Plant Physiol. Biochem. [JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Cell wall-associated proteins from Phaeomoniella chlamydospora trigger calcium-dependent oxidative burst in grapevine cells.
Vander Cruyssen A, Bidaud M, Mourlanne C … +3 more , Romeo-Oliván A, Jacques A, Rodrigues O
Plant Physiol Biochem · 2026 Jun · PMID 42398228 · Publisher ↗
Esca is a major grapevine trunk disease causing devastating economic losses in vineyards. This complex disease results from trunk colonization by fungi such as Phaeomoniella chlamydospora (P.ch). Because the characteriza...
Esca is a major grapevine trunk disease causing devastating economic losses in vineyards. This complex disease results from trunk colonization by fungi such as Phaeomoniella chlamydospora (P.ch). Because the characterization of early molecular events occurring during infection is difficult to perform directly in grapevine trunks, we previously developed a procedure based on stomatal movement to investigate early signaling events during pathogen perception. Assays performed on epidermal peels revealed that cell wall-associated proteins, but not polysaccharides, from P.ch induced stomatal closure in Vitis vinifera. Using the fluorescent probe HDCFDA, we further showed that the perception of these cell wall proteins triggered a rapid accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in grapevine cells. The addition of diphenyleneiodonium chloride (DPI), an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase-dependent ROS production, prevented the stomatal closure induced by the cell wall proteins. Furthermore, treatment with the calcium (Ca)-chelating agent EGTA blocked both ROS accumulation and stomatal closure triggered by the cell wall proteins, suggesting that the oxidative burst induced by these proteins is dependent on Ca signaling. Altogether, these results provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying grapevine perception and early defense responses against an esca-associated pathogen.
Synergistic regulatory mechanism of different nitrogen management regimes on grain yield, nitrogen utilization, and quality in indica-japonica hybrid rice.
Yang Y, Chen T, Liu X … +4 more , Mi K, Lu H, Wang J, Zhang H
Plant Physiol Biochem · 2026 Jul · PMID 42398227 · Publisher ↗
Combining high yield, high nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and good grain quality in rice production is still a difficult task today. Nitrogen (N) management and carbon (C)-N metabolism, as key agronomic practices and int...
Combining high yield, high nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and good grain quality in rice production is still a difficult task today. Nitrogen (N) management and carbon (C)-N metabolism, as key agronomic practices and internal physiological processes, play a central role in meeting this goal. Yet for indica-japonica hybrid rice (IJHR), it is still not clear how different N management simultaneously affect yield, quality, and NUE by regulating C-N metabolism. To investigate this, five N application regimes with different basal-tillering to panicle fertilizer ratios were tested in a two-year field experiment under a fixed N input of 330 kg ha. The ratios were 3:7 (T1), 4:6 (T2), 5:5 (T3), 6:4 (T4), and 7:3 (T5). An additional zero-N control was included for calculating NUE. The results showed that with an increasing proportion of basal-tillering fertilizer, grain yield and N recovery efficiency (NRE) both reached their maximum values under the T4 treatment, increasing by 0.65%-23.62% and 3.56%-22.33%, respectively, compared with the other N management treatments. Dry matter accumulation (DMA) and N accumulation at the heading and maturity stages followed the same trend, and compared with the other N management treatments, DMA and N accumulation at maturity increased by 0.44%-18.68% and 2.23%-11.35%, respectively. In addition, brown rice rate (BR), milled rice rate (MR), head rice rate (HR), and taste value (TV) all peaked under the T4 treatment. For HR and TV, the increases under T4 were 0.71%-4.39% and 2.07%-7.63%, respectively. However, chalkiness degree (CD), chalky grain percentage (CGP), protein content (PC), and amylose content (AC) decreased with an increasing proportion of basal-tillering fertilizer. Notably, leaf photosynthetic and physiological characteristic indices also showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing with an increasing proportion of basal-tillering fertilizer; at 10 days after heading, the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and SPAD value of the flag leaf under the T4 treatment increased by 1.09%-6.83% and 1.64%-6.18%, respectively. In conclusion, under a total N application rate of 330 kg ha, a basal-tillering to panicle fertilizer ratio of 6:4 (T4) is most beneficial for the synergistic optimization of grain yield, NUE, and grain quality.
Multitrophic rhizosphere-phyllosphere signaling networks regulating plant physiological adaptation and stress resilience.
Upadhyay SK, Liu S, Kumar Pandey D … +2 more , Jain D, Dwivedi P
Plant Physiol Biochem · 2026 Jul · PMID 42391649 · Publisher ↗
Plants operate as metaorganisms, depending on the coordinated signalling between the microbiomes of the roots (rhizosphere) and leaves (phyllosphere). This review covers recent studies that have identified rhizosphere-ph...
