Pub Date : 2026-02-15Epub Date: 2026-03-14DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114738
Shuaipu Zhang , Heng Yang , Yuduan Mo , Hui Huang , Baoli Xu , Rongjie Fang
Soil physical properties and water dynamics critically regulate plant growth. Understanding how plants respond to water deficit under mixed-medium soil conditions is essential. In this study, the drought resistance of mulberry in soils with varying weathered mudstone contents (0 % to 100 %) was investigated. Key physiological parameters, including the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (Tr), intercellular CO₂ concentration (Ci), and water use efficiency (WUE), were monitored during soil water depletion controlled watering experiments. The key findings included the following: (1) As the water deficit intensified, Pn, Tr, Gs, and WUE initially increased but subsequently decreased in soils with high (70 % and 100 %) weathered mudstone contents, whereas they decreased steadily in soils with lower contents (0 % to 30 %); however, Ci initially decreased but then increased, independent of mudstone content. (2) Under progressive water deficit, distinct threshold responses were observed for Pn, Ci, and WUE. The photosynthetic water threshold (PWT) indicated the onset of water stress, marked by significant decreases in Pn and WUE and an increase in Ci. As the moisture further decreased to the wilting water threshold (WWT), all the three parameters stabilized at minimal levels. The PWT calculated from Pn was slightly greater than the PWTs calculated from Ci and WUE. (3) The soil with 70 % weathered mudstone content was optimal, combining a high total available water content (54.60 %) with the most extensive range of high-productivity high-efficiency water (soil relative water content: 57.27 % ∼ 91.39 %), thereby maintaining efficient water use from field capacity to severe water deficit. These findings reveal the adaptability of plants to different soil environments and moisture conditions, providing insights for developing agricultural irrigation strategies and evaluating soil water productivity.
{"title":"Tolerance of mulberry to water deficit: Insights from water productivity in soils with weathered mudstone","authors":"Shuaipu Zhang , Heng Yang , Yuduan Mo , Hui Huang , Baoli Xu , Rongjie Fang","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114738","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114738","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil physical properties and water dynamics critically regulate plant growth. Understanding how plants respond to water deficit under mixed-medium soil conditions is essential. In this study, the drought resistance of mulberry in soils with varying weathered mudstone contents (0 % to 100 %) was investigated. Key physiological parameters, including the net photosynthetic rate (<em>P<sub>n</sub></em>), stomatal conductance (<em>G<sub>s</sub></em>), transpiration rate (<em>T<sub>r</sub></em>), intercellular CO₂ concentration (<em>C<sub>i</sub></em>), and water use efficiency (<em>WUE</em>), were monitored during soil water depletion controlled watering experiments. The key findings included the following: (1) As the water deficit intensified, <em>P<sub>n</sub>, T<sub>r</sub>, G<sub>s</sub></em>, and <em>WUE</em> initially increased but subsequently decreased in soils with high (70 % and 100 %) weathered mudstone contents, whereas they decreased steadily in soils with lower contents (0 % to 30 %); however, <em>C<sub>i</sub></em> initially decreased but then increased, independent of mudstone content. (2) Under progressive water deficit, distinct threshold responses were observed for <em>P<sub>n</sub>, C<sub>i</sub></em>, and <em>WUE</em>. The photosynthetic water threshold (PWT) indicated the onset of water stress, marked by significant decreases in <em>P<sub>n</sub></em> and <em>WUE</em> and an increase in <em>C<sub>i</sub></em>. As the moisture further decreased to the wilting water threshold (WWT), all the three parameters stabilized at minimal levels. The PWT calculated from <em>P<sub>n</sub></em> was slightly greater than the PWTs calculated from <em>C<sub>i</sub></em> and <em>WUE</em>. (3) The soil with 70 % weathered mudstone content was optimal, combining a high total available water content (54.60 %) with the most extensive range of high-productivity high-efficiency water (soil relative water content: 57.27 % ∼ 91.39 %), thereby maintaining efficient water use from field capacity to severe water deficit. These findings reveal the adaptability of plants to different soil environments and moisture conditions, providing insights for developing agricultural irrigation strategies and evaluating soil water productivity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"358 ","pages":"Article 114738"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147449867","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-15Epub Date: 2026-02-23DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114703
Zhixuan Fan , Shushu Pu , Yuling Dong , Li Li , Yaping Liu , Jianbing Di , Wei Ji , Yu Wang
Gray mold, caused by Botrytis cinerea, is a serious postharvest disease of grapes resulting in significant economic losses. By combining multi-omics in vitro and in vivo assays, we evaluated the antifungal activity of 18 mg/L selenium (supplied as sodium selenite) against B. cinerea. Mechanistically, Se treatment caused severe morphological damage in B. cinerea, with scanning electron microscopy revealing broken hyphae and collapse. Metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses showed that Se disrupted mitochondrial β-oxidation and down-regulated genes involved in cell-wall precursor biosynthesis, compromising structural integrity. Se further perturbed cellular processes and energy metabolism by accumulating tricarboxylic acid cycle inhibitors and modulating amino acid turnover. Virulence-related genes (Bcbrn2, Bcole1), ABC transporters (ABCB1, PDR5) were down-regulated, reducing pathogenicity, efflux and carbohydrate transport. Overall, Se disrupted membrane structure, metabolic homeostasis and pathogenicity of B. cinerea through multiple pathways. The reliability of the transcriptomic data was confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) validation of key differentially expressed genes (R² = 0.9923). Importantly, in vivo trials confirmed that Se effectiveness suppressing B. cinerea infection in grape fruits.
