Plants-Basel最新文献

Clonal propagation often must incorporate heaters to warm stock plants and stabilize growth. This study investigates the impact that different temperature regimes for stock plants have on the rooting capacity of mini-cuttings derived therefrom. Experiments were conducted in growth chambers using two clones of Eucalyptus dunnii Maiden, with clone A's rooting being moderately better that that of clone B in commercial production. Root primordia differentiation and elongation were faster in clone A than clone B. Stock plants were maintained for one month under two temperature conditions: Δ0 (26/26 °C day/night) and Δ10 (26/16 °C). The main results indicate that rooting significantly decreased with the reduction in nocturnal temperature. Clone A exhibited a 38% reduction in rooting, whereas clone B showed a more pronounced decrease of 65%. In cold nights, soluble carbohydrates at the cutting bases dropped by approximately 25% considering both clones, and overall foliar nutrients also decreased. Cutting base transcript profiles revealed that cold nights decreased the expression of efflux auxin transporter PIN1, increased expression of auxin catabolism-related enzyme DAO, and that expression of auxin nuclear receptor TIR1 remained stable. Fine management of clonal gardens by adjusting thermal conditions can optimize the physiological status of donor plants and enhance the rooting potential and establishment of the derived cuttings.

We developed OmicIntegrator, a broadly adaptable pipeline designed to standardize and integrate publicly available transcriptomic, proteomic, and phosphoproteomic datasets. We applied this workflow to Arabidopsis thaliana etiolated seedlings to identify protein kinases and phosphatases relevant to skotomorphogenic development, a phase during which seedlings rely on tightly regulated signaling networks to ensure survival in darkness. This meta-analysis provided a comprehensive view of gene and protein expression, revealing discrepancies between transcript and protein abundance, suggesting post-transcriptional and post-translational regulation. By integrating multiple datasets, OmicIntegrator reduces experimental bias and enables the detection of phosphorylation events that may be missed in single-condition studies. Distinct phosphorylation patterns were detected across different protein kinase families. Motif enrichment analysis showed a strong overrepresentation of RxxS motifs among phosphosites in protein phosphatases and microtubule-associated proteins, consistent with potential regulation by calcium-dependent protein kinases (CPKs). Across omics layers, CPK3 and CPK9 repeatedly emerged as prominent candidates, highlighting them as priorities for future functional studies in skotomorphogenesis. Overall, our results demonstrate the power of OmicIntegrator as a flexible framework to contextualize signaling landscapes and identify robust patterns and candidate genes and for generating testable hypotheses from integrated multi-omics data in plant developmental biology.

The multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) protein plays a crucial role in mediating plant responses to aluminum (Al) toxicity. The key candidate gene BnaMATE43b related to Al toxicity stress in rapeseed was identified using GWAS and transcriptome analysis. In this study, the BnaMATE43b gene was cloned and functionally characterized in rapeseed. Compared with wild-type rapeseed (WT), the BnaMATE43b overexpression lines (OE) demonstrated stronger aluminum tolerance, specifically manifested in higher relative elongation of taproots (RETs) and relative total root length (RTRL); under Al toxicity stress, the enzyme activities (SOD and POD) and root activity were significantly increased in the OE lines, whereas the MDA content and relative electrical conductivity were reduced in rapeseed root. Further transcriptome analysis of OE-3 showed that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were mainly enriched in zeatin biosynthesis (map00908), glucosinolate biosynthesis (map00966), phenylpropanoid biosynthesis (map00940), and ascorbate and aldarate metabolism (map00053). In addition, the yeast cDNA library of rapeseed was constructed, and twenty-two candidate upstream transcription factors (UTFs) of BnaMATE43b were screened; furthermore, four candidate UTFs were obtained through one-on-one interaction validation and luciferase assays, comprising three bHLH transcription factors (BnaA02g28220D, BnaA06g07840D, and BnaA08g24520D) and one ERF transcription factor (BnaA05g23130D). Collectively, these results suggest that BnaMATE43b could improve Al tolerance in rapeseed by mediating antioxidant enzyme activities and the related metabolic pathway, while the obtained UTFs lay the foundation for further analysis of the gene regulatory network under Al toxicity stress.

Tetraploid non-apomictic citrus genotypes are key female parents for 4x × 2x hybridizations aimed at producing seedless triploid hybrids. However, the extent to which different tetraploidization methods affect genome integrity remains insufficiently characterized at a genome-wide scale. In this study, genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) was used to evaluate marker-based genomic stability in ten tetraploid plants of 'Clemenules', 'Fina', and 'Marisol' clementines obtained via colchicine treatment, in vitro adventitious organogenesis, or somatic cybridization. Diploid parental plants, two haploid plants of 'Clemenules' and 'Fina' clementines, and one doubled haploid plant of 'Clemenules' clementine were included, being the haploid and double haploid essential to resolve allelic phases. After quality filtering, 3333 SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) markers distributed across the nine citrus chromosomes were identified and used to compare allele dosage patterns along the genome. Across all GBS-covered regions, no major marker-based genomic gains or losses were detected in any tetraploid plant. These results indicate that, at the resolution provided by GBS, all three tetraploidization methods largely preserve chromosome structure, supporting their suitability for citrus triploid breeding programs based on 4x × 2x sexual hybridizations.