Plants operate as metaorganisms, depending on the coordinated signalling between the microbiomes of the roots (rhizosphere) and leaves (phyllosphere). This review covers recent studies that have identified rhizosphere-phyllosphere cross-talk as a crucial determinant of systemic stress resilience. Microbial metabolites, phytohormones, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), extracellular vesicles (EVs), and short RNAs (sRNAs) coordinate subterranean responses via vascular, gaseous, and molecular routes. Beneficial root-associated microbes modulate plant ethylene levels and antioxidant defense system in leaves through production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and ACC deaminase activity. This causes the leaves to hold more water and chlorophyll when it is dry. In contrast, phyllosphere methylotrophs control root exudation through cytokinin-linked feedback which maintains metabolic balance. The identification of EV-encapsulated sRNAs and microbial lipopeptides as mobile nano-messengers paves way for a novel epoch in plant-microbe communication. Fungi, mycorrhizal association, and polyphagous insects are important in the regulation of nutrient fluxes and mediation of the trade-offs between nutrient acquisition and plant defense. Integrative multi-omics, isotope tracking, and synthetic community (SynCom) reconstructions now enable causal mapping of these systemic linkages. Understanding the cross-talk between different parts of the microbiome can help develop climate-resilient crops and provide a mechanistic basis for sustainable agriculture.
β-ionone alleviates peach chilling injury by maintaining membrane stability via regulating ROS, lipids, and energy metabolism.
Kong J, Chen W, Wu W … +4 more , Li X, Cao S, Shi L, Yang Z
Plant Physiol Biochem · 2026 Jun · PMID 42391648 · Publisher ↗
Peaches are highly susceptible to chilling injury (CI) during low-temperature storage, which disrupts the cell membrane system, quality deterioration, and a decrease in market value. β-ionone is a plant natural carotenoi...
Peaches are highly susceptible to chilling injury (CI) during low-temperature storage, which disrupts the cell membrane system, quality deterioration, and a decrease in market value. β-ionone is a plant natural carotenoid-derived aromatic compound with antioxidant and membrane-protective activities. Given its novelty in postharvest preservation, this study aimed to explore its impacts on the postharvest quality, membrane lipid metabolism, and energy metabolism of peach fruit during cold storage. The treatment effectively alleviated typical CI symptoms. Results showed that β-ionone significantly mitigated the build-up of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). It also modulated the contents of key membrane lipid components, including phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylinositol (PI), and phosphatidic acid (PA). Furthermore, β-ionone inhibited the activities of phospholipase D (PLD), lipase, and lipoxygenase (LOX), and at the same time downregulated the transcript levels of their corresponding genes. In terms of energy metabolism, β-ionone maintained a higher energy charge (EC) level and enhanced the activities of H-ATPase, Ca-ATPase, succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), and cytochrome c oxidase (CCO), along with upregulating the transcript levels of related genes. These results indicate that β-ionone application may act as a promising approach to alleviate CI and extend the postharvest shelf life of peach fruit through the regulation of membrane lipid metabolism and energy metabolism.
Melatonin treatment enhanced disease resistance against Alternaria alternata of 'Korla' fragrant pear fruit via inhibiting cell wall degradation.
Cheng W, Yan W, Hu J … +2 more , Hou Y, Zhao Y
Plant Physiol Biochem · 2026 Jul · PMID 42391647 · Publisher ↗
Postharvest 'Korla' fragrant pears are threatened by Alternaria rot, which impacts storage quality and shelf life. This study explored how melatonin (MT) influences the black spot disease caused by Alternaria alternata (...
Postharvest 'Korla' fragrant pears are threatened by Alternaria rot, which impacts storage quality and shelf life. This study explored how melatonin (MT) influences the black spot disease caused by Alternaria alternata (A. alternata) of 'Korla' fragrant pears, focusing on its effects on cell wall degradation. The results demonstrated that 0.20 mmol L MT treatment significantly reduced lesion diameter and disease index, which were 10.5% and 17.4% lower than those of the control (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, MT treatment maintained pulp firmness and protected the cuticle in cells, promoted callose deposition, suppressed the activities of cell wall-degrading enzymes including polygalacturonase (PG), pectin methylesterase (PME), cellulase, β-Galactosidase (β-Gal), pectin lyase (PL), and xyloglucan endotransglycosylase (XET), and downregulated the transcription levels of PbPG1, PbPME20, PbCEL5, Pbβ-Gal3 and PbXTH23, thereby suppressing the increase of water-soluble pectin (WSP), maintaining higher contents of insoluble protopectin (ISP), covalent binding pectin (CSP), cellulose and hemicellulose, delaying cell wall polysaccharides disassembly, and preserving cell wall integrity in pear fruit during storage. These findings indicated that modulating cell wall degradation acts as a vital function in the disease resistance of MT-treated 'Korla' fragrant pear fruit.
