Spring low-temperature stress (SLTS) poses a major threat to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) productivity under increasing climate global warming, but its post-anthesis physiological legacy effects remain insufficiently und...Spring low-temperature stress (SLTS) poses a major threat to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) productivity under increasing climate global warming, but its post-anthesis physiological legacy effects remain insufficiently understood. A two-year experiment was conducted using the SLTS-resistant cultivar Yannong19 (YN) and the SLTS-susceptible cultivar Xinmai26 (XM), which were exposed to 10 °C (CK), 2 °C (T1), and -2 °C (T2) at the anther differentiation stage. Post-anthesis changes in flag leaf senescence, SPAD values, antioxidant metabolism, reactive oxygen species accumulation, and grain yield were evaluated. Compared with CK, SLTS accelerated flag leaf senescence, decreased SPAD values, and reduced grain yield by 9%-25% under T1 and 25%-42% under T2, with greater losses in XM than in YN. SLTS also decreased soluble sugar, soluble protein, and glutathione (GSH) contents, as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) activities, whereas hydrogen peroxide (HO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulated, especially under T2 and in XM. Random forest analysis indicated that yield variation was mainly associated with early-stage POD activity and SPAD values, followed by late-stage HO and GSH contents. These findings suggest that SLTS-induced disruption of antioxidant homeostasis is associated with accelerated post-anthesis flag leaf senescence and yield loss, providing insight into the physiological legacy effects of SLTS in wheat.
Panicle development is an important constraint on crop productivity, but how it is regulated under boron (B) deficiency and low temperature (LT) conditions remains largely unclear. Here, we identified a rice mutant tspd1...Panicle development is an important constraint on crop productivity, but how it is regulated under boron (B) deficiency and low temperature (LT) conditions remains largely unclear. Here, we identified a rice mutant tspd1 (temperature-sensitive panicle defect 1) that exhibits a severe panicle defect under LT but develops near normally under high temperature (HT). Map-based cloning and genetic analysis demonstrated that tspd1 phenotypes are caused by a T563A mutation in the borate efflux transporter OsBOR1, which reduces its borate-binding affinity and leads to constitutive B deficiency regardless of temperatures. Notably, despite this intrinsic B deficiency in tspd1, the severe panicle defect occurs only under LT, indicating that B deficiency alone is insufficient to trigger the phenotype. Instead, the panicle defect in tspd1 requires a synergy between inherent B deficiency and LT stress. Under this combined stress, tspd1 panicles exhibit excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, oxidative damage, and dysregulation of cell wall-related genes. Together, our findings demonstrate that OsBOR1-mediated B transport is essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis and normal panicle development under low temperature conditions, highlighting the importance of nutrient homeostasis in plant adaptation to temperature fluctuations.
Pitaya, a non-climacteric fruit commonly cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions, is valued for its nutritional benefits but is highly susceptible to chilling injury (CI) when stored below 6 °C. This study investi...Pitaya, a non-climacteric fruit commonly cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions, is valued for its nutritional benefits but is highly susceptible to chilling injury (CI) when stored below 6 °C. This study investigates the role of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in mitigating CI during six weeks of cold storage at 5 ± 1 °C. Findings reveal that GABA treatment markedly suppressed CI severity up to 3 times in pitaya fruit compared with the control during cold storage. Decay incidence reached 62.3% in untreated fruit, whereas treated fruit exhibited 22.0% lower decay incidence. GABA also effectively preserved fruit quality by reducing weight loss from 10.9% in the control to 6.3% while maintaining higher total soluble solids (1.1-fold increase) and titratable acidity (0.9-fold higher than control). Moreover, GABA significantly alleviated oxidative stress, as evidenced by reduced malondialdehyde accumulation and HO levels (2.7-fold lower) together with decreased superoxide anion production. These effects were accompanied by enhanced antioxidant defense, with increased activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase. In addition, GABA treatment promoted proline accumulation, up to 1.4-fold higher than in control, and suppressed respiration rates during storage. Transcriptomic analysis further revealed that GABA modulated the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, including key genes PAL, C4H, and 4CL, and influenced auxin, ethylene, and abscisic acid signaling pathways associated with stress responses and fruit senescence. Collectively, these results indicate that GABA mitigates chilling injury in pitaya by enhancing antioxidant capacity and regulating phenylpropanoid metabolism and hormonal signaling, thereby maintaining postharvest fruit quality during cold storage.
