RheeLab

New Publication! PhD Student in Biological Sciences within the Wilkins Lab University of Manitoba Research Associate within the Provart Lab & Department of Cell and Systems Biology University of Toronto Read the article! Sean Robertson Asher Pasha Olivia Wilkins Associate Professor within the Department of Biological Sciences University of Manitoba Congratulations to C-SPIRIT Members Sean Robertson, Asher Pasha, Nicholas Provart, and Olivia Wilkins as well as their colleagues on the publication of their article Growth-limiting drought increases sensitivity of Asian rice (Oryza sativa) leaves to heat shock through physiological andspatially distinct transcriptomic responses! Nicholas Provart Professor and Chair within the Department of Cell & Systems Biology University of Toronto

Congrats to Sean Robertson, Asher Pasha, Nick Provart, & Olivia Wilkins on their article "Growth-limiting drought increases sensitivity of Asian rice (Oryza sativa) leaves to heat shock through physiological & spatially distinct transcriptomic responses"!

Read: doi.org/10.1111/tpj....
#PlantScience

Methods Skills New open position: Postdoctoral Researcher in Plant Systems Biology within the Wilkins Lab at the University of Manitoba Focus Understanding how plants regulate specialized metabolite production Investigating plant systems biology at the cellular level Advancing sustainable agriculture through global collaboration Single-cell RNA sequencing to map gene expression Spatial transcriptomics to capture tissue-specific patterns Integration of multi-omic and imaging data for regulatory modeling Analyzing high-dimensional functional genomics data Applying computational biology tools and pipelines Mentoring students and contributing to collaborative research teams

🚨 A postdoc position is open in the Wilkins Lab (@oli-wilkins.bsky.social) at @umanitoba.bsky.social!

Join C-SPIRIT, a global research center advancing sustainable agriculture through plant & microbe science! (c-spirit.org)

📬 Apply here: viprecprod.ad.umanitoba.ca/DEFAULT.ASPX...

#PlantScience

Senior Research Associate Centre for Novel Agricultural Products Department of Biology University of York Benjamin Lichman Senior Research Fellow Centre for Novel Agricultural Products Department of Biology University of York Ian Graham Professor & Weston Chair of Biochemical Genetics Centre for Novel Agricultural Products Department of Biology University of York Tomasz Czechowski New Publication! Congratulations to C-SPIRIT Members Tomasz Czechowski, Benjamin Lichman, Ian Graham, and their colleagues on the publication of their article Evolution of linear triterpenoid biosynthesis within the Euphorbia genus in Nature Communications! Read the full article!

🎉 Congrats to C-SPIRIT members Tomasz Czechowski, Benjamin Lichman, & Ian Graham (UYork) on their new paper "Evolution of linear triterpenoid biosynthesis within the Euphorbia genus"! 🧬

📖 Read: doi.org/10.1038/s414...

#plantscience

New Publication! Congratulations to C-SPIRIT Members Tomasz Czechowski, Ian Graham, and their colleagues on the publication of their article Identification of BAHD-acyltransferase enzymes involved in ingenanediterpenoid biosynthesis! Read the Full Article!

Congrats to C-SPIRIT members Tomasz Czechowski and Ian Graham (UYork) on their new paper "Identification of BAHD-acyltransferase enzymes involved in ingenane diterpenoid biosynthesis"

They mapped key enzymes for biosynthesis of the bioactive compound ingenol-3-angelate.

📖: doi.org/10.1111/nph....

This is one of the most exciting emerging fields in plant biology today and a great, welcoming, and collaborative community. Deadline for application and registration is next Monday! Apply here: lnkd.in/gvkMxuKR

There are over 200 posters from 40+ institutes and 300 registrants already. This is promising to be an exciting meeting and networking of plant scientists, especially those in the midwest. Register and join the community!

New Publication! Congratulations to C-SPIRIT Members So-Ra Han, Tae-Jin Oh, and their colleagues on the publication of their article Comparative Genome Analysis of Three Halobacillus Strains Isolated From Saline Environments Reveal Potential Salt Tolerance and Algicidal Mechanisms! Read the full article!

Congrats to C-SPIRIT members So-Ra Han & Tae-Jin Oh as well as their colleagues on their new paper "Comparative genome analysis of three Halobacillus strains isolated from saline environments reveal potential salt tolerance and algicidal mechanisms"!

