J. Plant Physiol. [JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Transient overexpression of CpVQ27 reduced the Cucurbita pepo's resistance to powdery mildew.
Li S, Wang P
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Sep · PMID 40729871 · Publisher ↗
Powdery mildew (PM) is the main disease in pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) cultivation and one of the main factors affecting Cucurbita pepo yield. The VQ (Valine-Glutamine) proteins play a crucial role in plant responses to abi...
Powdery mildew (PM) is the main disease in pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) cultivation and one of the main factors affecting Cucurbita pepo yield. The VQ (Valine-Glutamine) proteins play a crucial role in plant responses to abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity, and biotic stress from pathogenic bacteria. Transcriptomic and qPCR analysis showed that after powdery mildew infection for 24 and 48 h, the FPKM and relative expression of CpVQ27 decreased in disease-resistant material F2 and increased in susceptible material M3. Moreover, the FPKM value and relative expression of CpVQ27 in M3 were higher than those in F2. To investigate CpVQ27's responsiveness to powdery mildew infection, we transiently overexpressed CpVQ27 in virus-susceptible variety MRJ. The GFP fluorescence assay, viral disease phenotyping, and qPCR collectively confirmed the successful transient overexpression of CpVQ27 in Cucurbita pepo. Compared to the control group, transient overexpression of CpVQ27 worsened the powdery mildew disease symptoms. Furthermore, the mycelium of powdery mildew grew faster and accumulated more extensively. There was an increase in ROS and MDA content, along with decreased antioxidant enzyme activities and callose levels. Moreover, the expression levels of defense-related genes were reduced. Transient overexpression of CpVQ27 reduced the Cucurbita pepo's resistance to powdery mildew. Our discoveries lay a solid and comprehensive theoretical foundation for future disease resistance breeding.
Optimizing woody oil biodiesel production in yellowhorn via phenotypic marker development: a study of trait-index associations and germplasm screening.
Zhang W, Li L, Wu P … +5 more , Yang H, Xu H, Bi Q, Shi C, Wang L
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Sep · PMID 40716414 · Publisher ↗
The seed oil of yellowhorn (Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge) represents a promising feedstock for biodiesel production, but the detection process associated with its quality is both cumbersome and costly. This work focused...
The seed oil of yellowhorn (Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge) represents a promising feedstock for biodiesel production, but the detection process associated with its quality is both cumbersome and costly. This work focused on early selection of high-quality germplasm to reduce production costs and enhance genetic gains. An analysis of the relationships between 25 quantitative leaf traits and 8 biodiesel characterization indices in yellowhorn at the experimental and demonstration base in Tongliao City, China, identified 5 key leaf functional traits-leaf Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD), frond number (FN), leaf rate of water content (LRWC), leaf shape index (LSI), and the wax-to-leaf thickness ratio (W/L)-that showed significant correlations with the biodiesel characterization indices. These traits were identified as critical indicators for predicting biodiesel quality. Furthermore, a predictive map was developed to delineate optimal biodiesel characteristics, encompassing the ranges of SPAD (35.00-49.92), FN (13.17-18.83), LRWC (0.37 %-0.51 %), LSI (0.23-0.40), and W/L (0.01-0.04). The findings of this study provide technical support for employing straightforward and testability traits to forecast complex indicators, thereby facilitating the preliminary selection of high-quality biodiesel yellowhorn germplasm breeding.
ABA is involved in OsDSR3-mediated regulation of alkali tolerance in rice.
Lu X, Min W, She Y … +5 more , Liao T, Xiao D, Tian L, Li P, Luo C
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Sep · PMID 40706373 · Publisher ↗
Alkali stress is one of the most damaging abiotic stresses that affect rice growth and yield. The Domain of unknown function (DUF) protein family and abscisic acid (ABA) are critical for abiotic stress tolerance in plant...