Understanding seasonal water acquisition strategies of desert plants is critical for predicting vegetation resilience under increasing hydrological stress in arid inland river basins. In hyper-arid oases, strong evaporative demand and declining groundwater levels impose tightly coupled constraints on plant water uptake across soil-plant-atmosphere continua. In this study, we combined hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes, Bayesian mixing models, soil moisture measurements and groundwater monitoring, and leaf δ¹³C analysis to quantify monthly water-source contributions and long-term water-use efficiency of three dominant species (Reaumuria soongarica, Tamarix ramosissima, and Populus euphratica) in the Ejina Oasis. Clear ecohydrological niche differentiation was evident among the three species. R. soongarica exhibited moderate temporal flexibility by integrating shallow and deep soil water with episodic groundwater use, whereas T. ramosissima adopted a vertically integrated and hydraulically plastic strategy combining precipitation, multi-depth soil water, and groundwater. In contrast, P. euphratica followed a conservative strategy, relying predominantly on deep soil water with only minor and transient inputs from precipitation and groundwater. Across species and seasons, deep vadose-zone soil water (120-200 cm) consistently acted as the most stable and influential reservoir, buffering seasonal drought and sustaining transpiration. T. ramosissima maintained the highest intrinsic water-use efficiency, and P. euphratica exhibited consistently lower efficiency associated with sustained access to stable deep soil water. These contrasting strategies reveal multiple pathways of hydraulic stability and plasticity that underpin vegetation persistence under progressive groundwater depletion. By linking water-source partitioning with physiological regulation, this study provides a mechanistic basis for understanding plant water-use strategies and informs ecological water management and species-specific restoration in hyper-arid inland oases.

The optimal branch bending angle for Pyrus sinkiangensis Yü (Korla fragrant pear) remains undefined. In this study, the optimal angle was determined by integrating the phenological, nutritional, hormonal, and fruit-quality responses across a 15-day bloom window. Four branch angles (40°, 60°, 80°, and 100°) were applied to 8-year-old trees in spring 2022, and flowering dynamics, bud carbon/nitrogen status, leaf morphology/mineral content, fruiting-shoot architecture, endogenous hormones, and fruit quality were comprehensively evaluated. The 80° angle maximized the fruit set (11.77%) and bud soluble sugar content (8.84 mg/g DW), significantly outperforming the other angles (p < 0.05). The flowering rate peaked at 100° (7.89%) but was statistically comparable to that at 60° and 80° (p > 0.05); calyx removal was greatest at 60° (73.33%), with no significant difference from that at 80° (71%, p > 0.05). These reproductive benefits aligned with enhanced leaf source capacity-80° pulling resulted in the greatest leaf area (59.51 cm²), the greatest amount of chlorophyll (3.11 mg/g DW), and elevated N/Mg/Cu concentrations. Branch architecture was optimized at 80°, with the percentage of medium fruiting spurs reaching 41.1% and the xylem:phloem dry-weight ratio peaking at 1.78, indicating the development of efficient assimilate transport pathways. Hormonally, 80° triggered a distinct cascade: a transient GA₄/GA₇ surge (50.6 and 1.34 ng/g DW) on 28 April, followed by sustained IAA elevation (2.05 ng/g DW) and zeatin stabilization (0.27-0.29 ng/g DW) during ovary development. Consequently, the fruit quality was comprehensively improved at 80°-the single-fruit weight (110.7 g), soluble sugar content (10.08 mg/g DW), and sugar/acid ratio (17.08) were greatest, whereas the stone-cell content was lowest (0.49 mg/g DW). Principal component analysis of 57 traits confirmed 80° as the system-wide optimum (D = 0.718). These results demonstrate that an 80° bending angle synchronizes carbohydrate supply, hormone signaling, and fruit quality in Korla fragrant pear, providing a low-cost, nonchemical benchmark for precision canopy management in high-density orchards. An 80° branch-bending angle optimizes carbon-hormone synergy via a transient GA₄/GA₇ surge and sustained IAA-zeatin signaling, maximizing fruit set and quality in high-density Korla fragrant pear orchards.

