Plants

26 pages, 1647 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

TALEN-Interceded Genome Editing in Plants: Unveiling New Frontiers in Secondary Metabolite Improvement and Genetic Diversity

by Wajid Zaman, Atif Ali Khan Khalil and Adnan Amin

Plants 2025, 14(19), 3024; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14193024 - 30 Sep 2025

Viewed by 4224

Abstract

Secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, flavonoids, and tannins, are crucial for human health, agriculture, and ecosystem functioning. Their synthesis is often species-specific, influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. The increasing demand for these compounds across various industries highlights the need for advancements in [...] Read more.

Secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, flavonoids, and tannins, are crucial for human health, agriculture, and ecosystem functioning. Their synthesis is often species-specific, influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. The increasing demand for these compounds across various industries highlights the need for advancements in plant breeding and biotechnological approaches. Transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) have emerged as a powerful tool for precise genome editing, offering significant potential for enhancing the synthesis of secondary metabolites in plants. However, while plant genome editing technologies have advanced significantly, the application of TALENs in improving secondary metabolite production and expanding genetic diversity remains underexplored. Therefore, this review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of TALEN-mediated genome editing in plants, focusing on their role in enhancing secondary metabolite biosynthetic pathways and improving genetic diversity. The mechanisms underlying TALENs are examined, including their ability to target specific genes involved in the synthesis of bioactive compounds, highlighting comparisons with other genome editing tools such as CRISPR/Cas9. This review further highlights key applications in medicinal plants, particularly the modification of pathways responsible for alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds. Furthermore, the role of TALENs in inducing genetic variation, improving stress tolerance, and facilitating hybridization in plant breeding programs is highlighted. Recent advances, challenges, and limitations associated with using TALENs for enhancing secondary metabolite production are critically evaluated. In this review, gaps in current research are identified, particularly regarding the integration of TALENs with multi-omics technologies and synthetic biology approaches. The findings suggest that while underutilized, TALENs offer sustainable strategies for producing high-value secondary metabolites in medicinal plants. Future research should focus on optimizing TALEN systems for commercial applications and integrating them with advanced biotechnological platforms to enhance the yield and resilience of medicinal plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology)

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16 pages, 3127 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Optimizing Resource Management with Organic Fertilizer and Microbial Inoculants to Enhance Soil Quality, Microbial Diversity, and Crop Productivity in Newly Cultivated Land

by Yuling Dai, Xiaoxiao Wu, Shuo Li, Yan Li, Lei Wang, Yu Hu, Kangmeng Liu, Zhenguo Yang, Lianfeng Cai, Kuifeng Xu, Meili Cui, Xuening Xu, Yuehui Jia, Dan Wei and Jianli Ding

Plants 2025, 14(19), 3032; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14193032 - 30 Sep 2025

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1967

Abstract

In response to China’s drive to bring newly cultivated land into production, this study evaluated how combined organic fertilizer and microbial inoculants affect soil quality, bacterial community structure, and maize yield. Four treatments were evaluated: FC (chemical fertilizer only), T50 (50% organic fertilizer [...] Read more.

In response to China’s drive to bring newly cultivated land into production, this study evaluated how combined organic fertilizer and microbial inoculants affect soil quality, bacterial community structure, and maize yield. Four treatments were evaluated: FC (chemical fertilizer only), T50 (50% organic fertilizer + 50% chemical fertilizer), T50M (T50 plus microbial inoculant), and CK (no fertilizer). T50M significantly increased yield compared to FC and CK (p < 0.05), achieving the highest yield of 6995.73 kg ha⁻¹. This was 20.09% greater than FC. Community composition analyses showed that soil in newly cultivated land was dominated by Blastocatellia, Vicinamibacteria, and Alphaproteobacteria, together accounting for over 35.7% of total bacterial abundance. Redundancy analysis at the class level explained 55.7% of variance; soil organic matter (SOM) and available potassium positively correlated with Alphaproteobacteria and Bacteroidia, while available phosphorus and nitrate nitrogen aligned with Actinobacteria and Bacilli. Path analysis indicated that SOM and total nitrogen were the strongest positive drivers of yield. Actinobacteria and Acidobacteriae also showed direct positive effects, whereas Verrucomicrobiae had a negative effect. These results demonstrate that integrated organic–microbial amendments can enhance soil fertility and alter microbial diversity toward taxa that can improve maize productivity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biofertilizers for Plant Growth Enhancement and Sustainable Agriculture)

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20 pages, 2038 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Unpacking the Trade-Offs: A Meta-Analysis of Soil Fertility, Crop Yield, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Across Fertilizer Types (Organic, Mineral) and Cropping Systems

by Elnaz Amirahmadi and Mohammad Ghorbani

Plants 2025, 14(19), 3005; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14193005 - 28 Sep 2025

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3635

Abstract

Different strategies are used in organic and conventional cultivation, which can significantly influence crop yield, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and soil quality. However, the relative efficiency of these fertilization practices has not been systematically compared. The objective of this study was to evaluate [...] Read more.

Different strategies are used in organic and conventional cultivation, which can significantly influence crop yield, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and soil quality. However, the relative efficiency of these fertilization practices has not been systematically compared. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impacts of organic, conventional, and semi-organic fertilization systems on soil properties, crop productivity, and GHG emissions through a comprehensive meta-analysis. The analysis showed that conventional systems had the highest increase in nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions (+62%), followed by semi-organic (+55%) and organic (+21%). Soil texture strongly influenced methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) fluxes, with clay soils showing the highest CH₄ response (+50%). Cropping practices such as intercropping and crop rotation enhanced soil nitrate availability (+18%), while vegetable and cereal systems improved crop yield by +29% and +19%, respectively. Importantly, semi-organic systems increased yield (+25%) while reducing greenhouse gas intensity (+13%), especially in cereals under intercropping. Integrating organic inputs into semi-organic systems, especially in cereal cultivation under intercropping practices, appears to reduce the carbon intensity per unit yield while maintaining productivity. These findings underscore the importance of context-specific management strategies to optimize agronomic performance and mitigate environmental impacts. Full article

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

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17 pages, 1829 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effect of Alkaline Salt Stress on Photosynthetic Activities of Potato Plants (Solanum tuberosum L.)

by Congang Shen, Wenhui Yang, Yichen Kang, Shuhao Qin, Weina Zhang, Yuhui Liu, Siyuan Qian and Yuchen Han

Plants 2025, 14(19), 2979; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14192979 - 26 Sep 2025

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1977

Abstract

Land salinization severely limits the development of agriculture, and the growing global population poses a serious challenge to food security. As an abiotic stress factor limiting photosynthesis in potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.), alkaline salt stress significantly impacts their photosynthetic activity. In this [...] Read more.

Land salinization severely limits the development of agriculture, and the growing global population poses a serious challenge to food security. As an abiotic stress factor limiting photosynthesis in potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.), alkaline salt stress significantly impacts their photosynthetic activity. In this study, potted seedlings of the ‘Atlantic’ variety were planted in the pots. Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) was incorporated into the dry soil within the pots at four distinct concentration levels: 0 mmol/L, 20 mmol/L, 40 mmol/L, and 60 mmol/L. The findings indicated that at a concentration of 60 mmol/L, the initial fluorescence (Fo) exhibited its peak value. At this concentration, NaHCO₃ stress induced a significant decline in several parameters: variable fluorescence (Fv), the chlorophyll fluorescence ratio (Fv/Fm), dark-adapted maximum fluorescence (Fm), the Fv/Fo ratio, and overall plant performance. Compared to the control CK, the values of Fv, Fv/Fm, Fm, and Fv/Fo decreased by 42.36%, 20.44%, 54.1%, and 61.97%, respectively. At a stress concentration of 60 mmol/L, NaHCO₃ stress exhibited a more pronounced inhibition of chlorophyll synthesis. Under T3 treatment at this stress concentration, the contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll a/b were significantly lower than the control group (CK), decreasing by 46.29%, 54.3%, and 48.56%, respectively. The T2 treatment showed the next most pronounced reduction, with levels 33.26%, 45.75%, and 36.79% lower than CK, respectively. After a brief increase in the intercellular CO₂ concentration (Ci) in photosynthetic gas exchange, the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), and transpiration rate (Tr) decreased significantly with the gradual increase in concentration and prolongation of time. The expression levels of genes related to some subunits of photosystem II and photosystem I were down-regulated under stress, while the expressions of genes related to Fd and FNR were also down-regulated to varying degrees. In this study, photosynthetic activities such as fluorescence parameters, chlorophyll content, and photosynthetic gas exchange were measured, along with 16 key photosynthetic genes of potato plants. The aim was to explore the effects of alkaline salt stress on potato photosynthesis and its related mechanisms. The research outcomes contribute to a better understanding of potato’s adaptive responses to alkaline stress, potentially informing future efforts in crop improvement and saline agriculture management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systems-Level Understanding of Plant Adaptation to Abiotic Stress: Physiological and Biochemical Perspectives)

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28 pages, 1310 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Agriculture: Integrating Biotechnology, Microbiology, and Novel Delivery Systems for Sustainable Agriculture

by Bruno B. Navarro, Mauricio J. Machado and Antonio Figueira

Plants 2025, 14(19), 2974; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14192974 - 25 Sep 2025

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5888

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) is the primary macronutrient that supports global agriculture. The Haber–Bosch process revolutionized the use of synthetic N fertilizers, enabling significant increases in crop yield. However, N losses from fertilization led to negative impacts on the environment. Improving crops’ N use efficiency [...] Read more.

Nitrogen (N) is the primary macronutrient that supports global agriculture. The Haber–Bosch process revolutionized the use of synthetic N fertilizers, enabling significant increases in crop yield. However, N losses from fertilization led to negative impacts on the environment. Improving crops’ N use efficiency (NUE) has been constrained by the limited understanding of N uptake and assimilation mechanisms, and the role of plant–microbe interactions. Among biological approaches, N fixation by cover crops and rhizobia symbioses represents a cornerstone strategy for improving NUE. The adoption of plant growth-promoting bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi may enhance N acquisition by increasing root surface, modulating phytohormone levels, and facilitating nutrient transfer. Advances in plant molecular biology have identified key players and regulators of NUE (enzymes, transporters, and N-responsive transcription factors), which enhance N uptake and assimilation. Emerging biotechnological strategies include de novo domestication by genome editing of crop wild relatives to combine NUE traits and stress resilience back into domesticated cultivars. Additionally, novel fertilizers with controlled nutrient release and microbe-mediated nutrient mobilization, hold promise for synchronizing N availability with plant demand, reducing losses, and increasing NUE. Together, these strategies form a multidimensional framework to enhance NUE, mitigate environmental impacts, and facilitate the transition towards more sustainable agricultural systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Nitrogen Nutrition in Plants)

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26 pages, 1089 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Phytochemicals from Brazilian Red Propolis: A Review of Their Anti-Inflammatory Potential

by Thaise Boeing, Rodolfo Moresco and Priscila de Souza

Plants 2025, 14(19), 2961; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14192961 - 24 Sep 2025

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3611

Abstract

Brazilian red propolis (BRP) has emerged as a promising source of multifunctional phytochemicals with potent anti-inflammatory activity. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the anti-inflammatory effects of BRP’s bioactive compounds, their molecular targets, and their mechanisms of action. Isolated compounds from BRP [...] Read more.

Brazilian red propolis (BRP) has emerged as a promising source of multifunctional phytochemicals with potent anti-inflammatory activity. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the anti-inflammatory effects of BRP’s bioactive compounds, their molecular targets, and their mechanisms of action. Isolated compounds from BRP (such as formononetin, biochanin A, daidzein, calycosin, medicarpin, vestitol, and neovestitol) have demonstrated the ability to modulate critical pro-inflammatory signaling pathways, including NF-κB, TLR4, JAK/STAT, and PI3K/AKT, while concurrently activating antioxidant and cytoprotective responses via the Nrf2/HO-1 axis. These effects are further supported by the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, regulation of immune cell infiltration and activation, inhibition of inflammasome components such as NLRP3, induction of autophagy, and polarization of macrophages and microglia from a pro-inflammatory (M1) to an anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotype. Collectively, these findings reinforce the potential of BRP as a rich source of multifunctional phytochemicals with broad therapeutic relevance for chronic inflammation and related pathologies. Future research should address the identified knowledge gaps by employing rigorous in vitro and in vivo toxicity assessments, exploring structure–activity relationships, and leveraging advanced delivery systems to optimize bioavailability. Such methodological approaches will be essential for translating the promising biological activities of BRP compounds into clinically viable therapeutic agents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products of Medicinal Plants: Isolation, Purification and Bioactivity Evaluation)

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23 pages, 1679 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Advancements in Agricultural Nanotechnology: An Updated Review

by Mario Pagano, Erika Lunetta, Francesco Belli, Giacomo Mocarli, Claudia Cocozza and Ilaria Cacciotti

Plants 2025, 14(18), 2939; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14182939 - 22 Sep 2025

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 6456

Abstract

Sustainable agriculture aims to meet the growing food demands of a rising global population while minimizing negative impacts on the environment, preserving natural resources, and ensuring long-term agricultural productivity. However, conventional agricultural practices often involve excessive use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and water, [...] Read more.

