Journal Of Plant Physiology[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
GhmiR172 regulates petal expansion and anthocyanin biosynthesis by targeting GhARF8 and GhAP2 in Gerbera hybrida.
Shi S, Li M, Ran Y … +1 more , Wang Y
J Plant Physiol · 2026 May · PMID 41903389 · Publisher ↗
MicroRNA172 (miR172) regulates vegetative phase transition, floral organ formation and many other plant developmental processes. However, its role in regulating petal expansion and anthocyanin biosynthesis in Gerbera hyb...
MicroRNA172 (miR172) regulates vegetative phase transition, floral organ formation and many other plant developmental processes. However, its role in regulating petal expansion and anthocyanin biosynthesis in Gerbera hybrida remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that GhmiR172 promotes petal cell elongation while inhibits anthocyanin accumulation. To identify its potential regulatory targets, we screened the small RNA sequencing and gerbera transcriptome data using psRNATarget, and identified four putative target genes. Among these, GhARF8 and GhAP2 were confirmed as direct targets of GhmiR172 through relative experiments. Further functional verification showed that GhARF8 plays an inhibitory role in regulating petal length, which modulates petal expansion by binding to the GhPRGL promoter. And, GhAP2 promotes anthocyanin accumulation and regulates PAL, F3'H and GT4. Taken together, two regulatory modules led by GhmiR172 were established: the GhmiR172-GhARF8-GhPRGL module and GhmiR172-GhAP2 module, which regulate petal expansion and coloration of ray flower ligule by targeting distinct genes. This study clarifies the molecular mechanism of GhmiR172 targeting GhARF8 and GhAP2 for regulating gerbera petal growth and development.
QTL mapping of maize ear traits and functional analysis of associated genes.
Dong Y, Wu J, Wang Z … +5 more , Wang Y, Jiao P, Liu S, Ma Y, Guan S
J Plant Physiol · 2026 May · PMID 41895160 · Publisher ↗
Maize yield per unit area is determined by the number of plants per unit area and the yield per plant. Yield per plant is largely dependent on the yield per ear, which is determined by kernel traits. In this research, a...
Maize yield per unit area is determined by the number of plants per unit area and the yield per plant. Yield per plant is largely dependent on the yield per ear, which is determined by kernel traits. In this research, a high-density genetic map was constructed from a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population comprising 209 lines. QTL mapping was performed for ten ear-related traits: ear length, rows per ear, ear circumference, cob circumference, ear diameter, cob diameter, kernel length, kernel width, kernel thickness, and hundred-kernel weight. A total of 22 QTLs were identified. The QTL locus qKW-1-1, associated with kernel width (KW), was co-localized across two growing seasons and selected as the target locus. Combined with SNP-based screening, 11 target genes with moderate to high effects were identified. Functional validation focused on ZmSMR9 (Zm00001d031546), a gene associated with cell development. Results showed that ZmSMR9 suppressed vegetative growth and promoted reproductive growth in Arabidopsis. It reduced amino acid and starch accumulation, which increased individual seed volume without affecting total yield. In summary, ZmSMR9 may induce premature maturation in Arabidopsis by inhibiting growth, ultimately increasing seed volume through reduced seed set.
Stationary phloem proteins and their effects on viruses, aphids, and cyst nematodes in Arabidopsis.
Damen J, Willig JJ, Chikwature N … +7 more , de Haan J, Kenter JN, Dicke M, van Oers MM, Smant G, Matsumura EE, Kloth KJ
J Plant Physiol · 2026 May · PMID 41895159 · Publisher ↗
The phloem is a specialized tissue that facilitates systemic transport of carbohydrates and signal molecules, making it a common target for viruses, phloem-feeding insects, and cyst nematodes. In Arabidopsis, the station...
