Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111121
Jingli Ding , Chenchen Ji , Wencong Han , Ao Zhang , Sheliang Wang , Chuang Wang , Guangda Ding , Lei Shi , Fangsen Xu , Hongmei Cai
Root system plays a crucial role in plant survival and normal growth. Identifying molecular determinants that optimize root system is an important strategy to improve yield production in crops. Here, we demonstrated an LRR-RLK (Leucine-Rich Repeat Receptor-Like Kinase), OsXIAO, which has an important function in rice root growth. The high expression level of OsXIAO was observed in rice roots, which was increased by IAA. Mutation of OsXIAO caused partially agravitropic root growth phenotype with short and curled roots, and severely repressed plant growth and grain production, while overexpressing of OsXIAO significantly promoted root growth and grain production. OsXIAO mutant showed reduced sensitivity to IAA and significantly lower IAA level in the root tips, while the overexpressing lines showed higher IAA level in the root tips. RNAseq analysis showed that 37 genes involved in auxin biosynthesis, signal transduction, and transmembrane transport were differentially expressed, and phosphoproteomic analyses revealed that the phosphorylation levels of 284th Thr and 288th Ser residues of OsPIN1a were significantly down-regulated in the roots of mutant. Moreover, Y2H (Yeast Two-Hybrid, LUC (Luciferase), and BIFC (Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation) assays confirmed that OsXIAO could interact with OsPIN1a on the plasma membrane. Similar to OsXIAO, OsPIN1a was highly expressed in rice roots and induced by IAA, and the root growth was significantly inhibited in OsPIN1a mutants. Taken together, OsXIAO interacts with OsPIN1a on the plasma membrane and promoted auxin transport in rice roots, which improves root growth and elevates yield production.
{"title":"The LRR receptor-like kinase OsXIAO regulates rice root growth by interacting with auxin transporter OsPIN1a","authors":"Jingli Ding , Chenchen Ji , Wencong Han , Ao Zhang , Sheliang Wang , Chuang Wang , Guangda Ding , Lei Shi , Fangsen Xu , Hongmei Cai","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111121","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111121","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Root system plays a crucial role in plant survival and normal growth. Identifying molecular determinants that optimize root system is an important strategy to improve yield production in crops. Here, we demonstrated an LRR-RLK (Leucine-Rich Repeat Receptor-Like Kinase), OsXIAO, which has an important function in rice root growth. The high expression level of <em>OsXIAO</em> was observed in rice roots, which was increased by IAA. Mutation of <em>OsXIAO</em> caused partially agravitropic root growth phenotype with short and curled roots, and severely repressed plant growth and grain production, while overexpressing of <em>OsXIAO</em> significantly promoted root growth and grain production. <em>OsXIAO</em> mutant showed reduced sensitivity to IAA and significantly lower IAA level in the root tips, while the overexpressing lines showed higher IAA level in the root tips. RNAseq analysis showed that 37 genes involved in auxin biosynthesis, signal transduction, and transmembrane transport were differentially expressed, and phosphoproteomic analyses revealed that the phosphorylation levels of 284th Thr and 288th Ser residues of OsPIN1a were significantly down-regulated in the roots of mutant. Moreover, Y2H (Yeast Two-Hybrid, LUC (Luciferase), and BIFC (Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation) assays confirmed that OsXIAO could interact with OsPIN1a on the plasma membrane. Similar to <em>OsXIAO</em>, <em>OsPIN1a</em> was highly expressed in rice roots and induced by IAA, and the root growth was significantly inhibited in <em>OsPIN1a</em> mutants. Taken together, OsXIAO interacts with OsPIN1a on the plasma membrane and promoted auxin transport in rice roots, which improves root growth and elevates yield production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"232 ","pages":"Article 111121"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146165319","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}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-17DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111151
Zhanyu Wang , Luping Ma , Chunyun Zhou , Mengyu Zhao , Jia Yang , Yongzhi Qi , Zemiao Tian , Lixia Cao , Muriel Quinet , Yu Meng , Jiadong He
Aurora kinases are pivotal regulators of cell division, yet their roles in plant abiotic stress responses remain largely unexplored. While melatonin is a well-established protectant against drought, the upstream genetic pathways governing its biosynthesis under stress are not fully understood, limiting our ability to engineer robust drought tolerance. Here, we identify the buckwheat Aurora kinase, FeAUR3, as a critical upstream regulator of the melatonin-mediated drought response. In transgenic Arabidopsis, overexpression lines exhibited a marked enhancement in antioxidant capacity, with superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities increasing by up to 3.75-fold and 3.35-fold, respectively, alongside a 66.14% increase in proline accumulation and a 37.50% reduction in H2O2 content. Similarly, in buckwheat hairy roots, FeAUR3 overexpression strongly activated the antioxidant system, elevating SOD activity by up to 7.50-fold. Mechanistically, the nucleus-localized FeAUR3 directly upregulates the expression of melatonin biosynthesis genes FeAANAT and FeHIOMT, leading to a 23.6% elevation in endogenous melatonin levels, which initiates a coordinated defense response. Furthermore, we discovered that melatonin acts as an upstream positive regulator, further inducing FeAUR3 expression (by 1.12-fold under drought) to form a positive feedback loop that amplifies stress signaling. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations confirmed that melatonin stably binds to FeAUR3 with high affinity (binding energy: −7.2 kcal mol−1). In summary, this study elucidates a FeAUR3-melatonin regulatory module that orchestrates drought adaptation in plants via a synergistic positive feedback loop and a dual defense mechanism. Our findings extend the functional paradigm of Aurora kinases into abiotic stress biology and establish FeAUR3 as a mechanistically validated target for engineering drought-resilient crops.
