Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-03-05DOI: 10.1016/j.stress.2026.101321
Yifei Luo , Hongjiu Yu , Jie Yu , Fengman Liu , Qiuju Wang , Jie Liu
Salt-affected soils are widespread worldwide, across every climatic region, and pose severe constraints on agricultural production and ecological stability. Although organic acids have shown positive roles in ameliorating salt-affected soils and enhancing plant stress tolerance, the underlying mechanisms and potential applications need to be systematically clarified. This review systematically examines the role of organic acids in improving soil physicochemical properties, their mechanisms in mitigating plant stress, and their potential practical applications. Also, the physiological roles of organic acids in mitigating salt-alkaline stress in plants are discussed in depth, encompassing ion homeostasis, osmotic adjustment, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, and stress signaling pathways. The review analyzes the practical effects of representative organic acids and explores their synergistic interactions with the soil microbiome for fast plant defense responses. Finally, the novel outlines future perspectives for the application of organic acids in ecological restoration of saline soils and sustainable agriculture, emphasizing the need for integrative efforts that bridge mechanistic research and field-level implementation. The review aims to illustrate the promising modulation of organic acids in the integrated management of salt-affected soils and plant stress resistance, thereby ensuring friendly and sustainable agricultural systems.
{"title":"The perspective functions of organic acids to restore salt-affected soils and plant stress resistance","authors":"Yifei Luo , Hongjiu Yu , Jie Yu , Fengman Liu , Qiuju Wang , Jie Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101321","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101321","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Salt-affected soils are widespread worldwide, across every climatic region, and pose severe constraints on agricultural production and ecological stability. Although organic acids have shown positive roles in ameliorating salt-affected soils and enhancing plant stress tolerance, the underlying mechanisms and potential applications need to be systematically clarified. This review systematically examines the role of organic acids in improving soil physicochemical properties, their mechanisms in mitigating plant stress, and their potential practical applications. Also, the physiological roles of organic acids in mitigating salt-alkaline stress in plants are discussed in depth, encompassing ion homeostasis, osmotic adjustment, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, and stress signaling pathways. The review analyzes the practical effects of representative organic acids and explores their synergistic interactions with the soil microbiome for fast plant defense responses. Finally, the novel outlines future perspectives for the application of organic acids in ecological restoration of saline soils and sustainable agriculture, emphasizing the need for integrative efforts that bridge mechanistic research and field-level implementation. The review aims to illustrate the promising modulation of organic acids in the integrated management of salt-affected soils and plant stress resistance, thereby ensuring friendly and sustainable agricultural systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"20 ","pages":"Article 101321"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147421326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-15DOI: 10.1016/j.stress.2026.101296
Asif kamal , Waseem Ahmed Khattak , Ulfat Ara , Mahideen Afridi , Yingwen Wang , Quan Deng , Ting Liu , Lianqiang Jiang , Jinguang Yang
The agricultural sector faces significant threats from biotic challenges, including bacteria, viruses, insects, and fungi, as well as abiotic stresses such as heat, cold, and heavy metals, all leading to substantial economic losses. These stresses are compounded by decreasing arable land, water scarcity, environmental changes, and substandard agrochemicals, harming crop growth and yield. Drought and salinity alone contribute to billions in agricultural losses annually. Single carbon nanotubes (CNTs) currently show limited effectiveness in treating agricultural diseases, while modified CNT materials remain more effective. However, due to their stable surface chemistry, CNTs have promise as nano-pesticides to combat both biotic and abiotic stresses by targeting plant physiological processes. The proposed study underscores sustainability, aiming to transform pathogen control, enhance food security, and create a balanced agricultural system. Minimizing crop losses from pests and stresses is crucial for addressing environmental impacts, making ongoing research in modified CNTs essential for sustainable plant protection. This review examines the role of modified CNTs in plant protection, emphasizing their physicochemical properties, potential agricultural applications, and ability to reduce pesticide residues while bolstering plant defenses. Overall, CNTs may help revolutionize sustainable agriculture and promote more resilient cropping systems.