The phloem is a specialized tissue that facilitates systemic transport of carbohydrates and signal molecules, making it a common target for viruses, phloem-feeding insects, and cyst nematodes. In Arabidopsis, the stationary phloem-associated SIEVE ELEMENT-LINING CHAPERONE1 (SLI1) and RESTRICTED TEV MOVEMENT (RTM) proteins restrict insect phloem-feeding and potyviruses systemic transport, respectively. However, their broader roles in plant-attacker interactions remain largely unexplored. We investigated the roles of SLI1, RTM1, RTM2, and RTM3 in tobacco etch virus (TEV) infection, as well as in Myzus persicae and Heterodera schachtii infestations using Arabidopsis mutants. Systemic TEV movement was quantified, aphid behaviour and reproduction were assessed, and cyst nematode infection was monitored. SLI1 did not restrict TEV systemic movement, RTM3 reduced M. persicae reproduction without altering feeding behaviour, SLI1, RTM2, and RTM3 supported H. schachtii infection and feeding site expansion, and confocal images indicated a possible role of the proteins in the interaction between sieve tubes and syncytia. These findings suggest that stationary phloem proteins exert dual and target-specific effects, limiting some attackers while inadvertently facilitating others. This highlights the complexity of phloem-based immunity and underscores the need to unravel its underlying mechanisms to develop strategies to reduce multiple pest and pathogen burdens simultaneously.
The TCP transcription factor RmTCP5 shapes leaf development by modulating auxin and cytokinin homeostasis in Rosa multiflora.
Zhu W, Bao Y, Cao H … +4 more , Li Y, Bao M, Peng T, Zhang W
J Plant Physiol · 2026 May · PMID 41895158 · Publisher ↗
Leaf morphology is a critical trait for plant development and environmental adaptation, governed by an interplay of genetic and environmental factors. Members of the TCP transcription factor family are key regulators of...
Leaf morphology is a critical trait for plant development and environmental adaptation, governed by an interplay of genetic and environmental factors. Members of the TCP transcription factor family are key regulators of plant growth, with specific roles in controlling leaf shape. While functions of TCP genes have been well characterized in model species, their regulatory mechanisms within the genus Rosa remain largely undefined. This study elucidated the role of a CIN-clade TCP gene, RmTCP5, in R. multiflora. Functional analyses were conducted using heterologous systems (Arabidopsis and tomato) and a homologous system (rose). The results showed that RmTCP5 overexpression led to significant alterations in leaf shape, including reduced leaf area, increased leaf length/width ratio, and decreased leaf serrations. Transcriptome profiling of transgenic Arabidopsis and rose leaves revealed significant changes in the expression of genes associated with auxin and cytokinin signaling pathways. Furthermore, yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) and dual-luciferase reporter (DLR) assays established that RmTCP5 could bind to and suppress the expression of RhYUC5 and RhCKX5 genes. These findings identify RmTCP5 as a key regulator of leaf morphology in R. multiflora, providing new insights into the evolutionary conservation and specific function of TCP genes.
Brassica metabolite priming boosts growth and ion-water homeostasis under salt stress in broccoli.
Albaladejo-Marico L, Belchi-Navarro JJ, Carvajal M … +1 more , Yepes-Molina L
J Plant Physiol · 2026 Apr · PMID 41855887 · Publisher ↗
Salt stress represents one of the most important abiotic stresses affecting crop yields globally. It interferes with plant development, productivity, and metabolic balance by causing both osmotic stress and ion toxicity....
Salt stress represents one of the most important abiotic stresses affecting crop yields globally. It interferes with plant development, productivity, and metabolic balance by causing both osmotic stress and ion toxicity. Recently, seed priming has gained recognition as a promising approach to improve plant tolerance to abiotic stress. This technique involves preconditioning seeds with natural or synthetic agents, triggering molecular and physiological modifications that generate a form of stress memory. In this research, we investigated the effects of seed priming with a glucosinolate-rich broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) extract on broccoli plants grown under control and salt stress conditions (80 mM NaCl). For this purpose, a combination of physiological (growth, photosynthetic activity, water status), biochemical (ionomic and metabolite profiling), and transcriptomic (RNA-seq) analyses was performed on adult plants to uncover the mechanisms underlying the response to treatment. Our results demonstrate a dual effect: the extract acted as a biostimulant under non-saline conditions, while functioning as a priming agent under salinity. Broccoli extract increases biomass and enhances plant performance and water transport capacity under both conditions. Photosynthetic efficiency improved under non-saline conditions, as evidenced by increased transpiration, stomatal conductance, and internal CO concentration. At the transcriptomic level, primed plants exhibited repression of stress-related genes and upregulation of pathways related to growth and hormone signalling. Under salinity, root tissues displayed dynamic transcriptional reprogramming involving hormonal crosstalk (ABA), aquaporin modulation (PIP2;1, PIP2;2, TIP2;1), activation of ion transporters (NCL, CCX2, SOS2), and regulated secondary metabolism, including glucosinolate transport. These results suggest that seed priming with broccoli extract promotes a more efficient and balanced stress response, supporting both resilience and sustained development.
