Journal Of Plant Physiology[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Long non-coding RNA profiling reveals lncRNA MslncLOX13S that promotes lipoxygenase gene expression and enhances the tolerance to selenium in Medicago sativa L.
Wang Q, Xu M, Xiang M … +3 more , Sheng Y, Hu H, Zhang T
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Dec · PMID 41106054 · Publisher ↗
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is one of the most widely cultivated forage crops globally. Selenium (Se) is considered beneficial for plants, showing a concentration-dependent dual effect that can promote and inhibit vario...
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is one of the most widely cultivated forage crops globally. Selenium (Se) is considered beneficial for plants, showing a concentration-dependent dual effect that can promote and inhibit various plant species, including alfalfa. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a class of non-protein-coding transcripts, are involved in multiple biological processes in plants. To explore the potential role of lncRNAs in Se accumulation and tolerance in alfalfa, physiological responses were measured, and lncRNA expression was examined in alfalfa leaves exposed to Se concentrations of 0 mg L, 100 mg L, and 500 mg L. Under selenium treatment, lipoxygenase (LOX) activity and antioxidant levels increased significantly. A total of 64,684 novel lncRNAs were identified, with 1414 and 1810 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs) found in the 100 mg L and 500 mg L Se-treated groups, respectively. Functional enrichment analysis suggested that LOX-targeted lncRNAs could play a pivotal role in Se accumulation and tolerance. Silencing of MslncLOX13S resulted in a yellowing of the leaf edges and lowered levels of LOX, jasmonic acid (JA), antioxidant capacity, and Se content. In comparison, transient overexpression of MslncLOX13S showed the opposite effects. These findings may contribute to the development of alfalfa cultivars enriched in Se, suitable for use as feed or raw material for organic Se extraction. Moreover, this study improves the understanding of lncRNA-mediated gene expression in alfalfa, highlighting MslncLOX13S as a Se-responsive lncRNA that enhances tolerance against Se, potentially offering a strategy for improving Se biofortification in forage crops.
PpbZIP23 from a native Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) regulates osmotic stress tolerance in transgenic rice.
Xiang L, Cheng J, Guo Z … +1 more , Lu S
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Dec · PMID 41106053 · Publisher ↗
A drought-induced bZIP transcription factor from a native Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), PpbZIP23, in regulating drought tolerance was investigated in the present study. PpbZIP23 is located in the nucleus and has...
A drought-induced bZIP transcription factor from a native Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), PpbZIP23, in regulating drought tolerance was investigated in the present study. PpbZIP23 is located in the nucleus and has transcriptional activation activity. PpbZIP23 expression was induced within 48 h after treatment with osmotic stress. Overexpression of PpbZIP23 led to delayed wilting and enhanced drought tolerance with higher levels of relative water content and lower levels of ion leakage after osmotic stress. Superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate-peroxidase activities and proline concentrations of proline increased after osmotic stress, with higher levels in the PpbZIP23-overexpressing lines than in the wild type plants. Transcriptomic analysis showed that overexpression of PpbZIP23 led to upregulation and downregulation of hundreds of genes under osmotic stress conditions. The differentially expressed genes were enriched in multiple KEGG pathways. PpbZIP23 regulated glycerophospholipid and ascorbic acid metabolism through upregulating Glycerol-3-Phosphate Acyltransferase 3, Choline Kinase Alpha 2, UDP-Glucose Dehydrogenase, and Ascorbate-Peroxidase 3 expressions. PpbZIP23 regulated zeatin metabolism through downregulating Isopentenyl Transferase 8, Cytokinin Oxidase/dehydrogenase 1 expressions and promoted triterpenes and phytosterols biosynthesis via upregulating Oxidosqualene Cyclase 7 expression. Lignin biosynthesis was also regulated by PpbZIP23 through upregulating Cinnamoyl-CoA Reductase 17 (CCR17), class III Peroxidases (PRX16) and PRX72 and downregulating p-Hydroxycinnamoyl Transferase 1, CCR13, PRX1, PRX62, and PRX95 expressions. The results suggest that PpbZIP23 regulates drought tolerance through activating antioxidant defense system and altering multiple metabolic pathways.
Cytokinin-induced phenotypic and endogenous phytohormonal dynamics during potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber development in vitro.
