Plants

18 pages, 1807 KB

Open AccessArticle

Biostimulation of Tomato Plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Using Fragmented Extracellular DNA from Clavibacter michiganensis

by Ireri Alejandra Carbajal-Valenzuela, Luz María Serrano-Jamaica, Lucía Vazquez, Gabriela Medina-Ramos and Ramón Gerardo Guevara-González

Plants 2026, 15(11), 1599; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15111599 (registering DOI) - 22 May 2026

Abstract

Extracellular DNA (eDNA) has gained attention as a danger signal between organisms because of the ecological implications of this mechanism and its great potential as a biological modulator in agriculture. Self-DNA and non-self DNA have been evaluated earlier, both as plant immune system [...] Read more.

Extracellular DNA (eDNA) has gained attention as a danger signal between organisms because of the ecological implications of this mechanism and its great potential as a biological modulator in agriculture. Self-DNA and non-self DNA have been evaluated earlier, both as plant immune system elicitors. Here we show the effect of eDNA extracted from the bacterial phytopathogen Clavibacter michiganensis applied to tomato plants in different concentrations (50, 100 and 150 µg mL⁻¹). Monitoring morphology of the plants, spectrophotometric determinations and RT-qPCR assays showed a dose-dependent effect on plant growth and root development, activation of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase and superoxide dismutase, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, including phenolic compounds and flavonoids, and differential expression of genes related to plant stress response, such as chalcone synthase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase. Lower concentration treatments showed an increment in the variables as beneficial responses for agricultural practices, and the higher concentration (150 µg mL⁻¹) showed reduced or no effects on the evaluated variables. This work represents a step forward in the development of effective and more sustainable agricultural technology in crop production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Crop Physiology and Crop Production)

22 pages, 1460 KB

Open AccessArticle

Enhanced Toxicity, Physiological Disruption, and Population Growth Suppression Induced by Nanoemulsified Satureja hortensis Essential Oil on Spodoptera frugiperda

by Zahra Afrazeh, Marziyeh Oftadeh, Azim Nemati, Jalal Jalali Sendi, Asgar Ebadollahi and William N. Setzer

Plants 2026, 15(11), 1598; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15111598 (registering DOI) - 22 May 2026

Abstract

Although the effectiveness of plant-derived essential oils (EOs) against several insect pests is well-documented, their high volatility presents a challenge. In this study, the potential to enhance the insecticidal activity of Satureja hortensis L. EO, an accessible natural agent, through nanoemulsification was assessed [...] Read more.

Although the effectiveness of plant-derived essential oils (EOs) against several insect pests is well-documented, their high volatility presents a challenge. In this study, the potential to enhance the insecticidal activity of Satureja hortensis L. EO, an accessible natural agent, through nanoemulsification was assessed against the cosmopolitan pest Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797). The nanoemulsion of the EO (NEEO) was prepared using Tween 80 as the emulsifying agent and high-intensity ultrasonication. Oral bioassays indicated that the NEEO was more toxic (LC₅₀ = 0.922%) than the pure EO (LC₅₀ = 1.186%). Sublethal exposure to LC₃₀ of the NEEO caused evident reductions in preadult survival, developmental time, fecundity, and oviposition period, as well as the population growth parameter net reproductive rate (R₀). The exposure to the NEEO increased catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) actions and inhibited α-esterase (α-NE), β-esterase (β-NE), and cytochrome P450 (CYP450) actions. Both the NEEO and EO inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase, with higher inhibition in the NEEO group. Generally, S. hortensis NEEO enhanced toxicity, intensified physiological perturbations, and caused greater negative impacts on population growth parameters. Consequently, nanoemulsification of S. hortensis EO can be considered an effective method to strengthen the insecticidal potential of this natural agent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Natural Products for Sustainable Disease and Pest Management)

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16 pages, 2286 KB

Open AccessArticle

Agronomic and Physiological Aspects of Programmed Cycle Pruning in Coffea arabica

by Diego Corona Baitelle, Sílvio de Jesus Freitas, Henrique Duarte Vieira, Abraão Carlos Verdin Filho, Sávio da Silva Berilli, Ismael Lourenço de Jesus Freitas, Weverton Pereira Rodrigues, Danilo Força Baroni, Silvério de Paiva Freitas, Guilherme Bessa Miranda, Stella Arndt, Orlando Carlos Huertas Tavares, Leandro Pin Dalvi and Paulo Cesar dos Santos

Plants 2026, 15(11), 1597; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15111597 - 22 May 2026

Abstract

Programmed Cycle Pruning (PCP) in Arabica coffee can positively influence plant physiology by modifying plant architecture, promoting a more uniform distribution of branches and leaves, and altering microclimatic conditions within the canopy, particularly light incidence. These structural changes may contribute to improvements in [...] Read more.

