[1]

Anest A, Bouchenak-Khelladi Y, Charles-Dominique T, Forest F, Caraglio Y, et al. 2024. Blocking then stinging as a case of two-step evolution of defensive cage architectures in herbivore-driven ecosystems. Nature Plants 10:587−597

doi: 10.1038/s41477-024-01649-4
[2]

Satterlee JW, Alonso D, Gramazio P, Jenike KM, He J, et al. 2024. Convergent evolution of plant prickles by repeated gene co-option over deep time. Science 385:eado1663

doi: 10.1126/science.ado1663
[3]

Blaschek L. 2024. Well prepared: how trichome polymorphism creates an early-warning system against herbivory. The Plant Cell 36:4815−4816

doi: 10.1093/plcell/koae253
[4]

Du B, Haensch R, Alfarraj S, Rennenberg H. 2024. Strategies of plants to overcome abiotic and biotic stresses. Biological Reviews 99:1524−1536

doi: 10.1111/brv.13079
[5]

Coverdale TC. 2019. Defence emergence during early ontogeny reveals important differences between spines, thorns and prickles. Annals of Botany 124:iii−iv

doi: 10.1093/aob/mcz189
[6]

Ben Lataief S, Zourgui MN, Rahmani R, Najjaa H, Gharsallah N, et al. 2021. Chemical composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of bioactive compounds extracted from Opuntia dillenii cladodes. Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization 15:782−794

doi: 10.1007/s11694-020-00671-2
[7]

Mauseth JD. 2006. Structure-function relationships in highly modified shoots of Cactaceae. Annals of Botany 98:901−926

doi: 10.1093/aob/mcl133
[8]

Gatehouse JA. 2002. Plant resistance towards insect herbivores: a dynamic interaction. The New Phytologist 156:145−169

doi: 10.1046/j.1469-8137.2002.00519.x
[9]

Fornara DA, Du Toit JT. 2007. Browsing lawns? Responses of Acacia nigrescens to ungulate browsing in an African savanna. Ecology 88:200−209

doi: 10.1890/0012-9658(2007)88[200:blroan]2.0.co;2
[10]

Zhou N, Simonneau F, Thouroude T, Oyant LHS, Foucher F. 2021. Morphological studies of rose prickles provide new insights. Horticulture Research 8:221

doi: 10.1038/s41438-021-00689-7
[11]

Liu Y, Wang X, Li Z, Tu J, Lu YN, et al. 2023. Regulation of capsule spine formation in castor. Plant Physiology 192:1028−1045

doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiad149
[12]

Christin PA, Weinreich DM, Besnard G. 2010. Causes and evolutionary significance of genetic convergence. Trends in Genetics 26:400−405

doi: 10.1016/j.tig.2010.06.005
[13]

Charles-Dominique T, Davies TJ, Hempson GP, Bezeng BS, Daru BH, et al. 2016. Spiny plants, mammal browsers, and the origin of African savannas. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 113:E5572−E5579

doi: 10.1073/pnas.1607493113
[14]

Tomlinson KW, Yu F, Wang X, Yao X, Yu CC, et al. 2025. The macroecology of spines on woody plants. Biological Reviews 100:2396−2419

doi: 10.1111/brv.70051
[15]

Loeuille N, Loreau M, Ferrière R. 2002. Consequences of plant-herbivore coevolution on the dynamics and functioning of ecosystems. Journal of Theoretical Biology 217:369−381

doi: 10.1006/jtbi.2002.3032
[16]

Gong B, Zhang G. 2014. Interactions between plants and herbivores: a review of plant defense. Acta Ecologica Sinica 34:325−336

doi: 10.1016/j.chnaes.2013.07.010
[17]

Pei H, Wu Y, Wu W, Lyu L, Li W. 2024. A review of the types, functions and regulatory mechanisms of plant spines. Plant Science 341:112010

doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112010
[18]

