Search Results (5,220)

This study focuses on the synthesis of glucovanillin mediated by UGT109A1 and its mechanism against Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Recombinant UGT109A1 successfully synthesized glucovanillin from vanillin using UDP-Glc as the sugar donor. Through network pharmacology, 140 potential targets were identified. Seven key targets were further screened using LASSO and SVM-RFE algorithms. Among these, SLC5A1 and ADK showed strong diagnostic potential, with AUC values ranging from 0.85 to 0.89. Immune infiltration analysis linked these core targets to M2 macrophages. Single-cell transcriptomics revealed that ADK is widely expressed but enriched in B cells, while TLR9 is confined to plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). Cell-to-cell communication analysis identified a pDC-to-B cell signaling axis. In vitro assays demonstrated that glucovanillin exhibits concentration-dependent inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase with moderate potency, with an IC₅₀ of 413.84 ± 12.80 μM. Molecular docking, 200 ns molecular dynamics simulations (MD), and MM/PBSA calculations showed that glucovanillin binds more strongly to α-glucosidase (−7.4 kcal/mol) than vanillin (−5.4 kcal/mol). Therefore, the glycosylation mediated by UGT109A1 enhanced the bioactivity and targeting specificity of vanillin. In summary, glucovanillin exerts anti-T2DM effects through a dual mechanism involving α-glucosidase inhibition and regulation of key targets, making it a promising lead compound for T2DM treatment. Full article

Background: Honey possesses anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties due to its complex mixture of carbohydrates, phenolics, flavonoids, vitamins, and minerals. However, comprehensive data on monofloral honeys from Saudi Arabia’s Qassim region are lacking. Objective: This study evaluated the nutritional composition, glycemic index, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of five Qassim honeys (Talh, Keina, Samr, Berseem, Ashr) and identified chemical components responsible for their therapeutic potential. Methods: Physicochemical parameters, sugar profiles, minerals, vitamins, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), diastase activity, and HMF were analyzed. Antioxidant activity was assessed by DPPH and ABTS assays, anti-inflammatory activity by BSA denaturation inhibition, and in vitro glycemic index by simulated digestion. Statistical comparisons used one-way ANOVA with Fisher’s LSD (n = 5). Results: All honeys met international quality standards (moisture < 20%, HMF < 40 mg/kg, F + G > 60 g/100 g). Samr honey showed the highest TPC (890 mg GAE/kg) and TFC (226 mg QE/kg). Ashr and Berseem exhibited the highest DPPH scavenging (92% and 91%). Samr was the most potent ABTS scavenger (IC₅₀ 26.7 μg/mL). Ashr displayed the strongest anti-inflammatory activity (86.9%), followed by Berseem (72.0%). All honeys had low glycemic index (51–55). Talh and Samr (Acacia-derived) were richest in K, Mg, P, Fe, and Zn; Keina (Eucalyptus) was highest in Ca; Berseem (clover) had the lowest mineral content. Samr honey contained the highest levels of vitamin C and B vitamins. Conclusions: The five Qassim monofloral honeys possess distinct nutritional and bioactive profiles. Samr honey is exceptionally rich in phenolics, flavonoids, and B vitamins, contributing to high antioxidant capacity. Ashr and Berseem honeys showed remarkable anti-inflammatory activity. All honeys are low-glycemic and meet quality standards. These findings support their use as functional foods and provide a basis for botanical authentication and quality control. Full article