Cheng L, Yuan J, Xia L … +2 more , Tang Z, Zhang F
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Dec · PMID 41086566 · Publisher ↗
Cytokinins (CKs) exist in various forms within potato plants, among which the active CKs account for only a minute fraction but play crucial roles in tuber development. In the present study, in vitro potato stolons were...
Cytokinins (CKs) exist in various forms within potato plants, among which the active CKs account for only a minute fraction but play crucial roles in tuber development. In the present study, in vitro potato stolons were exposed to graded concentrations of active CK N-(Δ-isopentenyl)-adenine (2ip) and CK-biosynthesis inhibitor lovastatin, and the phenotypic and endogenous phytohormone dynamics during tuber development were investigated. The results showed that low 2ip concentrations promoted tuberization, with 0.1 μM 2ip exhibiting the strongest inductive effect. The initial time of tuberization was advanced, and the tuberization rate, tuber fresh weight, and tuber diameter significantly increased. With increasing 2ip concentrations, higher levels (>50 μM) inhibited tuberization and markedly elevated the length-to-width ratio of tubers. Inhibiting CK biosynthesis by lovastatin also inhibited tuberization, and even induced the formation of abnormal tubers. Treatment with 0.1 μM 2ip shifted the endogenous hormone balance toward a state that favors tuber formation and development. Levels of active CKs (iP, tZ, and DHZ), IAA, and SA significantly increased, whereas the contents of total jasmonates (JA, JA-Ile, and cis-OPDA), ABA, and inactive CKs (iPR and cZR) decreased. The ratios of active CKs to GA, ABA, or JA, as well as the IAA/ABA and IAA/GA ratios, significantly increased. Inhibition of CK biosynthesis elicited changes in CKs, JAs, and ABA levels, as well as in the associated phytohormone ratios, that were opposite to those observed with 0.1 μM 2ip treatment. Thus this study revealed the specific physiological roles of active CKs in tuber development and provided insights into the mechanisms of tuber development regulated by CKs.
Integrated transcriptome and metabolome analysis reveal a reprogramming of phenylpropanoid pathway and antioxidant activity in Cymbidium ensifolium resistance to anthracnose.
Li P, Lan L, Xiong L … +7 more , Tian Y, Wu G, Peng D, Lan S, Liu Z, Zhang Q, Ai Y
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Dec · PMID 41086565 · Publisher ↗
Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Cog), severely constrains the Cymbidium ensifolium industry. To investigate the molecular underpinnings of resistance and the host-pathogen interaction strategies be...
Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Cog), severely constrains the Cymbidium ensifolium industry. To investigate the molecular underpinnings of resistance and the host-pathogen interaction strategies between C. ensifolium and Cog, we employed transcriptomics and metabolomics to compare the post-infection responses of the Cog-resistant (RV) and Cog-susceptible (SV) C. ensifolium varieties. Our integrated analysis reveals that resistance to Cog in C. ensifolium is partially mediated by the targeted accumulation of phenylpropane pathway metabolites, especially those involved in flavone and flavonol biosynthesis. Metabolites including rutin, lonicerin, nicotiflorin, apiin, and coniferin exhibited highly significant accumulation in the RV. The massive accumulation of various flavonoids in the SV was consistent with the gene expression trends in the phenylpropanoid pathway, a pattern indicative of an antioxidant stress response driven by stress reprogramming. A similar phenomenon was also observed in the core reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging pathway, glutathione metabolism. This ultimately results in two distinct outcomes: a potent, antifungal defense reprogramming in the RV versus an antioxidant-focused stress reprogramming in the SV. The observed trade-offs between antifungal and antioxidant activities in these varieties provide novel insights into the multilevel regulatory networks governing plant-pathogen interactions. Our study illuminates this sophisticated defense strategy of C. ensifolium against Cog, identifying core metabolites and pathways that now serve as a guide for targeted resistance breeding programs.
Identification and functional characterization of lycopene β-cyclase gene from Iris germanica and its relation to carotenoid accumulation.
Zhao X, Yu F, Li X … +5 more , Wu Y, Gong T, Su B, Zhang X, Huang D
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Dec · PMID 41075367 · Publisher ↗
Accumulations of pigments plays a pivotal role in determining floral coloration, which constitutes one of the most critical ornamental characteristics in flowering plants. In Iris germanica, carotenoids underlie yellow,...