{"title":"Buckwheat FeAUR3 enhances drought tolerance via a melatonin feedback loop","authors":"Zhanyu Wang , Luping Ma , Chunyun Zhou , Mengyu Zhao , Jia Yang , Yongzhi Qi , Zemiao Tian , Lixia Cao , Muriel Quinet , Yu Meng , Jiadong He","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111151","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111151","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aurora kinases are pivotal regulators of cell division, yet their roles in plant abiotic stress responses remain largely unexplored. While melatonin is a well-established protectant against drought, the upstream genetic pathways governing its biosynthesis under stress are not fully understood, limiting our ability to engineer robust drought tolerance. Here, we identify the buckwheat Aurora kinase, FeAUR3, as a critical upstream regulator of the melatonin-mediated drought response. In transgenic <em>Arabidopsis</em>, overexpression lines exhibited a marked enhancement in antioxidant capacity, with superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities increasing by up to 3.75-fold and 3.35-fold, respectively, alongside a 66.14% increase in proline accumulation and a 37.50% reduction in H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> content. Similarly, in buckwheat hairy roots, <em>FeAUR3</em> overexpression strongly activated the antioxidant system, elevating SOD activity by up to 7.50-fold. Mechanistically, the nucleus-localized FeAUR3 directly upregulates the expression of melatonin biosynthesis genes <em>FeAANAT</em> and <em>FeHIOMT</em>, leading to a 23.6% elevation in endogenous melatonin levels, which initiates a coordinated defense response. Furthermore, we discovered that melatonin acts as an upstream positive regulator, further inducing <em>FeAUR3</em> expression (by 1.12-fold under drought) to form a positive feedback loop that amplifies stress signaling. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations confirmed that melatonin stably binds to FeAUR3 with high affinity (binding energy: −7.2 kcal mol<sup>−1</sup>). In summary, this study elucidates a FeAUR3-melatonin regulatory module that orchestrates drought adaptation in plants via a synergistic positive feedback loop and a dual defense mechanism. Our findings extend the functional paradigm of Aurora kinases into abiotic stress biology and establish FeAUR3 as a mechanistically validated target for engineering drought-resilient crops.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"232 ","pages":"Article 111151"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146228156","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}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-13DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111122
Yohaily Rodríguez-Alvarez , Basilio Carrasco , Claudio Meneses , Carlos Maureira-Peralta , Darvin Cobis , Bárbara Arévalo , Aníbal Riveros , M. Fernanda Arias-Santé , Ricardo A. Cabeza , Raquel Bridi , Adriano Costa de Camargo , Andrés R. Schwember
Chilean common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) landraces belong to the Andean gene pool, and they are an important genetic resource for seed coat color and antioxidant-related phenolic composition. This study shows that the Chilean landrace ‘Peumo’ accumulates between 4 and 30-fold higher levels of condensed tannins, including the flavan-3-ols catechin and epicatechin, in the seed coat than the light grey ‘Tórtola’ landrace during grain filling. The largest quantitative differences were observed under deficit irrigation. To explore the molecular basis of these contrasting seed coat colors under water deficit, we combined targeted phenolic profiling with RNA-seq analysis of seed coat tissue from plants grown under deficit irrigation. Four differentially expressed genes (Phvul.007G206000, Phvul.002G079300, Phvul.010G090300 and Phvul.009G040700) were identified as candidate genes potentially associated with flavan-3-ols production and accumulation. In addition, 962 and 483 differentially expressed genes were detected at stages R8 and R9, respectively, reflecting extensive transcriptional reprogramming during late grain filling. Among the candidates, Phvul.002G079300, annotated as a short hypocotyl 1-like gene involved in light signaling, showed coherent differential expression between landraces in RNA-seq and significant up-regulation in ‘Peumo’ at R9 by RT-qPCR, whereas the remaining genes displayed non-significant but biologically suggestive expression trends. Altogether, these results support a working model in which seed coat color differences between ‘Peumo’ and ‘Tórtola’ arise from the combined effects of phenylpropanoid-derived flavan-3-ol accumulation, and the differential expression of regulatory genes linked to light and stress signaling under water deficit, and they highlight the need for broader germplasm coverage and functional studies to establish causal relationships.
