Chongjing Xia

Better late than never: the impact of hatching time on Heterodera schachtii parasitism

This study investigates how hatching time affects the parasitism of beet cyst nematodes, finding that late hatchers are more infective due to differences in energy use and gene expression.

A cross-kingdom interactome predicted by AlphaFold3 reveals a DNF2-centered interface required for symbiotic accommodation

The paper uses AlphaFold3 to predict a cross-kingdom interactome between Medicago truncatula and Sinorhizobium meliloti, identifying DNF2 as a key hub for host-symbiont communication.

The host range paradox of Meloidogyne incognita: a physiological and transcriptomic analysis of nine susceptible interactions across six plant orders

This paper investigates how Meloidogyne incognita infects diverse plant species by analyzing transcriptomic responses across nine plant interactions, finding distinct transcriptional programs and effector deployment patterns that influence host specificity.

4D spatial transcriptomics reveals nodule identity emerges through stacked parallel developmental programs

This paper presents a 4D spatial transcriptomic atlas of Medicago truncatula nodules and lateral roots, revealing how nodule identity emerges through stacked developmental programs.

A transcription factor-pair work in concert to regulate gene expression across the life cycle of the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

This study identifies two transcription factors in Bursaphelenchus xylophilus that non-redundantly regulate gene expression across its life cycle, with distinct roles in parasitism and reproduction.

Antagonistic action of a nuclear hormone receptor pair coordinates a switch from lytic to biotrophic effector production in a plant-parasitic nematode

This study identifies DGR-1 as a transcription factor that switches from lytic to biotrophic effector production in plant-parasitic nematodes, working antagonistically with SUGR-1 to regulate effector expression during infection.

PHO2 suppresses arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in high phosphate conditions

This study identifies PHO2 as a negative regulator of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in high phosphate conditions in rice and Nicotiana benthamiana.

Plant-Compatible Xenium In Situ Sequencing: Optimised Protocol for Spatial Transcriptomics in Medicago truncatula Roots and Nodules

The paper optimizes the Xenium in situ sequencing protocol for spatial transcriptomics in Medicago truncatula roots and nodules, enabling high-resolution gene expression analysis in plant tissues.