Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.stress.2025.101199
Qiangqiang Zhang , Xiu Deng , Xinzheng Han , Jian Ke , Haibing He , Cuicui You , Liquan Wu
Improving the adaptability of rice leaves to high-light under heat stress is essential for maximizing photosynthetic efficiency. This study examined the responses of leaf gas exchange and hydraulic parameters to intense light under heat stress (40 °C) in wild type (Nipponbare) and four genetically modified rice varieties (NAL1-K, NAL1-O, Ghd7.1-K, and Ghd7.1-O) that exhibited significant differences in leaf area (LA). When measured irradiance increased from 1000 to 2000 μmol m-2 s-1 under heat stress, the changes of photosynthetic rate (A2000-A1000) ranged from -2.8 μmol m-2 s-1 in NAL1-O to 14.9 μmol m-2 s-1 in NAL1-K. A negative correlation between A2000-A1000 and LA was observed. The varying responses of A to high-light were primarily associated with stomatal conductance (gs). Enhanced leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf) facilitated the gs response to high-light under heat stress conditions. Furthermore, this study revealed that, under high-light and heat stress conditions, Kleaf is predominantly regulated by leaf hydraulic conductance inside the xylem (Kx), and reduced LA can significantly improve Kx. These findings demonstrate that reducing LA can enhance Kleaf, thereby improving the response of A to high-light under heat stress.
{"title":"Reduced leaf size enhances photosynthetic acclimation to high-light under heat stress by enhancing hydraulic conductance in rice","authors":"Qiangqiang Zhang , Xiu Deng , Xinzheng Han , Jian Ke , Haibing He , Cuicui You , Liquan Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2025.101199","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2025.101199","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Improving the adaptability of rice leaves to high-light under heat stress is essential for maximizing photosynthetic efficiency. This study examined the responses of leaf gas exchange and hydraulic parameters to intense light under heat stress (40 °C) in wild type (<em>Nipponbare</em>) and four genetically modified rice varieties (<em>NAL1-K, NAL1-O, Ghd7.1-K,</em> and <em>Ghd7.1-O</em>) that exhibited significant differences in leaf area (<em>LA</em>). When measured irradiance increased from 1000 to 2000 μmol m<sup>-2</sup> s<sup>-1</sup> under heat stress, the changes of photosynthetic rate (<em>A</em><sub>2000</sub><em>-A</em><sub>1000</sub>) ranged from -2.8 μmol m<sup>-2</sup> s<sup>-1</sup> in <em>NAL1-O</em> to 14.9 μmol m<sup>-2</sup> s<sup>-1</sup> in <em>NAL1-K</em>. A negative correlation between <em>A</em><sub>2000</sub><em>-A</em><sub>1000</sub> and <em>LA</em> was observed. The varying responses of <em>A</em> to high-light were primarily associated with stomatal conductance (<em>g</em><sub>s</sub>). Enhanced leaf hydraulic conductance (<em>K</em><sub>leaf</sub>) facilitated the <em>g</em><sub>s</sub> response to high-light under heat stress conditions. Furthermore, this study revealed that, under high-light and heat stress conditions, <em>K</em><sub>leaf</sub> is predominantly regulated by leaf hydraulic conductance inside the xylem (<em>K</em><sub>x</sub>), and reduced <em>LA</em> can significantly improve <em>K</em><sub>x</sub>. These findings demonstrate that reducing <em>LA</em> can enhance <em>K</em><sub>leaf</sub>, thereby improving the response of <em>A</em> to high-light under heat stress.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101199"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145924649","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 : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.stress.2025.101182
Youwei Zhang , Rui Geng , Guokang Chen , Shuai Yuan , Lei Wang , Heping Fu
Melatonin is a conserved multifunctional signaling molecule in plants, which regulates many developmental processes and responds to stress. Although many studies have involved melatonin in plants, it is not clear whether the application of exogenous melatonin can improve their tolerance to salt damage NaCl + Na2SO4 (2:1). This study investigated the effects of different concentrations of melatonin (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 μmol·L-1) on seed germination, physiological characteristics, and transcriptome (12d) of Sophora alopecuroides under salt stress at different time (3d, 6d, 9d and 12d). The results showed that on the 12th day of salt stress, the germination rate (37.88 %), radicle (16.67 %), germ (38.87 %), total chlorophyll content (72.48 %), transpiration rate (45.17 %) decreased, and H2O2 (24.26 %), malondialdehyde content (10.95 %) increased. In particular, exogenous melatonin at 50 μmol·L-1can improve the germination index of Sophora alopecuroides seeds under salt stress, increase plant growth, biomass accumulation, root activity, regulate stomatal conductance and intercellular CO2 concentration, and improve photosynthetic efficiency. In addition, exogenous melatonin also reduced MDA content and reactive oxygen species (ROS)accumulation, alleviated oxidative damage and increased enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant activities, including catalase, superoxide dismutase, polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, flavonoids and carotenoids. Exogenous melatonin also promoted the accumulation of growth-related endogenous hormones (GA, IAA, MT) and the ability to change gene expression patterns. Discussion Transcriptomics analysis revealed significant changes in gene expression, especially in the comparison of T0 and T1 treatment groups. 4761 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including arginine and proline metabolism, zeatin biosynthesis, pentose and glucuronic acid mutual transformation, galactose metabolism, and peroxisome synthesis pathways, which are essential for plant responses to salt stress. Our results provide preliminary mechanistic insights into how melatonin alleviates the combined salt stress of S. alopecuroides, and lay the foundation for molecular breeding strategies to enhance the salt tolerance of this crop.