Nano-selenium spraying during reproductive growth enhances antioxidant capacity, source-sink coordination and grain selenium accumulation in rice.
Zhang K, Huang Z, Wei Y … +3 more , Chang X, Jin D, Zhang B
Plant Physiol Biochem · 2026 Jun · PMID 42385318 · Publisher ↗
Selenium (Se) biofortification of staple crops is an effective strategy to alleviate global dietary Se deficiency; however, the physiological mechanisms linking Se application to yield formation and grain quality remain...
Selenium (Se) biofortification of staple crops is an effective strategy to alleviate global dietary Se deficiency; however, the physiological mechanisms linking Se application to yield formation and grain quality remain insufficiently understood, particularly for nanoscale Se fertilizers. Here, a field experiment was conducted to investigate how foliar-applied nano-selenium (Nano-Se) at two concentrations (10 and 20 mg L) and four growth stages (mid-tillering, stem elongation, heading, and grain-filling) regulate antioxidant defense, photosynthetic capacity, grain filling, and Se accumulation in rice. Nano-Se markedly enhanced leaf antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD, CAT) and glutathione content while reducing HO and malondialdehyde levels, especially when applied at heading and grain-filling stages. These physiological improvements were accompanied by increased chlorophyll content, soluble sugars, and proteins, indicating sustained photosynthetic function and metabolic activity during reproductive growth. Consequently, Nano-Se significantly increased grain yield by 2.8%-14.6%, mainly through higher grain-filling rate and 1000-grain weight, with the strongest effects observed at the heading stage. Grain quality was concurrently improved, as reflected by reduced chalkiness, higher head rice rate, and enhanced amylose and fat contents. Nano-Se substantially promoted Se accumulation in grains, predominantly in organic forms, while also increasing beneficial mineral elements (K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu, Zn) and reducing the accumulation of toxic metals (As, Cd, Cr, Pb). Overall, foliar application of Nano-Se at appropriate concentrations during reproductive stages optimizes antioxidant protection and source-sink coordination, enabling simultaneous improvements in yield, grain quality, and nutritional safety.
Integrative omics reveals IbADT6 involvement in chlorogenic acid accumulation and stress tolerance in sweet potato.
Wang L, Lei J, Chai S … +6 more , Jin X, Li C, Yin T, Zhang W, Yang X, Admas T
Plant Physiol Biochem · 2026 Jun · PMID 42385317 · Publisher ↗
As a major global crop, sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), is valued for its starch content, versatility, and rich nutritional profile, including polyphenols and chlorogenic acid (CGA). Despite its significance, genetic and...
As a major global crop, sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), is valued for its starch content, versatility, and rich nutritional profile, including polyphenols and chlorogenic acid (CGA). Despite its significance, genetic and molecular research on sweet potato has been constrained by its complex hexaploid genome. Recent advances in genome sequencing have enabled the integration of transcriptomic and metabolomic platforms, facilitating investigation into the regulatory mechanisms of CGA accumulation. Here, we employed a multi-omics approach to analyze CGA synthesis regulation and related polyphenols in sweet potato cultivars with varying CGA contents grown at different planting durations. The results showed that both genotype and planting date significantly influenced CGA accumulation, with extended cropping duration enhancing the expression of key biosynthetic genes such as PAL, C4H, 4CL, C3H, HCT, HQT, and UGT84. Co-expression network analysis identified IbADT6 as a central hub gene involved in phenylalanine synthesis, which was closely associated with CGA accumulation. The functional validation was carried out through the heterologous overexpression (OE) of IbADT6 in tobacco, where it was confirmed to be involved in the enhancement of CGA production, with the transgenic plants exhibiting total CGA content 108.6% higher than wild-type (WT) plants subjected to salt stress (P = 0.0009) and more than double under drought stress (P = 0.0002). Moreover, IbADT6-overexpressing tobacco lines exhibited significantly improved resistance to drought and salt stress, which was associated with increased CGA accumulation and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities. Under stress conditions, the transgenic lines showed smaller reductions in plant height and biomass, increased activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase, and accumulated lower levels of malondialdehyde, indicating reduced oxidative damage. The results provide a basis for metabolic engineering and molecular breeding for the improvement of the nutritional and industrial value of sweet potato.
Identification and functional characteristics of key regulatory genes in Populus alba in response to cold stress.
Wang HM, Wang YM, Liu YJ … +2 more , Jiang PF, Zeng QY
Plant Physiol Biochem · 2026 Jun · PMID 42385316 · Publisher ↗
Forest crops are particularly susceptible to cold stress after dormancy release. Newly emerged shoots are especially vulnerable, and shoot mortality can cause serious loss of biomass production. Revealing the molecular m...