The plastic stomatal development in grasses and its implications in crop improvement.
Luo T, Hou S
J Plant Physiol · 2026 Apr · PMID 41849825 · Publisher ↗
Cereal crops, predominantly belonging to the grass family (Poaceae), are the cornerstone of global agriculture; thus, improving their environmental adaptability has emerged as a pivotal research focus. Stomata, which act...
Cereal crops, predominantly belonging to the grass family (Poaceae), are the cornerstone of global agriculture; thus, improving their environmental adaptability has emerged as a pivotal research focus. Stomata, which act as essential conduits mediating gas exchange and water loss in plants, are key targets for genetic modification to enhance crop drought tolerance and water use efficiency (WUE). Unlike the two-celled stomatal complexes of Arabidopsis thaliana, grasses possess four-celled stomata (two dumbbell-shaped guard cells flanked by two subsidiary cells, SCs) with distinct developmental mechanisms, which makes them critical for grasses to adapt to adverse environments. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding such species-specific developmental mechanisms in grasses, with three core emphases: Firstly, grasses possess four-celled stomatal complexes with distinct vein-proximal patterning, and plasticity of stomatal density in response to environmental stimuli (e.g., CO, drought stress, temperature, and light) among species; Secondly, functional characterization of key regulators (e.g., BASIC HELIX-LOOP-HELIX (bHLH) transcription factors) governing distinct stomatal developmental stages (e.g., initiation, division, differentiation), and their potential for genetic manipulation to optimize stomatal traits for improved WUE and drought resistance; Lastly, the integration of multi-omics approaches, including single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq), spatial transcriptomics (ST), pan-genomics, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven data mining for accelerating the identification of novel regulators and genotype-phenotype associations in more grass crops. This review provides a comprehensive framework for understanding grass-specific stomatal development and offers actionable targets for precision breeding of drought-resilient cereal crops.
Genome-wide identification of the cation proton antiporter (CPA) gene family in Setaria italica and potential function analysis of SiNHX3 gene.
Zheng S, Tie H, Wang Q … +5 more , Chai S, Wang M, Wang S, Zhang TG, Wu G
J Plant Physiol · 2026 Apr · PMID 41849824 · Publisher ↗
The Cation/Proton Antiporter (CPA) superfamily plays a central role in Na and K transport. Foxtail millet (Setaria italica), a cereal crop known for its drought and salt tolerance, lacks systematic characterization of it...
The Cation/Proton Antiporter (CPA) superfamily plays a central role in Na and K transport. Foxtail millet (Setaria italica), a cereal crop known for its drought and salt tolerance, lacks systematic characterization of its CPA gene family. In this study, we identified 29 SiCPA genes from the foxtail millet genome and classified them into three subfamilies: KEA (4 members), NHX (7 members), and CHX (18 members). Phylogenetic analysis, protein structure, chromosomal distribution, and expression patterns were systematically examined. Motif and promoter cis-element analyses indicated high sequence conservation within each subfamily and suggested potential involvement in stress and hormone responses. Expression profiling revealed that SiCPA genes were significantly induced under low K and high salt stresses. SiNHX3 was selected for subsequent investigation. Subcellular localization investigation confirmed that SiNHX3 is predominantly found in the plasma membrane. Heterologous expression of SiNHX3 in yeast enhanced tolerance to NaCl and low-K conditions, demonstrating its function as a pH-regulated Na/H antiporter. Overexpression of SiNHX3 in Arabidopsis improved saline and alkaline tolerance through regulating ion homeostasis. This study provides the first genome-wide overview of the CPA family in foxtail millet (Setaria italica L. Beauv), establishing a foundation for elucidating its roles in stress adaptation and offering potential genetic resources for improving potassium-use efficiency and salt tolerance in crops.
Pan-genomic analysis of Allorhizobium vitis uncovers diversification and biocontrol potential traits against crown gall disease.
Adjei MO, Jiang L, Dilshad A … +1 more , Fan B
J Plant Physiol · 2026 Apr · PMID 41825396 · Publisher ↗
Allorhizobium vitis (A. vitis), the causal agent of grapevine crown gall, also includes nonpathogenic strains with promising biocontrol ability. To elucidate the genomic features underlying this potential, we conducted a...