{"title":"Differential expression of proanthocyanidin-related candidate genes in contrasting seed coat colors of Chilean common bean landraces under deficit irrigation","authors":"Yohaily Rodríguez-Alvarez , Basilio Carrasco , Claudio Meneses , Carlos Maureira-Peralta , Darvin Cobis , Bárbara Arévalo , Aníbal Riveros , M. Fernanda Arias-Santé , Ricardo A. Cabeza , Raquel Bridi , Adriano Costa de Camargo , Andrés R. Schwember","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111122","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111122","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chilean common bean (<em>Phaseolus vulgaris L</em>.) landraces belong to the Andean gene pool, and they are an important genetic resource for seed coat color and antioxidant-related phenolic composition. This study shows that the Chilean landrace ‘Peumo’ accumulates between 4 and 30-fold higher levels of condensed tannins, including the flavan-3-ols catechin and epicatechin, in the seed coat than the light grey ‘Tórtola’ landrace during grain filling. The largest quantitative differences were observed under deficit irrigation. To explore the molecular basis of these contrasting seed coat colors under water deficit, we combined targeted phenolic profiling with RNA-seq analysis of seed coat tissue from plants grown under deficit irrigation. Four differentially expressed genes (<em>Phvul.007G206000</em>, <em>Phvul.002G079300</em>, <em>Phvul.010G090300</em> and <em>Phvul.009G040700</em>) were identified as candidate genes potentially associated with flavan-3-ols production and accumulation. In addition, 962 and 483 differentially expressed genes were detected at stages R8 and R9, respectively, reflecting extensive transcriptional reprogramming during late grain filling. Among the candidates, Phvul.002G079300, annotated as a short hypocotyl 1-like gene involved in light signaling, showed coherent differential expression between landraces in RNA-seq and significant up-regulation in ‘Peumo’ at R9 by RT-qPCR, whereas the remaining genes displayed non-significant but biologically suggestive expression trends. Altogether, these results support a working model in which seed coat color differences between ‘Peumo’ and ‘Tórtola’ arise from the combined effects of phenylpropanoid-derived flavan-3-ol accumulation, and the differential expression of regulatory genes linked to light and stress signaling under water deficit, and they highlight the need for broader germplasm coverage and functional studies to establish causal relationships.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"232 ","pages":"Article 111122"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146228160","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}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-24DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111160
Minhang Hu , Rui Li , Yinshuai Tian , Lei Huang , Xiaoxia Chen , Liang Liu , Guoqiang Li , Lihua Hao , Yunpu Zheng
Abiotic stresses often occur concurrently with global changes, especially the combination of salt stress and elevated CO2 concentration ([CO2]) is a common phenomenon in salt-affected soils throughout the world. The synergistic regulatory mechanisms of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants in response to combined salt stress and elevated [CO2] are still poorly understood. This study aimed to reveal the potential mechanisms of elevated [CO2] modulating leaf photosynthesis of tobacco plants subjected to salt stress by integrating physiological, transcriptional, and metabolomics analyses. The results showed that elevated [CO2] significantly enhanced the photosynthetic and carbon assimilation capacity of tobacco plants by increasing the carboxylation efficiency of Rubisco, which counteracted damage to the photosynthetic system, mitigated water imbalance, and reduced ion toxicity caused by salt stress, thus alleviating the negative physiological effects on tobacco plants. This response was mechanistically linked to metabolic reprogramming: glyoxylate-derived succinate entered the tricarboxylic acid cycle to support adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) production for antioxidant enzymes, while intermediates served as precursors for sucrose synthesis. At the same time, elevated [CO2] promoted photosynthetic carbon fixation, leading to a heightened triose phosphate flux toward starch and sucrose biosynthesis and accumulation. These carbohydrates functioned as osmoprotectants, conserving energy that would otherwise be expended in antioxidant synthesis. Thus, under future climate scenarios where elevated [CO2] coincides with intensified soil salinization, salt-induced suppression of photosynthetic carbon assimilation should be rigorously accounted for to avoid overestimation of the CO2 fertilization effect. This study provides novel insights into plant salt tolerance mechanisms, guiding precision breeding and exogenous modulation strategies for stress-resilient crops.