Forest crops are particularly susceptible to cold stress after dormancy release. Newly emerged shoots are especially vulnerable, and shoot mortality can cause serious loss of biomass production. Revealing the molecular mechanisms of cold stress responses in forest trees is therefore crucial. Populus alba is a frost-resistant tree species distributed worldwide. In this study, we characterized the transcriptome of P. alba in response to cold stress and observed that a large number of genes were up-regulated in both root and leaf tissues. Through Mfuzz clustering and phylogenetic analysis, four ethylene-responsive factor (ERF) genes (PoalbERF73/80/86/124) were identified as cold-responsive genes. These four genes belong to group IX of the ERF family, and exhibited distinct tissue-specific expression patterns. We generated overexpression and knockout mutants of these four ERF genes in P. alba. Comprehensive morphological and physiological characteristics of the transgenic and mutant lines indicated that these ERF genes are involved in the cold stress response. Our results provide further insights into the genetic basis of cold tolerance in trees.
Functional analysis of NtWRKY70 regulating tobacco defense against Rhizoctonia solani AG3-TB.
Li Y, Luo L, Deng Q … +8 more , Liu D, Hu Y, Zhang W, Yu S, An M, Li X, Jiang L, Wu Y
Plant Physiol Biochem · 2026 Jun · PMID 42385315 · Publisher ↗
Rhizoctonia solani AG3-TB is a destructive necrotrophic pathogen causing tobacco target spot disease. WRKY70 acts as a key regulator integrating salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) signals in plant immunity. Our p...
Rhizoctonia solani AG3-TB is a destructive necrotrophic pathogen causing tobacco target spot disease. WRKY70 acts as a key regulator integrating salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) signals in plant immunity. Our previous study found that NtWRKY70 in Nicotiana tabacum L. is significantly induced by R. solani AG3-TB infection; however, its functional mechanism remains elusive. In this study, bioinformatics analysis showed that NtWRKY70 is a nuclear localized protein with conserved domains and transcriptional autoactivation activity. Further investigations using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS), CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout and overexpression transgenic plants confirmed that NtWRKY70 acts as a positive regulator against R. solani AG3-TB. Based on RNA-seq data and differential expression genes (DEGs) screening, the total of 11 defense-related genes were significantly upregulated. Exogenous application of SA and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) induced NtWRKY70 expression and decreased the lesion diameter, which indicated that NtWRKY70 is potentially linked to the activation of downstream SA and JA signaling pathways. Collectively, our findings suggest that NtWRKY70 participates in tobacco defense against R. solani AG3-TB, potentially by coordinating SA and JA signaling to activate defense-related genes, which provides a valuable candidate for tobacco disease-resistant breeding.
Interkingdom signaling dynamics in the cereal holobiont: microbiome-mediated pathways to drought resilience.
Gholizadeh S, Nemati I, Malekian B … +5 more , Barnes CJ, Gholizadeh H, Vestergård M, Elango D, Nicolaisen M
Plant Physiol Biochem · 2026 Jun · PMID 42378887 · Publisher ↗
Root-associated microbiomes are increasingly recognized as important contributors to drought adaptation in cereal crops. Rather than functioning solely through improved nutrient acquisition, beneficial microorganisms can...
Root-associated microbiomes are increasingly recognized as important contributors to drought adaptation in cereal crops. Rather than functioning solely through improved nutrient acquisition, beneficial microorganisms can reshape host stress responses by modulating interconnected signaling, metabolic, transcriptional, and epigenetic pathways. Emerging evidence suggests that the plant-microbiome interactions operate through complex interkingdom signaling networks that coordinate root physiology, hormonal regulation, reactive oxygen species homeostasis, and stress-responsive gene expression, ultimately reinforcing drought resilience. However, current understanding of microbiome-mediated drought adaptation remains fragmented across ecological, omics, and molecular signaling perspectives. In this review, we synthesize current knowledge on microbiome-mediated signaling mechanisms underlying drought resilience in cereals from a holobiont-oriented perspective, in which plants and their root-associated microbiomes are viewed as integrated adaptive systems. We discuss how drought-responsive microbiomes influence plant adaptation through genomic and functional complementarity, multi-omics reprogramming, and modulation of core regulatory hubs, including protein kinases, transcription factors, phytohormones, reactive oxygen species, small signaling peptides, miRNAs, lncRNA-associated networks, and epigenetic regulation. Finally, we highlight major mechanistic gaps, technological challenges, and emerging opportunities for microbiome-informed engineering strategies aimed at improving cereal drought resilience.
Single-cell RNA-seq uncovers landscape of tomato metabolic rewiring mediated by plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria.
