Frontiers In Plant Science[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Genome-wide identification and characterization of the Groucho/Tup1-like corepressor family identifies a potential role in the epigenetic regulation of abiotic stress responses in soybean.
Zhang Z, Han X, Yin X … +7 more , Zhang Y, Jiang Y, Li Y, Wu W, Wu S, Jin Z, Shen M
Front Plant Sci · 2026 · PMID 42328081 · Full text
The Groucho/Tup1 family of corepressors is known to play a role in fine-tuning gene expression in eukaryotes by recruiting key epigenetic regulators, histone deacetylases (HDACs), to chromatin. In plants, members of this...
The Groucho/Tup1 family of corepressors is known to play a role in fine-tuning gene expression in eukaryotes by recruiting key epigenetic regulators, histone deacetylases (HDACs), to chromatin. In plants, members of this family regulate growth, development, and responses to stress. However, their homologs in soybean ((L.) Merr.) have not been systematically characterized, and their roles in adapting to abiotic stress remain largely uncharacterized. In this study, we identified 39 putative Groucho/Tup1-like corepressor () genes in the soybean genome, distributed across 16 chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis classified the GmGTLC proteins into six subfamilies, with members within each subfamily exhibiting conserved gene and protein structures. Promoter analysis revealed multiple cis-regulatory elements associated with light responsiveness, hormone signaling, and responses to abiotic stress. Gene duplication analysis indicated that segmental duplication events were the primary driver of family expansion. Expression profiling showed that genes are broadly expressed in roots, hypocotyls, cotyledons, tender leaves, mature leaves, unopened flowers, open flowers, pods, and seeds. Furthermore, RT-qPCR analysis of soybean seedlings subjected to cold (4 C for 0, 3, 6, 12, and 24h), salt (200 mM NaCl for 0, 3, 6, 12, and 24h), or drought (air-drying for 0, 0.5, 1, 3, and 6h) stress indicated that most tested genes were induced by cold. While gene-specific expression patterns were observed under salt and drought conditions. Western blot assays showed that global histone H3 acetylation levels were elevated under abiotic stress conditions, providing correlative evidence of a link between this epigenetic modification and stress adaptation. Protein interaction assays in a heterologous transient system () suggested a potential interaction between GmHOS15A/D and two GmHDAC family proteins, GmHDA12 and GmHDA13, indicating an association that may be relevant to histone deacetylation. Collectively, this study provides a comprehensive characterization of the gene family at the genomic and expression levels. The exploratory and correlative findings suggest a potential role for GmHOS15A/D in epigenetic regulation of abiotic stress responses in soybean, laying a preliminary foundation for future mechanistic studies and molecular breeding strategies.
Programmable nanocarriers for precision plant engineering: converging nanotechnology, CRISPR, and next-generation breeding.
Singh AP, Haider S, Sawarkar A … +6 more , Karki S, Atta K, Al-Zharani M, Barasarathi J, Rebouh NY, Ahmed ZFR
Front Plant Sci · 2026 · PMID 42328080 · Full text
The convergence of nanotechnology and genome editing in plant sciences is redefining modern precision breeding through efficient, transgene free, tissue culture independent pathways for genetic improvement in crops. Conv...
The convergence of nanotechnology and genome editing in plant sciences is redefining modern precision breeding through efficient, transgene free, tissue culture independent pathways for genetic improvement in crops. Conventional breeding and transgenic tools are limited to genotype dependency, inefficient gene delivery, unpredictable transgene insertions, thereby restricting their application in elite germplasm. Nanoparticles-mediated gene delivery systems have revolutionized the genetic transformation in plants through targeted and transgene free delivery of CRISPR/Cas ribonucleoproteins (RNPs), DNA, and RNA into plant cells, while minimizing genome interference. Nanocarriers are the engineered delivery systems wherein the material component is a nanoparticle. DNA-free delivery refers to the absence of exogenous DNA during editing, whereas transgene free plants are those that do not retain integrated foreign DNA after regeneration. Firstly, this review summarizes current progress in designing nanocarriers, including lipid, polymeric, mesoporous silica nanoparticles, carbon-based nanoparticles, layered double hydroxides, and DNA-based nanoparticles; harnessing the function of their physicochemical traits in modulating plant cellular uptake, cargo stability, controlled delivery, and tissue specific targeting in plants. Secondly, the broad-spectrum roles of nano particles in genome editing, crop protection via RNA interference, organelle-targeted modifications are discussed, stressing transgene free approaches to mitigate somaclonal variation and regulatory concerns to foster public acceptance. The integration of nano-mediated delivery with speed breeding, meristem transformation, multiplexed editing in elite germplasm is proposed as an approach for prompt trait stacking and validation. Thirdly, the collaborative roles of experts in the field of nanotechnology, plant breeding, plant physiology, and agronomy are mentioned for mitigating multifaceted climatic effects and glitches. Moreover, current challenges including nanotoxicity, scalability and field translation, regulatory concerns, and public perception are also discussed. While nanocarrier mediated delivery shows strong potential for improving plant genome engineering, current evidence is largely confined to controlled experimental systems, and significant challenges remain before routine integration into breeding pipelines becomes feasible.