Allorhizobium vitis (A. vitis), the causal agent of grapevine crown gall, also includes nonpathogenic strains with promising biocontrol ability. To elucidate the genomic features underlying this potential, we conducted a comprehensive comparative and pan-genomic analysis of 28 A. vitis strains. Genome size ranged from 5.33 to 6.41 Mb with consistent GC content (57.5-57.6%). The pan-genome expanded to 6386 clusters whereas the core genome analysis comprised 3075 clusters, indicating the substantial genomic plasticity. Phylogenomic analysis revealed three major clades and strains SF93 and ICMP10754 deeply divergent lineages, supported by ANI values below the 93.1% species boundary. Biosynthetic gene cluster analysis identified diverse antimicrobial pathways, including polyketides, nonribosomal peptides, and siderophores, highlighting pathogen-suppressive capacity and efficient iron sequestration that may restrict nutrient availability to competing phytopathogens. Quorum-quenching lactonases further suggest the ability to disrupt pathogen communication and attenuate virulence. Conserved gene clusters associated with motility, biofilm formation, and plant interaction (fliC, ompA, rcsC) indicate strong rhizosphere colonization potential, contributing to root attachment, colonization efficiency, and host-microbe communication. Secondary metabolite profiling identified multiple clusters per strain, predominantly NI-siderophores and type III polyketide synthases (T3PKS), indicating a robust capacity for bioactive metabolite production, particularly in strains CG967 and ICMP10754. All strains carried the efflux-associated adeF gene, suggesting intrinsic resistance to tetracycline and fluoroquinolones. These results demonstrate the genomic diversity and biocontrol potential of nonpathogenic A. vitis for sustainable and management of crown gall disease.
The crucial roles of MAPK pathways in sophisticated salt stress responses in plants.
Shi W, Qin Q, Hou S
J Plant Physiol · 2026 Apr · PMID 41818836 · Publisher ↗
As sessile organisms, plants have evolved diverse and sophisticated mechanisms to rapidly sense and adapt to environmental stresses. The initial stress perception involves the activation of membrane-localized receptor ki...
As sessile organisms, plants have evolved diverse and sophisticated mechanisms to rapidly sense and adapt to environmental stresses. The initial stress perception involves the activation of membrane-localized receptor kinases and the rapid opening of calcium channels, which constitutes the earliest response phase of stress signaling. Subsequently, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades act as central signaling modules that transduce stress signals, decoding the initial perception into specific cellular responses (e.g., transcriptional activation). Specifically, under salt stress, MAPK activities are precisely regulated by upstream kinases (e.g., MAPKKs) and phosphatases (e.g., PP2C family proteins). Accordingly, these cascades orchestrate critical downstream processes, including hormone signaling crosstalk, ion, and redox homeostasis maintenance, thereby fine-tuning the trade-off between plant growth and stress resistance. In this review, we summarized the functions and molecular mechanisms of MAPKs in coordinating plant growth with stress adaptation capacity. Furthermore, we discussed their potential applications in molecular breeding for improving crop salt tolerance.
The power of recall: Physiological and epigenetic memory networks in plants.
Elkelish A, Alqudah AM, Alhudhaibi AM … +3 more , Fouda A, Börner A, Thabet SG
J Plant Physiol · 2026 Apr · PMID 41812537 · Publisher ↗
The escalating frequency and severity of environmental stressors pose a critical challenge to global crop production. Among the various mechanisms by which plants cope with these conditions, stress memory often referred...
The escalating frequency and severity of environmental stressors pose a critical challenge to global crop production. Among the various mechanisms by which plants cope with these conditions, stress memory often referred to as "priming" has emerged as a powerful phenomenon. It enables plants to retain molecular, physiological, and epigenetic information from prior suboptimal conditions, thereby mounting faster and more robust defenses upon re-exposure to similar stresses. This review explores the underpinnings of abiotic stress memory in crop plants, focusing on key signaling pathways, genomic and epigenomic modifications, and the regulatory networks they influence. We further highlight practical avenues for leveraging this knowledge in crop breeding and management, particularly in light of climate change. By developing varieties capable of "remembering" and thus better resisting repeated or simultaneous stress events, agricultural systems can become more resilient while relying less on resource-intensive interventions. Ultimately, integrating stress memory into breeding frameworks offers an innovative approach to enhance crop adaptability and ensure a more secure global food supply.
Physiological and nutritional mechanisms underlying chloride-induced drought resistance in tomato.