{"title":"Molecular mechanisms of melatonin in mitigating compound salt stress in Sophora alopecuroides revealed by physiological and transcriptomic profiling","authors":"Youwei Zhang , Rui Geng , Guokang Chen , Shuai Yuan , Lei Wang , Heping Fu","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2025.101182","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2025.101182","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Melatonin is a conserved multifunctional signaling molecule in plants, which regulates many developmental processes and responds to stress. Although many studies have involved melatonin in plants, it is not clear whether the application of exogenous melatonin can improve their tolerance to salt damage NaCl + Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> (2:1). This study investigated the effects of different concentrations of melatonin (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 μmol·L<sup>-1</sup>) on seed germination, physiological characteristics, and transcriptome (12d) of <em>Sophora alopecuroides</em> under salt stress at different time (3d, 6d, 9d and 12d). The results showed that on the 12th day of salt stress, the germination rate (37.88 %), radicle (16.67 %), germ (38.87 %), total chlorophyll content (72.48 %), transpiration rate (45.17 %) decreased, and H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> (24.26 %), malondialdehyde content (10.95 %) increased. In particular, exogenous melatonin at 50 μmol·L<sup>-1</sup>can improve the germination index of <em>Sophora alopecuroides</em> seeds under salt stress, increase plant growth, biomass accumulation, root activity, regulate stomatal conductance and intercellular CO<sub>2</sub> concentration, and improve photosynthetic efficiency. In addition, exogenous melatonin also reduced MDA content and reactive oxygen species (ROS)accumulation, alleviated oxidative damage and increased enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant activities, including catalase, superoxide dismutase, polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, flavonoids and carotenoids. Exogenous melatonin also promoted the accumulation of growth-related endogenous hormones (GA, IAA, MT) and the ability to change gene expression patterns. Discussion Transcriptomics analysis revealed significant changes in gene expression, especially in the comparison of T0 and T1 treatment groups. 4761 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including arginine and proline metabolism, zeatin biosynthesis, pentose and glucuronic acid mutual transformation, galactose metabolism, and peroxisome synthesis pathways, which are essential for plant responses to salt stress. Our results provide preliminary mechanistic insights into how melatonin alleviates the combined salt stress of <em>S. alopecuroides</em>, and lay the foundation for molecular breeding strategies to enhance the salt tolerance of this crop.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101182"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145924641","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 : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.stress.2025.101156
Xianguan Zhi , Jiahui Yao , Shu Yao, Wenqi Deng, Ling Yan, Huihui Zhai, Chi Huang, Kaiyue Guo, Yang Gao, Chenchen Wang, XiaoBo Wang, Jiajia Li
High-temperature (HT) stress impairs soybean yield by disrupting anther function. miRNAs are critical regulators of plant stress responses, but their roles in soybean anther thermotolerance remain largely unexplored. We performed small RNA sequencing of anthers from HT-tolerant (JD21) and HT-sensitive (HD14) soybean lines under HT and control conditions. Comparative analysis revealed that HT- stress JD21 anthers (TJA) exhibited 16 up-regulated and 19 down-regulated differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) compared to controls (CJA), while HT-stress HD14 anthers (THA) showed 17 up-regulated and 24 down-regulated DEMs relative to its control (CHA). The HD14 exhibited more DEMs, potentially explaining JD21′s superior HT resistance. Integrated analysis of miRNA and mRNA expression identified 23 DEMs with targeted regulatory relationships to 43 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (p<0.05). Bioinformatics analysis indicated that these target genes were primarily enriched in metabolic and cellular processes, response to stimuli, calvin cycle carbon fixation, and carbon metabolism. From this group, eight candidate miRNAs, including novel-m0226–5p (miR226–5p), miR5037c, and miR159e-5p, were selected for further investigation. Functional validation in Arabidopsis thaliana demonstrated that overexpression of miR226–5p, miR5037c, or miR159e-5p resulted in premature anthers non-dehiscence under HT stress, respectively. Furthermore, miR159e-5p overexpression lines specifically showed significantly reduced expression of heat shock transcription factors (HSFA1s) and heat shock proteins (HSPs), supporting a role for this miRNA in regulating thermotolerance. This study establishes as a central regulator of the soybean anther HT response via modulation of the HSFA1s-HSPs network, providing molecular insights into thermotolerance and potential targets for breeding HT-resistant soybean varieties.