Alkali stress is one of the most damaging abiotic stresses that affect rice growth and yield. The Domain of unknown function (DUF) protein family and abscisic acid (ABA) are critical for abiotic stress tolerance in plants. We previously identified OsDSR3, a novel stress-responsive gene from the DUF966 family that positively regulates rice tolerance to alkali stress. However, it remains unclear whether OsDSR3 relies on the ABA signaling to modulate the molecular mechanisms underlying rice alkali resistance. Using RNA sequencing and RT-qPCR, we found differential expression of ABA-related genes in OsDSR3 overexpression lines under alkaline stress. Further analysis revealed that OsDSR3 overexpression lines exhibited increased sensitivity to ABA treatment, whereas osdsr3 mutants exhibited the opposite phenotype. Consistent with these findings, the ABA content was significantly higher in OsDSR3 overexpression lines and lower in osdsr3 mutants compared to wild type. In addition, the exogenous ABA application enhanced the alkali tolerance of OsDSR3 overexpression lines. This enhancement was attributed to the increased activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase), elevated levels of osmotic regulating substances (proline, soluble proteins), reduced levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS including superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide), maintenance of membrane integrity, accumulation of endogenous ABA levels, and activation of gene expression related to the ABA signaling. These effects were significantly more pronounced in OsDSR3 overexpression lines than in the osdsr3 mutant. Furthermore, using a yeast two-hybrid assay, we demonstrated that OsDSR3 interacts with OsMT-3a. This interaction enhances ROS scavenging via the ABA pathway, thereby positively regulating alkaline tolerance in rice. This study provides deeper insight into the mechanism of OsDSR3 regulating alkali stress.
Nitrate sensing and response in Plants: From calcium signaling to phytohormone regulation.
Hao L, Meng L, Wang X … +3 more , Qu J, Jiang Z, Song X
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Sep · PMID 40700997 · Publisher ↗
Plants need to acquire sufficient nitrogen (N) from the soil for their growth and development. Nitrate (NO) is the major source of N for plants in aerobic soils. In addition to its role as a nutrient, nitrate also acts a...
Plants need to acquire sufficient nitrogen (N) from the soil for their growth and development. Nitrate (NO) is the major source of N for plants in aerobic soils. In addition to its role as a nutrient, nitrate also acts as a signaling molecule to reprogram plant metabolism and trigger changes in plant architecture. With the development of genomics technologies and genetic tools, breakthroughs in the understanding of the nitrate signaling network have been made over the past years. In this review, we will discuss the mechanisms of nitrate sensing and its transcriptional response throughout the plant, with an emphasis on the effect of nitrate-elicited calcium signal on the primary nitrate response (PNR). Recent studies have not only identified a second nitrate sensor, NLP7, but also identified calcium-dependent kinases (CPKs) as a molecular link between membrane-localized nitrate receptor NRT1.1 (CHL1/NPF6.3) and NLP transcription factors, which bridges the nitrate gap. We also discuss the latest progress on the interaction between nitrate signal and hormonal pathways for local and systematical developmental responses in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana roots. A holistic view of how all the identified signals crosstalk to orchestrate the thousands of N responses is the key for the sustainable development of agriculture.
Sporopollenin-chitosan microspheres loaded with an endophytic fungus Talaromyces neorugulosus R-209 for promoting development and controlling root rot in pigeon pea.
Fu JX, Jiao J, Gai QY … +4 more , Fu YJ, Wen MN, Wang XQ, He J
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Sep · PMID 40700996 · Publisher ↗
Plant-beneficial microbes can be effective as biological agents for promoting development and controlling diseases in plants. However, direct inoculation of non-encapsulated plant-beneficial microbes into the soils can a...
Plant-beneficial microbes can be effective as biological agents for promoting development and controlling diseases in plants. However, direct inoculation of non-encapsulated plant-beneficial microbes into the soils can affect their vitality and efficacy. A novel bio-based encapsulant, sporopollenin-chitosan microspheres (SCMs), was developed to load an endophytic fungus Talaromyces neorugulosus R-209 with antagonistic activities against the root rot pathogen (Rhizoctonia solani AG4) and plant growth-promoting functions. The results showed that T. neorugulosus R-209 encapsulated in SCMs (TnR-209-SCMs) could significantly enhance fungal spore germination rates and available nitrogen/phosphorus levels in the soil compared to the non-encapsulated fungus. In addition, the preliminary evidence suggests that TnR-209-SCMs have a basic safety profile for practical applications. Inoculation with TnR-209-SCMs could effectively promote development and enhance resistance in pigeon pea seedlings by promoting chlorophyll synthesis, improving photosynthesis, and enhancing phenolic compound accumulation. Meanwhile, T. neorugulosus R-209 was found to endogenously colonize root intercellular spaces. Moreover, co-inoculation of TnR-209-SCMs and R. solani AG4 could reduce host defense responses compared to R. solani AG4-infected roots, as reflected by lower levels of phenolic compound accumulation and pathogenesis-/biosynthesis-related gene expression. Overall, TnR-209-SCMs is a promising biological agent that can promote development and control root rot in plants, which also provides an innovative approach to biomaterial-supported agricultural practices.