G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are 7 transmembrane proteins that translate environmental signals into cellular signals. Over 40,000 GPCR orthologs have been discovered in the supergroup Amorphea, including approxima...G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are 7 transmembrane proteins that translate environmental signals into cellular signals. Over 40,000 GPCR orthologs have been discovered in the supergroup Amorphea, including approximately 800 GPCR-encoding genes in the human genome alone. In contrast to this diversity, only a handful of GPCR candidates have been reported in vascular plants, a major lineage of land plants. To advance our understanding of plant GPCRs and their potential roles in plant cellular signaling, here we performed a comprehensive bioinformatic analysis encompassing clustering strategies, phylogenetic reconstructions, and in silico structural predictions. Altogether, our work indicates that, by structural criteria, GCR1 is likely the sole canonical GPCR retained in model vascular plants.
Seed priming is an effective pre-sowing strategy to reprogram plant metabolism, which may contribute to stress resilience. While serotonin (SER) and melatonin (MEL) are recognized antioxidants and growth regulators, thei...Seed priming is an effective pre-sowing strategy to reprogram plant metabolism, which may contribute to stress resilience. While serotonin (SER) and melatonin (MEL) are recognized antioxidants and growth regulators, their comparative impacts on metabolic reprogramming in chili (Capsicum annuum) seed priming remain largely unexplored. This work demonstrated that SER and MEL played distinct, complementary roles: SER (10 μM) primarily accelerates early germination and reducing sugar mobilization, whereas MEL (100 μM) significantly enhances shoot elongation, yield, and chlorophyll content (+92.19%). Antioxidant defense profiles also differed; MEL strongly activated multiple enzymes (SOD, CAT, and POX), while SER primarily boosted SOD activity. Both treatments improved non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity as measured by DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) activities. Metabolic profiling revealed unique chemical signatures: MEL markedly increased salicylic (+124%) and myristic acids (+121.5%), while SER promoted catechin (+146%) and alpha-linolenic acid (+108.8%) accumulation. Interestingly, MEL-induced increases in MDA and electrolyte leakage may suggest a transient redox shift during metabolic reprogramming. These findings offer novel insights into the distinct regulatory functions of SER and MEL, providing a viable strategy to enhance the metabolic readiness and potential field resilience of chili crops.
Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) play an important role in the anthocyanin transport. Several studies have reported that cotton GST genes modulate the red petal and petal-base spots phenotype, however, the genetic diver...Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) play an important role in the anthocyanin transport. Several studies have reported that cotton GST genes modulate the red petal and petal-base spots phenotype, however, the genetic diversity and regulatory mechanisms involved in GSTs remain largely unclear. Using bulk segregant analysis sequencing (BSA-seq), map-based cloning, and virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS), we demonstrate that the red petal-base spots phenotype is controlled by a single dominant gene, GaGST, in Gossypium arboreum. GaGST encodes a glutathione S-transferase. Two natural GaGST structural variations, a 15-bp insertion at the first exon (named GaGST) and a 14-bp deletion at the third exon (named GaGST), lead to the loss of gene function and the absence of red petal-base spots. Silencing orthologs of GaGST in the flowers of G. barbadense acc. Hai7124 plants resulted in the lighter red spots, further confirming that GaGST is causal gene of the red petal-base spots. Dual-luciferase reporter assays showed that two previously reported MYB transcription factors, GaPC and GaBM, which individually controlled colorations of cotton petals and petal-base spots, could bind to the GaGST promoter and activate its transcription, thereby promoting the red phenotype at the specialized positions in the cotton flower. This study identifies GaGST as a key transporter of red pigment glycosides, characterizes two natural loss-of-function variations of GaGST in G. arboreum accessions, and provides new insight into the genetic mechanism underlying GaGST-associated color patterns regulated by MYB anthocyanin activators in cotton flowers.
