Search Results (428)

Heterosis utilization is an effective strategy to improve crop yield, stress resistance, and quality, and has been widely used in crop breeding. Soybean is an important oil and protein crop worldwide with heterosis, but the genetic basis of soybean heterosis remains largely unclear. Whole-transcriptome analysis provides a new technical approach to explore the molecular mechanism of heterosis. In this study, HYBSOY2, a registered soybean hybrid variety with the strongest heterosis in China, together with its female parent JLCMS47A, maintainer line JLCMS47B, and male parent JLR2, were used as experimental material. Whole-transcriptome sequencing was performed using RNA extracted from seedling leaves. After mapping high-quality reads to the soybean reference genome, 57 co-expressed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in HYBSOY2 compared with both JLCMS47B and JLR2. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses shows that these DEGs were mainly enriched in ADP binding, oxidoreductase activity, fatty acid elongation, and pyruvate metabolism. A total of 787 transcription factors were identified between HYBSOY2 and its parents, most of which shows parental expression-level dominance, with the MYB family accounting for the highest proportion. In addition, 10 differentially expressed lncRNAs were detected between HYBSOY2 and its parents. In the comparison between HYBSOY2 and JLCMS47B, 18 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified, among which up-regulated miR396d functions in promoting leaf development and enhancing drought tolerance. In the comparison between HYBSOY2 and JLR2, 20 differentially expressed miRNAs were found, including down-regulated miR172c which is involved in flowering promotion. A total of 12 DEGs were further verified by qRT-PCR, which may be closely related to soybean heterosis. This study provides a comprehensive transcriptomic profile at the seedling stage of the hybrid soybean and offers valuable information for hybrid soybean breeding. These results lay a foundation for further revealing the molecular mechanism underlying soybean heterosis. Full article

The study assessed the impact of climate change, aphid infestation and drought stress on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and the performance of English grain aphid (Sitobion avenae) under abiotic stress in controlled environmental conditions. To understand wheat and aphid interactions under different climatic condition, wheat plants were grown in controlled climatic chambers simulating present (400 ppm CO₂, 19.8 °C, RH 69.2%) and future (700 ppm CO₂, 23.4 °C, RH 67.5%) scenarios, combined with biotic stress (aphid) and abiotic stress (drought). Climate change effects combined with other stress factors are expected to alter crop physiology and insect biology. The results showed that aphid performance was significantly enhanced under future climatic conditions, with higher fecundity (56%), and a shortened or faster developmental time. As for wheat structural growth, above-ground biomass improved by up to 80% under future climate. However, its physiological efficiency, water content and photosynthetic efficiency were significantly reduced under the combined biotic and abiotic stresses. The study demonstrates that climate change may increase wheat plant growth under controlled conditions, yet it simultaneously boosts the shift in pest attacks and intensifies stress impacts, which eventually threaten wheat productivity. The findings emphasize the improvement of wheat varieties and pest-resistant strains capable of withstanding future climatic conditions. Full article

Gene-editing technology provides innovative strategies for coping with crop stress, enhancing resistance to biotic stresses (fungal, bacterial, viral infections) and abiotic stresses (salinity, drought, heavy metals, temperature extremes). The CRISPR/Cas9 system is widely used to knock out susceptibility genes, activate resistance genes, or modulate stress-response genes, yielding many stress-resistant crop varieties. However, off-target effects, chimeric effects, and the complexity of multi-gene synergistic editing limit its application. By optimizing and integrating with other cutting-edge technologies, gene editing is expected to yield highly stress-resistant and high-yielding crop varieties, contributing significantly to sustainable agricultural development and ensuring global food security. Rice, a key staple and model plant, has been extensively studied in gene-editing-based research on stress resistance. The practical potential of gene editing for agricultural improvement has been demonstrated by the effective modification of many genes linked to drought, salinity, temperature extremes, and disease resistance using CRISPR/Cas9 and related technologies. This review discusses gene-editing applications in crop stress research, examining the effects of various stresses on crops and the use of gene editing to develop stress-tolerant varieties. It offers substantial guidance for improving crop stress tolerance through gene editing, creating highly resilient cultivars with greater adaptation to complex, variable environments. Full article