Fu W, Sun C, Sun B … +3 more , Xue Q, Guo Q, Lai H
Plant Physiol Biochem · 2026 Jun · PMID 42372482 · Publisher ↗
Tomato contains various classes of metabolites conferring benefits to human health and plant defense. Metabolic reprogramming of tomato induced by plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), such as Streptomyces spp., p...
Tomato contains various classes of metabolites conferring benefits to human health and plant defense. Metabolic reprogramming of tomato induced by plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), such as Streptomyces spp., provides a feasible solution to enhance fruit quality and plant performance. However, the spatiotemporal and intensity characteristics of plant metabolism rewired following PGPR inoculation remain largely uncovered. Here, we characterized the landscape of PGPR-mediated metabolic reprogramming in whole plants of tomato. Large-scale single-cell transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were performed using leaf, stem, root, flower, and fruit samples from potted plants inoculated or not with Streptomyces rochei D74. The accumulation of flavonoids, sugars, vitamins, and phenolic acids in fruits was enhanced upon inoculation, accompanied by increased contents of phenolic acids and flavonoids in vegetative tissues. We observed strong metabolic responses to PGPR in fruits, as indicated by upregulated relative abundances of many flavonoids and high expression levels of related biosynthetic genes located in the exocarp. Cell subclustering coupled with trajectory construction revealed three distinct states of exocarp cells, i.e., precursor metabolite mobilization-flavonoid biosynthesis-post-synthetic transport. PGPR inoculation promoted flavonoid accumulation in fruits by upregulating the expression of genes related to flavonoid and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. We additionally identified phytohormone- and transcription factor-associated regulatory genes specific to cell states upon inoculation. Our findings unravel dynamic changes in PGPR-mediated plant metabolism at single-cell resolution. This study provides a multi-omic data resource for identifying the key molecular mechanisms that regulate flavonoid metabolism in tomato.
A viral infection reshapes Arabidopsis water management via root hydraulics, aquaporin downregulation and osmotic adjustment.
Manacorda CA, Cáceres PD, Sutka MR … +3 more , Amodeo G, Asurmendi S, Baroli I
Plant Physiol Biochem · 2026 Jun · PMID 42372481 · Publisher ↗
The effect of plant viruses on root water relations and root-shoot coordination remains insufficiently characterized. Using a hydroponic Arabidopsis thaliana-Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) pathosystem, we integrated biometri...
The effect of plant viruses on root water relations and root-shoot coordination remains insufficiently characterized. Using a hydroponic Arabidopsis thaliana-Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) pathosystem, we integrated biometric, anatomical, hydraulic, and gas-exchange measurements to dissect how viral infection reshapes root-shoot water relations. TuMV infection did not merely impose a generalized shutdown of plant growth but triggered a complex physiological reprogramming of water relations. The infection impaired root development, evidenced by an early plateau in primary root elongation. Functionally, infected plants exhibited a decrease in root hydraulic conductance per unit root mass, accompanied by transcriptional downregulation of root aquaporin genes. However, the relative contribution of aquaporin-mediated water transport, assessed via sodium azide inhibition, remained unchanged, indicating that the virus downregulates total hydraulic capacity without altering the apoplastic-symplastic partitioning of water flow. Gas-exchange analysis revealed a virus-induced decoupling between stomatal conductance and net CO assimilation, resulting in a non-adaptive increase in intrinsic water-use efficiency. This loss of photosynthetic plasticity, combined with shoot-localized osmotic adjustment (more negative leaf osmotic potential and higher relative water content), points to a constrained, suboptimal physiological state. Multivariate analysis confirmed that variation in physiological traits largely drives phenotypic divergence between treatments. Together, these coordinated alterations-reduced root hydraulics to match a stunted shoot and rigid gas-exchange relationships-are consistent with plants locked into a low-performance equilibrium, poorly equipped to compete for water and carbon. This work reveals a systemic hydraulic-photosynthetic reconfiguration that may account for compromises in plant resilience and resource competitiveness.
Metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses reveal the synthetic pathway of sweet substances in the bamboo shoots of Dendrocalamus brandisii.
Ma Y, Wang Y, Wang H … +5 more , Ma Y, Zhan H, Li Y, Wang S, Li J
Plant Physiol Biochem · 2026 Jun · PMID 42372480 · Publisher ↗
Most bamboo shoots taste bitter, yet Dendrocalamus brandisii shoots are sweet and directly edible. Such sweetness is desirable for bamboo breeding; however, its physiological mechanism is unclear. This study integrated p...
