Anthocyanins significantly influence both the visual quality and nutritional value of eggplants. Exogenous application of jasmonic acid enhanced anthocyanin biosynthesis in eggplant peel under low-light conditions and induced the expression of several MYB genes. In this paper, these MYB proteins were investigated by yeast one-hybrid experiments, and it was found that SmMYB6.2 could directly bind to the promoter sequence of the anthocyanin synthesis structural gene SmANS. SmMYB6.2 was a nuclear-localized protein whose expression could be induced by various stimuli, including UV-B radiation, blue light, ABA treatment, PEG stress, and low-temperature exposure at 4 °C. Next, overexpression of SmMYB6.2 in Arabidopsis promoted anthocyanin accumulation and enhanced the gene expression of AtANS. Further, Dual-LUC assays demonstrated that SmMYB6.2 enhanced its transcriptional activation of the SmANS promoter through protein-protein interactions with the bHLH proteins SmTT8, SmbHLH79, and SmGLABRA3. These findings deepen our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying anthocyanin biosynthesis in eggplant peel and provide candidate genes for breeding anthocyanin-enriched eggplant varieties.
{"title":"Eggplant SmMYB6.2 positively regulates anthocyanin biosynthesis by activating SmANS gene expression","authors":"Jiangnan Hao, Ziyi Hua, Jinwei Zhang, Sufen Liu, Dalu Li, Shaohang Li, Yang Liu, Huoying Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154676","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154676","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Anthocyanins significantly influence both the visual quality and nutritional value of eggplants. Exogenous application of jasmonic acid enhanced anthocyanin biosynthesis in eggplant peel under low-light conditions and induced the expression of several <em>MYB</em> genes. In this paper, these MYB proteins were investigated by yeast one-hybrid experiments, and it was found that SmMYB6.2 could directly bind to the promoter sequence of the anthocyanin synthesis structural gene <em>SmANS</em>. SmMYB6.2 was a nuclear-localized protein whose expression could be induced by various stimuli, including UV-B radiation, blue light, ABA treatment, PEG stress, and low-temperature exposure at 4 °C. Next, overexpression of <em>SmMYB6.2</em> in Arabidopsis promoted anthocyanin accumulation and enhanced the gene expression of <em>AtANS.</em> Further, Dual-LUC assays demonstrated that SmMYB6.2 enhanced its transcriptional activation of the <em>SmANS</em> promoter through protein-protein interactions with the bHLH proteins SmTT8, SmbHLH79, and SmGLABRA3. These findings deepen our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying anthocyanin biosynthesis in eggplant peel and provide candidate genes for breeding anthocyanin-enriched eggplant varieties.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16808,"journal":{"name":"Journal of plant physiology","volume":"317 ","pages":"Article 154676"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145839093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-12DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154672
Yajing Tian , Xiang Ji , Mingyue Lv , Lili Lu , Tengfei Yu , Jingya Wang , Jingyu Xu , Guanzhi Wang , Fuqiang Li , Yiyang Song , Yang Li , Xinyue Pang , Xin Li
Fruit senescence is a complex physiological process. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis revealed the differentiation trajectories of 13 cell clusters during the senescence of Hylocereus undatus (H. undatus). The mesocarp of the fruit contained four cell clusters, but their precise localization and functional division remained unclear. This work documented mesocarp phenotypic alterations and elucidated the time courses of mesocarp flavonoid biosynthesis and superoxide anion generation. Additionally, overall ROS changes were observed using fluorescence microscopy. By combining the single-cell atlas with spatial transcriptomics data at resolutions of 0.2 and 0.8, and applying four computational algorithms (SingleR, SciBet, CARD, and RCTD), we accurately mapped the spatial distribution of the four cell populations in the two layers of the mesocarp from outer to inner regions. Furthermore, we identified highly correlated cells with cell-specific functions, which allowed us to perform a detailed analysis of the differentiation trajectories of these four cell clusters. We proposed a hypothesis that these four clusters in the mesocarp participate in the senescence process. Finally, using SCODE, we uncovered the gene regulatory networks of the pericarp's highly correlated cell clusters during fruit senescence. Through single-cell technology, the functional division of the four cell clusters in the mesocarp—responsible for stress responses, signal transduction, material preparation, and cell differentiation trajectories—has been revealed. These findings provide insights from a single-cell dimension and a spatiotemporal perspective, enhancing the understanding of the dynamic process of plant senescence.
