Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants最新文献

The presence of arsenic (As) in croplands causes phytotoxicity in wheat and contaminates the food chain by accumulating in the grains. Thus, the use of tolerant genotypes might be the best solution to alleviate As stress. However, limited information is available regarding the potential of wheat genotypes particularly exposed to arsenite. To fill this gap, the study aimed to investigate the impact of arsenite on the accumulation and translocation of As in a dose-response manner. The research further highlighted the impacts of arsenite on growth, chlorophyll, oxidative stress induction, and modulation of antioxidants. A total of four genotypes (SKD-1, MexiPak, Pak-13, and FSD-08) were exposed hydroponically to arsenite treatments (0, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 mg/L) for 21 days using the cigar method. Morphological traits (germination index, vitality index, relative lengths, and biomass), chlorophyll, As accumulation, oxidative stress indicators, and antioxidants were measured. The study revealed that SKD-1 accumulated slightly more As in roots (90.43 ± 1.30 µg/g) but translocated less to shoots (80.23 ± 2.44 µg/g) compared to other genotypes. On the other hand, Pak-13 and FSD-08 showed the highest translocation factor (0.94) with the highest impact on their growth. With the help of linear modeling and multivariate analyses, a dose-dependent increase was observed in terms of As accumulation. SKD-1 genotype showed better germination and vitality index along with higher shoot as well as root length compared to others. Furthermore, the SKD-1 genotype showed less malondialdehyde (0.811 mmol/g) compared to Pak-13 (1.243 mmol/g). On the other hand, antioxidants (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase) showed better activities in SKD-1 to alleviate arsenite stress compared to Pak-13 and FSD-08. Hence, the use of tolerant genotypes like SKD-1 has the potential to deliver safer grains for human consumption and sustainable yield.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01560-y.

The TCP (Teosinte Branched 1/Cycloidea/Proliferating Cell Factors) transcription factor family plays a critical role in plant growth, development, and stress responses. To investigate the functions of the TCP gene family in Eucalyptus grandis (E. grandis), we performed a comprehensive genome-wide identification and analysis of E. grandis TCP (EgTCP) genes using bioinformatics approaches. We examined their expression patterns across different tissues and under salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), and salt stress conditions. Our analysis identified 15 TCP genes in the E. grandis genome, designated EgTCP1-EgTCP15. The encoded proteins range from 194 to 427 amino acid residues, with molecular weights between 21.68 and 44.90 kDa and isoelectric points spanning 6.45-0.41. Biochemical property predictions classified all EgTCP proteins as hydrophilic and unstable. Chromosomal mapping revealed that EgTCP genes are unevenly distributed across 11 chromosomes. Gene structure analysis indicated that EgTCP genes contain one to two exons and up to one intron. The presence of a highly conserved TCP domain was confirmed by conserved motif and phylogenetic analyses, which classified EgTCP proteins into three subfamilies: PCF, CIN, and CYC/TB1. Cis-regulatory element analysis of the promoter regions revealed multiple hormone-responsive and stress-related elements, suggesting potential regulatory roles in plant growth and abiotic stress adaptation. Expression profiling indicated that most EgTCP genes respond to SA and JA induction and exhibit tissue-specific expression patterns. The subcellular localization experiment indicated that EgTCP 13 was located in the nucleus. Overall, these findings provide valuable insights into the functional roles of the TCP gene family in E. grandis, establishing a foundation for future studies on their biological significance in plant growth, development, and stress tolerance.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01623-0.

