Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants最新文献

This study investigates the efficacy of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) in improving stress tolerance in plants by analyzing the molecular and biochemical bases in durum wheat grain. An experiment was conducted where soil and seeds were inoculated with PGPB, under drought and salinity stress. 16 S rRNA sequencing indicated no change in grain bacterial communities in response to biofertilizers and stress. However, a genome-wide analysis identified 153 up-regulated and 33 down-regulated plant genes in response to PGPB, predominantly enriched in stress-related biological processes. These genes specifically encode for proteins involved in metabolite interconversion enzyme, chaperone, protein modifying enzyme, and transporters, which are functionally related groups assisting protein folding in the cell under stress conditions. Moreover, pathway analysis confirmed related changes at the metabolite and enzyme activity levels. In this regard, PGPB-treated plants exhibited heightened activity of both enzymatic and non-enzymatic (e.g., thioredoxins, peroxiredoxins, etc.) antioxidants under stress, showcasing significant enhancements ranging from + 27% to + 283% and + 36% to + 266%, respectively. Further elucidation of biochemical pathways revealed alterations in the activation of non-antioxidant enzymes in PGPB-treated plants, exemplified by increased activities of glutamate synthase (40-44%) and decreased activities of protein-tyrosine-phosphatase (29-31%) under both stresses, as well as elevated activities of anthocyanidin reductase (91%) and lipoxygenases (18%) specifically under drought. Overall, the present research highlighted the potential of beneficial bacteria in improving plant stress tolerance, especially under drought, through shifting transcriptome expression of plant genes and employing multiple protective strategies which can complement each other.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01686-z.

Vitamins are essential for maintaining normal life activities in humans and animals as they depend on external sources for intake of these compounds. Buckwheat a pseudocereal is recognized as a nutrient dense food, offering significant contributions to human health. Vitamin B is regarded as an important nutrient, as its deficiency leads to various symptoms depending on type of vitamin B. Their deficiency usually leads to anaemia, birth defects and other health problems in humans. In this study, we established a protocol for vitamin B profiling of Buckwheat and analysed seed flour of 116 buckwheat core diverse set for nine essential B vitamins using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). These nine vitamins included Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), Nicotinamide (B3), Pantothenic acid (B5), Pyridoxine (B6), Inositol(B8), Folate(B9), and Cobalamin(B12). Significant variations were observed among genotypes for various vitamins. Additionally, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were performed to identify the significant QTLs / candidate genes associated with the accumulation of these vitamins, providing insights into the genetic architecture underlying their biosynthesis and regulation. A total of 4,142,684 variants were identified from 116 diverse genotypes, containing 3,728,028 SNPs and 414,656 InDels (214,798 insertions and 199,858 deletions). QTLs contributing for these nine vitamins have been identified and mapped on linkage map of Buckwheat. This is the first report of Vit-GWAS in buckwheat and these results will offer new genomic insights that can aid in breeding programs aimed at enhancing the nutritional quality of buckwheat. This research underscores the importance of modern analytical tools and genomic approaches to optimize crop improvement strategies for addressing global nutritional challenges.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01687-y.

Early blight, caused by Alternaria solani, severely compromises tomato yields, especially in susceptible cultivars. This study investigates the molecular basis of silicon (Si)-mediated priming and its capacity to modulate salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) signaling crosstalk to enhance systemic resistance in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Karoon). Si supplementation significantly reduced disease severity and lesion expansion, preserved photosynthetic function, and mitigated oxidative damage in infected plants. Transcript and hormone profiling revealed that Si-primed plants mounted an early but transient SA response, followed by enhanced JA and ethylene (ET) signaling-key for defense against necrotrophs. Si priming fine-tuned the expression of SA- and JA-responsive genes, including WRKY70, PR1, PR3, LOX, PAL, and ACS2, and bolstered antioxidant defenses via elevated superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, phenolics, flavonoids, and redox-buffering molecules (GSH, AsA). Multivariate analysis confirmed that Si + Pathogen plants occupied a distinct defense profile-characterized by suppressed oxidative stress, upregulated JA/ET-driven responses, and maintained physiological performance. This study demonstrates that Si reconfigures immune signaling networks and gene expression dynamics to overcome SA-JA antagonism, enabling effective and metabolically balanced resistance to A. solani. The findings position Si as a practical, non-toxic priming agent that strengthens innate plant immunity and offers a promising strategy for sustainable disease management in tomato and potentially other crops.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01682-3.