📖 doi.org/10.1111/1758...

#plantscience

Congratulations! Congratulations to C-SPIRIT members Hatem Rouached and Addie Thompson on their promotions to associate professor! Hatem Rouached Associate Professor Department of Plant, Soil, & Microbial Sciences Plant Resilience Institute Michigan State University Addie Thompson Associate Professor Department of Plant, Soil, & Microbial Sciences Plant Resilience Institute Michigan State University

👏 Congrats to members Hatem Rouached & Addie Thompson on their promotions to Associate Professor at MSU!

@hatem-rouached.bsky.social works on how crops manage phosphate, zinc, & iron.

Addie uses field phenotyping & genetics to improve maize performance.

Well-deserved recognition!

#PlantScience

Our June 2025 Newsletter is out! News Featuring... A Blogpost on Aim 2 Member Publications Upcoming Events Social Media Posts ... and more! Scan to read!

The June 2025 issue of C-SPIRIT News is out now! This month features a spotlight on Aim 2, new research highlights, an institutional feature on the University of Toronto, and more!

📰 Read: qrco.de/bg73na
🔔 Subscribe: forms.gle/MtFfdJoPaeWw...
🔗 Learn more about C-SPIRIT: c-spirit.org

#PlantScience

📢 There's only ONE WEEK LEFT to submit an abstract to present a poster at the 1st Great Lakes Plant Science Conference!

Submit your #GLPSC2025 poster abstract by Monday, June 30, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET at: research.msu.edu/glpsc2025

#PlantScience #PlantBiology #AgEducation #PlantConference

Some plants make their own pesticide — but at what cost to the atmosphere? A natural alternative to pesticides may be hiding in a misunderstood plant compound — but it could come at an environmental cost.

New research 40 years in the making from Tom Sharkey opens doors for engineering pest-resistant crops, but that benefit could come at an environmental cost. 🐛🌎 Read the full story: msutoday.msu.edu/news/2025/so...

Member Introduction! Katherine Rivera-Zuluaga Research Associate within the Rhee Lab Michigan State University Focus: High-throughput metabolite discovery for plant resilience against pathogenic fungi, heat, or drought stress.

Congratulations & welcome to Katherine Rivera-Zuluaga, who will be starting as a Research Associate in C-SPIRIT Director Sue Rhee (@rheelab.bsky.social)'s lab at Michigan State University!

She will focus on high-throughput metabolite discovery for plant resilience against fungi/heat/drought stress.

A graphic promoting GLPSC 2025 with a background image of blurred leaves and an outline of the Great Lakes. The graphic features a QR code for the conference website and the logos of the organizing institutions. The text says, "1st Great Lakes Plant Science Conference, September 12-14, 2025, the Lansing Center, Lansing, MI, research.msu.edu/glpsc2025, Register and submit a poster abstract! Poster abstracts due: June 30, 2025, General registration closes: August 31, 2025, Organized by 10 universities around the Great Lakes to push the boundaries of plant science, promote collaborations, and empower the next-generation plant science leaders. Hosted by Michigan State University and the Plant Resilience Institute."

🚨 Abstracts to present a poster at the 1st Great Lakes Plant Science Conference are due June 30, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET! Don’t miss this chance to showcase your research and connect with prominent Great Lakes region plant scientists!

Visit the #GLPSC2025 website to submit: research.msu.edu/glpsc2025

YouTube video by WKAR Decoding Plant Phosphorus Nutrition

The world is running out of phosphorus. No phosphorus? No food. But @michiganstateu.bsky.social Plant Resilience Institute researcher @hatem-rouached.bsky.social and his team are finding ways to help plants thrive where phosphorus isn’t present.

Watch now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8LH...

Introducing Our Monthly Newsletter! News Scan to read! Featuring... Center News Community Highlights Upcoming Events ... and more!

🚀📢 Our monthly newsletter has launched!

C-SPIRIT News keeps our community connected with community highlights, upcoming events, & more!

Check out our May 2025 issue to get the C-SPIRIT scoop!

