August 10th, 2026

Congratulations to C-SPIRIT members Yuki Hayashi, Toshinori Kinoshita, Farhan Aziz, and Motoaki Seki as well as their collaborators on their new publication “Synthetic ion channel inhibitors enhance plant drought tolerance” in Nature Communications! The researchers identified two compounds, NS5806 and UA49, that inhibit potassium ion channels in guard cells, promoting stomatal closure and increasing drought resistance in Arabidopsis. The compounds also reduced potassium levels and increased calcium signaling in guard cells through a pathway distinct from the well-known abscisic acid (ABA) response. These findings highlight the potential of targeting plant ion channels as a strategy for improving drought tolerance and developing new tools to support crop resilience under water-limited conditions. Click here to read the full article!

August 4th, 2026

Congratulations to C-SPIRIT members Minoru Ueda and Motoaki Seki as well as their collaborators on the publication of their new article “HDA19-mediated deacetylation of histone H3.3 at lysines 27 and 36 regulates plant sensitivity to salt stress” in PNAS! The researchers identified a previously unknown histone modification involved in regulating salt tolerance in Arabidopsis and connected HDA19 activity with the expression and accumulation of LEA proteins that support plant survival under salinity stress. By clarifying how epigenetic regulation shapes plant stress responses, this work contributes to the broader search for strategies that can strengthen crop resilience under changing environmental conditions. Click here to read the full article!

July 31st, 2026

Congratulations to C-SPIRIT members Toon Suzuki and Hiroshi Ezura, along with collaborator Mariko Takayama from the University of Tsukuba, on their new article in Plant-Environment Interactions! The team compared a medium-sized tomato cultivar with a genome-edited high-GABA line under control and salt-stress conditions, finding that enhanced GABA biosynthesis can promote GABA and dry matter accumulation while maintaining fruit yield and total soluble solids under controlled salinity. This work advances C-SPIRIT’s efforts to understand how plant metabolites can support resilient, high-value crop production under environmental stress. Click here to read the full article!

July 27th, 2026

Congratulations to C-SPIRIT member Jun Hyuck Lee and his colleagues on the publication of their new article “Polycyclic phenolic compounds from the Antarctic moss Polytrichum strictum and their potential in treating cancer and obesity” in Fitoterapia! The researchers identified five previously undescribed compounds from the Antarctic moss Polytrichum strictum, including one that showed anti-adipogenic activity, inhibited PPARγ expression, and demonstrated cytotoxic effects against multiple human cancer cell lines. By uncovering novel bioactive compounds from a unique natural source, this work contributes to C-SPIRIT’s efforts to discover molecules with potential applications in plant resilience and beyond. Click here to read the full article!

July 17th, 2026

Congratulations to C-SPIRIT members Hui-Kyong Cho and Hatem Rouached as well as their collaborators on the publication of their new article “Coumarins link iron deficiency to TOR inhibition in plants” in Current Biology! Their article explores how plants connect iron availability with growth control, showing that iron deficiency can trigger coumarin accumulation and TOR pathway inhibition in Arabidopsis roots. This work advances C-SPIRIT’s mission to better understand the molecular mechanisms that help plants adapt to nutrient stress and changing environments. Click here to read the full article!

July 15th, 2026

Congratulations to C-SPIRIT members Maddy Creach, Addie Thompson, and Robert VanBuren, along with their collaborators, on their new article in The Plant Cell titled “Predicting complex phenotypes using multi-omics data in maize”! In their article, the team combines genomic, transcriptomic, and phenomic data to predict complex maize traits across environments, and their work offers a closer look at how different layers of biological data can strengthen trait prediction and reveal signals that might otherwise be missed. Click here to read the full article!

July 8th, 2026

Congratulations to C-SPIRIT members Sean Robertson, Chi Dang, Asher Pasha, Nicholas Provart, and Olivia Wilkins, along with their collaborators, on the publication of their new article “Drought and salinity stress remodel Asian rice (Oryza sativa) leaf development through cell-type-specific regulatory programs” in New Phytologist! Their study uses single-nucleus RNA sequencing to explore how drought and salinity stress reshape rice leaf development across cell types, developmental stages, and stress severities, offering new insight into the cellular programs that support crop resilience. Click here to read the full article!

July 6th, 2026

Last week, the C-SPIRIT team gathered in-person at RIKEN Yokohama, Japan to collaborate, connect, and advance our shared work. Over two days, members came together for focused pipeline working group time, an engaging poster session, and opportunities to build connections across institutions, countries, and research areas. Participants were able to continue their conversations beyond the meeting rooms with dinner aboard the Yakatabune Suzuyoshi Riverboat! We are so grateful to our hosts, organizers, and attendees for making this year’s All-Hand Meeting such a productive and meaningful gathering. Click here to see more pictures!