Wilson-Sánchez D, Bhatia N, Runions A, Tsiantis M. 2022. From genes to shape in leaf development and evolution. Current Biology 32:R1215−R1222

doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.09.021
[19]

de la Rosa-Manzano E, Flores J, Delgado-Sánchez P. 2016. Effects of spine-shading on aspects of photosynthesis for three cactus species. Botanical Sciences 94:301−310

doi: 10.17129/botsci.458
[20]

Posluszny U, Fisher JB. 2000. Thorn and hook ontogeny in Artabotrys hexapetalus (Annonaceae). American Journal of Botany 87:1561−1570

doi: 10.2307/2656731
[21]

Zhang Y, Zuo M, Li R, Huang J, Cheng W, et al. 2024. Morphology, structure and development of glandular prickles in the genus Rosa. Scientia Horticulturae 326:112763

doi: 10.1016/j.scienta.2023.112763
[22]

Zhang F, Rossignol P, Huang T, Wang Y, May A, et al. 2020. Reprogramming of stem cell activity to convert thorns into branches. Current Biology 30:2951−2961.e5

doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.05.068
[23]

Bass E. 2025. Cutting the defense budget: how allocation costs shape induced resistance in plants. PLoS Biology 23:e3003317

doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3003317
[24]

Armani M, Charles-Dominique T, Barton KE, Tomlinson KW. 2019. Developmental constraints and resource environment shape early emergence and investment in spines in saplings. Annals of Botany 124:1133−1142

doi: 10.1093/aob/mcz152
[25]

Pontarp M, Petchey OL. 2018. Ecological opportunity and predator–prey interactions: linking eco-evolutionary processes and diversification in adaptive radiations. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 285:20172550

doi: 10.1098/rspb.2017.2550
[26]

Young JP, Fulbright TE, DeYoung CA, Hewitt DG, Wester DB, et al. 2025. Shrub anti-herbivore defenses exhibit non-linear and varied responses to increased herbivore density. Basic and Applied Ecology 82:46−57

doi: 10.1016/j.baae.2024.12.006
[27]

Strauss SY, Agrawal AA. 1999. The ecology and evolution of plant tolerance to herbivory. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 14:179−185

doi: 10.1016/S0169-5347(98)01576-6
[28]

Leichty AR, Poethig RS. 2019. Development and evolution of age-dependent defenses in ant-acacias. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 116:15596−15601

doi: 10.1073/pnas.1900644116
[29]

Godínez-Alvarez H, Valiente-Banuet A, Rojas-Martínez A. 2002. The role of seed dispersers in the population dynamics of the columnar cactus Neobuxbaumia tetetzo. Ecology 83:2617−2629

doi: 10.1890/0012-9658(2002)083[2617:TROSDI]2.0.CO;2
[30]

Kim ES, Mahlberg PG. 1995. Glandular cuticle formation in Cannabis (Cannabaceae). American Journal of Botany 82:1207−1214

doi: 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1995.tb12653.x
[31]

Wagner GJ. 1991. Secreting glandular trichomes: more than just hairs. Plant Physiology 96:675−679

doi: 10.1104/pp.96.3.675
[32]

Markus Lange B, Turner GW. 2013. Terpenoid biosynthesis in trichomes—current status and future opportunities. Plant Biotechnology Journal 11:2−22

doi: 10.1111/j.1467-7652.2012.00737.x
[33]

Chalvin C, Drevensek S, Dron M, Bendahmane A, Boualem A. 2020. Genetic control of glandular trichome development. Trends in Plant Science 25:477−487

doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2019.12.025
[34]

Kumar P, Kumar D, Pal S, Singh S. 2025. Plant secondary metabolites in defense against phytopathogens: mechanisms, biosynthesis, and applications. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology 138:102639

doi: 10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.102639
[35]

Swarnkar MK, Kumar P, Dogra V, Kumar S. 2021. Prickle morphogenesis in rose is coupled with secondary metabolite accumulation and governed by canonical MBW transcriptional complex. Plant Direct 5:e00325

doi: 10.1002/pld3.325
[36]