Aphis craccivora is a major piercing–sucking insect pest in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) production and severely restricts yield and quality. To identify aphid-resistant genetic resources and clarify the key physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlying resistance and susceptibility, 937 faba bean germplasm accessions were evaluated using a stepwise strategy comprising natural field screening, precise net-house re-screening, laboratory validation based on aphid life-table parameters, and physiological and biochemical characterization of representative resistant and susceptible accessions. After final laboratory validation, three resistant and three susceptible accessions were selected and subjected to aphid feeding for 0 h (CK), 36 h, and 72 h. Eleven physiological and biochemical traits were dynamically analyzed, including the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), as well as the contents of soluble protein, soluble sugar, free amino acids, tannins, total phenolics, flavonoids, and lignin. Three stable aphid-resistant accessions were ultimately identified. Laboratory life-table analysis showed that the net reproductive rate of aphids on resistant accessions was significantly lower than that on susceptible accessions, with R₀ decreasing from 53.63 to 25.08, representing a reduction of 53.2%. The intrinsic rate of increase decreased by 26.7%, whereas the mean generation time increased by 10.7%, confirming the reliability of the screening results. Physiological and biochemical analyses showed that aphid feeding induced significant and time-dependent increases in SOD, POD, CAT, and PAL activities and in tannin, total phenolic, flavonoid, and lignin contents in resistant accessions, whereas these defense responses were weak in susceptible accessions. In contrast, susceptible accessions showed abnormal accumulation of soluble sugars and free amino acids, whereas resistant accessions maintained these nutrients at low levels. Lignin exhibited both constitutive and inducible defense characteristics in resistant accessions and emerged as a prominent candidate indicator for aphid resistance in faba bean. This study establishes an effective technical pipeline for screening aphid-resistant faba bean germplasm and reveals a coordinated defense network involving antioxidant enzymes, phenylpropanoid metabolism, secondary metabolites, and physical barriers. These findings provide elite parental germplasm and theoretical support for aphid-resistance breeding in faba bean. Full article

The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) is a class B G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) central to metabolic regulation, and its potential modulation by dietary phytochemicals is increasingly recognized as physiologically relevant. Understanding how such compounds interact with GLP-1R is important for clarifying mechanisms that may contribute to gut-to-brain signaling. In this study, we examined three structurally related dietary ginsenosides, Rg1, Rg2, and Rg3, as potential modulators of GLP-1R using luciferase reporter assays and computational analyses. Despite sharing similar molecular weights, a common dammarane scaffold, and comparable sugar moieties, the three ginsenosides displayed distinct effects on GLP-1R activity: Rg2 and Rg3 potently reduced receptor activation in a dose-dependent manner when co-administered with Exendin-4, whereas Rg1 had minimal effect. Computational screening of the GLP-1R structure for binding sites identified a putative extracellular pocket on the protein that can accommodate these compounds, while molecular docking and binding free energy calculations provided predicted affinities qualitatively reflecting the phytochemicals’ experimental activities. These findings point to a plausible extracellular mechanism through which dietary ginsenosides may influence GLP-1R responsiveness at the intestinal interface. Our results point to the possibility that non-absorbed phytochemicals can differentially modulate gut-expressed receptors, suggesting a novel pathway for dietary signaling relevant to ethnopharmacology and metabolic health. Full article

Background/Objectives: Maternal nutrition and physical activity are modifiable behaviours relevant to pregnancy outcomes, but higher activity may coexist with both favourable and unfavourable dietary patterns. This study examined associations between pregnancy physical activity, individualised fruit–vegetable adequacy, energy-dense, nutrient-poor (EDNP) food and beverage intake, and preterm birth. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1048 postpartum women with singleton live births recruited consecutively at a tertiary maternity hospital in Romania. Physical activity during the last three months of pregnancy was assessed using the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire and categorised into quartiles of total MET-hours/week. Dietary intake was assessed using an adapted food frequency questionnaire. Fruit–vegetable adequacy was evaluated against individualised recommendations, and EDNP intake was summarised using a composite score derived from fast food, sweets, chocolate, and sugar-sweetened beverages. Preterm birth was defined as delivery before 37 completed weeks of gestation. Results: Preterm birth occurred in 118 cases (11.3%). Higher physical activity categories showed greater fruit–vegetable intake and adequacy, but also higher EDNP intake. After adjustment for maternal age, pregestational BMI, parity, education, and income, physical activity category remained associated with all modelled dietary outcomes. Category 4 had higher odds of fruit–vegetable adequacy than category 1 (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.55–3.24). In diet-informed models, category 3 had the lowest odds of preterm birth (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.21–0.68). Conclusions: Total physical activity during pregnancy was associated with a complex dietary profile rather than a uniformly favourable lifestyle pattern. The lowest odds of preterm birth were observed in the third activity category, suggesting a non-linear association. Full article