{"title":"Antifungal mechanism of selenium against Botrytis cinerea on grapes: Insights from metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses","authors":"Zhixuan Fan , Shushu Pu , Yuling Dong , Li Li , Yaping Liu , Jianbing Di , Wei Ji , Yu Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114703","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114703","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Gray mold, caused by <em>Botrytis cinerea,</em> is a serious postharvest disease of grapes resulting in significant economic losses. By combining multi-omics <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in vivo</em> assays, we evaluated the antifungal activity of 18 mg/L selenium (supplied as sodium selenite) against <em>B. cinerea</em>. Mechanistically, Se treatment caused severe morphological damage in <em>B. cinerea</em>, with scanning electron microscopy revealing broken hyphae and collapse. Metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses showed that Se disrupted mitochondrial β-oxidation and down-regulated genes involved in cell-wall precursor biosynthesis, compromising structural integrity. Se further perturbed cellular processes and energy metabolism by accumulating tricarboxylic acid cycle inhibitors and modulating amino acid turnover. Virulence-related genes (<em>Bcbrn2, Bcole1</em>), ABC transporters (<em>ABCB1, PDR5</em>) were down-regulated, reducing pathogenicity, efflux and carbohydrate transport. Overall, Se disrupted membrane structure, metabolic homeostasis and pathogenicity of <em>B. cinerea</em> through multiple pathways. The reliability of the transcriptomic data was confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) validation of key differentially expressed genes (R² = 0.9923). Importantly, <em>in vivo</em> trials confirmed that Se effectiveness suppressing <em>B. cinerea</em> infection in grape fruits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"358 ","pages":"Article 114703"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147278337","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-15Epub Date: 2026-02-24DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114712
Pengxiang Li , Junfei Xiong , Song Guo , Lixin Huang , Dongdong Li , Tingyi Lin , Zailiu Li
<div><div><em>Kmeria septentrionalis</em>, the only dioecious species in the family Magnoliaceae, has natural populations scattered sporadically in localized areas of China, Thailand and Cambodia. As a multifunctional tree valued for landscaping, ornamentation, timber, and industrial uses, <em>K. septentrionalis</em> offers important scientific, economic, and ecological benefits. Recently, it has been introduced and cultivated as a valuable ornamental and timber tree in regions such as Guangxi and Guizhou, China. However, the absence of reliable sex identification technology has severely hindered its conservation and sustainable utilization. In this study, we systematically investigated sexual dimorphism in <em>K. septentrionalis</em> by integrating morphological and anatomical analyses with cross-seasonal dynamic monitoring of physiological and biochemical traits. The results showed that the leaf length of female plants was significantly smaller than that of males (<em>P</em> < 0.05, the same below), and the ratio of leaf length to width was even more significantly smaller than that of males (<em>P</em> < 0.01, the same below). In contrast, the leaf width at 1 cm and 3 cm from the leaf base was significantly larger than that of males. Leaf thickness, lower epidermis thickness, palisade tissue thickness, and the palisade-spongy tissue ratio were significantly greater than those of males, whereas upper epidermis thickness was significantly smaller than that of males. The pith on the transverse section of branches was narrower and more compact than that of males, and the xylem was wider than that of males. Marked differences were also observed in reproductive organ differentiation: female flower buds were gradually pointed and smaller in size, with 8–10 linear lanceolate inner perianth segments; male flower buds were sharp, with oval inner perianth segments, and the stamens were separated by a 2–3 mm tongue-shaped tip. Physiological indicators exhibited clear seasonal specificity. The SOD activity of female plants was extremely significantly lower than that of males in spring. Sexual differences in POD activity showed pronounced seasonal variation, with female plants exhibiting significantly lower POD activity than males in spring, extremely significantly lower activity in autumn, but significantly higher activity in winter. PPO activity in female plants was significantly higher than that of males only in midsummer. For nutrient indicators, soluble sugar content in female plants was significantly higher than in males in spring and autumn, but significantly lower in early summer, whereas soluble protein content in female plants was extremely significantly lower than in males in winter. In this study, an innovative sex identification model was established by integrating leaf morphological and anatomical characteristics, supplemented by flower bud traits and key seasonal physiological indicators. This model overcomes the limitations of tradition