Most bamboo shoots taste bitter, yet Dendrocalamus brandisii shoots are sweet and directly edible. Such sweetness is desirable for bamboo breeding; however, its physiological mechanism is unclear. This study integrated physiological, metabolomic, and transcriptomic analyses, revealing that the primary factor underlying the sweetness of D. brandisii shoots is the differential accumulation of soluble sugars, particularly fructose. Enzyme activity assays revealed no significant differences in fructose synthesis between sweet and bitter shoots of D. brandisii. However, the activity of hexokinase, which is involved in fructose catabolism, was found to be significantly lower in the sweet shoots. This reduced activity inhibits fructose phosphorylation, thus promoting fructose accumulation and potentially explaining the source of the sweetness. Transcriptome analysis identified the down-regulation of two key genes in fructose metabolism, DbHXK4 and DbFRK2. Functional validation via RNAi and overexpression experiments in Oryza sativa demonstrated that overexpression of bamboo-derived DbHXK4 decreased fructose content in rice, whereas RNAi-mediated silencing of rice homologous genes OsHXK4 and OsFRK2 resulted in increased fructose accumulation. Accordingly, perturbation of the key fructose-metabolizing genes HXK4 and FRK2 changes fructose accumulation. Therefore, we conclude that reduced hexokinase activity is the primary mechanism behind fructose accumulation and consequent sweetness in D. brandisii. These findings elucidate the molecular basis of sweetness in bamboo shoots, offering valuable insights for future quality improvement and germplasm selection.
Temporal transcriptional regulatory network and key factors controlling nitrate deprivation and resupply responses in maize roots.
Hu D, Wang Y, Liang Y … +4 more , Tang J, Li H, Han Y, Tan J
Plant Physiol Biochem · 2026 Jun · PMID 42372479 · Publisher ↗
To establish a foundation for improving maize (Zea mays L.) nitrogen efficiency, we conducted RNA-sequencing analysis of maize roots under nitrogen deprivation and resupply at eight time points. Weighted Gene Co-expressi...
To establish a foundation for improving maize (Zea mays L.) nitrogen efficiency, we conducted RNA-sequencing analysis of maize roots under nitrogen deprivation and resupply at eight time points. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) identified 21 nitrogen response modules. KEGG and GO analyses further revealed the biological functions of these modules. Under nitrogen deprivation, various nitrogen response modules implicated in maintaining redox homeostasis, reshaping root architecture, and remodeling cell walls were temporally initiated under the signal transduction of multiple hormones. During nitrogen resupply, modules associated with carbon/nitrogen metabolism and amino acid metabolism exhibited rapid recovery. An inferred temporally organized maize nitrogen response regulatory network, constructed through Enrichr queries, suggested coordinated actions of diverse transcription factors (TFs) from multiple TF families. It also highlighted the predicted bZIP-NAC-ARF and NLP-GLK regulatory modules, identifying members of the bZIP (ZmbZIP54, ZmbZIP96, ZmbZIP113), NAC (ZmNAC32), and ARF (ZmARF10, ZmARF13) families as candidate regulators in response to nitrogen deprivation, as well as members of the NLP (ZmNLP6, ZmNLP3), GLK (ZmGLK16, ZmGLK52), and ZmEREB102 during nitrogen resupply. Notably, in vitro and transient in vivo assays, including DAP-seq and dual-luciferase reporter systems, further supported the role of ZmNLP3 as a core transcriptional activator during the rapid metabolic reset. These findings offer novel insights and candidate targets that may facilitate genetic improvement of nitrogen use efficiency in maize.
The R2R3-MYB transcription factor ApMYB9 links UV-B signaling to andrographolide biosynthesis by activating ApIPPI in Andrographis paniculata.
Li J, Xu S, Sun M … +2 more , Gu Y, Wang J
Plant Physiol Biochem · 2026 Jun · PMID 42372478 · Publisher ↗
Andrographis paniculata, a medicinal species within the Acanthaceae family, is widely recognized as a "traditional Chinese herbal antibiotic," with andrographolides (ADs) serving as its primary bioactive components. Neve...
Andrographis paniculata, a medicinal species within the Acanthaceae family, is widely recognized as a "traditional Chinese herbal antibiotic," with andrographolides (ADs) serving as its primary bioactive components. Nevertheless, the molecular regulatory mechanisms governing the biosynthesis of ADs remain poorly understood. In this study, Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation significantly induced the expression of ApIPPI, a gene encoding isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase, which is correlated with the accumulation of ADs. Sequence analysis revealed that the ApIPPI promoter contains a variety of MYB-binding elements. ApMYB9, a UV-B-responsive R2R3-MYB transcription factor belonging to the S20 subfamily, was identified by a yeast screening library. Subcellular localization and transcriptional activation assays demonstrated that ApMYB9 is localized in the nucleus and exhibits transcriptional activation capabilities. Integrated analyses using yeast one-hybrid (Y1H), dual-luciferase reporter (Dual-LUC) assays, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) confirmed that ApMYB9 targets specific MYB recognition motifs in the ApIPPI promoter to positively regulate its expression. Transient overexpression of ApMYB9 in A. paniculata leaves boosted ApIPPI transcript levels and promoted ADs biosynthesis. This study elucidates a UV-B response regulatory module in which ApMYB9 directly targets the ApIPPI promoter, redirecting metabolic flux to the accumulation of andrographolide. This provides a potential target for metabolic engineering aimed at optimizing the production of bioactive compounds from A. paniculata.