Accumulations of pigments plays a pivotal role in determining floral coloration, which constitutes one of the most critical ornamental characteristics in flowering plants. In Iris germanica, carotenoids underlie yellow, orange and pink flowers, yet comprehensive metabolomic profiling and associated gene regulatory networks in carotenoid biosynthetic pathway remain to be elucidated. In this study, the carotenoids and transcriptome profiles of yellow, orange and pink flower cultivars were analyzed. In pink flower 'Lenora Pearl' and orange flower 'Savannah Sunset', lycopene and (E/Z)-phytoene were the major pigments. In yellow flower 'Harvest of Memories' and 'Little Miss Magic', antheraxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin and violaxanthin were the major pigments. The expression profiles of structural genes in the carotenoid pathway were analyzed among different flower-colored cultivars. Among the structural genes, IgLCYB2s expression positively correlation with β, β-carotene (β-carotene and its derivatives) biosynthesis while negatively correlating with lycopene accumulation across cultivars, these pattern also consistent with flower color phenotype among cultivars. Thus, IgLCYB2s could be the critical genes determine composition and content of carotenoids among different cultivars. Quantitative real-time PCR results revealed that IgLCYB2s were tissue-specific in flowers. Enzyme activity assays in Escherichia coli indicated IgLCYB2s converted lycopene into β-carotene in vivo, which confirmed the function of IgLCYB2 as structural gene in regulation the composition of carotenoids. In future, IgLCYB2s can be used in genetic manipulations to facilitate genetically modified breeding of flower color in I. germanica or iris genus.
Grapevine adopts different strategies in response to drying regimes. Procrastinator or escaper?
Morabito C, Orozco J, Asteggiano A … +4 more , Medana C, Schubert A, Zwieniecki MA, Secchi F
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Nov · PMID 41066909 · Publisher ↗
Grapevines (Vitis vinifera) experience diverse drought conditions that can differ in severity, duration, and progression. In this study, we investigated the physiological, biochemical, and hormonal responses of the Barbe...
Grapevines (Vitis vinifera) experience diverse drought conditions that can differ in severity, duration, and progression. In this study, we investigated the physiological, biochemical, and hormonal responses of the Barbera grapevine, a near-anisohydric cultivar, to two contrasting drought imposition regimes: a gradual stress mimicking field conditions (progressive drought, PD) and an abrupt stress simulating pot experiments (rapid drought, RD). We analyzed stomatal conductance (gs), stem water potential (Ψ), xylem sap pH, abscisic acid (ABA) levels, and non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) accumulation in xylem sap and leaves during stress and recovery. RD induced a rapid drop in Ψ and gs, accompanied by significant xylem sap alkalinization and a sharp rise in ABA concentration, which promoted early stomatal closure and rapid starch remobilization. In contrast, PD resulted in delayed stomatal closure, minimal ABA accumulation under moderate stress, and progressive xylem sap acidification, which facilitated osmotic adjustments via sustained accumulation of soluble sugars and ions. Our findings suggest that Barbera vines shift between isohydric and anisohydric behaviors depends on drought imposition dynamics. This physiological plasticity reflects a context-dependent deployment of stress avoidance or tolerance mechanisms. These insights emphasize the importance of stress imposition protocols in drought physiology studies and inform irrigation management and breeding programs for drought-resilient cultivars.
Structural variation in the promoter region of DcSOC1d influences flowering behavior in carrot.
Zhang K, Wu RH, Zhang YM … +2 more , Xiong AS, Xu ZS
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Nov · PMID 41056649 · Publisher ↗
Early flowering can lead to premature lignification of carrot roots, resulting in significant loss of commercial value. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling this trait remain poorly understood. In this study, we...