{"title":"The role mechanism of miRNA regulating anther dehiscence in soybean under high temperature stress","authors":"Xianguan Zhi , Jiahui Yao , Shu Yao, Wenqi Deng, Ling Yan, Huihui Zhai, Chi Huang, Kaiyue Guo, Yang Gao, Chenchen Wang, XiaoBo Wang, Jiajia Li","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2025.101156","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2025.101156","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>High-temperature (HT) stress impairs soybean yield by disrupting anther function. miRNAs are critical regulators of plant stress responses, but their roles in soybean anther thermotolerance remain largely unexplored. We performed small RNA sequencing of anthers from HT-tolerant (JD21) and HT-sensitive (HD14) soybean lines under HT and control conditions. Comparative analysis revealed that HT- stress JD21 anthers (TJA) exhibited 16 up-regulated and 19 down-regulated differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) compared to controls (CJA), while HT-stress HD14 anthers (THA) showed 17 up-regulated and 24 down-regulated DEMs relative to its control (CHA). The HD14 exhibited more DEMs, potentially explaining JD21′s superior HT resistance. Integrated analysis of miRNA and mRNA expression identified 23 DEMs with targeted regulatory relationships to 43 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (<em>p<0.05</em>). Bioinformatics analysis indicated that these target genes were primarily enriched in metabolic and cellular processes, response to stimuli, calvin cycle carbon fixation, and carbon metabolism. From this group, eight candidate miRNAs, including <em>novel-m0226–5p</em> (<em>miR226–5p</em>), <em>miR5037c</em>, and <em>miR159e-5p</em>, were selected for further investigation. Functional validation in <em>Arabidopsis thaliana</em> demonstrated that overexpression of <em>miR226–5p, miR5037c</em>, or <em>miR159e-5p</em> resulted in premature anthers non-dehiscence under HT stress, respectively. Furthermore, <em>miR159e-5p</em> overexpression lines specifically showed significantly reduced expression of heat shock transcription factors (HSFA1s) and heat shock proteins (HSPs), supporting a role for this miRNA in regulating thermotolerance. This study establishes as a central regulator of the soybean anther HT response via modulation of the HSFA1s-HSPs network, providing molecular insights into thermotolerance and potential targets for breeding HT-resistant soybean varieties.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101156"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925158","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 : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.stress.2026.101218
Yachun Su , Zhuqing Wang , Yurong Luo , Qiugang Ding , Yifei Xia , Shoujian Zang , Tingting Sun , Khushi Muhammad , Chuihuai You , Youxiong Que
Class III peroxidases (PODs) are crucial for plant growth and stress responses, yet few have been characterized in sugarcane (Saccharum spp.). In this study, elevated POD activity was detected across eight sugarcane genotypes during their interaction with Sporisorium scitamineum, suggesting a role in smut defense. To further explore this gene family, 174 SoPOD genes, classified into seven subgroups, were identified in S. officinarum LA-purple. Family expansion primarily was assumed to result from whole-genome/segmental duplications (83.90 %), with Ka/Ks < 1 in 92.86 % of gene pairs. SoPOD promoters were enriched in stress- and hormone-related cis-regulatory elements. Transcriptome data revealed that SoPOD expression was tissue-specific and responsive to cold, drought, and S. scitamineum infection. Notably, SoPOD30 was exclusively upregulated in the resistant cultivar after infection but undetectable in the susceptible one. Its homolog ScPOD01 was subsequently isolated from sugarcane hybrid cultivars and shown to possess a canonical four-exon/three-intron gene structure and plasma membrane localization. Real-time quantitative PCR demonstrated ScPOD01 induction by S. scitamineum infection across all eight cultivars and under various abiotic stresses (abscisic acid, methyl jasmonate, hydrogen peroxide, polyethylene glycol, and sodium chloride). Interestingly, the transient expression of ScPOD01 in Nicotiana benthamiana activated immune responses, as evidenced by intensified DAB staining and upregulation of hypersensitive reaction- and SA-related genes, however its prokaryotic expression did not enhance bacterial stress tolerance. These findings uncover the evolutionary diversification and expression specificity of the sugarcane POD family and elucidate the immune function of ScPOD01, laying a foundation for understanding POD roles in sugarcane disease resistance.
