Plant Physiology and Biochemistry最新文献

{"title":"Light boosts cell proliferation and astaxanthin accumulation in nitrogen-starved Chromochloris zofingiensis via TOR signaling pathway","authors":"Min Gao ,&nbsp;Shiqing Jia ,&nbsp;Ziyu Chang ,&nbsp;Rudan Xue ,&nbsp;Congzhen Yan ,&nbsp;Zihan Meng ,&nbsp;Wenya Gong ,&nbsp;Shuang Sun ,&nbsp;Han Sun ,&nbsp;Baohua Zhao ,&nbsp;Zhao Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111059","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111059","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Light is a crucial regulatory factor for astaxanthin biosynthesis in microalgae under non-stress and abiotic stresses. However, its physiological impacts, molecular mechanisms and signaling pathway remain unclear. The present study showed that light could significantly promote the cell proliferation, nitrogen redistribution and astaxanthin accumulation via Target of Rapamycin (TOR) signaling pathway under nitrogen starvation condition. Compared with the dark condition, the cell density, protein content, astaxanthin content and TOR activity increased by 22 %, 100 %, 136 % and 335 % under 200 μmol m² s⁻¹ light intensity. But the above induction effects were significantly impaired by the inhibition of the TOR signaling pathway. Interestingly, the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was not positive regulator in light-induced astaxanthin accumulation, as it was decreased by light under nitrogen starvation condition. Comparative transcriptome analysis revealed that TOR-mediated light exposure upregulated the expression of key genes involved in energy production pathways, as well as carotenoid biosynthesis. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified genes such as MYB3R and bZIP as potential key regulatory genes downstream of TOR, contributing to high light-induced cell proliferation and carotenoid production. The whole-genome DNA methylation analysis suggested that TOR was involved in the suppression of global DNA methylation under high light, potentially facilitating gene expression. This study emphasized the regulatory mechanisms of TOR mediated light-induced astaxanthin accumulation, providing theoretical basis and induction strategy for astaxanthin production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 111059"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146066192","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative transcriptome and metabolome analyses identified key genes for carotenoid metabolic variation in Petunia and Calibrachoa","authors":"Guanqun Chen ,&nbsp;Junyan Song ,&nbsp;Yuanshan Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiaohui Shen ,&nbsp;Junsong Pan ,&nbsp;Jian Pan","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111051","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111051","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Carotenoids are widely distributed pigments that confer yellow and orange hues in flowers and fruits. <em>Petunia hybrida</em> and <em>Calibrachoa hybrida</em>, two closely related ornamental species, display distinct yellow flower pigmentation patterns. We developed a new <em>Petunia</em> inbred line '1408' (Pet-Yel) with vibrant yellow corollas, although they remained lighter than those of the deep-yellow <em>Calibrachoa</em> hybrid line '821H3' (Cal-Yel). In this study, we investigated the molecular and metabolic basis underlying yellow corolla coloration between them. By pair comparison of carotenoid metabolites between white and yellow corollas in each species, the formation of yellow corollas was primarily due to a significant increase in the levels of phytoene, β-carotene and violaxanthin. Esterified xanthophylls were notably enriched in Cal-Yel, suggesting enhanced xanthophyll esterification and improved pigment stability. To explore the underlying genetic mechanisms, we performed <em>de novo</em> transcriptome sequencing of Cal-Yel and conducted comparative analyses with published <em>Petunia</em> genome assemblies. Cal-Yel exhibited fewer gene copies in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway but showed higher expression of key genes including <em>PSY1-1</em>, <em>BCH1</em>, and <em>XES1</em>, consistent with its elevated carotenoid accumulation. Notably, <em>BCH1</em> and <em>BCH2</em> exhibited completely opposite expression patterns between the two yellow varieties, and <em>ChBCH1</em> was identified as a potential key regulator. Functional validation via transgenic overexpression of <em>ChBCH1</em> in <em>Petunia</em> resulted in a significant increase in zeaxanthin and β-cryptoxanthin content and enhanced yellow pigmentation. These results suggest that distinct transcriptional regulatory networks and enzymatic activities underlie the yellow pigmentation in <em>Petunia</em> and <em>Calibrachoa</em>. Our findings provide new insights into carotenoid metabolism and offer genetic resources for the molecular breeding of yellow-flowered ornamental plants.