Although bamboo can be an ideal raw material for pulp and paper industry, the depolymerization of its complex polymers needs to be facilitated. The deposition of lignin is influenced by cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CA...Although bamboo can be an ideal raw material for pulp and paper industry, the depolymerization of its complex polymers needs to be facilitated. The deposition of lignin is influenced by cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD), an enzyme that catalyzes the formation of monolignol precursors. Here, we identified 18 DfCAD genes in Dendrocalamus farinosus and revealed using bioinformatics methods, DfCAD16 functions as the primary enzyme in the synthesis pathway of guaiacyl (G)-lignin. Phenotypic analysis of plants overexpression DfCAD16 exhibited remarkable increasing in G-lignin. Furthermore, we demonstrated that an R2R3-type MYB transcription factor DfMYB12 could directly bind to the promoter region of DfCAD16 and activate its expression both in vitro and in vivo. Our findings revealed that DfMYB12-DfCAD16 is a key regulatory factor governing G-lignin biosynthesis in D. farinosus. These insights can be used for improving bamboo varieties for pulp production.
Seed germination is a pivotal developmental transition in the plant life cycle. The ability of seeds to germinate under abiotic stresses, such as salinity or drought condition, directly affects crop establishment and yie...Seed germination is a pivotal developmental transition in the plant life cycle. The ability of seeds to germinate under abiotic stresses, such as salinity or drought condition, directly affects crop establishment and yield. Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins are recognized mediators of stress adaptation. Yet the molecular mechanisms by which they influence seed germination remain poorly understood. Here, we show that overexpression of PpLEA37 markedly improves germination rates. This effect is observed in both Arabidopsis and peach seeds, under normal, salinity, and drought stress conditions. Strikingly, enhanced germination coincides with transcriptional upregulation of 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED). NCED is the rate-limiting enzyme in abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis. Its induction leads to elevated endogenous ABA levels. Molecular interaction analyses further show that PpLEA37 physically associates with carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 4 (PpCCD4). Functional characterization demonstrates that overexpression of either PpLEA37 or PpCCD4 potentiates NCED enzymatic activity. Based on these integrated results, we propose a new working model. Under stress, PpLEA37 and PpCCD4 assemble into a functional complex. This complex simultaneously drives ABA biosynthesis and initiates a pre-adaptive program. The program confers a basal level of stress resilience. As a result, an appropriate level of ABA synergistically promotes both germination and stress tolerance. Our findings identify PpLEA37 as a promising genetic target for improving stress-resilient germination. More broadly, they illuminate the mechanistic basis for context-dependent functional switching of ABA during seed germination. These results advance our understanding of how plants coordinate developmental transitions with stress adaptation. They also provide conceptual frameworks and genetic resources for breeding stress-tolerant crops.
To meet global demand for high-quality raw materials, improving the industrial and nutritional value of crops like guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) is essential. This research demonstrates that β-aminobutyric acid (BABA...To meet global demand for high-quality raw materials, improving the industrial and nutritional value of crops like guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) is essential. This research demonstrates that β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) acts as a potent priming agent that synergistically reinforces chitosan nanoparticle (CNP)-induced metabolic shifts in guar. BABA-priming further improved the positive effect of CNPs on yield, metabolism and mineral acquisition (30-57%). This reinforcement was most evident in improved primary metabolism, particularly elevated sugar, amino acid, and fatty acid levels. The induced lipid metabolism resulted in a significant shift toward unsaturated fatty acids (+47-95%), substantially improving the seed's industrial and nutritional profile. Among amino acids, increased phenylalanine level fueled the phenylpropanoid pathway, where the combined treatment strongly stimulated key bioenzymatic activities (+85-233%) and substantially increased phenolic accumulation. This flux led to a 91% increase in lignin content and its biosynthetic enzymes, including phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), 4-coumarate:CoA ligase (4CL), cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR), cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD), and caffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT). Multidimensional scaling confirmed that the BABA + CNP interaction redefines seed quality by redefining seed quality through coordinated improvements in mineral accumulation, fiber fractions, lipid composition, and secondary metabolites. Such enrichment also boosted the biological and industrial activity of the seeds, specifically their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. These findings suggest that the BABA + CNP interaction provides a robust strategy for producing guar seeds with superior biological value and enhanced bioactive potential.
Ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B) has a dual effect on plants, enhancing growth under low doses but causing oxidative damage, irregular photosynthesis, and abnormal growth at high doses, negatively impacting lignin biosynth...Ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B) has a dual effect on plants, enhancing growth under low doses but causing oxidative damage, irregular photosynthesis, and abnormal growth at high doses, negatively impacting lignin biosynthesis, stem strength, and yield. Abscisic acid (ABA) mitigates these effects by promoting photosynthesis, regulating growth, and maintaining hormonal flux. Limited attention has been given to the role of ABA in stress mitigation and yield improvement for high-altitude crops like qingke (highland barley; Hordeum vulgare L. var. nudum). This study investigates the effects of UV-B radiation and ABA on the physiological, biochemical, transcriptomic, metabolomic, and hormonal responses of qingke. Low-dose UV-B (LUVB; 5-6 kJ m d) increased plant height by 51.3% but reduced stem diameter by 31.6%. ABA supplementation (70 μM) under UV-B (ABA-UVB) moderated height (20.7% increase) and improved stem diameter by 8.1%. The ABA under UV-B increased tillers (57.1%), spikes (66.5%), and yield (26.2%). At the molecular level, this treatment upregulated lignin biosynthesis genes transcripts (PAL, 4CL, CAD, POD) and enhanced enzymatic activities by 69.0% to 150.1%. Metabolomic analysis revealed elevated lignin precursors, including p-coumaryl alcohol and sinapyl alcohol. Hormonal profiling showed ABA restored Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellic acid (GA) levels, elevated trans-zeatin (tZ), and maintained hormonal balance. Nutrient analysis revealed higher leaf magnesium (Mg) by 28% and calcium (Ca) by 40%, along with increased root manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu) levels under UVB-ABA, which enhanced stress adaptation. These physiological, transcriptomic, and metabolomic changes collectively strengthened stems, improved lodging resistance, and enhanced yield suggesting the potential of ABA for mitigating UV-B stress in high-altitude crops.
Plants synthesize and emit a diversity of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a class of specialized metabolites that function as airborne signals in chemical communication. VOCs act as both long-distance and internal cue...Plants synthesize and emit a diversity of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a class of specialized metabolites that function as airborne signals in chemical communication. VOCs act as both long-distance and internal cues. As such, VOC biosynthesis must be tightly regulated to ensure an appropriate response. This review focuses on the genetic regulation of VOC biosynthesis, summarizing transcriptional regulation mediated by transcription factors and promoter architecture, as well as post-transcriptional regulatory processes. We further explore higher-order regulatory mechanisms, including chromatin organization and epigenetic modifications, and discuss the influence of the three-dimensional genome architecture on long-range transcriptional regulation mediated by enhancers. Lastly, recent advances in the regulation of rose floral scent biosynthesis are highlighted as a case study to illustrate how these mechanisms converge to exert fine-tuning of scent production.
