Plant signaling & behavior最新文献

Ginseng's prolonged development renders it susceptible to environmental stresses. Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins are essential for plant resistance to abiotic stress. Our previous study demonstrated that PgLEA2-50, a member of the LEA protein family, plays a significant role in stress resistance. In this study, we employed IP-MS, bioinformatics, and molecular interaction assays to investigate the mechanisms underlying its stress resistance. PgLEA2-50 formed complex networks with multiple interacting proteins, which were enriched in stress-related processes such as gibberellin (GA) signal transduction, saponin biosynthesis, and the oxidative stress response. Transcriptome analysis revealed that its interacting targets exhibited significant responses to abiotic stress at the transcriptional level. An investigation of the DELLA protein PgRGA4 showed that it was down-regulated following GA induction, with its transcriptional activity inhibited under stress conditions. PgRGA4 was found to be localized in both the nucleus and cytoplasm, and co-immunoprecipitation (CO-IP) confirmed its interaction with PgLEA2-50, suggesting that PgLEA2-50 indirectly regulates GA-mediated stress resistance. This study provides a ginseng-specific case for the role of LEA proteins in stress resistance and identifies a novel gene target for molecular breeding in medicinal plants.

The CELL DIVISION SUPPRESSOR (CDS) gene encodes a conserved YPEL-family zinc-finger protein whose biological role in plants has remained largely uncharacterized. Here, we characterized the Arabidopsis CDS gene and demonstrated that its protein contains a conserved metal-binding motif and a canonical nuclear localization sequence shared across YPEL proteins. Although CDS mRNA is constitutively expressed in all tissues, promoter-reporter analyses revealed that CDS protein accumulates only weakly and is absent in meristematic cells, suggesting strong posttranscriptional regulation. Overexpression of CDS (35S::CDS) caused severe growth inhibition, disrupted root meristem organization, reduced cell number, enlarged cell size, and decreased CYCB1;1 activity, indicating that elevated CDS suppresses mitotic progression and promotes entry into the endocycle. A Phalaenopsis ortholog, PaCDS, displayed similar expression patterns and recapitulated the Arabidopsis overexpression phenotypes, demonstrating evolutionary conservation of CDS function across monocots and dicots. Subcellular localization analysis showed that CDS enters the nucleus specifically in dividing cells and associates with DNA during mitosis. Together, these findings reveal CDS as a conserved negative regulator of cell division that modulates meristem activity by repressing the mitotic cell cycle and promoting endocycle initiation. This work uncovers a previously unrecognized role of YPEL-family proteins in plant cell cycle control and provides a foundation for manipulating growth and organ development across species.

In natural environments, plants are exposed to several abiotic stresses. Although plant responses to individual stressors have been well characterized, our knowledge of their responses to combined stressors is limited. In this study, we have analyzed the transcriptional responses of Arabidopsis to a combination of high light and cold stresses, because these conditions are considered major stressors that impact the same target, photosynthesis. Transcriptome analysis revealed that cold-activated genes can be divided into the following two groups: (1) genes whose expression is enhanced by high light and (2) genes whose expression is not enhanced by high light. The first group includes photoprotection-related genes, such as ELIP2 and CHS, and the second group includes DREB1A/CBF3-activated frost tolerance genes, which are associated with their physiological roles. Our findings help to elucidate the molecular machinery involved in plant acclimation during the winter season.

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine), an indoleamine with a dual evolutionary legacy in animals and plants, has transcended its initial classification as a secondary metabolite to emerge as a central regulator of plant stress adaptation. This review moves beyond cataloging stress-associated effects to propose a unified framework for serotonin as a dynamic signaling and metabolic hub. I synthesize evidence that serotonin's role is defined not merely by its antioxidant capacity, but by its sophisticated integration into the core stress-signaling circuitry of plants. The key to this function is its inducible biosynthesis via the tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC) and tryptamine 5-hydroxylase (T5H) pathway, which is activated by diverse stressors through reactive oxygen species (ROS), phytohormone, and calcium-dependent signals. I critically analyze its multifaceted mechanisms: (1) direct and indirect ROS scavenging; (2) precise modulation of phytohormone networks (auxin, abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, salicylic acid), where it acts less as a hormone and more as a hormone signal modulator, notably fine-tuning root architecture and stomatal aperture; (3) regulation of ion transporter activity (e.g., SOS1, HMAs) for ionic homeostasis; and (4) epigenetic and transcriptional reprogramming of stress-responsive genes. A dedicated section clarifies the synergistic yet distinct partnership with melatonin, distinguishing serotonin's rapid, localized actions from melatonin's longer-term, systemic roles. I further explore serotonin's emerging functions in biotic stress as an antimicrobial compound and defense pathway potentiator. This integrative synthesis aims to reframe serotonin from a protective molecule to a master regulator at the nexus of plant stress perception and adaptive response.