July 1st, 2026

Congratulations to C-SPIRIT members Prakash Paudel, Kamal Prasad Regmi, and Tae-Jin Oh of Sunmoon University as well their collaborators on their new article in Bioorganic Chemistry titled “Divergent roles of active-site and access-channel residues in controlling regioselectivity and catalytic efficiency in CYP154C10”! Their study explores how CYP154C10 controls selective steroid hydroxylation and shows that active-site and access-channel residues play different roles in shaping enzyme performance. Click here to read the full article!

June 25th, 2026

Congratulations to C-SPIRIT members Jayram Karmacharya, Prasansah Shrestha, and Tae-Jin Oh from SunMoon University on their new article in the Journal of Polymers and the Environment titled “CotA Laccase-Catalyzed Catechol Oxidation for Functional Chitosan and Iron oxide Nanoparticles in Aqueous Systems.” Their study presents a sustainable, enzyme-mediated strategy for modifying chitosan and iron oxide nanoparticles in aqueous systems, with potential applications in selective dye remediation and environmentally friendly materials development. Click here to read the full article!

June 24th, 2026

Congratulations to C-SPIRIT members Gaurav Moghe, Alen Zimić Sheen, Nicholas Provart, Olivia Wilkins, Robert VanBuren, Sue Rhee, and Yuying Xie as well as their colleagues on their new publication “Reimagining plant science training in the era of generative artificial intelligence: a global perspective”! Published in The Plant Cell, this article outlines six strategic shifts for preparing the next generation of plant scientists to use GenAI critically, ethically, and effectively in research and education. Click here to read the full article!

June 19th, 2026

Henry Nvenankeng will join C-SPIRIT and Michigan State University as a Research Associate within the Rhee Lab this August, bringing expertise in nematology, crop protection, agro-neuropharmacology, and drug target identification. His research will explore how nematodes respond to plant-derived compounds and environmental stress, supporting the discovery of natural strategies for protecting crops and advancing plant resilience. Welcome to C-SPIRIT, Henry!

June 2nd, 2026

Congratulations to C-SPIRIT members Byeollee Kim, So-Ra Han, Tae-Jin Oh (SunMoon University), Jun Hyuck Lee (Korea Polar Research Institute), and their collaborators on the publication of their article “Complete genome of Pseudomonas sp. PAMC25886, a polar-adapted biodegrader from alpine glacier cryoconite” in Microbiology Resource Announcements! Their study reports the complete genome of Pseudomonas sp. PAMC25886, a polar-adapted bacterium from alpine glacier cryoconite, offering insight into cold adaptation and biodegradation in extreme environments. Click here to read the article!

May 11th, 2026

Congratulations to C-SPIRIT member Dr. Robert VanBuren on receiving the 2026 CANR Mid-Career Researcher Award from Michigan State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources! Dr. VanBuren, Associate Professor in the Departments of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences and Plant Biology at MSU, is being recognized for his internationally impactful research in plant genomics, stress physiology, and climate resilience. His work advancing drought resilience and climate-resilient crops continues to strengthen agricultural sustainability and innovation. We’re proud to celebrate his contributions to plant science and resilient agriculture through C-SPIRIT and beyond!

April 20th, 2026

Congratulations to Mazhar Sher (South Dakota State University) and his colleagues on the publication of their article titled “Deep learning-based classification of nitrate and nitrite concentrations from water samples using colorimetric test strip images” in Environmental Monitoring and Assessment! Their study presents an image-based approach for classifying nitrate and nitrite concentrations in water using colorimetric test strips. By applying deep learning techniques, the team developed a method that enables rapid and accurate assessment of water quality, offering a more accessible alternative to traditional laboratory-based methods. Click here to read the article!

April 14th, 2026

Congratulations to Seung Yon (Sue) Rhee (Michigan State University) and her colleagues on the publication of their article titled “A Reference-Free Algorithm Discovers Regulation in the Plant Transcriptome” in Plant Direct! Their study introduces a reference-free computational approach for analyzing gene regulation directly from RNA sequencing data, without relying on a reference genome. Using this method, the team identified patterns of gene expression, alternative splicing, and regulatory variation across multiple plant species, uncovering previously unrecognized mechanisms that shape plant transcriptomes. Click here to read the article!