Lucas M, Moreno-Racero FJ, Delgado-Vaquero A … +3 more , Diaz-Espejo A, Colmenero-Flores JM, Rosales MA
J Plant Physiol · 2026 Apr · PMID 41806679 · Publisher ↗
Chloride (Cl), long regarded as a micronutrient or salinity-associated ion, is now recognized as a beneficial macronutrient in higher plants. This study evaluated whether Cl supplied at macronutrient concentrations enhan...
Chloride (Cl), long regarded as a micronutrient or salinity-associated ion, is now recognized as a beneficial macronutrient in higher plants. This study evaluated whether Cl supplied at macronutrient concentrations enhances drought resistance in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) through improved physiological performance and nutrient efficiency. Tomato plants were grown under greenhouse conditions under well-watered (CTR) or water-deficit (WD) regimes, receiving either micronutrient (SP) or macronutrient (CL) Cl supply. At macronutrient levels, Cl alleviated drought-induced growth inhibition, maintaining both vegetative and reproductive biomass and promoting adaptive root growth. CL-treated plants exhibited enhanced leaf water status, reduced stomatal conductance (g) without compromising net photosynthesis rate (A), and increased intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEᵢ) during WD. Cl also preserved PSII efficiency, maintained chlorophyll levels, reduced lipid peroxidation (MDA), and enhanced total antioxidant capacity. Nutritionally, Cl improved nitrogen and cation (K, Ca, and Mg) utilization efficiencies under drought conditions. Principal component analysis integrating physiological and nutritional traits under WD revealed that CL plants maintained a coordinated and functionally integrated response associated with improved water status, photosynthetic efficiency, and nutrient use. Overall, these findings indicate that Cl acts as a true macronutrient enhancing drought resilience in tomato through coordinated effects on osmotic adjustment, nutrient optimization, and oxidative stress mitigation. Incorporating Cl into fertilization programs may therefore represent a cost-effective and sustainable strategy to improve crop WUE and productivity under water-limited conditions.
PdabZIP69 enhances drought tolerance by regulating antioxidant enzyme activity and PdbbHLH1 expression in "Shanxin" poplar.
Li X, Zhou M, Zhang Y … +3 more , Wang Y, Gao Y, Wang C
J Plant Physiol · 2026 Apr · PMID 41791216 · Publisher ↗
Plant basic Leucine Zipper (bZIP) proteins are crucial in growth, development, and responses to various abiotic stresses. Extensive research has demonstrated that bZIP transcription factors play a crucial role in mediati...
Plant basic Leucine Zipper (bZIP) proteins are crucial in growth, development, and responses to various abiotic stresses. Extensive research has demonstrated that bZIP transcription factors play a crucial role in mediating plant responses to drought stress. However, to systematically analyze the functions of its family genes, the specific functions of these factors in the drought response of poplar require further investigation. In this study a "Shanxin" poplar bZIP gene, PdabZIP69, was identified which is significantly upregulated under drought stress. Transgenic lines over-expressed PdabZIP69 (OE) were generated through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Drought stress assays revealed that PdabZIP69-OE plants exhibit enhanced drought tolerance and reduced leaf water loss compared to wild-type (WT). Physiological analyses revealed that the OE plants exhibited significantly reduced levels of hydrogen peroxide (HO) and malondialdehyde (MDA), elevated proline content, as well as enhanced activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) when compared to the WT. These results indicate that the augmented reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capacity in PdabZIP69-OE plants confers greater drought tolerance. Y1H, ChIP-PCR and Dual-luciferase assay revealed that PdabZIP69 can bind to the promoter of the PdbbHLH1 gene, a positive regulator of drought tolerance in "Shanxin" poplar, and activate its expression. Collectively, PdabZIP69 enhances drought tolerance in poplar by regulating the antioxidant system and the expression of the PdbbHLH1 gene, providing genetic resources for the systematic study of the regulation of drought resistance of bZIP family members.
Phytochrome-interacting factors (PIFs): Integrating phytohormone signals at the nexus of development and stress adaptation.
Yuan J, Wang R, Ju X … +1 more , Lin F
J Plant Physiol · 2026 Apr · PMID 41780456 · Publisher ↗
Phytochrome-interacting factors (PIFs) serve as central signaling hubs in plants, integrating diverse environmental cues with endogenous phytohormone networks. This review synthesizes the pivotal role of PIFs in orchestr...