This study investigates the electrophysiological activity of Pinus halepensis to determine whether electrical responses differ among tree organs. Weekly bioelectric voltage measurements were conducted over one year in fifteen trees located in Gátova (Valencia, Spain), comparing electrical potentials between woody (trunk and twigs) and fine tissues (needles). Stainless-steel and platinum electrodes were used to record voltage signals, which were analyzed through linear regression and mixed-effects models. Results showed that voltages in the trunk were consistently higher than in the needles, yet both exhibited synchronized seasonal dynamics driven by shared physiological and environmental factors. The needle-to-trunk voltage ratio remained stable at approximately 60%, except during a summer drought, indicating coherent electrical coupling across organs. A strong linear relationship (R² = 0.98) confirmed that trunk signals serve as reliable surrogates for needle potentials. Organ-level analysis revealed a clear voltage hierarchy (trunk > twig > needle), largely attributable to anatomical and impedance differences. These findings identify the trunk as the optimal electrode placement site, enabling robust, non-destructive, and continuous measurements that can support future applications in wildfire risk assessment and forest monitoring.

The existence of consciousness or mind-like properties in plants remains a debated topic in plant biology. This study examined a hypothesis involving nonfrequency T-Consciousness Fields, proposing that information transmitted through these fields may influence plant responses. Using the Faradarmani Consciousness Field (T1) and the T-Consciousness Charge Field (T2), two experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design to assess their effects on wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Bahar) under drought stress. The germination test was carried out in March, and the subsequent pot experiment was conducted in September 2025 in Gorgan and Guilan Provinces, Iran. In the first experiment, seeds were exposed to PEG-induced drought stress (0, -0.6, and -1.2  MPa) for 8 d, with or without T1 and T2, to evaluate germination and early growth. In the second experiment, seedlings grown in pots were subjected to three weeks of drought by withholding irrigation, with untreated plants serving as controls. Growth parameters, chlorophyll, carotenoid, total protein, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were measured. The results obtained were processed statistically via one-way ANOVA. Severe drought reduced final and mean daily germination by about 40%, whereas T2 significantly improved both (p < 0.05). At -0.6 MPa, shoot and root lengths increased by approximately 70% and 46%, respectively, with significant greater enhancement under T2 (p < 0.05), whereas effects under more severe stress were limited. Under nonstress conditions, T2 markedly increased seedling growth and vigor, with 2-3-fold increases in root and shoot dry weights and 3-4-fold increases in seedling vigor indices compared with those of the control. In the pot experiments, T2 increased shoot length by ~25% and chlorophyll and carotenoid contents by ~60%, while T1 increased protein content by ~25%. Both fields elevated SOD-specific activity by ~50%. Overall, T1 and T2 improved germination, growth, and biochemical traits, indicating their potential to mitigate drought stress in wheat; thus, their application could be recommended as a qualitative strategy to enhance wheat performance under water-limited conditions.