Wu S, Song L, Chen Y, Luo C, Wan L, et al. 2026. RlTTG1 isolated from Rosa laevigata Michx. regulates trichome development and stress response in transgenic Arabidopsis. Plant Science 366:113080

doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2026.113080
[37]

Glover BJ, Perez-Rodriguez M, Martin C. 1998. Development of several epidermal cell types can be specified by the same MYB-related plant transcription factor. Development 125:3497−3508

doi: 10.1242/dev.125.17.3497
[38]

Khadgi A, Weber CA. 2020. Morphological characterization of prickled and prickle-free Rubus using scanning electron microscopy. HortScience 55:676−683

doi: 10.21273/HORTSCI14815-20
[39]

Kellogg AA, Branaman TJ, Jones NM, Little CZ, Swanson JD. 2011. Morphological studies of developing Rubus prickles suggest that they are modified glandular trichomes. Botany 89:217−226

doi: 10.1139/b11-008
[40]

Hung CY, Lin Y, Zhang M, Pollock S, Marks MD, et al. 1998. A common position-dependent mechanism controls cell-type patterning and GLABRA2 regulation in the root and hypocotyl epidermis of Arabidopsis. Plant Physiology 117:73−84

doi: 10.1104/pp.117.1.73
[41]

Pesch M, Schultheiß I, Klopffleisch K, Uhrig JF, Koegl M, et al. 2015. TRANSPARENT TESTA GLABRA1 and GLABRA1 compete for binding to GLABRA3 in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiology 168:584−597

doi: 10.1104/pp.15.00328
[42]

Qi M, Tian X, Chen Y, Lu Y, Zhang Y. 2025. WD40 proteins PaTTG1 interact with both bHLH and MYB to regulate trichome formation and anthocyanin biosynthesis in Platanus acerifolia. Plant Science 352:112385

doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112385
[43]

Di Cristina M, Sessa G, Dolan L, Linstead P, Baima S, et al. 1996. The Arabidopsis Athb-10 (GLABRA2) is an HD-Zip protein required for regulation of root hair development. The Plant Journal 10:393−402

doi: 10.1046/j.1365-313x.1996.10030393.x
[44]

Tominaga R, Iwata M, Okada K, Wada T. 2007. Functional analysis of the epidermal-specific MYB genes CAPRICE and WEREWOLF in Arabidopsis. The Plant Cell 19:2264−2277

doi: 10.1105/tpc.106.045732
[45]

Gan L, Xia K, Chen JG, Wang S. 2011. Functional characterization of TRICHOMELESS2, a new single-repeat R3 MYB transcription factor in the regulation of trichome patterning in Arabidopsis. BMC Plant Biology 11:176

doi: 10.1186/1471-2229-11-176
[46]

Vadde BVL, Challa KR, Sunkara P, Hegde AS, Nath U. 2019. The TCP4 transcription factor directly activates TRICHOMELESS1 and 2 and suppresses trichome initiation. Plant Physiology 181:1587−1599

doi: 10.1104/pp.19.00197
[47]

Dong M, Xue S, Bartholomew ES, Zhai X, Sun L, et al. 2022. Transcriptomic and functional analysis provides molecular insights into multicellular trichome development. Plant Physiology 189:301−314

doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiac050
[48]

Su K, Sun J, Han J, Zheng T, Sun B, et al. 2022. Combined morphological and multi-omics analyses to reveal the developmental mechanism of Zanthoxylum bungeanum prickles. Frontiers in Plant Science 13:950084

doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.950084
[49]

Chen S, Cao Y, Zhao C, Wang S, Zhang C, et al. 2026. Integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis to uncover the developmental mechanism of Zanthoxylum armatum prickles. Industrial Crops and Products 242:122899

doi: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2026.122899
[50]