{"title":"Spatiotemporal trajectory of senescence in mesocarp cell clusters of Hylocereus undatus based on single-cell and spatial transcriptomics","authors":"Yajing Tian , Xiang Ji , Mingyue Lv , Lili Lu , Tengfei Yu , Jingya Wang , Jingyu Xu , Guanzhi Wang , Fuqiang Li , Yiyang Song , Yang Li , Xinyue Pang , Xin Li","doi":"10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154672","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154672","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fruit senescence is a complex physiological process. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis revealed the differentiation trajectories of 13 cell clusters during the senescence of <em>Hylocereus undatus</em> (<em>H. undatus</em>). The mesocarp of the fruit contained four cell clusters, but their precise localization and functional division remained unclear. This work documented mesocarp phenotypic alterations and elucidated the time courses of mesocarp flavonoid biosynthesis and superoxide anion generation. Additionally, overall ROS changes were observed using fluorescence microscopy. By combining the single-cell atlas with spatial transcriptomics data at resolutions of 0.2 and 0.8, and applying four computational algorithms (SingleR, SciBet, CARD, and RCTD), we accurately mapped the spatial distribution of the four cell populations in the two layers of the mesocarp from outer to inner regions. Furthermore, we identified highly correlated cells with cell-specific functions, which allowed us to perform a detailed analysis of the differentiation trajectories of these four cell clusters. We proposed a hypothesis that these four clusters in the mesocarp participate in the senescence process. Finally, using SCODE, we uncovered the gene regulatory networks of the pericarp's highly correlated cell clusters during fruit senescence. Through single-cell technology, the functional division of the four cell clusters in the mesocarp—responsible for stress responses, signal transduction, material preparation, and cell differentiation trajectories—has been revealed. These findings provide insights from a single-cell dimension and a spatiotemporal perspective, enhancing the understanding of the dynamic process of plant senescence.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16808,"journal":{"name":"Journal of plant physiology","volume":"317 ","pages":"Article 154672"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145819872","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154674
Woo Joo Jung , Keun-ha Kim , Jin Seok Yoon , Yong Weon Seo
Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades play critical roles in plant responses to abiotic stress, yet their functional characterization in wheat remains limited. In this study, we investigated the function of a cold-responsive wheat MAPK gene, TaMAPK20-2, and its associated cascade components. Expression analysis revealed that TaMAPK20-2, TaMKK5, and TaMPKKK1 were significantly upregulated under cold stress. Subcellular localization and BiFC assays confirmed physical interactions among MPKKK1–MKK5–MAPK20-2 and MPKKK5–MKK6–MAPK20-2 modules, suggesting distinct signaling pathways. To assess its physiological role, we generated transgenic Brachypodium distachyon lines overexpressing TaMAPK20-2. Compared to wild-type (WT) plants, overexpression lines exhibited enhanced tolerance to both freezing and drought stress, as evidenced by higher survival rates, lower water loss, and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation. Notably, OE plants showed increased soluble sugar, starch, sucrose, and glucose contents under non-stress conditions, but not fructose. These changes were supported by elevated expression of key carbohydrate metabolism genes (Susy, GolS3, SPS, Invertase) in the absence of stress. Additionally, OE lines showed pre-activation of the ICE–CBF–COR cold tolerance pathway, suggesting a priming effect. These findings demonstrate that TaMAPK20-2 positively regulates abiotic stress tolerance by modulating both signaling and metabolic pathways. This study provides new insights into MAPK-mediated stress responses and highlights TaMAPK20-2 as a promising target for improving wheat resilience to environmental stress.