{"title":"Morphological and physiological differences between male and female plants of Kmeria septentrionalis and their effects on sex identification","authors":"Pengxiang Li , Junfei Xiong , Song Guo , Lixin Huang , Dongdong Li , Tingyi Lin , Zailiu Li","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114712","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114712","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Kmeria septentrionalis</em>, the only dioecious species in the family Magnoliaceae, has natural populations scattered sporadically in localized areas of China, Thailand and Cambodia. As a multifunctional tree valued for landscaping, ornamentation, timber, and industrial uses, <em>K. septentrionalis</em> offers important scientific, economic, and ecological benefits. Recently, it has been introduced and cultivated as a valuable ornamental and timber tree in regions such as Guangxi and Guizhou, China. However, the absence of reliable sex identification technology has severely hindered its conservation and sustainable utilization. In this study, we systematically investigated sexual dimorphism in <em>K. septentrionalis</em> by integrating morphological and anatomical analyses with cross-seasonal dynamic monitoring of physiological and biochemical traits. The results showed that the leaf length of female plants was significantly smaller than that of males (<em>P</em> < 0.05, the same below), and the ratio of leaf length to width was even more significantly smaller than that of males (<em>P</em> < 0.01, the same below). In contrast, the leaf width at 1 cm and 3 cm from the leaf base was significantly larger than that of males. Leaf thickness, lower epidermis thickness, palisade tissue thickness, and the palisade-spongy tissue ratio were significantly greater than those of males, whereas upper epidermis thickness was significantly smaller than that of males. The pith on the transverse section of branches was narrower and more compact than that of males, and the xylem was wider than that of males. Marked differences were also observed in reproductive organ differentiation: female flower buds were gradually pointed and smaller in size, with 8–10 linear lanceolate inner perianth segments; male flower buds were sharp, with oval inner perianth segments, and the stamens were separated by a 2–3 mm tongue-shaped tip. Physiological indicators exhibited clear seasonal specificity. The SOD activity of female plants was extremely significantly lower than that of males in spring. Sexual differences in POD activity showed pronounced seasonal variation, with female plants exhibiting significantly lower POD activity than males in spring, extremely significantly lower activity in autumn, but significantly higher activity in winter. PPO activity in female plants was significantly higher than that of males only in midsummer. For nutrient indicators, soluble sugar content in female plants was significantly higher than in males in spring and autumn, but significantly lower in early summer, whereas soluble protein content in female plants was extremely significantly lower than in males in winter. In this study, an innovative sex identification model was established by integrating leaf morphological and anatomical characteristics, supplemented by flower bud traits and key seasonal physiological indicators. This model overcomes the limitations of tradition","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"358 ","pages":"Article 114712"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147278995","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cut chrysanthemum is a globally important high-value cut flower crop. Excessive nitrogen (N) application is prevalent in its production, leading not only to reduced flower quality and resource waste but also to environmental risks. However, the insufficient understanding of the dynamic N accumulation patterns throughout the entire growth cycle of chrysanthemum constrains the effective implementation of precision fertilization and scientific N reduction strategies. In this study, a two-year soilless cultivation experiment with a gradient of N application rates was conducted using the cut chrysanthemum cultivar ‘Nannong Xiaojinxing’. The study used principal component analysis (PCA) and regression modeling to systematically quantify the N requirements at key growth stages and to establish a precision fertilization strategy based on plant N accumulation. Results indicated that growth and quality indicators of chrysanthemum initially increased and then decreased with increasing N application, but the peak intervals varied among different indicators. Growth indicators were integrated via PCA into two principal components—phenotype and biomass—to generate a comprehensive score. Both this score and the cut-flower quality indicators were well-described by a quadratic regression model with N accumulation, thereby precisely determining the optimal N accumulation at each growth stage. Continued fertilization beyond the optimal N requirement induced luxury N absorption, consequently reducing N use efficiency. A conversion model between N accumulation and application rate was established. By applying the identified optimal N accumulation values to this model, the optimal N application rates were determined for the slow growth, rapid growth, flower bud differentiation, flower bud swelling, and flower color appearance stages as 89, 155, 35, 47, and 12 mg·plant⁻¹, respectively. Implementation of this optimized protocol resulted in a N agronomic efficiency of 140–160 g·g⁻¹ and an apparent N recovery rate of 60%–70%. This study pivots the N fertilization strategy for cut chrysanthemum from a fixed-amount regime to a dynamic management system centered on the plant’s optimal N status, thereby providing a robust pathway to on-demand fertilization, scientific N reduction, and stable quality production.