March 23rd, 2026

Congratulations to Dr. Sora Han on her appointment as Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Biotechnology at Sun Moon University! As a member of the C-SPIRIT administrative team and contributor across Aims 1, 2, 3, and 4, Dr. Sora Han’s work advances genomic analysis of polar microorganisms and AI-driven discovery of enzyme function and bioactive compounds. We are proud to celebrate this milestone and look forward to her continued impact!

March 20th, 2026

Congratulations to Jisub Hwang, Jun Hyuck Lee, and Hackwon Do (Korea Polar Research Institute) as well as their colleagues on their new paper “A remote surface loop modulates core structure and cold activity in phosphopantetheine adenylyltransferase” published in PLOS One! This study reveals that a small surface loop functions as a remote allosteric switch, maintaining structural flexibility and a positively charged substrate channel that enables the enzyme PPAT to remain catalytically active in cold environments. By uncovering mechanisms of enzyme function under low-temperature conditions, this work contributes to a deeper understanding of biological systems that support resilience and adaptation. Click here to read the article!

March 9th, 2026

Congratulations to Jun Hyuck Lee (Korea Polar Research Institute) and Tae-Jin Oh (SunMoon University) as well as their colleagues on their new paper “Prediction of bacterial protein-compound interactions with only positive samples” published in Bioinformatics! This study introduces BIN-PU, a machine learning framework that predicts interactions between bacterial proteins and compounds even when only confirmed positive samples are available, addressing a major limitation in training interaction models. By improving the ability to identify enzyme-compound relationships, this work advances tools for discovering bioactive molecules and understanding the biological pathways that produce them. Click here to read the article!

February 20th, 2026

Congratulations to Minoru Ueda, Daisuke Todaka, and Motoaki Seki (RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science) as well as their colleagues on their new paper “Requirement of Trichome Formation for the Growth-promoting Effects of Olivine for Enhanced Weathering in Arabidopsis thaliana” published in the Journal of Plant Growth Regulation! This study clarifies how olivine soil amendments promote plant growth. When 10% olivine was applied, plants grew 64% larger and accumulated more magnesium. The researchers found that trichomes are essential for this effect. Plants lacking trichomes did not benefit, highlighting the importance of mineral balance in regulating growth and stress responses. Click here to read the article!

February 9th, 2026

We are excited to announce the release of our 2025 Annual Report! From research milestones and international training programs to stakeholder engagement and global partnerships, this report captures our first year of progress as an NSF Global Center. It highlights advances across all six research aims, the growth of our global research community, and our shared commitment to sustainable agriculture and plant resilience. Explore the full report here!

January 28th, 2026

Congratulations to C-SPIRIT members Byeollee Kim, Tae-Jin Oh (SunMoon University), Hackwon Do, and Jun Hyuck Lee (Korea Polar Research Institute) on their new article titled “Complete genome sequence of Rahnella sp. PAMC25559, a psychrophilic plant growth-promoting bacterium isolated from an Alpine glacier”! Published in Microbiology Resource Announcements, their study reports the complete genome sequence of a cold-adapted bacterium isolated from an Alpine glacier, consisting of one chromosome and two putative plasmids. The authors identify biosynthetic gene clusters potentially associated with cold adaptation and plant growth-promoting activity, providing a genomic foundation for understanding microbial support of plant growth in cold environments. Click here to read the article!

December 12th, 2025

C-SPIRIT members Maricar Macalincag, Ashley Stender, Sue Rhee, Toon Suzuki, Nicholas Schlecht, and Katherine Rivera-Zuluaga attended and staffed our booth at the 2025 Great Lakes EXPO that took place December 9-11 in Grand Rapids, MI!

The C-SPIRIT booth had plenty of visitors including growers, industry representatives, and other exhibitors. We were able to share our work with people all across the US Midwest and made many valuable connections. We can’t wait to return next year!

November 17th, 2025

Congratulations to C-SPIRIT members Karine Prado, Matt Stata, Charles Hawkins, Sue Rhee from Michigan State University as well as their colleagues on the publication of their manuscript “Photosynthetic acclimation is a key contributor to exponential growth of a desert plant in Death Valley summer” in Current Biology! This study uncovers how Tidestromia oblongifolia rapidly acclimates to extreme heat: reshaping its chloroplasts and mitochondria, shifting gene expression within days, and boosting photosynthetic efficiency even at 45°C. These discoveries reveal powerful mechanisms underlying heat-resilient photosynthesis. Click here to read the article, and click here to read the press release!