{"title":"Overexpression of TaMAPK20-2 in Brachypodium reveals freezing and drought tolerance via modulation of sugar synthesis pathway","authors":"Woo Joo Jung , Keun-ha Kim , Jin Seok Yoon , Yong Weon Seo","doi":"10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154674","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154674","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades play critical roles in plant responses to abiotic stress, yet their functional characterization in wheat remains limited. In this study, we investigated the function of a cold-responsive wheat MAPK gene, <em>TaMAPK20-2</em>, and its associated cascade components. Expression analysis revealed that <em>TaMAPK20-2</em>, <em>TaMKK5</em>, and <em>TaMPKKK1</em> were significantly upregulated under cold stress. Subcellular localization and BiFC assays confirmed physical interactions among <em>MPKKK1–MKK5–MAPK20-2</em> and <em>MPKKK5–MKK6–MAPK20-2</em> modules, suggesting distinct signaling pathways. To assess its physiological role, we generated transgenic <em>Brachypodium distachyon</em> lines overexpressing <em>TaMAPK20-2</em>. Compared to wild-type (WT) plants, overexpression lines exhibited enhanced tolerance to both freezing and drought stress, as evidenced by higher survival rates, lower water loss, and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation. Notably, OE plants showed increased soluble sugar, starch, sucrose, and glucose contents under non-stress conditions, but not fructose. These changes were supported by elevated expression of key carbohydrate metabolism genes (<em>Susy</em>, <em>GolS3</em>, <em>SPS</em>, <em>Invertase</em>) in the absence of stress. Additionally, OE lines showed pre-activation of the ICE–CBF–COR cold tolerance pathway, suggesting a priming effect. These findings demonstrate that <em>TaMAPK20-2</em> positively regulates abiotic stress tolerance by modulating both signaling and metabolic pathways. This study provides new insights into MAPK-mediated stress responses and highlights <em>TaMAPK20-2</em> as a promising target for improving wheat resilience to environmental stress.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16808,"journal":{"name":"Journal of plant physiology","volume":"316 ","pages":"Article 154674"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145756797","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-09DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154673
Ruiyuan Liu , Yan Zhan , Aiming Cui , Ying Qu , Wenjie Jin , Yan Du , Lixia Yu , Libin Zhou
Foxtail millet (Setaria italica (L.) Beauv) is an important crop for both basic research and sustainable dryland agriculture, due to its rapid growth, high seed yield, strong stress tolerance, and rich nutritional qualities. Multiple mutagenesis approaches have been used to broaden foxtail millet germplasm resources, among which heavy ion beam (HIB) irradiation has emerged as a powerful tool for inducing genetic variations in plant breeding. However, compared with other model species, genetic resources in foxtail millet remain limited, and the specific effects of HIB radiation on this crop are not yet fully understood. In this study, seeds of foxtail millet (Yugu 24) were irradiated using six different carbon-ion beams (CIB, 100 Gy–500 Gy), a commonly used HIB mutagen. Then, the mutagenic effects were evaluated in the M1 generation, conducted large-scale phenotype screening in the M2 generation, and analyzed the anatomical, physiological, and molecular mechanisms of stable leaf mutants. M1 plants exhibited dose-dependent responses, with the optimum CIB dose for Yugu 24 ranging from 110 Gy to 140 Gy. From 3100 M2 plants, we identified 56 individuals exhibiting obvious phenotypic variations, resulting in an overall mutation frequency of 1.81 % under CIB irradiation. High frequencies of leaf morphological mutations was observed in the M2 population. Stable leaf mutants were identified and further characterized in the M4 generation, which displayed distinct phenotypic variations, including changes in chloroplast structure, stomatal characteristics, and photosynthetic pigment content. Collectively, these findings establish a theoretical foundation for applying CIB irradiation in foxtail millet mutation breeding. Furthermore, the CIB-induced mutant library of Yugu 24provides a valuable resource for future functional genomics research on foxtail millet.