{"title":"Decoding the genomic landscape of class III peroxidase family in Saccharum officinarum and the immune role of ScPOD01","authors":"Yachun Su , Zhuqing Wang , Yurong Luo , Qiugang Ding , Yifei Xia , Shoujian Zang , Tingting Sun , Khushi Muhammad , Chuihuai You , Youxiong Que","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101218","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101218","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Class III peroxidases (PODs) are crucial for plant growth and stress responses, yet few have been characterized in sugarcane (<em>Saccharum</em> spp.). In this study, elevated POD activity was detected across eight sugarcane genotypes during their interaction with <em>Sporisorium scitamineum</em>, suggesting a role in smut defense. To further explore this gene family, 174 <em>SoPOD</em> genes, classified into seven subgroups, were identified in <em>S. officinarum</em> LA-purple. Family expansion primarily was assumed to result from whole-genome/segmental duplications (83.90 %), with Ka/Ks < 1 in 92.86 % of gene pairs. <em>SoPOD</em> promoters were enriched in stress- and hormone-related <em>cis</em>-regulatory elements. Transcriptome data revealed that <em>SoPOD</em> expression was tissue-specific and responsive to cold, drought, and <em>S. scitamineum</em> infection. Notably, <em>SoPOD30</em> was exclusively upregulated in the resistant cultivar after infection but undetectable in the susceptible one. Its homolog <em>ScPOD01</em> was subsequently isolated from sugarcane hybrid cultivars and shown to possess a canonical four-exon/three-intron gene structure and plasma membrane localization. Real-time quantitative PCR demonstrated <em>ScPOD01</em> induction by <em>S. scitamineum</em> infection across all eight cultivars and under various abiotic stresses (abscisic acid, methyl jasmonate, hydrogen peroxide, polyethylene glycol, and sodium chloride). Interestingly, the transient expression of <em>ScPOD01</em> in <em>Nicotiana benthamiana</em> activated immune responses, as evidenced by intensified DAB staining and upregulation of hypersensitive reaction- and SA-related genes, however its prokaryotic expression did not enhance bacterial stress tolerance. These findings uncover the evolutionary diversification and expression specificity of the sugarcane POD family and elucidate the immune function of <em>ScPOD01</em>, laying a foundation for understanding <em>POD</em> roles in sugarcane disease resistance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101218"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925156","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 : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.stress.2025.101212
Qiuling Hui , Emmanouil Flemetakis , Heinz Rennenberg , Bin Hu
Soil salinization and its accompanying soil degradation pose a major threat to plant growth and the sustainability of terrestrial ecosystems worldwide. Therefore, exploring methods to improve the efficiency of phytoremediation of saline soils has been the focus of current research. The symbiosis between biological nitrogen-fixing (BNF) plants and rhizosphere microorganisms plays a crucial role in improving plant resilience and to cope with salt stress. Especially the interaction between nitrogen (N2)-fixing bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi can mitigate the negative effects of salt stress on N2-fixing plants. However, a comprehensive review on the mechanisms of interaction between N2-fixing bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi that confer salt tolerance to N2-fixing plants is still lacking. In this review, we summarize the effects of salt stress on N2-fixing plants and their root colonizing microorganisms with a focus on mechanisms of interaction between N2-fixing bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi under salt stress. These interactions enhance host plant resilience through nutrient complementation, hormonal regulation, and improved antioxidant capacity, but may also be antagonistic through nutrient competition. Finally, we identified research gaps of the analyses of the tripartite symbioses of N2-fixing plants, N2-fixing bacteria, and mycorrhizal fungi to elucidate future research directions.