Genome-wide identification of MYB gene family and functional characterization of PpMYB2 on cold tolerance in Pennisetumpurpureum.
Yang D, Ma J, Sun Q … +4 more , Feng G, Huang L, Nie G, Zhang X
Plant Physiol Biochem · 2026 Jun · PMID 42372477 · Publisher ↗
With the exacerbation of global climate change, low-temperature stress has become a severe environmental challenge worldwide. Cultivation of the high-biomass tropical forage grass Pennisetum purpureum is severely constra...
With the exacerbation of global climate change, low-temperature stress has become a severe environmental challenge worldwide. Cultivation of the high-biomass tropical forage grass Pennisetum purpureum is severely constrained by low-temperature stress. In this study, we performed the first genome-wide identification of the MYB transcription factor family in P. purpureum and characterized the function of PpMYB2. Transcriptional profiling revealed spatiotemporal expression patterns of PpMYB2, PpMYB4, and PpMYB6 in response to cold treatment. Heterologous expression of PpMYB2 in yeast significantly improved growth under low-temperature conditions. Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana lines overexpressing PpMYB2 exhibited markedly enhanced cold tolerance, showing lower electrolyte leakage, reduced ROS accumulation, higher chlorophyll content, and greater relative water content than wild-type plants. These results demonstrate that PpMYB2 positively regulates cold tolerance by alleviating membrane damage and oxidative stress. The results advance the understanding of regulatory mechanisms underlying plant cold tolerance and establish a molecular framework for breeding cold-resistant crops.
Higher carbon reserves are associated with delayed leaf senescence and attenuated starvation responses in Brassica rapa.
Yi SY, Na J, Hong SW … +3 more , Choi DY, Lim YP, Kang SY
Plant Physiol Biochem · 2026 Jun · PMID 42364549 · Publisher ↗
Leaf senescence is a complex developmental process influenced by environmental cues and internal metabolic status. However, the extent to which carbon availability contributes to variation in senescence progression remai...
Leaf senescence is a complex developmental process influenced by environmental cues and internal metabolic status. However, the extent to which carbon availability contributes to variation in senescence progression remains incompletely understood. Here, we describe a Brassica rapa line, DLS-177, that exhibits delayed senescence under multiple conditions, including prolonged darkness, nitrogen deficiency, and developmental aging. Compared with the control line DLS-042, DLS-177 displayed higher basal levels of glucose and total soluble sugars (glucose + fructose) and slower depletion during dark treatment. These differences were accompanied by reduced induction of carbon starvation-associated marker genes, including BrbZIP63, BrDIN1, and BrDIN6. Transcriptome analysis indicated that genotype-dependent differences were selective rather than global, with reduced expression of key senescence-associated regulators, including ORE1 and NAC transcription factors, and relative maintenance of chloroplast-related gene expression. DLS-177 also displayed reduced sensitivity to senescence-promoting treatments, including methyl jasmonate and TOR inhibition. Exogenous sucrose partially alleviated methyl jasmonate-induced senescence in the control line but had limited additional effects in DLS-177. Together, these results indicate that differences in carbon status and depletion dynamics are associated with altered responsiveness of senescence-associated transcriptional programs. Rather than defining a single regulatory pathway, our findings suggest that metabolic status contributes to variation in the timing and progression of leaf senescence under stress conditions.
Morpho-anatomical and biochemical plasticity of chia (Salvia hispanica L.) microgreens following heavy-ion seed irradiation.
De Francesco S, Amitrano C, Vitale E … +5 more , Tinganelli W, Durante M, De Pascale S, Arena C, De Micco V
Plant Physiol Biochem · 2026 Jun · PMID 42364548 · Publisher ↗
Salvia hispanica L. (chia) microgreens are recognized as nutrient-dense crops suitable for controlled-environment agriculture but never been tested for space-related applications. Elucidating the physiological and bioche...