{"title":"Dose-dependent mutagenic effects of carbon-ion beams in foxtail millet: from phenotypic screening to physiological and molecular mechanisms","authors":"Ruiyuan Liu , Yan Zhan , Aiming Cui , Ying Qu , Wenjie Jin , Yan Du , Lixia Yu , Libin Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154673","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154673","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Foxtail millet (<em>Setaria italica</em> (L.) Beauv) is an important crop for both basic research and sustainable dryland agriculture, due to its rapid growth, high seed yield, strong stress tolerance, and rich nutritional qualities. Multiple mutagenesis approaches have been used to broaden foxtail millet germplasm resources, among which heavy ion beam (HIB) irradiation has emerged as a powerful tool for inducing genetic variations in plant breeding. However, compared with other model species, genetic resources in foxtail millet remain limited, and the specific effects of HIB radiation on this crop are not yet fully understood. In this study, seeds of foxtail millet (<em>Yugu 24</em>) were irradiated using six different carbon-ion beams (CIB, 100 Gy–500 Gy), a commonly used HIB mutagen. Then, the mutagenic effects were evaluated in the M<sub>1</sub> generation, conducted large-scale phenotype screening in the M<sub>2</sub> generation, and analyzed the anatomical, physiological, and molecular mechanisms of stable leaf mutants. M<sub>1</sub> plants exhibited dose-dependent responses, with the optimum CIB dose for <em>Yugu 24</em> ranging from 110 Gy to 140 Gy. From 3100 M2 plants, we identified 56 individuals exhibiting obvious phenotypic variations, resulting in an overall mutation frequency of 1.81 % under CIB irradiation. High frequencies of leaf morphological mutations was observed in the M<sub>2</sub> population. Stable leaf mutants were identified and further characterized in the M<sub>4</sub> generation, which displayed distinct phenotypic variations, including changes in chloroplast structure, stomatal characteristics, and photosynthetic pigment content. Collectively, these findings establish a theoretical foundation for applying CIB irradiation in foxtail millet mutation breeding. Furthermore, the CIB-induced mutant library of <em>Yugu 24</em>provides a valuable resource for future functional genomics research on foxtail millet.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16808,"journal":{"name":"Journal of plant physiology","volume":"316 ","pages":"Article 154673"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145733584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-04DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154670
Meixiang Yang , Xinlei Wang , Xiaoqian Zhang , Xin Wei , Jianrong Guo
Rubisco activase (RCA) is the key regulatory enzyme in photosynthetic carbon assimilation that governs the activation state of Rubisco, which is the rate-limiting enzyme in CO2 fixation. While salinity generally inhibits photosynthesis and yield in glycophytic crops, it paradoxically enhances photosynthetic efficiency in halophytes, such as Suaeda salsa. However, the potential mechanism still remains unknown. We cloned and characterized the SsRCA gene from S. salsa, and generated SsRCA-overexpressing Arabidopsis lines. We then examined the salt tolerance and photosynthetic traits of the transgenic plants. Results showed that RCA activity in the transgenic lines was 64 % higher, and that the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) was 41 % higher, as was the Fv/Fm, in SsRCA-overexpressing Arabidopsis under a 100 mM NaCl stress condition than in the wide type (WT). Meanwhile, under NaCl stress, the transgenic plants displayed increased growth and seed yield, lower Na+ and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, enhanced K+ and proline accumulation, and reduced oxidative damage compared to WT. These results suggested that SsRCA overexpression enhanced plant salt tolerance by optimizing Rubisco activation efficiency. Our findings will provide a novel halophyte-derived genetic resource for engineering crops with improved photosynthetic resilience in saline environments.