November 13th, 2025

Congratulations to C-SPIRIT member Dr. David S. Wishart from the University of Alberta for winning the 2025 Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering! Dr. Wishart has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to metabolomics and data-driven discovery. His leadership has shaped how researchers study bioactive compounds, from advancing analytical tools to building world-leading metabolite databases that support science and innovation across disciplines. Click here to learn more!

October 31st, 2025

Congratulations to C-SPIRIT member Jun Hyuck Lee from the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) and his colleagues on their new article titled “Exogenous abscisic acid enhances freeze-thaw stress tolerance in Antarctic moss Sanionia uncinata through coordinated antioxidant defense and osmoprotectant accumulation.” Published in Cryobiology, the study shows that applying abscisic acid (ABA) significantly increased freeze-thaw tolerance in the Antarctic moss S. uncinata. ABA-treated plants showed reduced membrane injury and oxidative damage while maintaining higher photosynthetic efficiency. The findings reveal that ABA enhances the activities of antioxidant enzymes and promotes the accumulation of osmoprotectants such as proline and soluble sugars, collectively strengthening stress resilience under extreme polar conditions.

September 26th, 2025

Congratulations to C-SPIRIT members Daisuke Todaka, Motoaki Seki (RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science), and Kenji Miura (University of Tsukuba) as well as their colleagues on their new article titled “Application of 4-CPA or ethanol enhances plant growth and fruit quality of phyA mutant under heat stress.” Published in Scientific Reports, the study shows that applying 4-CPA, a synthetic auxin-like regulator, or ethanol to tomato phyA mutants restored tolerance to heat stress during the reproductive stage. The treatments promoted growth, flower formation, and fruit set, while upregulating heat-responsive and hormone-related genes, reducing cellular damage, and enhancing fruit quality.

September 3rd, 2025

C-SPIRIT invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher at Michigan State University’s Plant Resilience Institute! The position focuses on identifying plant-derived compounds that influence nematode physiology, behavior, and survival, and on studying desiccation tolerance mechanisms in C. elegans, particularly in the dauer stage. The researcher will collaborate with MSU nematode experts, C-SPIRIT, and the Water and Life Interface Institute (WALII). Review of applications begins September 12, 2025, and continues until the position is filled. Click here to learn more and apply!

August 25th, 2025

Congratulations to C‑SPIRIT researcher Toshinori Kinoshita (Nagoya University) and colleagues on their new publication in Nature Plants. In their article “Apoplastic metabolomics reveals sugars as mesophyll messengers regulating guard cell ion transport under red light,” the team reports that sucrose and related sugars produced during photosynthesis act as chemical messengers from mesophyll to guard cells. Their findings offer new insight into how photosynthesis directly shapes plant responses to light and water conditions. Click here to read the article!

August 4th, 2025

C‑SPIRIT members Sean Robertson, Asher Pasha, Nicholas Provart, and Olivia Wilkins, along with colleagues, have published a new article in The Plant Journal revealing how drought stress increases the heat shock sensitivity of Asian rice leaves through physiological changes and spatially distinct gene expression patterns. The study also introduces a new BAR-based eFP browser tool for exploring the data. Click here to read the article!

August 1st, 2025

C-SPIRIT is hiring a full-time Postdoctoral Researcher based at the University of Manitoba to investigate how plants regulate specialized metabolite production at the cellular level! The researcher will use single-cell and spatial RNA-sequencing technologies to study gene regulation in plant tissues and develop models of metabolite biosynthesis. Click here to learn more!

July 9th, 2025

C-SPIRIT members So-Ra Han, Tae-Jin Oh, and their colleagues from Sun Moon University have published their research article “Comparative genome analysis of three Halobacillus strains isolated from saline environments reveal potential salt tolerance and algicidal mechanisms”. Featured in Environmental Microbiology Reports, the article explores how Halobacillus species adapt to extreme salinity and identifies genes associated with stress response, xenobiotic degradation, and potential algicidal activity. These findings offer new insights into microbial strategies for environmental resilience and biocontrol. Click here to read the article!

July 1st, 2025

Congratulations and welcome to Nicholas Schlecht, who will be starting as a Research Associate within C-SPIRIT Leadership member Ola Skirycz’s lab at Michigan State University! Nick will focus on targeted and untargeted metabolite discovery to support plant resilience against pathogenic fungi, heat, and drought stress. He will be co-advised by Kari Sant, Gaurav Moghe, and Andrea Glassmire.

Welcome to C-SPIRIT, Nick!

