Plant Physiology and Biochemistry最新文献

{"title":"Microalgae-augmented cadmium accumulation in Perilla frutescens: an integrated plant-microbe strategy for enhanced phytoremediation","authors":"Ying Ren,&nbsp;Yuying Su,&nbsp;Jinfeng Li,&nbsp;Hui Zhang,&nbsp;Yumeng Yang,&nbsp;Jianping Han","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111052","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111052","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cadmium (Cd) contamination severely threatens agricultural productivity and ecosystem health. Phytoremediation offers a sustainable solution for Cd-contaminated soils, but its efficiency may decline as plant growth and detoxification capacity are inhibited. To address this, the present study developed a microalgae–<em>Perilla frutescens</em> remediation system and assessed its performance under low (50 mg/kg) and high (150 mg/kg) Cd conditions. Microalgae co-treatment increased Cd accumulation in roots, stems and leaves by 82.01 %, 14.83 % and 8.04 % under low Cd stress, and by 40.26 %, 86.40 % and 28.90 % under high Cd stress, while reducing soil Cd by 20.65 % and 31.00 %. Cd-induced growth inhibition and photosynthetic impairment were also alleviated. Mechanistic analysis revealed distinct regulatory strategies under stress intensities. Under low Cd stress, microalgae elevated superoxide dismutase (88.49 %) and catalase activities (283.30 %), upregulating genes associated with ROS (<em>RBOH</em>), jasmonic acid signaling (<em>LOX</em>, <em>MYC2</em>), and metal transport (<em>CAX3</em>, ABC transporters) to enhance stress perception, defense responses, and Cd detoxification. At higher Cd intensity, plants showed increases in SOD and POD activities by 122.86 % and 62.60 %, while ROS- and jasmonic acid-related genes were downregulated and metal transport-related genes remained upregulated. Changes in transcript profile revealed a shift toward cellular homeostasis maintenance and metabolic reprogramming for secondary metabolite biosynthesis, supporting detoxification and stress mitigation. Microalgae additionally improved soil nitrogen (8.69–9.34 %) and phosphorus (2.26–31.65 %), and enriched nitrifying taxa such as <em>Candidatus Nitrososphaera</em> and <em>Nitrospira</em>. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that microalgae integration strengthened phytoremediation performance of <em>Perilla frutescens</em>, offering a scalable and sustainable strategy for remediation of Cd-contaminated farmland.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 111052"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038015","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":"The transcription factor GsWRKY23 gene from wild soybean confers enhanced salt tolerance by regulating GsPER3 expression via ROS homeostasis","authors":"Shile Sun ,&nbsp;Bingjun Yu ,&nbsp;Jiaxin Yang ,&nbsp;Jifeng Jiang ,&nbsp;Dan Liang","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111035","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111035","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The transcription factor WRKYs enable plants to initiate defense responses against multiple adverse conditions by regulating the expression of downstream target genes. The salt-tolerant wild soybean (<em>Glycine soja</em>) represents an important genetic resource for the molecular breeding and genetic improvement of salt-tolerant cultivated soybean (<em>G</em>. <em>max</em>). In this study, we identified <em>GsPER3</em>, a downstream target gene of <em>GsWRKY23</em>, using transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq), combined with promoter <em>cis</em>-acting element analysis and GUS staining. The transcriptional regulation of <em>GsWRKY23</em> on <em>GsPER3</em> was further confirmed by yeast one-hybrid (Y1H), electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), GUS activity, and dual-luciferase (DLR) assays. As a member of the peroxidase family, <em>GsPER3</em> functions in scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS). Using a soybean hairy-root transformation system, we investigated the mechanism by which <em>GsWRKY23</em> enhances salt tolerance in wild soybean by regulating <em>GsPER3</em>. Results showed that GsWRKY23 specifically binds to the W-box element at position −486 in the <em>GsPER3</em> promoter, thereby activating its expression. Under salt stress treatment, compared to the empty vector (EV) control, <em>GsWRKY23</em>-overexpressing (<em>GsWRKY23</em>-OE) plants exhibited upregulated root <em>GsPER3</em> expression, and elevated peroxidase (POD) activity in both roots and leaves. In contrast, <em>GsWRKY23</em>-CRISPR/Cas9 (<em>GsWRKY23</em>-Cas9) plants showed suppressed <em>GsPER3</em> expression and significantly decreased POD activity. Under salt stress, <em>GsPER3</em>-OE plants displayed enhanced salt tolerance, with superior performance in physiological parameters including plant fresh weight (FW), leaf relative water content (RWC), as well as lower relative electrolytic leakage (REL) level and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in roots and leaves compared to EV plants. Conversely, <em>GsPER3</em>-Cas9 plants showed the opposite trends. Moreover, <em>GsPER3</em>-OE plants exhibited lower ROS accumulation and higher antioxidant enzyme activities. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that <em>GsWRKY23</em> enhances salt tolerance in wild soybean by activating <em>GsPER3</em> expression, which in turn increases antioxidant enzyme activity and reduces ROS accumulation, thereby maintaining ROS homeostasis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 111035"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145998531","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":"PdbMYB44 enhances drought tolerance via PP2C-mediated modulation of ABA signaling and stomatal aperture","authors":"Xue Yang ,&nbsp;Pengyu Wang ,&nbsp;Nian Qin ,&nbsp;Zhen Tian ,&nbsp;Jingwen Wang ,&nbsp;Shilin Sun ,&nbsp;Xiaofu Li ,&nbsp;Yucheng Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111042","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111042","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>PdbMYB44, an R2R3-type MYB transcription factor (TF), responds to drought stress, yet its mechanism in conferring drought tolerance remains unclear. In the present study, we characterized <em>PdbMYB44</em>, an R2R3-MYB TF from Shanxin poplar (<em>Populus davidiana × P. bolleana</em>). The expression of <em>PdbMYB44</em> was induced by drought stress, and its overexpression significantly enhanced drought tolerance, promoting root growth, increasing the root-to-shoot ratio, and improving antioxidant capacity. RNA-seq analysis revealed that <em>PdbMYB44</em> differentially regulates key ABA signaling genes, including PYR1 and PP2Cs. Furthermore, yeast one-hybrid (Y1H), electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays all confirmed that PdbMYB44 directly binds to the MBS and G-Box motifs in the promoters of ABA signaling repressors <em>PP2C</em>s (<em>PP2C75</em>, <em>PP2C51-2</em>, <em>PP2C24</em>, and <em>PP2C51-1</em>) to inhibit their transcription. By repressing <em>PP2C</em> transcription, PdbMYB44 relieves the inhibition of SnRK2.6, thereby promoting its autophosphorylation and activation. The activated SnRK2.6 in turn phosphorylates SLAC1. Consequently, this PdbMYB44-initiated signaling cascade accelerates stomatal closure and significantly reduces leaf water loss in the overexpression lines compared to wild-type plants. Collectively, these findings elucidate a regulatory mechanism by which PdbMYB44 enhances drought tolerance through ABA-mediated stomatal closure, providing insights and a potential genetic resource for improving drought resistance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 111042"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146003862","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":"Rhizosphere engineering in Camellia sinensis intercropping reveals hierarchical regulation of defense, nutrient cycling, and aromatic metabolism","authors":"Yuhang Jiang ,&nbsp;Shi Cheng ,&nbsp;Kaijie Xie ,&nbsp;Rongqing Luo ,&nbsp;Shihan Qiu ,&nbsp;Xiaoqin Lin ,&nbsp;Wenxiong Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111050","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111050","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Aims</h3><div>This study aimed to elucidate the transcriptional and metabolic reprogramming of <em>Camellia sinensis</em> rhizosphere under intercropping conditions, to understand its implications for ecological intensification and enhanced tea quality.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Intercropping-induced rhizosphere effects transcriptionally reprogram <em>Camellia sinensis</em> metabolism, as determined through integrated transcriptomic‒metabolomic analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Rhizosphere restructuring activated 159 (93.71 % upregulated) KEGG pathways, prioritizing flavonoid biosynthesis, plant‒pathogen interactions, and starch‒sucrose metabolism. The results revealed that the activation of the JA-mediated defense signaling pathway and phenylpropanoid pathway increased the secretion of pathogen-inhibiting phenolics; the coordinated upregulation of nitrogen fixation (<em>nifH</em>), ammonia oxidation (<em>amo</em>), and phosphate solubilization (<em>phoC</em>/<em>D</em>) pathways coupled with denitrification suppression (<em>nirK</em>) increased nitrogen retention and mitigated greenhouse gas emissions; C‒N metabolic crosstalk stimulated glycosylated metabolite synthesis and foliar aroma precursor enrichment; and systemic flavonoid metabolism synchronization between roots and leaves, which was mediated by CHS/PAL induction. Metabolic network analysis revealed malonyl-CoA channeling toward defense-associated terpenoids and carbohydrate reserves.