The Tahe red deer is derived from the wild Tarim red deer, an endemic subspecies native to the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang, China. It has recently received official approval as a locally bred deer variety, developed through artificial breeding programs. This breed retains several advantageous traits from its wild ancestors, including tolerance to coarse forage, drought resistance, and a high yield of velvet antlers. To investigate the genetic mechanisms underlying velvet antler production, phenotypic data for antler weight and blood samples were collected from 73 adult Tahe red deer. Whole-genome sequencing and genome-wide association analysis were performed to identify genetic variants associated with antler weight. Population genetic analysis revealed that the observed heterozygosity (Ho) and expected heterozygosity (He) were 0.31291 and 0.32832, respectively, while the nucleotide diversity (π) was 2.17 × 10⁻³, indicating relatively high genetic diversity within the Tahe red deer population. Using a mixed linear model (MLM), a total of 189 candidate genes and 1387 significant SNP loci associated with antler weight were identified (p < 1.0 × 10⁻⁵). Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that these candidate genes are primarily involved in intracellular calcium ion homeostasis, peptide and protein biosynthesis, extracellular matrix organization, the regulation of glycolysis, and cytoskeleton-related processes, including actin filaments and microfibrils. These biological functions are closely related to cell proliferation, differentiation, energy metabolism, and tissue remodeling. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis further indicated that the candidate genes are significantly enriched in several pathways, including the Notch signaling pathway, the cGMP–PKG signaling pathway, the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, ribosome biogenesis, and mucin type O-glycan biosynthesis. These results suggest that these genes may participate in velvet antler growth and development by regulating cell proliferation and differentiation, cytoskeletal remodeling, and protein synthesis. Overall, this study identifies SNP loci and candidate genes significantly associated with antler weight in Tahe red deer, providing a theoretical basis for genetic improvement and marker-assisted selection for velvet antler production in this breed. Full article

Background/Objectives: Proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.), a drought-tolerant cereal vital to semi-arid agriculture, faces severe yield losses from head smut disease caused by the pathogen Sporisorium destruens. Although partial resistance exists, the dynamic molecular mechanisms governing its defense response across developmental stages remain poorly understood. Methods: Here, we performed untargeted metabolomics on leaf samples from Inoculated Asymptomatic (IA) and Inoculated Symptomatic (IS) plants of the partially resistant cultivar ‘Chishu 13’ at four key growth stages following pathogen inoculation, with group classification validated by qPCR. Using weighted metabolite co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) combined with differential metabolite screening, we identified 18 metabolites markedly enriched in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, metabolite transport-related processes, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways. Results: Notably, L-phenylalanine accumulated substantially in IA plants relative to IS plants and correlated closely with biosynthesis of key defensive phenylpropanoids, including cinnamic acid and p-coumaric acid. Our results reveal distinct temporal patterns in metabolic reprogramming that correlate with resistance outcomes in Inoculated Asymptomatic plants: early stages are characterized by differential regulation of energy metabolism, while later stages show enhanced phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. These stage-specific metabolic adaptations are strongly associated with successful defense outcomes. Conclusions: These findings elucidate stage-specific metabolic adaptations that distinguish successful defense in IA plants from susceptibility in IS plants, providing robust biomarkers and stage-targeted strategies for breeding smut-resistant millet varieties. Full article