Vanadium (V) contamination, originating from both natural geochemical processes and anthropogenic pollution, poses a significant threat to plant health and soil ecosystems. This study investigates the protective role of 2,4-epibrassinolide (EBR) against V-induced phytotoxicity in maize (Zea mays L.). Seedlings were subjected to eight treatments combining V stress with foliar-applied EBR at varying concentrations. Results demonstrated that V exposure severely inhibited shoot and root biomass accumulation, photosynthetic activity, and chlorophyll content. Crucially, the EBR application mitigated these detrimental effects induced by V stress. EBR enhanced the activities of key antioxidant defense enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, peroxide, and catalase. EBR also elevated levels of osmoregulatory substances, including soluble sugar and soluble protein, while simultaneously reducing malondialdehyde accumulation. Furthermore, EBR alleviated V toxicity by modulating key enzymes involved in nitrogen metabolism, including nitrate reductase, glutamate synthase, glutamine synthase, and glutamate dehydrogenase. Collectively, these physiological responses promoted the growth and development of maize seedlings. These findings elucidate the multifaceted mechanism underpinning EBR-mediated stress mitigation and support its application as a viable strategy for bolstering plant resilience in metal-contaminated soils.

The sludge discharged from distilleries is known for potential health risks due to containing organic pollutants with mutagenic and Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) properties. The study examined the comparative phytoremediation efficacy of two potential plant species, i.e., Cannabis sativa L. and Eleusine indica L., growing on sugarcane treacle-based distillery sludge, a major source of complex organometallic pollutants. The fresh sludge analysis showed high concentrations of Iron (2356.4  ± 0.181 mg kg^-1), Copper (856.76 ± 0.022 mg kg^-1) Manganese (198.32 ± 0.010 mg kg^-1) Magnesium (342.8 ± 0.462 mg kg^-1) Calcium (359.7  ± 0.617 mg kg^-1) with other physicochemical parameters. Further, the analysis of fresh sludge through GC-MS technique revealed the presence of Thiopene, 2-butyloctanol, Cyclodecasiloxane, Silane, Callitrisic acid, etc. The sludge obtained succeeding the growth of C. sativa and E. indica showed a reduction in physicochemical parameters. GC-MS analysis also confirmed the disappearance of some organic compounds. The potential bacterial species identified for significant Plant Growth Promoting attributes were Bacillus thuringiensis (PP963487), Bacillus cereus (PP963486), Burkholderia cepacia (PP962515) in case of C. sativa, and Pseudomonas putida (PP956925), Bacillus subtilis (PP956913), Achromobacter denitrificans (PP956932) in case of E. indica, using 16S rRNA sequencing. The research findings revealed that, C. sativa was found more efficient than E. indica in contaminant degradation and metal accumulation. The findings underscore the intricate role of C. sativa and E. indica and their culturable rhizobacteria during the remediation of distillery sludge-contaminated sites. This has given strong evidence of the bacterial-assisted phytoremediation process as a green technology for the eco-restoration of polluted sites for sustainable development.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01619-w.

Rice, a staple food for more than half of the global population, is often exposed to arsenic (As) which disrupt the photosynthetic efficiency and reduce growth and yield. However, selenium (Se) and silica (Si) supplementation counteract it. In this study, simulated pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of different species and doses of Se [i.e. selenite (Se^IV) and selenate (Se^VI); 0.5 and 1 mg l^-1] and Si (0.4%), on growth, yield, photosynthesis and nutrient elements composition of rice under As (1 mg l^-1) exposure. Correlation analysis revealed that As significantly reduced uptake of nutrient elements from soil, which subsequently reduced their accumulation in leaves, specially those are involved in chlorophyll synthesis i.e. magnesium (Mg; r = - 0.820), potassium (K; r = - 0.737) and nitrogen (N; r = - 0.253), which resulted into reduced level of total chlorophyll (T.Chl.; r = - 0.314) and thereby reduced photosynthetic rate (Pn; r = - 0.507). Further, its exposure decreased the Chl. of PSII reaction centre (Chl.a dimer), resulting in ~ 31% decrease in photochemical quenching (qP) and ~ 18% increase in non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) reactions. However, supplementation of Se, specially, Se^IV (1 mg l^-1) + Si (0.4%), boosted the growth and yield by counteracting these losses. In addition, Se (1 mg l^-1) + Si (0.4%) supplementation significantly enhanced the T.Chl. (59%), Pn (56%), stomatal conductance (gs; 118%) and qP (78%), while reduced NPQ (15%) than As exposed rice plants. Correlation analysis also revealed that increased N level in leaves of Se + Si supplemented plants significantly increased qP (r = 0.793) and subsequently Pn rate (r = 0.697). Hence, the supplementation of Se^IV (1 mg l⁻¹) and Si (0.4%) significantly reduced As levels in rice grains (~ ten fold), and enhancing plant growth, yield, nutrient uptake, and photosynthesis. Therefore, these elements appear beneficial for fertilization in paddy fields of As affected areas.