Effects of different bio-organic fertilizers on agronomic traits, yield, and dry matter accumulation of fresh-eating corn in arid and saline soils of Xinjiang: a single-site field experiment.
Cui Y, Tang Y, Du Y … +7 more , Ding W, Ren H, Jia Y, Shi X, Wang W, Ji S, Ma Y
Front Plant Sci · 2026 · PMID 42328079 · Full text
Fresh-eating corn is an important economic crop in Xinjiang, while its yield and quality are severely limited by drought, soil salinization and low soil fertility. Applying bio-organic fertilizers can effectively mitigat...
Fresh-eating corn is an important economic crop in Xinjiang, while its yield and quality are severely limited by drought, soil salinization and low soil fertility. Applying bio-organic fertilizers can effectively mitigate abiotic stress and improve crop growth performance, yet suitable fertilizer types for the main cultivar Wannuo 2000 remain unclear in arid and salinized regions. A two-year consecutive field experiment was conducted from 2024 to 2025. Combined with field meteorological data, short-term low sunlight stress in late June 2024 significantly affected crop growth and interannual growth stability. On the basis of growth indices and yield traits, two kinds of membership function evaluation methods were adopted to comprehensively assess fertilizer application effects. The results showed that different functional bio-organic fertilizers had distinct regulatory effects on agronomic traits, ear development, dry matter accumulation and yield formation. Among all treatments, Tianwu Jintaiyang bio-organic fertilizer exhibited the best comprehensive performance with high yield and strong environmental adaptability. Correlation analysis indicated that ear grain weight, husked ear weight and kernel number per row were key positive factors for yield improvement, whereas bald tip length and barren stalk rate were the main limiting factors. This study clarifies the differentiated regulation effects and regional adaptability of various bio-organic fertilizers, and provides theoretical basis and technical guidance for rational fertilization and green stable high-yield cultivation of fresh-eating corn in arid salinized farmlands of Xinjiang.
Identifying systemic risks and mitigation strategies of artificial intelligence in agriculture: from social-technical-ecological systems framework.
Yuan Y, Sun Y
Front Plant Sci · 2026 · PMID 42328078 · Full text
While the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in global agriculture is widely acknowledged, especially its contributions to plant protection and agricultural production, much of the research mainly h...
While the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in global agriculture is widely acknowledged, especially its contributions to plant protection and agricultural production, much of the research mainly highlights its benefits, overlooking the potential impacts of AI on agricultural systems, including planting, cropping, irrigation, and fertilization. While certain studies have started to explore specific challenges, a comprehensive and integrated analysis of these risks across agricultural systems remains largely unaddressed. This study employs a narrative review and in-depth reflection, adopts the Social-Technical-Ecological Systems (STES) framework to analyze these risks, with plant protection and development as the illustrative examples. The social subsystem faces potential risks, including unemployment, social inequality, and systemic exclusion. Within the technical subsystem, we identify risks such as uncertainties in technical devices, inaccuracies in AI model decisions, untraceable AI black-box decision-making, and network security vulnerabilities. Within the ecological subsystem, AI may lead to biodiversity loss, climate uncertainties, and potential environmental pollution. To mitigate these risks, we propose targeted strategies. In the social subsystem, recommendations include enhancing farmers' livelihood resilience, improving the inclusivity and accessibility of AI, and integrating principles of social equity. In the technical subsystem, this involves optimizing AI agricultural devices, enhancing the accuracy of AI decision-making, improving the transparency of AI models, and ensuring network security. For the ecological subsystem, strategies focus on embedding biodiversity goals, developing climate-friendly AI agriculture, and integrating ecological monitoring and evaluation. At the overall system level, if the balance among subsystems is not sufficiently considered, it may lead to cross-system risks. Collaborative risk governance is crucial for balancing social equity, technical efficiency, and ecological sustainability. This study provides actionable guidance for policymakers, AI developers, and farmers to achieve efficient, equitable, and sustainable AI-driven agriculture, offering important reference value for advancing intelligent phytoprotection and smart agricultural development.
Estimation of SPAD values in litchi based on improved LSTM with fusion of IoT and multispectral image texture features.
Li Z, Chen X, He J … +2 more , Chen L, Gao P
Front Plant Sci · 2026 · PMID 42328077 · Full text
Litchi is an important economic fruit in southern China, and its precision management relies on the rapid and accurate estimation of the Soil and Plant Analyzer Development (SPAD) values in leaves. Addressing the limitat...