{"title":"The significance of microbial-root symbioses for the salt tolerance of N2-fixing plants","authors":"Qiuling Hui , Emmanouil Flemetakis , Heinz Rennenberg , Bin Hu","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2025.101212","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2025.101212","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil salinization and its accompanying soil degradation pose a major threat to plant growth and the sustainability of terrestrial ecosystems worldwide. Therefore, exploring methods to improve the efficiency of phytoremediation of saline soils has been the focus of current research. The symbiosis between biological nitrogen-fixing (BNF) plants and rhizosphere microorganisms plays a crucial role in improving plant resilience and to cope with salt stress. Especially the interaction between nitrogen (N<sub>2</sub>)-fixing bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi can mitigate the negative effects of salt stress on N<sub>2</sub>-fixing plants. However, a comprehensive review on the mechanisms of interaction between N<sub>2</sub>-fixing bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi that confer salt tolerance to N<sub>2</sub>-fixing plants is still lacking. In this review, we summarize the effects of salt stress on N<sub>2</sub>-fixing plants and their root colonizing microorganisms with a focus on mechanisms of interaction between N<sub>2</sub>-fixing bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi under salt stress. These interactions enhance host plant resilience through nutrient complementation, hormonal regulation, and improved antioxidant capacity, but may also be antagonistic through nutrient competition. Finally, we identified research gaps of the analyses of the tripartite symbioses of N<sub>2</sub>-fixing plants, N<sub>2</sub>-fixing bacteria, and mycorrhizal fungi to elucidate future research directions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101212"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925159","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 : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.stress.2025.101216
Seok-Yeong Jang , Myung-Hwi Kim , Sora Kim , Buyoung Kim , Andika Septiana Suryaningsih , Yu Lim Park , Sun-Jung Kwon , Jang-Kyun Seo
Plant viruses exploit host cellular machinery to fold, stabilize, and target their movement proteins (MPs) to plasmodesmata (PD), enabling viral cell-to-cell and systemic spread. In this study, we identified Nicotiana benthamiana HSP70–HSP90 organizing protein (NbHOP) as a proviral host factor that interacts with the Broad bean wilt virus 2 (BBWV2) MP, VP37. Yeast two-hybrid and co-immunoprecipitation assays revealed a specific interaction between VP37 and NbHOP. Subcellular localization analyses showed that NbHOP, which predominantly accumulates in the nucleus, is relocalized to PD upon co-expression with VP37 or during BBWV2 infection. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation confirmed that VP37 and NbHOP directly interact at PD. Domain mapping further demonstrated that the C-terminal region of TPR2B domain in NbHOP is required for VP37 binding. Functional assays demonstrated that NbHOP is essential for efficient BBWV2 infection: NbHOP silencing significantly reduced both systemic infection and cell-to-cell movement, whereas its overexpression enhanced viral cell-to-cell movement. Together with our previous finding that VP37 associates with HSP90, these results support a model in which VP37 co-opts the HSP90–HOP module to ensure proper folding, stabilization, and tubule formation at PD. This study uncovers an unrecognized role of HOP in plant–virus interactions and highlights the conserved HSP90–HOP chaperone complex as a key host machinery exploited for viral intercellular trafficking.
{"title":"Broad bean wilt virus 2 movement protein VP37 relocalizes the host co-chaperone HOP from the nucleus to plasmodesmata to promote viral intercellular movement","authors":"Seok-Yeong Jang , Myung-Hwi Kim , Sora Kim , Buyoung Kim , Andika Septiana Suryaningsih , Yu Lim Park , Sun-Jung Kwon , Jang-Kyun Seo","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2025.101216","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2025.101216","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plant viruses exploit host cellular machinery to fold, stabilize, and target their movement proteins (MPs) to plasmodesmata (PD), enabling viral cell-to-cell and systemic spread. In this study, we identified <em>Nicotiana benthamiana</em> HSP70–HSP90 organizing protein (NbHOP) as a proviral host factor that interacts with the Broad bean wilt virus 2 (BBWV2) MP, VP37. Yeast two-hybrid and co-immunoprecipitation assays revealed a specific interaction between VP37 and NbHOP. Subcellular localization analyses showed that NbHOP, which predominantly accumulates in the nucleus, is relocalized to PD upon co-expression with VP37 or during BBWV2 infection. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation confirmed that VP37 and NbHOP directly interact at PD. Domain mapping further demonstrated that the C-terminal region of TPR2B domain in NbHOP is required for VP37 binding. Functional assays demonstrated that NbHOP is essential for efficient BBWV2 infection: <em>NbHOP</em> silencing significantly reduced both systemic infection and cell-to-cell movement, whereas its overexpression enhanced viral cell-to-cell movement. Together with our previous finding that VP37 associates with HSP90, these results support a model in which VP37 co-opts the HSP90–HOP module to ensure proper folding, stabilization, and tubule formation at PD. This study uncovers an unrecognized role of HOP in plant–virus interactions and highlights the conserved HSP90–HOP chaperone complex as a key host machinery exploited for viral intercellular trafficking.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101216"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925236","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 : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.stress.2025.101206