Temperature, despite being one of the key environmental factors influencing the physiology and metabolism of microalgae, is often overlooked. Most studies investigating temperature effects in microalgae mainly focus on p...Temperature, despite being one of the key environmental factors influencing the physiology and metabolism of microalgae, is often overlooked. Most studies investigating temperature effects in microalgae mainly focus on phototrophic cultivation where the combined effects of light and temperature make it difficult to attribute observed physiological and biochemical changes effects to temperature alone. In contrast, heterotrophic cultivation, which relies on organic carbon sources and grow without light, allows a more direct assessment of temperature effects. However, studies investigating the influence of temperature on microalgae under heterotrophic conditions are extremely limited. However, investigations on how temperature influences microalgae under heterotrophic conditions are limited. In this study, the growth, biochemical composition, and fatty acid profile of Chlorella vulgaris across a broad temperature range (4-35 °C) under heterotrophic conditions were first investigated. The results showed that growth was optimal at 25-30 °C, while it was strongly inhibited at 35 °C. Temperature had significant effects on biomass composition: lipids were enhanced at high temperatures (30 °C, 35.49 ± 3.58%), pigments accumulated at low temperature (4 °C, 16.33 ± 2.93 mg/g DW), while proteins and carbohydrates peaked under moderate temperatures (15 °C, 18.71 ± 1.51%, 49.33 ± 1.74%, respectively). Fatty acid composition was temperature dependent, with monounsaturated fatty acids decreasing at higher temperatures, and polyunsaturated fatty acids showing opposing trends (especially C18:2n6c and C18:3n3), and saturated fatty acids remaining relatively stable. These findings highlight the physiological plasticity of Chlorella vulgaris under heterotrophic conditions and provide new insights into the thermal regulation of microalgal metabolism, with valuable implications for industrial biotechnology.
Botrytis cinerea causes gray mold disease in grapevines (Vitis vinifera), resulting in substantial yield and quality losses. While 'Kober 5BB (Vitis berlandieri × Vitis riparia) is widely used as a rootstock for its adap...Botrytis cinerea causes gray mold disease in grapevines (Vitis vinifera), resulting in substantial yield and quality losses. While 'Kober 5BB (Vitis berlandieri × Vitis riparia) is widely used as a rootstock for its adaptability and resilience, its influence on scion resistance to gray mold remains unexplored. We integrated antioxidant activity assays, phytohormone profiling, and transcriptome sequencing to evaluate resistance differences between self-grafted and 'Kober 5BB'-heterografted 'Munake' grapevines. During early infection, heterografted plants exhibited significantly elevated activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), alongside higher concentrations of salicylic acid (SA), abscisic acid (ABA), and methyl jasmonate (MeJA). Transcriptome analysis revealed a robust activation of defense-related genes in heterografted scions, specifically pathogenesis-related proteins (Vitvi03g00752, log2FC = 5.10) and jasmonic acid pathway lipoxygenases (Vitvi06g00153, log2FC = 1.57), which were significantly suppressed in self-grafted controls. These findings demonstrate that rootstock selection modulates scion defense responses through coordinated biochemical and transcriptional mechanisms, offering a practical strategy for enhancing disease resistance in viticulture. Future research should explore molecular networks mediating rootstock-scion communication and validate these mechanisms in field conditions across various cultivars and stresses.