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This hierarchical regulation, microbial recruitment, nutrient optimization, and carbon flux redirection could establish rhizosphere engineering as a dual strategy for ecological intensification and tea quality enhancement in agroforestry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 111050"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038011","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":"Transcriptional regulation of the Arabidopsis transportome by salt stress and symbiosis with Serendipita indica","authors":"Adrián González Ortega-Villaizán ,&nbsp;Rosario Haro ,&nbsp;Lorena B. Conchillo ,&nbsp;Carmen Guerrero-Galán ,&nbsp;Stephan Pollmann ,&nbsp;Begoña Benito","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111053","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111053","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Serendipita indica</em>, a widely studied beneficial root-colonizing fungal endophyte, promotes plant growth under saline conditions by reducing Na⁺ accumulation in host plants, including <em>Arabidopsis thaliana</em>. This reduction in Na ⁺ levels likely contributes to salt detoxification, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Previous studies have demonstrated that SOS1, a key Na⁺ transporter and major determinant of salt tolerance in plants, is not involved in this reduction. To explore whether other plant transporters might participate in Na⁺ reduction, we first characterized the full Arabidopsis transportome, with putative substrates and subcellular localizations, and performed a comprehensive transcriptomic analysis of the full set of transporter proteins. In this study, we investigated and excluded the possible contribution of HKT1, another relevant Na⁺ transporter implicated in salt adaptation in Arabidopsis. By examining differentially expressed transporters under salt stress, we identified a subset of candidate genes potentially involved in Na⁺ transport. Among these, we evaluated the role of CNGC10 and CNGC13 using mutant lines under both <em>S. indica</em>- and non-colonized conditions. Interestingly, both transporters appeared to be involved in the endophyte-induced decrease in Na⁺ accumulation although, other, yet-unidentified transporters may also contribute to this phenomenon.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 111053"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146012012","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":"Physiochemical and transcriptional reprogramming of mild salinity mediated modulation of Steviol Glycoside biosynthesis in Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni","authors":"Shikha Sharma ,&nbsp;Sangeeta Kumari ,&nbsp;Naveen Verma ,&nbsp;Palak Sharma ,&nbsp;Swati Dharwal ,&nbsp;Mamta Masand ,&nbsp;Ram Kumar Sharma","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111048","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111048","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study comprehensively analyzes transcriptional and physiochemical reprogramming in <em>Stevia rebaudiana</em> under mild salinity. The observed increase in overall SGs suggests that mild salinity promotes SG accumulation. Moreover, enhanced accumulation of osmolytes such as proline, total sugars, MDA indicates an enhanced adaptive capacity in response to mild salinity. Additionally, differential expression of key genes involved in SG biosynthesis (<em>DXS, DXR, GGPS, KAO, UGT74G1, UGT76G1, UGT85C2)</em> and physiological and biochemical responses (<em>P5CS, SWEET, CAT, SOD, APX, SOS)</em>) highlights a coordinated regulatory mechanism that supports adaptation under mild salinity. Furthermore, TFs such as bHLH, ERF, MYB, NAC and WRKY were predicted as potential regulatory hubs within the gene regulatory networks, emphasizing their significant role governing specailized secondary metabolism. Importantly, both genotypes exhibiting enhanced salt tolerance demonstrated a greater potential for SGs biosynthesis and accumulation under mild salinity. Overall, this study provides a valuable mechanistic insight into the elicitation effect of mild salinity on SG biosynthesis in <em>S. rebaudiana</em>, identifying key genes and regulatory factors that could be utilized to breed improved stevia cultivars for saline-prone agroecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 