyB-dependent accumulation of ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (...

Ensuring the sustainability of agriculture under climate change has led to a surge in alternative strategies for crop improvement. Advances in integrated crop breeding, social acceptance, and farm-level adoption are crucial to address future challenges to food security. Societal acceptance can be slow when consumers do not see the need for innovati...

Brassinosteroids (BRs) play a critical role in plant responses to stress. However, the interplay of BRs and reactive oxygen species signaling in cold stress responses remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that a partial loss of function in the BR biosynthesis gene DWARF resulted in lower whilst overexpression of DWARF led to increased levels of C-R...

Significance For almost a century, auxin had been well-known as the master regulator of apical dominance. Recently, however, sugars were shown to be the initial regulator of apical dominance, while strigolactones (SLs) and cytokinins (CKs) act downstream of auxin to control bud outgrowth. However, the interactions of the different pathways have rem...

Chloroplasts are considered to be devoid of cysteine proteases. Using transgenic Arabidopsis lines expressing the rice cystatin, Oryzacystatin I (OC-I) in the chloroplasts (PC lines) or cytosol (CYS lines), we explored the hypothesis that cysteine proteases regulate photosynthesis. The CYS and PC lines flowered later than the wild type (WT) and acc...

Grapevine ( Vitis vinifera L.) displays wide plasticity to climate and seasonality, ranging from strongly deciduous to evergreen. Understanding the physiology of decisions to grow or quiesce is critical for improved crop management, prediction, and the adaptability of production to alternative climate scenarios. The perenniating bud (N+2) is a majo...

Using an interdisciplinary approach, hydrogen-peroxide-induced phase separation in the intrinsically disordered regions of the TERMINATING FLOWER transcription factor proteins was shown to regulate the shoot apical meristem through repression of the floral identity gene called ANANTHA.

The concept that heat stress (HS) causes a large accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is widely accepted. However, the intracellular compartmentation of ROS accumulation has been poorly characterized. We therefore used redox-sensitive green fluorescent protein (roGFP2) to provide compartment-specific information on heat-induced redox chang...

Jasmonates (JAs) are phytohormones with crucial roles in plant defense. Plants accumulate JAs in response to wounding or herbivore attack, but how JA biosynthesis is triggered remains poorly understood. Here we show that herbivory by cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) induced both ethylene (ET) and JA production in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)...

Oxygen and reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been co-opted during evolution into the regulation of plant growth, development and differentiation. ROS and oxidative signals arising from metabolism or phytohormone-mediated processes control almost every aspect of plant development from seed and bud dormancy, liberation of meristematic cells from the...

Atmospheric CO2 concentrations exert a strong influence on the susceptibility of plants to pathogens. However, the mechanisms involved in the CO2‐dependent regulation of pathogen resistance are largely unknown. Here we show that the expression of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) β‐CARBONIC ANHYDRASE 3 (βCA3) is induced by the virulent pathogen Pseudom...