Salvia hispanica L. (chia) microgreens are recognized as nutrient-dense crops suitable for controlled-environment agriculture but never been tested for space-related applications. Elucidating the physiological and biochemical responses of plants to ionizing radiation is essential for crop selection in space agriculture. Ground-based studies, employing irradiation of seeds with heavy ions as components of Galactic Cosmic Rays, are needed to identify radiation-tolerant crops suitable for long-duration missions. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of carbon (C) and iron (Fe) ions, on the morphological, anatomical, and biochemical traits of chia microgreens, as a candidate, emerging crop, for space cultivation. Dry seeds were irradiated with five doses (0.3, 1, 10, 20, and 25 Gy) of each ion type, and responses were assessed at the seedling stage. Distinct ion-specific and dose-dependent responses were observed across multiple functional traits. Iron irradiation promoted shoot elongation, photosynthetic pigment and soluble protein contents, whereas carbon ions increased seedling transpiration, nutrient accumulation (K, Mg, Ca), and polyphenol content, accompanied by notable anatomical adjustments in leaf tissues. Despite these structural and biochemical adjustments, net photosynthesis remained unaffected by irradiation treatments. However, P contributed to sample separation in the PCA through its covariation with other morpho-physiological and biochemical traits. Phenotypic plasticity analysis revealed higher responsiveness of biochemical traits than anatomical ones, particularly under iron ion exposure. Overall, the ability of S. hispanica microgreens to preserve photosynthetic performance, while modulating key functional traits under ionizing radiation, underscores their physiological plasticity and provides evidence supporting their potential suitability for space-based cultivation systems.
Integrated physiological and transcriptomic analyses reveal adaptive mechanisms of potassium deficiency in Camellia oleifera.
Yin R, Lu S, Zhang B … +4 more , Tao J, Liu X, Xi R, Deng X
Plant Physiol Biochem · 2026 Jun · PMID 42364547 · Publisher ↗
Potassium (K) is an essential macronutrient for plant growth, yet Camellia oleifera is often cultivated in red soils severely deficient in available K. Such nutrient limitation has become a major constraint on its growth...
Potassium (K) is an essential macronutrient for plant growth, yet Camellia oleifera is often cultivated in red soils severely deficient in available K. Such nutrient limitation has become a major constraint on its growth and productivity, while the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying K deficiency responses in this woody species remain unclear. In this study, tissue-cultured seedlings of the C. oleifera cultivar 'Cenruan 3' were employed to examine growth and physiological traits under K deficiency and to elucidate the underlying transcriptional regulation. Potassium deprivation markedly reduced biomass accumulation, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic capacity, and primary root elongation. Root fresh and dry weights decreased, whereas root Ca and Mg concentrations increased. Stem lignification was accelerated, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulated in leaves. Transcriptome analysis revealed activation of the Ca-dependent CBL-CIPK signaling module, which likely modulates K transport systems such as AKT1 and HAK5 to enhance K uptake and redistribution. Crosstalk among ROS, ethylene, and auxin signaling appears to contribute to adaptive adjustments of root architecture under ionic stress. Moreover, the phenylpropanoid pathway was significantly upregulated, together with increased expression of lignin biosynthesis-related genes, indicating enhanced structural reinforcement. Overall, C. oleifera adapts to K limitation through coordinated regulation of ion sensing, signal transduction, and metabolic and structural remodeling. A core Ca-CBL-CIPK regulatory network integrates K acquisition with hormonal and ROS signals. These findings improve our understanding of potassium utilization in woody plants and provide valuable references for developing C. oleifera cultivars with enhanced tolerance to low-K conditions.
Wound healing responses vary across different cellular regions of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers.
Sarkar D, Dogramaci M
Plant Physiol Biochem · 2026 Jun · PMID 42364546 · Publisher ↗
Wounding of potato tuber severely affects tuber integrity and makes tuber susceptible to pathogen infection and decay leading to crop loss. Potato tubers have natural wound healing (WH) capacity. However, tuber tissues a...
Wounding of potato tuber severely affects tuber integrity and makes tuber susceptible to pathogen infection and decay leading to crop loss. Potato tubers have natural wound healing (WH) capacity. However, tuber tissues are composed of different cellular regions with varying cellular structure and metabolic compositions, which might impact their overall WH rate. The objective of this research was to investigate the formation of suberin barriers and protective metabolic profiles across different cellular regions of potato tubers. A mechanical wounding model was used to investigate WH responses of cvs. Russet Burbank and Dakota Russet for three different cellular regions: i) cortex, ii) outer medulla, and ii) inner medulla. Disc tissues were excised separately from each cellular region and allowed to heal (at 21°C and 95% relative humidity) for 8 days. Tissues were collected at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 14 days after wounding for microscopic and biochemical analyses. Microscopic observation indicated inner medulla had faster suberin polyphenolic and polyaliphatic deposition, and greater formation of suberized phellem cells compared to tissues from the cortex region indicating enhanced WH response. Higher activities of rate limiting phenylpropanoid enzymes and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, along with higher soluble phenolics, asparagine, glutamine, and reducing sugars were observed in tissues from the inner medulla compared to tissues from the cortex region and specifically in cv. Russet Burbank. Results of this study suggest that changes in phenylpropanoid regulation and their alignment with primary and secondary metabolites impact varying WH processes across different cellular regions of potato tubers and response is cultivar specific.
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