Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants最新文献

Rhizome yield traits and curcuminoids in turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) rhizome are the major determining factors for its production, especially under water-limited environments. Chitosan, a member of biostimulants, regulates physiological adaptation strategy and works as a chemical elicitor in several plant species under withholding water. The objective of the present study was to assess growth characteristics, physiological adaptation, rhizome attributes, total curcuminoids content, and upregulated expression levels of curcuminoids-related genes in turmeric under water withholding using chitosan biostimulant. The response of two contrasting genotypes, high curcuminoids cv. Surat Thani (ST) and low curcuminoids cv. Pichit (PJT) was evaluated under two water management practices (withholding water for 45 days [WD] and daily irrigation/well-watered [WW] condition) with or without foliar application of chitosan at 20 mg L^-1. Leaf area and pseudostem dry weight in ST grown under WD were significantly decreased by 39% and 26%, respectively, over WW condition without chitosan application, whereas the two water management practices resulted in similar responses in plants treated with 20 mg L^-1 chitosan foliar spray. Fresh weight and dry weight of rhizome under WD were decreased by > 40% over WW treatment. Leaf temperature and crop water stress index were sustained at a low level by 20 mg L^-1 chitosan application, resulting in the preservation of leaf osmotic potential and photon yield of PSII, especially in PJT. In contrast, gas exchange parameters such as transpiration rate, net photosynthetic rate, and stomatal conductance were severely affected by WD, which in turn reduced the amount of total soluble sugar. Under WD, the expression levels of curcuminoids-related genes were increased, whereas total curcuminoids content in the turmeric rhizomes was significantly decreased. The results indicate that foliar application of chitosan as a biostimulant plays a positive role in reducing the harmful impact of drought stress and improving growth characteristics; however, the degree of positive effect is dependent on genotype, application dose, and level of water availability.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01618-x.

Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne ex. Poir) is susceptible to various viral infections which significantly hinder its production, impacting agricultural sustainability and food security. The susceptibility of fifty four pumpkin genotypes to squash leaf curl China virus (SLCCNV) and cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus (CCYV) was assessed over two consecutive seasons (2021 rainy and 2022 spring-summer) and in 2023 (spring-summer), specifically for only SLCCNV, through screening in an insect-proof net house under whitefly inoculation conditions. Disease progression was evaluated through the vulnerability index (VI) and the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). During 2021 and 2022, on the basis of challenge inoculation studies, highly resistant genotypes (DPU-41, DPU-43, DPU-133, and DPU-105) consistently presented no symptoms and no PCR amplification of SLCCNV or CCYV. Furthermore, during 2023, four genotypes (DPU-41, DPU-43, DPU-133 and DPU-105) presented high resistance levels (VI = 0) to SLCCNV. VI and AUDPC exhibited a significant positive correlation (> 0.96) for whitefly-mediated inoculation screening during 2021 and 2022. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis revealed no detectable SLCCNV load in the highly resistant (DPU-41, DPU-43, DPU-133, and DPU-105) and resistant (DPU-101, and DPU-129) genotypes, with cycle threshold (Ct) values indicating the absence of the virus. Furthermore, inheritance studies involving susceptible and resistant genotypes across six generations (P₁, P₂, F₁, F₂, B₁, B₂) revealed a single dominant gene governing resistance to SLCCNV in the DPU-41 and DPU-43 genotypes. The present findings are the first to reveal the single dominant gene inheritance of resistance to SLCCNV in pumpkin. This study contributes to understanding resistance in pumpkin genotypes against SLCCNV and CCYV, offering a foundation for breeding programs focused on producing resistant varieties.

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Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01613-2.

The study investigated the effects and potential applications of green-synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on cotton plants under in vitro drought stress. AgNPs were synthesized using cotton seed oil cake extract (CSOCE) as a stabilizing and reducing agent. The secondary metabolite content of CSOCE was analyzed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Characterization of synthesized AgNPs was performed using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), polydispersity index (PDI), Zeta Potential (ZP), Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-Ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD), Ultraviolet-Visible Light Spectroscopy (UV-Vis spectroscopy), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR) analyses. According to SEM, the nanoparticle sizes varied between 50 and 100 nm. ZP was - 28.7 mV and PDI value was 0.65 according to DLS results. The experimental groups were: (1) MS medium (control group), (2) PEG, (3) AgNP, and (4) PEG + AgNP. Plants were transferred to the respective media, cultured for three days, and subsequently analyzed. Morphological parameters including root number, root and shoot lengths, and leaf surface area were measured, while physiological traits such as relative water content, biomass accumulation, osmolyte accumulation, and photosynthetic pigment contents were assessed. Molecular analyses were conducted to examine the relative gene expression of drought stress-associated genes, including CAT, POD, Cu/Zn SOD, MnSOD, MPK17, CAX2, and IDI-1. The results demonstrated that the application of AgNPs alleviated the adverse effects of in vitro drought stress on Gossypium hirsutum plants. These findings suggest that green synthesized AgNPs hold significant potential as agents to mitigate drought stress in plants.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01616-z.