Henan Province, the foremost wheat-producing region in China, frequently experiences drought stress during the wheat seedling stage. Innovating the evaluation methods for drought resistance at this stage and identifying drought-resistant varieties are crucial for the effective utilization of germplasm. This study utilized 55 wheat varieties that have been bred and promoted in Henan Province in recent years as experimental materials. A 15% PEG-6000 solution was employed to simulate drought stress, and the primary morphological indicators of seedlings, relative chlorophyll content (SPAD), and various chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were assessed. The comprehensive drought resistance scores (D values) for each variety were determined by calculating the drought resistance coefficients for each index, employing principal component analysis, and conducting membership function analysis. Based on the cluster analysis of D values, 55 varieties were categorized into four groups: high drought resistance (10), medium drought resistance (28), low drought resistance (16), and drought-sensitive (1). Seven indicators—SPAD, fresh root weight, seedling height, fresh weight of the aboveground part, Fv/Fm, PItotal, and Mo—were selected as evaluation metrics for the drought resistance of wheat through stepwise regression analysis. The comprehensive evaluation system developed in this study, which is based on morphological and photosynthetic fluorescence characteristics, can swiftly and accurately assess the drought resistance of wheat seedlings. The key indicators identified for highly drought-resistant varieties may serve as valuable references for drought-resistant wheat breeding in Henan Province. Full article

Nitrogen is an essential element for plant growth, and low nitrogen stress significantly restricts crop yield. Therefore, cultivating crop varieties that are tolerant to low nitrogen is crucial for agricultural production. The AT-hook motif nuclear localization protein (AHL) family is vital for plant stress resistance. To investigate the potential regulatory mechanisms of the AHL family in maize under low nitrogen stress, 35 ZmAHL genes were identified from the maize genome using bioinformatics methods. The results indicated that these genes encode proteins with lengths ranging from 203 to 573 amino acids, with relative molecular weights between 20.68 and 59.68 kDa, and they are unevenly distributed across 10 chromosomes. Most proteins encoded by these genes are alkaline hydrophilic proteins, primarily localized in the nucleus. Family expansion occurred through tandem and fragment repeats, which exhibited evolutionary conservation with rice homologous genes. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the majority of ZmAHL genes in drought-tolerant maize inbred lines were significantly up-regulated under drought and low nitrogen stress, with the ZmAHL10 gene displaying the most pronounced response to low nitrogen conditions. Experiments involving transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana further confirmed that the growth status, nitrogen uptake, and photosynthetic pigment content of ZmAHL10 overexpression strains under low nitrogen conditions were superior to those of the wild type, while the mutant exhibited significant growth inhibition. Overall, this study delineated the fundamental characteristics of the maize ZmAHL gene family and established that ZmAHL10 enhances low nitrogen tolerance in plants by improving nitrogen absorption capacity and maintaining the stability of the photosynthetic system. This research provides candidate genes and a theoretical foundation for the molecular breeding of maize with enhanced low nitrogen tolerance. Full article

Drought, a major abiotic stressor affecting global agricultural productivity, significantly reduces crop yields and threatens food security worldwide. As the primary organ for perceiving soil moisture signals and absorbing water, the crop root system architecture plays a pivotal role in plant adaptation to drought conditions. With the development of high-throughput imaging technologies (i.e., 2D/3D image acquisition), high-throughput genotyping platforms, and gene-editing technologies, significant progress has been achieved in the characterization of root traits and the dissection of molecular genetic regulatory networks underlying these traits in crops. This review comprehensively synthesizes recent advances in the phenotypic characterization, underlying molecular regulatory networks, and functional roles of key root architectural traits, including the root length, angle, density, and root hair development, in enhancing drought resilience. Finally, we discuss the existing challenges in the current research and provide an outlook on the future trend of integrating multi-omics, high-throughput phenomics, and genome editing technologies to breed new drought-resistant crop varieties with ideal drought-resistant root architectures. Full article

Low temperature and drought are among the most pervasive abiotic stresses limiting crop productivity worldwide, and their frequent co-occurrence or alternation imposes compounded constraints on agricultural sustainability. Increasing evidence supports cross-tolerance, whereby exposure to one stress enhances resistance to another, as an emergent property of shared signaling networks and integrative regulatory layers. In this review, we summarize recent advances in understanding cold–drought cross-talk, from early stress perception and secondary messengers to hormonal coordination via abscisic acid, transcriptional reprogramming centered on dehydration responsive element binding protein/C repeat binding factor (DREB/CBF) modules, and longer-term regulatory memory mediated by chromatin remodeling and biomolecular condensates. Importantly, we further discuss how these mechanistic insights can be translated into precision breeding strategies, including genome editing, allele mining, and backcross-assisted introgression, to accelerate the development of crop varieties with stable multi-stress tolerance. Finally, we highlight future directions for integrating multi-omics, high-throughput phenotyping, and data-driven approaches to enable efficient molecular design breeding for complex stress environments. Full article