{"title":"Modified carbon nanotubes for sustainable plant protection: A revolutionary approach to combat biotic and abiotic stresses","authors":"Asif kamal , Waseem Ahmed Khattak , Ulfat Ara , Mahideen Afridi , Yingwen Wang , Quan Deng , Ting Liu , Lianqiang Jiang , Jinguang Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101296","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101296","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The agricultural sector faces significant threats from biotic challenges, including bacteria, viruses, insects, and fungi, as well as abiotic stresses such as heat, cold, and heavy metals, all leading to substantial economic losses. These stresses are compounded by decreasing arable land, water scarcity, environmental changes, and substandard agrochemicals, harming crop growth and yield. Drought and salinity alone contribute to billions in agricultural losses annually. Single carbon nanotubes (CNTs) currently show limited effectiveness in treating agricultural diseases, while modified CNT materials remain more effective. However, due to their stable surface chemistry, CNTs have promise as nano-pesticides to combat both biotic and abiotic stresses by targeting plant physiological processes. The proposed study underscores sustainability, aiming to transform pathogen control, enhance food security, and create a balanced agricultural system. Minimizing crop losses from pests and stresses is crucial for addressing environmental impacts, making ongoing research in modified CNTs essential for sustainable plant protection. This review examines the role of modified CNTs in plant protection, emphasizing their physicochemical properties, potential agricultural applications, and ability to reduce pesticide residues while bolstering plant defenses. Overall, CNTs may help revolutionize sustainable agriculture and promote more resilient cropping systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"20 ","pages":"Article 101296"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147422165","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","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.stress.2026.101312
Yujie Fu , Junheng Zhao , Xiangqian Lu , Nannan Zheng , Nannan Sun , Mengdi Li , Guoping Zhang , Jindong Liu , Lingzhen Ye
Nitrogen (N) limitation constrains wheat productivity and motivates the development of cultivars with improved nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), yet the causal genes and regulatory logic underlying low nitrogen (LN) tolerance remain insufficiently resolved in wheat. Here, we integrated controlled hydroponic seedling phenotyping, genome-wide association mapping, regulatory-network prioritization and functional genetics to dissect LN adaptation in a panel of 284 wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) accessions. Low N significantly reduced shoot biomass and plant N accumulation while increasing root biomass and root-to-shoot ratio, revealing extensive natural variation in biomass allocation and N-related plasticity. Using six relative response indices to decouple stress responsiveness from baseline vigor, GWAS identified 70 significant marker–trait associations, including pleiotropic regions affecting multiple indices. Integration of GWAS intervals with an integrative wheat gene regulatory network (wGRN) and rice N-related orthology prioritized TaERF-4A, TaHD-ZIP-5A and TaFd-5B as high-confidence candidates. Expression analyses in extreme tolerant and sensitive genotypes indicated genotype-dependent regulation, with stress-induced TaERF-4A showing stronger induction in sensitive lines, attenuated repression of TaHD-ZIP-5A in tolerant lines, and differential repression of TaFd-5B between groups. EMS stop-gained mutants validated TaERF-4A and TaFd-5B as required for maintaining biomass and N homeostasis under N deficiency. We further identified a functional T/C promoter polymorphism in TaFd-5B and developed a diagnostic dCAPS marker, with the favorable ‘C’ allele associated with improved LN performance. Together, these results define key components of the wheat LN response network and provide actionable phenotypic indices, elite germplasm, validated gene targets and a breeding-ready marker to accelerate the development of N-efficient wheat.
氮素限制制约了小麦产量，促进了氮素利用效率（NUE）提高品种的发展，但小麦耐低氮（LN）的致病基因和调控逻辑尚未得到充分解决。在这里，我们整合了控制水培苗表型，全基因组关联图谱，调控网络优先级和功能遗传学来剖析284个小麦（Triticum aestivum L.）材料的LN适应。低氮显著降低了地上部生物量和植株氮素积累，增加了根系生物量和根冠比，揭示了生物量分配和氮素相关可塑性的广泛自然变异。GWAS利用6个相对响应指数将胁迫响应与基线活力解耦，鉴定出70个显著的标记-性状关联，包括影响多个指标的多效性区域。将GWAS区间与小麦基因综合调控网络（wGRN）和水稻氮相关同源基因整合，优先考虑TaERF-4A、thd - zip - 5a和TaFd-5B作为高置信度候选者。极端耐受性基因型和敏感基因型的表达分析显示，TaERF-4A在敏感系中表现出较强的诱导作用，而TaERF-4A在耐受性基因型中表现出较弱的抑制作用，tafd - zip - 5a在组间表现出差异抑制作用。EMS停止获得突变体证实TaERF-4A和TaFd-5B是在缺氮条件下维持生物量和氮稳态所必需的。我们进一步确定了TaFd-5B中功能性T/C启动子多态性，并开发了一种诊断性dCAPS标记，其中有利的“C”等位基因与LN性能的改善有关。总之，这些结果确定了小麦LN响应网络的关键组成部分，并提供了可操作的表型指标、精英种质、验证的基因靶点和育种准备标记，以加速氮效小麦的发展。