Zheng Q, Zhou S, Irish VF, Zhang F. 2026. Thorn specification in citrus plants by an SHI/STY family transcription factor. Current Biology 36:888−901.e4

doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2026.01.002
[51]

Zhu W, Zhang Z, Wu J, You Y, Bao M, et al. 2025. Transcriptome analysis reveals insights into regulatory networks of prickle formation in Rosa multiflora and the role of RmNAC43 in lignin biosynthesis during prickle hardening. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 319:145515

doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.145515
[52]

Wang J, Chu Y, Yuan X, Shi X, Feng L. 2023. A CAPRICE gene of Rosa rugosa (RrCPC) suppresses the trichome formation of Arabidopsis. Industrial Crops and Products 194:116340

doi: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2023.116340
[53]

Huang X, Yi P, Liu Y, Li Q, Jiang Y, et al. 2022. RrTTG1 promotes fruit prickle development through an MBW complex in Rosa roxburghii. Frontiers in Plant Science 13:939270

doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.939270
[54]

Li J, Tang B, Li Y, Li C, Guo M, et al. 2021. Rice SPL10 positively regulates trichome development through expression of HL6 and auxin-related genes. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 63:1521−1537

doi: 10.1111/jipb.13140
[55]

Khosla A, Paper JM, Boehler AP, Bradley AM, Neumann TR, et al. 2014. HD-zip proteins GL2 and HDG11 have redundant functions in Arabidopsis trichomes, and GL2 activates a positive feedback loop via MYB23. The Plant Cell 26:2184−2200

doi: 10.1105/tpc.113.120360
[56]

Wang T, Jia Q, Wang W, Hussain S, Ahmed S, et al. 2019. GCN5 modulates trichome initiation in Arabidopsis by manipulating histone acetylation of core trichome initiation regulator genes. Plant Cell Reports 38:755−765

doi: 10.1007/s00299-019-02404-2
[57]

Gan Y, Kumimoto R, Liu C, Ratcliffe O, Yu H, et al. 2006. GLABROUS INFLORESCENCE STEMS modulates the regulation by gibberellins of epidermal differentiation and shoot maturation in Arabidopsis. The Plant Cell 18:1383−1395

doi: 10.1105/tpc.106.041533
[58]

Zhao M, Morohashi K, Hatlestad G, Grotewold E, Lloyd A. 2008. The TTG1-bHLH-MYB complex controls trichome cell fate and patterning through direct targeting of regulatory loci. Development 135:1991−1999

doi: 10.1242/dev.016873
[59]

Wada T, Tachibana T, Shimura Y, Okada K. 1997. Epidermal cell differentiation in Arabidopsis determined by a Myb homolog, CPC. Science 277:1113−1116

doi: 10.1126/science.277.5329.1113
[60]

Schellmann S, Schnittger A, Kirik V, Wada T, Okada K, et al. 2002. TRIPTYCHON and CAPRICE mediate lateral inhibition during trichome and root hair patterning in Arabidopsis. The EMBO Journal 21:5036−5046

doi: 10.1093/emboj/cdf524
[61]

Suo B, Seifert S, Kirik V. 2013. Arabidopsis GLASSY HAIR genes promote trichome papillae development. Journal of Experimental Botany 64:4981−4991

doi: 10.1093/jxb/ert287
[62]

Zhang F, Wang Y, Irish VF. 2021. CENTRORADIALIS maintains shoot meristem indeterminacy by antagonizing THORN IDENTITY1 in Citrus. Current Biology 31:2237−2242.e4

doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.02.051
[63]

Nadakuduti SS, Pollard M, Kosma DK, Allen C Jr, Ohlrogge JB, et al. 2012. Pleiotropic phenotypes of the sticky peel mutant provide new insight into the role of CUTIN DEFICIENT2 in epidermal cell function in tomato. Plant Physiology 159:945−960

doi: 10.1104/pp.112.198374
[64]