Sustainable agriculture aims to meet the growing food demands of a rising global population while minimizing negative impacts on the environment, preserving natural resources, and ensuring long-term agricultural productivity. However, conventional agricultural practices often involve excessive use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and water, leading to soil degradation, water pollution, and ecosystem imbalances. In this context, agricultural nanotechnology has emerged as a transformative field, offering innovative solutions to enhance crop productivity, improve soil health, and ensure sustainable agricultural practices. This review has explored the wide-ranging uses of nanotechnology in agriculture, highlighting innovative plant-targeted delivery systems—such as polymer-based nanoparticles, carbon nanomaterials, dendrimers, metal oxide particles, and nanoemulsions—as well as its contributions to minimizing pesticide application, alleviating plant stress, and improving interactions between plants and nanoparticles. By examining recent research and development, the review highlights the potential of nanotechnology to address critical challenges such as pest resistance, nutrient management, and environmental sustainability. In conclusion, we believe that, in the immediate future, key priorities should include: (1) scaling up field trials to validate laboratory findings, (2) developing biodegradable nanomaterials to ensure environmental safety, and (3) integrating nanotechnology with digital agriculture platforms to enable real-time monitoring and adaptive management. These steps are essential for translating promising research into practical, sustainable solutions that can effectively support global food security. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Nanotechnology for Monitoring and Enhancing Plant Physiological Responses Under Environmental Stress)

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15 pages, 2012 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Screening of Highly Virulent Beauveria bassiana Strains Against Tuta absoluta Larvae and Evaluation of Their Endophytic Colonization-Mediated Suppression in Tomato Plants

by Bo Xu, Cong Huang, Sheng Cheng, Jörg Romeis, Jana Collatz, Guifen Zhang, Yibo Zhang, Guohui Zhang and Fanghao Wan

Plants 2025, 14(18), 2932; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14182932 - 21 Sep 2025

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1814

Abstract

To identify highly virulent Beauveria bassiana strains against Tuta absoluta and evaluate their biocontrol potential, four strains were phylogenetically characterized via ITS sequence analysis of rDNA and assessed for virulence against second-instar T. absoluta larvae. Foliar spray and root irrigation methods were used [...] Read more.

To identify highly virulent Beauveria bassiana strains against Tuta absoluta and evaluate their biocontrol potential, four strains were phylogenetically characterized via ITS sequence analysis of rDNA and assessed for virulence against second-instar T. absoluta larvae. Foliar spray and root irrigation methods were used to establish B. bassiana endophytic colonization in tomato plants, with untreated plants serving as controls. A population life table was constructed to quantify the impact of colonized plants on larval development, fecundity, and key demographic parameters. Results showed variation in virulence among the four B. bassiana strains Bb1Bm, Bb2Bm, Bb1M, and BbC with Bb1Bm exhibiting the highest pathogenicity (85.00% corrected mortality at 1 × 10⁸ spores/mL). Maximum endophytic colonization in tomato leaves was observed 14 days post-inoculation with both foliar spray and root irrigation treatments. Life table analyses revealed that T. absoluta feeding on colonized plants exhibited significantly reduced survival rates, shorter adult lifespans, and lower female fecundity compared to controls. Key population parameters, including net reproductive rate (R₀), intrinsic rate of increase (r), and finite rate of increase (λ), were significantly reduced, while mean generation time (T) was significantly prolonged. These findings highlight the dual role of B. bassiana in T. absoluta management, demonstrating its potential as both a direct pathogen and an endophytic biocontrol agent capable of disrupting pest population dynamics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Feature Papers in Plant Protection)

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24 pages, 5259 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Morpho-Agronomic Characterization of an Unexploited Germplasm Collection of Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis (L.)) from Spain

by Eric Prendes-Rodríguez, Alicia Iborra, Carla Guijarro-Real, Adrián Rodríguez-Burruezo and Ana Fita

Plants 2025, 14(18), 2919; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14182919 - 19 Sep 2025

Viewed by 1964

Abstract

Cauliflower landraces (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) safeguard allelic diversity for adaptation, yet their phenotypic breadth under winter field conditions remains under-documented. We evaluated 69 Spanish landraces and two commercial checks from the COMAV-UPV genebank using 15 quantitative and 21 qualitative descriptors. [...] Read more.

Cauliflower landraces (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) safeguard allelic diversity for adaptation, yet their phenotypic breadth under winter field conditions remains under-documented. We evaluated 69 Spanish landraces and two commercial checks from the COMAV-UPV genebank using 15 quantitative and 21 qualitative descriptors. Seed viability ranged from 0 to 92%, and mature plants showed wide ranges in stem length (coefficient of variation ≈ 72%), leaf size, and head weight (100–723 g). Six curd-colour classes—including uncommon purple and Romanesco green—were recorded. Most accessions (>88%) required more than 120 days from sowing to harvest, but a distinct subset (12%) matured within 60–120 days. Plant stature tended to be positively associated with head mass, whereas highly branched inflorescences matured earlier. Variation was dominated by curd size and plant architecture. Multivariate analyses—principal component analysis for quantitative traits, multiple correspondence analysis for qualitative traits, factor analysis of mixed data, and clustering of FAMD scores by k-means—resolved three phenotypic clusters spanning a gradient of curd size/architecture and plant stature. The collection includes accessions with compact curds, earliness, or distinctive pigmentation that are immediately useful for breeding and for prioritizing regeneration. These results provide a phenotypic baseline for future genomic association studies and the development of cultivars adapted to winter production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Genetic Resources)

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17 pages, 8397 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Enhance Antioxidant Defense Systems in Sugarcane Under Soil Cadmium Stress

by Gloria Magaly Paladines-Beltrán, Nathalia Alejandra Venegas and Juan Carlos Suárez

Plants 2025, 14(18), 2916; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14182916 - 19 Sep 2025

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2964

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal that affects living organisms even at low concentrations, causing physiological alterations and biomass reduction in plants. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) represent a biological strategy that increases tolerance to heavy metals, although their specific mechanisms in sugarcane remain [...] Read more.

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal that affects living organisms even at low concentrations, causing physiological alterations and biomass reduction in plants. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) represent a biological strategy that increases tolerance to heavy metals, although their specific mechanisms in sugarcane remain poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, an open-field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of AMF on Cd accumulation, oxidative stress, photosynthetic pigments, enzymatic antioxidant system, and non-enzymatic antioxidant compounds in sugarcane variety CC 01-1940, using a randomized block design. Results showed that AMF established symbiosis with plants, retaining Cd in the roots and reducing its translocation to leaves. Additionally, they decreased Cd-induced oxidative stress by reducing lipid peroxidation (MDA) and proline content. Although an initial decrease in photosynthetic capacity was observed, AMF helped maintain stable levels of photosynthetic pigments, preserving photosynthetic efficiency. They also activated antioxidant enzymes and increased antioxidant compounds such as reduced glutathione (GSH), non-protein thiols (NP-SH), ascorbic acid (AA), and phytochelatins (PC). These findings demonstrate that symbiosis with AMF protects sugarcane plants from cellular oxidative damage and reduces Cd concentrations in leaves. Therefore, the use of AMF represents an effective strategy to improve the antioxidant defense and resistance of sugarcane plants to cadmium stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions)

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30 pages, 1827 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

The Role of Silicon Compounds in Plant Responses to Cadmium Stress: A Review

by Monika Komorowska-Trepner and Katarzyna Głowacka

Plants 2025, 14(18), 2911; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14182911 - 19 Sep 2025

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3436

Abstract

Silicon (Si) has emerged as a promising tool for mitigating the negative effects of biotic and abiotic stresses, such as caused by heavy metals, on plants. The aim of the study was to summarize knowledge about the mechanisms underlying the interaction between silicon [...] Read more.

Silicon (Si) has emerged as a promising tool for mitigating the negative effects of biotic and abiotic stresses, such as caused by heavy metals, on plants. The aim of the study was to summarize knowledge about the mechanisms underlying the interaction between silicon and cadmium. This review first discusses silicon compounds in plant physiology, then examines mechanisms of silicon–cadmium interaction, including antioxidant defense, metal chelation, nutrient transport, molecular responses, subcellular changes, and future directions. Recent studies show that various forms of Si, such as conventional Si and Si-nanoparticles (Si NPs), can have various effects on the ability of a plant to absorb and utilize Si for protection. Silicon, taken up mainly as soluble orthosilicic acid (H₄SiO₄) and Si NPs, can be absorbed by plants and subsequently deposited predominantly in cell walls. It has been found that Si and Si NPs increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes, including CAT, SOD, and POD, in plants under cadmium (Cd) stress. Furthermore, Si reduces the expression of Cd transport-related genes, including OsNRAMP5 and OsHMA2 in rice. It has also been shown that supplementation with Si and Si NPs in plants under Cd stress reduces the Cd content in their tissues and changes the uptake of elements necessary for the proper functioning of the plant organism. Furthermore, Si supplementation increases the content of pectins, which are involved in the binding and neutralization of Cd. The following overview highlights the importance of both Si and SiNPs in neutralizing the harmful effects of Cd on the environment and agriculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological Response and Molecular Mechanisms of Plants to Heavy Metal/Loid Toxicity)

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36 pages, 7151 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

The Genus Iris Tourn. ex L.: Updates on Botany, Cultivation, Novel Niches and Impactful Applications

by Ioana Crișan

Plants 2025, 14(18), 2870; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14182870 - 15 Sep 2025

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5076

Abstract

The genus Iris is a perfect example of ethnobotanic continuity, where symbolic, medicinal and cultural relevance have provided foundations for many of the ornamental, phytochemical, pharmacological, industrial and ecological applications we know today. The aim of this review is to provide an up-to-date [...] Read more.

The genus Iris is a perfect example of ethnobotanic continuity, where symbolic, medicinal and cultural relevance have provided foundations for many of the ornamental, phytochemical, pharmacological, industrial and ecological applications we know today. The aim of this review is to provide an up-to-date perspective on the past, present and future of this genus at the nexus of various interconnected disciplines, focusing on the most impactful and promising applications. The genus’s most economically relevant areas of importance are ornamental use and the industrial application of orris. Biodiversity studies provide a necessary basis of knowledge for preserving its valuable genetic pool; optimized cultivation technologies ensure the flow of raw materials to various industries; and scientific research opens new niches for applications. Iris extracts and compounds have been shown to be effective against certain human pathogens, including fungi, bacteria, and protozoa. Newly screened species indicate promising antimicrobial and antioxidant bioactivity, hinting at their unexplored potential. New compounds have been isolated and studied, exhibiting pharmacological and immunomodulatory potential. Iris-derived exosomes with skin-protective effects and iris extract-coated nanoparticles that can be applied in phytoremediation are among the newest findings. Novel niches explore the potential of useful microbiomes from wild-sampled irises and the use of allelochemicals as bioherbicides. Current scientific evidence supports the medicinal, ecological and industrial relevance of this genus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ethnobotany and Botany in the Euro-Mediterranean Region)

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23 pages, 7528 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Environmental Factors, Developmental Genes and Oxidative Stress Determine Inter-Species Variability in Seed Longevity in Salicaceae

by Xiaoyin Zhang, Qin Ai, Xiaojian Hu, Liang Lin, Xiangyun Yang, Hugh W. Pritchard, Jie Cai, Huajie He and Hongying Chen

Plants 2025, 14(18), 2861; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14182861 - 13 Sep 2025

Viewed by 2474

Abstract

Dry seed longevity varies considerably among species, but little is known about its relation with the climate and the molecular mechanisms that determine seed lifespan. Salicaceae species, with more than 620 species worldwide, are known to produce short-lived seeds, making them particularly good [...] Read more.