Litchi is an important economic fruit in southern China, and its precision management relies on the rapid and accurate estimation of the Soil and Plant Analyzer Development (SPAD) values in leaves. Addressing the limitations of existing SPAD detection methods, such as limited rapid coverage, inadequate modeling of dynamic environmental interference, and shallow fusion of multi-source data, this study constructed an Internet of Things (IoT) system to collect real-time environmental data from a litchi orchard, combined with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) multispectral imagery to obtain canopy vegetation index and texture features. A Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network model integrated with a feature level attention mechanism (MLSTM) was proposed to fuse IoT time-series data, vegetation index, and high dimensional texture features for dynamic SPAD value prediction. The results indicate that multi-source feature fusion significantly improves SPAD estimation accuracy. The MLSTM model achieved optimal performance under the all-features situation, with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.897 and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 2.638, outperforming other comparative models. The attention mechanism effectively enhanced the model's focus on key features, improving feature utilization efficiency and model interpretability. The multi-source data fusion method and MLSTM model proposed in this study enable high precision, dynamic estimation of SPAD values in litchi leaves, providing reliable data support for precision fertilization, stress diagnosis, and yield prediction in litchi orchards, as well as theoretical support for promoting the practical application of this technology in smart agriculture.
Integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analysis reveals the regulatory role of exogenous gibberellin in sugarcane internode maturation.
Chen R, Wu Z, Lai Z … +8 more , Wen J, Dong W, Liao J, Wu Y, Chen J, Que Y, Wu J, Fan Y
Front Plant Sci · 2026 · PMID 42328076 · Full text
INTRODUCTION: Sugarcane cultivation is a vital component of the agricultural economy in southern China. Investigating internode development in sugarcane is crucial for optimizing cultivation management practices and impr...
INTRODUCTION: Sugarcane cultivation is a vital component of the agricultural economy in southern China. Investigating internode development in sugarcane is crucial for optimizing cultivation management practices and improving cane yield. METHODS: In this study, transcriptome and proteome sequencing were performed on internode tissues of sugarcane cultivar Guitang 42 at 0, 6, and 12 days post-treatment, aiming to identify key molecular components and elucidate biological pathways through which exogenous gibberellic acid (GA) regulates internode maturation. RESULTS: Accordingly, GA predominantly promoted internodal elongation, rather than nodal expansion. Following transcriptome and proteome sequencing, 3D principal component analysis (PCA) based on both datasets revealed a clear separation between the GA-treated (GA) and control (CK) groups. The comparison of GA_6d vs. CK_0d identified the largest number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs, 34,541), followed by CK_12d vs. CK_0d (27,898) and GA_12d vs. CK_0d (22,709). Similarly, the pairwise comparison between GA_6d and CK_0d yielded the highest number of differentially expressed proteins (DEPs, 363). KEGG enrichment analysis based on DEGs, DEPs and their intersection revealed that GA treatment up-regulated the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and phenylalanine metabolism pathways, thereby promoting lignin biosynthesis. Additionally, PPI analysis revealed high-confidence interactions between two hub proteins (PAL and 4CL). Finally, we elucidated the biosynthetic pathways that produce p-hydroxyphenyl lignin, guaiacyl lignin, and syringyl lignin using L-phenylalanine as the substrate. DISCUSSION: The results presented herein provide new insights into sugarcane internode maturation.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobium facilitate nitrogen uptake and transfer in soybean/tobacco intercropping system.
Song X, Xie Y, Lu Y … +4 more , Hu X, Xu W, Pan S, Xue Y
Front Plant Sci · 2026 · PMID 42328075 · Full text
INTRODUCTION: The tripartite symbiosis of legume-AMF-rhizobia is widely considered to facilitate nitrogen (N) uptakeby legumes, but its effect on non-legume plants in intercropping systems remains unclear. METHODS: A pot...
INTRODUCTION: The tripartite symbiosis of legume-AMF-rhizobia is widely considered to facilitate nitrogen (N) uptakeby legumes, but its effect on non-legume plants in intercropping systems remains unclear. METHODS: A pot experiment with three root separations (PS, MS, NS) was conducted using ¹⁵N isotope tracing in a soybean/tobacco intercropping system with double inoculation of (CE) and 5016 (BJ). RESULTS: Double inoculation (CE+BJ) significantly increased bioaccumulation, N uptake, and N transfer from soybean to tobacco compared to single or no inoculation. Mycorrhizal colonization in soybean increased by up to 45.55% in the NS system. All measured parameters in tobacco were significantly higher in NS than in PS or MS systems. DISCUSSION: The legume-AMF-rhizobium triple interaction positively affects N uptake and translocation in tobacco, showing potential for sustainable tobacco production, though the underlying mechanisms require further study.
Comparison of two carbohydrate-based biostimulant complexes for their ability to enhance flower yield and quality.
Wise K, Simovich T, Alengaden R … +3 more , Gill H, Zandberg A, Selby-Pham J
Front Plant Sci · 2026 · PMID 42328074 · Full text
INTRODUCTION: L. (cannabis) is valued for its flowers, which are rich in bioactive compounds that impart medicinal and sensory properties. A common-practice during plant cultivation is the supplementation of fertilisers...
