Plants-Basel最新文献

The journal retracts the article, "Neuroprotective Effects of Dried Tubers of Aconitum napellus" [...].

Invasive alien species pose escalating threats to global biodiversity and ecosystems, which may be exacerbated by climate change, potentially leading to range expansions and intensified impacts. In China, Mikania micrantha Kunth, a fast-growing tropical vine listed among the world's 100 worst invasive species, has proliferated since its introduction in the mid-20th century, causing severe ecological damage through the smothering of vegetation, suppression of allelopathy, and economic losses in agriculture and forestry. This study aimed to predict its current and future distributions to guide management. Using 205 stringently filtered occurrence records from databases, surveys, and literature, combined with bioclimatic variables from WorldClim and MaxEnt modeling-optimized via ENMeval and evaluated by AUC (>0.97)-projected habitats under current (1970-2000) conditions and future SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP3-7.0 scenarios for the 2050s and 2070s via the BCC-CSM2-HR model. Temperature factors dominated predictions, with current excellent suitability (3.6 × 10⁴ km²) concentrated in Hainan and southern Guangdong, expanding to good and moderate zones in Guangxi, Fujian, and Yunnan. Future averages showed expansions in excellent (21.3%), good (10.0%), and moderate (14.0%) habitats, with some northward shifts into Jiangxi and Hunan under higher emissions. In situ augmentation of habitat suitability and spatial containment overshadows the northward range expansion. The high-emission scenario is projected to lead to temperature overshoots, which will dampen habitat suitability. The findings underscore M. micrantha's resilience to warming, necessitating integrated strategies such as guarding critical biodiversity sites, early detection, biocontrol, and habitat restoration to mitigate risks in both core and emerging zones.

Perilla frutescens is an important medicinal and edible plant in Asia and was introduced in Europe and North America mainly as a spice plant. The commonly cultivated species is an allotetraploid (AABB). While the identity of its AA diploid donor has been preliminarily clarified, the other donor, BB, has not been discovered yet, and the taxonomic status and characteristics of the BB donor remain unresolved. Based on the published genomes of Perilla spp., we employed a collinearity analysis, gene structure similarity assessment, and multi-level functional annotation to infer the genomic and phenotypic features of the B subgenome. Results suggest that the protein sequences of the B and A subgenomes exhibit the highest similarity, while the protein sequences of Lavandula angustifolia or Ocimum basilicum are less similar to the B subgenome, and two subgenomes also possess the largest number of homologous genes and have similar gene structures. A total of 90 BB progenitor-specific genes were significantly enriched in pathways related to secondary metabolite biosynthesis and environmental stress response. Among these genes, the terpene synthase genes constitute the main genetic basis for the diversity of bioactive components in perilla. The discovery of a homologous gene containing the NB-ARC domain, associated with resistance to late blight, suggests that BB may contribute to key disease-resistant traits. Further gene family analysis revealed that compared with the A subgenome, the B subgenome exhibited fewer genes and lower diversity in the TPS and NB-ARC families. These findings indicate that BB may have originated from an unfound or extinct species within the Perilla spp. The BB donor might be less diversified than AA, possibly adapting to a narrow geographic and climatic range.

The COVID-19 pandemic has renewed global interest in medicinal plants as accessible sources of prophylactic and supportive therapies. Ethnobotanical research provides an important foundation for developing plant-based medicines with preventive and therapeutic potential. This study aimed (1) to investigate the distribution and indications for the use of medicinal plants in the prevention and relief of COVID-19-related symptoms among the Bulgarian population, and (2) to identify culturally significant species with potential for further development as antiviral agents. A total of 513 respondents from different regions and demographic groups in Bulgaria were interviewed. Their knowledge regarding the use of medicinal plants for COVID-19 prevention or treatment was quantitatively assessed using ethnobotanical indices: relative frequency of citation (RFC), informant consensus factor (FIC), fidelity level (FL), and use value (UV). Participants reported 45 species belonging to 43 genera and 23 families. The highest RFC and UVs were recorded for Matricaria chamomilla L., Tilia sp., Thymus vulgaris L., Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Mentha sp., Citrus x limon (L.) Osbeck, Rosa canina L., and Sideritis scardica Griseb. Culturally significant species identified were Thymus vulgaris L., Matricaria chamomilla L., Tilia sp., Mentha sp., Sideritis scardica Griseb, Zingiber officinale Roscoe, and Citrus x limon (L.) Osbeck. This ethnobotanical survey in Bulgaria documents culturally important medicinal plants that may have potential applications in prophylaxis and complementary therapy for COVID-19.