Persicaria minor F-box protein, PmFBK2 targeted by miR156a in response to MeJA treatment, potentially affects stress-related proteins.
Abd-Hamid NA, Ahmad-Fauzi MI, Ismail I
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Sep · PMID 40683030 · Publisher ↗
This study investigates the relationship between microRNAs (miRNAs) and F-box proteins (FBPs) in Persicaria minor, under methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment. miRNAs regulate gene expression by targeting mRNAs via cleaving...
This study investigates the relationship between microRNAs (miRNAs) and F-box proteins (FBPs) in Persicaria minor, under methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment. miRNAs regulate gene expression by targeting mRNAs via cleaving or modifying the mRNAs through base pairing, while FBPs, as part of the SCF (Skp1-Cullin-F-box) complex, mediates protein degradation via the ubiquitin-26S proteasome system (UPS). These post-transcriptional and post-translational regulators work together to activate plant responses. Integrated in silico analysis and experimental validation identified five miRNA-FBP pairs: miR156a-PmFBK2, miR396a-PmFBX1, miR156a/c-PmFBX2, miR408-PmFBK3, and miR398-PmFBL1. Among these, miR156a and miR408 showed negative expression correlations with their FBP targets, further confirmed by RLM-RACE cleavage assays, suggesting direct post-transcriptional regulation. Both target genes encode FBP containing kelch repeat (FBK), a subfamily abundant in plants and associated with stress-responsive pathways. Further analysis of the miR156a target through yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) revealed that, PmFBK2 protein targets SAMS2, PAL1 and GID1, proteins involved in metabolic and hormonal regulation linked to stress responses These findings suggest that miRNA-mediated regulation of FBP may influence protein interaction networks relevant to stress adaptation. This study presents foundational evidence for the involvement of specific miRNA-FBP interactions in plant stress responses, laying the groundwork for future functional validation and crop improvement.
Towards genetic architecture and genomic prediction of crop traits from time-series data: Challenges and breakthroughs.
Hobby D, Mbebi AJ, Nikoloski Z
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Sep · PMID 40683029 · Publisher ↗
Advances in remote and proximal sensing have facilitated temporal high-throughput phenotyping of crop populations grown in field conditions. The resulting time-series phenotypic data capture single or multiple growth- an...
Advances in remote and proximal sensing have facilitated temporal high-throughput phenotyping of crop populations grown in field conditions. The resulting time-series phenotypic data capture single or multiple growth- and yield-related traits at different temporal resolution. Whilst classical quantitative genetics approaches can readily be used with these temporal data by considering the measurement of a character at a given time point as a separate trait, this strategy fully neglects inter-trait integration over time. Here, we provide a classification of computational approaches that can be used to effectively analyze temporal phenotyping data from crop populations, focusing on genomic prediction, identification of quantitative trait loci, and genome-wide association studies. We point out the existing challenges due to the consideration of time-resolved data, and stress the extent to which these challenges are addressed by the available computational solutions. Finally, we highlight recent breakthroughs that make use of time-resolved data for multiple traits and are poised to revolutionize breeding efforts of climate-resilient crops.
Salinity-induced changes in the PSII/LHCII phosphorylation and organization of the photosynthetic protein complexes in the halophyte Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.
Pilarska M, Wasilewska-Dębowska W, Niewiadomska E
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Sep · PMID 40683028 · Publisher ↗
Halophytes have been widely used to investigate plant salt tolerance, but the mechanisms regulating photosynthesis under salinity are still poorly understood. Here, the effect of 10-day NaCl irrigation on the phosphoryla...