June 27th, 2025

C-SPIRIT members Prasansah Shrestha, So-Ra Han, Tae-Jin Oh, and their colleagues from Sun Moon University have published their review article “Unraveling the genetic mechanisms of UV radiation resistance in Bacillus through biofilm formation, sporulation, and carotenoid production”. Featured in Genomics, the article emphasizes the central role of the Spo0A regulatory network in coordinating these survival strategies and highlights how carotenoids, biofilms, and spores function synergistically to promote resilience. Click here to read the article!

June 10th, 2025

Congratulations and welcome to Katherine Rivera-Zuluaga, who will be starting as a Research Associate within C-SPIRIT Director Sue Rhee’s lab at Michigan State University! Kathe will focus on high-throughput metabolite discovery for plant resilience against pathogenic fungi, heat, and drought stress. She will be co-advised by Linda Hanson, Robert VanBuren, and Erich Grotewold.

Welcome to C-SPIRIT, Kathe!

May 24th, 2025

C-SPIRIT members Shogo Kuwayama, Kohei Fukatsu, Toshinori Kinoshita (Nagoya University) and their colleagues have published a study showing that the compound AG126 and its derivatives suppress phosphorylation of plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase, blocking light-induced stomatal opening. The findings offer valuable tools for plant signaling research and drought-resistant crop development. Click here to read the article!

May 21st, 2025

C-SPIRIT members Maria Camalle, Hannah Reish, Tony Schilmiller, Aleksandra Skirycz (Michigan State University) and their colleagues have published a study showing that cyclo(His-Pro), a molecule known in mammals, also accumulates in Arabidopsis under stress. Their findings suggest that cyclo(His-Pro) may act as a conserved signal in plant stress responses. Click here to read the article!

May 15th, 2025

Today, potatoes for this summer’s stress trial were planted! Located at Michigan State University’s Montcalm Research Center, these 90 potato plots will undergo mobile heat stress treatments for 7 days at a time during critical physiological development stages. The potatoes should begin emerging late May/early June, and the first heat stress treatment will be applied in late June/early July. Check out this picture of the science in action:

May 8th, 2025

C-SPIRIT members Toon Suzuki and Hiroshi Ezura (both from the University of Tsukuba) have just published an article on how the increased presence of GABA in genetically modified tomatoes can increase their resilience to salt stress. Click here to read the article!

APRIL 15th, 2025

C-SPIRIT is hiring two postdoctoral researchers at MSU! One position focuses on high-throughput screening and multi-omics analysis, while the other centers on small-molecule discovery using binding assays and metabolomics. Click here to see the job postings!

March 12th, 2o25

The Director of the US NSF, Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan, recently shared a message reaffirming NSF’s commitment to the U.S. scientific community. Click here to read the message!

October 17th, 2025

A recent PSM Coffee Hour took a creative twist as Miyo Yamane, Postdoctoral Researcher within the Seki Lab, RIKEN Center Japan, wrapped up her research exchange with host Dr. Addie Thompson by leading an impromptu origami session. Click here to read the article!

August 4th, 2025

As part of C‑SPIRIT’s work to develop solutions for crop resilience under climate stress, C‑SPIRIT member Motoaki Seki and his team at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science have demonstrated that diluted ethanol can help plants thrive under extreme heat. In cherry tomatoes, the treatment produced larger leaves and tripled fruit yields at 50 °C. This simple, accessible method could help farmers worldwide adapt to rising global temperatures. Click here to read the article!

January 14th, 2025

Curious how criminal justice ties into crop resilience? Discover how Dr. Joe Hamm’s expertise in risk and trust is helping the C-SPIRIT team develop sustainable solutions to global food challenges. Click here to read the article!

NOVEMBER 13TH, 2024

The University of Manitoba has been awarded $2.5 million to establish the Global Innovation Centre for Plant Resilience, now renamed C-SPIRIT. Olivia Wilkins, C-SPIRIT Aim 3 lead and Canada lead, is among the researchers guiding this international effort to enhance plant resilience to environmental change. Click here to read the article!

NOVEMBER 8th, 2024

The University of York is a key UK partner in C-SPIRIT, the newly established Global Innovation Centre for Plant Resilience. Nicola Patron (UK lead and Aim 4 lead), Benjamin Lichman, and Ian Graham are among the UK researchers contributing to this international effort to strengthen plant resilience to environmental change. Click here to read the article!

November 8th, 2024

Dr. Olivia Wilkins, who is leading the Canadian team of C-SPIRIT, discusses our new National Science Foundation (NSF) Global Center to explore sustainable solutions for agriculture. Click here to see the video!

October 3rd, 2024

Learn about the NSF Global Centers and how C-SPIRIT is playing a part in advancing bioeconomy research to solve global challenges in an article from MSUToday. Click here to check it out!