{"title":"Optimizing nitrogen management based on nitrogen accumulation at key growth stages enhances quality and nitrogen use efficiency of soilless cultivated cut chrysanthemum","authors":"Huahao Liu, Shuang Zhao, Jingshan Lu, Yin Wu, Tingyu Gou, Fadi Chen, Sumei Chen, Fei Zhang, Weimin Fang, Zhiyong Guan","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114704","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114704","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cut chrysanthemum is a globally important high-value cut flower crop. Excessive nitrogen (N) application is prevalent in its production, leading not only to reduced flower quality and resource waste but also to environmental risks. However, the insufficient understanding of the dynamic N accumulation patterns throughout the entire growth cycle of chrysanthemum constrains the effective implementation of precision fertilization and scientific N reduction strategies. In this study, a two-year soilless cultivation experiment with a gradient of N application rates was conducted using the cut chrysanthemum cultivar ‘Nannong Xiaojinxing’. The study used principal component analysis (PCA) and regression modeling to systematically quantify the N requirements at key growth stages and to establish a precision fertilization strategy based on plant N accumulation. Results indicated that growth and quality indicators of chrysanthemum initially increased and then decreased with increasing N application, but the peak intervals varied among different indicators. Growth indicators were integrated via PCA into two principal components—phenotype and biomass—to generate a comprehensive score. Both this score and the cut-flower quality indicators were well-described by a quadratic regression model with N accumulation, thereby precisely determining the optimal N accumulation at each growth stage. Continued fertilization beyond the optimal N requirement induced luxury N absorption, consequently reducing N use efficiency. A conversion model between N accumulation and application rate was established. By applying the identified optimal N accumulation values to this model, the optimal N application rates were determined for the slow growth, rapid growth, flower bud differentiation, flower bud swelling, and flower color appearance stages as 89, 155, 35, 47, and 12 mg·plant⁻¹, respectively. Implementation of this optimized protocol resulted in a N agronomic efficiency of 140–160 g·g⁻¹ and an apparent N recovery rate of 60%–70%. This study pivots the N fertilization strategy for cut chrysanthemum from a fixed-amount regime to a dynamic management system centered on the plant’s optimal N status, thereby providing a robust pathway to on-demand fertilization, scientific N reduction, and stable quality production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"358 ","pages":"Article 114704"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147334367","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-15Epub Date: 2026-03-02DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114675
Maolin Luo , Xuehua Ji , Shanshan Zhen , Chenfei Zhang , Dekai Meng , Meili Qi , Shengqun Pang , Yudong Liu , Wensheng Song
Capsanthin, as the most important component of carotenoids, is uniquely present in pepper fruit, and NAC transcription factors play important roles in carotenoids metabolism, but there was little study about the relationship between NAC and pepper fruit color. This study investigates the role of the CaNAC78-like (NM_001324670.1) in fruit color of pigment pepper, which can provide theoretical guidance for the breeding of higher-color-value pepper varieties. We analysed its sequence and expression pattern, and investigated its function in pepper fruit via VIGS silencing and overexpression techniques. Direct downstream target genes were identified using yeast one-hybrid and dual luciferase reporter assays, while carotenoid composition was analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results indicate that CaNAC78-like localises to the cell nucleus. Silencing CaNAC78-like delayed fruit colouration, reduced total carotenoid content, and downregulated carotenoid synthesis genes (CaPSY1, CaLCYB, CaZEP, and CaCCS). Conversely, its overexpression accelerated ripening and enhanced carotenoid deposition. Yeast one-hybrid and dual luciferase assays confirmed that CaNAC78-like directly binds to and activates the promoter of the carotenoid biosynthesis gene CaPSY1 (NM_001324967.1). LC-MS analysis further demonstrated that CaNAC78-like significantly promotes the accumulation of key carotenoids. Collectively, CaNAC78-like functions as a transcriptional activator of pepper fruit reddening by promoting fruit ripening and carotenoid accumulation.