INTRODUCTION: L. (cannabis) is valued for its flowers, which are rich in bioactive compounds that impart medicinal and sensory properties. A common-practice during plant cultivation is the supplementation of fertilisers with biostimulants, which enhance growth and yield. Previous studies on tomato, strawberry, capsicum, and cannabis (grown for seed) have demonstrated that biostimulants containing fish hydrolysate (FH), (L.) Burm.f. extract, molasses, or triacontanol can improve yield, quality, and functional food value. Additionally, galactooligosaccharides (GoS) are proposed as a novel biostimulant that selectively stimulates beneficial microbes, akin to a plant prebiotic. METHODS: Two biostimulant complexes were compared by randomised controlled trial (RCT), within an environmentally controlled hydroponic growth system, for their effects on cannabis growth, yield, and flower quality. The two complexes tested were: BC1 comprising molasses, extract, and FH; and BC2 comprising GoS, extract, and triacontanol. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Both treatments improved yield (BC1: 1.17-fold, p = 0.097; BC2: 2.22-fold, p = 0.003), with BC2 also increasing flower size (1.28-fold, p = 0.034). Image analyses indicated that neither treatment substantially impacted flower colour. Near infrared indicated that both treatments increased primary amines and methyl containing hydrocarbons, and that BC2 also increased aromatic hydrocarbons. Volatile analysis indicated that BC1 increased a-terpinolene, borneol, terpineol, and valencene, whilst BC2 increased a-humulene, a-phellandrene, α-terpinene, β-caryophyllene, guaiol, limonene, ocimene, and total terpene content. These terpene changes suggest possible increases to flower relaxing effects (BC1), or anti-inflammatory effects (BC2). Odour prediction identified possible shifts to flower odour profiles, which may be associated with enhanced customer perceptions of quality and value. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential for biostimulants to enhance cannabis yield, phytochemical composition, and associated value.
LiteMS-YOLO: a lightweight framework for small target detection in complex wheat field environments.
Ma H, Song M, Yang M … +9 more , Li T, Wang X, Wang M, Zhao X, Peng C, Huang H, Wu P, Lu Q, Wu Z
Front Plant Sci · 2026 · PMID 42328073 · Full text
Wheat spike detection is essential for yield estimation in precision agriculture, yet it remains challenging due to the small size of targets, dense distribution, and complex field environments. In this study, we propose...
Wheat spike detection is essential for yield estimation in precision agriculture, yet it remains challenging due to the small size of targets, dense distribution, and complex field environments. In this study, we propose LiteMS-YOLO, a lightweight object detection framework based on YOLO26n. The model integrates a Feature Complementary Mapping (FCM) module to enhance spatial-semantic feature interaction and a Multi-Kernel Perception (MKP) unit to improve multi-scale feature representation. In addition, targeted redundancy reduction strategies are introduced to significantly lower model complexity. Experiments are conducted on a combined dataset comprising the public Global Wheat Head Detection (GWHD) dataset and 100 field images collected by the Tangshan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, with a total of 6,378 high-resolution images and over 44,000 annotated wheat spikes. LiteMS-YOLO achieves a mAP50 of 92.28% and a mAP50-95 of 52.56%, while using only 0.627 million parameters. Compared with YOLO26n and YOLOv8n, the proposed method reduces parameters by approximately 75% and 79%, respectively, while maintaining competitive accuracy. These results demonstrate that LiteMS-YOLO strikes an excellent balance between detection accuracy and efficiency, making it well-suited for real-time deployment in resource-constrained agricultural scenarios.
CFPR-YOLO: chili flower pose estimation for robotic pollination in unstructured environments.
Kuang M, Wang Y, Li X … +7 more , Liu D, Xiang Y, Liu F, Zou X, Xie F, Zhang Y, Li X
Front Plant Sci · 2026 · PMID 42328072 · Full text
Agricultural engineering informatics is playing an increasingly important role in enabling intelligent perception, decision-making, and automated operations in modern horticultural production systems. Within this context...
Agricultural engineering informatics is playing an increasingly important role in enabling intelligent perception, decision-making, and automated operations in modern horticultural production systems. Within this context, accurate visual perception of reproductive structures is essential for agricultural informatization tasks such as flowering-stage monitoring, precision pollination, and information-driven fruit-set management in chili cultivation. However, reliable detection and pose-aware recognition of chili flowers remain challenging because of small target size, dense distribution, foliage occlusion, and illumination variability in natural or semi-controlled environments. To address these challenges, this study proposes a lightweight and robust edge vision framework, termed CFPR-YOLO, for chili flower detection and pose-aware perception under complex agricultural conditions. Built upon an improved YOLOv11n architecture, the proposed framework incorporates EfficientFormerV2 to strengthen global-context feature extraction, a C3k2_EMA module to enhance localization of small and occluded targets, and Poly-Scale Convolution (PSConv) to preserve structural details while reducing computational redundancy. In addition, a lightweight attention mechanism is introduced to improve feature discrimination in cluttered backgrounds. Experimental results on both self-constructed and generalization datasets show that the proposed method achieves a precision of 92.6%, a recall of 86.8%, and an mAP50 of 92.1% with only 7.26 M parameters. The framework also demonstrates strong robustness and generalization across different chili varieties. When deployed on an edge computing platform (NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin), the model achieves real-time inference at 39.5 FPS. Furthermore, validation experiments under controlled indoor conditions show that the proposed framework can effectively support simulated pollination tasks, achieving a success rate of 90.0% for upwardfacing flowers. These results indicate that CFPR-YOLO provides an effective visual perception solution for agricultural engineering informatics-oriented pollination systems and offers practical potential for precision pollination and intelligent fruit-set management in horticultural production.