Dry seed longevity varies considerably among species, but little is known about its relation with the climate and the molecular mechanisms that determine seed lifespan. Salicaceae species, with more than 620 species worldwide, are known to produce short-lived seeds, making them particularly good models to explore ageing processes in the glassy state rather than under accelerated ageing. We compared seed lifespan for 13 species of Salix and Populus across a broad geographical range (up to 2200 m a.s.l.). High-quality seeds were obtained by optimizing collection time (just before capsule dehiscence) and post-harvest handling (i.e., the use of negative pressure to remove seed hairs). At optimal moisture contents (MCs) between 6 and 9%, most species seeds demonstrated minimal decreases in viability after storage at −20 °C or in liquid nitrogen for 3 years. Dry room (15% RH, 15 °C) storage differentiated between species’ seed lifespans (P₅₀s) of c. 150 to >1200 d. Unlike Salix, Populus species from warm wet environments tended to produce longer-lived seeds in dry storage. Based on transcriptome data on Populus davidiana (longer-lived) and Populus euphratica (shorter-lived), we revealed high correlations between late seed maturation genes, such as 60% of HSP and 67% of LEA genes showed higher expression in P. davidiana seeds, while 70% of WRKY transcription factors showed significantly higher expression in P. euphratica seeds. For these two species, genes related to oxidative stress might be the most important contributor to different seed longevity in the dry glassy state. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptive Mechanisms of Plants to Biotic or Abiotic Stresses—2nd Edition)

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21 pages, 2618 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Late Water Deficits Improve Intrinsic Water Use Efficiency, Fruit Maturity, and Acceptability in Yellow-Fleshed Kiwifruit cv. Soreli

by Arturo Calderón-Orellana, Mauricio Calderón-Orellana, Catalina Atenas, Carolina Contreras, Felipe Aburto, Tamara Alvear and Silvia Antileo-Mellado

Plants 2025, 14(18), 2843; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14182843 - 12 Sep 2025

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1727

Abstract

Water scarcity poses a significant threat to kiwifruit production, especially in Mediterranean climates. This study investigated the impact of late-season regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) on water use efficiency and fruit quality of yellow-fleshed kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis cv. Soreli) over two seasons in [...] Read more.

Water scarcity poses a significant threat to kiwifruit production, especially in Mediterranean climates. This study investigated the impact of late-season regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) on water use efficiency and fruit quality of yellow-fleshed kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis cv. Soreli) over two seasons in central Chile. Four irrigation treatments were applied during fruit ripening: full irrigation (Control), moderate deficits for three or five weeks (D50S and D50L), and complete irrigation suspension for three weeks (D100). While D100 had minimal impact on stomatal conductance, it significantly reduced stem and leaf water potentials, indicating severe water stress. D100 treatment also showed the highest intrinsic water use efficiency (via δ13C enrichment) and improved water productivity by up to 20%. Fruits from D100 and D50S had higher soluble solids (up to 2.0 °Brix) without compromising firmness or yield. Sensory evaluations indicated greater consumer acceptance in water-stressed treatments, especially D100, due to enhanced color and flavor. Principal component analysis confirmed that moderate-to-severe-water stress correlated with favorable sensory profiles. These findings suggest that short-term, late-season water deficits can enhance fruit quality and water use efficiency without reducing yield, offering a sustainable strategy for kiwifruit production under increasing water limitations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Challenges in Response to Salt and Water Stress)

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23 pages, 2284 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Old-Growth Forests and Bryophyte Communities in Italy and the Broader Mediterranean Region: A Literature Review

by Mattia Letizia Marino, Patrizia Campisi and Fortunato Cirlincione

Plants 2025, 14(18), 2824; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14182824 - 10 Sep 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2108

Abstract

Beginning with general references to old-growth forests and the numerous benefits that they provide at multiple levels, this review mentions the main surveys conducted in Italy to identify and characterise Italian old-growth forests and offers an overview of the state of knowledge on [...] Read more.

Beginning with general references to old-growth forests and the numerous benefits that they provide at multiple levels, this review mentions the main surveys conducted in Italy to identify and characterise Italian old-growth forests and offers an overview of the state of knowledge on bryophytes of these ecosystems in Sicily. Then, it focuses on the relationship between bryophyte diversity and old-growth traits (e.g., structural characteristics, long-term continuity), as well as the potential use of bryophytes as bioindicators of forest continuity and naturalness. In this regard, studies on bryophyte floras and communities in old-growth forests were examined in detail not only for Italy but also for the broader Mediterranean region, also taking into account evidence from investigations conducted in other bioclimatic zones. The analysis shows that old-growth forests often provide refuges for rare and noteworthy taxa and host highly diverse bryophyte communities. However, it appears that in Mediterranean forests, which have been less studied than temperate and boreal forests, the influence of certain factors that are known to be important in other contexts, such as deadwood, may be comparatively less relevant. Also, bryophyte species highly related to old-growth stands or with mature and ancient trees in the Mediterranean area are reported. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Ecology)

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34 pages, 4551 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Multi-Scale Remote-Sensing Phenomics Integrated with Multi-Omics: Advances in Crop Drought–Heat Stress Tolerance Mechanisms and Perspectives for Climate-Smart Agriculture

by Xiongwei Liang, Shaopeng Yu, Yongfu Ju, Yingning Wang and Dawei Yin

Plants 2025, 14(18), 2829; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14182829 - 10 Sep 2025

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 4638

Abstract

Climate change is intensifying the co-occurrence of drought and heat stresses, which substantially constrain global crop yields and threaten food security. Developing climate–resilient crop varieties requires a comprehensive understanding of the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying combined drought–heat stress tolerance. This review systematically [...] Read more.

Climate change is intensifying the co-occurrence of drought and heat stresses, which substantially constrain global crop yields and threaten food security. Developing climate–resilient crop varieties requires a comprehensive understanding of the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying combined drought–heat stress tolerance. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in integrating multi-scale remote-sensing phenomics with multi-omics approaches—genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics—to elucidate stress response pathways and identify adaptive traits. High-throughput phenotyping platforms, including satellites, UAVs, and ground-based sensors, enable non-invasive assessment of key stress indicators such as canopy temperature, vegetation indices, and chlorophyll fluorescence. Concurrently, omics studies have revealed central regulatory networks, including the ABA–SnRK2 signaling cascade, HSF–HSP chaperone systems, and ROS-scavenging pathways. Emerging frameworks integrating genotype × environment × phenotype (G × E × P) interactions, powered by machine learning and deep learning algorithms, are facilitating the discovery of functional genes and predictive phenotypes. This “pixels-to-proteins” paradigm bridges field-scale phenotypes with molecular responses, offering actionable insights for breeding, precision management, and the development of digital twin systems for climate-smart agriculture. We highlight current challenges, including data standardization and cross-platform integration, and propose future research directions to accelerate the deployment of resilient crop varieties. Full article

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

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17 pages, 1159 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Unraveling Paracetamol Metabolism and Its Circadian Regulation: Insights from Tobacco Hairy Roots as a Model System

by Lucas G. Sosa Alderete, Mariana Vezza, Sabrina G. Ibañez, Peter Schroeder, Elizabeth Agostini and Melina A. Talano

Plants 2025, 14(17), 2812; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14172812 - 8 Sep 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2735

Abstract

The increasing interest in the presence of contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) in aquatic environments has driven research into biological mechanisms capable of eliminating pharmaceutical compounds like paracetamol, considering different plant species as model systems. Thus, the use of hairy roots (HRs) has [...] Read more.

The increasing interest in the presence of contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) in aquatic environments has driven research into biological mechanisms capable of eliminating pharmaceutical compounds like paracetamol, considering different plant species as model systems. Thus, the use of hairy roots (HRs) has become an interesting tool. This study explores the ability of tobacco HRs to remove paracetamol, with an emphasis on elucidating the main metabolism steps and key enzymes involved in the green liver detoxification process, as well as the antioxidant response. The deepening of these aspects has been carried out through gene expression and biochemical analysis under circadian regulation. Our results reveal that HRs efficiently removed paracetamol (100 mg L⁻¹) from the culture medium, achieving around 99% removal at ZT16 h (Zeitgeber Time 16). The early activation of antioxidant defense mechanisms, demonstrated by enhanced peroxidase (POD) activity and total antioxidant capacity (TAA) during the light phase, has been observed. Furthermore, glutathione S-transferase (GSTs) activity and glutathione (GSH) levels, potentially linked to paracetamol conjugation, were also assessed. Gene expression analyses confirmed GST gene upregulation in response to paracetamol treatment, with GSTF6-like and GSTF8-like maintaining circadian rhythms as in the control, and GSTZ1-like only displayed rhythmic expression upon treatment. Additionally, the modulation of core circadian clock genes (NtLHY1 and NtTOC1) suggests that the plant response to paracetamol is tightly regulated by the circadian system. Together, these findings shed light on the complex molecular and biochemical mechanisms underlying paracetamol detoxification in tobacco HRs and underscore the significant role of circadian regulation in orchestrating these responses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Molecular Biology)

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34 pages, 4505 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Partial Replacement of Peat: Effects on Substrate Physico-Hydrological Properties and Sage Growth

by Anna Elisa Sdao, Sonia Cacini, Danilo Loconsole, Giulia Conversa, Giuseppe Cristiano, Antonio Elia and Barbara De Lucia

Plants 2025, 14(17), 2801; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14172801 - 7 Sep 2025

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2341

Abstract

The transformation of organic by-products derived from waste into value-added resources represents a promising strategy to advance circular economy principles and bolster environmental and agricultural sustainability, especially in soilless cultivation. This study evaluates the viability of three organic by-products—wood fiber (WF), coffee silverskin [...] Read more.

The transformation of organic by-products derived from waste into value-added resources represents a promising strategy to advance circular economy principles and bolster environmental and agricultural sustainability, especially in soilless cultivation. This study evaluates the viability of three organic by-products—wood fiber (WF), coffee silverskin (CS), and brewer’s spent grains (BSGs)—as partial peat replacements in horticultural substrates. Ten growing media formulations were assessed, incorporating increased doses (0–40% v/v as peat replacement-PR) of each alternative by-product. The effects on physical and hydraulic substrate properties, along with plant growth traits, were examined using two ornamental Salvia genotypes, ‘Victoria’ and ‘Amistad’. To synthesize the multivariate growth data into a single, biologically meaningful metric, based on the first principal component, a Growth Index (GI), a PC1-derived index, was calculated, providing a powerful, unified metric to rank substrate efficacy. WF-based substrates exhibited increased porosity and diminished water retention, whereas media enriched with CS and BSG enhanced moisture availability, particularly at 20–40 PR. The bulk density was highest at PR40 for both WF and BSG treatments, and at PR20 in CS-based substrates. Electrical conductivity increased in CS and BSG treatments with rising PR levels. The results on the vegetative growth of ornamental sages have highlighted that differential PR rates are required depending on the specific organic by-product and plant genotype. In ‘Victoria’, GI indicates that a 20% replacement of peat with BSG provided the optimal conditions for holistic plant development; the lowest GI for WF substrates across nearly all peat replacement levels indicated that it was the most detrimental alternative for this cultivar. In ‘Amistad’, the analysis of the GI scores revealed that the CS20 and BSG20 of peat replacement yielded the highest overall growth, with GI scores significantly greater than those of the peat control. CS10 and BSG40 also showed high GI scores in ‘Amistad’. WF10 had GI scores similar to those of the peat control. In general, the GI-based approach confirms that moderate inclusion of brewer’s spent grain (BSG20) is a highly effective peat replacement for both genotypes. At the same time, coffee silverskin (CS) is particularly effective for the ‘Amistad’ genotype. This analysis underscores that optimal substrate formulation is not only dependent on the amendment type and rate but also critically on the plant genotype. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Driving Sustainability: Innovations in Producing Eco-Friendly Substrates for Soilless Culture Systems)

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28 pages, 3770 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Integrating Artificial Intelligence and Biotechnology to Enhance Cold Stress Resilience in Legumes

by Kai Wang, Lei Xia, Xuetong Yang, Chang Du, Tong Tang, Zheng Yang, Shijie Ma, Xinjian Wan, Feng Guan, Bo Shi, Yuanyuan Xie and Jingyun Zhang

Plants 2025, 14(17), 2784; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14172784 - 5 Sep 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2453

Abstract

Cold stress severely limits legume productivity, threatening global food security, particularly in climate-vulnerable regions. This review synthesizes advances in understanding and enhancing cold tolerance in key legumes (chickpea, soybean, lentil, and cowpea), addressing three core questions: (1) molecular/physiological foundations of cold tolerance; (2) [...] Read more.

Cold stress severely limits legume productivity, threatening global food security, particularly in climate-vulnerable regions. This review synthesizes advances in understanding and enhancing cold tolerance in key legumes (chickpea, soybean, lentil, and cowpea), addressing three core questions: (1) molecular/physiological foundations of cold tolerance; (2) how emerging technologies accelerate stress dissection and breeding; and (3) integration strategies and deployment challenges. Legume cold tolerance involves conserved pathways (e.g., ICE-CBF-COR, Inducer of CBF Expression, C-repeat Binding Factor, Cold-Responsive genes) and species-specific mechanisms like soybean’s GmTCF1a-mediated pathway. Multi-omics have identified critical genes (e.g., CaDREB1E in chickpea, NFR5 in pea) underlying adaptive traits (membrane stabilization, osmolyte accumulation) that reduce yield losses by 30–50% in tolerant genotypes. Technologically, AI and high-throughput phenotyping achieve >95% accuracy in early cold detection (3–7 days pre-symptoms) via hyperspectral/thermal imaging; deep learning (e.g., CNN-LSTM hybrids) improves trait prediction by 23% over linear models. Genomic selection cuts breeding cycles by 30–50% (to 3–5 years) using GEBVs (Genomic estimated breeding values) from hundreds of thousands of SNPs (Single-nucleotide polymorphisms). Advanced sensors (LIG-based, LoRaWAN) enable real-time monitoring (±0.1 °C precision, <30 s response), supporting precision irrigation that saves 15–40% water while maintaining yields. Key barriers include multi-omics data standardization and cost constraints in resource-limited regions. Integrating molecular insights with AI-driven phenomics and multi-omics is revolutionizing cold-tolerance breeding, accelerating climate-resilient variety development, and offering a blueprint for sustainable agricultural adaptation. Full article

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

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20 pages, 631 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Ethnobotany in a Modern City: The Persistence in the Use of Medicinal Plants in Guadalajara, Mexico

by Rosa Elena Martínez-González, Francisco Martín Huerta-Martínez, Cecilia Neri-Luna, Lucía Barrientos-Ramírez and Alejandro Muñoz-Urias

Plants 2025, 14(17), 2788; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14172788 - 5 Sep 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4170

Abstract

The traditional use of medicinal plants around the world has a long history, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries. Previous ethnobotanical research pertaining to urban environments demonstrated that the legacy of the use of medicinal plant species persists worldwide; however, information about the [...] Read more.