{"title":"Expression and regulation of fruit colour in pepper by CaNAC78-like","authors":"Maolin Luo , Xuehua Ji , Shanshan Zhen , Chenfei Zhang , Dekai Meng , Meili Qi , Shengqun Pang , Yudong Liu , Wensheng Song","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114675","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114675","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Capsanthin, as the most important component of carotenoids, is uniquely present in pepper fruit, and NAC transcription factors play important roles in carotenoids metabolism, but there was little study about the relationship between NAC and pepper fruit color. This study investigates the role of the <em>CaNAC78-like</em> (NM_001324670.1) in fruit color of pigment pepper, which can provide theoretical guidance for the breeding of higher-color-value pepper varieties. We analysed its sequence and expression pattern, and investigated its function in pepper fruit via VIGS silencing and overexpression techniques. Direct downstream target genes were identified using yeast one-hybrid and dual luciferase reporter assays, while carotenoid composition was analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results indicate that <em>CaNAC78-like localises to the cell nucleus. Silencing CaNAC78-like delayed fruit colouration, reduced total carotenoid content, and downregulated carotenoid synthesis genes (CaPSY1, CaLCYB, CaZEP, and CaCCS). Conversely, its overexpression accelerated ripening and enhanced carotenoid deposition. Yeast one-hybrid and dual luciferase assays confirmed that CaNAC78-like directly binds to and activates the promoter of the carotenoid biosynthesis gene CaPSY1 (NM_001324967.1). LC-MS analysis further demonstrated that CaNAC78-like significantly promotes the accumulation of key carotenoids. Collectively, CaNAC78-like functions as a transcriptional activator of pepper fruit reddening by promoting fruit ripening and carotenoid accumulation.</em></div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"358 ","pages":"Article 114675"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147360787","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Potassium, an essential element for plant growth, is particularly critical for high-demand fruit crops such as peach. Microbial fertilizers have a significant role in promoting plant growth, resistance to environmental stresses, and soil remediation. This study focuses on the rhizosphere of peach trees, aiming to isolate and screen bacteria with high potassium solubilization capacity for use in microbial fertilizers. Concurrently, it delves into other characteristics of these strains to further investigate the role of potassium-solubilizing bacteria (KSBs) in plant growth, thereby providing valuable microbial resources for microbial fertilizer development. First, KSBs were isolated from peach root-zone soil using purification culture methods. Strains were identified through morphological characterization and physiological-biochemical assays, with potassium solubilization capacity measured. Three strains were inoculated into peach seedlings to validate their growth-promoting effects. After 3 days of cultivation, the H/D values of the potassium-solubilizing strains ranged from 3.25 to 4.78. Among these, strains C10 and D2 exhibited the most pronounced potassium solubilization activity, achieving potassium release rates of 38.25 % and 36.92 % respectively. Growth promotion trials demonstrated that all three potassium-mobilizing strains could lower soil pH, increase soil available potassium content and soil enzyme activity, improve seedling root morphology, and enhance both fresh and dry weight. Overall, strain Burkholderia sp. D2 exhibited the most pronounced growth-promoting effect. This study has identified bacterial strains with highly efficient potassium-solubilizing capabilities, laying the groundwork for further elucidating the potassium-solubilizing mechanisms within the Burkholderia genus. It provides an excellent reserve of bacterial strains for developing highly effective potassium-solubilizing fertilizers and improving potassium utilization efficiency in agricultural soils, while also laying the groundwork for further field application studies.