Hyperspectral imaging and machine learning for rapid sensing and visualized retrieval of soil nutrients in high-latitude tea-growing regions.
Liu X, Zhang X, Wang M … +5 more , Wang Z, He Z, Chen Z, Guo M, Dong C
Front Plant Sci · 2026 · PMID 42328071 · Full text
INTRODUCTION: Rapid assessment of soil pH and nutrient status in tea plantations is essential for precision fertilisation and ecological management, particularly in high-latitude tea-growing regions where related applica...
INTRODUCTION: Rapid assessment of soil pH and nutrient status in tea plantations is essential for precision fertilisation and ecological management, particularly in high-latitude tea-growing regions where related applications remain insufficiently studied. METHODS: This study developed a rapid, non-destructive framework integrating hyperspectral imaging and machine learning for the detection, retrieval, and spatial visualisation of soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM), alkali-hydrolysable nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), and available potassium (AK) in the Taishan tea-producing region. A total of 150 soil samples were collected from three profile depths (0-20, 20-40, and 40-60 cm). Hyperspectral images were acquired over 394-1007 nm, and the 481-908 nm range was retained for modelling. Principal component analysis was used to characterise vertical differentiation, while four spectral pre-processing methods, three feature-band selection algorithms-competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS), bootstrapping soft shrinkage (BOSS), and successive projections algorithm (SPA)-and three regression models-partial least squares regression (PLSR), random forest (RF), and support vector regression (SVR)-were systematically compared. RESULTS: The soils were generally acidic, and SOM, AN, AP, and AK exhibited clear surface enrichment and decreasing trends with increasing depth. Among the feature-selection methods, BOSS showed the best overall performance in reducing spectral redundancy and improving prediction accuracy. The optimal SVR models, combined with parameter-specific pre-processing and BOSS-selected bands, achieved strong predictive performance across all indicators, with prediction-set correlation coefficients (Rp) of 0.94-0.99 and relative percent deviation (RPD) values of 2.963-10.425. Furthermore, pixel-wise reconstruction using threshold masking enabled intuitive two-dimensional visualisation of the spatial distributions of the target soil properties. DISCUSSION: These results demonstrate that hyperspectral imaging coupled with machine learning provides an effective approach for rapid soil nutrient assessment, spatial visualisation, and digital management in high-latitude tea plantations.
Transcriptional regulation of root development in cacao: a genome-wide comparative analysis between zygotic and somatic embryo-derived seedlings.
Makondy REA, Agneessens J, Wei W … +3 more , Niemenak N, Lindsey K, Noah AM
Front Plant Sci · 2026 · PMID 42318133 · Full text
INTRODUCTION: The knowledge gaps on cacao root biology deeply hamper the possibility to efficiently develop tissue culture-based regeneration adapted to cacao physiology. Dissecting the regulatory mechanisms controlling...
INTRODUCTION: The knowledge gaps on cacao root biology deeply hamper the possibility to efficiently develop tissue culture-based regeneration adapted to cacao physiology. Dissecting the regulatory mechanisms controlling cacao root development and identifying molecular disorders associated with root defects in somatic embryo-derived seedlings (SES) is critical to elucidate potential targets for optimizing somatic embryogenesis protocols as well as to develop resilient elite genotypes that can tolerate environmental alterations. The current study aimed to systematically identify the transcriptional patterns underlying cacao root development in zygotic embryo-derived seedlings (ZES) and SES, with a focus on the emergence of lateral roots. METHODS: The study examined roots from four cacao seedling types: 4-day-old ZES, 7-day-old ZES, a lateral-rootless SES variant, and SES with fully developed lateral roots. Root morphology was assessed through tissue microscopy, and whole-root transcriptomes were profiled using genome-wide RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). RESULTS: Histological analysis revealed mispatterning of pericycle and vascular tissues in roots of lateral-rootless SES. Genome-wide transcriptomic profiling revealed 12,979 differentially expressed genes, encompassing pathways related to amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism, phytohormone signaling, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades, motor-protein function, and homologous recombination-core regulatory modules that underpin cacao root patterning and adaptive plasticity. More than 900 transcription factors, including members of the AP2/ERF, MYB, NAC, LOB, GNAT, SET, and WRKY families, were also differentially regulated. Our work identified common and distinctive features of root growth and lateral branching in ZES and in normal and misshaped SES at the transcriptional level. DISCUSSION: Collectively, our results show that early root morphogenesis in cacao is orchestrated by precise transcriptional reprogramming. Yet, the heightened stress associated with culture perturbs this developmental trajectory in SES, inducing pericycle and vascular tissue defects that ultimately constrain primary root growth and lateral root initiation.
Coniferous-to-broadleaved forest conversion in subtropical coastal sandy lands enhances soil component respiration: coupled driving effects and mechanisms for improved carbon sequestration stability.