Rubisco激活酶（Rubisco activase， RCA）是光合碳同化的关键调控酶，控制着二氧化碳固定的限速酶Rubisco的激活状态。虽然盐度通常会抑制糖生植物的光合作用和产量，但它却矛盾地提高了盐生植物的光合效率，如沙特阿拉伯。然而，潜在的机制仍然未知。从salsa中克隆并鉴定了SsRCA基因，获得了过表达SsRCA的拟南芥品系。然后我们检测了转基因植株的耐盐性和光合特性。结果表明，在100 mM NaCl胁迫条件下，过表达ssrca的转基因拟南芥植株的RCA活性比普通品种高64%，净光合速率（Pn）和Fv/Fm比高41%。同时，在NaCl胁迫下，与WT相比，转基因植株的生长和种子产量增加，Na+和丙二醛（MDA）含量降低，K+和脯氨酸积累增加，氧化损伤减少。这些结果表明，SsRCA过表达通过优化Rubisco激活效率提高了植株的耐盐性。我们的研究结果将为盐生植物衍生的工程作物提供一种新的遗传资源，使其在盐环境中具有更好的光合恢复能力。
{"title":"Overexpression of the halophyte Suaeda salsa Rubisco activase gene SsRCA in Arabidopsis improves plant photosynthesis under salt-stressed conditions","authors":"Meixiang Yang , Xinlei Wang , Xiaoqian Zhang , Xin Wei , Jianrong Guo","doi":"10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154670","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154670","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rubisco activase (RCA) is the key regulatory enzyme in photosynthetic carbon assimilation that governs the activation state of Rubisco, which is the rate-limiting enzyme in CO<sub>2</sub> fixation. While salinity generally inhibits photosynthesis and yield in glycophytic crops, it paradoxically enhances photosynthetic efficiency in halophytes, such as <em>Suaeda salsa</em>. However, the potential mechanism still remains unknown. We cloned and characterized the <em>SsRCA</em> gene from <em>S. salsa</em>, and generated <em>SsRCA</em>-overexpressing <em>Arabidopsis</em> lines. We then examined the salt tolerance and photosynthetic traits of the transgenic plants. Results showed that RCA activity in the transgenic lines was 64 % higher, and that the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) was 41 % higher, as was the Fv/Fm, in <em>SsRCA</em>-overexpressing <em>Arabidopsis</em> under a 100 mM NaCl stress condition than in the wide type (WT). Meanwhile, under NaCl stress, the transgenic plants displayed increased growth and seed yield, lower Na<sup>+</sup> and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, enhanced K<sup>+</sup> and proline accumulation, and reduced oxidative damage compared to WT. These results suggested that <em>SsRCA</em> overexpression enhanced plant salt tolerance by optimizing Rubisco activation efficiency. Our findings will provide a novel halophyte-derived genetic resource for engineering crops with improved photosynthetic resilience in saline environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16808,"journal":{"name":"Journal of plant physiology","volume":"316 ","pages":"Article 154670"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145701141","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rice, a staple food crop, is consumed by most of the world's population. Micronutrient malnutrition is a severe health issue, leading to diseases such as cancer, anemia, diabetes, heart disease, and disorders in physical and psychological development. We aimed to create rice with low cadmium in the grain but having high cadmium in shoots, safe biofortified protein, high iron, and zinc using CRISPR/Cas9 and breeding technologies instead of adding drugs. The triple gene Knockout rice lines for two iron sensors and one negative regulator gene for cadmium were created to offer high Fe/Zn and low Cd content for breeders. Multiplexed gene editing mediated biolistic transformation of rice callus, and genotyping was used to check the genetic stability of the edited rice lines. Rice lines were found to have enhanced iron, zinc, and protein content, with concentrations varying based on growth conditions. These lines can be used as phytoremediators for cadmium by storing Cd on plant shoots. The rice-edited plants possessed excellent agro-morphological traits, photosynthetic, and physiological performance. The developed edited indica rice lines have crucial agronomic traits with more nutritional value. Compared to the other lines and the wild wildtype, the genome-edited free Cas9 line 2 showed better traits: 13.48 μg/g (iron), 22.9 μg/g (zinc), and a high protein content, which depends on how bioavailable metals and nutrients are in the soil. The line also had 20.60 g of seeds per 1000 g of plant, a total plant yield of 102.76 g, and 101 days of 50 % flowering. This work offers efficient and precise multiple gene-editing in rice with an effective, sustainable strategy for multi-trait enhancement. The developed lines could be used in breeding programs for sustainable solutions for malnutrition worldwide. The experimental results can provide reference and support for the safe use of edited crops as a diet.