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 111051"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146053546","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"GmFIP37, a core m6A methyltransferase in soybean (Glycine max), confers salt and drought tolerance via synergistic regulation of m6A modification and antioxidant-osmolyte homeostasis","authors":"Peng Chen,&nbsp;Xu Wang,&nbsp;Meiling Qu,&nbsp;Caijin Wang,&nbsp;Dengjie Luo","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111082","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111082","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>RNA N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) modification, the most abundant epigenetic modification in eukaryotic mRNAs, regulates gene expression via modulating mRNA translation, degradation, and other post-transcriptional processes, and is critical for plant growth, development, and abiotic stress responses. Soybean (<em>Glycine max</em>), a globally vital food and oil crop, suffers severe yield and quality losses under salt and drought stresses; however, the functions of m⁶A regulatory genes, especially methyltransferases, in soybean abiotic stress responses remain largely uncharacterized. In this study, four GmFIP37 genes were identified in the soybean genome. Bioinformatic analyses revealed that GmFIP37 proteins have conserved physicochemical properties, harbor the core WTAP functional domain, and their promoters contain abundant abiotic stress-responsive cis-acting elements. Expression pattern analysis showed <em>GmFIP37</em> are ubiquitously expressed across soybean tissues (with the highest expression in stems and roots) and are rapidly induced under salt and PEG (drought-mimic) stresses. Subcellular localization assays confirmed GmFIP37 localizes to the nucleus. Functional validation demonstrated that heterologous expression of GmFIP37c in the yeast <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em> strain INVSc1 significantly enhanced yeast tolerance to salt and drought stresses. Overexpression of <em>GmFIP37c</em> in soybean hairy root composite plants increased total root m⁶A content, improved growth traits (e.g., root length, root surface area, plant height), and enhanced salt tolerance via increasing antioxidant enzyme (SOD, POD) activities and osmolyte (proline, betaine) contents while reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Conversely, virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of <em>GmFIP37c</em> in soybean reduced salt and drought tolerance. Additionally, heterologous overexpression of <em>GmFIP37c</em> in <em>Arabidopsis thaliana</em> promoted seedling growth and improved tolerance to both stresses. Collectively, our findings indicate that GmFIP37 acts as a key component of the soybean m⁶A methyltransferase complex and positively regulates soybean responses to salt and drought stresses by modulating m⁶A modification. This study provides novel insights into the epigenetic regulatory mechanisms underlying soybean abiotic stress tolerance and lays a foundation for the genetic improvement of stress-resistant soybean varieties.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 111082"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Deciphering the potential of biocontrol agents for managing mycotoxin in chickpea: Mechanistic insights and functional dynamics","authors":"Satyam Rastogi ,&nbsp;Sonal Srivastava ,&nbsp;Akhand P. Singh ,&nbsp;Srishti Kar ,&nbsp;Shashank Kumar Mishra ,&nbsp;Sumit Yadav ,&nbsp;Poonam C. Singh ,&nbsp;Sandip Kumar Behera ,&nbsp;Suchi Srivastava","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111070","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111070","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plants are constantly exposed to wide variety of soil-borne phytopathogens, with <em>Fusarium oxysporum</em> being a major obstacle to crop productivity. Conventional control methods primarily rely on fumigants and chemical pesticides, which disrupt soil microbial communities and the ecosystem balance. When pathogens infect, plants activate stress responses such as strengthening of cell walls, regulation of reactive oxygen species, and production of antimicrobial compounds, often through metabolic reprogramming. Given the limitations of chemical pesticides and the soil-borne nature of the pathogen, this study investigates the mechanism of biocontrol agents (BCAs) as a sustainable strategy for managing Fusarium wilt in chickpea (<em>Cicer arietinum</em>). Two BCAs, <em>Paenibacillus lentimorbus</em> (NBRI-CHM12) and <em>Bacillus amyloliquefaciens</em> (NBRI-SN13), were tested for their antagonistic effects against <em>F. oxysporum</em>. Their effectiveness was evaluated under both greenhouse and microplot conditions to understand their role in disease suppression. Metabolomic analysis of chickpea plants identified specific saccharide derivatives linked to each BCA. CHM12 was associated with fructose, glucose, galactose, ribofuranose, glucopyranoside, xylopyranose, malic acid, arabitol, ribitol, hexadecanoic acid, and oleic acid; while, SN13 was linked with mannose, xylofuranose, sorbopyranose, glucopyranoside, galactopyranoside, xylitol, and trimethyl ester of glucitol. These findings indicate different defense mechanisms activated by each BCA. Both BCAs modulated cell wall hydrolases and antioxidant systems, improved soil microbial health, and notably decreased <em>Fusarium</em>-associated zearalenone levels in seeds by 77.3 % (CHM12) and 77.5 % (SN13) under greenhouse conditions. Overall, the results revealed the distinct pathways by which <em>P. lentimorbus</em> and <em>B. amyloliquefaciens</em> work and demonstrated their potential as biopesticides for sustainable control of Fusarium wilt in chickpea.