Programmed Cycle Pruning (PCP) in Arabica coffee can positively influence plant physiology by modifying plant architecture, promoting a more uniform distribution of branches and leaves, and altering microclimatic conditions within the canopy, particularly light incidence. These structural changes may contribute to improvements in plant performance and productivity. The objective of this study was to evaluate growth, yield, and physiological responses of Arabica coffee plants managed under PCP at different stem densities per hectare. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with four replications. Treatments were arranged in a 4 × 2 factorial scheme with an additional treatment representing the traditional pruning system. The factorial combination included four stem densities (4000, 8000, 12,000, and 16,000 stems ha⁻¹) and two data collection positions on the plant (lower and upper canopy strata). The evaluated variables included canopy diameter, plagiotropic branch length, number of inflorescences per branch, net photosynthetic rate (Anet), stomatal conductance (gs), leaf transpiration (E), vapor pressure deficit between leaf and air (VPDleaf/air), SPAD index, anthocyanin and flavonoid contents, and grain yield. PCP promoted greater uniformity in leaf gas exchange within the canopy and prevented the occurrence of “girdling”, which under traditional pruning reduced Anet in the upper canopy. Net photosynthesis increased with stem density under PCP. Although growth variables were similar between pruning systems, yield was higher under PCP, with a nonlinear response to stem density, indicating improved canopy gas-exchange uniformity and productivity in Arabica coffee cultivation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Crop Physiology and Crop Production)

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12 pages, 2441 KB

Open AccessCommunication

The Long Intergenic Noncoding RNA ARTA Specifically Regulates MYB7 Nuclear Trafficking to Establish a Self-Reinforcing Circuit for ABA Response

by Zhengmin Tang, Jun Yang, Yanhang Chen, Yongdi Zhang, Jingjing Cai, Dong Wang, Reqing He and Youlin Zhu

Plants 2026, 15(11), 1596; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15111596 (registering DOI) - 22 May 2026

Abstract

Long noncoding RNAs are involved in diverse biological processes in plants. Our recent study has revealed that an ABA-induced long intergenic noncoding RNA, ARTA, regulates both ABA and drought responses by blocking the nuclear import of a transcription factor, MYB7, through interacting [...] Read more.

Long noncoding RNAs are involved in diverse biological processes in plants. Our recent study has revealed that an ABA-induced long intergenic noncoding RNA, ARTA, regulates both ABA and drought responses by blocking the nuclear import of a transcription factor, MYB7, through interacting with an importin β-like protein, SAD2. Here, we show that unlike MYB7, ARTA fails to disrupt interactions of SAD2 with the other two R2R3-MYB subgroup 4 members, MYB4 and MYB32. Consequently, the nuclear localizations of MYB4 and MYB32 remain unchanged upon alteration of ARTA expression. Furthermore, ARTA and MYB7 form a self-reinforcing feedback loop during Arabidopsis responses to ABA: ABA treatment induces ARTA expression, which in turn inhibits nuclear accumulation of MYB7, thereby deteriorating MYB7-mediated repression of ARTA and promoting ARTA production. This self-reinforcing feedback regulation elegantly integrates protein relocalization with transcriptional augmentation in the ABA response process, and provides a tunable molecular circuit for plant stress adaptation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Regulation and Plant Biochemistry)

27 pages, 22173 KB

Open AccessArticle

Synergistic Enhancement of Phenolic Accumulation, Antioxidant Capacity and Fruit Quality in Marselan Grape (Vitis vinifera cv. Marselan) by Nano Zero-Valent Iron Combined with Potassium Dihydrogen Phosphat

by Guangling Shi, Baozhen Zeng, Yu Li, Huimin Gou, Shixiong Lu, Xiaoying Wu, Guoping Liang, Baihong Chen and Juan Mao

Plants 2026, 15(11), 1595; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15111595 - 22 May 2026

Abstract

Precision nano-fertilization offers transformative potential for sustainable improvement of grape quality, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effects of foliar-applied nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) and potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH₂PO₄), in combination, on berry [...] Read more.