Background: To investigate the protective effects of Phellodendron amurense Rupr. polysaccharides (PAP), alkaloids, and flavonoids in alleviating diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and to elucidate the role of the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β/Nrf2 signaling pathway. Methods: Active components were extracted and quantified. In vitro, high-glucose (HG)-induced human kidney-2 (HK-2) cells were used to screen the optimal fraction via CCK-8, reactive oxygen species (ROS), TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL), and Western Blot (WB) assays. In vivo, a DKD rat model was established using 2% Streptozotocin (STZ) and a high-fat with high-sugar diet. Rats were treated with PAP and LY294002. Renal damage and signaling pathway proteins were evaluated using histological staining and WB. Results: Among the tested components, PAP conferred the most pronounced cytoprotection against HG-induced injury in HK-2 cells. PAP significantly reduced glomerular damage, collagen deposition, and glycogen accumulation in the kidneys of DKD rats. Mechanistically, PAP activated the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β/Nrf2 pathway, upregulating HO-1 and NQO1, while inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smad2 pathway and Bcl-2/Bax-mediated apoptosis. These protective effects were significantly attenuated by LY294002. Conclusions: Among the tested fractions under the present experimental conditions, PAP exhibited the most pronounced protective activity. These protective effects were partially mediated through the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β/Nrf2 pathway, which enhanced antioxidant capacity while reducing fibrosis and apoptosis. Full article

Wildfire can alter soil organic carbon (SOC) pools and microbial pathways of carbon stabilization, but depth-dependent links between microbial necromass and stable carbon pools remain unclear. We investigated a wildfire-severity gradient in a subtropical coniferous forest in Guizhou, China, including four severity classes (unburned, light, moderate, and severe) and two soil layers (0–20 and 20–40 cm). We measured easily oxidizable organic carbon (EOC), recalcitrant organic carbon (ROC), SOC, amino sugars, microbial necromass carbon (MNC), extracellular enzyme activities, and carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZy) functional indices. MNC peaked under moderate wildfire in both layers, increasing by 73.8% and 85.1% in the topsoil and subsoil, respectively, relative to unburned plots. After accounting for soil physicochemical properties and wildfire severity, MNC was more strongly associated with ROC and SOC in the topsoil than in the subsoil. Extracellular enzyme activities were positively associated with amino sugars and necromass pools, whereas CAZy composite indices showed weaker relationships that did not persist after false discovery rate correction. Exploratory path analysis suggested that the EOC–NAG–MNC–ROC–SOC chain was more pronounced in the topsoil, while the subsoil showed weaker chained associations and stronger direct EOC–MNC and EOC–ROC links. Overall, microbial necromass was associated with depth-dependent post-fire carbon stabilization. Full article

Consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) is difficult to monitor because enzyme production, lignocellulose degradation, sugar release, and fermentation occur simultaneously under sparse measurement, feedstock variability, and plant–model mismatch conditions. This study proposes a computational sensor-set design framework for digital-twin-assisted CBP monitoring. A five-state virtual plant, consisting of active biomass, cellulolytic enzyme activity, residual insoluble substrate, soluble sugar, and ethanol, was used to evaluate all 16 ethanol-mandatory measurement packages formed from ethanol, sugar, biomass, enzyme, and residual-substrate proxy channels. Candidate sensor sets were assessed using finite-difference output sensitivities, Fisher-information-based state-observability and parameter-identifiability analyses, eigenvalue and parameter-correlation diagnostics, and paired Monte Carlo unscented Kalman filter soft-sensing reconstruction. Within the tested five-state virtual-plant benchmark and with the specified excitation schedule, noise assumptions, burden indices, and scoring objective, ethanol-only sensing provided the weakest support for state-aware CBP digital-twin reconstruction. At a $6\mathrm{h}$ sampling interval, the state-observability log-pseudodeterminant increased from 4.18 with ethanol-only sensing to 8.56 after adding soluble sugar and to 16.42 with full-proxy monitoring. The ethanol–sugar–biomass–substrate package also gave strong reduced state-observability performance, with log-pseudodeterminants of 15.12, 13.76, and 12.51 at 6, 12, and $24\mathrm{h}$, respectively. Biomass and enzyme proxies contributed strongly to parameter learning, and the ethanol–sugar–biomass–enzyme package gave the strongest active parameter-identifiability performance, with log-pseudodeterminants of 10.82, 9.06, and 6.67 at 6, 12, and $24\mathrm{h}$, respectively. In the paired soft-sensing analysis, full-proxy monitoring reduced the mean latent-state RMSE from 1.1899 to 0.3756, followed by ethanol–biomass–enzyme–substrate with 0.3843 and ethanol–sugar–biomass–substrate with 0.4121. The primary aggregate ranking identified ethanol–sugar–biomass–substrate as the best overall package, with a sensor-value score of 0.8432 and a burden index of 7.0, followed by full-proxy monitoring with a score of 0.8173 and a burden index of 10.0. Robustness tests showed that ethanol–sugar–biomass–substrate remained top-ranked under uniform noise scaling, full UKF missingness, delay and bias stress test conditions, most scoring-weight scenarios, and all tested sensor-specific burden workflows. Full-proxy monitoring remained a close competitor under independent sensor-specific noise variation conditions and became top-ranked for some alternative operating trajectories. The proposed framework provides a simulation-based method for prioritizing informative measurement packages before implementing CBP digital twins in laboratory and pilot-plant settings. Full article