Huang X, Gao W, Gong C … +3 more , Zeng X, Zhou X, Ye G
Front Plant Sci · 2026 · PMID 42318132 · Full text
INTRODUCTION: Coniferous_to_broadleaved forest conversion reshapes soil carbon cycling in coastal sandy ecosystems, yet its regulation on component soil respiration and thermal sensitivity remains poorly quantified. To e...
INTRODUCTION: Coniferous_to_broadleaved forest conversion reshapes soil carbon cycling in coastal sandy ecosystems, yet its regulation on component soil respiration and thermal sensitivity remains poorly quantified. To explore the regulatory effects and underlying mechanisms of such vegetation shift on soil carbon cycling in subtropical coastal sandy lands, we carried out this comparative field study. METHODS: We investigated the conversion from (coniferous forest) to × (broadleaved forest) using a paired adjacent plot design and two_year continuous observations. Key indicators including soil respiration components, litter properties, fine root biomass, microbial activity and soil microclimate were monitored. RESULTS: Results showed that the conversion significantly increased total soil respiration (by 25.52%), root respiration (by 62.74%), and heterotrophic respiration (by 9.01%). This promotion was driven by the coupled effects of improved litter quality (low C/N ratio and lignin content), a sharp increase in fine root biomass (by 272.5%), and enhanced microbial activity. It also notably reduced the temperature sensitivity ( from 2.29 to 1.55) of soil respiration, with root respiration becoming nearly temperature_insensitive ( =1.25). Additionally, the explanatory power of soil temperature for respiration decreased significantly (from 76% to 37.7%), while the regulatory role of litter quality, fine root biomass, and soil microbial activity became prominent, and soil moisture did not act as a limiting factor for soil respiration throughout the study period. DISCUSSION: This conversion achieves a virtuous cycle of "high carbon turnover and high carbon sequestration", clarifying the above_belowground coupling mechanism of soil carbon dynamics. Our findings thereby provide important scientific support for the optimization of coastal protection forests and the enhancement of carbon sequestration capacity in fragile coastal ecosystems.
QTL analysis of 'Jackii'-derived offspring reveals a polygenic inheritance pattern of apple blotch resistance.
Pfeifer M, Peil A, Flachowsky H … +2 more , Emeriewen OF, Wöhner TW
Front Plant Sci · 2026 · PMID 42318131 · Full text
Apple blotch, caused by , is an increasingly important fungal disease that leads to premature leaf fall and significant yield losses in apple orchards. Breeding resistant cultivars offers a sustainable strategy to reduce...
Apple blotch, caused by , is an increasingly important fungal disease that leads to premature leaf fall and significant yield losses in apple orchards. Breeding resistant cultivars offers a sustainable strategy to reduce disease impact, as all commercial apple cultivars are susceptible to this pathogen. This study aimed to investigate the inheritance of apple blotch resistance derived from 'Jackii' through artificial inoculations conducted between 2023 and 2025 in Dresden-Pillnitz, followed by QTL analysis, which has not previously been reported for this disease. Simple interval mapping was performed using phenotypic and genotypic data from 122 individuals of an F population ('Idared' × 'Jackii'), together with analyses of 'Jackii'-derived open-pollinated populations. Our results indicate that resistance to apple blotch is a complex, polygenic trait, with four important QTLs identified on linkage groups 1, 2, 12 and 13. These four QTLs showed LOD scores between 4.86 and 8.37 and explained between 17.3 and 32.4% of the phenotypic variance. However, disease severity was strongly affected by inoculum, phenotyping method and environmental factors. These findings have direct implications for apple breeding programmes aimed at developing apple blotch-resistant cultivars, and should be validated under field conditions.
Characterization of resistance to bacterial panicle blight in rice revealed by transcriptome and QTL mapping analyses.
Ontoy J, Bruno J, Shrestha B … +1 more , Ham JH
Front Plant Sci · 2026 · PMID 42318130 · Full text
INTRODUCTION: Bacterial panicle blight (BPB) is a chronic disease of rice caused by the bacterial pathogen . While rice varieties grown in the United States are mostly susceptible to BPB, a medium-grain variety Jupiter s...
INTRODUCTION: Bacterial panicle blight (BPB) is a chronic disease of rice caused by the bacterial pathogen . While rice varieties grown in the United States are mostly susceptible to BPB, a medium-grain variety Jupiter shows a moderate resistance phenotype. However, its underlying defense mechanisms and genetic traits are not known well. METHODS: This study combined transcriptomic and genetic analyses to characterize the moderate BPB resistance of Jupiter. Comparative RNA-seq analysis of Jupiter and Bengal (a BPB susceptible medium-grain variety) was performed using panicle samples collected 24 hours post pathogen-inoculation at the flowering stage. We also conducted quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping of the BPB resistance, using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population from Jupiter and Bengal. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The results indicated that enhanced expression of genes involved in defense and stress response was associated with the partial resistance to BPB. Among the six QTLs identified for BPB resistance, on Chromosome 3 was consistently detected across multi-year trials. Notably, this QTL was also located close to a major locus previously reported in studies using different mapping populations. The genes within these QTL regions included putative stress-related genes potentially linked to a network of pathogenesis-related and abiotic stress responsive regulators that were differentially expressed between the parents. Nevertheless, none of the candidate genes present in these genomic regions were identified as DEGs from the transcriptome analysis, suggesting their involvement in BPB resistance through unknown mechanisms beyond direct transcription in response to pathogen infection. This study provides valuable insights into environmentally responsive regulators and their complex interactions underlying resistance to BPB, highlighting the broad physiological impact of the pathogen infection on the host.