The traditional use of medicinal plants around the world has a long history, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries. Previous ethnobotanical research pertaining to urban environments demonstrated that the legacy of the use of medicinal plant species persists worldwide; however, information about the main city in the occidental part of Mexico is scarce regarding this traditional knowledge and its variation during the last few decades. A database was created from interviews with local people who had inhabited the oldest neighborhoods of Guadalajara for at least 30 years and by using different electronic databases. In addition, the correct taxonomic identification of species was supported via corroboration through local and other digital herbariums. Furthermore, a Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) was performed on the database information to search for relationships among the medicinal plant species used. An inventory of 137 medicinal plants was created, where the plant species most commonly used in the five old neighborhoods of Guadalajara City were muicle (Justicia spicigera Schltdl.), pirul (Schinus molle L.), manzanilla (Matricaria chamomilla L.), valeriana (Valeriana sp.), calabaza (Cucurbita pepo L.), cola de caballo (Equisetum arvense L.), tepezcohuite (Mimosa tenuiflora Poir.), salvia (Salvia officinalis L.), canela (Cinnamomum verum J. Presl.), tila estrella (Tilia americana var. mexicana (Schltdl.) Hardin), cedrón (Aloysia citrodora Paláu), uva (Vitis vinifera L.), jengibre (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) and gobernadora (Larrea tridentata (DC.) Coville). Illnesses of the cardiovascular, digestive, urinary, respiratory, nervous, muscular and reproductive systems, as well as culture-bound syndromes, were mostly treated with these plant species. Moreover, J. spicigera, M. chamomilla and L. tridentata were used for eight medical purposes, followed by Z. officinale with five medicinal practices. In contrast, only two medicinal uses were recorded for C. pepo, M. tenuiflora and S. officinale. The PCoA explained 65.88% of the variation accumulated at the first three ordination axes and formed four groups of species, which were related to their geographical origin. Eight of the fourteen species that are commonly used as medicinal plants are from America, and the rest come from Europe and Asia. This study confirms the persistence of traditional knowledge related to medicinal plants, and the diseases empirically addressed among the inhabitants of Guadalajara City are common in other parts of the world and in different regions of Mexico. These findings are supported by electronic databases that comprise multiple studies related to the phytochemical compounds and medical validation regarding their biological activity, supporting the empirical use and efficacy of these medicinal plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Resources and Ethnobotany in Aromatic and Medicinal Plants)

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15 pages, 2116 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Predicting the Potential Suitable Habitat of Solanum rostratum in China Using the Biomod2 Ensemble Modeling Framework

by Jiajie Wang, Jingdong Zhao, Lina Jiang, Xuejiao Han and Yuanjun Zhu

Plants 2025, 14(17), 2779; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14172779 - 5 Sep 2025

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2100

Abstract

Solanum rostratum Dunal is a highly invasive species with strong environmental adaptability and reproductive capacity, posing serious threats to agroforestry ecosystems and human health. In this study, we compiled occurrence records of S. rostratum in China from online databases and sources in the [...] Read more.

Solanum rostratum Dunal is a highly invasive species with strong environmental adaptability and reproductive capacity, posing serious threats to agroforestry ecosystems and human health. In this study, we compiled occurrence records of S. rostratum in China from online databases and sources in the literature. We employed the Biomod2 ensemble modeling framework to predict the potential distribution of the species under current climatic conditions and four future climate scenarios (SSP126, SSP245, SSP370, and SSP585), and to identify the key environmental variables influencing its distribution. The ensemble model based on the committee averaging (EMca) approach achieved the highest predictive accuracy, with a true skill statistic (TSS) of 0.932 and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.990. Under present climatic conditions, S. rostratum is predominantly distributed across northern China, particularly in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, and the northeastern provinces, covering a total suitable area of 1,191,586.55 km², with highly suitable habitats accounting for 50.37% of this range. Under future climate scenarios, the species’ suitable range is projected to expand significantly, particularly under the high-emissions SSP585 scenario, with the distribution centroid expected to shift significantly toward high-altitude regions in Gansu Province. Precipitation and temperature emerged as the most influential environmental factors affecting habitat suitability. These findings indicate that ongoing global warming may facilitate the survival, reproduction, and rapid spread of S. rostratum across China in the coming decades. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Artificial Intelligence for Plant Research)

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17 pages, 4863 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Colchicine-Induced Polyploidization Influences the Morphological, Physiological, and Biochemical Characteristics of Cyclocarya paliurus

by Guoliang Bian, Yan Yi, Ziqi Song, Yanmeng Huang, Qianxing Mao, Jian Qin and Xulan Shang

Plants 2025, 14(17), 2778; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14172778 - 5 Sep 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2978

Abstract

Cyclocarya paliurus (Batal.) Iljinskaja is a rare and multifunctional tree species endemic to China. This study aimed to establish a feasible method for polyploid induction in C. paliurus with colchicine treatment, and the obtained polyploid plants were identified and characterized. In this study, [...] Read more.

Cyclocarya paliurus (Batal.) Iljinskaja is a rare and multifunctional tree species endemic to China. This study aimed to establish a feasible method for polyploid induction in C. paliurus with colchicine treatment, and the obtained polyploid plants were identified and characterized. In this study, natural diploid and tetraploid C. paliurus seedlings were treated with different concentrations and durations of colchicine to induce polyploidization. The results indicated that a colchicine concentration of 0.4% for 4 d was the most suitable induction protocol, respectively. Compared with diploid and tetraploid control plants, the induced polyploid plants were shorter and thinner. The number of compound leaves in induced polyploids were fewer, and the compound leaf areas became smaller. The stomatal density of induced polyploids decreased, but the stomata became larger and wider, with an increased number of chloroplasts in the guard cells. The induced polyploids exhibited higher levels of carotenoid, and the contents of soluble sugar, soluble starch, and soluble protein were higher than those of controls. The polyploid plants exhibited an increase in the contents of growth-inhibiting hormones (JA) and a decrease in those of growth-promoting hormones (IAA, GA₃, BR). In summary, the induced polyploids with a dwarfing effect would provide superior germplasm resources for leaf-harvesting plantation. As C. paliurus is endemic to China, our results have a rather local effect. Overall, the established polyploid induction method of C. paliurus will provide technical support for creating superior C. paliurus germplasm resources and subsequent plant breeding research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology)

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22 pages, 1091 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Phytochemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of a Viscum album Mother Tincture

by Paola Imbimbo, Carolina Fontanarosa, Angela Amoresano, Daria Maria Monti, Gennaro Battaglia, Marcello Nicoletti, Michele Spinelli, Gerhard Schaller and Vincenzo Rocco

Plants 2025, 14(17), 2762; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14172762 - 4 Sep 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2882

Abstract

In the last decades, extracts of Viscum album L., commonly known as European mistletoe, have attracted increasing interest for their immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Nowadays, they are mainly used in complementary cancer treatments. A targeted LC-MRM-MS was selected to determine the chemical [...] Read more.

In the last decades, extracts of Viscum album L., commonly known as European mistletoe, have attracted increasing interest for their immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Nowadays, they are mainly used in complementary cancer treatments. A targeted LC-MRM-MS was selected to determine the chemical composition and the activities of a V. album homeopathic mother tincture (MT#39998). Results showed a complex chemical composition, which was compared with that of other similar extracts. The LC-MRM-MS data were confirmed and complemented by HPLC analysis. Viscotoxins content was evaluated because of their cytotoxicity. MT#39998 was tested for its cytotoxic and antioxidant effect, before and after viscotoxins removal. The composition of MT#39998 in viscotoxins was similar to that of other products already present in the market and its safety was confirmed by estimation of LD₅₀ based on in vitro IC₅₀ values (LD₅₀ was >2 g/kg). The aim of this study is to report a case study on a plant extract. The study was based on the chemical composition, including the metabolome, and on the pharmacological data, including toxicity and antioxidant activities, to validate the current utilization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Plant Extracts and Phytochemicals)

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23 pages, 2287 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Silicon as a Strategy to Mitigate Abiotic Stresses and Improve Physiological Performance and Grain Yield of Maize Grown Under Tropical Climate Conditions

by Mateus de Leles Lima, Rilner Alves Flores, Maxuel Fellipe Nunes Xavier, Renato Gomide de Sousa, Derblai Casaroli, Felipe Puff Dapper, Frank Freire Capuchinho, Glenio Guimarães Santos, Klaus de Oliveira Abdala and Letusa Momesso

Plants 2025, 14(17), 2755; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14172755 - 3 Sep 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1952

Abstract

Although the beneficial effects of silicon on plant resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses are recognized, there is a lack of knowledge regarding its application in field conditions and its direct impact on physiological metabolism, root development, and, most importantly, the economic return [...] Read more.

Although the beneficial effects of silicon on plant resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses are recognized, there is a lack of knowledge regarding its application in field conditions and its direct impact on physiological metabolism, root development, and, most importantly, the economic return of corn production in tropical regions. This study is justified by the need to quantify the effects of foliar silicon application on these variables, providing a scientific and economic basis for optimizing corn productivity and profitability in tropical environments. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of silicon on physiological metabolism, root system development, grain yield, and the potential economic return of maize production in a tropical region. The study was conducted under field conditions in two growing seasons (2020 and 2021), using a randomized block design in a 2 × 5 factorial arrangement with four replications. The first factor consisted of the maize growing seasons, and the second factor was foliar silicon fertilization (0 (control), 150, 300, 450, and 600 g ha⁻¹). Foliar fertilization with silicon at a dose of 150 g ha⁻¹ increases transpiration rate by up to 9%, net photosynthetic rate by 13%, and grain yield of maize by 10% after two growing seasons, regardless of the water deficit experienced during the crop cycle. At this dose, silicon application is economically viable, yielding the highest differential profit (USD 97.11 ha⁻¹). In conclusion, foliar fertilization with silicon is an agronomically and economically viable strategy for efficient maize grain production during the second growing season in tropical regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Silicon and Its Physiological Role in Plant Growth and Development)

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47 pages, 13626 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Multifunctional Roles of Medicinal Plants in the Meat Industry: Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Color Preservation Perspectives

by Alexandra Cristina Tocai (Moțoc), Cristina Adriana Rosan, Andrei George Teodorescu, Alina Cristiana Venter and Simona Ioana Vicas

Plants 2025, 14(17), 2737; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14172737 - 2 Sep 2025

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4204

Abstract

There is growing interest from researchers, the food industry, and consumers in reducing or eliminating synthetic preservatives such as nitrites in meat products. In this context, medicinal plants have emerged as promising sources of natural compounds with multifunctional roles. This review summarizes recent [...] Read more.

There is growing interest from researchers, the food industry, and consumers in reducing or eliminating synthetic preservatives such as nitrites in meat products. In this context, medicinal plants have emerged as promising sources of natural compounds with multifunctional roles. This review summarizes recent advances in the application of medicinal plant extracts as natural antioxidants, antimicrobials, and color-preserving agents in the meat industry. A systematic literature search was conducted using the PubMed and Lens databases, complemented by a bibliometric analysis with the VOS viewer, to identify research trends and key contributors in the field. The incorporation of plant-based ingredients in meat and meat analogues has the potential to enhance flavor, nutritional value, and shelf life while responding to the demand for clean-label and health-oriented products. Particular attention is given to the phytochemical composition, bioactivity, and practical application of selected medicinal plants that have demonstrated efficacy in preserving the oxidative stability, microbial safety, and visual quality of meat. Furthermore, the review highlights emerging plant species with potential in meat preservation and discusses the challenges related to their incorporation into meat matrices. These findings support the strategic use of plant-based bioactive compounds as sustainable and functional alternatives to synthetic additives in meat systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Based Products and Ingredients: Isolation, Characterization, Bioactivity and Applications)

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16 pages, 1336 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Synergistic Effects of Lavandula angustifolia and a Bacterial Consortium on Bioremediation of a Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soil

by Cristina Cavone, Aurora Rutigliano, Pietro Cotugno, Ludovica Rolando, Chiara De Carolis, Anna Barra Caracciolo, Paola Grenni, Ilaria Savino, Antonio Bucci, Gino Naclerio, Fulvio Celico, Vito Felice Uricchio and Valeria Ancona

Plants 2025, 14(17), 2734; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14172734 - 2 Sep 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5187

Abstract

Heavy metal (HM) contamination represents a significant threat to soil functionality and ecosystem health. The present study aims to assess the efficacy of an integrated bioremediation strategy combining Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) and a four-strain bacterial consortium in restoring a multi-contaminated soil collected from [...] Read more.