Precision nano-fertilization offers transformative potential for sustainable improvement of grape quality, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effects of foliar-applied nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) and potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH₂PO₄), in combination, on berry quality and secondary metabolic reprogramming in Vitis vinifera cv. Marselan. The combined nZVI/KH₂PO₄ treatment improved photosynthetic capacity, Fe/P co-accumulation, and berry quality traits including soluble solid content, sugar–acid ratio, and phenolic and aroma metabolite profiles. Crucially, integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling identified 631 differentially expressed genes and 838 differentially accumulated metabolites, converging on flavonoid biosynthesis and glutathione metabolism as the dominant regulatory axes. Correlation network analysis pinpointed five hub regulatory genes—VvHCT, VvFLS1, VvLAR1/2, VvUGT88F5, and VvODC—as central orchestrators of nanomaterial-driven metabolic reprogramming: VvHCT and VvFLS1 coordinately redirected carbon flux toward hydroxycinnamic acid conjugates and flavonol accumulation, while VvLAR1/2 governed proanthocyanidin polymerization, and VvUGT88F5 modulated glycosylation-dependent metabolite stabilization. Notably, VvODC linked polyamine metabolism to glutathione-mediated stress buffering, revealing a previously uncharacterized crosstalk between nano-iron signaling and antioxidant reprogramming. These findings establish a mechanistic framework in which nZVI and KH₂PO₄ synergistically remodel the secondary metabolome through discrete yet interconnected transcriptional nodes, providing molecular targets for nano-enabled precision viticulture and broader applications of engineered nanomaterials in high-value crop improvement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Nano-Enabled Innovations in Agriculture)

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23 pages, 2299 KB

Open AccessReview

Micro- and Nanoplastics in Agricultural Crop Systems: From Environmental Particles to Plant Phenotypes and Food-System Relevance

by Muhammad Zubair, Abdul Karim, Maryam Noor, Laiba Bibi, Amina Qamar, Muhammad Ajmal Bashir and Muhammad Tanveer Akhtar

Plants 2026, 15(11), 1594; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15111594 - 22 May 2026

Abstract

Micro- and nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) are increasingly recognized as persistent contaminants in agricultural systems, where repeated inputs from mulch films, biosolids, composts, irrigation water, and atmospheric deposition create sustained exposure pathways for crops. Although various studies report effects on crop growth and physiology, mechanistic [...] Read more.

Micro- and nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) are increasingly recognized as persistent contaminants in agricultural systems, where repeated inputs from mulch films, biosolids, composts, irrigation water, and atmospheric deposition create sustained exposure pathways for crops. Although various studies report effects on crop growth and physiology, mechanistic interpretation remains limited because outcomes vary widely across experiments and are often discussed without appropriate attention to exposure context, particle properties, and evidentiary strength. This review advances an agroecosystem-centered, evidence-aware framework for interpreting how MPs/NPs influence crops from environmental entry to plant phenotype. We argue that crop responses cannot be inferred from polymer identity alone, but must be interpreted through the interacting effects of particle size, morphology, surface chemistry, weathering state, aggregation behavior, co-contaminant associations, and exposure matrix. Within this framework, crop responses are organized along a mechanistic chain linking environmental entry and plant contact, interface behavior at root and leaf surfaces, conditional barrier crossing and transport, ROS-centered stress signaling with hormonal and ionic regulation, and downstream effects on germination, root function, photosynthesis, biomass, productivity, and quality-related traits. Particular emphasis is placed on distinguishing surface association, supported internalization, and supported systemic translocation, because these categories carry distinct implications for edible-tissue occurrence, crop quality, and food-system relevance. Current evidence suggests that the soil–plant–food pathway is plausible and increasingly supported, but its interpretation remains constrained by uneven analytical rigor and limited field realism. Future progress will require realistic agricultural exposure designs, stronger polymer-specific confirmation, and closer integration of mechanistic evidence with agronomic and food-system endpoints. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Micro(nano)plastics in Plant Systems: Fate of Plastisphere and Emerging Contaminants, and Agricultural Ecosystem Impacts)