{"title":"Integrative network analysis and GWAS identify TaERF-4A and TaFd-5B as key regulators of low-nitrogen tolerance in wheat","authors":"Yujie Fu , Junheng Zhao , Xiangqian Lu , Nannan Zheng , Nannan Sun , Mengdi Li , Guoping Zhang , Jindong Liu , Lingzhen Ye","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101312","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101312","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nitrogen (N) limitation constrains wheat productivity and motivates the development of cultivars with improved nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), yet the causal genes and regulatory logic underlying low nitrogen (LN) tolerance remain insufficiently resolved in wheat. Here, we integrated controlled hydroponic seedling phenotyping, genome-wide association mapping, regulatory-network prioritization and functional genetics to dissect LN adaptation in a panel of 284 wheat (<em>Triticum aestivum</em> L.) accessions. Low N significantly reduced shoot biomass and plant N accumulation while increasing root biomass and root-to-shoot ratio, revealing extensive natural variation in biomass allocation and N-related plasticity. Using six relative response indices to decouple stress responsiveness from baseline vigor, GWAS identified 70 significant marker–trait associations, including pleiotropic regions affecting multiple indices. Integration of GWAS intervals with an integrative wheat gene regulatory network (wGRN) and rice N-related orthology prioritized <em>TaERF-4A, TaHD-ZIP-5A</em> and <em>TaFd-5B</em> as high-confidence candidates. Expression analyses in extreme tolerant and sensitive genotypes indicated genotype-dependent regulation, with stress-induced <em>TaERF-4A</em> showing stronger induction in sensitive lines, attenuated repression of <em>TaHD-ZIP-5A</em> in tolerant lines, and differential repression of <em>TaFd-5B</em> between groups. EMS stop-gained mutants validated <em>TaERF-4A</em> and <em>TaFd-5B</em> as required for maintaining biomass and N homeostasis under N deficiency. We further identified a functional T/C promoter polymorphism in <em>TaFd-5B</em> and developed a diagnostic dCAPS marker, with the favorable ‘C’ allele associated with improved LN performance. Together, these results define key components of the wheat LN response network and provide actionable phenotypic indices, elite germplasm, validated gene targets and a breeding-ready marker to accelerate the development of N-efficient wheat.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"20 ","pages":"Article 101312"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147421953","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Drought is a major abiotic constraint limiting peanut (Arachis hypogaea) production, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying stress adaptation remain poorly understood. The Drought-Induced 19 (Di19) gene family encodes C2H2-type zinc finger proteins implicated in abiotic stress responses, but their roles in peanut have not been systematically examined. In this study, a genome-wide analysis identified 16 Di19 genes distributed across ten chromosomes. Phylogenetic classification grouped these genes into five groups, while gene duplication analysis revealed that segmental duplication was the main driver of family expansion, with most duplicated pairs subjected to purifying selection. Conserved motif and exon-intron analyses indicated both structural conservation and functional divergence. Promoter regions were enriched with cis-elements responsive to abscisic acid, drought, and heat, and several family members were predicted to be regulated by peanut-specific miRNAs. Transcriptome-based expression profiling demonstrated distinct tissue-specific patterns and differential regulation under abiotic stress conditions. Time-course qRT-PCR analysis under combined drought and salinity stress revealed strong induction of AhDi19–3B. Subcellular localization confirmed the nuclear targeting of AhDi19–3B, and functional assays in transgenic Arabidopsis showed that its overexpression enhanced drought tolerance through improved water retention and reduced oxidative damage. These findings provide the first comprehensive characterization of the Di19 gene family in peanut and establish AhDi19–3B as a key regulator of drought tolerance. This work offers a foundation for future functional studies and highlights the translational potential of Di19 genes in developing stress-resilient peanut cultivars.
