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Emerging Insights into Phytohormone Signaling in Plants
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Emerging Insights into Phytohormone Signaling in Plants

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 December 2025) | Viewed by 10977

Editor

Dr. Meng Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Long Ping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410125, China
Interests: plant hormone; signal transduction; molecular biology; transcription factor; phylogeny
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants exhibit an incredible diversity, spanning from simple algae to complex flowering plants, each with unique morphological, physiological, and ecological traits. Despite this vast diversity, the roles of plant hormones as fundamental regulators of growth, development, and responses to environmental stimuli are deeply conserved across plant lineages. Plant hormones serve as the cornerstone of physiological processes, ensuring the survival and adaptability of plants in various environments. However, due to the distinct evolutionary trajectories of different plant species, the pathways and mechanisms by which these hormones function also exhibit significant variation.

Suggested topics for inclusion in this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Conserved roles of plant hormones across lineages, specifically comparative analyses of hormone biosynthesis and signaling networks in diverse plant species;
  • Evolutionary divergence in hormone pathways through phylogenetic studies of hormone receptors and signaling components across different plant lineages;
  • Hormone-mediated regulation of plant traits, elucidating the roles of phytohormones in plant bioactivities, such as growth, development, stress responses, plant defense, and plant–microbe interactions;
  • Molecular mechanisms of hormone action via structural and functional studies of hormone receptors and their interaction partners;
  • Biotechnological approaches for engineering plants with enhanced hormone responsiveness.

Dr. Meng Zhang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • phytohormone
  • signal transduction
  • evolutionary and functional diversity
  • implications for plant science and agriculture

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 5629 KB  
Article
Large-Scale Multigenome-Wide Study Predicts the Existence of Transmembrane Phosphotransfer Proteins in Plant Multistep Phosphorelay Signaling Pathway
by Sergey N. Lomin, Wolfram G. Brenner, Ekaterina M. Savelieva, Dmitry V. Arkhipov and Georgy A. Romanov
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(1), 240; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010240 - 25 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 835
Abstract
A new class of plant phosphotransfer proteins belonging to the multistep phosphorelay (MSP) system implicated in phytohormone cytokinin signaling was discovered based on large-scale bioinformatics methods. Unlike the canonical soluble nucleo-cytosolic forms, these proteins were predicted to have transmembrane (TM) domains and, apparently, [...] Read more.
A new class of plant phosphotransfer proteins belonging to the multistep phosphorelay (MSP) system implicated in phytohormone cytokinin signaling was discovered based on large-scale bioinformatics methods. Unlike the canonical soluble nucleo-cytosolic forms, these proteins were predicted to have transmembrane (TM) domains and, apparently, should be localized on some kind of cell membrane. To date, 94 predicted TM-containing phosphotransmitter (TM-HPt) homologs were found in 62 plant species belonging to different clades, taxa, and groups of embryophytes: bryophytes, gymnosperms, and mono- and dicotyledons. The conserved HPt motif with phosphorylatable histidine was preserved in most of the TM-HPts under study, which allowed us to consider these proteins potentially active in MSP signaling. For the identified TM-HPts, a Bayesian analysis at the DNA level was performed, and a relevant phylogenetic tree was constructed. According to evolutionary relationships, plant TM-HPts were divided into two main groups corresponding to Arabidopsis AHP1-3,5,6, and AHP4 orthologs. Transcriptomic analysis confirmed the expression of most of the investigated TM-HPt-encoding genes. Their moderate-to-low overall transcription rate may be a consequence of inducible and/or tissue-specific expression. Using molecular modeling methods, a variety of potential spatial organizations of several such proteins are demonstrated. The ability of the uncovered TM domains to tether HPts to membranes was supported by molecular dynamic simulation. Possible roles of TM-HPts as modulators of the MSP signaling pathway and corresponding putative mechanisms of their action are suggested. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Insights into Phytohormone Signaling in Plants)
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14 pages, 10829 KB  
Article
LpMAX2 Is a Strigolactone/Karrikin Signaling Component in Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)
by Haiyang Yu, Fang Qiu, Yuehua Wang, Ruifeng Yao, Meng Zhang and Li Chen
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(1), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010031 - 19 Dec 2025
Viewed by 763
Abstract
Perennial ryegrass is a widely cultivated cool-season forage and turf grass species whose growth and development are limited by drought and high temperature. MAX2 is an F-box leucine-rich repeat (LRR) protein, which serves as a central component of strigolactone (SL) and karrikin (KAR) [...] Read more.