Halophytes have been widely used to investigate plant salt tolerance, but the mechanisms regulating photosynthesis under salinity are still poorly understood. Here, the effect of 10-day NaCl irrigation on the phosphorylation status of photosystem II (PSII), a light-harvesting complex of PSII (LHCII) and the organization of protein complexes in thylakoids of the halophyte Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. (common ice plant) was investigated. In salt-acclimated plants, increased phosphorylation of LHCB1, LHCB2 and D1 proteins was observed under dark and light conditions. This was accompanied by reduced capability to perform state transitions in response to different light quality, as inferred from changes in the steady-state chlorophyll a fluorescence. Low-temperature chlorophyll fluorescence emission spectra revealed decreased PSII fluorescence in the dark and light in salt-acclimated plants, with a significantly smaller decrease of PSI fluorescence in the dark than in well-watered controls. These data indicate, that salinity reduces nocturnal LHCII disconnection from PSI, resulting in a permanent State II. The decrease in the functional PSII antenna in salt-acclimated plants was confirmed by the parameters of the fast kinetics of chlorophyll a fluorescence. Furthermore, blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed salinity-induced partial disassembly of PSII supercomplexes. Our results show that changes in the PSII/LHCII phosphorylation levels and the organization of thylakoid protein complexes play a role in acclimation to salinity in this halophytic species.
Revising the role of ABA as regulator of flowering and seed development.
Collin A, Daszkowska-Golec A
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Sep · PMID 40674776 · Publisher ↗
The time of flowering or heading is regulated by environmental cues, mostly by light and temperature. Abscisic acid (ABA), considered the main phytohormone that regulates plant response to abiotic stress, also plays an i...
The time of flowering or heading is regulated by environmental cues, mostly by light and temperature. Abscisic acid (ABA), considered the main phytohormone that regulates plant response to abiotic stress, also plays an important role in flowering. ABA can both stimulate and inhibit flowering. In Arabidopsis, ABA accelerates flowering time during drought escape. On the other side, ABA can also repress flowering transition to ensure the time of flowering at the right moment for plant. In cereals, ABA also plays dual role in regulating heading time. Furthermore, some components of the ABA pathway can simultaneously act as positive and negative regulators of heading. ABA is also involved in another important aspect of the plant reproductive stage: seed/grain development. ABA plays positive role in the synthesis of storage proteins and lipids during seed-filling. In contrast, ABA negatively regulates seed size. In this review, we present recent knowledge regarding the complex role of ABA in the regulation of the reproductive stage in Arabidopsis and in the most important crop plants.
Methylobacterium oryzae as a growth biostimulant of Arabidopsis thaliana and Solanum lycopersicum.
Katarzyna Z, Katarzyna S, Dorota S … +3 more , Iwona K, Emilia Ł, Adam C
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Sep · PMID 40674775 · Publisher ↗
Methylobacterium spp. bacteria occur commonly in the environment. The presence of some methylobacteria in the soil/plant have positive effect to the plants growth and can reduce or prevent the consequence of phytopathoge...
Methylobacterium spp. bacteria occur commonly in the environment. The presence of some methylobacteria in the soil/plant have positive effect to the plants growth and can reduce or prevent the consequence of phytopathogens. We determined the effect of M. oryzae CBMB20 (rice endosymbiont) on different stages of Arabidopsis thaliana and Solanum lycopersicum development. Protective properties against phytopathogenic bacteria of M. oryzae CBMB20 lipopolysaccharide were also determined. High resolution mass spectrometry was used to confirm presence of IAA in tomato extracts. Based on the obtained results we concluded that, M. oryzae CBMB20 had no significant effect on the germination percentage of both plants but increased the number of root hairs in A. thaliana and the length of S. lycopersicum sprouts and led to an increase in the fresh weight of the plants. LPS CBMB20 was able to strengthen a defence reaction in response to the presence of the phytopathogen. S. lycopersicum, treated with CBMB20, produced more IAA than plants that were not treated with the methylobacteria, which translates into an increase in fresh mass. These findings suggest that M. oryzae CBMB20 has potential as a component of biopreparations.
Identification and fine mapping of qTGW11, a QTL conferring high nitrogen use efficiency in Dongxiang wild rice (Oryza rufipogon Griff.).
