Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants最新文献

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.

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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.

The innate ability for desiccation tolerance in Selaginella repanda was determined by evaluating the physiological and biochemical modifications that occur during water loss and gain, in different stages namely, hydrated (H), desiccation (D), and rehydrated stages (R). Herbarium JCB and rbcl gene barcoding were used for its identification. In the desiccated stage, relative water content (RWC) was 8.3% which regained to 96.8% in R stage. Leaf water potential decreased to -3.8MPa in D stage. Scanning electron microscopic images shows significant modification of stomata and cell in D and R stages. Scanning electron microscopic images shows significant modification of stomata and cell in D and R stages. Total chlorophyll (0.9-fold) and carotenoids (0.7-fold) concentrations were found to be reduced during D stage, when compared to H stage. Concentration of anthocyanin (1.14-fold), proline (2.9-fold) and lipid peroxidation (1.9-fold) were found to be significantly high in D stage. Carbon dioxide exchange rate (- 0.6 µ mol m^-2 s^-1) was negative during D stage. Also, activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (1.7-fold), catalase (2.57-fold) and peroxidase (5.5-fold) were found to be significantly increased in D stage. Sucrose concentration (4.7-fold) also increased during desiccation. The quantity of starch (0.5-fold) was lower in the D stage. In R stage, all biochemical parameters tested above were significantly similar to that in the H stage. S. repanda exhibits constitutive and inducible repair mechanism towards desiccation and can therefore serve as model to study desiccation in Selaginella species.

Sesquiterpenoids are one of the secondary metabolites in agarwood which, is a profitable traditional Chinese medicine and spice. Agarwood is derived from the injured Aquilaria sinensis. Chi-Nan germplasm is a new chemotype of A. sinensis that exhibits a higher capacity of agarwood production and the diversity of sesquiterpenoid biosynthesis. To examine the mechanism of sesquiterpene generation from Chi-Nan germplasm, a 1812 bp-length sesquiterpene synthase 15 (AsSS15) gene encoding 603 amino acids was obtained from the wounded branches. AsSS15 showed significant expression levels in the stem and root that the major tissues of agarwood production, indicating that it was involved in agarwood formation. AsSS15 expression was higher in wounded branches of Chi-Nan germplasms than that in ordinary germplasms of A. sinensis. The AsSS15 recombinant protein was successfully expressed, and catalyzed farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) substrates to generate nerolidol in vitro. These findings demonstrated that AsSS15 significantly induces the expression of gene related to sesquiterpene biosynthesis in Chi-Nan germplasm. This study first elucidates potential mechanisms of sesquiterpene generation from Chi-Nan germplasms, which adds to the theory of sesquiterpene accumulation in A. sinensis and serves as a foundation for future research into the biosynthesis and application of Chi-Nan germplasm.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01640-z.

The massive proliferation of Ulva lactuca in the Nador lagoon has become a major environmental concern due to its accumulation, stranding, and decomposition along the coast, leading to ecological disturbances and social discomfort. Yet, seaweed extracts are increasingly recognized for their ability to stimulate plant growth and enhance resilience to both abiotic and biotic stresses, owing to their rich and diverse content of bioactive compounds. In a sustainable valorization approach aimed at mitigating the ecological impact of this invasive species, Ulva lactuca was investigated as a promising natural biostimulant, tested experimentally on common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under salt stress conditions. Controlled trials were conducted using common bean plants exposed to two levels of salt stress (moderate: 34.2 mM NaCl; high: 68.4 mM NaCl), with or without treatment with Ulva lactuca extract (ULE) applied at three concentrations (1%, 3%, and 6%). Results showed that ULE significantly enhanced plant growth under both non-stress and saline conditions, particularly at 1% and 3%. This positive effect was associated with improved morphological traits, chlorophyll content, antioxidant enzyme activities, and carbon-nitrogen metabolism, along with increased accumulation of key osmolytes. Additionally, ULE treatments reduced lipid peroxidation and suppressed reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. These findings highlight the potential of Ulva lactuca extract as an effective, eco-friendly biostimulant capable of alleviating salt stress in crops, especially in regions facing salinized irrigation water challenges. At the same time, this work offers an innovative and sustainable strategy to valorize an overabundant marine resource while addressing environmental concerns.

Begomoviruses pose a major threat to mungbean and other economically important crops worldwide, causing severe yield losses. Among them, begomovirus vignaradiataindiaense is a major causative agent of yellow mosaic disease (YMD) in mungbean. Topical application of dsRNA has emerged as an innovative, non-transgenic approach for plant virus control by triggering RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated degradation of homologous viral RNAs. In this study, we explored the potential of dsRNA to confer resistance against begomovirus vignaradiataindiaense in YMD-susceptible mungbean plant. We designed hairpin RNA (hpRNA) constructs targeting key viral open reading frames (ORFs)-TR-1 (AC4/AC1), TR-2 (AC2/AC3/AC1), and a stacked TR-1 + 2 (AC4/AC1 + AC2/AC3/AC1)- and evaluated their efficacy through transient expression assays. Notably, only the hpTR-1 + 2 construct, which simultaneously targets multiple essential viral genes, conferred complete (100%) resistance and effectively restricted systemic virus movement. Building on this finding, we assessed the efficacy of in vivo produced hpRNA (hpTR-1 + 2) applied as a topical spray. The ability of hpRNA to trigger RNAi was confirmed by detecting 21 to 24 nt small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) in both locally treated and newly emerging leaves up to 12 days after application. Mungbean plants sprayed with hpTR-1 + 2 either on the day of infection or two days prior exhibited complete resistance to YMD. Furthermore, hpRNA treatment on plants already infected (two or four days post-infection) significantly reduced disease severity, demonstrating the theraeputic potential. Overall, our results demonstrate that the hpTR-1 + 2 multi-targeting strategy effectively controls YMD in mungbean and position topical dsRNA application as a sustainable, non-transgenic approach for plant disease management.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01651-w.