Brassica vegetables are in high demand because they are an essential nutrient source for humans. Glucosinolates (GSLs), a major bioactive compound found in Brassicaceae, are amino acid derivatives that contribute to the health benefits of these crops. Light quality plays a significant role in plant growth and metabolite synthesis, and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as artificial light sources offer many benefits. This study examined three cultivars of leafy cabbage B. oleracea. var. acephala (Kale), B. oleracea var. viridis (collard), and B. oleracea var. capitata (cabbage) grown under different LED conditions (red, blue, and blue-red) in the growing chamber. The primary objective of this study was to identify the most effective LED light spectrum for promoting GSLs accumulation and enhancing the overall plant quality. The findings of this study demonstrate that LED lights can have varying impacts on the cultivars of leafy cabbage. The different light spectra had varying impacts on the parameters examined in this study. GSLs compounds, particularly glucobrassicin, showed the most significant increase under the blue light treatment, with a 61% increase compared to the control. The R&B (red and blue) light treatment was the most effective in improving the growth traits of the shoot and root in the Kale cultivar. For the collard cultivar, the R&B light increased the leaf length and width, whereas for the cabbage cultivar, it led to an increase in the number of leaves and chlorophyll index. These findings demonstrate that the specific light quality can have different effects on the phytochemical composition and morphological characteristics of the different leafy cabbage cultivars. The blue light spectrum was particularly effective in enhancing GSLs accumulation, while the combination of red and blue light provided the most beneficial effects on overall plant growth and development across the three cultivars studied. These results suggest that the metabolism and phytochemical properties of leafy cabbage cultivars depend on exposure to multiple factors, such as cultivar type and light quality. Therefore, R&B light was the most effective light for most traits and can be suggested for performance.

Drought stress induces oxidative damage that severely impairs the growth and development of ginseng seedlings. Although conventional antioxidants present a theoretical approach for mitigating such oxidative damage, their practical application is constrained by their inadequate stability. Herein, we developed multifunctional antioxidant carbon dots (CDs) synthesized from the medicinal herb Epimedium via a one-step hydrothermal method. The biomass-derived CDs exhibited efficient cascade nanozyme activities for mimicking both superoxide dismutase and catalase to achieve effective scavenging of multiple reactive oxygen species (ROS). Under drought stress, application of CDs to ginseng seedlings significantly mitigated oxidative damage through the modulation of the antioxidant enzyme system and improved osmotic regulation. Simultaneously, it could enhance photosynthetic efficiency and mitigate growth suppression caused by drought. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that CDs alleviated drought stress by triggering transcriptional reprogramming that activated genes related to antioxidant defense, photosynthetic efficiency, and stress signaling. Additionally, the CDs exhibited excellent biocompatibility and environmental safety. This work provides a novel and environmentally friendly strategy to enhance drought tolerance in medicinal plants.

This study aimed to develop an efficient and environmentally sustainable method for extracting bioactive compounds from juçara palm (Euterpe edulis Mart.) fruit residues using deep eutectic solvents (DES) and conventional solvents, combined with ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). Seven DES formulations based on choline chloride (ChCl) and different hydrogen bond donors (glycerol, glucose, and organic acids) were prepared, and their performance was compared with water, ethanol, and ethanol/water mixtures. The phenolic composition, anthocyanins and antioxidant activity of the extracts were determined using spectrophotometric assays (Folin-Ciocalteu, DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP) and ESI-MS/MS analysis. The results showed that DES exhibited higher efficiency in recovering total phenolic compounds, anthocyanins and ABTS compared to conventional solvents, particularly in the ChCl-glycerol system. ESI-MS/MS analyses monitored around 40 phenolic compounds, including phenolic acids, flavanones, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. Acidic solvents favored anthocyanin extraction and stability, while ethanol- and glycerol-based systems provided broader compound profiles. The use of DES proved to be a green and selective alternative for obtaining extracts rich in bioactive compounds, enhancing the value of juçara residues and contributing to the sustainability of the species production chain.