Shen Y, Xiong W, Shu A … +7 more , Hu L, Luo S, Huang J, Xiong H, Wu X, Xiao Y, Chen M
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Sep · PMID 40652677 · Publisher ↗
The extensive utilization of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers has substantially increased crop yields while severely disrupting the ecological balance. Consequently, enhancing nitrogen use efficiency in crops has become im...
The extensive utilization of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers has substantially increased crop yields while severely disrupting the ecological balance. Consequently, enhancing nitrogen use efficiency in crops has become imperative for sustainable agricultural development. Dongxiang wild rice (DXWR), demonstrating remarkable tolerance to low-nitrogen stress, represents a precious germplasm resource for breeding nitrogen-efficient rice cultivars. In this study, we conducted quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping for plant height, effective panicle number, grain number per panicle, grain yield per plant, and thousand-grain weight under low-nitrogen and normal-nitrogen conditions using 150 backcross recombinant inbred lines (BILs) derived from a cross between the indica maintainer line GanxiangB and DXWR, with a genetic linkage map comprising 153 SSR markers. Of 23 QTLs identified across 11 chromosomes, 9 were consistently detected under both nitrogen conditions. A stable QTL qTGW11 was identified under both nitrogen conditions; explaining 8.37-9.57 % of the phenotypic variation. Through map-based cloning, qTGW11 was precisely localized to a 117-kb genomic region harboring 16 candidate genes, among which LOC_Os11g40100 was identified as the most likely causal gene through quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) validation.
Overexpression of AtBES1D in tomato enhances BR response and accelerates fruit ripening.
He S, Xia X, Yang J … +3 more , Xin J, Chen S, Jia C
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Sep · PMID 40651050 · Publisher ↗
Brassinosteroids (BRs) are essential plant hormones that regulate growth and development, with BRI1-EMS SUPPRESSOR 1 (BES1) and BRASSINAZOLE-RESISTANT 1 (BZR1) serving as central transcription factors in BR signaling. Ho...
Brassinosteroids (BRs) are essential plant hormones that regulate growth and development, with BRI1-EMS SUPPRESSOR 1 (BES1) and BRASSINAZOLE-RESISTANT 1 (BZR1) serving as central transcription factors in BR signaling. However, the role of BES1 in regulating tomato fruit ripening remains poorly understood. Here, we generated three independent transgenic tomato lines overexpressing Arabidopsis thaliana BES1D (AtBES1D). Overexpression of AtBES1D enhanced BR responses, as demonstrated by enhanced responsiveness to BRs and reduced sensitivity to the BR biosynthesis inhibitor brassinazole (BRZ). AtBES1D-transgenic tomato plants exhibited pleiotropic phenotypic alterations, including stunted growth, curled leaves, suppressed root elongation, delayed flowering, accelerated fruit ripening, and diminished fruit size, weight, and seed number. In addition, AtBES1D transgenic fruits exhibited upregulated expression of ethylene-related genes (ACS4, NR, ERF1, ERF4, E4, and E8) and ripening regulators (RIN, TAGL1, FUL1, FUL2, and PG). Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) identified 1757 AtBES1D target genes, predominantly enriched in plant hormone signaling, transcriptional regulation, and metabolic pathways. Collectively, these findings establish AtBES1D as a multifunctional regulator modulating vegetative development, reproductive transition, and fruit ripening in tomato. AtBES1D likely promotes fruit ripening and improves fruit quality by modulating BR signaling, ethylene pathways, transcription factors, and metabolic processes.
Contrasting biochemical compositions and microbial interactions of English oak and black poplar root mucilage.
Nazari M, Knott M, Kuzyakov Y … +4 more , Sena-Velez M, Bourgerie S, Carpin S, Lamblin F
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Sep · PMID 40633259 · Publisher ↗
Root mucilage plays a crucial role in plant-soil interactions, yet its composition and functions for trees remain largely unexplored. We investigated the root mucilage of two tree species with contrasting growth strategi...