Yuli Huang , Wenting Yuan , Lei Zhang , Pan Yang , Li Huang , Jiangming Ma , Zhiyong Zhang , Haimiao Wang
Clonal integration enables ramets to share resources by stolon, enhancing their adaptability to patches of heterogeneous resource supply in clonal plants. However, how clonal plants regulate photosynthetic capacity, endogenous protective enzymes and phytohormones to survive from heterogeneous drought were poorly understood. A pot experiment was conducted under heterogeneous drought conditions in mother and daughter plants in A. trewioides. Experiment treatments included (ⅰ) both well-watered mother and daughter plants (CK), (ⅱ) mother plant exposed to drought (SRWC of 45 ± 5 % for 9 days) + daughter plant well-watered (T1), and (ⅲ) mother plant well-watered + daughter plant exposed to drought (T2). Results showed that chlorophyll content and photosynthetic parameters were significantly reduced in drought plants whatever mother or daughter plants. However, daughter plants performed more vulnerable than mother plants when they were suffering from drought stress. Besides, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in mother plants were significantly increased for treatment T1 compared with CK. In comparison, H2O2, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) were significantly increased by 41.87 %, 15.68 % and 11.70 % in daughter plants for treatment T1 compared with CK. Moreover, abscisic acid (ABA) level was remarkedly increased in mother plants for treatment T1 relative to CK. Simultaneously, brassinosteroid (BR) and zeaxanthin (ZT) levels in daughter plants exhibited a significant increasing trend during rewatering stage for treatment T1 relative to CK. Furthermore, SOD and catalase (CAT) in daughter plants were notably increased by 142.28 % and 21.8 % for treatment T2 compared with CK. Interestingly, CAT and ABA were also increased by 33.54 % and 19.6 % in mother plants for treatment T2 compared with CK. Therefore, we concluded that clonal plants could up-regulated SOD, CAT and POD activities as well as phytohormones such as ABA, BR and ZT levels both in mother and daughter plants whoever suffering from drought stress, more interestingly, mother plants would enhanced activities of some endogenous protective enzyme and phytohormone, eg. CAT and ABA, in despite of mother plant well-watered, when connected daughter plant was exposed to drought stress, thereby promoting their adaptive capacity. These results were expected to provide a theoretical basis for understanding physiological integration characteristic to promote their adaptions to drought environmental surroundings in clonal plants.
{"title":"Plant drought tolerance was enhanced by positively regulating endogenous protective enzymes activities and phytohormones levels in a clonal plant of A. trewioides","authors":"Yuli Huang , Wenting Yuan , Lei Zhang , Pan Yang , Li Huang , Jiangming Ma , Zhiyong Zhang , Haimiao Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2025.101206","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2025.101206","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Clonal integration enables ramets to share resources by stolon, enhancing their adaptability to patches of heterogeneous resource supply in clonal plants. However, how clonal plants regulate photosynthetic capacity, endogenous protective enzymes and phytohormones to survive from heterogeneous drought were poorly understood. A pot experiment was conducted under heterogeneous drought conditions in mother and daughter plants in <em>A. trewioides.</em> Experiment treatments included (ⅰ) both well-watered mother and daughter plants (CK), (ⅱ) mother plant exposed to drought (SRWC of 45 ± 5 % for 9 days) + daughter plant well-watered (T<sub>1</sub>), and (ⅲ) mother plant well-watered + daughter plant exposed to drought (T<sub>2</sub>). Results showed that chlorophyll content and photosynthetic parameters were significantly reduced in drought plants whatever mother or daughter plants. However, daughter plants performed more vulnerable than mother plants when they were suffering from drought stress. Besides, hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in mother plants were significantly increased for treatment T<sub>1</sub> compared with CK. In comparison, H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2,</sub> superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) were significantly increased by 41.87 %, 15.68 % and 11.70 % in daughter plants for treatment T<sub>1</sub> compared with CK. Moreover, abscisic acid (ABA) level was remarkedly increased in mother plants for treatment T<sub>1</sub> relative to CK. Simultaneously, brassinosteroid (BR) and zeaxanthin (ZT) levels in daughter plants exhibited a significant increasing trend during rewatering stage for treatment T<sub>1</sub> relative to CK. Furthermore, SOD and catalase (CAT) in daughter plants were notably increased by 142.28 % and 21.8 % for treatment T<sub>2</sub> compared with CK. Interestingly, CAT and ABA were also increased by 33.54 % and 19.6 % in mother plants for treatment T<sub>2</sub> compared with CK. Therefore, we concluded that clonal plants could up-regulated SOD, CAT and POD activities as well as phytohormones such as ABA, BR and ZT levels both in mother and daughter plants whoever suffering from drought stress, more interestingly, mother plants would enhanced activities of some endogenous protective enzyme and phytohormone, eg. CAT and ABA, in despite of mother plant well-watered, when connected daughter plant was exposed to drought stress, thereby promoting their adaptive capacity. These results were expected to provide a theoretical basis for understanding physiological integration characteristic to promote their adaptions to drought environmental surroundings in clonal plants.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101206"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145924647","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 : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.stress.2025.101207
Liru Mi , Yanjing Guo , Jiale Shi , He Wang , Min Chen , Dan Cheng , Hongyu Ma , Shiguo Chen