{"title":"Multifunctional potassium-solubilizing Burkholderia sp. from peach rhizosphere: Isolation, characterization and implications for sustainable nutrient management","authors":"Junyan Li, Lu Feng, Zixuan Li, Guangyuan Liu, Shanshan Gao, Yanyan Li, Jiahui Liang, Zhe Wang, Futian Peng","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114749","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114749","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Potassium, an essential element for plant growth, is particularly critical for high-demand fruit crops such as peach. Microbial fertilizers have a significant role in promoting plant growth, resistance to environmental stresses, and soil remediation. This study focuses on the rhizosphere of peach trees, aiming to isolate and screen bacteria with high potassium solubilization capacity for use in microbial fertilizers. Concurrently, it delves into other characteristics of these strains to further investigate the role of potassium-solubilizing bacteria (KSBs) in plant growth, thereby providing valuable microbial resources for microbial fertilizer development. First, KSBs were isolated from peach root-zone soil using purification culture methods. Strains were identified through morphological characterization and physiological-biochemical assays, with potassium solubilization capacity measured. Three strains were inoculated into peach seedlings to validate their growth-promoting effects. After 3 days of cultivation, the H/D values of the potassium-solubilizing strains ranged from 3.25 to 4.78. Among these, strains C10 and D2 exhibited the most pronounced potassium solubilization activity, achieving potassium release rates of 38.25 % and 36.92 % respectively. Growth promotion trials demonstrated that all three potassium-mobilizing strains could lower soil pH, increase soil available potassium content and soil enzyme activity, improve seedling root morphology, and enhance both fresh and dry weight. Overall, strain Burkholderia sp. D2 exhibited the most pronounced growth-promoting effect. This study has identified bacterial strains with highly efficient potassium-solubilizing capabilities, laying the groundwork for further elucidating the potassium-solubilizing mechanisms within the Burkholderia genus. It provides an excellent reserve of bacterial strains for developing highly effective potassium-solubilizing fertilizers and improving potassium utilization efficiency in agricultural soils, while also laying the groundwork for further field application studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"358 ","pages":"Article 114749"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147447630","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Despite extensive research on the health benefits of chrysanthemum, much remains unknown about chemical composition and health benefits of Taihang chrysanthemum (Opisthopappus taihangensis), especially how they vary during growth. In this study, we investigated the chemical composition and biological activities of methanolic extracts from O. taihangensis across three growth stages: bud, half-open flower, and full bloom. Utilizing UPLC-Q-TOF-MS, 348 compounds, predominantly lipids and phenylacetone derivatives, were identified. Antioxidant activity (assessed via DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays) peaked in the bud stage, while antibacterial properties were observed throughout growth, with notable efficacy against Streptococcus haemolyticus-β (Sh) in later stages. Furthermore, the plant demonstrated significant inhibition of α-glucosidase and α-amylase enzymes, particularly in the half-open flower stage. The identification of a wide range of bioactive compounds in O. taihangensis suggests significant potential for the development of high-value food and health products utilizing its diverse beneficial properties.
{"title":"Comprehensive analysis of metabolite accumulation and activity changes in Opisthopappus taihangensis during different developmental stages","authors":"Xiran Xiong , Dongge Fan , Jinnan Zhang, Pinjie Lu, Qing Yuan, Yanlong Zhang, Xiaoxiao Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114744","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114744","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Despite extensive research on the health benefits of chrysanthemum, much remains unknown about chemical composition and health benefits of Taihang chrysanthemum (<em>Opisthopappus taihangensis</em>), especially how they vary during growth. In this study, we investigated the chemical composition and biological activities of methanolic extracts from <em>O. taihangensis</em> across three growth stages: bud, half-open flower, and full bloom. Utilizing UPLC-Q-TOF-MS, 348 compounds, predominantly lipids and phenylacetone derivatives, were identified. Antioxidant activity (assessed via DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays) peaked in the bud stage, while antibacterial properties were observed throughout growth, with notable efficacy against <em>Streptococcus haemolyticus-β</em> (<em>Sh</em>) in later stages. Furthermore, the plant demonstrated significant inhibition of <em>α</em>-glucosidase and <em>α</em>-amylase enzymes, particularly in the half-open flower stage. The identification of a wide range of bioactive compounds in <em>O. taihangensis</em> suggests significant potential for the development of high-value food and health products utilizing its diverse beneficial properties.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"358 ","pages":"Article 114744"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147447640","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-15Epub Date: 2026-02-19DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114680
Huimeng Tang , Yan Zhang , Yue Liu, Lianjing Ge, Jinhui Zheng, Xianchao Xin, Qinghua Shi
Salt stress is a major environmental challenge that adversely affects the growth and development of tomato plants. Hence, understanding the underlied molecular mechanisms is essential for increasing salt tolerance of tomato plants. Here, we demonstrated that the YSK2-type dehydrin SlTAS14 gene could be induced by salt stress in both roots and leaves, and its overexpression improved salt tolerance of tomato plants. We further performed data-independent acquisition (DIA) proteomics analysis in wild-type (WT) and SlTAS14 overexpression (SlTAS14-OE) tomato lines, and identified 3111 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in WT-RS vs. WT-R group and 895 DEPs in OE-RS vs. WT-RS group. A total of 461 shared proteins were identified between these two comparison groups, with 45 co-upregulated and 98 co-downregulated DEPs. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis indicated that these 143 DEPs were significantly enriched in several metabolic pathways, including glycolysis/gluconenogenesis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, glutathione metabolism, isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis, starch and sucrose metabolism, and linoleic acid metabolism, suggesting their potential involvement in salt stress response regulated by SlTAS14. Our results provide a comprehensive functional validation of SlTAS14, supporting its role as a key regulator in coordinating proteomic adaptation to salt stress, and also offer valuable proteomics insights for the breeding of salt-tolerant tomato varieties.
