The FERONIA receptor kinase is required for high humidity responses in Arabidopsis
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ABSTRACT: High humidity greatly influences plant growth and development by triggering adaptive physiological responses such as leaf hyponasty. Recent studies identified CNGC2/4-mediated Ca2+ influx and CAMTA2/3-mediated transcription as essential for this process, but the upstream regulators that control these pathways remain unknown. Here, we show that the receptor-like kinase FERONIA (FER) is required for Arabidopsis adaptation to high humidity. Transcriptomic profiling revealed rapid induction of CNGC2, CAMTA targets, and pectin remodeling genes in wild-type plants but not in fer-4 loss of function mutants. A targeted mutant screen confirmed that FER and its co-receptor LORELEI-LIKE GPI-ANCHORED PROTEIN1 (LLG1) are essential for humidity-induced hyponasty. Whole-plant Ca²⁺ imaging demonstrated that high humidity triggers conserved cytosolic Ca²⁺ elevations across species, including petiole-localized Ca²⁺ waves in Arabidopsis that precede hyponastic movement by ~2 h. These signals were significantly attenuated in fer-4, providing a mechanistic explanation for its transcriptional and physiological defects. Together, our findings identify FERONIA as a key upstream component of a sensing mechanism linking extracellular high humidity to Ca²⁺ signaling, cell wall remodeling, and adaptive leaf movement.
ORGANISM(S): Arabidopsis thaliana
PROVIDER: GSE308941 | GEO | 2025/09/30
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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