{"title":"Triumphing over hidden hunger: Redesigning rice (Oryza sativa L.) for enhanced nutraceutical grain composition utilizing multiplexed genome editing","authors":"Khaled Fathy , Jyotsna Bharti , Sonia Khan Sony , Mamta Nehra , Rashmi Kaul , Bhupendra Rawat , Sudhir K. Sopory , Pawan Kumar Agrawal , Arul Prakash , Tanushri Kaul","doi":"10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154667","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154667","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rice, a staple food crop, is consumed by most of the world's population. Micronutrient malnutrition is a severe health issue, leading to diseases such as cancer, anemia, diabetes, heart disease, and disorders in physical and psychological development. We aimed to create rice with low cadmium in the grain but having high cadmium in shoots, safe biofortified protein, high iron, and zinc using CRISPR/Cas9 and breeding technologies instead of adding drugs. The triple gene Knockout rice lines for two iron sensors and one negative regulator gene for cadmium were created to offer high Fe/Zn and low Cd content for breeders. Multiplexed gene editing mediated biolistic transformation of rice callus, and genotyping was used to check the genetic stability of the edited rice lines. Rice lines were found to have enhanced iron, zinc, and protein content, with concentrations varying based on growth conditions. These lines can be used as phytoremediators for cadmium by storing Cd on plant shoots. The rice-edited plants possessed excellent agro-morphological traits, photosynthetic, and physiological performance. The developed edited indica rice lines have crucial agronomic traits with more nutritional value. Compared to the other lines and the wild wildtype, the genome-edited free Cas9 line 2 showed better traits: 13.48 μg/g (iron), 22.9 μg/g (zinc), and a high protein content, which depends on how bioavailable metals and nutrients are in the soil. The line also had 20.60 g of seeds per 1000 g of plant, a total plant yield of 102.76 g, and 101 days of 50 % flowering. This work offers efficient and precise multiple gene-editing in rice with an effective, sustainable strategy for multi-trait enhancement. The developed lines could be used in breeding programs for sustainable solutions for malnutrition worldwide. The experimental results can provide reference and support for the safe use of edited crops as a diet.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16808,"journal":{"name":"Journal of plant physiology","volume":"316 ","pages":"Article 154667"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145733575","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-03DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154669
Alexei Solovchenko , Anatoly Gitelson
Mature non-stressed plants often contain a lot more chlorophyll than they need to efficiently capture light energy in the PAR range. In this situation, some pigment molecules apparently become physiologically redundant because they remain shaded and cannot participate efficiently in light harvesting. As a result of the build-up of chlorophyll, strong absorption of these pigments extends well beyond 700 nm, the conventional border of PAR, into far red (FR) region of the spectrum (to 750 nm and beyond) contributing significantly to the budget of the absorbed light energy. It is also well known that FR light, when supplemented to conventional PAR spectrum, harmonizes energy flow in the photosynthetic apparatus, reduces risk of photodamage boosting plant productivity. We argue that a possible functional role of the “redundant chlorophyll” accumulated in plants is ensuring the capture of FR photons. The latter is among important acclimations to fluctuating light fluxes as well as to permanently low-light environments ensuring efficient operation of complex plant canopies. We discuss the opportunity to harness the “FR boost” of productivity by leveraging inherent optical properties of green plants without sophisticated approaches such as engineering of long-wave chlorophylls into the plant photosynthetic apparatus.