Melatonin (MEL), also known as N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, has been reported in plants as a secondary messenger involved in regulating abiotic stress responses. MEL treatment, either preharvest or postharvest, regulates several physiological and biochemical processes during fruit growth and ripening in horticultural products. These include reproductive development, tissue and quality maintenance, delayed senescence, and responses to abiotic stress. Due to its natural origin, low toxicity, and multifunctional regulatory capacity, MEL has recently attracted attention as a promising 'green preservative' for sustainable postharvest management. Additionally, MEL coordinates through cross-talk with other plant hormones, such as abscisic acid, ethylene, polyamines, jasmonic acid, γ-aminobutyric acid, salicylic acid, and nitric oxide, to regulate postharvest ripening and senescence. Furthermore, MEL enhances antioxidant systems and improves membrane integrity, thereby alleviating chilling injury and enhancing fruit firmness and colour. Notably, recent evidence highlights the innovative regulatory mechanisms of MEL involving redox homeostasis, hormone signalling reprogramming, and transcriptional modulation of stress-responsive pathways. MEL could therefore be considered an emerging, eco-friendly tool for prolonging the shelf-life of fruit and vegetables and maintaining their quality. This review summarises the mechanisms by which MEL contributes to plant stress resistance by regulating the biosynthesis and metabolism of stress tolerance and improving fruit quality.

Rational nitrogen applications can not only improve nutrient use efficiency, but also reduce environmental pollution caused by nitrogen leaching. To explore reasonable nitrogen application strategies for synergistically enhancing alfalfa production and ecological benefits, this study calibrated and validated the APSIM-Lucerne model based on field experiments conducted from 2021 to 2023. The effects of nitrogen application levels of 0, 80, 120, 140, 160, 180, 200, and 240 kg/ha on alfalfa yield, soil NO₃^--N and NH₄⁺-N residues, and nitrogen use efficiency under dry, normal, and wet years were simulated. The results indicate: (1) The calibrated APSIM-Lucerne model effectively simulates alfalfa yield and soil nitrogen residuals (R² ranging from 0.67 to 0.91, NRMSE between 6.55% and 24.03%). (2) Increased nitrogen application significantly elevates soil nitrogen residue, yet alfalfa yield follows a pattern of initial increase followed by decline, with nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency continuously decreasing. Under identical nitrogen application rates, the wet year type proves more advantageous for achieving high yields, low nitrogen residue, and high nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency. (3) The nitrogen application thresholds for achieving increased alfalfa yields and high efficiency during dry years, normal years, and wet years are 107-140 kg/ha, 135-160 kg/ha, and 150-183 kg/ha, respectively.

The increasing demand for food is the driving force behind the search for novel, more selective, and less hazardous agrochemicals. Natural products are gaining prominence recently due to the promise of being green agrochemicals, but many natural products are poorly soluble in water, which reduces their applicability. In this work, we successfully formulated a water-insoluble Saussurea lappa root extract into a stable aqueous suspension using xanthan gum. The colloidal suspension was characterized by rheology, dynamic light scattering, and zeta potential. The results demonstrated that the suspension is a stable, sprayable, shear-thinning viscoelastic system (weak gel). A series of S. lappa solutions with xanthan gum were prepared and tested against five plant species, observing the inhibitory effect on the shoots and roots. The results were also compared with the commercial herbicide Dual. The S. lappa extract presented results comparable to or even greater than Dual for Lactuca sativa, Cucumis sativus, Brachiaria decumbens, and Bidens pilosa. However, it showed low inhibitory activity for Sorghum bicolor, highlighting its potential for selective weed control. This work illustrates xanthan gum as an effective vehicle for formulating insoluble natural products and demonstrates that S. lappa extract is a promising candidate for developing novel herbicides.

Rice blast, caused by the fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae, is one of the most devastating diseases affecting global rice production. Plant essential oils (EOs) have been considered as a promising green alternative to synthetic fungicides. In this study, the antifungal activities of five plant EOs-Acorus calamus, Citrus reticulata, Syzygium aromaticum, Paeonia suffruticosa, and Melaleuca viridiflora-against M. oryzae were evaluated using the mycelial growth rate method. Among them, A. calamus EO (ACEO) exhibited the most pronounced inhibitory effect, with an EC₅₀ value of 0.37 μL/mL. It significantly delayed or inhibited conidial germination and appressorium formation. At higher concentrations (≥1 μL/mL), it also caused morphological abnormalities in appressoria. Observations by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the EO treatment caused hyphal surface wrinkling, cell wall thinning, organelle dissolution, and vacuolation. Pathogenicity tests further confirmed that ACEO reduced the virulence of the fungus remarkably, with nearly complete loss of pathogenicity at a concentration of 1 μL/mL. Finally, ACEO was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The most abundant constituents identified were β-asarone (19.83%) and isoshyobunone (14.92%). Together, these findings demonstrate that ACEO impairs fungal pathogenicity by disrupting hyphal morphology and cellular integrity, highlighting its potential as an effective and eco-friendly fungicide for controlling rice blast.