Ying S, Su M, Wu Y, Zhou L, Fu R, et al. 2020. Trichome regulator SlMIXTA-like directly manipulates primary metabolism in tomato fruit. Plant Biotechnology Journal 18:354−363

doi: 10.1111/pbi.13202
[65]

Zheng F, Cui L, Li C, Xie Q, Ai G, et al. 2022. Hair interacts with SlZFP8-like to regulate the initiation and elongation of trichomes by modulating SlZFP6 expression in tomato. Journal of Experimental Botany 73:228−244

doi: 10.1093/jxb/erab417
[66]

Zhang X, Yan F, Tang Y, Yuan Y, Deng W, et al. 2015. Auxin response gene SlARF3 plays multiple roles in tomato development and is involved in the formation of epidermal cells and trichomes. Plant and Cell Physiology 56:2110−2124

doi: 10.1093/pcp/pcv136
[67]

Zhang X, Chen Z, Wang C, Zhou X, Tang N, et al. 2023. Genome-wide identification of HD-ZIP gene family and screening of genes related to prickle development in Zanthoxylum armatum. The Plant Genome 16:e20295

doi: 10.1002/tpg2.20295
[68]

Liu X, He X, Liu Z, Wu P, Tang N, et al. 2022. Transcriptome mining of genes in Zanthoxylum armatum revealed ZaMYB86 as a negative regulator of prickly development. Genomics 114:110374

doi: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2022.110374
[69]

Shan C, Dong K, Wen D, Cui Z, Cao J. 2025. A review of m6A modification in plant development and potential quality improvement. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 308:142597

doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.142597
[70]

Tang N, Cao Z, Wu P, Liu Y, Lou J, et al. 2023. Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals hormone, transcriptional and epigenetic regulation involved in prickle formation in Zanthoxylum armatum. Gene 871:147434

doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147434
[71]

Dong Y, Li S, Wu H, Gao Y, Feng Z, et al. 2023. Advances in understanding epigenetic regulation of plant trichome development: a comprehensive review. Horticulture Research 10:uhad145

doi: 10.1093/hr/uhad145
[72]

Nyikó T, Gyula P, Ráth S, Sós-Hegedűs A, Csorba T, et al. 2025. INCREASED DNA METHYLATION 3 forms a potential chromatin remodelling complex with HAIRPLUS to regulate DNA methylation and trichome development in tomato. The Plant Journal 121:e70085

doi: 10.1111/tpj.70085
[73]

He L, Huang H, Bradai M, Zhao C, You Y, et al. 2022. DNA methylation-free Arabidopsis reveals crucial roles of DNA methylation in regulating gene expression and development. Nature Communications 13:1335

doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-28940-2
[74]

Patra B, Pattanaik S, Yuan L. 2013. Ubiquitin protein ligase 3 mediates the proteasomal degradation of GLABROUS 3 and ENHANCER OF GLABROUS 3, regulators of trichome development and flavonoid biosynthesis in Arabidopsis. The Plant Journal 74:435−447

doi: 10.1111/tpj.12132
[75]

Yu N, Cai WJ, Wang S, Shan CM, Wang LJ, et al. 2010. Temporal control of trichome distribution by microRNA156-targeted SPL genes in Arabidopsis thaliana. The Plant Cell 22:2322−2335

doi: 10.1105/tpc.109.072579
[76]

Vadde BVL, Challa KR, Nath U. 2018. The TCP4 transcription factor regulates trichome cell differentiation by directly activating GLABROUS INFLORESCENCE STEMS in Arabidopsis thaliana. The Plant Journal 93:259−269

doi: 10.1111/tpj.13772
[77]

Liu Y, Yan M, Lan H. 2026. Regulation of trichome formation by phytohormones and cytoskeleton genes in Salsola ferganica, an annual desert halophyte. Plant Science 362:112861

doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112861
[78]

Yan T, Chen M, Shen Q, Li L, Fu X, et al. 2017. HOMEODOMAIN PROTEIN 1 is required for jasmonate-mediated glandular trichome initiation in Artemisia annua. New Phytologist 213:1145−1155

doi: 10.1111/nph.14205
[79]