Heavy metal (HM) contamination represents a significant threat to soil functionality and ecosystem health. The present study aims to assess the efficacy of an integrated bioremediation strategy combining Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) and a four-strain bacterial consortium in restoring a multi-contaminated soil collected from a former industrial site in Southern Italy. Microcosm experiments were conducted over a period of 90 days, including three treatments and a control: a planted condition (PLANT), a bioaugmented condition (BIOAUG), and a combined plant and bioaugmentation condition (PLANT+BIOAUG). The control (HCS) consisted of unplanted and non-bioaugmented soil. Soil physico-chemical parameters (e.g., pH, electrical conductivity, and heavy metal concentrations), plant growth, microbial abundance, and dehydrogenase activity (DHA) were measured at the initial and final experimental time. Finally, a Soil Quality Index (SQI) was applied. The combined treatment (PLANT+BIOAUG) promoted a significant reduction in total Pb and Sn concentrations by 44.7% and 66.9%, respectively. Moreover, a significant increase in soil pH and microbial abundance was observed. Applying the SQI to integrate overall soil data made it possible to highlight the highest quality score (0.73) for this condition. These findings suggest the potential effectiveness of lavender-assisted bioaugmentation as a scalable and multifunctional strategy for remediating heavy metal-contaminated soils, in line with ecological restoration principles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Phytoremediation Strategies to Address Global Environmental Challenges)

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19 pages, 1624 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Enhancing Biological Nitrogen Fixation Through Diverse Pasture Swards

by Rukshagini Sutharsan, Paramsothy Jeyakumar, Lucy Burkitt, Dumsane Themba Matse, Ramadoss Dhanuskodi, James Hanly and Daniel J. Donaghy

Plants 2025, 14(17), 2727; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14172727 - 2 Sep 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2964

Abstract

Regenerative agricultural practices emphasize the use of diverse pasture species within sustainable agriculture production systems. The inclusion of a range of legume species in diverse pasture swards is likely to increase biological N fixation (BNF) across seasons, reducing the system’s reliance on synthetic [...] Read more.

Regenerative agricultural practices emphasize the use of diverse pasture species within sustainable agriculture production systems. The inclusion of a range of legume species in diverse pasture swards is likely to increase biological N fixation (BNF) across seasons, reducing the system’s reliance on synthetic N inputs. The present field study aims to quantify BNF in selected legume species within diverse pasture (combining 9 species) and standard pastures (ryegrass and clover combination) and assess their performance to identify the potential for improving N supply while maintaining year-round pasture quality. A year-round seasonal BNF was assessed by evaluating soil N status, nodulation patterns, plant composition, and conducting ¹⁵N natural abundance studies. The results revealed that the diverse pasture sward produced 5.4% more dry matter compared to the standard pasture, while soil mineral N (NO₃⁻, NH₄⁺) remained statistically similar between the two treatments. Nitrogen yield was 9.3% higher in the diverse pasture than in the standard pasture. ¹⁵N natural abundance analysis assessment revealed no substantial variation in BNF rates across treatments throughout the study. However, in contrast to standard pasture, the BNF rate in diverse pasture experienced a 3-fold increase from winter to summer, while the standard pasture exhibited a 1.5-fold increase. In both pasture systems, BNF increased with clover proportion up to 30%, indicating optimal fixation at moderate clover levels. The findings underscore the potential of diverse pastures when strategically managed to enhance seasonal BNF while sustaining pasture productivity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategies for Nutrient Use Efficiency Improvement in Plants—2nd Edition)

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22 pages, 5314 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Micropropagation of Apple Cultivars ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Royal Gala’ in Bioreactors

by Simón Miranda, Mickael Malnoy, Anxela Aldrey, María José Cernadas, Conchi Sánchez, Bruce Christie and Nieves Vidal

Plants 2025, 14(17), 2740; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14172740 - 2 Sep 2025

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2176

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate culture conditions for the efficient micropropagation of apple cultivars ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Royal Gala’ in liquid medium by temporary immersion. RITA^® bioreactors were used for the multiplication stage whereas RITA^® or Plantform™ were used for the [...] Read more.

This study aimed to investigate culture conditions for the efficient micropropagation of apple cultivars ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Royal Gala’ in liquid medium by temporary immersion. RITA^® bioreactors were used for the multiplication stage whereas RITA^® or Plantform™ were used for the rooting stage. Murashige and Skoog media (MS) with N⁶-benzyladenine (BA) was used for shoot multiplication and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) for root induction. During the multiplication phase, we evaluated the mineral medium, BA concentration, immersion frequency, silver nitrate and activated charcoal supplementation and the use of physical supports to hold explants in an upright position. The results demonstrated that longer incubation periods (10 weeks) were better than shorter periods (6 weeks) for decreasing hyperhydricity and increasing the multiplication coefficient (MC). For ‘Golden Delicious’, the highest MC were obtained either with explants placed directly on the bioreactor basket and immersed six times per day for 60 s in MS with 2.2 µM BA or explants placed between rockwool cubes cultivated with 4.4 µM BA (both yielding MC of 8.9 and 5–10% hyperhydricity). These results were superior to ‘Royal Gala’, which showed a MC of 7.3 and 23% of hyperhydricity when cultivated in MS with half nitrates, 1.55 µM BA and rockwool cubes. Both varieties rooted efficiently (96–100%), and resulting plantlets were successfully acclimated. This is the first report in the micropropagation of these two commercial fruiting cultivars in temporary immersion, demonstrating the potential of this technology to enhance large-scale plant production for the apple nursery industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development and Application of In Vitro Culture Techniques in Plants)

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15 pages, 2857 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Anthocyanin Synthesis Capability of Maize Cultivars Is Associated with Their Photosynthetic Carbon Partitioning for Growth Adaptability Under Low Phosphorus

by Wang Tang, Zu-Dong Xiao, Xing-Wei Liang, Si Shen, Xiao-Gui Liang and Shun-Li Zhou

Plants 2025, 14(17), 2690; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14172690 - 28 Aug 2025

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2045

Abstract

Anthocyanins (ACNs) are flavonoid pigments that accumulate in plants and respond to environmental stimuli, including low phosphorus (LP). The synthesis and stable accumulation of ACNs rely on substantial carbohydrate investment, implying a potential role in carbon partitioning-mediated growth and resistance, in addition to [...] Read more.

Anthocyanins (ACNs) are flavonoid pigments that accumulate in plants and respond to environmental stimuli, including low phosphorus (LP). The synthesis and stable accumulation of ACNs rely on substantial carbohydrate investment, implying a potential role in carbon partitioning-mediated growth and resistance, in addition to the well-established antioxidant activity. To investigate cultivar-dependent differences in ACN accumulation and their relationship with photo-assimilate partitioning and growth adaptation under LP stress, seedlings of six representative maize cultivars were hydroponically cultured under both control and LP conditions. ACNs content, photosynthetic parameters, plant relative growth ratio, and tissue-specific carbohydrates were quantified. The results showed that LP reduced photosynthesis and biomass, while stimulating ACNs biosynthesis in leaves and sheaths. Cultivars were then classified as ACN-sensitive and -insensitive groups based on the ACNs accumulation in the newly unfolded leaves and corresponding sheaths. ACN-sensitive cultivars exhibited higher ACNs levels, which correlated positively with soluble sugars but negatively with starch reserves, suggesting preferential carbon partitioning to ACNs precursors rather than to starch. These cultivars also maintained higher relative growth ratios under LP, associated with less photosynthesis decline and starch accumulation compared with ACN-insensitive cultivars. We hypothesize that ACNs synthesis function as a diversion of photo-assimilates into secondary metabolism under LP, thereby improving photosynthetic efficiency by mitigating excess sugar accumulation that could impair plant growth. This carbon-partitioning adaptation could be exploited by selecting for ACNs accumulation as a breeding trait to enhance maize resilience to LP. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Secondary Metabolite Biosynthesis in Plants)

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33 pages, 4072 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Pilot-Scale Evaluation of Duckweed Cultivation for Pig Manure Treatment and Feed Production

by Marie Lambert, Reindert Devlamynck, Marcella Fernandes de Souza, Pieter Vermeir, Katleen Raes, Mia Eeckhout and Erik Meers

Plants 2025, 14(17), 2680; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14172680 - 27 Aug 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3425

Abstract

Livestock-intensive regions in Europe face dual challenges: nutrient surpluses and a high dependency on import of high-protein feedstocks. This study proposes duckweed (Lemnaceae) as a potential solution by recovering nutrients from manure-derived waste streams while producing protein-rich biomass. This study evaluated the performance [...] Read more.

Livestock-intensive regions in Europe face dual challenges: nutrient surpluses and a high dependency on import of high-protein feedstocks. This study proposes duckweed (Lemnaceae) as a potential solution by recovering nutrients from manure-derived waste streams while producing protein-rich biomass. This study evaluated the performance of duckweed treatment systems at a pig manure processing facility in Belgium. Three outdoor systems were monitored over a full growing season under temperate climate conditions. Duckweed cultivated on constructed wetland effluent showed die-off and low protein content, while systems supplied with diluted liquid fraction and nitrification–denitrification effluent achieved consistent growth, yielding 8 tonnes of dry biomass/ha/year and 2.8 tonnes of protein/ha/year. Average removal rates were 1.2 g N/m²/day and 0.13 g P/m²/day. Growth ceased after approximately 100–120 days, likely due to rising pH and electrical conductivity, suggesting ammonia toxicity and salt stress. Harvested duckweed had a high protein content and a total amino acid profile suitable for broilers, though potentially limiting in histidine and methionine for pigs or cattle. Additionally, promising energy and protein values for ruminants were measured. Although high ash and fibre contents may limit use in monogastric animals, duckweed remains suitable as part of a balanced feed. Its broad mineral profile further supports its use as a circular, locally sourced feed supplement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Duckweed: Research Meets Applications—2nd Edition)

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16 pages, 2374 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Exogenous Melatonin Enhances Salt-Stress Tolerance in Festuca elata via Growth and Physiological Improvements

by Bingqi Liu, Haimei Li, Xianhui Zhao, Junrui Wang and Yuting Zhang

Plants 2025, 14(17), 2661; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14172661 - 26 Aug 2025

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1505

Abstract

Salt stress is a major abiotic factor that inhibits plant growth. Melatonin (MT), an important plant growth regulator, can effectively enhance plant stress resistance. Festuca elata, a turfgrass species widely used in urban landscaping, was selected for this study to evaluate the [...] Read more.

Salt stress is a major abiotic factor that inhibits plant growth. Melatonin (MT), an important plant growth regulator, can effectively enhance plant stress resistance. Festuca elata, a turfgrass species widely used in urban landscaping, was selected for this study to evaluate the regulatory effects of exogenous MT at different concentrations on its growth and development under salt stress. Indoor pot experiments were conducted using Festuca elata as the plant material. The experiment included a 250 mM NaCl salt-stress treatment and foliar application of five MT concentrations (0 μM, 50 μM, 150 μM, 250 μM, and 350 μM) to assess their effects under salt stress. The results showed that salt stress severely inhibited the growth of Festuca elata, while all tested MT concentrations significantly alleviated the damage. MT treatments improved leaf area and plant height and increased relative water content, soluble protein, proline, chlorophyll, and carotenoid contents. Additionally, MT reduced malondialdehyde accumulation and enhanced superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities. Among the tested concentrations, 150 μM MT showed the most effective alleviation of salt stress, indicating its strong potential for promoting Festuca elata cultivation in saline environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multifunctional Mediators in Plant Development and Stress Response)

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17 pages, 1101 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Exogenous Dopamine Alleviates Combined High Temperature and Drought Stress in Loquat [Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.] Seedlings: Improvements in Photosynthetic Efficiency, Oxidative Damage and Osmotic Regulation

by Xian Luo, Ya Luo, Xiao-Li Wang, Xiao-Mei Kong, Hui-Fen Zhang, Li-Jin Lin, Yu-Xing Li, Ke-Wen Huang, Qun-Xian Deng and Yong-Xia Jia

Plants 2025, 14(17), 2650; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14172650 - 26 Aug 2025

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1816

Abstract

In recent years, high temperature and drought have severely impacted the growth and development of loquat [Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.] plants. Although dopamine can improve the stress resistance of plants, its role in combined stress requires further exploration. This study investigated the [...] Read more.