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21 pages, 3068 KB

Open AccessArticle

Initial Physiological and Molecular Adjustments Underpin Salinity Tolerance During Wheat Germination and Early Seedling Development

by Murat Aycan

Plants 2026, 15(11), 1593; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15111593 - 22 May 2026

Abstract

Global warming and associated environmental changes are reducing arable land and intensifying salinization risks, posing growing threats to food security. Soil salinity is an increasing threat to agricultural productivity worldwide, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one [...] Read more.

Global warming and associated environmental changes are reducing arable land and intensifying salinization risks, posing growing threats to food security. Soil salinity is an increasing threat to agricultural productivity worldwide, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important and widely cultivated cereal crops for human consumption and livestock feed. However, with increasing water scarcity and the incidence of salt-affected lands, wheat productivity is increasingly affected by salinity. Previous studies have investigated salinity tolerance mechanisms mainly at the seedling and reproductive stages of wheat; however, comparatively fewer studies integrate rapid biochemical and physiological responses during the first hours of germination stress exposure together with transcriptional analyses during early seedling establishment, even though this stage is critical for stand establishment. Here, we evaluated early physiological and transcriptional responses of salt-tolerant, moderate, and sensitive wheat cultivars exposed to 0 or 150 mM NaCl during germination and the early seedling stage. Tolerant and sensitive cultivars showed contrasting germination performance under salinity. Physiological analysis showed that salt-tolerant cultivars exhibited higher proline accumulation and higher antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT, SOD, and GR), while maintaining lower MDA levels under salinity compared with sensitive cultivars. Notably, tolerant cultivars showed marked upregulation of TaHKT1;4, TaP5CS, TaMYB, and TaDHN genes associated with ion homeostasis, osmoprotectant metabolism, and stress-responsive regulation. These responses represent integrated early-stage biochemical, physiological, and transcriptional indicators of salinity responsiveness rather than direct predictors of final yield performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular and Regulatory Mechanisms of Plant Responses to Abiotic Stress)

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14 pages, 5447 KB

Open AccessArticle

Inside a Dual Secretory Cell: Ultrastructural Insights into Mucilage and Phenolic Secretion in Mimosa Species (Leguminosae)

by Thaís Alves De Sousa, Thais Cury De Barros, Leonardo Maurici Borges and Simone Pádua Teixeira

Plants 2026, 15(11), 1592; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15111592 - 22 May 2026

Abstract

The co-occurrence of mucilage and phenolic compounds within the same secretory cell is rarely documented in plants. Recently, such cells were reported in vegetative and floral organs of sensitive legumes (Mimosa), but without detailed subcellular analysis. To address this gap, we [...] Read more.

The co-occurrence of mucilage and phenolic compounds within the same secretory cell is rarely documented in plants. Recently, such cells were reported in vegetative and floral organs of sensitive legumes (Mimosa), but without detailed subcellular analysis. To address this gap, we used transmission electron microscopy to examine the organelles involved in biosynthesis, the intracellular sites of metabolite storage, and the secretion processes across floral and foliar organs in five Mimosa species. Secretory epidermal cells of sepals, petals, and leaf blades produce both mucilage and phenolics, with no significant differences between organ types. Dictyosomes, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and plastids predominated in the cytoplasm of the secretory cell during biosynthesis. Dictyosomes may mediate mucilage production, the rough endoplasmic reticulum may be involved in phenolic synthesis, and plastids may contribute to the biosynthesis of both compounds. These metabolites are stored in distinct cellular domains: phenolics accumulate in a large vacuole near the outer periclinal wall, while mucilage is deposited between the microfibrils of the inner periclinal wall. This spatial separation is evident by the distention of the inner periclinal wall due to mucilage accumulation. The absence of karyokinesis and phragmoplast formation during metabolite segregation confirms that these secretory cells have two different functional domains, forming a uniseriate rather than biseriate epidermis. Notably, the inclusion of several species in the ultrastructural analyses enhances the significance of these findings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Morphology, Anatomy, and Embryology: Current Research and Future Directions)