Perennial ryegrass is a widely cultivated cool-season forage and turf grass species whose growth and development are limited by drought and high temperature. MAX2 is an F-box leucine-rich repeat (LRR) protein, which serves as a central component of strigolactone (SL) and karrikin (KAR) signaling pathways, involved in multiple growth and developmental processes as well as stress response. Here, we identified LpMAX2, a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) homolog of Arabidopsis MAX2 (AtMAX2) and rice D3. LpMAX2 can interact with AtD14 and LpD14 in an SL-dependent manner, implying functional conservation with AtMAX2. Overexpression of LpMAX2 in the Arabidopsis max2-3 mutant partially rescued leaf morphology, hypocotyl elongation, and branching phenotypes, while fully restoring drought tolerance, highlighting the evolutionarily conserved roles of MAX2 in plant growth and drought resistance. In conclusion, LpMAX2 is evolutionarily conserved in SL/KAR signaling pathways, highlighting its potential function in drought adaptation. In addition to elucidating the biological function of LpMAX2, this study identifies a promising genetic target for enhancing stress resilience in forage grasses through biotechnological approaches. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Insights into Phytohormone Signaling in Plants)
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22 pages, 7113 KB  
Article
Temperature Perception Regulates Seed Germination in Solanum nigrum via Phytohormone Signaling Pathways
by Ziqing Ma, Lu Yang, Zhihong Feng, Longlong Li, Kaidie Wu, Yue Xiong, Hongjuan Huang and Shouhui Wei
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(23), 11757; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262311757 - 4 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1054
Abstract
Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.) is a highly invasive weed in agricultural systems, primarily dispersed by seeds. Its germination is regulated by temperature, which varies among populations. We investigated the germination responses to temperature in two S. nigrum populations (XJ1600 and XJ1633) [...] Read more.
Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.) is a highly invasive weed in agricultural systems, primarily dispersed by seeds. Its germination is regulated by temperature, which varies among populations. We investigated the germination responses to temperature in two S. nigrum populations (XJ1600 and XJ1633) and identified eight putative candidate genes: GA20ox1, GA3ox1, GA2ox1, NCED9, CYP707A2, SPT, PIF1, and ABI5. These genes are involved in the phytohormone signaling pathway. Under low-temperature conditions, SPT likely perceives cold signals, promoting germination by up-regulating GA20ox1 and CYP707A2 while suppressing GA2ox1, thus potentially increasing bioactive GAs and reducing ABA levels. Under high-temperature conditions, PIFs likely perceive the heat signal. Through regulation mediated by the known negative regulator SOMNUS (SOM), NCED9 and GA2ox1 were up-regulated, while GA3ox1 was down-regulated, which could collectively modulate seed germination by altering ABA and GA levels. This study clarifies how temperature regulates S. nigrum seed germination through integrated hormonal and genetic mechanisms. This understanding directly supports the development of predictive models for weed emergence and informs the design of sustainable control strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Insights into Phytohormone Signaling in Plants)
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21 pages, 2633 KB  
Article
Melatonin at Crossroads with Phytohormones: Interactions Under High Light Stress
by Ivan A. Bychkov, Natalia V. Kudryakova, Victoria V. Shitikova and Victor V. Kusnetsov
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(21), 10531; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262110531 - 29 Oct 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1039
Abstract
Melatonin (MT), an antioxidant and growth regulator, interacts with almost all phytohormones, but the molecular mechanisms of these interactions are poorly understood. Using mRNA sequencing (mRNA-seq) technology, we analysed the global regulation of MT-induced expression of genes involved in metabolism, signalling and responses [...] Read more.