Grapevine downy mildew, caused by the oomycete pathogen Plasmopara viticola (P. viticola), is one of the most devastating diseases threatening the global grape industry. The pathogen invades host plants through stomata, triggering a series of highly coordinated physiological disorders and biochemical defense events. This review systematically summarizes the dynamic changes in morphological structures (stomatal characteristics), physiological functions (photosynthesis, membrane system integrity, and carbon metabolism), and multi-level biochemical defense systems (reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging enzyme system, phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway, pathogenesis-related proteins, and phenolic compounds) in grapevines following infection. It focuses on analyzing the differences in the timing, intensity, and metabolic reprogramming of defense responses between resistant and susceptible cultivars, pointing out that the essence of disease resistance lies in early pathogen recognition and rapid defense induction. The conflicting conclusions regarding indicators such as soluble sugars, peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) are discussed from the perspectives of experimental systems, cultivar genetic backgrounds, and pathogen physiological race differences. Furthermore, the known physiological and biochemical alterations are linked to upstream signaling pathways, including salicylic acid and jasmonic acid (SA/JA), calcium signaling, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades. Recent advances in revealing resistance mechanisms in the omics era are also introduced. Finally, future research directions are proposed, including constructing multi-indicator dynamic evaluation models, verifying key gene functions using gene editing, exploring the potential of epigenetic regulation, and developing integrated control strategies combined with microbiome research. This review aims to provide theoretical support for grapevine downy mildew resistance breeding and sustainable disease management. Full article

The genus Tamarix L. includes several species widely used in traditional medicine for their therapeutic properties. This study aims to evaluate the bioactive potential of Tamarix gallica extracts from Western Algeria using an integrated in vitro and in silico approach. GC–MS analysis with BSTFA derivatization was performed to characterize the chemical profile of the methanolic fraction. In addition, total phenolic, flavonoid, and tannin contents were determined in methanolic extracts of leaves and stems. The biological activities were assessed using antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS, β-carotene, FRAP, O-phenanthroline, and cupric reducing assays), antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and anti-Alzheimer in vitro assays. Molecular docking was conducted to evaluate the inhibitory potential of selected flavonoids against α-amylase, acetylcholinesterase, and butyrylcholinesterase. Results revealed a rich metabolite profile dominated by long-chain aliphatic alcohols (including hentriacontan-12-ol), phytosterols (β-sitosterol), fatty acids, phenolic derivatives, and sugar alcohols. The extracts exhibited strong antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ = 1.34 ± 0.43 and 12.32 ± 0.36 μg·mL⁻¹), significant antimicrobial effects against the tested pathogens, and notable antidiabetic and anticholinesterase activities (IC₅₀ = 78.65 ± 1.43 and 98.37 ± 1.07 μg·mL⁻¹). Molecular docking analysis supported these findings, showing strong binding affinities of quercetin and rhamnetin toward the target enzymes. Overall, T. gallica exhibits promising multifunctional bioactivities with potential pharmaceutical relevance. Full article