{"title":"The far-red light absorption and “Redundant chlorophyll” in plants: A waste of resource or an important booster of photosynthesis?","authors":"Alexei Solovchenko , Anatoly Gitelson","doi":"10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154669","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154669","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mature non-stressed plants often contain a lot more chlorophyll than they need to efficiently capture light energy in the PAR range. <em>In this situation, some pigment molecules apparently become physiologically redundant because they remain shaded and cannot participate efficiently in light harvesting</em>. As a result of the build-up of chlorophyll, strong absorption of these pigments extends well beyond 700 nm, the conventional border of PAR, into far red (FR) region of the spectrum (to 750 nm and beyond) contributing significantly to the budget of the absorbed light energy. It is also well known that FR light, when supplemented to conventional PAR spectrum, harmonizes energy flow in the photosynthetic apparatus, reduces risk of photodamage boosting plant productivity. <em>We argue that a possible functional role of the “redundant chlorophyll” accumulated in plants is ensuring the capture of FR photons. The latter is among important acclimations to fluctuating light fluxes as well as to permanently low-light environments ensuring efficient operation of complex plant canopies</em>. We discuss the opportunity to harness the “FR boost” of productivity by <em>leveraging inherent optical properties of green plants without sophisticated approaches</em> such as engineering of long-wave chlorophylls into the plant photosynthetic apparatus.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16808,"journal":{"name":"Journal of plant physiology","volume":"316 ","pages":"Article 154669"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145682408","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-03DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154671
Chi Zhang , Song-Qi Li , Pengwei Jing , Run-Xin Wu , Yu-Qing Ma , Ji-Xiao Wu , Ru-Feng Song , Wen-Cheng Liu
In ever-changing natural environments, plants have evolved precise and intricate regulatory networks to combat energy deprivation. Under limited energy supply, plants use autophagy to recycle cellular components and sustain vital processes. Autophagy represents an evolutionarily conserved mechanism operating at the subcellular level in eukaryotes. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), traditionally viewed as metabolic byproducts, exert concentration-dependent effects in plants: lower ROS in a controllable concentration range serve as signaling molecules modulating various aspects of plant growth, development and stress responses, whereas over-accumulating ROS induce oxidative damages, threatening plant growth and survival. Although the classification, metabolic dynamics, and multifaceted roles of ROS in plants have been extensively studied, the reciprocal regulatory interplay between ROS signaling and autophagy remains inadequately explored, particularly in plants. This review summarizes recent progress of plant ROS, autophagy, and their interplay, and also provides predictions and perspectives on the potential regulatory mechanisms between ROS and autophagy.
{"title":"Autophagy, ROS, and their interplay in plant adaptive responses","authors":"Chi Zhang , Song-Qi Li , Pengwei Jing , Run-Xin Wu , Yu-Qing Ma , Ji-Xiao Wu , Ru-Feng Song , Wen-Cheng Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154671","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154671","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In ever-changing natural environments, plants have evolved precise and intricate regulatory networks to combat energy deprivation. Under limited energy supply, plants use autophagy to recycle cellular components and sustain vital processes. Autophagy represents an evolutionarily conserved mechanism operating at the subcellular level in eukaryotes. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), traditionally viewed as metabolic byproducts, exert concentration-dependent effects in plants: lower ROS in a controllable concentration range serve as signaling molecules modulating various aspects of plant growth, development and stress responses, whereas over-accumulating ROS induce oxidative damages, threatening plant growth and survival. Although the classification, metabolic dynamics, and multifaceted roles of ROS in plants have been extensively studied, the reciprocal regulatory interplay between ROS signaling and autophagy remains inadequately explored, particularly in plants. This review summarizes recent progress of plant ROS, autophagy, and their interplay, and also provides predictions and perspectives on the potential regulatory mechanisms between ROS and autophagy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16808,"journal":{"name":"Journal of plant physiology","volume":"316 ","pages":"Article 154671"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145682371","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-02DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154668