Melatonin (MT), an antioxidant and growth regulator, interacts with almost all phytohormones, but the molecular mechanisms of these interactions are poorly understood. Using mRNA sequencing (mRNA-seq) technology, we analysed the global regulation of MT-induced expression of genes involved in metabolism, signalling and responses to major phytohormones under prolonged high-intensity light (HL) stress. Plants respond to MT through the activation of auxin and brassinosteroid (BS) response genes, which were identified among the enriched categories of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with increased expression, and the suppression of abscisic acid and ethylene signalling and response genes, which were among the enriched downregulated categories. MT also suppressed growth-inhibiting genes involved in jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) signalling and response and activated genes encoding the growth-promoting hormones gibberellins and cytokinins (CKs), which is consistent with the role of MT in stress alleviation. However, the expression of some unique genes, which are positively or negatively modulated by stress, was reinforced by MT treatment, illustrating the extraordinary type of regulation that enhances the action of specific hormone-mediated mechanisms. The study of signal integration between MT and hormones with the involvement of signalling mutants revealed that some interactions are regulated at the transcriptional level and require the activity of relevant signalling pathways. Disruption of CAND2 completely abolished melatonin-dependent activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases MAP3K17 and MKK7, suggesting that the MAP3K17-MKK7 module is an important player in the MT-triggered MAPK pathway, acting downstream of CAND2. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Insights into Phytohormone Signaling in Plants)
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19 pages, 4391 KB  
Article
Brassinosteroid Synthesis and Perception Differently Regulate Phytohormone Networks in Arabidopsis thaliana
by Yaroslava Bukhonska, Michael Derevyanchuk, Roberta Filepova, Jan Martinec, Petre Dobrev, Eric Ruelland and Volodymyr Kravets
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(19), 9644; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26199644 - 2 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1619
Abstract
Brassinosteroids (BRs) are essential regulators of plant development and stress responses, but the distinct contributions of BR biosynthesis and signaling to hormonal crosstalk remain poorly defined. Here, we investigated the effects of the BR biosynthesis inhibitor brassinazole (BRZ) and the BR-insensitive mutant bri1-6 [...] Read more.
Brassinosteroids (BRs) are essential regulators of plant development and stress responses, but the distinct contributions of BR biosynthesis and signaling to hormonal crosstalk remain poorly defined. Here, we investigated the effects of the BR biosynthesis inhibitor brassinazole (BRZ) and the BR-insensitive mutant bri1-6 on endogenous phytohormone profiles in Arabidopsis thaliana. Using multivariate analysis and targeted hormone quantification, we show that BRZ treatment and BRI1 disruption alter hormone balance through partially overlapping but mechanistically distinct pathways. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering revealed that BRZ and the bri1-6 mutation do not phenocopy each other and that BRZ still alters hormone profiles even in the bri1-6 mutant, suggesting potential BRI1-independent effects. Both BRZ treatment and the bri1-6 mutation tend to influence cytokinins and auxin conjugates divergently. On the contrary, their effects on stress-related hormones converge: BRZ decreases salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), and abscisic acid (ABA) in the WT leaves; similarly, bri1-6 mutants show reduced SA, JA, and ABA. These results indicate that BR biosynthesis and BRI1-mediated perception may contribute independently to hormonal reprogramming, with BRZ eliciting additional effects, possibly via metabolic feedback, compensatory signaling, or off-target action. Hormone correlation analyses revealed conserved co-regulation clusters that reflect underlying regulatory modules. Altogether, our findings provide evidence for a partial uncoupling of BR levels and BR signaling and illustrate how BR pathways intersect with broader hormone networks to coordinate growth and stress responses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Insights into Phytohormone Signaling in Plants)
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19 pages, 6168 KB  
Article
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression of NF-YC Transcription Factors in Blueberry Under Abiotic Stress Conditions
by Xiang Zhang, Jiajie Yu, Xiuyue Xu, Baofeng Zhang, Jiahuan Huang and Bo Liu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(17), 8507; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26178507 - 1 Sep 2025
Viewed by 1219
Abstract
Nuclear Factor Y C (NF-YC) transcription factors (TFs) are central regulators of plant development and stress adaptation. However, there remains a gap in identifying NF-YC gene family members in blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), a globally significant fruit crop renowned for its nutritional [...] Read more.