The anthropogenic rise in greenhouse gas emissions intensifies the trapping of longwave radiation emitted from the Earth's surface, leading to increased global temperatures. High temperatures (HT) adversely affect the critical developmental stages in chilli, such as root initiation, flowering and fruit set. In response, chilli plant employs a range of strategies including escape, acclimation and adaptation mediated by the expression of stress responsive proteins, genes and metabolites. The key components of this response include heat shock proteins (HSPs), reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging enzymes, aquaporins, osmoprotectants and other stress inducible genes that collectively enhance thermotolerance. Conventional breeding efforts have improved HT adaptability by selection for traits such as increased biomass, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and reduced canopy temperature. In addition, landraces represent valuable genetic resources for identifying heat tolerant genotypes, and can be evaluated by advanced phenotyping platforms. Moreover, the integration of next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies with physiological data allows for the rapid and high-throughput discovery of candidate genes associated with heat stress tolerance. Molecular breeding approaches such as marker assisted selection (MAS), genomic selection and genome wide association studies (GWAS) enable the development of heat tolerant chilli cultivars in shortest time duration. This review offers an in-depth analysis of the physiological, biochemical and genetic mechanisms underlying heat tolerance (HT) in chilli, recent omics advancements and the challenges of breeding heat resilient cultivars. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms is crucial for creating robust chilli varieties capable of withstanding HT, ensuring sustainable yields and food security under changing global climatic conditions.

Globally, dwarfing genes have significantly enhanced cereal yield by several fold. Recessive brachytic2 (br2) in maize possesses enormous potential to prevent lodging and ensure high plant density, thereby increasing productivity. However, commercial use of dwarfing br2 gene remains unexplored due to lack of breeding priorities combined with need for higher biomass present in tall hybrids. The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter encoded by Br2 allele regulates the polar auxin transport, the disruption of which will result in dwarfism. Here, we report two novel br2 dwarf mutants (br2-mutant1 and br2-mutant2) validated through sequencing the entire 7745 bp of Br2 gene across diverse inbreds, identifying a set of 131 SNPs and 85 InDels within the gene. Of these, a 17 bp deletion in exon-3 at position 2231 bp, and a 4763 bp insertion in exon-5, characterised as Ty1-copia LTR retrotransposon differentiated br2-mutant1 and br2-mutant2, respectively, from the wild-types. Moreover, the mutant proteins showed distorted nucleotide binding domains. We developed and validated two breeder-friendly PCR-based functional markers, MGU-br2M1 and MGU-br2M2, among 48 diverse inbreds and four F₂ populations, revealing a segregation ratio of 1 (Br2Br2): 2 (Br2br2): 1 (br2br2) in F₂ populations. Furthermore, 46 haplotypes of Br2 among 48 diverse inbreds were elucidated using 15 gene-based InDel markers. The study also identified 25 paralogues of Br2 gene. This is the first report on the development and validation of co-dominant functional molecular markers of br2 gene that hold significance in genomics-assisted breeding for developing dwarf maize hybrids.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01685-0.

To investigate the potential of thyme and cumin essential oil nanoemulsions (EONEs) for controlling Alternaria radicina, a newly emerged fungal disease of coriander, this study explored their efficacy and impact on plant growth. The use of EONEs represents a novel approach for simultaneous disease management and growth promotion, but research on this topic is limited. This study is the first to evaluate EONEs for controlling A. radicina in coriander. Foliar application of thyme and cumin EOs resulted in significant in vitro fungicidal activity, reducing fungal enzyme activity and A. radicina growth. Both EONEs at 75/100 mL effectively controlled the disease in field trials. Furthermore, 50 µL/100 mL EONEs increased coriander growth parameters such as plant height, branching, and fresh weight. Compared with the control, Thyme EONEs were superior in terms of increasing oil content, seed yield, and overall oil yield. The chromosomal aberration study revealed a dose-dependent effect of EONEs, with lower concentrations exhibiting less cytotoxicity than fungicides. This study introduces thyme and cumin EOs as novel, effective, and safe alternatives to chemical fungicides for A. radicina control.