In recent years, high temperature and drought have severely impacted the growth and development of loquat [Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.] plants. Although dopamine can improve the stress resistance of plants, its role in combined stress requires further exploration. This study investigated the alleviative effect and mechanism of exogenous dopamine on loquat seedlings subjected to the combined stress of high temperature and drought. The combined stress significantly reduced root viability, photosynthetic pigment content, and net photosynthetic rate (Pn) while markedly increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) content, and electrolyte leakage (EL). The seedlings exhibited pronounced wilting symptoms, along with markedly reduced root surface area and volume. Dopamine treatment significantly alleviated combined stress-induced damage. This mitigation was manifested through substantially enhanced root viability, photosynthetic pigment content, Pn, antioxidant enzyme activities, and osmotic adjustment substances concomitantly with marked reductions in ROS, TBARS content, and EL. Dopamine significantly reduced seedling wilting severity and improved root morphological parameters. This study demonstrates that dopamine enhances loquat seedlings’ tolerance to combined stress through coordinated mechanisms: maintaining photosynthetic pigments and improving stomatal conductance to sustain photosynthetic efficiency, enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity and ROS scavenging capacity to mitigate oxidative damage, and promoting osmotic solute accumulation for osmotic potential regulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Quality Regulation in Horticultural Crops)

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39 pages, 4783 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Sparse-MoE-SAM: A Lightweight Framework Integrating MoE and SAM with a Sparse Attention Mechanism for Plant Disease Segmentation in Resource-Constrained Environments

by Benhan Zhao, Xilin Kang, Hao Zhou, Ziyang Shi, Lin Li, Guoxiong Zhou, Fangying Wan, Jiangzhang Zhu, Yongming Yan, Leheng Li and Yulong Wu

Plants 2025, 14(17), 2634; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14172634 - 24 Aug 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4158

Abstract

Plant disease segmentation has achieved significant progress with the help of artificial intelligence. However, deploying high-accuracy segmentation models in resource-limited settings faces three key challenges, as follows: (A) Traditional dense attention mechanisms incur quadratic computational complexity growth (O(

n^{2} d

)), rendering [...] Read more.

Plant disease segmentation has achieved significant progress with the help of artificial intelligence. However, deploying high-accuracy segmentation models in resource-limited settings faces three key challenges, as follows: (A) Traditional dense attention mechanisms incur quadratic computational complexity growth (O(

n^{2} d

)), rendering them ill-suited for low-power hardware. (B) Naturally sparse spatial distributions and large-scale variations in the lesions on leaves necessitate models that concurrently capture long-range dependencies and local details. (C) Complex backgrounds and variable lighting in field images often induce segmentation errors. To address these challenges, we propose Sparse-MoE-SAM, an efficient framework based on an enhanced Segment Anything Model (SAM). This deep learning framework integrates sparse attention mechanisms with a two-stage mixture of experts (MoE) decoder. The sparse attention dynamically activates key channels aligned with lesion sparsity patterns, reducing self-attention complexity while preserving long-range context. Stage 1 of the MoE decoder performs coarse-grained boundary localization; Stage 2 achieves fine-grained segmentation by leveraging specialized experts within the MoE, significantly enhancing edge discrimination accuracy. The expert repository—comprising standard convolutions, dilated convolutions, and depthwise separable convolutions—dynamically routes features through optimized processing paths based on input texture and lesion morphology. This enables robust segmentation across diverse leaf textures and plant developmental stages. Further, we design a sparse attention-enhanced Atrous Spatial Pyramid Pooling (ASPP) module to capture multi-scale contexts for both extensive lesions and small spots. Evaluations on three heterogeneous datasets (PlantVillage Extended, CVPPP, and our self-collected field images) show that Sparse-MoE-SAM achieves a mean Intersection-over-Union (mIoU) of 94.2%—surpassing standard SAM by 2.5 percentage points—while reducing computational costs by 23.7% compared to the original SAM baseline. The model also demonstrates balanced performance across disease classes and enhanced hardware compatibility. Our work validates that integrating sparse attention with MoE mechanisms sustains accuracy while drastically lowering computational demands, enabling the scalable deployment of plant disease segmentation models on mobile and edge devices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Artificial Intelligence for Plant Research)

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32 pages, 3656 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Selenium Compounds and Their Bioactivities: Molecular Mechanisms and Prospects for Functional Food and Therapeutic Applications

by Xue Hou, Zhiyong Wang and Mu Peng

Plants 2025, 14(17), 2622; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14172622 - 23 Aug 2025

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 4909

Abstract

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for the human body and plays a vital role in various physiological processes. Plants serve not only as a major dietary source of selenium but also as natural biofactories capable of synthesizing a wide range of [...] Read more.

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for the human body and plays a vital role in various physiological processes. Plants serve not only as a major dietary source of selenium but also as natural biofactories capable of synthesizing a wide range of organic selenium compounds. The bioavailability and toxicity of selenium are highly dependent on its chemical form, which can exert varying effects on human physiology. Among these, organic selenium species exhibit higher bioavailability, lower toxicity, and greater structural diversity. In recent years, plant-derived selenium-containing compounds—selenium-enriched proteins, peptides, polysaccharides, polyphenols, and nanoselenium—have garnered increasing scientific attention. Through a systematic search of databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, this review provides a comprehensive overview of selenium uptake and transformation in plants, selenium metabolism in humans, and the classification, composition, structural features, and biological activities of plant-derived selenium compounds, thereby providing a theoretical basis for future research on functional foods and nutritional interventions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Nutritional and Phytochemical Composition of Plants)

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24 pages, 2544 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Edible Flowers as Bioactive Food Ingredients with Antidiabetic Potential: A Study on Paeonia officinalis L., Forsythia × intermedia, Gomphrena globosa L., and Clitoria ternatea L.

by Maciej Książkiewicz, Michalina Karczewska, Filip Nawrot, Karolina Grabowska, Marcin Szymański, Judyta Cielecka-Piontek and Elżbieta Studzińska-Sroka

Plants 2025, 14(16), 2603; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14162603 - 21 Aug 2025

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2870

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes is a serious public health problem in the 21st century. To find new substances supporting diabetes therapy, researchers are increasingly paying attention to the biological potential of edible flowers. This study assessed the antidiabetic potential of ethanol, 50% ethanol, and [...] Read more.

Type 2 diabetes is a serious public health problem in the 21st century. To find new substances supporting diabetes therapy, researchers are increasingly paying attention to the biological potential of edible flowers. This study assessed the antidiabetic potential of ethanol, 50% ethanol, and water extracts from Paeonia officinalis L., Forsythia × intermedia, Gomphrena globosa L., and Clitoria ternatea L. flowers. Extracts were tested for antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, CUPRAC, and Fe²⁺ chelation), enzyme inhibition (α-glucosidase, α-amylase, hyaluronidase, and cholinesterases), and anti-inflammatory effects (NO inhibition in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages). Phytochemical composition was also analysed. Extracts of P. officinalis stood out with the highest total phenolic content (50% ethanol extract of P. officinalis 178.49 mg GAE/g) and total flavonoid content (aqueous extracts of P. officinalis 4.27 mg QE/g), high gallic acid level, and the effective inhibition of α-glucosidase and α-amylase (α-glucosidase inhibition 98–99% for all P. officinalis extracts, and α-amylase inhibition ~ 100% for ethanolic extract). Strong hyaluronidase (76.9–95.5%) and cholinesterase inhibition was also observed. F. × intermedia extracts were rich in rutin and chlorogenic acid and showed potent inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase (50% ethanol extract 91.59%), α-amylase (aqueous extract 89.35%), and hyaluronidase (aqueous extract 73.8%). Ethanol extracts of G. globosa exhibited a high α-amylase inhibition (93–95%). Although C. ternatea showed moderate antioxidant activity, it showed an apparent anti-inflammatory effect, effectively reducing NO production in activated macrophages for 50% ethanol extract. In summary, P. officinalis and F. × intermedia flowers are promising sources of extracts with antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory effects supporting their use in further research on type 2 diabetes therapy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Plants, Phytocompounds and Plant-Derived Food)

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22 pages, 17979 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

AFBF-YOLO: An Improved YOLO11n Algorithm for Detecting Bunch and Maturity of Cherry Tomatoes in Greenhouse Environments

by Bo-Jin Chen, Jun-Yan Bu, Jun-Lin Xia, Ming-Xuan Li and Wen-Hao Su

Plants 2025, 14(16), 2587; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14162587 - 20 Aug 2025

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2786

Abstract

Accurate detection of cherry tomato clusters and their ripeness stages is critical for the development of intelligent harvesting systems in modern agriculture. In response to the challenges posed by occlusion, overlapping clusters, and subtle ripeness variations under complex greenhouse environments, an improved YOLO11-based [...] Read more.

Accurate detection of cherry tomato clusters and their ripeness stages is critical for the development of intelligent harvesting systems in modern agriculture. In response to the challenges posed by occlusion, overlapping clusters, and subtle ripeness variations under complex greenhouse environments, an improved YOLO11-based deep convolutional neural network detection model, called AFBF-YOLO, is proposed in this paper. First, a dataset comprising 486 RGB images and over 150,000 annotated instances was constructed and augmented, covering four ripeness stages and fruit clusters. Then, based on YOLO11, the ACmix attention mechanism was incorporated to strengthen feature representation under occluded and cluttered conditions. Additionally, a novel neck structure, FreqFusion-BiFPN, was designed to improve multi-scale feature fusion through frequency-aware filtering. Finally, a refined loss function, Inner-Focaler-IoU, was applied to enhance bounding box localization by emphasizing inner-region overlap and focusing on difficult samples. Experimental results show that AFBF-YOLO achieves a precision of 81.2%, a recall of 81.3%, and an mAP@0.5 of 85.6%, outperforming multiple mainstream YOLO series. High accuracy across ripeness stages and low computational complexity indicate it excels in simultaneous detection of cherry tomato fruit bunches and fruit maturity, supporting automated maturity assessment and robotic harvesting in precision agriculture. Full article

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18 pages, 1967 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Optimizing Growth Regulator Concentrations for Cannabis sativa L. Micropropagation

by Gabrielle A. Johnson, Carissa L. Jackson, Antonio Timoteo, Jr., Papaiah Sardaru, Michael H. Foland, Purushothaman Natarajan and Sadanand A. Dhekney

Plants 2025, 14(16), 2586; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14162586 - 20 Aug 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3337

Abstract

In this study, the effect of growth regulators on shoot proliferation and rooting were evaluated to develop an efficient micropropagation protocol for the Cannabis sativa L. cultivars ‘Cherry Soda’ and ‘Purple’. Apical meristems were isolated from actively growing shoots of stock plants and [...] Read more.

In this study, the effect of growth regulators on shoot proliferation and rooting were evaluated to develop an efficient micropropagation protocol for the Cannabis sativa L. cultivars ‘Cherry Soda’ and ‘Purple’. Apical meristems were isolated from actively growing shoots of stock plants and transferred to Driver and Kuniyuki Walnut (DKW) culture medium containing either 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, or 5.0 μM meta-Topolin to study their shoot proliferation response. Resulting shoot cultures were transferred to medium containing varying levels of Indole Acetic Acid (IAA), Indole Butyric Acid (IBA), or Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA), solely or in combination, and were subjected to a 10-day dark incubation followed by a 16 h/8 h light/dark period to identify the best treatment for root production. Among the different shoot proliferation treatments studied, the maximum number of shoots was produced on the control medium that was devoid of any meta-Topolin. Cultures grown on medium containing 5.0 μM meta-Topolin exhibited hyperhydricity, where shoots appeared translucent and pale green in color; were characterized by water-soaked lesions; and leaves appeared curled and brittle in contrast to healthy looking cultures. Among the various rooting treatments studied, shoots grown in the dark for 10 days exhibited the highest frequency of rooting on medium containing 4.0 μM NAA or 6.0 μM IBA + 1.0 μM NAA. Full developed plants with a robust shoot and root system were transferred to soil, acclimatized under conditions for high humidity, and then transferred to ambient conditions in 4 weeks. The micropropagation protocol developed here allows for rapid multiplication of disease-free plants in C. sativa cultivars. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Tissue Culture and Plant Regeneration—2nd Edition)

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19 pages, 2307 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Phenotypic Variability and Anticancer Alkaloid Profiles of Catharanthus roseus Cultivars Grown Under a Vertical Farming System

by Marisa S. C. Lourenço, Victor Freitas, Ep Heuvelink and Susana M. P. Carvalho

Plants 2025, 14(16), 2576; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14162576 - 19 Aug 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1945

Abstract

Plants are promising biofactories for high-value compounds, and integrating vertical farming (VF) with plant molecular farming (PMF) enhances the efficiency and sustainability of these systems. Catharanthus roseus (L.) is the only natural source of vinblastine (VLB) and vincristine (VCR), key anticancer alkaloids used [...] Read more.