{"title":"Integrating multi-omics reveals the mechanisms of elevated [CO2] enhances salt tolerance of tobacco plants with a photosynthetic regulatory network","authors":"Minhang Hu , Rui Li , Yinshuai Tian , Lei Huang , Xiaoxia Chen , Liang Liu , Guoqiang Li , Lihua Hao , Yunpu Zheng","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111160","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111160","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Abiotic stresses often occur concurrently with global changes, especially the combination of salt stress and elevated CO<sub>2</sub> concentration ([CO<sub>2</sub>]) is a common phenomenon in salt-affected soils throughout the world. The synergistic regulatory mechanisms of tobacco (<em>Nicotiana tabacum</em> L.) plants in response to combined salt stress and elevated [CO<sub>2</sub>] are still poorly understood. This study aimed to reveal the potential mechanisms of elevated [CO<sub>2</sub>] modulating leaf photosynthesis of tobacco plants subjected to salt stress by integrating physiological, transcriptional, and metabolomics analyses. The results showed that elevated [CO<sub>2</sub>] significantly enhanced the photosynthetic and carbon assimilation capacity of tobacco plants by increasing the carboxylation efficiency of Rubisco, which counteracted damage to the photosynthetic system, mitigated water imbalance, and reduced ion toxicity caused by salt stress, thus alleviating the negative physiological effects on tobacco plants. This response was mechanistically linked to metabolic reprogramming: glyoxylate-derived succinate entered the tricarboxylic acid cycle to support adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) production for antioxidant enzymes, while intermediates served as precursors for sucrose synthesis. At the same time, elevated [CO<sub>2</sub>] promoted photosynthetic carbon fixation, leading to a heightened triose phosphate flux toward starch and sucrose biosynthesis and accumulation. These carbohydrates functioned as osmoprotectants, conserving energy that would otherwise be expended in antioxidant synthesis. Thus, under future climate scenarios where elevated [CO<sub>2</sub>] coincides with intensified soil salinization, salt-induced suppression of photosynthetic carbon assimilation should be rigorously accounted for to avoid overestimation of the CO<sub>2</sub> fertilization effect. This study provides novel insights into plant salt tolerance mechanisms, guiding precision breeding and exogenous modulation strategies for stress-resilient crops.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"232 ","pages":"Article 111160"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147321925","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}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-27DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111165
Jiamin Cao , Yizhi Huang , Dian Yu , Tingting Wang , Jiaqi Yang , Peng Li , Yunwei Zhang , Hui Wang
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a globally cultivated leguminous forage crop, where plant height constitutes a critical determinant of biomass yield. In the study, we identified a gene encoding a Domain of Unknown Function (DUF)-containing protein, designated MsDUF3700. Transgenic alfalfa overexpressing MsDUF3700 exhibited significant increases in plant height, stem diameter, and above-ground biomass. To delineate the underlying molecular mechanism, we performed yeast two-hybrid screening and identified MsSLEEPY1 (MsSLY1), an F-box protein, as a putative interacting partner of MsDUF3700. The interaction between MsDUF3700 and MsSLY1 was subsequently confirmed by multiple in vitro and in planta assays. We further characterized the function of MsSLY1 in Arabidopsis thaliana, demonstrating that ectopic expression of MsSLY1 rescued the characteristic growth defects of the sly1 mutant, including impaired cotyledon expansion and reduced shoot elongation. Biochemical analyses, including cell-free degradation assays and transient expression experiments in Nicotiana benthamiana, revealed that the MsDUF3700-MsSLY1 complex promotes DELLA protein degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, thereby modulating GA signaling. Consistent with this mechanism, genetic analysis showed that overexpression of MsDUF3700 in the sly1 mutant background partially alleviated the dwarf phenotype, supporting a SLY1-dependent role of MsDUF3700 in regulating plant growth. Taken together, these findings uncover a novel function for MsDUF3700 in mediating stem elongation through the MsSLY1-DELLA regulatory module. This study advances our understanding of the genetic and molecular mechanisms governing shoot development in leguminous species and identifies MsDUF3700 as a promising candidate for improving plant architecture and forage yield in alfalfa.