Integrated molecular and phenotypic analysis of onion ( L.) germplasm reveals limited correspondence between genetic structure and phenotypic traits.
Sinkovič L, Tavakoli Hasanaklou H, Karče Poljanšek N … +2 more , Šuštar Vozlič J, Pipan B
Front Plant Sci · 2026 · PMID 42318129 · Full text
The relationship between genetic structure and phenotypic variation in onion ( L.) germplasm remains poorly understood, especially in heterogeneous open-pollinated material. In this study, we examined this relationship i...
The relationship between genetic structure and phenotypic variation in onion ( L.) germplasm remains poorly understood, especially in heterogeneous open-pollinated material. In this study, we examined this relationship in onion accessions from the Slovenian Plant Gene Bank (SRGB). We combined cytoplasmic markers, nuclear SSR and ILP markers, and phenotypic descriptors to evaluate the SRGB onion collection. A total of 243 genotypes were analyzed, including 240 individuals from 60 accessions and three reference cultivars. Cytoplasmic markers revealed limited polymorphism. Their profiles showed no clear correspondence with nuclear genetic clusters. In contrast, nuclear markers showed high diversity and significant population structure. Most nuclear variation occurred within accessions. Bayesian clustering and multivariate analyses consistently identified three nuclear genetic clusters. Phenotypic differences among these clusters were significant (PERMANOVA, R² = 0.274, p = 0.001), particularly for bulb size and morphology traits. However, genetic ancestry explained only a limited proportion of trait variation, with the strongest association observed for bulb diameter (R² = 0.207). Consistent with these results, Selection Index values varied widely among accessions, and high-ranking accessions were found across all genetic clusters. Together, these findings indicate that nuclear genetic structure reflects broad phenotypic tendencies, but it does not fully predict multi-trait breeding-oriented performance. The SRGB onion collection is therefore a structured germplasm resource with useful variation for future onion breeding. These results show that accession-level evaluation is needed when selecting gene bank material for onion breeding and hybrid development.
Improving soil water-salt conditions and cotton yield through optimized C/N fertilizer ratios and irrigation in arid regions.
Liu K, Wang S, Zhang H … +5 more , Chen B, Wang B, Cheng S, Tang Q, Wu F
Front Plant Sci · 2026 · PMID 42318128 · Full text
INTRODUCTION: Plastic mulch is widely used in agriculture as it increases soil temperature and reduces water evaporation, thereby enhancing water use efficiency and crop yields. However, prolonged use of plastic mulch le...
INTRODUCTION: Plastic mulch is widely used in agriculture as it increases soil temperature and reduces water evaporation, thereby enhancing water use efficiency and crop yields. However, prolonged use of plastic mulch leaves residues that negatively impact soil structure, impede water and salt movement, and reduce cotton yields. While the impact of mulch contamination on water-salt distribution is recognized, the specific mechanism by which increasing the C/N ratio improves this distribution remains unclear. We hypothesize that by raising the C/N ratio, it is possible to enhance the water-salt environment, thus stabilizing lint cotton yields. METHODS: A two-year field experiment (2024-2025) was conducted in Xinjiang, China. Three irrigation levels were established based on crop evapotranspiration (ETc): 0.6 ETc (I1, severe deficit), 0.8 ETc (I2, mild deficit), and 1.0 ETc (I3, full). Four C/N ratio treatments were applied: 0:1 (F0), 3:1 (F1), 6:1 (F2), and 9:1 (F3). RESULTS: Across irrigation levels, increasing the C/N ratio of the fertilizer significantly enhanced soil water-holding capacity, reduced salt accumulation, and improved water and salt uniformity. Yield under C/N 6:1 (F2) was 7.9% higher on average than other treatments. Under different C/N ratios, mild deficit irrigation (I2) maintained higher soil moisture uniformity and desalination rate(Rs); soil salinity was 5.4% lower than under I1 but 9.5% higher than under I3; seed cotton yield was 17.0% and 0.8% higher than I1 and I3, respectively. Compared with I3F0, I2F2 increased soil moisture by 4.2%, moisture uniformity by 4.1%, reduced salinity by 1.1%, and raised yield by 9.1%. Correlation analysis showed desalination rate, moisture content, and its uniformity coefficient were significantly positively correlated with lint yield, while soil salinity was significantly negatively correlated. DISCUSSION: A C/N ratio of 6:1 effectively improves the water-salt balance in plastic mulch-contaminated cotton fields by optimizing soil water and salt distribution, thereby increasing yield. This provides mechanistic insight and practical strategies for water-saving and salt-suppression management in arid regions.
Effects of deep slow-release fertilizer on melon yield, economic benefits and rhizosphere microorganisms.
