Mobile RNAs and proteins: Impact on plant growth and productivity

Abstract Short- and long-distance mobile signals (mobile RNAs and proteins) are integral parts of the local and systemic communications that coordinate various physiological processes at whole plant level and have far-reaching impacts on plant productivity. A coherent description highlighting integral roles of these mobile signals in controlling phenotypic traits and plant productivity would be invaluable. Here, we emphasize how key mobile RNAs (mRNAs, small RNAs, and long non-coding RNAs) and proteins including RNA-binding proteins function as vital regulators of multi-faceted aspects of phenotypic traits, such as formation of shoot-apical meristem, leaf morphology, root architecture, flowering, ripening of fleshy fruits, tuberization, crop yield, and abiotic stress responses, that eventually govern plant productivity. We also describe recent advancements in macromolecular transport mechanisms, such as cyclophilin-mediated transport and extracellular vesicle-based signal delivery, as well as the identification of novel signature motifs on mobile RNAs. Further, we highlight the perspectives on discoveries of new mobile signals and underline how mobile signals could be explored with advanced biotechnological interventions, virus-induced flowering, genome-editing tools, and emerging breeding approaches (e.g. xenia-based mobile RNA delivery system for fleshy fruits) to design strategies for enhancing valuable phenotypic traits and plant productivity.