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 111070"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078582","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ectopic overexpression of CpFT from ‘Manaohong’ cherry: Promoting floral induction and floral organ development in tobacco under rain shelter cultivation","authors":"Tao Tang ,&nbsp;Jinyu Wu ,&nbsp;Juan Fu ,&nbsp;Yuqing Wang ,&nbsp;Guang Qiao ,&nbsp;Yi Hong ,&nbsp;Tian Tian","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111078","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111078","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The <em>Flowering locus T</em> (<em>FT</em>) is pivotal in integrating photoperiod signals to regulate plant floral transition and flowering. The FT protein is generally synthesized in leaves and translocated to the shoot apical meristem, where it interacts with FD to initiate flowering. Light intensity as a component of photoperiod signaling and a dynamically fluctuating factor in field light environments, however, the molecular mechanisms by which <em>FT</em> integrates changes in light intensity to regulate flowering in Chinese cherry remain unclear. Morphological analysis of flower buds and electron microscopic examination of pollen structures demonstrated that rain shelter (RS) extended the flowering period and enhanced the quantity and quality of flower buds. The expression levels of <em>CpFT</em> and <em>CpFD</em> genes were significantly up-regulated in various tissues under RS in the field. Based on these findings, it is hypothesized that <em>FT</em> exhibits a distinct response mechanism to changes in the light environment, thereby facilitating the regulation of floral induction under low-light conditions. Subsequently, plasmid recombination was carried out using seamless cloning technology, and tobacco was genetically transformed through leaf disc transformation. In addition, the ectopic overexpression of <em>CpFT</em> in tobacco promoted the expression of floral induction key genes, leading to the flowering time being advanced by 5–8 days, increased the number of flower buds and lateral buds, and staining rate increased by 58 % and the germination rate rose by 7 times. Furthermore, yeast two-hybrid and luciferase complementation assays confirmed the interaction between CpFT and CpFD. Combined with field observations of the ‘Manaohong’ cherry, these findings revealed that CpFT and CpFD constitute a signaling module in response to light intensity. This module positively regulates reproductive transitions and flowering time in cherries under low-light conditions, serving as a valuable reference for supplementing <em>FT</em> and <em>FD</em> to regulate floral induction in response to changes in the light environment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 111078"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cytological and metabolic mechanisms underlying grapevine resistance to Coniella vitis","authors":"Yuwei Li ,&nbsp;Chunyao Cui ,&nbsp;Xiukai Zhang ,&nbsp;Weile Lei ,&nbsp;Junying Wang ,&nbsp;Xiping Wang ,&nbsp;Zhi Li","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111063","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111063","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Grape white rot caused by <em>Coniella</em> species is one of the most serious fungal diseases of grape, leading to yield losses and quality reduction. Utilizing or breeding white rot–resistant grapevine is an important disease management strategy. This study evaluated the <em>Coniella vitis</em> resistance of 53 grape genotypes from 13 grape species and two interspecific hybrids. Most genotypes were susceptible, and disease resistance did not depend on grape species. No correlation was found between the <em>C. vitis</em> resistance of grape fruit and leaves. The resistant genotype ‘Shine Muscat’ and susceptible genotype ‘Manicure Finger’ were selected for cytological and metabolic studies. Compared with the susceptible genotype ‘Manicure Finger,’ the resistant genotype ‘Shine Muscat’ exhibited lower conidial germination rates and fewer infective hyphae in its leaf and berry tissues after inoculation with <em>C. vitis</em> as revealed by microscopy observation. After inoculation with <em>C. vitis</em>, the susceptible grape genotype showed higher H₂O₂ content in its leaf and berry tissues than the resistant grape genotype. Polyphenolic metabolites substantially accumulated in the berries of the susceptible genotype ‘Manicure Finger.’ Protocatechuic acid, catechin, epicatechin, and hyperoside significantly inhibited the conidial germination of <em>C. vitis</em> in a concentration-independent manner and exhibited a significant control effect on the white rot in grape leaves and berries. The findings of this work lay the foundation for breeding <em>C. vitis</em>–resistant grapes and enhance the understanding of the defense responses to <em>C. vitis</em> in different grape varieties.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 111063"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078581","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biosynthesis of volatile sesquiterpenoid active components in Nekemias grossedentata (Vine Tea) roots","authors":"Ben Deng ,&nbsp;Rensen Yuan ,&nbsp;Yingmei Wu ,&nbsp;Yunluo Zhang ,&nbsp;Guanqiong Yan ,&nbsp;Chong Yuan ,&nbsp;Zhen Yan ,&nbsp;Fangyuan Xiang ,&nbsp;Miyuan Tian ,&nbsp;Yifei Liu ,&nbsp;Bisheng Huang ,&nbsp;Xingyao Xiong ,&nbsp;Junbo Gou","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111055","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111055","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Vine tea (<em>Nekemias grossedentata</em>), a medicinal and edible plant, produces volatile sesquiterpenoids that remain underexplored despite their important roles in ecological adaptation and bioactive compound synthesis. While volatile sesquiterpenoids are well-established as key contributors to aroma, defense, and therapeutic properties in other plants, their biosynthetic pathways in vine tea are poorly characterized. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic investigation integrating multi-omics analyses and functional genomics. Metabolic profiling revealed a root-specific accumulation pattern for volatile sesquiterpenoids. Genome-wide identification uncovered 84 terpene synthase (<em>NgTPS</em>) genes, with family expansion primarily driven by tandem duplications. We functionally characterized ten <em>NgTPS</em> genes through heterologous expression in yeast and <em>in vitro</em> enzymatic assays using purified proteins. These enzymes collectively produced 23 sesquiterpenoids and 5 monoterpenes, several of which are known fragrance contributors. Furthermore, we achieved <em>de novo</em> synthesis of these volatile sesquiterpenoids in the high-terpene-yielding yeast chassis EPY300, with shake-flask titers reaching 3.00–21.51 mg L⁻¹. This work establishes a foundation for elucidating the biosynthetic pathways of volatile sesquiterpenoids in vine tea and for harnessing these compounds in food, pharmaceutical, and agricultural applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 111055"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078586","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Composition and ultrastructure changes of leaf cuticle wax during the air-curing process in cigars","authors":"Rui Yan ,&nbsp;Aijun Li ,&nbsp;Weili Yang ,&nbsp;Yunkang Lei ,&nbsp;Yanqing Qin ,&nbsp;Zhaopeng Song","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111074","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111074","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The quality of cigar tobacco leaves (CTLs) is considerably influenced by color changes that occur during the air-curing process, which are mainly regulated by polyphenols and membrane lipid peroxidation. Cuticular waxes form the outermost lipid layer covering the surface of plants, and their specific responses during CTL air-curing remain unclear. This study comprehensively investigated the changes in the morphology, appearance, and chemical composition of cuticular waxes. The contents of different lipids in CTLs changed significantly during air-curing, and the contents of ceramide, hexosylceramide and fatty acids in CTLs increased significantly, and cuticular wax was an important part of plant lipids. In terms of microstructure, as the air-curing process progressed, the cuticular wax structure of the CTL collapsed and fragmented, and the volume and density of wax crystals increased. In terms of chemical composition, long-chain fatty acids and esters in fatty compounds and sterols and tocopherols in cyclic components decreased. The results showed that the cuticular wax gradually degraded during the air-curing process, and the changes in the microstructure and chemical composition of cuticular waxes corresponded to the color changes of the CTLs throughout this process. Therefore, cuticular waxes may have an indirect effect in regulating color changes during the tobacco air-curing process. These findings underscore the indirect influence of cuticular wax dynamics on CTL quality during air-curing, offering valuable insights to guide improvements in tobacco leaf processing and product refinement.