111048"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146011856","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":"MdCoL regulating columnar growth in apple trees positively mediates drought stress responses","authors":"Mengqi Wang ,&nbsp;Tingting Han ,&nbsp;Tianheng Hua ,&nbsp;Ruiying Liu ,&nbsp;Yuting Feng ,&nbsp;Zhicheng Sun ,&nbsp;Yugang Zhang ,&nbsp;Xin Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111039","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111039","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recent research has identified <em>MdCoL</em>, which encodes a putative 2-oxoglutarate (2OG)- and Fe(II)-dependent oxygenase, as a key regulator of the columnar growth habit in apple. However, its role in drought stress responses remains largely unexplored. In this study, shoot cultures of columnar apple showed increased drought tolerance compared to standard apple varieties when subjected to PEG-induced osmotic stress. <em>MdCoL</em> expression was significantly upregulated during PEG treatment. Ectopic expression of <em>MdCoL</em> in apple calli and transgenic poplar plants conferred increased drought tolerance. Physiological and biochemical assessments revealed that <em>MdCoL</em>-overexpressing lines maintained higher photosynthetic activity and more efficient reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging under drought conditions than wild-type (WT) counterparts. Moreover, MdCoL enhanced photosynthetic electron transport efficiency in poplar through interaction with PagFd1. Transgenic lines also developed epidermal surfaces with increased glandular trichome density. Leaf ultrastructure analysis showed pronounced leaf blades and palisade tissue thickening in transgenic plants relative to WT. Furthermore, <em>MdCoL</em> contributed to improved water retention and regulated stomatal behavior by modulating abscisic acid (ABA) levels. These findings underscore the role of <em>MdCoL</em> in increasing drought tolerance and highlight its potential utility in improving stress tolerance in woody plants.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 111039"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145978468","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 analysis of ultraviolet-B radiation and abscisic acid revealing distinct mechanistic approaches to drought tolerance in highland barley","authors":"Noman Shoaib ,&nbsp;Liling Liu ,&nbsp;Nishbah Mughal ,&nbsp;Xiaoyun Bai ,&nbsp;Fakhar Zaman ,&nbsp;Yan Pan ,&nbsp;Juan Zhang ,&nbsp;Junjie Pan ,&nbsp;Xiaogang Wu ,&nbsp;Xiaoming Sun ,&nbsp;Lin Zhang ,&nbsp;Kaiwen Pan","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111041","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111041","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Drought tolerance in highland barley (qingke) is modulated by distinct responses to ultraviolet-B radiation (UVB) and abscisic acid (ABA). Plants were exposed to two drought levels (moderate: 50 % soil water content and severe: 30 % soil water content), alongside two UVB intensities (low: 5–6 kJ m⁻² d⁻¹ and high: 14–15 kJ m⁻² d⁻¹), and two ABA concentrations (low: 70 μM and high: 150 μM). Physiological analyses revealed that UVB exposure significantly reduced the photosynthetic rate by 46.5 % under severe drought conditions. In contrast, ABA treatment helped to maintain the rate and improved water use efficiency by 15 % compared to UVB treatment. ABA primarily affected the starch and sucrose biosynthesis. ABA upregulated genes involved in sucrose synthase and starch synthase, promoting enhanced starch and sugar accumulation. UVB, in contrast, showed weaker effects on these pathways, with only slight upregulation of genes involved in starch biosynthesis. The phenylpropanoid metabolism and flavonoid biosynthesis were notably upregulated under UVB, with significant enrichment in phenylalanine metabolism. On the other hand, ABA treatment enriched alpha-linolenic acid metabolism and amino acid biosynthesis. Hormonal analysis revealed significant shifts in ABA, jasmonic acid (JA), and salicylic acid (SA) signaling. Under ABA treatment, genes related to ABA signaling were upregulated, while UVB exposure suppressed ABA-related transcripts. JA and SA signaling were also affected, with the majority of JA-related genes being upregulated under ABA but downregulated under UVB conditions. UVB exposure also increased the content of flavonoids and fatty acids, while ABA treatment enhanced the accumulation of starch and sucrose. The findings established the distinct yet corresponding roles of UVB radiation and ABA in improving drought tolerance, with UVB inducing secondary metabolic responses and ABA regulating primary metabolic processes. Together, they contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying drought resistance in highland barley.