{"title":"SlTAS14-mediated proteomic reprogramming enhances salt stress tolerance in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants","authors":"Huimeng Tang , Yan Zhang , Yue Liu, Lianjing Ge, Jinhui Zheng, Xianchao Xin, Qinghua Shi","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114680","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114680","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Salt stress is a major environmental challenge that adversely affects the growth and development of tomato plants. Hence, understanding the underlied molecular mechanisms is essential for increasing salt tolerance of tomato plants. Here, we demonstrated that the YSK<sub>2</sub>-type dehydrin <em>SlTAS14</em> gene could be induced by salt stress in both roots and leaves, and its overexpression improved salt tolerance of tomato plants. We further performed data-independent acquisition (DIA) proteomics analysis in wild-type (WT) and <em>SlTAS14</em> overexpression (<em>SlTAS14</em>-OE) tomato lines, and identified 3111 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in WT-RS vs. WT-R group and 895 DEPs in OE-RS vs. WT-RS group. A total of 461 shared proteins were identified between these two comparison groups, with 45 co-upregulated and 98 co-downregulated DEPs. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis indicated that these 143 DEPs were significantly enriched in several metabolic pathways, including glycolysis/gluconenogenesis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, glutathione metabolism, isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis, starch and sucrose metabolism, and linoleic acid metabolism, suggesting their potential involvement in salt stress response regulated by SlTAS14. Our results provide a comprehensive functional validation of SlTAS14, supporting its role as a key regulator in coordinating proteomic adaptation to salt stress, and also offer valuable proteomics insights for the breeding of salt-tolerant tomato varieties.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"358 ","pages":"Article 114680"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146777785","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-15Epub Date: 2026-02-23DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114710
Feng An , Yan Sun , Jie Li , Zijian Wang , Xin Yin , Lirong Xue , Xiaodong Zheng , Yuliang Cai , Dongqian Shan
Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is a high-value fruit crop whose production is threatened worldwide by bacterial canker, a disease with major economic impacts for which sustainable control strategies are urgently needed. While 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) is recognized as a key regulator of plant immunity, its role and mode of action in woody fruit species, particularly against bacterial pathogens, remain poorly understood. This study investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of EBR against bacterial canker in two commercially important sweet cherry cultivars, ‘Rainier’ and ‘Sunburst’. Treatment with 0.5 μM EBR significantly reduced disease symptoms and alleviated oxidative stress, as reflected by decreased accumulation of O₂⁻, H₂O₂, and malondialdehyde (MDA), together with enhanced activities of key antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, POD, APX, PPO, and PAL) and upregulation of their corresponding genes (PavSOD, PavCAT, PavPOD, PavAPX, PavPPO, and PavPAL). In vitro assays further confirmed that EBR does not directly inhibit Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae, suggesting that the observed resistance is associated with activation of host defense responses. Collectively, these results suggest that EBR enhances disease resistance in sweet cherry by strengthening host antioxidant defense capacity. These findings support the potential of EBR as an eco-friendly regulator for sustainable management of bacterial canker and related diseases in perennial fruit crops, offering a broadly applicable strategy for fruit tree production under different agroecological conditions.
