Post-translational modification (PTM) of proteins is a crucial regulatory mechanism in plant cells, enabling rapid and purposeful regulation of their functions. Modified proteins play various roles in signaling pathways, including plant growth and development, plant metabolism, and the response to adversity stress. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of studies focusing on plant PTM maps and functional analysis. Here we aim to review the PTM types in plants, especially in horticultural plants and tropical crops, the interactions between and among PTMs, and more importantly, the underlying pathways and functions. Additionally, the potential application of PTMs in breeding is briefly discussed. This paper focuses on plant PTMs and provides a foundation for further investigation into the functions and regulatory mechanisms of PTMs in plant proteins as well as for crop improvement.

Mitochondria play a crucial role in plant growth, fertility, and adaptation. Sugarcane (Saccharum hybrids) represents the world's primary sugar and energy crop, while S. spontaneum and S. arundinaceum serve as valuable parental germplasm. Despite their importance, limited research exists regarding the mitochondrial genomes of sugarcane and related species. This study presents the assembly of mitogenomes from one S. arundinaceum, one S. spontaneum, and five sugarcane cultivars. Analysis revealed that these mitogenomes, encoding 33 protein-coding genes (PCGs), ranged from 445,578 to 533,662 bp, with GC content between 43.43–43.82%. The primary structures of S. arundinaceum consisted of three small rings, while S. spontaneum exhibited one ring and one linear structure, and sugarcane displayed two rings; multiple potential conformations emerged due to repeat-mediated recombination. Additionally, this research developed an intron marker SAnad4i3 capable of species differentiation. The analysis identified between 540 and 581 C to U RNA editing sites in the PCGs, with six RNA editing sites linked to start or stop codon creation in S. arundinaceum, and five sites each in S. spontaneum and sugarcane hybrids. Significantly, 30–37 fragments homologous to chloroplast DNA were identified, with S. spontaneum containing the highest number. These mitogenomes appear to have undergone substantial genomic reorganization and gene transfer events throughout evolution, including the loss of eight PCGs. This comprehensive study illuminates the genetic diversity and complexity of the Saccharum complex, establishing a foundation for future germplasm identification and evolutionary research.

Sugarcane is recognized as the fifth largest crop globally, supplying 80% of sugar and 40% of bioenergy production. However, sugarcane genetic research has significantly lagged behind other crops due to its complex genetic background, high ploidy (8–13×), aneuploidy, limited flowering, and a long growth cycle (more than one year). Cross breeding began in 1887 following the discovery that sugarcane seeds could germinate. Both self- and cross-pollination and selection were conducted by sugarcane breeders, but new cultivars were often eliminated due to disease susceptibility. Within the Saccharum genus, different species possess variable numbers of chromosomes. Wild sugarcane species intercrossed with each other, leading to development of the ‘Nobilization’ breeding strategy, which significantly improved yield, sucrose, fiber content, and disease resistance, and accelerated genetic improvement of cultivars. In recent years, scientific achievements have also been made in sugarcane genome sequencing, molecular marker development, genetic linkage map construction, localization of quantitative trait locus (QTL), and trait-associated gene identification. This review focuses on the progress in sugarcane genetic research, analyzes the technical difficulties faced, presents opportunities and challenges, and provides guidance and references for future sugarcane genetics research and cultivar breeding. Finally, it offers directions for future on sugarcane genetics.

WRKY transcription factors, transcriptional regulators unique to plants, play an important role in defense response to pathogen infection. However, the resistance mechanisms of WRKY genes in sugarcane remain unclear. In the present study, gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that WRKY gene family in sugarcane was extensively involved in the response to biotic stress and in defense response. We identified gene ScWRKY4, a class IIc member of the WRKY gene family, in sugarcane cultivar ROC22. This gene was induced by salicylic acid (SA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) stress. Interestingly, expression of ScWRKY4 was down-regulated in smut-resistant sugarcane cultivars but up-regulated in smut-susceptible sugarcane cultivars infected with Sporisorium scitamineum. Moreover, stable overexpression of the ScWRKY4 gene in Nicotiana benthamiana enhanced susceptibility to Fusarium solani var. coeruleum and caused down-regulated expression of immune marker-related genes. Transcriptome analysis indicated suppressed expression of most JAZ genes in the signal transduction pathway. ScWRKY4 interacted with ScJAZ13 to repress its expression. We thus hypothesized that the ScWRKY4 gene was involved in the regulatory network of plant disease resistance, most likely through the JA signaling pathway. The present study depicting the molecular involvement of ScWRKY4 in sugarcane disease resistance lays a foundation for future investigation.