Elke Barbez

Few technologies illustrate the disconnection between molecular biology and societal acceptance as clearly as CRISPR–Cas. In medicine, genome editing is widely welcomed as a therapeutic breakthrough. In plant breeding, particularly in Europe, it remains highly controversial, which is surprising given that many genome-edited plants contain genetic changes that are indistinguishable from those produced by conventional breeding and therefore do not impose higher risks1.

Abstract The regulation of apoplastic pH is critical for plant growth and development, affecting processes such as nutrient uptake, cell wall expansion and intercellular signaling. Conventional methods for measuring apoplastic pH, including pH indicators in growth media and ion-selective electrodes, often fall short of providing the spatial resolution and accuracy needed for detailed studies.

Abstract Apoplastic pH is a key regulator of plant development and environmental responses, influencing processes such as cell expansion, nutrient uptake, and intercellular signaling. Accurate tools for measuring absolute pH values at high spatial resolution are therefore essential, yet limiting. Here, we present a novel calibration-based workflow for the in vivo quantification of absolute apoplastic pH using the fluorescent pH indicator HPTS.