Uwe Sonnewald , Quan-Sheng Qiu , Herbert J. Kronzucker
{"title":"Editorial: Squaring the circle: Challenges and breakthroughs in plant sciences","authors":"Uwe Sonnewald , Quan-Sheng Qiu , Herbert J. Kronzucker","doi":"10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154668","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154668","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16808,"journal":{"name":"Journal of plant physiology","volume":"316 ","pages":"Article 154668"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145682372","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-29DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154666
Anton Milyaev , Andrej Frolov , Janne Lempe , Alexander Hilo , Eike Luedeling , Ludger A. Wessjohann , Henryk Flachowsky , Jens-Norbert Wünsche
Biennial bearing is one of the major challenges in the commercial production of apples (Malus × domestica Borkh.). Unless a considerable portion of flowers in apple orchards is removed every year, naturally occurring high crop load (ON-year) strongly suppresses flowering in the following year, leading to low yields (OFF-year). This ON-OFF bearing cycle significantly diminishes the profitability of apple orchards. This phenomenon generally occurs in all apple varieties, but is much more pronounced in some genotypes (biennial-bearing) than in others (regular-bearing). Although apple fruits of the current season and flower buds for the next season develop simultaneously, it remains unclear whether biennial bearing is triggered by signaling compounds from the fruits or results from carbohydrate competition between growing fruits and buds. To test the carbohydrate competition hypothesis, we analyzed nine carbohydrates in bourse buds of the biennial-bearing cultivar ‘Fuji’ and the regular-bearing cultivar ‘Gala’. Bud samples were collected from high-cropping (ON) and non-cropping (OFF) trees during the period of flower bud formation. Our results showed no evidence of carbohydrate deficiency in buds from ON-trees compared to those from OFF-trees. Contrary to the hypothesis, the concentrations of glucose and fructose in ‘Gala’ were higher in buds from ON-trees. Furthermore, we analyzed 15 carbohydrates in the leaves of nine regular-bearing and eight strongly biennial-bearing apple cultivars and found no clear connections between carbohydrates in leaves and bearing behavior of these cultivars. Our data therefore do not support the hypothesis that carbohydrate competition between fruits and buds is the primary trigger of biennial bearing in apple.
{"title":"Carbohydrate analyses indicate that fruit-bud competition for assimilates is not the primary trigger of biennial bearing in apple","authors":"Anton Milyaev , Andrej Frolov , Janne Lempe , Alexander Hilo , Eike Luedeling , Ludger A. Wessjohann , Henryk Flachowsky , Jens-Norbert Wünsche","doi":"10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154666","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154666","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biennial bearing is one of the major challenges in the commercial production of apples (<em>Malus</em> × <em>domestica</em> Borkh.). Unless a considerable portion of flowers in apple orchards is removed every year, naturally occurring high crop load (ON-year) strongly suppresses flowering in the following year, leading to low yields (OFF-year). This ON-OFF bearing cycle significantly diminishes the profitability of apple orchards. This phenomenon generally occurs in all apple varieties, but is much more pronounced in some genotypes (biennial-bearing) than in others (regular-bearing). Although apple fruits of the current season and flower buds for the next season develop simultaneously, it remains unclear whether biennial bearing is triggered by signaling compounds from the fruits or results from carbohydrate competition between growing fruits and buds. To test the carbohydrate competition hypothesis, we analyzed nine carbohydrates in bourse buds of the biennial-bearing cultivar ‘Fuji’ and the regular-bearing cultivar ‘Gala’. Bud samples were collected from high-cropping (ON) and non-cropping (OFF) trees during the period of flower bud formation. Our results showed no evidence of carbohydrate deficiency in buds from ON-trees compared to those from OFF-trees. Contrary to the hypothesis, the concentrations of glucose and fructose in ‘Gala’ were higher in buds from ON-trees. Furthermore, we analyzed 15 carbohydrates in the leaves of nine regular-bearing and eight strongly biennial-bearing apple cultivars and found no clear connections between carbohydrates in leaves and bearing behavior of these cultivars. Our data therefore do not support the hypothesis that carbohydrate competition between fruits and buds is the primary trigger of biennial bearing in apple.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16808,"journal":{"name":"Journal of plant physiology","volume":"316 ","pages":"Article 154666"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145682409","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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