Nuclear Factor Y C (NF-YC) transcription factors (TFs) are central regulators of plant development and stress adaptation. However, there remains a gap in identifying NF-YC gene family members in blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), a globally significant fruit crop renowned for its nutritional value and good adaptability. In this study, a total of 31 NF-YC genes (designated VcNF-YC1–31) were identified in the blueberry genome, and their basic physicochemical properties, gene structures, motif patterns, and conserved domains were investigated using bioinformatic methods. The cis-acting elements in the promoters of VcNF-YCs were mainly enriched in phytohormone signaling, metabolism, and stress response. qRT-PCR analysis showed that VcNF-YCs were expressed at higher levels in leaves than in roots and stems. Transcriptional profiling revealed rapid upregulation of 24, 25, and 16 VcNF-YC genes upon ABA, salt, and cold treatments, respectively, indicating stress-specific induction patterns. The results of the yeast transformation assay revealed that VcNF-YC10 and VcNF-YC15 lacked transcription-activating activity. The results of tobacco leaf injection revealed that these two TFs were localized in the nucleus. These findings indicate the potentially important roles in abiotic stress responses of blueberry, offering potential targets for molecular breeding to enhance plant resilience. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Insights into Phytohormone Signaling in Plants)
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22 pages, 4619 KB  
Article
Physiological and Transcriptomic Analyses Reveal Regulatory Mechanisms of Adventitious Root Formation in In Vitro Culture of Cinnamomum camphora
by Yuntong Zhang, Ting Zhang, Yongjie Zheng, Jun Wang, Chenglin Luo, Yuhua Li and Xinliang Liu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(15), 7264; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26157264 - 27 Jul 2025
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1569
Abstract
Cinnamomum camphora is an ecologically and economically significant species, highly valued for its essential oil production and environmental benefits. Although a tissue culture system has been established for C. camphora, large-scale propagation remains limited due to the inconsistent formation of adventitious roots [...] Read more.
Cinnamomum camphora is an ecologically and economically significant species, highly valued for its essential oil production and environmental benefits. Although a tissue culture system has been established for C. camphora, large-scale propagation remains limited due to the inconsistent formation of adventitious roots (ARs). This study investigated AR formation from callus tissue, focusing on associated physiological changes and gene expression dynamics. During AR induction, contents of soluble sugars and proteins decreased, alongside reduced activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO). Levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA) decreased significantly throughout AR formation. Zeatin riboside (ZR) levels initially declined and then rose, whereas gibberellic acid (GA) levels displayed the opposite trend. Comparative transcriptomic and temporal expression analyses identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were grouped into four distinct expression patterns. KEGG pathway enrichment indicated that 67 DEGs are involved in plant hormone signaling pathways and that 38 DEGs are involved in the starch and sucrose metabolism pathway. Additionally, protein–protein interaction network (PPI) analysis revealed ten key regulatory genes, which are mainly involved in auxin, cytokinin, GA, ABA, and ethylene signaling pathways. The reliability of the transcriptome data was further validated by quantitative real-time PCR. Overall, this study provides new insights into the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying AR formation in C. camphora and offers valuable guidance for optimizing tissue culture systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Insights into Phytohormone Signaling in Plants)
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16 pages, 2611 KB  
Article
The OsNAC25 Transcription Factor Enhances Drought Tolerance in Rice
by Aohuan Yang, Qiong Luo, Lei Liu, Meihe Jiang, Fankai Zhao, Yingjiang Li and Bohan Liu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(10), 4954; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26104954 - 21 May 2025
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2032
Abstract
Drought represents a prevalent abiotic stress in terrestrial plants, frequently impairing crop growth and yield. In this paper, we characterized the functional role of OsNAC25, a member of the NAC transcription factor family, in drought tolerance. OsNAC25 was predominantly localized in both [...] Read more.
Drought represents a prevalent abiotic stress in terrestrial plants, frequently impairing crop growth and yield. In this paper, we characterized the functional role of OsNAC25, a member of the NAC transcription factor family, in drought tolerance. OsNAC25 was predominantly localized in both the cytoplasm and nucleus, with its expression being markedly induced under drought conditions. Under severe drought stress, the overexpression of OsNAC25 rice exhibited decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, attenuated oxidative damage, and improved survival rate during the vegetative growth stage. The transcriptome analysis revealed that OsNAC25 coordinates drought response through key pathways associated with phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, plant hormone signal transduction, and diterpenoid biosynthesis. Collectively, our findings highlight OsNAC25 as a pivotal transcriptional regulator governing drought resistance in rice. This study not only provides a candidate gene for improving drought tolerance in rice but also offers valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying drought adaptation in cereal crops. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Insights into Phytohormone Signaling in Plants)
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