Early flowering can lead to premature lignification of carrot roots, resulting in significant loss of commercial value. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling this trait remain poorly understood. In this study, we identified two SOC1 genes, DcSOC1b and DcSOC1d, located near the Vrn1 locus-a quantitative trait locus associated with early flowering habit in carrot. Both genes showed expression patterns consistent with early flowering in wild carrot 'Songzi' (SZ). Variations in the promoter region of DcSOC1d were identified between SZ and other biennial carrots. When DcSOC1d from SZ carrots, driven by its native promoter, was introduced into biennial 'Qitouhuang' (QTH) carrots, it exhibited high expression and induced flowering without vernalization. In contrast, DcSOC1b from SZ carrots showed low expression under the same conditions and failed to induce early flowering in QTH carrots. Further investigation found that DcSOC1d can upregulate DcSOC1b expression. Our findings provide novel insights into early flowering mechanisms that could be applied to carrot improvement through gene editing, with potential implications for other vegetable and fruit crops.
Carbon dots promote tomato growth and yield via photosynthesis enhancement and leaf senescence delay.
Li S, Zhao W, Zhao W … +13 more , Jiao Z, Cui K, Wang R, Wang A, Tan Y, Li H, Yin Y, Gao F, Liu K, Duan Y, Kong X, Ma R, Sun H
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Oct · PMID 41027142 · Publisher ↗
Food security is increasingly threatened by population growth, regional conflicts, and climate disasters, making it imperative to further increase crop production. One safe approach to achieving this goal is to expand th...
Food security is increasingly threatened by population growth, regional conflicts, and climate disasters, making it imperative to further increase crop production. One safe approach to achieving this goal is to expand the utilization of agricultural inputs. Recent research has revealed that carbon dots (CDs), a class of carbon-based nanomaterials, have potential in interacting with plants to enhance growth. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we synthesized CDs that emit red light at a wavelength of 670 nm when excited by green light at 560 nm. When tomato seedlings were treated with these CDs via foliar spraying, their plant height increased by 10.26 % and fresh weight by 19.81 %. Measurements of photosynthesis and the Hill reaction showed significant improvements in both photosynthetic efficiency and chloroplast electron transport. Transcriptome analysis of tomato leaves revealed downregulation of genes associated with leaf senescence, including those involved in ethylene response, protein ubiquitination, chlorophyll degradation, ATP hydrolysis, and lignin synthesis. Transient expression assays of phyB1::GFP and phyB2::GFP demonstrated that CDs accelerate the translocation of red light-responsive phytochrome B (PhyB) from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, a process that may contribute to delayed leaf senescence. Additionally, during the harvesting period, CD-treated tomato plants showed evident enhancements in both fruit quantity and quality. These results collectively indicate that CDs promote tomato growth and fruit production by enhancing photosynthesis and delaying leaf senescence. This study not only provides insights for promoting tomato growth and yield but also offers valuable guidance for investigating interactions between nanomaterials and plants.
Current understanding of HAK potassium transporters in plant development and stress tolerance.
Cui Y, Zhang X, Yang M … +2 more , Wei X, Guo J
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Oct · PMID 41027141 · Publisher ↗
Potassium (K) is a critical nutrient for plant growth and development. The K uptake/high-affinity K transporter/K transporter (KUP/HAK/KT) family comprises high-affinity K transport proteins in plants, with vital roles i...
Potassium (K) is a critical nutrient for plant growth and development. The K uptake/high-affinity K transporter/K transporter (KUP/HAK/KT) family comprises high-affinity K transport proteins in plants, with vital roles in K uptake and transport, especially under K-deficient conditions. In this review, we summarize the functions of HAK transporter proteins in mediating K uptake and plant growth and development. We also discuss their roles in enhancing plant tolerance to salt, drought, K deficiency, and virus stresses, as well as their regulation. We propose that the functions of HAKs in regulating photosynthesis and growth, as well as the mechanisms by which HAKs interact with related genes and proteins to carry out their functions, warrant future investigation. The studies discussed here are important for improving the efficiency of K fertilization, enhancing crop yield and quality, and promoting sustainable agriculture.
ZmThr1, a chloroplast-targeted regulator from maize, enhances growth and grain development but reprograms amino acid and starch metabolism in Arabidopsis.
Wang Z, Jiao P, Dong Y … +5 more , Ma X, Liu M, Zhang J, Guan S, Ma Y
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Nov · PMID 41016347 · Publisher ↗
The deficiency of essential amino acids in maize, a vital food and cash crop worldwide that is crucial for both humans and livestock, poses a significant challenge for high-quality agricultural and economic development....