The pathogenic fungus Alternaria alternata induces chloroplast-derived singlet oxygen (1O2) production and activates EXECUTER (EX)1-dependent 1O2 signaling in Arabidopsis through tenuazonic acid (TeA), its key virulence factor leading to plant death. This 1O2 is known to trigger the biosynthesis and signaling of various defense hormones. TeA rapidly upregulates nuclear genes involved in jasmonic acid (JA) synthesis and signaling, and EX1-mediated reverse signaling appears to be a critical link for establishing a signaling cascade from 1O2 to JA. Although JA and ethylene (ET) are known to synergistically regulate plant defense responses against necrotrophic pathogens, the precise role of ET in A. alternata-induced disease development in Arabidopsis remains unclear, and relatively little research has examined potential cross-talk between ET and ¹O2 signaling. Our investigations revealed that A. alternata infection significantly enhances the expression of ET response genes (ETRGs) and that EX1EX2 inactivation leads to a significant reduction in ETRGs expression levels. Through the exogenous application of both an ET precursor (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid) and ET inhibitor (silver thiosulfate), we corroborated that ET contributes to the expression of 1O2-responsive genes (SORGs) and the progression of disease. This suggests that ET signaling interacts with EX1-dependent 1O2 signaling thereby promoting 1O2-induced cell death. Concurrently, we observed that inactivation of EIN2 and ERF6 results in reduced levels of JA synthesis gene expression and JA production, and that the AOC3 mutation reduces the expression levels of A. alternata-induced ETRGs. The findings collectively demonstrate that ET promotes the expression of JA-responsive genes (JARGs) and JA production, which, in turn, exacerbates the sensitivity of Arabidopsis to A. alternata.
{"title":"Ethylene promotes singlet oxygen-mediated disease development in Arabidopsis infected by fungus Alternaria alternata","authors":"Liru Mi , Yanjing Guo , Jiale Shi , He Wang , Min Chen , Dan Cheng , Hongyu Ma , Shiguo Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2025.101207","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2025.101207","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The pathogenic fungus <em>Alternaria alternata</em> induces chloroplast-derived singlet oxygen (<sup>1</sup>O<sub>2</sub>) production and activates EXECUTER (EX)1-dependent <sup>1</sup>O<sub>2</sub> signaling in <em>Arabidopsis</em> through tenuazonic acid (TeA), its key virulence factor leading to plant death. This <sup>1</sup>O<sub>2</sub> is known to trigger the biosynthesis and signaling of various defense hormones. TeA rapidly upregulates nuclear genes involved in jasmonic acid (JA) synthesis and signaling, and EX1-mediated reverse signaling appears to be a critical link for establishing a signaling cascade from <sup>1</sup>O<sub>2</sub> to JA. Although JA and ethylene (ET) are known to synergistically regulate plant defense responses against necrotrophic pathogens, the precise role of ET in <em>A. alternata</em>-induced disease development in <em>Arabidopsis</em> remains unclear, and relatively little research has examined potential cross-talk between ET and ¹O<sub>2</sub> signaling. Our investigations revealed that <em>A. alternata</em> infection significantly enhances the expression of ET response genes (ETRGs) and that <em>EX1EX2</em> inactivation leads to a significant reduction in ETRGs expression levels. Through the exogenous application of both an ET precursor (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid) and ET inhibitor (silver thiosulfate), we corroborated that ET contributes to the expression of <sup>1</sup>O<sub>2</sub>-responsive genes (SORGs) and the progression of disease. This suggests that ET signaling interacts with EX1-dependent <sup>1</sup>O<sub>2</sub> signaling thereby promoting <sup>1</sup>O<sub>2</sub>-induced cell death. Concurrently, we observed that inactivation of <em>EIN2</em> and <em>ERF6</em> results in reduced levels of JA synthesis gene expression and JA production, and that the <em>AOC3</em> mutation reduces the expression levels of <em>A. alternata</em>-induced ETRGs. The findings collectively demonstrate that ET promotes the expression of JA-responsive genes (JARGs) and JA production, which, in turn, exacerbates the sensitivity of <em>Arabidopsis</em> to <em>A. alternata</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101207"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925153","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 : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.stress.2025.101215
Tetiana Kalachova , Barbora Jindřichová , Manuel Blouin , Romana Pospíchalová , Lenka Burketová , Eric Ruelland , Ruben Puga-Freitas
Plant-pathogen interactions are influenced by physiological responses and rhizospheric microorganisms, which can create disease-suppressive or disease-conducive soils affecting pathogen dynamics. This study used artificial selection to shape soil microbiota conditioned by Arabidopsis thaliana to either suppress or promote the foliar pathogen Pseudomonas syringae DC3000 (Pst). Over successive iterations, plants were inoculated with Pst, and soils were selected based on plant symptoms: enhanced resistance (suppressive), increased susceptibility (conducive), or no selection (control). A non-inoculated group (non-conditioned) was also included. Disease symptoms, Pst proliferation, and rhizosphere microbiota were monitored each iteration. Selection for suppressive soils reduced disease severity and Pst levels, while conducive soils showed the opposite. Each soil type was enriched in distinct bacterial communities. A growth-defense trade-off was evident in control soils but less so in selected soils. Gene expression analysis revealed that plant hormone homeostasis, especially salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) played key roles with SA linked to local defense and JA to systemic responses. This work highlights artificial selection as a promising strategy to modulate soil microbiota, influencing plant-pathogen interactions and microbial dynamics.