Plants are promising biofactories for high-value compounds, and integrating vertical farming (VF) with plant molecular farming (PMF) enhances the efficiency and sustainability of these systems. Catharanthus roseus (L.) is the only natural source of vinblastine (VLB) and vincristine (VCR), key anticancer alkaloids used in chemotherapy. This study assessed the morpho-physiological responses and the organ-specific anticancer-related terpenoid indole alkaloid (TIA) production in nine C. roseus cultivars grown in a VF system. Results revealed a significant intraspecific variability (between and within plant series) concerning both plant growth and alkaloid profile. Although total anticancer-related TIA concentration was 1.6- to 5.9-fold higher in leaves than in flowers, the key anticancer alkaloids VLB and VCR exhibited distinct patterns depending on the cultivar, with ‘C-Red’ showing a higher concentration of both alkaloids in leaves, while ‘C-XDR-PN’ and ‘C-XDR-WT’ had a significantly higher concentration of VCR in flowers (3.15 and 4.05-times higher, respectively). This cultivar-dependent variability, in the production of specific anticancer alkaloids, highlights the importance of a proper cultivar selection for their commercial production. Our findings show that VCR concentration may serve as a more reliable cultivar selection marker for anticancer alkaloid yield than total biomass or overall TIA content in VF systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategies for Enhancing the Production of Secondary Metabolites in Plants)

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15 pages, 2650 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effects of Raw Materials and Pyrolysis Temperatures on Physicochemical Properties of Biochars Derived from Hemp Stalks

by Xia An, Ziyi Zhu, Xiahong Luo, Changli Chen, Tingting Liu, Lina Zou, Shaocui Li and Yuxue Liu

Plants 2025, 14(16), 2564; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14162564 - 18 Aug 2025

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3085

Abstract

Hemp stalk, a widely available agricultural waste, is an ideal eco-friendly raw material for biochar production. Carbonization experiments were conducted as a novel approach for the scalable and value-added utilization of hemp stalk under oxygen-exclusion conditions. The effects of feedstock types—Hibiscus cannabinus [...] Read more.

Hemp stalk, a widely available agricultural waste, is an ideal eco-friendly raw material for biochar production. Carbonization experiments were conducted as a novel approach for the scalable and value-added utilization of hemp stalk under oxygen-exclusion conditions. The effects of feedstock types—Hibiscus cannabinus (KS), Corchorus spp. (JS), and Boehmeria spp. (RS)—and pyrolysis temperatures on biochar properties were analyzed through the measurements of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The pH and electrical conductivity (EC) of biochars increased with increasing pyrolysis temperature. Notably, EC was significantly higher for RS (940–2278 μS/cm) than for KS (517–879 μS/cm) and JS (583–863 μS/cm). The C content in these three biochars increased as the temperature increased, whereas the H/C atomic ratio decreased, most notably in JS (by 0.33%). According to FTIR and XRD data, with the pyrolysis temperature increasing, the acidic oxygen-containing groups on biochar surfaces reduced. KS700, with superior aromatic structure and stability, may be able to effectively adsorb heavy metal ions. RS700, with relatively high pH and EC, was suitable for alleviating soil acidification and nutrient deficiency. The feedstock and pyrolysis temperature significantly affected the element content, pore structure, and stability of biochars derived from hemp stalk. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breeding and Comprehensive Utilization of Characteristic Economic Crops)

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16 pages, 2062 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Feedback of Stress Phytohormones in Avena sativa (L.) on Soil Multi-Contamination

by Veronika Zemanová, Milan Pavlík, Milan Novák and Daniela Pavlíková

Plants 2025, 14(16), 2554; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14162554 - 16 Aug 2025

Viewed by 1293

Abstract

As chemical messengers, phytohormones can enhance the tolerance of plants to stress caused by toxic elements (TEs) such as cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn). This study investigated the combined toxicity of Cd, Pb, and Zn, and its impact on stress phytohormones [...] Read more.

As chemical messengers, phytohormones can enhance the tolerance of plants to stress caused by toxic elements (TEs) such as cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn). This study investigated the combined toxicity of Cd, Pb, and Zn, and its impact on stress phytohormones (jasmonates, salicylic acid, and abscisic acid), in oat (Avena sativa L.) using anthropogenically contaminated soil in a 4-week pot experiment. The uptake of TEs by the roots increased in the multi-contaminated soil, while Zn was the only TE to be translocated to the leaves. The toxic effect of the TEs was assessed in terms of plant growth, revealing a decline in leaf dry biomass, whereas the impact on the roots was insignificant. These findings align with the levels of stress phytohormones. An increase in bioactive forms of stress phytohormones in leaves due to TEs indicates TE toxicity and leaf sensitivity. Conversely, low levels of these phytohormones, along with crosstalk between them, suggest reduced defense against TEs in the roots. The abundance of stress phytohormones declined in the following order: salicylic acid > jasmonates > abscisic acid. These results help to understand the mechanism by which plants respond to TEs, particularly their combined toxicity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant–Soil Interactions)

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20 pages, 2607 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Interspecific Associations of Dominant Tree Species at Different Structural Levels and Community Stability in the Habitat of Endangered Plant Hopea hainanensis Merr. & Chun

by Shaocui He, Donghai Li, Xiaobo Yang, Dongling Qi, Naiyan Shang, Caiqun Liang, Rentong Liu, Chunyan Du, Hao Ding and Binglin Ye

Plants 2025, 14(16), 2546; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14162546 - 15 Aug 2025

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1731

Abstract

The endangered plant Hopea hainanensis serves as both an indicator and keystone species in tropical rainforests, and its survival status is influenced by the interspecific relationships among coexisting tree species within the community. To explore these relationships, species resource utilization patterns, and community [...] Read more.

The endangered plant Hopea hainanensis serves as both an indicator and keystone species in tropical rainforests, and its survival status is influenced by the interspecific relationships among coexisting tree species within the community. To explore these relationships, species resource utilization patterns, and community succession dynamics within the endangered plant community, this study utilized survey data from the Hopea hainanensis community in the Bawangling and Jianfengling branches of the National Park of Hainan Tropical Rainforest. Various analytical methods were employed, including the Variance Ratio (VR) method, test statistic (W), χ² test, Spearman’s rank correlation, and M. Godron’s stability analysis, to examine the interspecific associations among dominant tree species at different structural levels in the two regions and their effects on community stability. The results indicate that: (1) Hopea hainanensis is the dominant species in the medium tree layer in both study areas, while it functions as an associated species in other structural layers. (2) In communities where Hopea hainanensis is present in both Bawangling and Jianfengling, the dominant tree species across various structural layers generally show a non-significant positive association. (3) The results of the χ² test and Spearman’s rank correlation test reveal that the interspecific associations across different structural layers of the Hopea hainanensis communities in both regions are predominantly non-significant. This suggests weak interspecific relationships and a high degree of species independence. The communities at different structural levels in both Bawangling and Jianfengling are in an unstable state, with ongoing dynamic adjustments to their internal tree species composition and structure. In terms of stability, the community stability across structural levels in these two regions follows the order: middle shrub layer > middle arbor layer > small arbor layer > large shrub layer. This study reveals the interspecific relationships, community succession status, and stability of dominant tree species at different structural levels in slope barrier communities across regions. These findings provide a theoretical basis for developing scientifically sound and reasonable protection strategies for slope barrier populations, as well as for the restoration and sustainable development of tropical rainforest vegetation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Ecology)

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30 pages, 1292 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Advances in UAV Remote Sensing for Monitoring Crop Water and Nutrient Status: Modeling Methods, Influencing Factors, and Challenges

by Xiaofei Yang, Junying Chen, Xiaohan Lu, Hao Liu, Yanfu Liu, Xuqian Bai, Long Qian and Zhitao Zhang

Plants 2025, 14(16), 2544; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14162544 - 15 Aug 2025

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 7530

Abstract

With the advancement of precision agriculture, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-based remote sensing has been increasingly employed for monitoring crop water and nutrient status due to its high flexibility, fine spatial resolution, and rapid data acquisition capabilities. This review systematically examines recent research progress [...] Read more.

With the advancement of precision agriculture, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-based remote sensing has been increasingly employed for monitoring crop water and nutrient status due to its high flexibility, fine spatial resolution, and rapid data acquisition capabilities. This review systematically examines recent research progress and key technological pathways in UAV-based remote sensing for crop water and nutrient monitoring. It provides an in-depth analysis of UAV platforms, sensor configurations, and their suitability across diverse agricultural applications. The review also highlights critical data processing steps—including radiometric correction, image stitching, segmentation, and data fusion—and compares three major modeling approaches for parameter inversion: vegetation index-based, data-driven, and physically based methods. Representative application cases across various crops and spatiotemporal scales are summarized. Furthermore, the review explores factors affecting monitoring performance, such as crop growth stages, spatial resolution, illumination and meteorological conditions, and model generalization. Despite significant advancements, current limitations include insufficient sensor versatility, labor-intensive data processing chains, and limited model scalability. Finally, the review outlines future directions, including the integration of edge intelligence, hybrid physical–data modeling, and multi-source, three-dimensional collaborative sensing. This work aims to provide theoretical insights and technical support for advancing UAV-based remote sensing in precision agriculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing Application in Augmenting Water and Fertilizer Utilization for Sustainable Agriculture)

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51 pages, 4203 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Carbon Dot Nanoparticles Synthesized from Horticultural Extracts for Postharvest Shelf-Life Extension of Fruits and Vegetables

by Tshiamo B. Leta, Jerry O. Adeyemi and Olaniyi A. Fawole

Plants 2025, 14(16), 2523; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14162523 - 13 Aug 2025

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4850

Abstract

The increasing demand for sustainable food preservation technologies has spurred interest in green-synthesized carbon dots (CDs) derived from horticultural produce, positioning them as a promising nanomaterial for prolonging the shelf life of perishable food products. Most of these green approaches offer renewable, low-cost [...] Read more.

The increasing demand for sustainable food preservation technologies has spurred interest in green-synthesized carbon dots (CDs) derived from horticultural produce, positioning them as a promising nanomaterial for prolonging the shelf life of perishable food products. Most of these green approaches offer renewable, low-cost nanoparticles with excellent ultraviolet (UV) light barrier capabilities, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. These features help protect food products from the growth of foodborne pathogens and retard oxidative spoilage to extend their shelf life through edible coatings and packaging. To this end, this review critically explores current breakthroughs in biosynthesis, characterization, and application of CDs generated from different agricultural extracts, the mechanism of action, and possible synergistic effects when paired with other food preservation agents, aligning with circular economic principles. Scalability challenges, regulatory limitations, and potential future directions are all explored to present a comprehensive understanding of the topic, paving the way for innovative preservation methods in the food industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Sustainable Agriculture Through Nanomaterials: Challenges and Opportunities)

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28 pages, 7207 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Stay-Green Trait Enhances Grain Yield, Nutritional Quality, and Seed Germination Ability in Oat (Avena sativa L.) on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

by Huimin Duan, Lingling Liu, Wenhu Wang, Sida Li, Zhenghai Shi, Guoling Liang and Wenhui Liu

Plants 2025, 14(16), 2500; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14162500 - 12 Aug 2025

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1941

Abstract

Oat is a dual-purpose crop valued for both grain and forage. The stay-green (SG) trait, which delays leaf senescence and prolongs photosynthesis, has been shown to increase yield and quality in several crop species, yet its performance across diverse environments in oats remains [...] Read more.

Oat is a dual-purpose crop valued for both grain and forage. The stay-green (SG) trait, which delays leaf senescence and prolongs photosynthesis, has been shown to increase yield and quality in several crop species, yet its performance across diverse environments in oats remains underexplored. In this study, multi-location field trials were conducted in Ledu, Huangzhong and Haiyan, Qinghai Province, China, to comprehensively evaluate the performance of stay-green oat lines. The traits evaluated included grain yield components, nutritional quality, and seedling establishment traits. A TOPSIS (technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution) model, coefficient of variation (CV) and G × E (genotype × environment) visualization were used to assess adaptability, stability, and genotype × environment interactions. On average, the stay-green lines exhibited an 16.00% increase in plot yield and a 22.93% increase in thousand-grain weight compared to controls. Notable improvements were also observed in the starch (7.58% LN_SG in HZ and HY) and protein (3.58%, QY5_SG all the sites) contents, as well as multiple seedling establishment indices, with the seedling vigor indices increasing by more than 50%. Stability analysis further showed that the stay-green lines were stable in spike length, thousand-grain weight, water-soluble carbohydrates, and seed and seedling vigor. TOPSIS analysis identified ‘LN_SG’ as the top-performing and most adaptable genotype across all environments. Overall, stay-green oat lines demonstrated superior performance in grain yield, nutritional quality, and seedling establishment. These findings highlight their potential for field application and their value as parental materials in oat breeding programs enhancing environmental adaptability and stability. Full article

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22 pages, 33740 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Detection of Pine Wilt Disease in UAV Remote Sensing Images Based on SLMW-Net

by Xiaoli Yuan, Guoxiong Zhou, Yongming Yan and Xuewu Yan

Plants 2025, 14(16), 2490; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14162490 - 11 Aug 2025

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2456

Abstract

The pine wood nematode is responsible for pine wilt disease, which poses a significant threat to forest ecosystems worldwide. If not quickly detected and removed, the disease spreads rapidly. Advancements in UAV and image detection technologies are crucial for disease monitoring, enabling efficient [...] Read more.