The deficiency of essential amino acids in maize, a vital food and cash crop worldwide that is crucial for both humans and livestock, poses a significant challenge for high-quality agricultural and economic development. In this study, we investigated the role of ZmThr1 in the regulation of seed amino acid accumulation in Colombian wild-type (WT) Arabidopsis. Our experimental results indicated that ZmThr1 encodes a 57.6 kDa protein localized in plant chloroplasts. Compared with Columbia WT Arabidopsis, overexpression of this gene promoted seedling growth and seed development in Arabidopsis. However, the gene negatively regulated the amino acid content in Arabidopsis seeds, which decreased by 17.48 % relative to that in WT Arabidopsis. In addition, the starch content in the seeds was reduced by 52.8 % compared with that in WT Arabidopsis. In conclusion, overexpression of ZmThr1 negatively regulated both amino acid and starch contents in Arabidopsis seeds.
Corrigendum to "Nitrogen source and availability associate to mitochondrial respiratory pathways and symbiotic function in lotus japonicus" [J. Plant Physiol. 2025 (314), November 2025, 154606].
Ortiz J, Sanhueza C, Romero-Munar A … +7 more , Sierra S, Palma F, Aroca R, Coba de la Peña T, López-Gómez M, Bascuñán-Godoy L, Del-Saz NF
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Nov · PMID 40976185 · Publisher ↗
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
Salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate activate key genes of plant-defense pathways conferring partial protection to Polystigma amygdalinum in a susceptible almond cultivar.
Real N, Pons-Solé G, Luque J … +2 more , Llugany M, Martos S
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Nov · PMID 40976184 · Publisher ↗
Red leaf blotch (RLB) of almond, caused by Polystigma amygdalinum, is an economically important foliar disease affecting almond crops. This study explored the hormonal responses of two almond cultivars, namely 'Tarraco'...
Red leaf blotch (RLB) of almond, caused by Polystigma amygdalinum, is an economically important foliar disease affecting almond crops. This study explored the hormonal responses of two almond cultivars, namely 'Tarraco' (highly susceptible) and 'Mardía' (highly tolerant), to P. amygdalinum. Hormonal profiling and gene expression analyses were conducted to examine the roles of salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic (ACC) acids, and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) in plant defense mechanisms. Results showed a significant accumulation of SA in symptomatic leaves of both cultivars, suggesting a SA-mediated defense response to the pathogen. However, no substantial changes in JA and ACC levels were observed. In 'Tarraco', expression of SA-responsive genes (PR1 and PR5) and ET/JA-associated genes (ACO and ERF1) increased, but the cultivar remained susceptible. In contrast, symptomatic 'Mardía' leaves exhibited increased expression in CAD, linked to lignin biosynthesis, while other hormone-related genes (ACO, ERF1, PR1, and PR5) did not show significant changes. Thus, 'Mardía' could be following a different defense strategy against RLB. Exogenous applications of SA and MeJA significantly reduced RLB incidence and severity in young 'Tarraco' trees, with MeJA enhancing ERF1 expression and SA increasing both ERF1 and CAD expression. MeJA also inhibited plant growth. These findings reveal contrasting defense mechanisms between the two almond cultivars, suggesting a possible protection against RLB through lignin biosynthesis. Furthermore, the protective role of SA would be associated with CAD, indicating a connection between SA signaling and the phenylpropanoid pathway.
Priming with broccoli extract mitigates salinity stress in tomato through enhanced water and Na/K homeostasis.
Albaladejo-Marico L, Carvajal M, Yepes-Molina L
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Nov · PMID 40972390 · Publisher ↗
Salinity is a major abiotic stress that severely limits crop productivity. In recent years, plant-based biostimulants have emerged as sustainable tools to enhance plant growth and improve stress resilience. However, thei...