Root mucilage plays a crucial role in plant-soil interactions, yet its composition and functions for trees remain largely unexplored. We investigated the root mucilage of two tree species with contrasting growth strategies: the slow-growing English oak (Quercus robur L.) and the fast-growing black poplar (Populus nigra L.). Our analyses focused on the polysaccharide composition of mucilage and its microbial interactions. English oak mucilage polysaccharides consisted of 54% galactose, 16% mannose, 11% arabinose, 7% xylose, and 12% glucuronic acid, with no detectable glucose or galacturonic acid. In contrast, black poplar mucilage polysaccharides contained 26% galactose, 14% mannose, 14% glucose, 22% arabinose, 7% xylose, 14% glucuronic acid, and 3% galacturonic acid. Both mucilage types were hexose-rich, resembling the hexose-to-pentose ratio common in microbial sources in soil. Black poplar mucilage had a higher uronic acid-to-neutral monosaccharide ratio and greater K and Na concentrations than English oak mucilage. Functionally, black poplar mucilage increased the growth of Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25, suggesting the provision of readily available carbon sources. Conversely, English oak mucilage suppressed bacterial growth, plausibly due to antimicrobial compounds that may slow microbial decomposition and promote carbon sequestration.
Comprehensive genetic dissection of yield-related traits utilizing quantitative trait loci sequencing approach in mungbean.
Yang F, Qiao J, Li B … +5 more , Zhang X, Liu D, Wang B, Wei A, Huo D
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Sep · PMID 40614315 · Publisher ↗
Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek] has gained significant popularity in the food industry, due to its distinctive functional properties and exceptional nutritional value. Increasing yield is a central objective in...
Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek] has gained significant popularity in the food industry, due to its distinctive functional properties and exceptional nutritional value. Increasing yield is a central objective in mungbean breeding programs; however, systematic studies identifying quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with key yield-related traits remain limited. In this study, the recombinant inbred line (RIL) population (AH20 × SX36) was generated, and phenotypic assessments were conducted in three distinct environments. Three methods genome-wide composite interval mapping (GCIM), multiple QTL mapping (MQM) and inclusive composite interval mapping (ICIM) were employed to detect QTLs linked to HSW (hundred-seed weight), SPP (number of seeds per pod), PL (pod length), PW (pod width), and YP (yield per plant). Consequently, 33, 19, 26, 22, and 20 QTLs were identified for HSW, SPP, PL, PW, and YP, respectively. Notably, 10 QTLs were consistently detected across all environments and by all three mapping methods, indicating their robustness and potential for breeding applications. Candidate genes associated with these stable QTLs were also predicted, offering insights into the genetic regulation of yield traits. These findings provide a valuable genetic framework for functional validation and the cultivation of high-yielding mungbean germplasm.
The MeCNL3-MeARF6 module plays an important role in cassava bacterial blight resistance.
Li Y, Zheng R, Liang M … +3 more , Zhao H, Liu D, Liu G
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Sep · PMID 40580850 · Publisher ↗
Cassava bacterial blight (CBB) poses a substantial threat to the progression and sustainability of the cassava industry. While the NLR gene family is known to play a crucial role in plant disease resistance by encoding i...
Cassava bacterial blight (CBB) poses a substantial threat to the progression and sustainability of the cassava industry. While the NLR gene family is known to play a crucial role in plant disease resistance by encoding intracellular immune receptors, the specific molecular mechanisms underlying NLR-mediated resistance in cassava remain poorly understood and require comprehensive characterization. Our research identified MeCNL3, a CC-NBS-LRR resistance gene, demonstrating significant upregulation in response to Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis (Xam) infection. Functional characterization revealed that MeCNL3 overexpression confers enhanced resistance to Xam in cassava. Meanwhile, we demonstrated that MeCNL3 physically interacts with the transcription factor MeARF6, forming a regulatory module that controls Xam resistance. Notably, experimental evidence confirms that MeARF6 regulates MeRbohH transcription, orchestrating reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated defense responses against CBB. Furthermore, the type III effector protein XopR hijacks MeCNL3 to suppress the MeCNL3-MeARF6 signaling module, thereby weakening CBB resistance. Taken together, this work delineates the molecular mechanism of MeCNL3-driven CBB immunity and advances the understanding of NLR regulatory networks in cassava defense responses.
Physio-biochemical and molecular analyses decipher distinct dehydration stress responses in contrasting genotypes of foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.).