{"title":"MsDUF3700 regulates plant growth via SLY1-mediated DELLA degradation in alfalfa and Arabidopsis","authors":"Jiamin Cao , Yizhi Huang , Dian Yu , Tingting Wang , Jiaqi Yang , Peng Li , Yunwei Zhang , Hui Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111165","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111165","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Alfalfa (<em>Medicago sativa</em> L.) is a globally cultivated leguminous forage crop, where plant height constitutes a critical determinant of biomass yield. In the study, we identified a gene encoding a Domain of Unknown Function (DUF)-containing protein, designated <em>MsDUF3700</em>. Transgenic alfalfa overexpressing <em>MsDUF3700</em> exhibited significant increases in plant height, stem diameter, and above-ground biomass. To delineate the underlying molecular mechanism, we performed yeast two-hybrid screening and identified MsSLEEPY1 (MsSLY1), an F-box protein, as a putative interacting partner of MsDUF3700. The interaction between MsDUF3700 and MsSLY1 was subsequently confirmed by multiple in vitro and in planta assays. We further characterized the function of <em>MsSLY1</em> in <em>Arabidopsis thaliana</em>, demonstrating that ectopic expression of <em>MsSLY1</em> rescued the characteristic growth defects of the <em>sly1</em> mutant, including impaired cotyledon expansion and reduced shoot elongation. Biochemical analyses, including cell-free degradation assays and transient expression experiments in <em>Nicotiana benthamiana</em>, revealed that the MsDUF3700-MsSLY1 complex promotes DELLA protein degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, thereby modulating GA signaling. Consistent with this mechanism, genetic analysis showed that overexpression of MsDUF3700 in the <em>sly1</em> mutant background partially alleviated the dwarf phenotype, supporting a SLY1-dependent role of <em>MsDUF3700</em> in regulating plant growth. Taken together, these findings uncover a novel function for MsDUF3700 in mediating stem elongation through the MsSLY1-DELLA regulatory module. This study advances our understanding of the genetic and molecular mechanisms governing shoot development in leguminous species and identifies MsDUF3700 as a promising candidate for improving plant architecture and forage yield in alfalfa.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"232 ","pages":"Article 111165"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147349041","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}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-11DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111134
Qianwen Liu , Shuyu Chen , Yake Wang , Sijia Wang , Ruijin Zhou , Gang Kou
Peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) is one of the most widely cultivated economic fruit crops worldwide. However, saline-alkali stress poses substantial challenges to its cultivation and production. This study investigated the synergistic response of peach roots and their rhizosphere microbiota to saline-alkali stress. We examined alterations in the rhizosphere bacterial community and its functional characteristics under such stress using 16S rRNA and metagenomic sequencing. The results indicated a significant enrichment of the genus Pseudomonas in the rhizosphere, accompanied by enhanced functional potential related to cell motility, biofilm formation, and signal transduction. Nine Pseudomonas strains were isolated from the stressed rhizosphere, all of which exhibited plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits in vitro, among which strains R8 showed the most comprehensive PGP profile and most significantly enhanced plant growth in pot experiments. Physiological and transcriptomic analyses demonstrated that R8 inoculation upregulates key genes involved in fatty acid (e.g., FAD, KCS, PAS) and flavonoid biosynthesis (e.g., CHS, CHI, F3H, FLS). This transcriptional reprogramming enhanced membrane stability (increased proline content) and antioxidant capacity (higher flavonoid levels), leading to systemic improvement in saline-alkali tolerance. This study reveals the adaptive strategy of peach to saline-alkali stress mediated by rhizobacteria and highlights the potential of R8 as a microbial inoculant for sustainable cultivation.
{"title":"Prunus persica (L.) Batsch root enriched Pseudomonas for enhanced saline-alkali tolerance by inducing fatty acid and flavonoid biosynthesis","authors":"Qianwen Liu , Shuyu Chen , Yake Wang , Sijia Wang , Ruijin Zhou , Gang Kou","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111134","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111134","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Peach (<em>Prunus persica</em> (L.) Batsch) is one of the most widely cultivated economic fruit crops worldwide. However, saline-alkali stress poses substantial challenges to its cultivation and production. This study investigated the synergistic response of peach roots and their rhizosphere microbiota to saline-alkali stress. We examined alterations in the rhizosphere bacterial community and its functional characteristics under such stress using 16S rRNA and metagenomic sequencing. The results indicated a significant enrichment of the genus <em>Pseudomonas</em> in the rhizosphere, accompanied by enhanced functional potential related to cell motility, biofilm formation, and signal transduction. Nine <em>Pseudomonas</em> strains were isolated from the stressed rhizosphere, all of which exhibited plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits in vitro, among which strains R8 showed the most comprehensive PGP profile and most significantly enhanced plant growth in pot experiments. Physiological and transcriptomic analyses demonstrated that R8 inoculation upregulates key genes involved in fatty acid (e.g., <em>FAD</em>, <em>KCS</em>, <em>PAS</em>) and flavonoid biosynthesis (e.g., <em>CHS</em>, <em>CHI</em>, <em>F3H</em>, <em>FLS</em>). This transcriptional reprogramming enhanced membrane stability (increased proline content) and antioxidant capacity (higher flavonoid levels), leading to systemic improvement in saline-alkali tolerance. This study reveals the adaptive strategy of peach to saline-alkali stress mediated by rhizobacteria and highlights the potential of R8 as a microbial inoculant for sustainable cultivation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"232 ","pages":"Article 111134"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146192717","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}
Lignin deposition in plant cell walls influences plant growth and its production efficiency in industry. The lignification process involves complex biosynthetic pathways requiring coordinated gene interactions and is regulated by transcriptional networks mediated through transcription factor-DNA interactions. In Salix matsudana, exogenous ethephon application induced a dwarfing phenotype with reduced lignin accumulation in stems. Transcriptomic analysis of ethephon-treated samples identified Sm4CL11, a key gene involved in lignin biosynthesis. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of Sm4CL11 reproduced the dwarfing phenotype and decreased lignin deposition. Histochemical staining and Raman microspectroscopy revealed that Sm4CL11 regulates lignin content and spatial deposition patterns in vessel cell walls, confirming its essential role in the lignin biosynthetic pathway. WGCNA and promoter cis-element analysis identified SmERF B3-4, an upstream transcriptional regulator of Sm4CL11. Yeast one-hybrid assays and dual luciferase reporter assay (LUC) assays demonstrated direct binding of SmERF B3-4 to the Sm4CL11 promoter, activating its expression. This study elucidates molecular mechanisms underlying lignin biosynthesis regulation and provides valuable insights for which would contribute to the lignin-related chemical industry.