Graphical abstract:

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01592-4.

Arsenic (As) is a toxic environmental pollutant and a group-1 carcinogen, posing serious concern for human health. Rice and rice-based food products are considered as one of the major sources for As contamination into the human food-chain. Hence, world-wide concerted research efforts are going on, either to identify and/or develop low-As accumulating rice genotypes. The present study evaluated the natural accessions of rice, comprising of landraces and farmer's varieties, under the naturally As-contaminated sites of Chhattisgarh, India, which is well-known for its richness in terms of rice production as well as varietal diversity. The wide-range spectrum of grain-As was obtained in 120 selected genotypes, with 90 and 81 accessions having As-accumulation above the WHO permissible limit for white (0.2 mg kg^-1) and brown (0.3 mg kg^-1) rice, respectively. The lowest grain-As accumulation among the varieties was seen in cultivated varieties (Badsabhog Sel 1 and Bahadur Sel 1) and landraces (Bastul and Kanaklata), which can be either cultivated or used as suitable donor in breeding programs. Among different agronomic traits, the plant height was identified as most-responsive parameter for assessing As-toxicity. The comparative assessment of agro-morphological traits although showed variations under naturally As-contaminated site; however, no significant correlation was seen in terms of grain-As accumulation, indicating the complexity for on-site field screening of low As-accumulating genotypes. Taken together, the results identified the potential low-As accumulating genotypes and highlighted the grain-As accumulation, as a complex multi-genic trait.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01597-z.

The global deposition of fly ash (FA) from industrial processes is a growing environmental concern due to its detrimental effects on ecosystems. Sustainable strategies such as phytomanagement offer viable solutions for restoring abandoned FA dump sites. The study assessed soil quality, herbaceous diversity, and heavy metal accumulation in species growing in FA dump of Bokaro Thermal Power Station and adjacent forest sites (FS). Soil analysis of the FA dump site revealed elevated heavy metal concentrations, including Mn (272.42 ± 11.27 mg/kg), Zn (86.92 ± 1.67 mg/kg), Ni (70.82 ± 1.53 mg/kg), Cr (57.31 ± 1.75 mg/kg), Pb (46.85 ± 1.34 mg/kg), Co (37.93 ± 1.19 mg/kg), Cu (20.49 ± 0.48 mg/kg), and Cd (1.54 ± 0.05 mg/kg), along with slight alkalinity and nutrient deficiencies. The herbaceous community was dominated by species from Poaceae and Asteraceae families with 37.8% classified as highly metal-tolerant based on Metal Tolerance Index. Species such as Cynodon dactylon, Saccharum spontaneum, and Alternanthera sessilis exhibited high importance value index and bioconcentration factors (BCF > 1) for Cr, Zn, and Pb. These species effectively stabilized metals, making them suitable for phytostabilization. PCA analysis indicated that pH, WHC, TOC, and BD significantly influenced plant metal uptake, while nutrients (N, P, K) contributed to metal immobilization. CCA analysis demonstrated that soil parameters and heavy metal availability governed herbaceous species distribution, making them potential indicators of contamination. This study highlights the potential of metal-tolerant herbaceous species for reclaiming FA dumps by improving soil quality and reducing metal mobility, contributing to sustainable land restoration.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01612-3.

