Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants最新文献

High-temperature (HT) stress poses a major threat to plant growth and physiological functions by disrupting cellular homeostasis and metabolic processes. Despite extensive studies, the molecular and physiological mechanisms underlying plant adaptation to HT stress remain incompletely understood. This study investigates the role of cysteine (CYS), a thiol-containing amino acid, in enhancing high-temperature tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana) through the regulation of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) and the glyoxalase (GLX) system. Our research demonstrates that CYS treatment under HT stress significantly enhances key physiological parameters, including relative water content (RWC), and total chlorophyll levels while reducing oxidative damage markers like thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). In this study, findings from A. thaliana (Col-0, hsp90.1 and hsp90.4 mutants, and those subjected to Glyoxalase I inhibitor (S-p-bromobenzylglutathione cyclopentyl diester (BBGD) treatment) reveal that CYS acts as a positive regulator of the GLX system by boosting the activities of Glyoxalase I (GLXI) and Glyoxalase II (GLXII) enzymes involved in methylglyoxal (MG) detoxification, particularly in conjunction with HSP90.1 and HSP90.4. The effects of GLXI inhibitor on the GLX system were experimentally studied for the first time on plants by applying to A. thaliana seedlings (Col-0 and hsp90.4 mutant). Moreover, CYS treatment enhances the expression of genes related to the GLX system and HSPs, leading to improved thermotolerance in A. thaliana. In conclusion, our findings highlight a synergistic interaction between CYS, the GLX system, and HSP90 proteins, suggesting promising genetic and chemical approaches for enhancing plant tolerance to high-temperature stress.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-026-01710-w.

Chimonobambusa utilis is an advantageous bamboo species known for its edible shoots, which are celebrated as "the crown of bamboo shoots". The coloration of bamboo sheaths is related to the color, flavor and nutritional components of bamboo shoots. However, the process of bamboo sheath coloration remains unexplored in scientific literature. Therefore, the pigment content and color difference values of the bamboo sheaths of five distinct cultivars of Chimonobambusa utilis (Keng) Keng f. -1, Chimonobambusa utilis (Keng) Keng f. -2, Chimonobambusa utilis (Keng) Keng f. -3, Chimonobambusa utilis (Keng) Keng f. -4, and Chimonobambusa utilis (Keng) Keng f. -5 (C1, C2, C3, C4, and C5) were measured in this study. According to the color difference values, C1 exhibits a color index of red leaf < 2, while the remaining four cultivars fall within 2 < color index of red leaf < 4. Regarding pigment content, C1 demonstrated the highest chlorophyll levels, C4 contained the most anthocyanins, and C5 had significantly higher carotenoid content compared to the other four cultivars. A targeted metabolome assay revealed a total of 28 flavonoids in the bamboo sheaths, with 25, 27, 26, 25, and 25 flavonoids identified in the five C. utilis, respectively. Analysis of these flavonoids indicated substantial variations among the five cultivars' bamboo sheaths. This study offers a reference point for the selection and breeding of distinctive bamboo shoots, as well as for understanding the coloration mechanism of the bamboo sheaths of C. utilis.

Speed breeding has transformed plant breeding by reducing the generation period of annual crops, yet its potential as a tool to accelerate genetic gain in perennial fruit crops has not been fully explored. Perennial crops including apple and walnuts face a major bottleneck in breeding owing to their extensive juvenile stage, which delays the assessment and selection of desired traits. This review and conceptual framework explore a novel integration of speed breeding with strategic use of early-bearing genotypes as intermediate parents in hybridization programs to expedite cultivars development. In apples, the strategy involves utilizing columnar varieties, while in walnuts, lateral-bearing genotypes are employed to introduce early fruiting traits into elite genetic backgrounds. In addition, speed breeding can be complemented by high throughput phenotyping and precision breeding techniques to increase selection accuracy and maximize genetic gain. By implementing these strategies, breeders can decrease generation period and enhance breeding efficiency as they strive to satisfy the increasing global demands for high-yielding, resilient perennial fruit cultivars. This forward-looking strategy aims to redefine the perennial fruit crop development, ensuring sustainability and productivity while addressing the pressing challenges of climate change and food security.