Phytochrome-interacting factors (PIFs) serve as central signaling hubs in plants, integrating diverse environmental cues with endogenous phytohormone networks. This review synthesizes the pivotal role of PIFs in orchestrating crosstalk among multiple phytohormones, including auxin, brassinosteroids (BRs), gibberellin (GA), abscisic acid (ABA), ethylene, jasmonate (JA), and salicylic acid (SA). PIFs regulate plant growth and development through both direct protein interactions with core phytohormone pathway components and the transcriptional control of genes involved in phytohormone biosynthesis and response. These activities govern essential developmental transitions and adaptive responses, such as seed germination, skotomorphogenesis, photomorphogenesis, shade avoidance, thermomorphogenesis, circadian rhythm, and fruit maturation, as well as resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses. While the core PIF-phytohormone interaction modules are evolutionarily conserved, functional diversification across species reflects ecological adaptation. Deciphering PIF-mediated hormonal integration provides a molecular framework for crop breeding, enabling the coordinated improvement of plant architecture, stress tolerance, and yield potential to address key challenges in sustainable agriculture.
Integrating DNA barcoding and machine learning for species identification: Comparative genomics and codon usage bias of chloroplasts in Gentiana sect. Cruciata.
Zheng M, Gao M, Zhang Z … +1 more , Song X
J Plant Physiol · 2026 Apr · PMID 41775217 · Publisher ↗
This study integrates chloroplast genome comparison, codon usage analysis, machine learning, and DNA barcoding to elucidate the phylogeny, genetic diversity, and species identification of Gentiana Sect. Cruciata. Perform...
This study integrates chloroplast genome comparison, codon usage analysis, machine learning, and DNA barcoding to elucidate the phylogeny, genetic diversity, and species identification of Gentiana Sect. Cruciata. Perform chloroplast genome analysis using IRscope (boundary analysis), MISA (SSR detection), and mVISTA (variation alignment). Based on ChiPlot, CodonW, and CUSP analysis, factors influencing codon preference and usage patterns were studied. Molecular identification based on ITS2, matK, ITS, psbA-trnH barcode with BLOG, WEKA machine learning algorithms. Chloroplast SSRs dominated by A/T repeats; non-coding regions exhibited higher variability. Codon bias driven by natural selection, with A/U preference at the third position. ITS2 showed the highest discrimination power (matK > ITS > psbA-trnH). Machine learning (J48/SMO classifiers) achieved 83.33%-100% accuracy using four barcodes. This study provides theoretical foundations for conservation, medicinal quality control, and resource authentication of the Gentiana Sect. Cruciata.
Volatile compounds from Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus PAL5 regulate photosynthesis and protein networks to promote Arabidopsis thaliana growth.
Soares FS, Maia CY, de Castro Martins KM … +10 more , Moreira JR, Santos WDS, Guimarães EG, Bernado WP, de Souza GAR, Campostrini E, Magalhães HCR, Zocolo GJ, Silveira V, de Souza Filho GA
J Plant Physiol · 2026 Apr · PMID 41740236 · Publisher ↗
Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can enhance plant development without requiring physical contact. Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus PAL5 is a well-known endophytic PGP...
Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can enhance plant development without requiring physical contact. Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus PAL5 is a well-known endophytic PGPB, but its ability to emit plant growth-promoting VOCs has not yet been demonstrated. Here, we evaluated the composition and effects of VOCs emitted by G. diazotrophicus PAL5 on growth, photochemical efficiency, and proteomic profile of Arabidopsis thaliana. VOC exposure led to a significant increase in biomass accumulation, with fresh and dry weights increasing by 228.6% and 248.7%, respectively. Proteomic analyses indicated extensive molecular reprogramming, particularly in photosynthesis-related pathways. Chlorophyll fluorescence measurements confirmed enhanced photochemical efficiency, as indicated by increases in photochemical quenching (40.3%) and electron transport rates (54.3%), along with rises in chlorophyll a (30.8%), chlorophyll b (40.1%), and total chlorophyll content (29.1%). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified 18 VOCs, including carboxylic acids, sulfur compounds, alcohols, and terpenes, some of which have known phytostimulatory properties. Moreover, assays using A. thaliana mutant lines revealed that the ethylene signaling pathway (EIN2-5) is involved in the observed growth-promoting effects. Our findings demonstrate that G. diazotrophicus PAL5 promotes plant growth independently of endophytic colonization by modulating photochemical efficiency and proteomic networks through VOC emissions. This study provides new insights into bacterial-plant communication and highlights the potential of G. diazotrophicus VOCs as bio-stimulants for sustainable agriculture.