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 111074"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038042","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Priming plants to withstand drought tolerance: Systemic responses of tomato plants mediated by a root-residing fungal endophyte","authors":"Maria Feka ,&nbsp;Olga Tsiouri ,&nbsp;María Manresa ,&nbsp;Sotirios Vasileiadis ,&nbsp;Victor Flors ,&nbsp;Kalliope K. Papadopoulou","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111058","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111058","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Fusarium solani</em> strain K (FsK) is a beneficial root-residing fungal endophyte previously shown to enhance tomato resilience to biotic stresses. Here, we evaluated whether FsK also improves drought tolerance and investigated the underlying molecular and metabolic mechanisms. Tomato plants were inoculated with FsK or mock-treated and subjected to either well-watered or reduced-irrigation conditions. Physiological measurements, transcriptome profiling (RNA-seq), targeted hormone quantification, and untargeted metabolomic analyses were performed on leaf tissues to assess systemic plant responses. FsK-colonized plants exhibited enhanced drought tolerance, displaying higher relative water content and biomass accumulation compared with non-inoculated stressed plants. RNA-seq analysis revealed differential regulation of genes associated with abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonic acid (JA) signaling, WRKY transcription factors, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling MAPK pathways, and stress-responsive regulators, including several transcripts showing priming-type expression patterns. Metabolomic profiling showed a strong effect of FsK on leaf metabolic composition, with significant increases in ABA, JA, and specific metabolites such as kaempferol derivatives, D-glucosamine, and malic acid. Overall, our findings demonstrate that FsK primes tomato plants for drought tolerance through coordinated modulation of hormonal signaling, transcriptional regulation, and metabolic adjustment, providing insight into systemic mechanisms underlying endophyte-mediated stress resilience.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 111058"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038170","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative transcriptomic and correlation analyses revealed the vital role of PoCHX18 in the salt stress response of purslane (Portulaca oleracea)","authors":"Jincheng Xing ,&nbsp;Guoli Sun ,&nbsp;Jing Dong ,&nbsp;Tingting He ,&nbsp;Sunan He ,&nbsp;Xiaomei Zhu ,&nbsp;Yexiong Qian","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111049","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111049","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Portulaca oleracea</em>, a salt-tolerant plant endowed with both medicinal and nutritional properties, represents a high-value crop with significant potential for cultivation in saline-alkali agricultural systems. However, the salt tolerance regulatory mechanism of this organism remains incompletely characterized, with the functional roles of cation/H⁺ transporters being particularly poorly understood. In this study, transcriptomic sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed genes in the roots and shoots of <em>P. oleracea</em> under salt stress conditions, with the aim of elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying salt stress responses in <em>P. oleracea</em> and uncovering the functional roles of key regulatory genes. Through integrated gene co-expression analysis, the candidate gene <em>PoCHX18</em>, which exhibited a strong association with salt stress response, was identified from RNA-Seq data. <em>PoCHX18</em> belonged to the cation/H⁺ antiporter family, while subcellular localization assays confirmed its membrane localization. The heterologous expression of <em>PoCHX18</em> in <em>Arabidopsis</em> markedly enhanced seed germination rates and primary root elongation of seedlings under salt stress conditions, while protecting the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging system and decreasing water loss rate. Further investigations revealed that <em>PoCHX18</em> modulated Na⁺ and K⁺ ion homeostasis in both leaf and root tissues of transgenic lines, concomitantly with a significant upregulation of sodium transporter-associated genes, including <em>AtHKT1</em>, <em>AtNHX2</em>, <em>AtSOS3</em>, and particularly <em>AtNRT1.1</em>. Overall, this study elucidates the vital role and regulatory mechanism of <em>PoCHX18</em> in the salt stress response of <em>P. oleracea</em>, thereby providing novel molecular insights into the adaptive evolutionary mechanisms of salt-tolerant plants, along with valuable genetic resources and theoretical frameworks for the genetic enhancement of salt-tolerant crops.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 111049"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038043","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}