The whitefly Bemisia tabaci poses a significant threat to agriculture by transmitting various plant viruses, being globally invasive and polyphagous in nature. For the management of this pest, various cultural and chemical methods are employed, but challenges such as insecticide resistance and environmental impact have made management of whiteflies difficult, which has led to the exploration of RNA interference (RNAi) as a sustainable and precise alternative. RNAi using double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) offers a promising, species-specific strategy for whitefly management. However, the naked dsRNA delivered exogenously on plant surfaces is unstable in nature, which limits its practical application. This study explores the use of Polyamidoamine dendrimer generation 5 (PAMAM) functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) as a delivery vehicle to enhance dsRNA uptake. dsRNAs targeting the B. tabaci, Vitellogenin receptor (BtVgR) and Ryanodine receptor gene (BtRyR), designed to minimize off-target effects, were applied using the root dip method. To improve the biocompatibility and loading efficiency of carbon nanotubes, they were functionalized with PAMAM. In case of BtRyR, on day 7th, 83% mortality was observed at 80 µg/mL concentration of dsRNA loaded on CNT, and for dsRNA alone, mortality observed on the 7th day was 80%. In case of BtVgR, on day 7, a slightly higher mortality of 69% was observed with the dsRNA-CNT complex compared to 66% with dsRNA alone at a concentration of 80 µg/mL, indicating a modest improvement in delivery efficiency through CNTs. This study demonstrates that CNT-assisted RNAi targeting of BtVgR, BtRyR genes can serve as an efficient and environmentally friendly strategy for whitefly management.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01697-w.

The study examines the effect of rhizospheric application of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) on Spinacia oleracea (spinach) plants grown in pots containing metal-contaminated soil. Various concentrations of H₂S, in the form of Sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), (10, 50, 100, 200, and 500 µM), were applied to the rhizospheric zone to assess their effect on soil and plant physiology. Plants grown in control soil exhibited reduced fresh biomass along with increased production of oxidative biomarkers like hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), superoxide radical (SOR), and malondialdehyde (MDA), and antioxidative enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT). The rhizospheric application of H₂S resulted in a significant increase in fresh biomass, with the 200 µM dose showing the highest increase of 37% compared to plants in control soil. Additionally, H₂O₂, SOR, and MDA production were maximally reduced by 38%, 52%, and 48%, respectively, in the 200 µM treatment group compared to the control. The activities of antioxidative enzymes, such as SOD, POD, and CAT, increased maximally at 200 µM dose. High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) data and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) supported the superior performance of plants at this dose. Thus, among all the doses, the 200 µM dose of H₂S significantly mitigated metal toxicity, promoting plant growth and functional traits. The correlation analysis further confirmed these results, revealing a dose-dependent decrease in metal residues in plants treated with H₂S. This approach holds significant potential for enhancing both the quality and yield of plants cultivated in metal-contaminated soils. Further, future research should be conducted for optimal application methods to increase the efficiency and promote widespread adoption of this strategy.

Constructed Wetlands (CWs) have emerged as a promising technology for the effective remediation of wastewater, including textile effluent, and provide an alternative water source for various activities. Several bacterial populations are critical in degrading and decolorizing noxious dyes within CWs. However, enzymes are considered highly efficient biological catalysts utilized to speed up degradation reactions within CWs for the removal of different dyes from textile wastewater. The obtained macrophytic biomass acts as a raw material to develop different bioresources such as biofertilizers, biofuels, bioenergy, animal feed, biochar, recovery of various nutrients and pharmaceutical compounds, etc. Several macrophytes utilized in CWs have great nutritional and pharmaceutical values. Further, the production of biofuels from biomass feedstock has been extensively investigated to develop an alternative fuel for reduced dependence on fossil fuels. Additionally, strong, robust, and air-dried stem strands of macrophytes obtained during the treatment process can be utilized as an alternative structural resource. The resultant sludge and other solid, biosolid, and semi-solid materials may produce heat or electricity, biogas, or be transformed into organic manure or fertilizers. This review highlights the potential of CWs for textile wastewater treatment and the generation of various value-added products for the circular economy. The role and potential of microbial populations and their enzymes during the treatment process are also discussed briefly.

Graphical abstract:

The light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-binding proteins (Lhcb) are an essential component of the photosynthetic antenna system, playing a critical role in both photosynthesis and the regulation of plant stress responses. In the rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) genome, we identified eight BnaLhcb genes, which were phylogenetically classified into three distinct groups. These genes exhibited a significant level of structural conservation and were distributed across ten chromosomes. Given the established role of Lhcb genes in abiotic stress defense, we investigated their response to chromium (Cr) stress in both Cr-tolerant and Cr-sensitive rapeseed cultivars. Notably, the expression of BnaLhcb5.3 was significantly downregulated in the sensitive cultivar and upregulated in the tolerant one, indicating its potential role in Cr stress adaptation. The BnaLhcb5.3 cDNA was successfully cloned, and its subcellular localization was confirmed to be within the chloroplast. Functional characterization using transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing BnaLhcb5.3 demonstrated enhance in Cr tolerance, improved plant growth, and biosynthesis of photosynthetic pigments. These plants also exhibited superior gas exchange parameters, higher activities of photosystem I (PSI) and photosystem II (PSII), and reduced ROS accumulation due to a strengthened antioxidant enzymatic defense system under Cr stress. Overall, our results demonstrated that BnaLhcb5.3 plays a vital role in modulating growth responses and is a key factor in enhancing Cr tolerance in rapeseed.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01680-5.