The transcription factor SlPLATZ22 negatively regulates salinity tolerance in tomato plants.
Li X, Ding F, Zhou N … +7 more , Chen Z, Huang J, Jiang F, Ottosen CO, Mittler R, Zhou R, Wu Z
J Plant Physiol · 2026 Apr · PMID 41722522 · Publisher ↗
The PLATZ (Plant AT-rich sequence and zinc-binding protein) family of transcription factors plays a critical role in plant growth, development, and stress responses. Previous work identified SlPLATZ22 as a salt-responsiv...
The PLATZ (Plant AT-rich sequence and zinc-binding protein) family of transcription factors plays a critical role in plant growth, development, and stress responses. Previous work identified SlPLATZ22 as a salt-responsive gene in tomato plants, but its precise function remained unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the biological function of SlPLATZ22 in regulating salt tolerance in tomato. Following 200 mM salt treatment, the expression of SlPLATZ22 was significantly upregulated in the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and red-ripe fruits of salt tolerant 'LA1598' and salt-sensitive 'Ke feng' genotypes. SlPLATZ22 was further found to localize in the nucleus. Interestingly, SlPLATZ22 knockout lines (SlPLATZ22#KO) were more tolerant to salt stress than wild type (WT) and SlPLATZ22 overexpression lines (SlPLATZ22#OE), suggesting that SlPLATZ22 functions as a negative regulator of the salt stress response. Compared with the SlPLATZ22#KO, hydrogen peroxide (HO) content and superoxide anion (O) production rates significantly increased in the WT and SlPLATZ22#OE with obvious leaf chlorosis and oxidative damage. In contrast, the antioxidant enzyme activities, as well as proline (Pro) and soluble protein (SP) contents, were significantly higher in the SlPLATZ22#KO. These enhanced plants' ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) to reduced oxidative damage, and thereby protected cell membranes and protein stability. In agreement, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and cell injury in the WT and SlPLATZ22#OE were significantly higher than SlPLATZ22#KO. Altogether, SlPLATZ22 negatively regulated salt tolerance in tomato plants. Our study helps to dissect the molecular regulation mechanism of SlPLATZ22 and provides important genetic resources for breeding salt-tolerant varieties.
Apocarotenoid profiling in saffron: Tissue-specific changes across growth phases.
Navarro-Simarro P, Giménez EM, Frusciante S … +7 more , López-Jiménez AJ, Arenzana-Rámila I, Picazo JA, Diretto G, Gómez-Gómez L, Ahrazem O, Rubio-Moraga Á
J Plant Physiol · 2026 Apr · PMID 41713073 · Publisher ↗
Apocarotenoids such as crocetin, crocins, and picrocrocin are key metabolites produced in saffron (Crocus sativus L.) stigmas, conferring its organoleptic properties and contributing to ecological interactions. While the...
Apocarotenoids such as crocetin, crocins, and picrocrocin are key metabolites produced in saffron (Crocus sativus L.) stigmas, conferring its organoleptic properties and contributing to ecological interactions. While their synthesis in stigmas during anthesis is well established, their redistribution and persistence across tissues during the saffron life cycle remain poorly understood. Here, we applied LC-HRMS-based metabolomic profiling to dissect the temporal and spatial dynamics of apocarotenoids in multiple tissues (stigma, ovary, peduncle, corm, mother corm, and two types of roots) across three key developmental stages: November (flowering and stigma senescence), March (corm enlargement with green leaves), and April (leaf senescence and corm feeding on maternal reserves). Overall, our analyses revealed pronounced tissue-specific specialization. More in detail, stigmas accumulated the highest diversity and relative abundance of trans-crocins during anthesis, ovaries became the predominant sink in spring, root tissues showed marked enrichment of crocins 6-8 and crocetin-lipid conjugates in April, coinciding with leaf senescence. PCA and heatmap analyses confirmed clear separation of stigma samples in November and ovary/root samples in spring, reflecting dynamic reprogramming of apocarotenoid metabolism. Furthermore, cis-crocin 3 appeared specifically in the new corm in glycosylated form, suggesting de novo stabilization during corm development. Correlation analyses further revealed four major metabolite clusters, separating crocin derivatives from diverse picrocrocin-related metabolites, and highlighting isomer-specific relationships between HTTC isomers and their glycosylated products. Together, these results demonstrate that apocarotenoids synthesized in stigmas are not degraded after flowering but redistributed and chemically modified to support vegetative development, storage, and possibly protective functions in underground tissues.