Background: This study analyzed the association between caries increment and clinical, salivary, bacteriological, and behavioral risk markers in a two-year follow-up study of schoolchildren in Mexico City. Methods: A two-year follow-up study was conducted in elementary schoolchildren, where 118 schoolchildren aged 7–10 years at baseline (50% boys) participated in the follow-up. Toothbrushing frequency, sugar consumption, and dental caries indices were recorded according to WHO criteria. Salivary secretion rates, buffering capacity (Dentobuff^®), and cariogenic bacterial counts (Dentocult SM and LB^®) were also measured. Logistic regression was applied to analyze associations between caries increment and risk markers. Results: The mean baseline caries indices were dmft 4.8 (SD 4.0) and DMFT 0.6 (SD 0.9). Children were classified into three caries experience groups: caries-free, filled-teeth, and caries-active. After two years, baseline caries-free children had a lower caries increment in permanent teeth (0.2, SD 0.7) than other groups (p < 0.0001). However, the caries increment was similar between groups (p = 0.0827). Logistic regression revealed associations with toothbrushing frequency [OR = 2.77, p = 0.026], S. mutans counts [OR = 3.38, p = 0.050], and Lactobacillus counts [OR = 2.91, p = 0.029]. Conclusions: Children with low toothbrushing frequency and high cariogenic bacterial counts developed more caries lesions than those with better oral hygiene and lower bacterial levels. Greater emphasis should be placed on promoting oral hygiene and reducing bacterial load in the oral cavity. Full article

The introduction of sustainable practices into waste management can have a favorable environmental impact, increase resource value, and yield economic gains. Hydrothermal technologies have strong potential for the production of up-cycled ingredients from biowaste (amino acids, sugars, phenols, pharmacologically active compounds, etc.), enabling high energy recovery (50–80%) from biowaste with net-negative carbon emissions. This review discusses the use of subcritical and supercritical water technologies for sustainable valorization of biowaste and conversion of biomass into high-value chemicals and biofuels. The potential for the extraction/generation of bioactive compounds from plant and animal waste is presented, emphasizing the efficiency, compound stability, and bioactivity of the fractions obtained. The possibilities of simultaneous extraction of added-value compounds and hydrolysis of feedstock biopolymers by these technologies are elaborated. The review further addresses the production of biofuels through hydrothermal carbonization for solid fuels, hydrothermal waste liquefaction for liquid fuels, and supercritical water gasification for gaseous fuels. The paper highlights the environmental and economic advantages of technologies based on sub- and supercritical water over conventional chemical and fermentative routes, emphasizing their contribution to a circular bioeconomy by converting biowaste into value-added products and sustainable energy sources. Full article

Salinity stress severely inhibits crop growth and reduces yield. Exogenous selenium (Se) enhances plant abiotic stress tolerance, but how different selenium forms exert their impacts and pathways in mitigating salinity remains ambiguous. Under salt stress, this work compared two Se forms, selenate [Se(VI)] and selenite [Se(IV)], regarding their impacts on development, photosynthetic performance, antioxidative system, osmotic regulators, Se buildup, and stress-related gene expression in Nicotiana tabacum L. Both Se species significantly promoted tobacco growth. (1) Under 150 mmol/L NaCl stress, biomass, net photosynthetic rate and antioxidant enzyme activities decreased significantly, while soluble sugar, free proline, Na⁺/K⁺, Na⁺/Ca²⁺, H₂O₂, MDA contents and NtROS2a, NtLEA5 expression increased significantly. (2) Exogenous Se increased biomass, photosynthetic parameters; antioxidant enzyme activities and NtNAC2, NtCDPK12, NtROS2a expression; elevated Se deposition in roots and leaves; and reduced oxidative damage, ion imbalance and NtLEA5 expression in salt-stressed tobacco, suggesting that Se may improve salt tolerance by regulating these physiological processes and stress-related gene expression. (3) Compared with Se(IV), Se(VI) significantly increased root length, chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance, K⁺ content, SOD/CAT activities, leaf and root Se accumulation as well as and NtNAC2, NtCDPK12 expression, while Se(IV) resulted in higher root diameter, free proline content, Na⁺/K⁺ ratio and NtROS2a expression. In conclusion, both sodium selenate and sodium selenite effectively enhanced tobacco salt tolerance. The salt stress alleviation effect of Se(VI) may be associated with upregulating NtNAC2 and NtCDPK12 to improve antioxidant capacity and photosynthesis, thereby potentially maintaining cell membrane integrity and ion balance, while Se(IV) may exert its effect through upregulating NtROS2a to promote root thickening, reactive oxygen species scavenging and osmotic adjustment. At the tested concentrations, selenate was more effective. Full article