Andrographis paniculata, a traditional medicinal herb, is widely cultivated in Asia. This study investigates the genetic basis of seed germination rates using whole-genome resequencing (WGR) and SNP analysis. Germination rates of 40 A. paniculata accessions revealed two groups: low germination (0-20%) with 33 accessions and high germination (81-100%) with seven accessions. WGR was performed on 23 accessions, and SNPs were analyzed for genetic diversity, population structure, and QTL-seq. The genetic diversity and population structure analysis showed that most accessions were clustered together, while two exhibited distinct clustering patterns. QTL-seq identified regions across five chromosomes linked to germination, with 24 SNPs associated with this trait. Five SNP markers were developed using Tetra-Primer ARMS PCR and validated across all 40 accessions. Three markers-1-5362280, 1-5679230, and 16-3668893-showed the highest correlation with high germination rates, with marker 1-5362280 offering the strongest predictive accuracy (71.43%). These findings provide valuable molecular tools for marker-assisted selection, aiding in the development of improved A. paniculata cultivars for more efficient and sustainable cultivation.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01643-w.

The mechanisms underlying phytohormonal disruptions caused by microplastic/plasticizer contamination in agricultural systems remain poorly understood. This study systematically investigates how polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and di-n-octyl phthalate (DOP) alter endogenous hormone networks in agricultural systems. Integrated transcriptomic-metabolomic analyses were conducted on cucumber plants grown in hydroponic and soil systems exposed to microplastics (PE, PS, PVC) and DOP. Hormonal pathways were deciphered via gene expression profiling of key biosynthesis regulators. Microplastics and DOP primarily affected the tryptophan-dependent auxin biosynthesis pathway. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to cytokinin biosynthesis were involved in the de novo synthesis pathway. All treatments primarily regulated the expression of DEGs encoding the enzymes gibberellin-20-oxidase (GA20ox), gibberellin-2-oxidase (GA2ox), and gibberellin-3-oxidase (GA3ox) to maintain the balance of active gibberellins. Changes in abscisic acid metabolite levels were linked to the expression of DEGs for abscisic aldehyde oxidase (ABA2). All treatments reduced the ethylene biosynthesis rate. Cucumber plants regulate the expression of DEGs related to phytochrome B (PHYB)-activated inhibitor 1 (CYP734A1) to maintain a balance of endogenous brassinosteroids. Jasmonic acid levels significantly increased after PE, PS, and PS + DOP treatments. Salicylic acid pathways remained unaffected despite phenylalanine ammonia lyase gene variations. PE and PS exhibit significantly stronger impacts on endogenous hormone biosynthesis in cucumber plants compared with PVC. PS with the co-presence of DOP synergistically enhancing jasmonic acid biosynthesis. Notably, smaller PS particle sizes facilitate their absorption by cucumber roots while simultaneously suppressing auxin synthesis efficiency.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01645-8.

Endophytes provide a wide range of benefits to host plants when the plants encounter unfavorable biotic and abiotic stress conditions. The current study aims to examine the impact of externally applied Sinorhizobium meliloti NOR1, Talaromyces flavus AVRF3 and coinoculum on soybean plants under drought stress conditions. The treatments were evaluated for their influence on morphological and physiological traits, biochemical parameters and gene expression levels. The isolated endophytic bacterial and fungal inoculum enhanced soybean seed germination and improved tolerance to artificial drought stress under in vitro conditions. The colonization of endophytic colonies in soybean plants was confirmed through reisolation and scanning electron microscopy analysis. Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis revealed that endophytic cultures contain various organic volatile compounds that promote plant growth and tolerance to abiotic stress conditions. The soybean plants treated with endophytic inoculum showed significant improvements in shoot length, fresh and dry weights of shoots and roots compared to the control plants. The beneficial effect of endophytic treatments led to an increase in primary and secondary metabolites and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in soybean plants under drought stress conditions. Additionally, root inducing gene of GmPIN1A was increased by S. meliloti NOR1, while T. flavus AVRF3 and coinoculum treatments enhance the expression of GmPIF under both drought stress and normal conditions. This is one of the few studies that examine the impact of endophytes on soybean plants subjected to drought stress. The findings suggest that both endophytic bacterial and fungal inoculum application reprograms the photosynthetic pigments, biochemical contents and antioxidant expression of drought stress affected soybean plants and improve their plant growth under drought stress conditions.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01639-6.