{"title":"Molecular mechanism of SmERF B3-4 in regulating lignin biosynthesis by modulating Sm4CL11 in Salix matsudana","authors":"Yiting Wang , Yanhong Chen , Tingting Chen , Jinglan Ni , Leting Wu , Hanrui Hao , Chunmei Yu , Fei Zhong , Hui Wei , Jian Zhang , Guoyuan Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111106","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111106","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lignin deposition in plant cell walls influences plant growth and its production efficiency in industry. The lignification process involves complex biosynthetic pathways requiring coordinated gene interactions and is regulated by transcriptional networks mediated through transcription factor-DNA interactions. In <em>Salix matsudana</em>, exogenous ethephon application induced a dwarfing phenotype with reduced lignin accumulation in stems. Transcriptomic analysis of ethephon-treated samples identified <em>Sm4CL11</em>, a key gene involved in lignin biosynthesis. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of <em>Sm4CL11</em> reproduced the dwarfing phenotype and decreased lignin deposition. Histochemical staining and Raman microspectroscopy revealed that <em>Sm4CL11</em> regulates lignin content and spatial deposition patterns in vessel cell walls, confirming its essential role in the lignin biosynthetic pathway. WGCNA and promoter cis-element analysis identified <em>SmERF B3-4</em>, an upstream transcriptional regulator of <em>Sm4CL11</em>. Yeast one-hybrid assays and dual luciferase reporter assay (LUC) assays demonstrated direct binding of <em>SmERF B3-4</em> to the <em>Sm4CL11</em> promoter, activating its expression. This study elucidates molecular mechanisms underlying lignin biosynthesis regulation and provides valuable insights for which would contribute to the lignin-related chemical industry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"232 ","pages":"Article 111106"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146122709","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}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-10DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111136
Sadaf Saify, Noushina Iqbal, Nafees A Khan
Plants encounter various environmental challenges like drought and salinity, which disrupt their physiological and biochemical functions and adversely impact growth, development, and overall plant productivity. To counter these challenges, plants deploy various strategies, including modulation of plant growth regulators (PGR), which play a vital role in impacting plant performance under optimum and/or stress conditions. Melatonin (MT), a PGR is known to perform multifaceted functions in plants throughout their lifecycle, from seed germination to fruit development, and it has become recognized as a major factor in enhancing tolerance to abiotic stresses. Though various mechanisms have already been explored for MT action, in this review, we have focused on the role of MT in modulating sugar metabolism, sensing, and their transporters to improve stress adaptation. MT regulates sucrose mobilization via sucrose synthase and invertase activities, upregulates hexose transporters (STP, sugar transportor family), SWEET (sugars will eventually be exported transporters) and SUT (sucrose transporters) for efficient carbohydrate allocation and integration with SnRK1/ABA (sucrose non-frmenting 1-related kinase/Abscisic acid) pathways to sustain photosynthesis, and prime reactive oxyggen species (ROS) scavenging. Sugar signaling through sugar transporters enables efficient sugar allocation and accumulation, serving as osmoprotectants, enhancing antioxidant defenses, and modulating stress-responsive gene expression. Future omics-driven dissection of MT-sugar networks, coupled with CRISPR validation and field applications, promises resilient crop varieties for saline and arid environments.