Plant development is a complex process governed by genetic regulatory networks in which metabolites play essential roles by modulating gene expression and cellular processes. While the functional importance of metabolites in plant development is increasingly recognized, their precise spatial and temporal accumulation patterns, which are closely tied to their mechanistic roles, remain poorly understood. This study highlights the need for high-resolution analyses finely tuned to specific developmental processes within the framework of plant developmental metabolomics. Using a Marchantia polymorpha mutant lacking 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PGDH), an essential enzyme in serine biosynthesis and sperm formation, we demonstrated the importance of spatiotemporal metabolomics analysis. Conventional whole-organ metabolomics analysis failed to capture the difference between wild-type and mutant plants. Despite its limited resolution, however, spatial metabolomics analysis detected local metabolic changes caused by the mutation. Our results highlight the necessity of focusing on local metabolic alterations to better understand the influence of metabolism on plant development. This study illustrated how high-resolution spatial metabolomics analysis can provide new insights into the metabolic processes underlying plant development. Our findings highlight the need to refine metabolomics tools to better capture the spatial and temporal dynamics of metabolism during plant development, with broad implications for plant biology.

Photosynthesis defines the upper limit of crop productivity, yet intrinsic inefficiencies in light capture, carbon fixation, and energy conversion constrain yield potential under variable environmental conditions. This review provides a mechanistic synthesis of recent advances in enhancing photosynthetic efficiency through molecular, biochemical, and biophysical strategies. We highlight key regulatory processes governing RuBisCO activity, ATP synthase function, photosystems, and light-harvesting complexes, together with emerging insights into redox modulation, photorespiration, and post-translational control. Innovations in genome editing, particularly CRISPR/Cas9, synthetic biology, and systems modeling, are accelerating the rational redesign of photosynthetic pathways to improve carbon assimilation and stress resilience. Engineering C₄ and CAM traits into C₃ crops, optimizing canopy light utilization, and modifying photoprotective and photorespiratory pathways demonstrate substantial potential to overcome long-standing biochemical and anatomical constraints. Integration of high-throughput phenotyping, multi-omics analysis, and computational modeling is now enabling predictive frameworks for photosynthetic improvement under fluctuating light, temperature, and water regimes. Coupling these molecular innovations with stress-tolerance traits such as enhanced antioxidant capacity and water-use efficiency offers a viable path toward climate-resilient, high-yield crops. Collectively, these advances illustrate how precise manipulation of photosynthetic processes can drive sustainable gains in agricultural productivity to meet future global food demand.

Drought stress is a major environmental factor limiting crop productivity worldwide. Plants respond to drought through various physiological mechanisms, including stomatal closure mediated by abscisic acid (ABA). This study investigated the relationship between leaf ABA content and stomatal closure in drought-tolerant cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and drought-sensitive soybean (Glycine max). Under drought conditions, stomatal conductance decreased faster in cowpea than in soybean, significantly by day 2. Leaf ABA content increased earlier in cowpea, suggesting a strong correlation between ABA accumulation and stomatal closure. In contrast, both stomatal conductance and ABA accumulation were delayed in soybean. A lower ABA concentration was required to induce stomatal closure than in soybean, indicating that stomatal sensitivity to ABA was higher in cowpea. These findings suggest that cowpea's superior drought tolerance is due to its rapid and more sensitive ABA-mediated stomatal response and provide insights for improving drought resilience in soybean through targeted breeding or biotechnological approaches.

Hardy kiwifruit (Actinidia arguta) is a climacteric fruit, a characteristic contributing to its short shelf life. Plant phytohormones such as salicylic acid (SA) are well known for their role in regulating the postharvest fruit ripening processes. Here, we investigated, for the first time, the effect of SA pretreatment on postharvest responses in the hardy kiwifruit cultivar 'Autumn Sense' during cold storage. SA pretreatment effectively maintained fruit firmness and titratable acidity during the first two weeks of storage, whereas both parameters declined sharply in untreated control fruits. Moreover, no ethylene production was detected in SA-pretreated fruits during the same period, likely due to modulation of gene expression in the ethylene biosynthetic pathway. These results suggest that SA pretreatment suppresses the early phases of ripening, thereby delaying fruit softening in hardy kiwifruit during cold storage. In addition, antioxidant activity and ascorbic acid content were significantly upregulated in fruits treated with 0.1 mM SA during the first week, indicating enhanced antioxidant accumulation. Overall, these findings provide valuable insights into the postharvest physiology of hardy kiwifruit and support the use of SA pretreatment as a strategy to extend shelf life and improve fruit quality in commercial storage and distribution.