Drought is one of the severe environmental stressors that drastically impair plant growth and yield. In this study, we have screened diverse maize genotypes and selected PMI-PV9 and PMI-PV4 as drought-tolerant and drought-sensitive maize inbred lines, respectively. Expression of aquaporins and dehydrin, relative water content, membrane damage, ROS generation, osmolytes accumulation, ABA level, stomatal behaviour, and modulation of ascorbate-glutathione cycle were compared among the selected maize genotypes to better understand the plant drought stress response mechanisms. Upon drought exposure, PMI-PV9 genotype exhibited better seedling growth over PMI-PV4 plants. Enhanced expression of ZmPIP1;1 , ZmPIP1;3, and ZmTIP2;1 transporters, DHN1 and DREB1 might render the PMI-PV9 plants more efficient to withstand the drought condition by regulating ion-water homeostasis, maintaining cell turgidity and membrane stability. In a nutshell, our findings suggest that the disruption in cellular redox equilibrium due to meagre antioxidant defence mechanism might be the prime reason behind the oxidative burst leading poor performance of PMI-PV4 plants under water deficit condition. To our best knowledge, this is the first study that simultaneously integrates redox homeostasis, aquaporin regulation, and dehydrin expression to deepen our understanding of drought tolerance mechanisms in contrasting maize genotypes. Overall, the present investigation highlights PMI-PV9 as a promising parental line for breeding program to develop high-yielding maize hybrids with enhanced drought tolerance.

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Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01684-1.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s12298-025-01626-x.].

Abstract: Specialized metabolites/secondary metabolies such phenolics, terpenoids, alkaloids, and sulphur-containing compounds are abundant in medicinal plants and have priceless therapeutic qualities. Plant cell, tissue, and organ cultures are used to produce valuable specialized metabolites that are used as pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and natural coloring agents. Various strategies are utilized for the production of specialized compounds in vitro and the elicitation of cultures using biotic and abiotic elicitors is of novel technology. In recent years, nitric oxide (NO) donors such as sodium nitroprusside, S-introso-N-acetylpenicillamine, S-nirtosoglutathone, and diethylamine NONOate have been utilized for eliciting the plant cell, tissue, and organ cultures. Several reports exist in the literature NO works as a potent elicitor in enhancing the accumulation of specialized metabolites in cell and organ cultures. The objective of the current study was to evaluate NO as an elicitor and summarize the advantages and limitations of NO for the production of specialized metabolites in vitro. The mechanism of NO-induced elicitation has been exemplified using several successful examples.

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The nucleotide binding site-leucine rich repeat (NBS-LRR) gene family is widely recognized for playing prominent role in plant defence against diverse pathogens. One such member, StTNLC7G2T1 (PGSC0003DMC400041857) from the cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum) variety Kufri Jyoti was functionally characterized to investigate its role in plant immunity. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants were raised expressing StTNLC7G2T1 (OEStTNLC7G2T1) exhibiting significantly enhanced resistance to fungal pathogen Alternaria brassicicola and bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000. Compared to wild-type (Col-0) plants, these transgenic lines showed induced callose deposition at infection sites, suggesting a strengthened cell wall-mediated defence response. The OEStTNLC7G2T1 plants maintained photosynthetic efficiency under pathogen attack, potentially contributing to improved overall plant health and resilience. The transcript expression patterns revealed significant modulation of genes associated with Salicylic acid (SA) and Jasmonic acid (JA) mediated defence responses (PR1, PR2, NPR1, VSP2, PDF1.2 and MYC2), indicating that StTNLC7G2T1 may enhance plant immunity by influencing hormone signaling pathways. The observed increase in callose accumulation and the expression profile of select genes revealed that transgenic StTNLC7G2T1 confers pathogen-triggered immunity in Arabidopsis via enhanced basal defense.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01681-4.