{"title":"Melatonin and sugar signaling in relation to salt and drought stress tolerance in plants.","authors":"Sadaf Saify, Noushina Iqbal, Nafees A Khan","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111136","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111136","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Plants encounter various environmental challenges like drought and salinity, which disrupt their physiological and biochemical functions and adversely impact growth, development, and overall plant productivity. To counter these challenges, plants deploy various strategies, including modulation of plant growth regulators (PGR), which play a vital role in impacting plant performance under optimum and/or stress conditions. Melatonin (MT), a PGR is known to perform multifaceted functions in plants throughout their lifecycle, from seed germination to fruit development, and it has become recognized as a major factor in enhancing tolerance to abiotic stresses. Though various mechanisms have already been explored for MT action, in this review, we have focused on the role of MT in modulating sugar metabolism, sensing, and their transporters to improve stress adaptation. MT regulates sucrose mobilization via sucrose synthase and invertase activities, upregulates hexose transporters (STP, sugar transportor family), SWEET (sugars will eventually be exported transporters) and SUT (sucrose transporters) for efficient carbohydrate allocation and integration with SnRK1/ABA (sucrose non-frmenting 1-related kinase/Abscisic acid) pathways to sustain photosynthesis, and prime reactive oxyggen species (ROS) scavenging. Sugar signaling through sugar transporters enables efficient sugar allocation and accumulation, serving as osmoprotectants, enhancing antioxidant defenses, and modulating stress-responsive gene expression. Future omics-driven dissection of MT-sugar networks, coupled with CRISPR validation and field applications, promises resilient crop varieties for saline and arid environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"232 ","pages":"111136"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146220858","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}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-06DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111099
Wenbing Zhao , Zhongxing Zhang , Yanlong Gao , Xulin Xian , Donghai Zhang , Juanli Li , Xiaoling Li , Wentai Sun , Yanxiu Wang
DEAD-box helicases represent the largest subfamily of RNA helicases and play a crucial role in plant stress responses. Based on the whole genome of apple, 134 members of the DEAD-box family (designated as MdRH1 to MdRH134) was identified. These members exhibit significant differences in protein physicochemical properties, which are unevenly distributed across 17 chromosomes, with segmental duplication being the main expansion mechanism. Additionally, the promoter regions of these family genes are rich in cis-elements related to hormones, stresses, and growth. Real-time fluorescence quantification-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) revealed that MdRH28 is significantly upregulated under low temperature (4 °C). To clarify its function, the MdRH28 gene was cloned and stably transformed into apple calli and transiently transformed into Malus hupehensis. After 4 °C low-temperature treatment, compared with the WT lines, the overexpression lines of MdRH28 exhibited a significantly better growth status in apple calli. The specific manifestations were as follows: higher fresh weight; lower accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA), relative electrical conductivity (REC), and reactive oxygen species (ROS, including H2O2 and O2−); higher proline content and higher activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT); The content of abscisic acid (ABA) increased, while the contents of growth-related hormones such as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), gibberellin A3 (GA3), and zeatin (ZT) decreased. Meanwhile, the expression of low-temperature response genes (CBF1/2/3, COR47, and NCED1) was upregulated. In contrast, the antisense and gene-silencing lines showed the opposite trends. Specifically, the silencing MdRH28 lines through virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) exhibited severe wilting; the levels of REC, MDA, and ROS in their leaves increased; the chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), and maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem Ⅱ (Fv/Fm) decreased more significantly; and the expression of cold-resistant genes was downregulated. In conclusion, MdRH28 significantly enhances the low-temperature tolerance by alleviating low-temperature-induced osmotic and oxidative damage, regulating the balance of endogenous hormones, and activating genes in the low-temperature response pathway. This study provides important genetic resources and a theoretical basis for cold-resistant apple breeding.
{"title":"Identification of the DEAD-box gene family in apple (Malus domestica) and functional verification of MdRH28 under low-temperature stress","authors":"Wenbing Zhao , Zhongxing Zhang , Yanlong Gao , Xulin Xian , Donghai Zhang , Juanli Li , Xiaoling Li , Wentai Sun , Yanxiu Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111099","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111099","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>DEAD-box helicases represent the largest subfamily of RNA helicases and play a crucial role in plant stress responses. Based on the whole genome of apple, 134 members of the DEAD-box family (designated as <em>MdRH1</em> to <em>MdRH134</em>) was identified. These members exhibit significant differences in protein physicochemical properties, which are unevenly distributed across 17 chromosomes, with segmental duplication being the main expansion mechanism. Additionally, the promoter regions of these family genes are rich in cis-elements related to hormones, stresses, and growth. Real-time fluorescence quantification-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) revealed that <em>MdRH28</em> is significantly upregulated under low temperature (4 °C). To clarify its function, the <em>MdRH28</em> gene was cloned and stably transformed into apple calli and transiently transformed into <em>Malus hupehensis</em>. After 4 °C low-temperature treatment, compared with the WT lines, the overexpression lines of <em>MdRH28</em> exhibited a significantly better growth status in apple calli. The specific manifestations were as follows: higher fresh weight; lower accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA), relative electrical conductivity (REC), and reactive oxygen species (ROS, including H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and