📰 Read: createsend.com/t/y-98EF5CDF...
🔔 Subscribe: forms.gle/LztG7ygqiW1y...
🌐 Learn more: c-spirit.org

Institutional Feature Unversity of Tsukuba Aims 1: Metabolite Discovery 3: Gene & Pathway Discovery 5: Lab & Field Testing Miyako Kusano Yingtao Li Hiroshi Ezura C-SPIRIT Members Suzuka Matsuki Kenji Miura Toon Suzuki Haruto Niwa

🚨 Institutional Feature time!
This week we spotlight the University of Tsukuba, where we have 7 members working to advance our mission: Miyako Kusano, Yingtao Li, Hiroshi Ezura, Suzuka Matsuki, Kenji Miura, Toon Suzuki, and Haruto Niwa.

We're grateful for their hard work!

🔗 c-spirit.org/research

Perspective. The art of drying gracefully: The future for desiccation research | Plantae In their perspective article, “Life on the dry side: a roadmap to understanding desiccation tolerance and accelerating translational applications,” Marks et al. outline the current state and future…

Plant Science Research Weekly -- The art of drying gracefully: The future for desiccation research (Nature Communications) @roseamarks.bsky.social @rheelab.bsky.social (Summary by Stephanie Temnyk) buff.ly/D6x3PIA

#PlantaePSRW

Implementing a framework of carbon and nitrogen feedback responses into a plant resource allocation model Abstract. The allocation of resources to roots and shoots can greatly alter total plant mass. Allocation is thought to be the consequence of uptake rates,

🚨 Hot off the pre-presses!

We're excited to announce this exciting article authored by Dr. Bethany Holland in our lab!

📄 “Implementing a framework of carbon and nitrogen feedback responses into a plant resource allocation model”
🧪 Pre-print in in-silico Plants
🔗 Read the article: bit.ly/Holland25

Shogo Kuwayama PhD Student Graduate School of Science Kinoshita Lab Nagoya University Kohei Fukatsu Postdoctoral Researcher Graduate School of Science Kinoshita Lab Nagoya University Toshinori Kinoshita Professor and PI of the Kinoshita Lab Department of Plant Physiology Graduate School of Science Nagoya University New Publication! Congratulations to C-SPIRIT Members Shogo Kuwayama, Kohei Fukatsu, Toshinori Kinoshita, and their colleagues on the publication of their article The Protein Kinase Inhibitor, Tyrphostin AG126, and Its Derivatives Suppress Phosphorylation of Plasma Membrane H+-ATPase and Light-Induced Stomatal Opening! Read the full article!

🌱 Congrats to C-SPIRIT collaborators Shogo Kuwayama, Kohei Fukatsu, Toshinori Kinoshita (@en.nagoya-u.ac.jp) & colleagues on the publication of their article!

They show how AG126, AGD-1, and AcAGD-1 can stop plants from opening stomata in response to light!

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/pcp/...

#PlantScience

@mattstata.bsky.social Congratulations on the publication!

New Publication! Research Associate Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Michigan State University Research Technologist Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Michigan State University Read the full article! Maria Camalle Hannah Reish ALeksandra Skirycz Associate Professor Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Michigan State University Congratulations to C-SPIRIT Members Maria Camalle, Hannah Reish, Anthony Schilmiller, and Aleksandra Skirycz as well as their colleagues on the publication of their article Characterization of the cyclic dipeptide cyclo(His-Pro) in Arabidopsis! Anthony Schilmiller Associate Director of Mass Spectrometry & Metabolomics Core Michigan State University

🌿 Big congrats to C-SPIRIT researchers Maria Camalle, Hannah Reish, Anthony Schilmiller & Aleksandra Skirycz (MSU) + team for their new paper on cyclo(His-Pro) in Arabidopsis! 🧪

Turns out this stress-linked molecule isn't just in animals — it helps plants, too. 🌡️❄️🧂

📖 qrco.de/bg10cW

#PlantScience

A flow diagram showing (A) the initial assembly process and (B) the steps implemented by the UnigeneFinder pipeline. Green triangles denote the raw RNA-seq FASTQ read files; blue boxes denote the outputs of Trinity which become inputs to UnigeneFinder; yellow boxes denote steps which can be carried out by auxiliary UnigeneFinder scripts for read mapping and expression calculation; and orange and magenta boxes represent the output files for the core UnigeneFinder pipeline and auxiliary scripts, respectively. All other steps are denoted with gray boxes. The steps in A are not included in our pipeline because of their higher computational demands and the need to be run on a high-performance compute cluster. However, scripts and example commands for these steps are provided in the package.