Salinity is a major abiotic stress that severely limits crop productivity. In recent years, plant-based biostimulants have emerged as sustainable tools to enhance plant growth and improve stress resilience. However, their physiological and molecular mechanisms of action-particularly when applied as seed priming-remain largely unexplored. To evaluate the biostimulant potential of a broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) extract on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), plants were grown under controlled and saline conditions. Treatments were applied at the seed stage (priming), and adult plants were assessed for biomass accumulation, water status (including RWC and water potential), mineral nutrient composition, phenolic content, and the expression of key genes involved in ion transport (SlHKT1.2, SlNHX4, SlSOS1) and water regulation (SlPIP2;1, SlTIP2;1). The extract significantly enhanced biomass accumulation at both seedling and adult stages. Under salt stress, extract-treated plants maintained better water status, restricted Na translocation to the shoot, and showed improved nutrient use efficiency. This was associated with increased expression of SlSOS1 in both roots and shoots, and upregulation of SlHKT1.2 specifically in aerial tissues, as well as the modulation of key aquaporins, suggesting coordinated control of ionic and water homeostasis. Here we demonstrate that a broccoli-derived extract applied as a seed priming agent induces stress memory and confers enhanced physiological and molecular resilience to salinity in tomato. These findings provide novel insights into the action of plant-based biostimulants and highlight their potential as sustainable tools for improving crop performance under abiotic stress.
The protein kinase MLOP1 mediates pectin fragment signaling and feedback regulation of cell wall synthesis.
Liu X, Sha J, Li Q … +7 more , Yuan S, Tao J, Fu S, Gan P, Lan Q, Liesche J, Xiao C
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Nov · PMID 40972389 · Publisher ↗
Plants sense the breakdown products of cell wall components to trigger effective stress responses and to adjust wall synthesis during development. Oligogalacturonides (OGs), derived from pectin degradation, are known to...
Plants sense the breakdown products of cell wall components to trigger effective stress responses and to adjust wall synthesis during development. Oligogalacturonides (OGs), derived from pectin degradation, are known to serve as signals for cell wall remodeling and stress responses, while little is known about their perception by plant cells. Here, we characterized a malectin-like domain-containing leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein kinase MLOP1, which is involved in pectin fragment signal sensing in Arabidopsis thaliana. Mutations of MLOP1 impaired cell wall synthesis and cell elongation in seedling hypocotyls and primary roots. MLOP1 and its homologs were tandem duplicated during evolution. It is expressed in the rapid-growth region of hypocotyl, root elongation zone, leaf and stem vasculature, and silique. MLOP1-GFP is localized to the plasma membrane. The MLOP1 ectodomain is capable to bind with pectic polysaccharide in vitro, and the kinase domain may mediate intracellular signal transduction. Tests on mlop1 mutants indicate its involvement in OG-induced cell defense responses, including phytoalexin synthesis, nitric oxide (NO) accumulation, callose deposition and cytosolic Ca spike. Accordingly, mlop1 mutants showed a high susceptibility to Pseudomonas syringae infection. Furthermore, loss of MLOP1 function alleviated OG-induced inhibition of cellulose synthase complex (CSC) mobility and its density on the plasma membrane. These results indicate that MLOP1 plays a role in pectin fragment signaling and mediates their effects on stress responses and cell wall remodeling.
ARABIDOPSIS NITRATE REGULATED 1 negatively regulates the tolerance of salt stress by controlling ion homeostasis and GA metabolism.
Lee H, Ko EK, Park J … +4 more , Jang YJ, Ku KM, Xiong L, Lee H
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Nov · PMID 40967155 · Publisher ↗
Previous studies have linked nitrate uptake regulation in plants to salt stress tolerance. Building on this, our study aimed to investigate the role of the ANR1 gene, involved in nitrate sensing and signaling, in salt st...
Previous studies have linked nitrate uptake regulation in plants to salt stress tolerance. Building on this, our study aimed to investigate the role of the ANR1 gene, involved in nitrate sensing and signaling, in salt stress response using anr1 knock-down plants. Our results showed that anr1 plants exhibited improved tolerance to salt stress compared to Col-0, with better root length, biomass, and chlorophyll content. Under salt stress, anr1 plants accumulated less reactive oxygen species (ROS) and showed smaller increment in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels relative to control conditions. They also maintained higher nitrate and anthocyanin contents and a lower Na/K ratio, indicating enhanced physiological stability. Based on their superior growth under salt stress, we further explored the role of gibberellin (GA), a hormone regulating plant growth. Normally, GA signaling is suppressed under salt stress. However, anr1 plants accumulated lower levels of DELLA proteins such as GAI, and treatment with paclobutrazol (PBZ), a GA biosynthesis inhibitor, reduced the salt tolerance of anr1 plants to Col-0 levels, suggesting that a link between ANR1 and GA metabolism in stress adaptation. While ANR1's role in germination-stage stress response has been noted before, this study highlights its function during the seedling stage, particularly in modulating salt stress tolerance through in association with GA. These findings indicate that ANR1 is a promising target for gene editing to enhance crop resilience under saline conditions.