Expansins contribute to maize tolerance to salt stress, but the molecular mechanisms by which they function under high-salinity conditions remain poorly understood. In this research, the α-expansin gene ZmEXPA3 was characterized. We obtained overexpression transgenic lines in maize and determined physiological and biochemical indices to elucidate its molecular role in salt stress. Our results confirmed that ZmEXPA3 functioned as a positive salt tolerance regulator and was potentially regulated by abscisic acid (ABA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA). ZmEXPA3 located to the cytoplasm and cell wall. Overexpression of ZmEXPA3 achieved thicker cell wall and bigger cell size and thereby promoted biomass accumulation. The ZmEXPA3-OE lines showed a marked reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) and H₂O₂ accumulation compared to the WT under salt stress. Overexpression of ZmEXPA3 elevated the enzyme activity of peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and proline accumulation and decreased the Na⁺/K⁺ ratio in roots. Transcriptome and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of ZmEXPA3-OE lines and WT showed that many differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched in cell-wall-related terms, plant hormone response, osmotic stress response, salt stress response, oxidoreductase activity, etc. Changes in these processes may be the primary reasons why ZmEXPA3 overexpression promotes growth and salt tolerance.

Greenhouse agriculture is experiencing global expansion; however, in Andean countries such as Ecuador, its development is constrained by low-tech infrastructure, limited automation, and insufficient environmental monitoring, all of which negatively affect productivity and fruit quality. This study characterized the microclimate of a low-tech greenhouse in Chaltura, Imbabura Province, during a complete production cycle of tomato crop (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Microclimatic conditions were analyzed during three phenological stages (vegetative, reproductive, and harvest). Temperature and relative humidity were recorded at 5 min intervals using sensors placed in the greenhouse quadrants, while an external weather station provided daily outdoor climate data. Statistical analyses were performed in R software (version 4.4.x). The results revealed marked internal microclimatic heterogeneity and showed that the crop remained outside the optimal ranges of temperature, relative humidity, and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) for over 50% of the time across all phenological stages and greenhouse quadrants. These findings underscore the urgent need for cost-effective climate-control strategies adapted to local conditions and provide a scientific basis for future research aimed at improving climatic and productive efficiency, as well as the resilience and sustainability of protected agriculture in Andean regions.

Exogenous cytokinin supply is a crucial factor during the in vitro shoot multiplication of apples. Meta-topolin has been shown to cause improved multiplication rate, higher quality in vitro shoots with better rooting, and acclimatization ability than the widely used benzyl adenine. The effects of benzyl adenine and meta-topolin on mRNA transcription in in vitro shoots were analyzed by using mRNA-seq, bioinformatics analysis, GO annotation, and KEGG mapping. The present investigations revealed that there were about 6-fold more significantly up-, or down-regulated genes (DEGs) in shoots grown on the benzyl adenine-containing medium than in those grown on the meta-topolin-containing medium. DEG analyses showed that WRKYs, bHLH, and MYB were the most affected transcription factors after both cytokinin treatments, while the expression of MIKC-type MADS-box, ERF, and AP2 transcription factors changed only after benzyl adenine treatment. DEGs related to auxin transport and signaling, as well as auxin synthesis, were differently affected by the two cytokinins. The DEG encoding cytokinin hydroxylase-like protein and related to trans-zeatin biosynthesis was up-regulated only after benzyl adenine treatment. The DEG encoding gibberellin 20 oxidase 2-like was down-regulated after a benzyl adenine supply while it was up-regulated after a meta-topolin supply. Changes in the cytokinin-auxin balance and gibberellin biosynthesis in in vitro shoots may contribute to the morphological differences previously observed for the two cytokinins.