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 111041"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146030018","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":"Optimization of straw incorporation and nitrogen fertilizer affects maize starch synthesis and grain yield in Northeast China","authors":"Xinjie Ji ,&nbsp;Anran Long ,&nbsp;Xiangyu Li ,&nbsp;Xuelian Wang ,&nbsp;Liyun Chang ,&nbsp;Jingwen Yang ,&nbsp;Qiuxia Sun ,&nbsp;Ying Jiang ,&nbsp;Xiangwei Gong","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111030","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111030","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Straw incorporation combined with suitable nitrogen (N) fertilizer is considered a key strategy for improving soil health, optimizing resource use efficiency, and thus developing environmentally friendly agricultural systems. However, the effects of straw incorporation practices and N fertilizer rates on the complex relationships between crop starch synthesis and yield are not fully understood. We investigated the effects of two straw incorporation practices and four N fertilizer levels on the key physiological parameters of grain filling and yield during 2023–2024. Compared to rotary tillage combined with straw incorporation (RTS), plow tillage combined with straw incorporation (PTS) significantly increased leaf photosynthetic metabolism and grain sugar accumulation by enhancing enzyme activity, contributing to higher starch accumulation, plant biomass, and grain yield over the two years of study. The treatment using 187 kg N per ha⁻¹ (N2) resulted in a higher leaf photosynthetic capacity and grain sugar contents compared with the other N fertilizer treatments. The stimulative physiological features were conducive to regulating the grain-filling process and providing a higher filling rate and longer filling period in the PTS treatment combined with N2 practices. In contrast, RTS combined with low N fertilizer was beneficial for optimizing the pasting quality of starch. Overall, our results establish a physiologically grounded framework for reconciling yield and nutritional enrichment, offering actionable strategies for transforming maize production demands through straw incorporation and N fertilizer stewardship.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 111030"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145978513","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":"Multi-omics analysis reveals immune responses in tobacco leaves treated with polyethylene nanoparticles","authors":"Xinru Liu ,&nbsp;Huijuan Zhang ,&nbsp;Tong Su ,&nbsp;Muhammad Arshad ,&nbsp;Weichang Gao ,&nbsp;Shixiang Zhang ,&nbsp;Jun Wu ,&nbsp;Huixin Li","doi":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111026","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111026","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As an emerging contaminant, nanoplastics (NPs) could enter plant tissues through roots and leaves, posing threats to plant growth. Majority of the earlier studies have focused on the toxic effects of NPs after their uptake and the potential non-toxicological biological impacts. We found that 20 nm polyethylene NPs (PE-NPs) could rapidly induce stomatal closure in tobacco leaves after 1 h of exposure, along with increased reactive oxygen species levels and up-regulated expression of pathogenesis-related genes. These responses were similar to those induced by pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), as in case of response to pathogen recognition. Subsequent multi-omics integration analyses of transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, and phosphoproteome revealed convergent and divergent responses of tobacco leaves to PE-NPs and the tobacco pathogen <em>Pseudomonas syringae</em> pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) responses. Tobacco leaves responded to both elicitors in a similar manner at the transcriptome and proteome levels, exhibiting numerous similar PTI response patterns, but distinct at the metabolome levels. The differences might arise from elicitor-specific phosphorylation events during post-translational modification, which reshaped gene expression by modulating enzyme activity, leading to distinct metabolite profiles. Our multi-level regulatory network revealed the molecular framework by which NPs as abiotic stressors activated plant innate immunity, providing a novel perspective for understanding the ecological impacts of NPs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20234,"journal":{"name":"Plant Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 111026"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145978514","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}