Soil salinity is one of the main environmental limiting factors for plant growth and production. Sodium salt (NaCl) is the main salt in saline soils. The high-affinity K⁺ transporter (HKT1) is a Na⁺-preferential transporter identified in multiple glycophyte plants, and it participates in salt tolerance through shoot Na⁺ extrusion. However, there has been limited research on the identification and characterization of HKT1 from halophytes. In this study, SlHKT1.1 was cloned and functionally characterized from the halophytic shrub Salix linearistipularis. Sequence analysis revealed that SlHKT1.1 is a member of HKT1. Transient expression of SlHKT1.1 in tobacco leaves showed that it as a plasma membrane protein. Under NaCl and KCl stress, SlHKT1.1 overexpression severely inhibited the root growth of transgenic poplar seedlings. Ion content measurements revealed significantly higher Na⁺ content in the roots of transgenic poplar seedlings than in wild-type roots. Correlation analysis showed that significant root growth inhibition was associated with higher Na⁺ accumulation in roots in transgenic poplar seedlings. Analyses of K⁺ content and flux rate revealed that SlHKT1.1 was not directly involved in the transport and accumulation of K⁺. These studies suggest that SlHKT1.1, a plasma membrane Na⁺-preferential transporter from S. linearistipularis, can be used for enhancing plant salt tolerance via tissue- or cell-specific expression.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01605-2.

The GASA gene family (Gibberellic Acid-Stimulated Arabidopsis) comprises plant-specific genes that play crucial roles in plant development and defense mechanisms against a plethora of abiotic and biotic stressors. As revealed in our previous study, TdGASA19 transcripts from durum wheat are induced by a range of stressors and its heterologous expression improved stress tolerance in yeast cells. Here we have focused on TdGASA19 role in its host species, Triticum turgidum var. durum. We examined the expression profile of the TdGASA19 gene and found out that it is upregulated in response to environmental stimuli and phytohormones, such as SA and IAA, indicating that the TdGASA19 gene may control stress and hormone signaling pathways in durum wheat. We subsequently engineered marker-free transgenic durum wheat lines overexpressing the TdGASA19 gene, which exhibited improved tolerance to drought and salt stress and yielded more than non-transgenic plants (NT). TdGASA19 regulated both scavenging capacity of the antioxidant enzyme system and the activation of five stress-related genes that act as positive regulators of salt or drought stress tolerance. In light of our results, TdGASA19 emerges as a promising novel gene with potential for further functional analysis and exploitation in molecular breeding to enhance environmental stress tolerance in grain crops.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01608-z.

Stem rust of wheat, caused by the fungal pathogen Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt), is an economically significant disease affecting wheat production globally. The recent progress in high-throughput sequencing technology has uncovered the crucial role of non-coding RNAs, an emerging yet influential regulatory genetic element modulating plant response against abiotic and biotic stresses. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) are prominent regulatory nRNAs, renowned for their ability to finely tune plant gene expression across transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and epigenetic layers. The current study adopts a comprehensive transcriptome sequencing approach to identify stem rust-responsive lncRNAs from near isogenic lines of wheat introgressed with resistance gene Sr36, along with their susceptible variety, HD2329. A meticulous lncRNA selection criterion yielded a total of 948 Pgt-responsive lncRNAs. The detection of 11 lncRNAs acting as miRNA precursors, along with 590 miRNA-lncRNA target interactions further highlights the dynamic interplay between miRNAs and lncRNAs during Pgt infection in wheat. Moreover, the functional annotation of lncRNA targets unveiled the prevalence of genes such as LRR receptor-like serine/threonine-protein kinases, disease resistance protein RPM1-like, chitin elicitor receptor kinase, nudix hydrolases and NAC transcription factors, that are involved in discrete biological pathways crucial for plant stress responses. Detection of 37 SSR marker-bearing lncRNAs along with the interaction of lncRNAs with disease-associated transcription factors such as C2H2, ERF, GATA and Dof, further elevate the significance of the study. The study unveils potential functional divergence within lncRNAs and serves as a fine resource that can be harnessed to elucidate the interplay of coding and non-coding RNAs governing wheat-fungal interactions.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01599-x.