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20 pages, 7013 KB

Open AccessArticle

Transcriptomic Analyses and Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) Identify Key Drought-Responsive Genes in Rice Roots (Oryza sativa L.) Under PEG Treatment

by Shengjie Yan, Zining Jiang, Xue Liu, Yixuan Huang, Ni Li, Weiping Wang, Luis A. J. Mur, Zhi Liu, Dongyang Lei and Xianwen Zhang

Plants 2026, 15(11), 1591; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15111591 - 22 May 2026

Abstract

Rice depends on its root system to perceive drought, a major environmental constraint that leads to severe yield losses worldwide. To dissect the underlying molecular basis, we conducted a comparative analysis of drought-sensitive (WAB) and drought-tolerant (IR65) rice genotypes that exhibited divergent drought [...] Read more.

Rice depends on its root system to perceive drought, a major environmental constraint that leads to severe yield losses worldwide. To dissect the underlying molecular basis, we conducted a comparative analysis of drought-sensitive (WAB) and drought-tolerant (IR65) rice genotypes that exhibited divergent drought tolerance at the seedling stage. After exposure to 15% PEG6000 (−0.4 MPa) for two days, the shoot and root architectural traits of IR65 were better than those of WAB seedlings. Measurements of physio-biochemical parameters (SOD, CAT, POD, APX, H₂O₂, and proline) suggest that IR65 seedling roots exhibit greater ROS scavenging and osmotic adjustment capacity than WAB, aligning with tolerance to PEG-induced water deficiency. Transcriptomic assessments of roots identified 802 commonly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) during the drought time course (12, 24, and 48 h) in WAB and IR65. They were clustered into eight groups based on their expression profiles and mainly enriched in phytohormone signaling, protein phosphorylation, and transcription factors. Using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), nine significant modules were identified based on n = 382 of the DEGs. A total of 12 DEGs up-regulated in IR65 were distributed in five modules, and five of them were selected for rapid functional validation through in vivo yeast expression. The results showed that transgenic yeasts were tolerant to simulated drought conditions (135 mM PEG3350), indicating that these genes would be potential targets for rice improvement in drought tolerance in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Response to Abiotic Stress and Climate Change)

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19 pages, 3194 KB

Open AccessArticle

Integrated Proteomic and Functional Analyses Reveal the Roles of Organelle-Specific Small Heat Shock Proteins (sHSPs) in Tomato Thermotolerance

by Bolun Xie, Hui Zhou, Huiling Liu, Chenglang Li, Yuhao Song, Yipei Xie, Yanyan Yan and Li Tian

Plants 2026, 15(11), 1590; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15111590 - 22 May 2026

Abstract

Global warming-induced extreme heatwaves present a severe threat to global tomato yield and production stability. To elucidate the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying heat stress tolerance in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), this study utilized label-free quantitative proteomics to profile alterations in protein abundance [...] Read more.

Global warming-induced extreme heatwaves present a severe threat to global tomato yield and production stability. To elucidate the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying heat stress tolerance in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), this study utilized label-free quantitative proteomics to profile alterations in protein abundance in tomato leaves in response to heat stress. A total of 294 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified, with function enrichment in the systematic activation of core stress-responsive biological processes, including the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade, the endoplasmic reticulum protein processing, and glutathione metabolism. Among them, heat shock protein (HSP) family members exhibited the most significant changes, particularly two small heat shock proteins (sHSPs), designated as SlsHSP1 and SlHSP17.4. Functional validation showed that silencing either SlsHSP1 or SlHSP17.4 drastically impaired heat tolerance in tomato plants. Specifically, silenced lines displayed excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and reduced antioxidant enzyme activities, with SlsHSP1-silenced plants showing more severe heat-induced phenotypic damage. Subcellular localization assays further demonstrated SlsHSP1 was located in the ER and SlHSP17.4 in the nucleus. Collectively, this study unravels multiple heat defense regulatory networks in tomato, in which organelle-specific sHSPs like SlsHSP1 and SlHSP17.4 synergistically maintain protein homeostasis and cellular redox balance, conferring broad-spectrum stress resistance in plants under high-temperature stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Molecular Biology)

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