{"title":"Artificial selection of suppressive or conducive rhizosphere microbiota circumvents the growth-defense trade-off due to a foliar pathogen","authors":"Tetiana Kalachova , Barbora Jindřichová , Manuel Blouin , Romana Pospíchalová , Lenka Burketová , Eric Ruelland , Ruben Puga-Freitas","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2025.101215","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2025.101215","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plant-pathogen interactions are influenced by physiological responses and rhizospheric microorganisms, which can create disease-suppressive or disease-conducive soils affecting pathogen dynamics. This study used artificial selection to shape soil microbiota conditioned by <em>Arabidopsis thaliana</em> to either suppress or promote the foliar pathogen <em>Pseudomonas syringae</em> DC3000 (<em>Pst</em>). Over successive iterations, plants were inoculated with <em>Pst</em>, and soils were selected based on plant symptoms: enhanced resistance (suppressive), increased susceptibility (conducive), or no selection (control). A non-inoculated group (non-conditioned) was also included. Disease symptoms, <em>Pst</em> proliferation, and rhizosphere microbiota were monitored each iteration. Selection for suppressive soils reduced disease severity and <em>Pst</em> levels, while conducive soils showed the opposite. Each soil type was enriched in distinct bacterial communities. A growth-defense trade-off was evident in control soils but less so in selected soils. Gene expression analysis revealed that plant hormone homeostasis, especially salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) played key roles with SA linked to local defense and JA to systemic responses. This work highlights artificial selection as a promising strategy to modulate soil microbiota, influencing plant-pathogen interactions and microbial dynamics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101215"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925154","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}
Tomato plants constantly encounter fungal pathogens, which trigger intricate defense mechanisms at the molecular level. Among these, upstream open reading frames (uORFs) and main open reading frames (mORFs), together with microRNAs (miRNAs), play pivotal roles in orchestrating stress-responsive gene regulation. uORFs and mORFs encode or influence the synthesis of key proteins involved in pathogen recognition, signal transduction, and immune activation, whereas miRNAs act as post-transcriptional regulators that fine-tune the expression of these defense-related genes, including those governing signaling pathways and transcription factors. Recent studies have revealed coordinated crosstalk between uORFs, mORFs, and miRNAs that collectively shape tomato defense strategies against major fungal pathogens such as Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium oxysporum. This review synthesizes current insights into how uORFs and miRNAs interact to modulate immune regulation, gene silencing, and adaptive stress responses in tomato. A deeper understanding of these molecular networks offers promising avenues for developing fungal-resistant tomato cultivars through targeted genetic and biotechnological interventions.
{"title":"The consciousness of stress: Functional roles of ORFs and MicroRNAs in tomato defense against fungal pathogens","authors":"Misbah Naz, Zhibing Rui, Haowen Ni, Muhammad Rahil Afzal, Zhuo Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2025.101194","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2025.101194","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tomato plants constantly encounter fungal pathogens, which trigger intricate defense mechanisms at the molecular level. Among these, upstream open reading frames (uORFs) and main open reading frames (mORFs), together with microRNAs (miRNAs), play pivotal roles in orchestrating stress-responsive gene regulation. uORFs and mORFs encode or influence the synthesis of key proteins involved in pathogen recognition, signal transduction, and immune activation, whereas miRNAs act as post-transcriptional regulators that fine-tune the expression of these defense-related genes, including those governing signaling pathways and transcription factors. Recent studies have revealed coordinated crosstalk between uORFs, mORFs, and miRNAs that collectively shape tomato defense strategies against major fungal pathogens such as <em>Botrytis cinerea</em> and <em>Fusarium oxysporum</em>. This review synthesizes current insights into how uORFs and miRNAs interact to modulate immune regulation, gene silencing, and adaptive stress responses in tomato. A deeper understanding of these molecular networks offers promising avenues for developing fungal-resistant tomato cultivars through targeted genetic and biotechnological interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101194"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925155","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}
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号