Selenium (Se) stress poses a serious threat to soil health and sustainable crop production by disrupting plant morphophysiological processes. Although nanotechnology offers an eco-compatible strategy to mitigate metalloi...Selenium (Se) stress poses a serious threat to soil health and sustainable crop production by disrupting plant morphophysiological processes. Although nanotechnology offers an eco-compatible strategy to mitigate metalloid stress, a comprehensive comparison of bulk calcium oxide (CaO) and calcium oxide nanoparticles (CaO-NPs) under Se stress remains unexplored. Hence, this study demonstrates that CaO-NPs outperform bulk CaO in mitigating Se toxicity in soybean (Glycine max L.), enhancing plant resilience in Se-affected soils. We tested CaO-NPs and bulk CaO (25, 50, and 100 mg kg) under Se stress (7.75 ± 1.7 mg kg). Results revealed that plants exposed to Se showed significant decreases in morphophysiological traits, and gas exchange attributes along with increased Se bioaccumulation in plant tissues. In contrast, CaO-NPs application (100 mg kg) significantly improved plant biomass (39%), chlorophyll fluorescence efficiency (58%), and gas exchange attributes. The highest CaO-NPs dose elicited a pronounced Se-tolerance response, characterized by enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, including superoxide dismutase (SOD (35%)), peroxidase (POD (34%)), catalase (CAT (32%)), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX (52%)), accompanied by reduced oxidative stress. Moreover, CaO-NPs modulated Se and Ca accumulation in plant tissues, and qRT-PCR analysis revealed upregulation of key antioxidant defense genes (Cu/ZnSOD, GmPOD, GmCAT, and GmAPX). Supporting these experimental findings, density functional theory calculations confirmed the presence of stable Ca-Se interactions, indicating that Se immobilization as a key mitigation mechanism. Collectively, these results highlight CaO-NPs as a promising nanomaterial-based intervention for reducing Se phytotoxicity and enhancing crop resilience in Se-contaminated agroecosystems, with implications for food safety and sustainable agriculture.
Low-temperature stress is a critical abiotic constraint that severely impairs rice yield and quality, posing a substantial threat to global food security-especially as rice, a staple food for more than half of the world'...Low-temperature stress is a critical abiotic constraint that severely impairs rice yield and quality, posing a substantial threat to global food security-especially as rice, a staple food for more than half of the world's population, is inherently susceptible to cold stress. This review systematically summarizes the typical phenotypic and physiological impairments induced by cold stress across key rice growth stages, and elaborates on the multi-layered molecular regulatory networks underpinning rice cold tolerance, which integrate the entire process of cold signal perception, intracellular transduction and nuclear transcriptional regulation. We also synthesize the major practical strategies for enhancing rice cold tolerance, including the optimization of agricultural cultivation management measures and the application of modern molecular breeding technologies. Furthermore, we discuss the core challenges in the genetic improvement of rice cold tolerance such as genotype-environment interaction and efficient multi-gene pyramiding, and outline the promising future research trends involving mechanism integration and intelligent breeding. This review provides a concise and comprehensive theoretical framework for deciphering the physiological and molecular mechanisms of rice cold stress response, and offers important insights to accelerate the development of cold-tolerant rice varieties, thereby laying a solid foundation for safeguarding global food security under the context of climate change.
Fructokinase (FRK) (EC 2.7.1.4) activates fructose through phosphorylation, which guides the activated fructose into primary metabolism and regulates the abilities of fructose to serve as a signal in plants. It was previ...Fructokinase (FRK) (EC 2.7.1.4) activates fructose through phosphorylation, which guides the activated fructose into primary metabolism and regulates the abilities of fructose to serve as a signal in plants. It was previously shown that the apple (Malus domestica) gene MdFRK1 is highly expressed in mature fruit and significantly correlates with the accumulation of fructose. In this study, the coding sequences of MdFRK1 were isolated from 'Royal Gala' apples. The amino acid sequence of MdFRK1 (MD00G1004100) significantly resembles that of AtFRK1 (AT5G51830) in Arabidopsis thaliana, which contains the di-Gly (GG) and GAGD motifs characteristic of the pfkB family of carbohydrate kinases. Treatment with exogenous sugar showed that the application of 3% fructose significantly enhanced the expression of MdFRK1. This suggests that MdFRK1 is also induced by high levels of sugar. The ORF of MdFRK1 contained 1074 bp, and the protein is primarily localized in the cytoplasm. MdFRK1 had a particularly low affinity to fructose (Km = 0.54 mM), and its overexpression in transgenic calli resulted in significantly higher concentrations of fructose. These results highlight the pivotal role of the highly specific fructokinase MdFRK1 in the accumulation of fructose that is associated with the ripening of apples. This study furnishes valuable insights to enhance the flavor of apples in the future and enriches comprehension of the molecular mechanisms that govern the levels of fructose in plants and modulate signaling.