Supriya L, Shukla P, Dake D … +2 more , Gudipalli P, Muthamilarasan M
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Aug · PMID 40554840 · Publisher ↗
Drought impairs plant growth and productivity by disrupting key physiological and biochemical processes. Foxtail millet (Setaria italica), a drought-resilient C crop, is well-suited for climate-smart agriculture, yet its...
Drought impairs plant growth and productivity by disrupting key physiological and biochemical processes. Foxtail millet (Setaria italica), a drought-resilient C crop, is well-suited for climate-smart agriculture, yet its stress adaptation mechanisms remain underexplored. This study deciphered dehydration responses in tolerant and sensitive genotypes, focusing on redox regulation, sugar metabolism, energy dynamics, and autophagy. For this, four drought-distinguished millet genotypes (2 tolerant and 2 sensitive) were subjected to dehydration stress (20 % PEG-6000) for different time points (0, 2, 6 and 12 h). Tolerant genotypes exhibited improved antioxidant enzyme activity and GSH:GSSG ratios, resulting in efficient detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and improved membrane stability. Sensitive genotypes, in contrast, accumulated ROS and showed elevated oxidative damage and electrolyte leakage. Tolerant genotypes also maintained higher trans-zeatin levels and suppressed chlorophyll degradation, thereby preserving photosynthesis and delaying senescence. Sugar metabolism was more efficient in tolerant types, with increased activities of sugar metabolism enzymes, enabling proper carbohydrate partitioning and osmotic adjustment. Contrastingly, sensitive genotypes showed sugar overaccumulation due to impaired mobilization. Also, tolerant genotypes retained higher ATP and pyruvate levels, indicating better energy homeostasis. Additionally, enhanced autophagy, marked by elevated ATG8 protein and ATG transcript levels, supported cellular recycling in tolerant genotypes. In contrast, repressed autophagy was observed despite increased abscisic acid in sensitive genotypes, likely due to sugar-mediated signalling and elevated trehalose-6-phosphate levels. These integrated responses highlight the roles of redox control, metabolic coordination, and autophagy in dehydration tolerance and offer multi-target strategies for breeding climate-resilient Setaria cultivars for drought-prone environments.
Illuminating plant metabolism with genetically encoded biosensors.
Wagner S, Meyer AJ
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Aug · PMID 40544579 · Publisher ↗
The metabolic flexibility of plants enables them to cope particularly well with changing environmental conditions. This flexibility is achieved by cellular processes that require tight coordination in space and time and...
The metabolic flexibility of plants enables them to cope particularly well with changing environmental conditions. This flexibility is achieved by cellular processes that require tight coordination in space and time and constant balancing to maximise plant fitness. If we want to identify crops with higher yields and improved resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses, then we need to unravel these metabolic processes experimentally, and genetically encoded biosensors (GEBs) seem ideal for this. They allow non-invasive monitoring of metabolic processes in living cells over time and with high spatial and temporal resolution. The list of sensors and sensor variants that have been developed or established in plants continues to grow, providing insights into more and more parameters of plant metabolism. This, together with technological advances, also facilitates paraplexing and multiplexing experiments, where several processes are monitored simultaneously by GEBs. Despite these advantages, GEBs need to be used carefully and users must fully understand their characteristics in the chosen experimental plant system in order to draw meaningful conclusions from the spectroscopic changes of a sensor. Here, we aim to provide a list of fluorescent GEBs that can be selected for in planta use and highlight recent biological insights gained from them, focusing on advances where multiple GEBs have been used. We also discuss criteria for selecting an appropriate sensor and aspects of the field that remain challenging, in the hope of helping plant scientists to generate and interpret plant metabolism data using GEBs in a meaningful way.
Harnessing light, photoperiod and temperature for accelerated flowering in speed breeding: Mechanisms, applications and crop diversity.
Bashir A, Abbas A, Li X … +3 more , Shi Q, Niu D, Zhang L
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Aug · PMID 40544578 · Publisher ↗
Accelerated flowering, an essential aspect of speed breeding, has become a significant tool to enhance crop improvement programs, especially in changing climates. This review examines how temperature, light quality, and...