{"title":"AhDi19-3B confers drought tolerance in peanut: Functional characterization of a candidate gene from the genome-wide identified Di19 family","authors":"Yuting Chen , Guangjian Zhonghou , Zelong You , Jingyu Liu , Mingrui Jin , Linlin Shang , Lang Chen , Meijia Gao , Linyun Wu , Tong Zhan , Yifei Kou , Shubiao Zhang , Yasir Sharif , Chong Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101262","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101262","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Drought is a major abiotic constraint limiting peanut (<em>Arachis hypogaea</em>) production, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying stress adaptation remain poorly understood. The Drought-Induced 19 (<em>Di19</em>) gene family encodes C2H2-type zinc finger proteins implicated in abiotic stress responses, but their roles in peanut have not been systematically examined. In this study, a genome-wide analysis identified 16 <em>Di19</em> genes distributed across ten chromosomes. Phylogenetic classification grouped these genes into five groups, while gene duplication analysis revealed that segmental duplication was the main driver of family expansion, with most duplicated pairs subjected to purifying selection. Conserved motif and exon-intron analyses indicated both structural conservation and functional divergence. Promoter regions were enriched with cis-elements responsive to abscisic acid, drought, and heat, and several family members were predicted to be regulated by peanut-specific miRNAs. Transcriptome-based expression profiling demonstrated distinct tissue-specific patterns and differential regulation under abiotic stress conditions. Time-course qRT-PCR analysis under combined drought and salinity stress revealed strong induction of <em>AhDi19–3B</em>. Subcellular localization confirmed the nuclear targeting of <em>AhDi19–3B</em>, and functional assays in transgenic <em>Arabidopsis</em> showed that its overexpression enhanced drought tolerance through improved water retention and reduced oxidative damage. These findings provide the first comprehensive characterization of the <em>Di19</em> gene family in peanut and establish <em>AhDi19–3B</em> as a key regulator of drought tolerance. This work offers a foundation for future functional studies and highlights the translational potential of <em>Di19</em> genes in developing stress-resilient peanut cultivars.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"20 ","pages":"Article 101262"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147422239","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-12DOI: 10.1016/j.stress.2026.101289
Carlos Lopez-Ortiz , Inty Omar Hernandez-De Lira , Ritik Duhan , Christopher R. Clarke , Vivian Bernal-Galeano , John R. Stommel , Vagner Augusto Benedito , Zachariah Hansen , Mahfuz Rahman , Michael Gutensohn , Sven Verlinden , Padma Nimmakayala , Umesh K. Reddy
Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum species, is a major constraint to tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) production, particularly during fruit ripening. To investigate the metabolic and genetic basis of resistance, we performed widely targeted metabolomic profiling of the anthracnose-resistant accession PI 272636 and the susceptible cultivar ‘Rio Grande’ at mature-green and red-ripe fruit stages. Across developmental stages, more than 1,100 metabolites were differentially accumulated between genotypes. Although both genotypes remained symptom-free at the green stage, PI 272636 exhibited elevated accumulation of steroidal alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenylpropanoids, indicating constitutive metabolic differences prior to visible infection. At the red-ripe stage, resistance was associated with increased levels of glycosylated steroidal alkaloids, including lycoperoside C and acetoxytomatidine-related derivatives, as well as phenylpropanoids and flavonoids with established roles in plant defense. KEGG pathway enrichment highlighted flavonoid, phenylpropanoid, and sterol-derived metabolic pathways as key differentiators between resistant and susceptible genotypes. Integration of metabolomic profiles with QTL-seq data identified candidate loci associated with steroidal alkaloid metabolism, including genes encoding phosphomevalonate kinase, squalene synthase, a 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase, and an ethylene-responsive transcription factor, as well as genes involved in hydroxycinnamic acid amide and flavonoid biosynthesis. Collectively, these results indicate that anthracnose resistance in PI 272636 is associated with coordinated differences in specialized metabolite composition across fruit development, supported by genetic variation in pathways contributing to steroidal alkaloid and phenylpropanoid metabolism, and provide candidate biomarkers and targets for breeding improved resistance in tomato.