The pine wood nematode is responsible for pine wilt disease, which poses a significant threat to forest ecosystems worldwide. If not quickly detected and removed, the disease spreads rapidly. Advancements in UAV and image detection technologies are crucial for disease monitoring, enabling efficient and automated identification of pine wilt disease. However, challenges persist in the detection of pine wilt disease, including complex UAV imagery backgrounds, difficulty extracting subtle features, and prediction frame bias. In this study, we develop a specialized UAV remote sensing pine forest ARen dataset and introduce a novel pine wilt disease detection model, SLMW-Net. Firstly, the Self-Learning Feature Extraction Module (SFEM) is proposed, combining a convolutional operation and a learnable normalization layer, which effectively solves the problem of difficult feature extraction from pine trees in complex backgrounds and reduces the interference of irrelevant regions. Secondly, the MicroFeature Attention Mechanism (MFAM) is designed to enhance the capture of tiny features of pine trees infected by initial nematode diseases by combining Grouped Attention and Gated Feed-Forward. Then, Weighted and Linearly Scaled IoU Loss (WLIoU Loss) is introduced, which combines weight adjustment and linear stretch truncation to improve the learning strategy, enhance the model performance and generalization ability. SLMW-Net is trained on the self-built ARen dataset and compared with seven existing methods. The experimental results show that SLMW-Net outperforms all other methods, achieving an mAP@0.5 of 86.7% and an mAP@0.5:0.95 of 40.1%. Compared to the backbone model, the mAP@0.5 increased from 83.9% to 86.7%. Therefore, the proposed SLMW-Net has demonstrated strong capabilities to address three major challenges related to pine wilt disease detection, helping to protect forest health and maintain ecological balance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Artificial Intelligence for Plant Research)

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19 pages, 4395 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Morphometric Analysis Reveals New Data in the History of Vitis Cultivars

by José Javier Martín-Gómez, José Luis Rodríguez-Lorenzo, Francisco Emmanuel Espinosa-Roldán, Félix Cabello Sáenz de Santamaría, Gregorio Muñoz-Organero, Ángel Tocino and Emilio Cervantes

Plants 2025, 14(16), 2481; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14162481 - 10 Aug 2025

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1386

Abstract

Seeds of different Vitis cultivars (V. vinifera subsp. vinifera) have an interesting diversity of shapes, ranging from the small seeds of high solidity and low aspect ratio in some species of Vitis and V. vinifera subsp. Sylvestris to other morphological types [...] Read more.

Seeds of different Vitis cultivars (V. vinifera subsp. vinifera) have an interesting diversity of shapes, ranging from the small seeds of high solidity and low aspect ratio in some species of Vitis and V. vinifera subsp. Sylvestris to other morphological types with elongated stalks, characteristic of the more recent cultivars, suggesting a transition with alterations in seed shape associated with groups of cultivars. J-index analysis is a morphometrical technique that measures the percentage similarity of seed images with geometric models. Three models based on the outlines of reference cultivars (a model based on the Spanish female cultivar Hebén; and mixed models for French and German Chenin and Gewürtztraminer, both related to Savagnin Blanc; and Regina dei Vigneti and Muscat Hamburg, related with the Muscat group) have been applied to select the average outlines (Aos) resembling these models from a collection of cultivars maintained at IMIDRA. Three groups resulted, called Hebén, Chenin, and Regina, with 15, 25, and 18 cultivars, respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) with the Fourier coefficients of the Aos for these cultivars and seeds of other species of Vitis and V. vinifera subsp. sylvestris showed differences between groups. Specific Fourier coefficients were related with geometric properties of the seeds, circularity, roundness, aspect ratio, and solidity as well as with diverse measurements of curvature allowing to establish hypothesis about the change in geometric properties along the evolution of cultivars. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Development and Morphogenesis)

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21 pages, 9664 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Detection Approach for Wheat Spike Recognition and Counting Based on UAV Images and Improved Faster R-CNN

by Donglin Wang, Longfei Shi, Huiqing Yin, Yuhan Cheng, Shaobo Liu, Siyu Wu, Guangguang Yang, Qinge Dong, Jiankun Ge and Yanbin Li

Plants 2025, 14(16), 2475; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14162475 - 9 Aug 2025

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1672

Abstract

This study presents an innovative unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based intelligent detection method utilizing an improved Faster Region-based Convolutional Neural Network (Faster R-CNN) architecture to address the inefficiency and inaccuracy inherent in manual wheat spike counting. We systematically collected a high-resolution image dataset (2000 [...] Read more.

This study presents an innovative unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based intelligent detection method utilizing an improved Faster Region-based Convolutional Neural Network (Faster R-CNN) architecture to address the inefficiency and inaccuracy inherent in manual wheat spike counting. We systematically collected a high-resolution image dataset (2000 images, 4096 × 3072 pixels) covering key growth stages (heading, grain filling, and maturity) of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) during 2022–2023 using a DJI M300 RTK equipped with multispectral sensors. The dataset encompasses diverse field scenarios under five fertilization treatments (organic-only, organic–inorganic 7:3 and 3:7 ratios, inorganic-only, and no fertilizer) and two irrigation regimes (full and deficit irrigation), ensuring representativeness and generalizability. For model development, we replaced conventional VGG16 with ResNet-50 as the backbone network, incorporating residual connections and channel attention mechanisms to achieve 92.1% mean average precision (mAP) while reducing parameters from 135 M to 77 M (43% decrease). The GFLOPS of the improved model has been reduced from 1.9 to 1.7, an decrease of 10.53%, and the computational efficiency of the model has been improved. Performance tests demonstrated a 15% reduction in missed detection rate compared to YOLOv8 in dense canopies, with spike count regression analysis yielding R² = 0.88 (p < 0.05) against manual measurements and yield prediction errors below 10% for optimal treatments. To validate robustness, we established a dedicated 500-image test set (25% of total data) spanning density gradients (30–80 spikes/m²) and varying illumination conditions, maintaining >85% accuracy even under cloudy weather. Furthermore, by integrating spike recognition with agronomic parameters (e.g., grain weight), we developed a comprehensive yield estimation model achieving 93.5% accuracy under optimal water–fertilizer management (70% ETc irrigation with 3:7 organic–inorganic ratio). This work systematically addresses key technical challenges in automated spike detection through standardized data acquisition, lightweight model design, and field validation, offering significant practical value for smart agriculture development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Phenotyping and Machine Learning)

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22 pages, 1637 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Phytochemistry and Bioactivity of Essential Oil and Methanolic Extracts of Origanum vulgare L. from Central Italy

by Francesca Fantasma, Marco Segatto, Mayra Colardo, Francesca Di Matteo, Maria Giovanna Chini, Maria Iorizzi and Gabriella Saviano

Plants 2025, 14(16), 2468; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14162468 - 9 Aug 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2753

Abstract

Origanum vulgare L. is an important aromatic plant traditionally used in folk medicine since ancient times. Its growing interest for the scientific community is mainly attributed to its distinctive chemical profile, which includes bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols (phenolic acids and flavonoids) and [...] Read more.

Origanum vulgare L. is an important aromatic plant traditionally used in folk medicine since ancient times. Its growing interest for the scientific community is mainly attributed to its distinctive chemical profile, which includes bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols (phenolic acids and flavonoids) and volatile compounds (essential oil). These components collectively contribute to oregano’s wide spectrum of biological activities. In this study, the volatile components of the essential oil (WEO_OR) and the polyphenolic fraction of the methanolic extract (ME_OR) obtained from leaves and inflorescences of wild Origanum vulgare collected in central Italy were characterized using GC-MS and UHPLC-DAD, respectively. Carvacrol was identified as the major compound in the essential oil, while rosmarinic acid was predominant in the methanolic extract. A comparative analysis was also carried out with a commercially available essential oil (CEO_OR), aiming to evaluate potential differences in chemical composition and antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays). ME_OR showed the strongest antioxidant activity (DPPH IC₅₀ = 0.052 mg mL⁻¹; ABTS = 3.94 mg TE mL⁻¹; FRAP = 30.58 mg TE g⁻¹), followed by CEO_OR (DPPH IC₅₀ = 0.45 mg mL⁻¹; ABTS = 9.57 mg TE mL⁻¹; FRAP = 7.33 mg TE g⁻¹), while WEO_OR displayed the lowest values (DPPH IC₅₀ = 1.54 mg mL⁻¹; ABTS = 0.10 mg TE mL⁻¹). Furthermore, ME_OR and WEO_OR were tested in vitro using the human hepatoblastoma cell line HepG2 to assess their potential biological activities related to cell survival and oxidative stress. The results indicated that at the tested doses, neither the ME nor the EO showed significant toxicity, as evidenced by the unchanged proliferation rate of HepG2 cells. However, the ME at low doses (50 and 100 μg mL⁻¹) and the EO (0.005%), administered as a pre-treatment, exhibited a protective effect against oxidative stress, as inferred from the reduction in 8-OHdG levels, a marker of oxidative damage to nucleic acids. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Isolation and Characterization of Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal Plants)

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20 pages, 23943 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Novel Cysteine Protease from Phytolacca americana Cleaves Pokeweed Antiviral Protein Generating Bioactive Fragments

by Annabelle Audet, Jennifer A. Chivers and Katalin A. Hudak

Plants 2025, 14(15), 2441; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14152441 - 7 Aug 2025

Viewed by 2026

Abstract

The apoplast is often the first point of contact between plant cells and invading pathogens, serving as an important site for defense signaling. Pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP), a ribosome-inactivating protein from Phytolacca americana (pokeweed), is localized to the apoplast and is hypothesized to [...] Read more.

The apoplast is often the first point of contact between plant cells and invading pathogens, serving as an important site for defense signaling. Pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP), a ribosome-inactivating protein from Phytolacca americana (pokeweed), is localized to the apoplast and is hypothesized to accompany a pathogen to the cytosol, where it would inactivate host ribosomes to prevent pathogen spread. However, it is not known whether PAP interacts with other proteins in the apoplast. In this study, we identified Phytolacca americana cysteine protease 1 (PaCP1), an extracellular cysteine protease, as a novel PAP interactor. Sequence and structural analyses classified PaCP1 as a member of the C1A subfamily of papain-like cysteine proteases. Immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, and yeast two-hybrid analysis showed that PAP specifically binds the mature, active form of PaCP1. Curiously, PaCP1 cleaves PAP at its N- and C-termini, generating peptides that enhance MAPK phosphorylation in pokeweed leaves, indicating their potential role in stress signaling. PaCP1 processing of PAP to generate bioactive peptides diversifies the function of a ribosome-inactivating protein beyond its canonical inhibition of translation. Our findings present a novel extracellular role for PAP and advance our understanding of how protein interactions in the apoplast contribute to plant immune responses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Molecular Biology)

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17 pages, 701 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Hydroethanolic Extracts of Raspberry (Rubus idaeus) Pomace as Ingredients of Functional Foods: Characterization and Effect of Gastrointestinal Digestion

by Ziva Vipotnik, Majda Golob and Alen Albreht

Plants 2025, 14(15), 2444; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14152444 - 7 Aug 2025

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2806

Abstract

The extract of powdered raspberry pomace was characterized in terms of its phenolic profile and antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Kuromanin, chlorogenic acid, protocatechuic acid, and pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside were found to be the major phenolic compounds, while the antioxidant activity of the extract [...] Read more.

The extract of powdered raspberry pomace was characterized in terms of its phenolic profile and antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Kuromanin, chlorogenic acid, protocatechuic acid, and pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside were found to be the major phenolic compounds, while the antioxidant activity of the extract correlated positively with the total phenolic content (TPC), which was 472.9 ± 0.1 mg GAE/g dw. The extract also showed good antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive foodborne bacteria. More importantly, in vitro bioaccessibility of phenols from the raspberry pomace extract was 5-fold higher when the extract was incorporated into meringue cookies. Although the concentrations of anthocyanins, flavonoids, and tannins decreased after the oral, gastric, and intestinal phases of digestion, the TPC slightly increased as the compounds were released from the food matrix. The content of available phenolics was 4-fold lower in the case of a commercial raspberry colorant, demonstrating that the waste from raspberry pomace could serve as a valuable health-promoting ingredient for functional food formulations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Phytochemistry: Advancing Green Innovations and Biodiversity Preservation)

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