{"title":"24-Epibrassinolide enhances sweet cherry resistance to bacterial canker by alleviating oxidative damage","authors":"Feng An , Yan Sun , Jie Li , Zijian Wang , Xin Yin , Lirong Xue , Xiaodong Zheng , Yuliang Cai , Dongqian Shan","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114710","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114710","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sweet cherry (<em>Prunus avium</em> L.) is a high-value fruit crop whose production is threatened worldwide by bacterial canker, a disease with major economic impacts for which sustainable control strategies are urgently needed. While 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) is recognized as a key regulator of plant immunity, its role and mode of action in woody fruit species, particularly against bacterial pathogens, remain poorly understood. This study investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of EBR against bacterial canker in two commercially important sweet cherry cultivars, ‘Rainier’ and ‘Sunburst’. Treatment with 0.5 μM EBR significantly reduced disease symptoms and alleviated oxidative stress, as reflected by decreased accumulation of O₂⁻, H₂O₂, and malondialdehyde (MDA), together with enhanced activities of key antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, POD, APX, PPO, and PAL) and upregulation of their corresponding genes (<em>PavSOD, PavCAT, PavPOD, PavAPX, PavPPO</em>, and <em>PavPAL</em>). <em>In vitro</em> assays further confirmed that EBR does not directly inhibit <em>Pseudomonas syringae</em> pv. <em>syringae</em>, suggesting that the observed resistance is associated with activation of host defense responses. Collectively, these results suggest that EBR enhances disease resistance in sweet cherry by strengthening host antioxidant defense capacity. These findings support the potential of EBR as an eco-friendly regulator for sustainable management of bacterial canker and related diseases in perennial fruit crops, offering a broadly applicable strategy for fruit tree production under different agroecological conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"358 ","pages":"Article 114710"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147278425","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-15Epub Date: 2026-02-24DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114714
Shaoqiang Tu , Can Tao , Suhua Jiang , Yichun Hu , Xia Xiao , Luanmei Lu , Huiwen Yu
Ixora is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, which also has ornamental values. Transcriptome sequencing was used to analyze the regulation of the pigment difference of I. coccinea 'Apric Gold' and I. paruiflora. A total of 31,676 unigenes were annotated. 18,856 DEGs, 9228 up-regulated genes and 9628 down-regulated genes were obtained. EF-1α gene was used as an internal reference gene. Expression patterns of 31 genes associated with the biosynthesis of chlorophyll, carotenoids and anthocyanins were significantly different. 7734 simple repeat sequences were screened out, with an occurrence frequency of 10.84 %, and 9432 eligible SSR sites were identified, with an occurrence probability of 13.22 %. Repeat types were mainly dinucleotide repeats, accounting for 49.07 % of the total. 12 primer pairs were successfully developed and used to analyze the genetic diversity of 55 Ixora genus germplasms. A total of 67 alleles were detected. The polymorphism information content (PIC) ranged from 0.0926 to 0.8376. The results of the population structure analysis were highly consistent with the phylogenetic and PCoA analysis. 55 Ixora germplasms could be classified into 4 groups. AMOVA analysis showed that the groups mainly consisted of 74.06 % of within-population variation, 25.94 % of among-population variation, and Fixation Index was 0.2594. The results provided theoretical basis for analyzing the molecular mechanism of pigment regulation, evaluating the genetic diversity of Ixora genus, and promoted the molecular breeding and development of germplasms of Ixora.
{"title":"Transcriptome profiling, SSR markers development and genetic diversity analysis of Ixora germplasms","authors":"Shaoqiang Tu , Can Tao , Suhua Jiang , Yichun Hu , Xia Xiao , Luanmei Lu , Huiwen Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114714","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114714","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Ixora</em> is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, which also has ornamental values. Transcriptome sequencing was used to analyze the regulation of the pigment difference of <em>I. coccinea 'Apric Gold'</em> and <em>I. paruiflora</em>. A total of 31,676 unigenes were annotated. 18,856 DEGs, 9228 up-regulated genes and 9628 down-regulated genes were obtained. <em>EF-1α</em> gene was used as an internal reference gene. Expression patterns of 31 genes associated with the biosynthesis of chlorophyll, carotenoids and anthocyanins were significantly different. 7734 simple repeat sequences were screened out, with an occurrence frequency of 10.84 %, and 9432 eligible SSR sites were identified, with an occurrence probability of 13.22 %. Repeat types were mainly dinucleotide repeats, accounting for 49.07 % of the total. 12 primer pairs were successfully developed and used to analyze the genetic diversity of 55 <em>Ixora</em> genus germplasms. A total of 67 alleles were detected. The polymorphism information content (PIC) ranged from 0.0926 to 0.8376. The results of the population structure analysis were highly consistent with the phylogenetic and PCoA analysis. 55 <em>Ixora</em> germplasms could be classified into 4 groups. AMOVA analysis showed that the groups mainly consisted of 74.06 % of within-population variation, 25.94 % of among-population variation, and Fixation Index was 0.2594. The results provided theoretical basis for analyzing the molecular mechanism of pigment regulation, evaluating the genetic diversity of <em>Ixora</em> genus, and promoted the molecular breeding and development of germplasms of <em>Ixora</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"358 ","pages":"Article 114714"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147278993","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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