{"title":"Integrated metabolomic and genetic analysis reveals defense pathways in anthracnose-resistant tomato","authors":"Carlos Lopez-Ortiz , Inty Omar Hernandez-De Lira , Ritik Duhan , Christopher R. Clarke , Vivian Bernal-Galeano , John R. Stommel , Vagner Augusto Benedito , Zachariah Hansen , Mahfuz Rahman , Michael Gutensohn , Sven Verlinden , Padma Nimmakayala , Umesh K. Reddy","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101289","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101289","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Anthracnose, caused by <em>Colletotrichum</em> species, is a major constraint to tomato (<em>Solanum lycopersicum</em>) production, particularly during fruit ripening. To investigate the metabolic and genetic basis of resistance, we performed widely targeted metabolomic profiling of the anthracnose-resistant accession PI 272636 and the susceptible cultivar ‘Rio Grande’ at mature-green and red-ripe fruit stages. Across developmental stages, more than 1,100 metabolites were differentially accumulated between genotypes. Although both genotypes remained symptom-free at the green stage, PI 272636 exhibited elevated accumulation of steroidal alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenylpropanoids, indicating constitutive metabolic differences prior to visible infection. At the red-ripe stage, resistance was associated with increased levels of glycosylated steroidal alkaloids, including lycoperoside C and acetoxytomatidine-related derivatives, as well as phenylpropanoids and flavonoids with established roles in plant defense. KEGG pathway enrichment highlighted flavonoid, phenylpropanoid, and sterol-derived metabolic pathways as key differentiators between resistant and susceptible genotypes. Integration of metabolomic profiles with QTL-seq data identified candidate loci associated with steroidal alkaloid metabolism, including genes encoding phosphomevalonate kinase, squalene synthase, a 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase, and an ethylene-responsive transcription factor, as well as genes involved in hydroxycinnamic acid amide and flavonoid biosynthesis. Collectively, these results indicate that anthracnose resistance in PI 272636 is associated with coordinated differences in specialized metabolite composition across fruit development, supported by genetic variation in pathways contributing to steroidal alkaloid and phenylpropanoid metabolism, and provide candidate biomarkers and targets for breeding improved resistance in tomato.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"20 ","pages":"Article 101289"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147422241","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is a vital crop worldwide for sugar production. Therefore, improving yield, quality, and stress resistance is a primary goal of modern sugarcane breeding efforts. Sucrose invertase is a critical enzyme in sugar metabolism and plays an important role in plant growth, development, and stress responses. This study systematically identified the invertase gene family in sugarcane by employing the telomere-to-telomere complete genome of the sugarcane cultivar ‘Xintaitang 22. ’ A total of 225 invertase genes were identified, which was significantly greater than that in related crops, such as maize, sorghum, and rice, revealing substantial expansion of this gene family in the polyploid genome. Evolutionary and collinearity analyses showed that the expansion of this family is primarily driven by segmental duplications accompanied by tandem duplication events. Promoter analysis demonstrated that most members were enriched with cis-regulatory elements associated with auxin, gibberellin, light response, and various abiotic stresses, indicating their broad involvement in developmental regulation and stress adaptation. The study identified a chloroplast-localized protein ShN/AINV3.1 (Sh_So05A0220418), as a key factor regulating sugarcane agronomic traits and stress responses. This gene is drought-inducible and its overexpression promotes plant growth, increases glucose content, and enhances catalase activity, thereby synergistically improving drought tolerance in sugarcane. In summary, this study systematically elucidated the evolutionary characteristics and regulatory potential of the invertase gene family in sugarcane and revealed a potential mechanism by which ShN/AINV3.1, which integrates sugar metabolism and oxidative stress defense to enhance drought resistance. These findings provide important genetic resources and a theoretical basis for molecular breeding of sugarcane.
{"title":"Identification of the sugarcane invertase gene family with deciphering the key role of ShN/AINV3.1 in drought stress response","authors":"Ruiqiang Lai , Ming Chen , Jiarui Chen , Jiakun Wen, Yiqi Luo, Zaid Chachar, Mengshi Wang, Jiajia Li, Zhaofeng Liu, Zixuan Zhen, Xiaodi Zhen, Zhichong Li, Runbing Lin, Xiaolong Wang, Weiqian Cai, Songmei Liu, Lina Fan, Yongwen Qi","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101261","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101261","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sugarcane (<em>Saccharum</em> spp.) is a vital crop worldwide for sugar production. Therefore, improving yield, quality, and stress resistance is a primary goal of modern sugarcane breeding efforts. Sucrose invertase is a critical enzyme in sugar metabolism and plays an important role in plant growth, development, and stress responses. This study systematically identified the invertase gene family in sugarcane by employing the telomere-to-telomere complete genome of the sugarcane cultivar ‘Xintaitang 22. ’ A total of 225 invertase genes were identified, which was significantly greater than that in related crops, such as maize, sorghum, and rice, revealing substantial expansion of this gene family in the polyploid genome. Evolutionary and collinearity analyses showed that the expansion of this family is primarily driven by segmental duplications accompanied by tandem duplication events. Promoter analysis demonstrated that most members were enriched with cis-regulatory elements associated with auxin, gibberellin, light response, and various abiotic stresses, indicating their broad involvement in developmental regulation and stress adaptation. The study identified a chloroplast-localized protein ShN/AINV3.1 (Sh_So05A0220418), as a key factor regulating sugarcane agronomic traits and stress responses. This gene is drought-inducible and its overexpression promotes plant growth, increases glucose content, and enhances catalase activity, thereby synergistically improving drought tolerance in sugarcane. In summary, this study systematically elucidated the evolutionary characteristics and regulatory potential of the invertase gene family in sugarcane and revealed a potential mechanism by which ShN/AINV3.1, which integrates sugar metabolism and oxidative stress defense to enhance drought resistance. These findings provide important genetic resources and a theoretical basis for molecular breeding of sugarcane.