Metabolic modelling: Insights into the machine room of plant metabolism.
Machado TM, Töpfer N, Soltani F
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Nov · PMID 40957247 · Publisher ↗
Plant growth, development, and environmental interactions is enabled through the coordinated activity of numerous biochemical reactions that constitute plant metabolic networks. The inherent complexity and interconnectiv...
Plant growth, development, and environmental interactions is enabled through the coordinated activity of numerous biochemical reactions that constitute plant metabolic networks. The inherent complexity and interconnectivity within these networks underscore the importance of investigating plant metabolism from a network perspective. Metabolic modelling provides a holistic in silico representation of plant metabolism, enabling mechanistic insights into network-level processes. In this review, we consolidate recent trends in plant metabolic modelling, highlighting how these approaches can be exploited to study metabolism from subcellular to community and ecosystem levels. We discuss how the scope of plant metabolic modelling has broadened to represent diverse plant species, genotype- and context-specific metabolism as well as specialized metabolic pathways, and to capture spatiotemporal resolution and plant-microbe interactions. Moreover, we review machine learning and deep learning frameworks that assist model reconstruction, parameterization, and analysis, explore hybrid strategies that enhance mechanistic models, and address current challenges and future directions in the field of plant metabolic modelling.
Ammonium (NH₄⁺) regulates carbon metabolism and spatial-diurnal assimilate partitioning to improve growth and nitrogen use efficiency in maize.
Amoah JN, Keitel C, Kaiser BN
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Nov · PMID 40946402 · Publisher ↗
Nitrogen (N) is primarily taken up by most plant species in the form of nitrate (NO) and ammonium (NH) to support growth and metabolic functions. However, the regulatory mechanisms modulating carbon (C) assimilate alloca...
Nitrogen (N) is primarily taken up by most plant species in the form of nitrate (NO) and ammonium (NH) to support growth and metabolic functions. However, the regulatory mechanisms modulating carbon (C) assimilate allocation under varying N forms remain unclear. This study investigated C metabolism and its spatial distribution in maize seedlings subjected to five N treatments (T1-T5): T1, nitrogen-free (control N); T2, 1 mM NO (sole NO); T3, 1 mM NH (sole NH); T4, 0.5 mM NHNO (mixed N supply); and T5, substitution of 1 mM NH with 1 mM NO (NH→NO) at 10 days after seedling transfer (DAT). NH treatment triggered significant physiological and molecular adaptations, such as enhanced growth, improved photosynthetic performance, and increased sucrose and starch accumulation. These elevated carbohydrate levels were closely associated with increased activity of sucrose-metabolizing enzymes (SuSy, SPS, and INVs) and starch-metabolizing enzymes (AGPase, SS, AMY, and BAM), alongside the upregulation of key genes involved in sucrose metabolism (ZmSPS1, ZmSuSy1, and ZmINVs), sucrose transport (ZmSWEET14, ZmSUT2, and ZmSTP2), and starch metabolism (ZmSS1, ZmAGPase1, ZmAMY1, and ZmBAM1). Spatial and diurnal analyses revealed dynamic patterns of C partitioning across the leaves, roots, and leaf sheaths. These findings advance our understanding of how different N forms, particularly NH, regulate C metabolism and shoot-root allocation to facilitate carbon utilization in sink tissues to improve plant resilience to N fluctuations. Future research will focus on exploring these adaptive mechanisms across diverse maize genotypes under field conditions, with the goal of improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and productivity in variable N environments.
Diverse functions of FOUR LIPS: Stomatal development and beyond.
Li P, Chen L, Hou S
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Nov · PMID 40946401 · Publisher ↗
Stomata, composed of paired guard cells, serve as essential pores for plant-atmosphere gas exchange and undergo tightly regulated development. FOUR LIPS (FLP), the first characterized regulator of stomatal development, h...
