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bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.04.24.720662

The FERONIA receptor kinase is required for high humidity responses in Arabidopsis

Opachaloemphan, C.·Hilleary, R.·Wu, N.·Kuan, C.·Nomura, K.·He, S. Y.
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Abstract

High humidity greatly influences plant growth and development and triggers adaptive physiological responses such as leaf hyponasty (elongation of leaf petiole and upward leaf movement). A recent study identified Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Ion Channels 2 and 4 (CNGC2/4)-mediated Ca2+ influx and Calmodulin Binding Transcription Activators 2 and 3 (CAMTA2/3)-mediated transcription as essential for high humidity response in Arabidopsis, but the upstream regulators that control these pathways remain unknown. Here, we show that the receptor-like kinase FERONIA and its co-receptor LORELEI-LIKE GPI-ANCHORED PROTEIN1 (LLG1) are required for a large portion of high humidity-associated Arabidopsis transcriptomic changes, including CNGC2, CAMTA-regulated genes, and cell wall remodeling genes, and for high humidity-induced leaf hyponasty. High humidity triggers a previously uncharacterized petiole-localized Ca2+ waves that precede hyponastic leaf movement. The petiole-localized Ca2+ signals were significantly altered in the fer-4 mutant. Thus, FERONIA is a key regulator of plant responses to extracellular high humidity. Highlights FERONIA plays a prominent role in transcriptomic responses to high humidity FERONIA is required for high humidity-induced leaf hyponasty High humidity induces petiole calcium waves FERONIA is required for normal petiole calcium waves in response to high humidity

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Opachaloemphan, C., Hilleary, R., Wu, N., Kuan, C., Nomura, K., He, S. Y.. 2026-04-28. The FERONIA receptor kinase is required for high humidity responses in Arabidopsis. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.04.24.720662

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