Recent advances in understanding the roles of PPR proteins in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses.
Lee K
J Plant Physiol · 2026 Apr · PMID 41707278 · Publisher ↗
Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins, one of the largest families of RNA-binding proteins in higher plants, play essential roles in the post-transcriptional regulation of RNA metabolism in organelles. PPR proteins are...
Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins, one of the largest families of RNA-binding proteins in higher plants, play essential roles in the post-transcriptional regulation of RNA metabolism in organelles. PPR proteins are predominantly localized in mitochondria and/or chloroplasts, and participate in various post-transcriptional processes, including RNA editing (C-to-U conversion), intron splicing, RNA stabilization, cleavage, and translation. Although the importance of PPR proteins in organellar biogenesis and plant development are well established, recent studies have revealed their critical roles in plant's response to biotic and abiotic stresses. In this review, recent advances in understanding how distinct subclasses of P- and PLS-class PPR proteins mediate organellar RNA metabolism and influence stress signaling networks in plant's response to biotic and abiotic stresses are summarized. In particular, this review focuses on their functional relevance in responses to drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, heavy metal stress response, as well as pathogen infection, with emphasis on mechanisms involving reactive oxygen species homeostasis and organelle-to-nucleus retrograde signaling. Furthermore, recent progress in the synthetic redesign of PPR motifs, which enables programmable RNA recognition, is discussed. These advances provide valuable insights into the regulatory roles of PPR proteins and highlight the potential applications of synthetic PPR systems as tools to improve plant performance and resilience to environmental stress in changing climate conditions.
Biochemical memory in plants: A missing component in climate resilience models.
Mishra G
J Plant Physiol · 2026 Mar · PMID 41689891 · Publisher ↗
Plants do not rapidly return to their pre-stress state; instead, they retain physiological and biochemical traces of past environmental conditions. Biochemical memory refers to the persistence of stress-induced metabolic...
Plants do not rapidly return to their pre-stress state; instead, they retain physiological and biochemical traces of past environmental conditions. Biochemical memory refers to the persistence of stress-induced metabolic and physiological states that influence how plants respond to subsequent environmental challenges. Shifts in osmolytes, redox balance, secondary metabolites, and hormonal sensitivity can persist beyond the stress event, shaping how plants respond to subsequent drought, heat, or nutrient fluctuations. Yet in most climate and vegetation models, stress is treated as a transient reduction in function, after which plants are assumed to recover to a fixed baseline. Because these models lack mechanisms to represent physiological legacies, they implicitly overlook the biochemical memory that influences growth, carbon-water exchange, and resilience. This disconnect limits our ability to predict how vegetation and ecosystems will behave under increasing climatic variability. In this Opinion, I outline how biochemical memory arises, how it influences plant behaviour across scales, and why incorporating this history into modelling frameworks is essential. Recognising that plants operate with a memory of past stress is crucial for producing realistic forecasts in a rapidly changing climate.
MdCNGC15B, a cyclic nucleotide-gated channel (CNGC) protein, positively regulates the tolerance to drought and salt stress in apple.
Guo XL, Li HL, Wu X … +4 more , Wang TT, Guo YY, An JP, You CX
J Plant Physiol · 2026 Mar · PMID 41687276 · Publisher ↗
Abiotic stresses constrain plant growth and yield worldwide, with drought and salinity among the most severe limitations. Here, we characterize an apple (Malus domestica) cyclic nucleotide-gated channel, MdCNGC15B, to de...
Abiotic stresses constrain plant growth and yield worldwide, with drought and salinity among the most severe limitations. Here, we characterize an apple (Malus domestica) cyclic nucleotide-gated channel, MdCNGC15B, to define its role in stress adaptation. Quantitative RT-PCR showed that MdCNGC15B transcripts were modulated by both drought and salt treatments. Functional assays demonstrated that MdCNGC15B overexpression in apple calli improved performance under water-deficit and salinity. In Arabidopsis, heterologous expression increased stress tolerance, with a concomitant reduction in reactive oxygen species accumulation. The comprehensive results indicate that MdCNGC15B acts as a positive regulatory factor for responses to drought and salt stress by eliminating the accumulation of ROS. This provides a new perspective for understanding the CNGC signaling mechanism in woody plants.
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