UnigeneFinder: An Automated Pipeline for Gene Calling From Transcriptome Assemblies Without a Reference Genome (Bo Xue, Karine Prado, Seung Yon Rhee, Matt Stata) doi.org/10.1002/pld3... #PlantScience

A graphic promoting the GLPSC 2025 keynote speaker Sarah Lebeis with a background image of blurred leaves and an outline of the Great Lakes. The text says, "1st Great Lakes Plant Science Conference, September 12-14, 2025, the Lansing Center, Lansing, MI, research.msu.edu/glpsc2025, Keynote Speaker Spotlight.” Contained in a blue box, the graphic also includes a headshot of Sarah Lebeis with the text, “‘Untangling the Microbial Complexity to Reveal Drivers of Root Microbiome Assembly and Function’ Sarah Lebeis, PhD, Michigan State University.”

Engage with cutting-edge plant researchers at the first Great Lakes Plant Science Conference, including Dr. Sarah Lebeis from MSU! Unraveling the secrets of root microbiomes and plant resilience, Dr. Lebeis will deliver the keynote talk at #GLPSC2025. 🦠🌱 Learn more: research.msu.edu/glpsc2025

Illustration by Shonagh Rae depicting abstracted flows of information channels through a blueprint of the US Capitol building.

Scientific information does not flow into policy the way most scientists think. Twenty years after her jarring first day as a fisheries-biologist-turned-Senate-staffer, @sheril.bsky.social lays out what every scientist hoping to influence policy on the Hill needs to know: issues.org/information-...

🌿 Heat trials have started!

Potatoes have been planted across 90 plots at MSU's Montcalm Research Center. Heat will be applied during key growth stages, testing how the plants respond to warmer air/soil. After they've grown, we'll analyze them to learn about heat stress resilience!

#PlantScience

Member Publication Highlight: Congratulations to C-SPIRIT Members Motoaki Seki, Daisuke Todaka, Minoru Ueda, Farhan Aziz, and their colleagues on the publication of their article Chemical application improves stress resilience in plants! The picture also includes diagrams from the article itself.

🎉 Congrats to C-SPIRIT’s Motoaki Seki, Daisuke Todaka, Minoru Ueda & Farhan Aziz (RIKEN) on their new review:

📝 “Chemical application improves stress resilience in plants”
📖 link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Exploring chemical priming to boost stress tolerance—core to C-SPIRIT’s mission!
#PlantSci

🌱 Tomorrow is #InternationalSeedsDay — and we’re taking a moment to honor the tiny powerhouses behind food, sustainability, and resilience.

Why do seeds matter?
🌾 Genetic diversity
🛡️ Climate-smart sustainability
🌍 Food justice
🧪 Innovation rooted in nature

#PlantScience #SeedDiversity

Congrats to Dr. @hatem-rouached.bsky.social, a valued member of C-SPIRIT, on his award! His lab investigates how plants sense, signal, and regulate phosphorus to maintain nutrient balance. His work strengthens plant resilience, nutrient efficiency, and supports sustainable agriculture. #PlantScience

Institutional Feature: University of Toronto Aims: 2: Metabolite Annotation & Database Development 3: Gene & Pathway Discovery C-SPIRIT Members: Nick Provart Asher Pasha Vincent Lau

Second up in our Institutional Feature Series: University of Toronto!

We have three C-SPIRIT members affiliated with @uoft.bsky.social who work to advance our Aims 2 and 3.

🔗 Learn more about our Aims: c-spirit.org/research/

#PlantScience #PlantStress #PlantResilience #InstitutionalFeature

Congratulations to C-SPIRIT Members Pham Huong and Motoaki Seki as well as their colleagues on the publication of their article Development of DNA markers for assisted selection of cassava resistant to cassavamosaic disease (CMD)! The graphic also shows figures from the article itself as well as a QR code to scan that leads to the article.

🌱 Shoutout to C-SPIRIT members Motoaki Seki & Pham Huong of RIKEN on their new Breeding Science paper, co-authored with a multinational team!

They helped develop new tools to identify cassava plants resistant to cassava mosaic disease—a major threat in SE Asia.

🔗 doi.org/10.1270/jsbb...

#PlantSci