Food plants provide vital nutrients for humans and are the basis for their survival. The pigments in food plants not only improve their sensory value, but also increase their medicinal and nutritional value, which has a positive effect on human health. Light can influence the accumulation of pigments in food plants, and different light qualities, intensities and cycles have different effects on the accumulation of different pigments. For example, blue light can promote the production of chlorophyll and anthocyanins, while red light favours the accumulation of carotenoids. With the development of plantation agriculture, LED light sources are gradually being used for the market-orientated production of food crops. In recent years, research has shown that non-coding RNAs such as miRNA and lncRNA significantly influence the process of light-regulated pigment accumulation. Non-coding RNA can modulate the expression of genes related to pigment metabolism and thus influence pigment accumulation. Investigating the effect of LED light on the expression of non-coding RNA can further elucidate the molecular mechanism of light regulation of pigment accumulation and provide a new theoretical basis for the precise regulation of pigment accumulation. Therefore, we summarised the effects of LED light quality, intensity and period on pigments in food plants and elucidated the regulatory role of LED light on non-coding RNAs related to pigment metabolism in food plants, which theoretically supports the application of LED light sources in food plants.

This study investigates how two harpin proteins, HrpZ and Hpa1, modulate plant immunity as potential alternatives to pesticides. Despite the established importance of SA in immunity, its regulatory complexity and gene expression dynamics are partially elucidated. We examined the effect of HrpZ and Hpa1 on the SA signalling pathway and the expression of seven marker genes (NPR1, EDS1, CAD1, NSL1, AED3, AED4, WRKY8) identified through existing microarray dataset analysis and analysed by qRT-PCR and HPLC. Our findings reveal distinct modes of action: HrpZ strongly activates SA-mediated immunity by upregulating SA levels and SA-responsive genes. Conversely, Hpa1 does not significantly impact SA levels but upregulates AED3 and AED4, suggesting an alternative, SA-independent defence mechanism. This research provides valuable insights into harpin-induced plant immunity, paving the way for targeted biostimulant development in sustainable agriculture.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01601-6.

The structural complexity of plant proteins, particularly receptor-like kinases, has garnered significant attention in recent research. This research identifies Physcomitrium patens ERECTA-like receptor 1 (PpERL1) as a new guanylate cyclase (GC) within the cytoplasmic kinase domain by examining its structural and functional properties. Comprehensive sequence alignment analyses reveal substantial variability among ERECTA-like proteins from mosses in contrast to vascular plants, while GC motifs display remarkable conservation, suggesting a critical functional relevance. In vitro tests validate the GC activity of recombinant PpERL1, with key residue substitutions at positions 1 and 14 leading to a decrease in GC activity. Notably, cGMP does not impact PpERL1's kinase activity, while inhibits its enzymatic function, contrasting with regulatory mechanisms observed in vascular plant GCs. Independent regulatory mechanisms are shown by calcium ions increasing GC activity without affecting kinase functioning. These results demonstrate an evolutionary divergence in the regulatory interactions between GC and kinase domains in mosses versus vascular plants, reflecting adaptive strategies unique to non-vascular plant lineages.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01606-1.

Daylength extension (DLE) has significant potential to enhance the growth and development of various crops through increased carbohydrate synthesis and metabolism. This study explored the impact of DLE on spike quality, corm production, sucrose metabolism and carbohydrate accumulation of Gladiolus. Plants were subjected to DLE of 2 and 4 h after 30, 40 and 50 days of sprouting. The 2 h of DLE after 50 days of sprouting markedly increased acid invertase, neutral invertase and sucrose synthase activities in leaves by 1.11, 1.88 and 3.53 times and in corms by 1.44, 1.83 and 1.84 times, respectively, compared to natural daylength (NDL). Carbohydrate accumulation improved, with most pronounced effects of DLE after 30 and 50 days of sprouting. The DLE of 2 h also led to early spike development. The DLE of 2 h after 50 days, enhanced spike length (11.54%), weight (14.25%), diameter (11.86%) and floret size (10.98%) compared to NDL. Corm production was significantly higher under 2 h of DLE after 50 days, as corm (97.59 g) and cormel weight per plant (6.33 g), corm diameter (52.82 mm) and number of corms (2.17) and cormels per plant (29.00) increased compared to NDL. Correlation and Principal Component Analysis revealed that improved spike quality and corm production was result of enhanced sucrose enzyme activity, increased carbohydrate accumulation and earlier spike development. Therefore, 2 h of DLE after 30 or 50 days of sprouting could be effective in enhancing corm production and spike quality. Thus, considering economic benefits, employing 2 h of DLE after 50 days of sprouting could be recommended.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01602-5.