O<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup>); higher proline content and higher activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT); The content of abscisic acid (ABA) increased, while the contents of growth-related hormones such as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), gibberellin A<sub>3</sub> (GA<sub>3</sub>), and zeatin (ZT) decreased. Meanwhile, the expression of low-temperature response genes (<em>CBF1/2/3</em>, <em>COR47</em>, and <em>NCED1</em>) was upregulated. In contrast, the antisense and gene-silencing lines showed the opposite trends. Specifically, the silencing <em>MdRH28</em> lines through virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) exhibited severe wilting; the levels of REC, MDA, and ROS in their leaves increased; the chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), and maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem Ⅱ (Fv/Fm) decreased more significantly; and the expression of cold-resistant genes was downregulated. In conclusion, <em>MdRH28</em> significantly enhances the low-temperature tolerance by alleviating low-temperature-induced osmotic and oxidative damage, regulating the balance of endogenous hormones, and activating genes in the low-temperature response pathway. This study provides important genetic resources and a theoretical basis for cold-resistant apple breeding.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"232 ","pages":"Article 111099"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146192839","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}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-23DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111075
Bing Jia , Pan Feng , Hongyuan Xi , Weixiao Zhao , JiKun Song , JianJiang Ma , WenFeng Pei , BingBing Zhang , Li Wang , Jie Gao , Jian Zhang , Siqi Chen , Quanjia Chen , Man Wu , JiWen Yu
Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is a major global oilseed crop, ranking sixth in production worldwide and fifth in China. Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) catalyze arginine methylation, playing pivotal roles in DNA repair in Gossypium. However, their functions in cotton lipid metabolism remain unexplored. In this study, we identified 7, 9, 24, and 32 PRMT genes in Gossypium arboreum, Gossypium raimondii, Gossypium barbadense and Gossypium hirsutum, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis classified these genes into 7 distinct clades, with structural conservation suggesting functional preservation during cotton evolution. Collinearity analysis indicated segmental duplication as a major driver of PRMT family expansion. Expression profiling revealed significantly divergent expression patterns of GhPRMT5 between high-oil and low-oil cotton accessions, particularly during the critical oil accumulation phase. Heterologous expression in yeast showed that GhPRMT5 overexpression significantly increased total lipid content by 14.13 % (p < 0.05), providing direct evidence for its role in promoting lipid biosynthesis. At the same time, GhPRMT5-silenced lines also exhibited a 15.3 % reduction in cottonseed oil content, with significant alterations in fatty acid composition: saturated fatty acids (e.g., myristic acid [C14:0] and stearic acid [C18:0]) increased by 22.67 % and 26.84 %, respectively, whereas unsaturated fatty acids showed elevated oleic acid (C18:1, +20.90 %) and reduced linoleic acid (C18:2, −8.88 %) (p < 0.01).These results not only confirm the critical role of GhPRMT5 in regulating cottonseed oil accumulation but also reveal its role in modulating fatty acid composition. We are the first to report the connection between the PRMT family and lipid biosynthesis in cotton, and our findings provide novel genetic targets for improving cottonseed oil yield and nutritional quality, offering potential applications in industrial oilseed crop breeding.
{"title":"Genome-wide identification of the Protein Arginine Methyltransferase (PRMT) gene family and functional exploration of GhPRMT5 in cotton","authors":"Bing Jia , Pan Feng , Hongyuan Xi , Weixiao Zhao , JiKun Song , JianJiang Ma , WenFeng Pei , BingBing Zhang , Li Wang , Jie Gao , Jian Zhang , Siqi Chen , Quanjia Chen , Man Wu , JiWen Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111075","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111075","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cotton (<em>Gossypium spp.</em>) is a major global oilseed crop, ranking sixth in production worldwide and fifth in China. Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) catalyze arginine methylation, playing pivotal roles in DNA repair in <em>Gossypium</em>. However, their functions in cotton lipid metabolism remain unexplored. In this study, we identified 7, 9, 24, and 32 <em>PRMT</em> genes in <em>Gossypium arboreum</em>, <em>Gossypium raimondii</em>, <em>Gossypium barbadense</em> and <em>Gossypium hirsutum</em>, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis classified these genes into 7 distinct clades, with structural conservation suggesting functional preservation during cotton evolution. Collinearity analysis indicated segmental duplication as a major driver of <em>PRMT</em> family expansion. Expression profiling revealed significantly divergent expression patterns of <em>GhPRMT5</em> between high-oil and low-oil cotton accessions, particularly during the critical oil accumulation phase. Heterologous expression in yeast showed that <em>GhPRMT5</em> overexpression significantly increased total lipid content by 14.13 % (<em>p</em> < 0.05), providing direct evidence for its role in promoting lipid biosynthesis. At the same time, <em>GhPRMT5</em>-silenced lines also exhibited a 15.3 % reduction in cottonseed oil content, with significant alterations in fatty acid composition: saturated fatty acids (e.g., myristic acid [C14:0] and stearic acid [C18:0]) increased by 22.67 % and 26.84 %, respectively, whereas unsaturated fatty acids showed elevated oleic acid (C18:1, +20.90 %) and reduced linoleic acid (C18:2, −8.88 %) (p < 0.01).These results not only confirm the critical role of <em>GhPRMT5</em> in regulating cottonseed oil accumulation but also reveal its role in modulating fatty acid composition. We are the first to report the connection between the <em>PRMT</em> family and lipid biosynthesis in cotton, and our findings provide novel genetic targets for improving cottonseed oil yield and nutritional quality, offering potential applications in industrial oilseed crop breeding.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"232 ","pages":"Article 111075"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146166368","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}
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