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"20 ","pages":"Article 101261"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146081689","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-07DOI: 10.1016/j.stress.2026.101278
Sara Esperanza Martínez-Lorente, José Manuel Martí-Guillén, Lorena Almagro, María Ángeles Pedreño, Ana Belén Sabater-Jara
Adverse edaphoclimatic conditions resulting from climate change pose a serious threat to global food production, as they hinder plant development and reduce crop yields. Among these stress factors, soil salinization is one of the major constraints affecting seed germination, a critical stage in the crop life cycle. Seed priming has emerged as an effective strategy to enhance germination under stress conditions, particularly when employing higher plant-derived biostimulants (hPDBs), which are notable for their rich composition of bioactive compounds and their ability to modulate plant physiology. In this work, we produced an orange carrot cell culture-derived biostimulant (OCB) through elicitation techniques, resulting in a product enriched in phytosterols and phenolic compounds, and evaluated its effect on the germination of broccoli seedlings subjected to salt stress. OCB improved seed germination and vitality, avoiding H2O2 accumulation and reducing the oxidative stress-induced damage (-11 % MDA) and toxicity of salt stress. This allowed to prevent an aggressive response to stressful conditions which could worsen the germination process, thereby attenuating the disruption in the hormonal and proteomic profile induced under salt stress by downregulating the accumulation of stress-related hormones and antioxidant enzymes. Thus, OCB constitutes a novel plant biostimulant with significant potential to promote seed vigour and germination efficiency in broccoli under salinity stress.
{"title":"Amelioration of salt stress in broccoli seeds by an innovative biostimulant based on orange carrot cell cultures","authors":"Sara Esperanza Martínez-Lorente, José Manuel Martí-Guillén, Lorena Almagro, María Ángeles Pedreño, Ana Belén Sabater-Jara","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101278","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101278","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Adverse edaphoclimatic conditions resulting from climate change pose a serious threat to global food production, as they hinder plant development and reduce crop yields. Among these stress factors, soil salinization is one of the major constraints affecting seed germination, a critical stage in the crop life cycle. Seed priming has emerged as an effective strategy to enhance germination under stress conditions, particularly when employing higher plant-derived biostimulants (hPDBs), which are notable for their rich composition of bioactive compounds and their ability to modulate plant physiology. In this work, we produced an orange carrot cell culture-derived biostimulant (OCB) through elicitation techniques, resulting in a product enriched in phytosterols and phenolic compounds, and evaluated its effect on the germination of broccoli seedlings subjected to salt stress. OCB improved seed germination and vitality, avoiding H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> accumulation and reducing the oxidative stress-induced damage (-11 % MDA) and toxicity of salt stress. This allowed to prevent an aggressive response to stressful conditions which could worsen the germination process, thereby attenuating the disruption in the hormonal and proteomic profile induced under salt stress by downregulating the accumulation of stress-related hormones and antioxidant enzymes. Thus, OCB constitutes a novel plant biostimulant with significant potential to promote seed vigour and germination efficiency in broccoli under salinity stress.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"20 ","pages":"Article 101278"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146191300","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.stress.2026.101275
Qing Wang , Zhixiang Zha , Likai Zheng , Tongtong Duan , Liang Shao , Ziqian Yan , Jiaqun Li , Shiyong Song , Pengcheng Wei , Liang Zhang
Cadmium (Cd) is recognized as a toxic heavy metal that exerts detrimental effects on animals, plants, the environment, and human well-being. Deepening our understanding of the mechanisms by which Cd triggers responses in rice is crucial to develop strategies to reduce Cd uptake. While several transporters have been identified, the complex process of Cd transport and accumulation in rice still requires further investigation. In the present investigation, we highlight the role of OsFTIP6, which is notably induced under Cd stress. We observed that the Osftip6 mutant is more susceptible to Cd stress. The loss function of OsFTIP6 reduces Cd resistance by promoting Cd accumulation and movement, disrupting chlorophyll production, inhibiting antioxidant enzymes, and increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) in rice. Moreover, OsFTIP6 modulates the effects of Cd toxicity on rice seedlings by affecting the expression of genes associated with Cd transport and ROS scavenging. This study provides evidence that OsFTIP6 modulates Cd accumulation and tolerance in rice. Our findings also offer a valuable genetic target for combating Cd stress in rice.