Stomata, composed of paired guard cells, serve as essential pores for plant-atmosphere gas exchange and undergo tightly regulated development. FOUR LIPS (FLP), the first characterized regulator of stomatal development, has been studied for three decades. It encodes an atypical R2R3-MYB transcription factor that restricts guard mother cell division by repressing several core cell cycle genes. This factor exhibits partial functional redundancy with bHLH proteins FAMA and MUTE during stomatal fate commitment and differentiation. Its stomatal regulatory function is conserved across plant species. Notably, broad FLP expression across tissues enables functions beyond stomata, including roles in root gravitropism, lateral root initiation, female gametophyte development, and leaf angle determination. Furthermore, FLP is induced by environmental cues such as drought, salt, and cold stress to mediate adaptive responses. Here, we summarize the current understanding of FLP, focusing on conserved stomatal mechanisms and highlighting its functional versatility across plant systems.
Salicylic acid accumulation correlates with low anthocyanin production in Arabidopsis.
Drs M, Iakovenko O, Orozco Hernández JS … +5 more , Trhlínová PB, Marković V, Žárský V, Pečenková T, Janda M
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Nov · PMID 40939475 · Publisher ↗
Anthocyanins, flavonoid pigments, are essential photoprotective agents and play a pivotal role in enhancing plant resilience to environmental stressors. It has been shown that anthocyanin production is inhibited when pat...
Anthocyanins, flavonoid pigments, are essential photoprotective agents and play a pivotal role in enhancing plant resilience to environmental stressors. It has been shown that anthocyanin production is inhibited when pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) is activated in Arabidopsis thaliana. An important component of PTI is the phytohormone salicylic acid (SA). Interestingly, exogenous treatment with SA has been shown to induce anthocyanin content in grape, apple, maize roots, rose callus, or Arabidopsis seedlings. In this study, we used several A. thaliana mutants with modulated SA content to decipher the role of endogenous SA in anthocyanin production in A. thaliana. We treated WT and mutants with anthocyanin-inducible conditions and measured anthocyanin content using spectroscopy. We showed that high endogenous SA accumulation correlates with low anthocyanin production. This was confirmed by the treatment of the A. thaliana seedlings with exogenous SA. Additionally, using microscopy in the 5gt mutant, which exhibits enhanced production of anthocyanin vesicular inclusions (AVIs) due to the inhibition of ligandin-dependent vacuolar import, we showed that high endogenous SA also correlates with lower AVI abundance. Comparative analysis of Arabidopsis WT and mutants used in this study indicates a possible inhibitory effect of SA accumulation on anthocyanin content under anthocyanin-inducible conditions (AICs). We suggest that under AICs, SA downstream signaling independent of NPR1 is responsible for lower anthocyanin accumulation.
Humboldt review: Function and characterization of sugar transport across plant membranes: History and perspectives.
Keller I, Neuhaus HE
J Plant Physiol · 2025 Nov · PMID 40939474 · Publisher ↗
Sugars are indispensable to life, acting as metabolic substrates, signalling molecules, and structural components. Their controlled movement across membranes is essential for cellular function and development. In this Hu...
Sugars are indispensable to life, acting as metabolic substrates, signalling molecules, and structural components. Their controlled movement across membranes is essential for cellular function and development. In this Humboldt Review, we trace the historical and scientific trajectory of plant sugar transporter research, beginning with the discovery of proton-coupled glucose uptake in Chlorella kessleri. This finding led to the molecular identification of HUP1, the first cloned plant sugar transporter and a founding member of the plant Monosaccharide Transporter (MST) family. We then follow the translation of these insights to vascular plants, focusing on Arabidopsis thaliana, where a large and functionally diverse MST superfamily, including seven subfamilies that differ in characteristics such as localization, transport substrate, and transport energization, was uncovered. We also provide insights into the evolution, structure, and multifunctionality of the newest described SWEET family of sugar transport proteins with cross-kingdom conservation. By integrating early discoveries with recent advances, this review offers a comprehensive perspective on the critical roles of sugar transporters in plant physiology and environmental adaptation. We conclude by highlighting current knowledge gaps and proposing directions for future research to deepen our understanding of plant sugar transport mechanisms.
About
- Frequency
- Sun
- Papers found
- 200
- RSS feed
- Subscribe