Accelerated flowering, an essential aspect of speed breeding, has become a significant tool to enhance crop improvement programs, especially in changing climates. This review examines how temperature, light quality, and photoperiod regulate flowering time across diverse crops. The mechanisms that drive these factors are being studied at the molecular, physiological, and phenotypic scales, highlighting how changes in light spectrum, photoperiod sensitivity, and temperature regimes can significantly influence flowering patterns. We emphasize the optimization of these factors in controlled environments to achieve accelerated flowering, thereby improving breeding cycles without compromising yield or plant health. The review explores the integration of these strategies into speed breeding platforms for legumes, cereals, and forage species, highlighting the challenges and potential for scaling this technology. This paper also synthesizes current knowledge and identifies understanding gaps to provide insights into strategically manipulating light quality, photoperiod, and temperature to expedite crop development and meet sustainable agriculture's demands.
WEE1 homolog positively regulates salt stress tolerance in chrysanthemum.
Wang Y, Sun F, Bao Z … +1 more , Ma F
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Aug · PMID 40543179 · Publisher ↗
Salinity is a major abiotic stress that limits chrysanthemum yields worldwide. Salinity represses Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium plant growth and consequently reduces chrysanthemum commercial production. Salinity triggers...
Salinity is a major abiotic stress that limits chrysanthemum yields worldwide. Salinity represses Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium plant growth and consequently reduces chrysanthemum commercial production. Salinity triggers DNA damage in root cells, leading to cell death and subsequent growth repression. WEE1 plays an important role in regulating DNA repair, although its function in salt tolerance has not been studied in C. lavandulifolium. In this study, we identify WEE1 homologous genes in Chrysanthemum species, and their expressions are induced in roots after salt stress treatment. We further investigate the function of C. lavandulifolium homolog ClWEE1 in salt stress responses and find that ClWEE1 plays a crucial role in cell cycle regulation and DNA damage repair under salt stress. Overexpressing ClWEE1 in C. lavandulifolium or Arabidopsis significantly enhances their salt stress tolerance. Both flow cytometric analysis and comet assay reveal less DNA damage in ClWEE1-overexpression plants than in wild type. RT-qPCR analysis indicates that the stress-responsive genes ClNHX, ClHKT, ClCBL, and ClDREB2A may have higher expression in ClWEE1-overexpression plants than in wild type. Taken together, our study illustrates the positive role of Chrysanthemum WEE1 in enhancing salt tolerance, providing insights for breeding salt-tolerant chrysanthemum varieties.
A review of the journey of field crop phenotyping: From trait stamp collections and fancy robots to phenomics-informed crop performance predictions.
Roth L, Marzougui A, Walter A
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Aug · PMID 40532480 · Publisher ↗
Crop phenotyping encompasses methodologies for measuring plant growth, architecture, and composition with high precision across scales, from organs to canopies. Field-based phenotyping is pivotal in bridging genomic data...
Crop phenotyping encompasses methodologies for measuring plant growth, architecture, and composition with high precision across scales, from organs to canopies. Field-based phenotyping is pivotal in bridging genomic data with crop performance, offering a promising pathway for predictive modeling in diverse environments. This review traces the evolution of phenotyping from high-throughput sensor data for trait extraction to advanced modeling approaches that integrate multi-temporal data, latent space representations, and learned crop models. This evolution is exemplified mostly by morphology- and growth-related examples from the core expertise of the authors. High-throughput trait extraction, facilitated by advanced imaging and sensor technologies, has enabled rapid and accurate characterization of complex traits essential for crop improvement. Carrier platforms, such as drones, rovers, and gantries, have played a critical role in capturing high-resolution data across large fields, enhancing the spatial and temporal resolution of phenotypic data. Publicly available datasets have further accelerated research by providing standardized, high-quality data for benchmarking and model development beyond the realm of crop growth as for example in crop photosynthesis. These advancements are transforming phenotyping into a predictive science capable of informing breeding and management decisions. As phenotyping methodologies continue to evolve, the integration of machine learning and data-driven approaches offers new opportunities for enhancing prediction accuracy and understanding genotype-environment interactions. While challenges such as data heterogeneity, scalability, and cost remain, we highlight key gaps and propose solutions, underscoring phenotyping's critical role in future agricultural innovation.
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