{"title":"OsFTIP6 modulates cadmium accumulation and tolerance in rice","authors":"Qing Wang , Zhixiang Zha , Likai Zheng , Tongtong Duan , Liang Shao , Ziqian Yan , Jiaqun Li , Shiyong Song , Pengcheng Wei , Liang Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101275","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101275","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cadmium (Cd) is recognized as a toxic heavy metal that exerts detrimental effects on animals, plants, the environment, and human well-being. Deepening our understanding of the mechanisms by which Cd triggers responses in rice is crucial to develop strategies to reduce Cd uptake. While several transporters have been identified, the complex process of Cd transport and accumulation in rice still requires further investigation. In the present investigation, we highlight the role of <em>OsFTIP6,</em> which is notably induced under Cd stress. We observed that the <em>Osftip6</em> mutant is more susceptible to Cd stress. The loss function of <em>OsFTIP6</em> reduces Cd resistance by promoting Cd accumulation and movement, disrupting chlorophyll production, inhibiting antioxidant enzymes, and increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) in rice. Moreover, <em>OsFTIP6</em> modulates the effects of Cd toxicity on rice seedlings by affecting the expression of genes associated with Cd transport and ROS scavenging. This study provides evidence that <em>OsFTIP6</em> modulates Cd accumulation and tolerance in rice. Our findings also offer a valuable genetic target for combating Cd stress in rice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"20 ","pages":"Article 101275"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146191299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-20DOI: 10.1016/j.stress.2026.101307
Paula Guzmán-Delgado , Daniel Ruiz , Aileen Salas , Donald Williams , Holly Little , Giulia Marino
This study evaluated the effects of soil-applied Ascophyllum nodosum extract (ANE) on the physiology and productivity of a mature almond orchard managed under full and deficit irrigation. ANE consistently enhanced tree water status and stomatal conductance, and reduced leaf osmotic potential and leaf temperature with respect to air temperature. These effects and underlying mechanisms varied across tree water status. Under full irrigation, ANE increased the frequency of very high stomatal conductance (> 0.5 mol m⁻² s⁻¹) at no- to mild- water stress levels (stem water potential, ᴪstem > -1.0 MPa), reducing leaf temperature. In full irrigated trees experiencing short-term stomatal closure, these responses resulted in improved intrinsic water use efficiency, reflecting reduced non-stomatal limitations to photosynthesis. Under deficit irrigation, ANE delayed stomatal closure below 0.37 mol m⁻² s⁻¹ mainly through osmotic adjustment, thereby sustaining gas exchange and postponing the onset of moderate stress (ᴪstem < -1.2 MPa). Collectively, our findings identify a critical ᴪstem range (-1.0 to -1.4 MPa) as a window of maximum ANE efficacy. While these effects did notdirectly increase yield, they promoted slightly heavier kernels. Overall, ANE’s ability to mitigate stress through environmentally sustainable means positions it as a management tool for maintain productivity and enhance orchard resilience under reduced water availability and erratic weather conditions.