The signalling behaviour of melatonin (0.8 µM MT) and nitric oxide (10 µM SNP, NO donor) in response to chromium (120 µM Cr) stress has been explored in two cyanobacteria Nostoc muscorum ATCC 27,893 and Anabaena sp. PCC 7120. The Cr stress caused profound negative effects on growth, exopolysaccharide production, pigments, O₂ yield, and PS II photochemistry in the tested strains. Under excessive Cr accumulation accelerated enzymatic antioxidants (SOD, CAT, POD, and GST) could not maintain the oxidative biomarkers SOR, H₂O₂, and malondialdehyde equivalents within limits. The PS II photochemistry (F_V/F_M, Psi_o, Phi_Eo, PI_ABS and Fv/Fo, as well as energy fluxes ABS/RC, TRo/RC, ETo/RC, and DIo/RC) and surface morphology (SEM) of cells were considerably disturbed. Exogenously applied MT and NO, alone and together significantly relieved the cyanobacteria from oxidative stress, thereby a considerable improvement in growth, photosynthesis, and exopolysaccharide level was noticed, and the effect was more pronounced under combined treatment. Furthermore, this effect could occur due to MT and NO-mediated strengthening of enzymatic antioxidants resulting in lowering of oxidative biomarkers, as well as significant decrease in Cr accumulation. The SEM study illustrated Cr-induced deformation on the surface morphology of both cyanobacterial cells which was significantly recovered under the influence of MT and NO. The application of NO scavenger (PTIO) and its biosynthetic inhibitor (L-NAME) demonstrated that NO is an essential acquisition for the functioning of MT in regulating Cr toxicity in test cyanobacteria. In conclusion, the current findings suggest that MT and NO work in collaboration to enhance the survival of biofertilizer Nostoc muscorum ATCC 27,893 and Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 even in Cr contaminated crop fields, hence supporting the goals of sustainable agriculture.

Arsenic (As) contamination in rice poses a serious health concern, particularly for communities that depend on rice as a primary dietary staple. Developing rice varieties with consistently low As content has proven difficult using traditional breeding methods, highlighting the need for novel approaches. Targeting genes responsible for As accumulation in rice could be a key strategy to address this issue. In this study, we explored whether editing the silica transporters genes OsLsi1 and OsLsi2, responsible for co-transporting As in rice, could reduce As accumulation while maintaining grain yield. Using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, we targeted the promoter and N-terminal coding regions of these genes, to produce homozygous transgene-free edited lines. Expression analysis revealed that the mutations led to a 2-3.5-fold and a 5-70-fold decrease in the expression of OsLsi1 and OsLsi2 transcripts, respectively, in rice roots. Both mutant and wild-type lines were exposed to silicic acid (5 mM) and sodium arsenite (10 µM) in short-term hydroponic experiments to assess the uptake of arsenic and silicon (Si) in their roots and shoots. The results showed a significant reduction in As (21-32% in roots and 62-74% in shoots) and Si (33-80% in roots and 35-78% in shoots) concentrations, compared to wild-type plants. Notably, the mutant line (2E-24), created by editing the OsLsi2 coding region, did not result in any yield loss under controlled pot conditions. The results indicate that editing OsLsi2 may offer a promising approach to lower arsenic accumulation in rice while maintaining grain productivity.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01702-2.

This study investigates the synergistic effects of calcium oxide nanoparticles (CaO NPs) and nano-biochar (nano-BC) on drought-stressed rice (Oryza sativa), a combination that has not been extensively explored in previous research. While individual applications of NPs or BC have been studied, the concurrent use of CaO NPs (as foliar spray) and nano-BC (as soil amendment) offers a novel integrative approach for enhancing drought resilience. The study demonstrates that, this combined application significantly mitigates drought-induced damage, as evidenced by improvements in physiological and biochemical traits. Notably, the treatment enhanced net photosynthetic rate (P_N) by 96.46%, stomatal conductance (gs) by 93.75%, and total soluble sugar (TSS) by 95.22% compared to drought-stressed plants. It also improved protein content, nitrogen accumulation, and transpiration rate. Additionally, reductions of 56% in malondialdehyde (MDA) and 59% in hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) indicate alleviation of oxidative stress. These findings provide new insights into the potential of nanomaterial-based interventions for sustainable rice cultivation under water-limited conditions, offering a promising strategy to improve crop resilience in the face of climate change.