Mur LAJ, Kenton P, Atzorn R, Miersch O, Wasternack C. 2006. The outcomes of concentration-specific interactions between salicylate and jasmonate signaling include synergy, antagonism, and oxidative stress leading to cell death. Plant Physiology 140:249−262

doi: 10.1104/pp.105.072348
[80]

Laxmi A, Paul LK, Peters JL, Khurana JP. 2004. Arabidopsis constitutive photomorphogenic mutant, bls1, displays altered brassinosteroid response and sugar sensitivity. Plant Molecular Biology 56:185−201

doi: 10.1007/s11103-004-2799-x
[81]

Li QF, Wang C, Jiang L, Li S, Sun SSM, et al. 2012. An interaction between BZR1 and DELLAs mediates direct signaling crosstalk between brassinosteroids and gibberellins in Arabidopsis. Science Signaling 5:e2002908

doi: 10.1126/scisignal.2002908
[82]

Zhang L, Zhang R, Yan P, Zeng L, Zhao W, et al. 2024. PE (Prickly Eggplant) encoding a cytokinin-activating enzyme responsible for the formation of prickles in eggplant. Horticulture Research 11:uhae134

doi: 10.1093/hr/uhae134
[83]

Kumari P, Gangwar H, Gahlaut V, Kumari P, Jaiswal V. 2025. Identification of a natural RcLOG1 allele linked to prickle development in Rose (Rosa spp.). Planta 262:101

doi: 10.1007/s00425-025-04817-8
[84]

Zhou Z, Sun L, Zhao Y, An L, Yan A, et al. 2013. Zinc Finger Protein 6 (ZFP6) regulates trichome initiation by integrating gibberellin and cytokinin signaling in Arabidopsis thaliana. New Phytologist 198:699−708

doi: 10.1111/nph.12211
[85]

Plett JM, Mathur J, Regan S. 2009. Ethylene receptor ETR2 controls trichome branching by regulating microtubule assembly in Arabidopsis thaliana. Journal of Experimental Botany 60:3923−3933

doi: 10.1093/jxb/erp228
[86]

Hou X, Ding L, Yu H. 2013. Crosstalk between GA and JA signaling mediates plant growth and defense. Plant Cell Rep 32:1067−1074

doi: 10.1007/s00299-013-1423-4
[87]

Pattanaik S, Patra B, Singh SK, Yuan L. 2014. An overview of the gene regulatory network controlling trichome development in the model plant, Arabidopsis. Frontiers in Plant Science 5:259

doi: 10.3389/fpls.2014.00259
[88]

Tian Y, Zhao Y, Sun Y, Bo W, Huang X, et al. 2026. Genome and transcriptomics provide insights on stipular spine morphogenesis in Robinia pseudoacacia. Forestry Research 6:e003

doi: 10.48130/forres-0026-0003
[89]

Ren J, Duan Y, Li R, Zhang X, Shi Y, et al. 2025. Transcriptional regulation of thorn tip sclerification in plants. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 122:e2510775122

doi: 10.1073/pnas.2510775122
[90]

Endara MJ, Coley PD, Ghabash G, Nicholls JA, Dexter KG, et al. 2017. Coevolutionary arms race versus host defense chase in a tropical herbivore–plant system. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 114:E7499−E7505

doi: 10.1073/pnas.1707727114
[91]

Maron JL, Agrawal AA, Schemske DW. 2019. Plant–herbivore coevolution and plant speciation. Ecology 100:e02704

doi: 10.1002/ecy.2704
[92]

Hanley ME, Lamont BB, Fairbanks MM, Rafferty CM. 2007. Plant structural traits and their role in anti-herbivore defence. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 8:157−178

doi: 10.1016/j.ppees.2007.01.001
[93]

Stroud JT, Ratcliff WC. 2025. Long-term studies provide unique insights into evolution. Nature 639:589−601

doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-08597-9