{"title":"Effects of a seaweed biostimulant on physiology and productivity of mature almonds across tree water status","authors":"Paula Guzmán-Delgado , Daniel Ruiz , Aileen Salas , Donald Williams , Holly Little , Giulia Marino","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101307","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101307","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluated the effects of soil-applied <em>Ascophyllum nodosum</em> extract (ANE) on the physiology and productivity of a mature almond orchard managed under full and deficit irrigation. ANE consistently enhanced tree water status and stomatal conductance, and reduced leaf osmotic potential and leaf temperature with respect to air temperature. These effects and underlying mechanisms varied across tree water status. Under full irrigation, ANE increased the frequency of very high stomatal conductance (> 0.5 mol m⁻² s⁻¹) at no- to mild- water stress levels (stem water potential, ᴪ<sub>stem</sub> > -1.0 MPa), reducing leaf temperature. In full irrigated trees experiencing short-term stomatal closure, these responses resulted in improved intrinsic water use efficiency, reflecting reduced non-stomatal limitations to photosynthesis. Under deficit irrigation, ANE delayed stomatal closure below 0.37 mol m⁻² s⁻¹ mainly through osmotic adjustment, thereby sustaining gas exchange and postponing the onset of moderate stress (ᴪ<sub>stem</sub> < -1.2 MPa). Collectively, our findings identify a critical ᴪ<sub>stem</sub> range (-1.0 to -1.4 MPa) as a window of maximum ANE efficacy. While these effects did notdirectly increase yield, they promoted slightly heavier kernels. Overall, ANE’s ability to mitigate stress through environmentally sustainable means positions it as a management tool for maintain productivity and enhance orchard resilience under reduced water availability and erratic weather conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"20 ","pages":"Article 101307"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147422077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","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.stress.2026.101292
Muhammad Mahran Aslam , Numra Saeed , Ahmad Ali , Saman Zulfiqar , Fozia Farhat , Muhammad Abbas , Jawad Ali , Samiya Rehman , Shumaila Sial , Muhammad Saeed , Saifullah Abro , Liu Yibao
Brassica crops are vital for global agriculture and human nutrition. In recent years, climate change has emerged as major challenge, potentially yield, quality and overall plant fitness. Sulfur (S) is essential macronutrient required for plant growth and, stress tolerance. However, research gape exists to elucidate the role sulfur under stress conditions in Brassica crops. Therefore, a detailed understanding of sulfur uptake (S-uptake), use efficiency, and metabolism is required to clarify the role of sulfur in mediating stress responses in Brassica crops. S-uptake is influenced by several factors, including such as soil pH, microbial activity, and plant genetic variability. The role of Sulfur in Brassica nutrition, and function has been revived in details. Here we discussed the role of Sulfur in mitigating environmental stress and coping with the climate alterations. The role of Sulfate transporters (SULTRs) is essential to S-uptake and transport and assimilation pathways in plants. This review explores S-uptake efficiency (SUE) as a key factor in developing climate-resilient Brassica varieties. Advances in breeding strategies, genetic modifications, and genome editing approaches to enhance SUE are highlighted, alongside agronomic practices i.e., targeted fertilization and crop rotation. Finally, we pointed the existing challenges in optimizing SUE and outlined future directions for research aimed to foster sustainable, resilient Brassica cultivation. This comprehensive review underscores SUE's potential to strengthen Brassica crops resilience against climate stress, enhancing agricultural sustainability and food security.
{"title":"Connecting the dots: Sulfur uptake efficiency as a key player in climate-resilient Brassicas","authors":"Muhammad Mahran Aslam , Numra Saeed , Ahmad Ali , Saman Zulfiqar , Fozia Farhat , Muhammad Abbas , Jawad Ali , Samiya Rehman , Shumaila Sial , Muhammad Saeed , Saifullah Abro , Liu Yibao","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101292","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101292","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Brassica</em> crops are vital for global agriculture and human nutrition. In recent years, climate change has emerged as major challenge, potentially yield, quality and overall plant fitness. Sulfur (S) is essential macronutrient required for plant growth and, stress tolerance. However, research gape exists to elucidate the role sulfur under stress conditions in <em>Brassica</em> crops. Therefore, a detailed understanding of sulfur uptake (S-uptake), use efficiency, and metabolism is required to clarify the role of sulfur in mediating stress responses in Brassica crops. S-uptake is influenced by several factors, including such as soil pH, microbial activity, and plant genetic variability. The role of Sulfur in <em>Brassica</em> nutrition, and function has been revived in details. Here we discussed the role of Sulfur in mitigating environmental stress and coping with the climate alterations. The role of Sulfate transporters (<em>SULTRs</em>) is essential to S-uptake and transport and assimilation pathways in plants. This review explores S-uptake efficiency (SUE) as a key factor in developing climate-resilient <em>Brassica</em> varieties. Advances in breeding strategies, genetic modifications, and genome editing approaches to enhance SUE are highlighted, alongside agronomic practices i.e., targeted fertilization and crop rotation. Finally, we pointed the existing challenges in optimizing SUE and outlined future directions for research aimed to foster sustainable, resilient <em>Brassica</em> cultivation. This comprehensive review underscores SUE's potential to strengthen <em>Brassica</em> crops resilience against climate stress, enhancing agricultural sustainability and food security.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"20 ","pages":"Article 101292"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147422163","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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