The improvement of sucrose yield in sugarcane is impeded by the crop’s complex polyploid genome and slow progress in breeding. To clarify how arginine (Arg) regulates sugar metabolism and identify key genes associated with sucrose transport and accumulation in sugarcane, a screening experiment was performed by spraying L-arginine hydrochloride on the leaves and leaf sheaths of three sugarcane varieties (YZ05-51, YZ08-1609, and YT93-159), which differ in growth vigor, leaf morphology and other phenotypic traits. YZ05-51 exhibited the most prominent sugar-increasing effect, and subsequent optimization experiments on its leaf sheaths revealed that 20 g/mu L-arginine hydrochloride at pH 7.0 was optimal, significantly enhancing stem sucrose content. Transcriptomic analysis revealed the upregulation of genes related to sucrose synthesis and transport, with candidate genes enriched in pathways such as starch-sucrose metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. Metabolomic analysis detected 32 sugar metabolites across three categories, of which 24 were differentially abundant (e.g., glucose, galactose, fructose, and mannose). Integrated multi-omics analysis identified key regulatory genes, including SBEs and TPS1 (sucrose synthesis and carbon flux regulation), RBSK, α-amylases, GH28 (starch breakdown, glycolysis, and sugar mobilization), ABC transporters, GTs, and TIM10/TIM12 (sucrose transporter). Collectively, these analyses demonstrate enhanced activity of genes and metabolites involved in sucrose synthesis/transport in leaf sheaths, accompanied by reduced synthesis of other monosaccharides and oligosaccharides. Vigorously metabolizing leaf sheaths is more conducive to sucrose transport. This study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying Arg-mediated sucrose accumulation specifically in the sugarcane YZ05-51 sugarcane, highlighting its critical regulatory roles. Full article

Wheat, a global staple crop, faces severe yield threats from abiotic stresses like salinity. In this study, salt tolerance was assessed in five wheat cultivars from the Huang–Huai–Hai region of China (Ji 6358, Jimai 22, Keyi 5214, Liangxing 99, and Nongda 3432) by exposing seedlings to NaCl concentrations ranging from 0 to 150 mM. Under 150 mM NaCl treatment, Liangxing 99 and Jimai 22 displayed greater root and shoot growth, accompanied by more biomass accumulation than Ji 6358. Physiological and biochemical indicator assays revealed that under 100 mM and 150 mM NaCl treatment, Liangxing 99 and Jimai 22 exhibited significantly higher levels of chlorophyll, proline, and soluble sugars, coupled with lower MDA accumulation than Ji 6358. Additionally, the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including SOD and CAT, were highest in Liangxing 99 and Jimai 22, consistent with the lowest H₂O₂ accumulation observed among the five wheat cultivars under 150 mM NaCl treatment. qRT-PCR analysis of Liangxing 99 and Jimai 22 under 150 mM NaCl treatment revealed that transcript levels of the abiotic stress-responsive gene ZFP34, antioxidant-related genes (APX1, FSD2, APX2), and the photosynthetic gene RbcS were significantly higher in Liangxing 99. These findings demonstrated that Liangxing 99 exhibited relatively strong salinity tolerance among the five tested wheat cultivars. This study offers insight into the identification of elite salt-tolerant wheat cultivars at the seedling stage and provides valuable guidance for future breeding programs aimed at enhancing wheat productivity in saline environments. Full article