Yan M, Liang Q, Yang J … +4 more , Mao J, Wang Q, Xiong T, Hu G
Front Plant Sci · 2026 · PMID 42318127 · Full text
Simplified fertilization is a core technology for achieving efficient melon cultivation. However, the optimal application depth of slow-release fertilizers in the major melon-producing regions of Xinjiang remains poorly...
Simplified fertilization is a core technology for achieving efficient melon cultivation. However, the optimal application depth of slow-release fertilizers in the major melon-producing regions of Xinjiang remains poorly defined. In this study, field experiments were conducted to evaluate three application depths of slow-release fertilizer: 15 cm (SF15), 25 cm (SF25), and 35 cm (SF35). Conventional fertilization (CF; 20-25 cm) and a no-fertilizer treatment (F0) were included as controls to systematically investigate the effects of application depth on nutrient accumulation, yield, economic benefits and rhizosphere microbial communities of melon. The results showed that CF treatment primarily increased soil potassium content during the middle and late growth stages and promoted potassium accumulation in fruits, while enriching beneficial microbial taxa associated with carbon cycling and plant stress resistance. In contrast, the SF35 treatment significantly increased soil nitrogen and phosphorus contents and their accumulation in fruits during the same growth stages. This treatment also enriched nitrogen-cycling bacteria and phosphorus solubilizing fungus. In addition, SF35 consistently increased the ACE index of rhizosphere bacterial communities throughout the growth period and adjusted soil pH to a range more suitable for melon growth (6.07-6.62). Importantly, melon yield under SF35 were maintained at levels comparable to those under CF, while reducing labor costs and improving economic benefits. In conclusion, 35 cm is recommended as the optimal application depth of slow-release fertilizer for melon in Xinjiang. This practice enhances key functional microbial groups and soil physicochemical properties, while achieving yield and quality comparable to those of CF in a single application. The findings of this study can provide scientific support for the standardized application of simplified fertilization technology in Xinjiang melon production.
From QTL mapping to genome editing: advances and integrated strategies for improving aluminum tolerance in crops.
Liu Y, Chen C, Zhu H … +1 more , Yang J
Front Plant Sci · 2026 · PMID 42318126 · Full text
Aluminum (Al) toxicity in acidic soils remains one of the most serious constraints on global crop production, limiting productivity across nearly one-third of the world's potentially arable land. As pressure grows to cul...
Aluminum (Al) toxicity in acidic soils remains one of the most serious constraints on global crop production, limiting productivity across nearly one-third of the world's potentially arable land. As pressure grows to cultivate marginal lands under climate change and food security challenges, improving Al tolerance has become an urgent priority in crop science and sustainable agriculture. This review provides a timely synthesis of recent advances in the genetic and molecular dissection of Al tolerance, highlighting the progression from classical biparental QTL mapping to genome-wide association studies and, more recently, CRISPR/Cas-based precision editing. Major breakthroughs, including the identification of key ALMT and MATE transporters, the expansion of STOP1-centered regulatory networks, and the discovery of the first Al receptor, have greatly deepened our understanding of plant adaptation to acid soils. We further examine how high-throughput phenotyping, marker-assisted selection, genomic selection, and gene pyramiding are accelerating the translation of genetic discoveries into breeding practice. Importantly, emerging genome-editing strategies now enable targeted and potentially transgene-free improvement of endogenous tolerance genes. By integrating molecular breeding with agronomic approaches such as liming and nutrient management, this review outlines a forward-looking framework for developing resilient crop varieties and achieving more sustainable productivity on acidic soils worldwide.
reduces growth in maize plantlets without affecting root resistance to water flow.
Molinero-Ruiz L, García-Carneros AB, Testi L
Front Plant Sci · 2026 · PMID 42318125 · Full text
Late wilt is a disease caused by the soil-borne fungus that severely limits the production of maize in countries with warm to hot climates. A particular characteristic of this disease is that, although the pathogen pene...
Late wilt is a disease caused by the soil-borne fungus that severely limits the production of maize in countries with warm to hot climates. A particular characteristic of this disease is that, although the pathogen penetrates the roots in the first weeks after sowing, the symptoms appear suddenly around flowering. Additionally, even with air temperatures and relative humidity that are optimal for disease development during the crop cycle, adequate soil water content results in undetected disease. Overall, physiological alterations caused by in maize are poorly understood. The objectives of this work were to analyse how maize roots and their hydraulic resistance are affected by , and describe alterations in maize organs development at early growth stages. An experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions for 6-8 weeks in 2018, 2020, and 2022. When dry weights of roots and aboveground parts were recorded, the fungus caused similarly stunted growth of both types of organ. Second, the fungus reduced the growth of any root diameter in an equal measure. With regard to root resistance measurements, unaltered - or in some instances increased - water flow was recorded in infected roots. This suggests that decreased radial resistance upon infection could mask high xylem resistance associated with vascular infection, thus resulting in a decreased resistance of the roots. A latent lifestyle of would explain its internal growth in maize without apparently affecting water transport from the roots to the vascular system for some time (latent period), with the wilt appearing suddenly and at around plant flowering time (pathogen period).
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