Soybean is a critical oil and protein crop for both food and forage production; however, its growth and development are severely impacted by drought stress. Nevertheless, the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying drought tolerance in soybean remain poorly understood. In this study, two soybean varieties, Jindou 21 (JD21, drought-tolerant) and Suinong 26 (SN26, drought-sensitive), were used as experimental materials and subjected to 15% PEG6000 to simulate drought stress. Roots and leaves were sampled at 0 h, 6 h, and 12 h after treatment to determine physiological indicators and conduct RNA-seq analysis. The results showed that JD21 exhibited a lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content but higher soluble sugar and proline contents than SN26. A total of 2603 and 3128 osmotic-stress-responsive genes were identified in the roots and leaves of SN26 and JD21, respectively. Additionally, 256 genes in the roots and 215 genes in the leaves showed consistent differential expression between the two varieties across the three treatment time points. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in pathways related to glutathione metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and starch and sucrose metabolism. Within these pathways, the functions of GmGST, GmAMD1, GmADH1, GmENO, GmsacA, and GmSUS3 were validated through transgenic hairy root assays, demonstrating that these genes play positive regulatory roles in osmotic stress response. This study provides valuable data for elucidating plant PEG-induced osmotic-stress-response mechanisms and offers theoretical support for drought-resistant soybean breeding. Full article

Populus euphratica (P. euphratica) is a dominant tree species in the arid and semi-arid regions along the main stem of the Tarim River. This study aims to explore the response of microbial communities in the rhizosphere soil of P. euphratica to varying groundwater depths (GWD) and to elucidate the ecological functions of key microbial groups in drought resistance. We established three groundwater depth levels (3.8 m, 5.4 m, and 7.35 m) and employed metagenomic sequencing technology to systematically analyze the topological characteristics of functional microbial community networks, as well as the types and quantities of key microbial groups in the rhizosphere soil of P. euphratica under different GWD conditions. The results indicate that compared to GWDs of 3.8 m and 7.35 m, the average degree and graph density of microbial communities in the rhizosphere soil of P. euphratica at a depth of 5.4 m are the highest. This suggests that at a GWD of 5.4 m, the connectivity and stability of the microbial network structure in the rhizosphere soil of P. euphratica are significantly enhanced. Analysis of the Zi-Pi values within the microbial network structure reveals that, compared to GWDs of 3.8 m and 7.35 m, a depth of 5.4 m supports the greatest variety and quantity of key microbial species in the rhizosphere soil of P. euphratica. The four connecting nodes identified are Actinophytocola, Haladaptatus, Devosia and Pseudonocardia. Spearman correlation analysis demonstrates that the relative abundance of the key bacterial genus Mesorhizobium in the rhizosphere soil of P. euphratica at different GWD is significantly positively correlated with soil catalase (CAT) and urease (UE) activity. Furthermore, the relative abundance of the key bacterial genus Pseudonocardia shows a significant positive correlation with soil total nitrogen (TN) and ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of the key bacterial genus Devosia exhibits a highly significant positive correlation with soil water content (SWC) (p < 0.01) and a significant negative correlation with soil NH₄⁺-N (p < 0.05). Additionally, the relative abundance of Devosia is significantly positively correlated with soil CAT (p < 0.05). This study provides a theoretical foundation for the conservation of desert poplar forests in arid regions and for the identification and cultivation of specific key microbial communities in the rhizosphere soil of P. euphratica. Full article

Coffea canephora cultivation areas in Brazil are frequently exposed to successive cycles of water deficit, triggering plant stress responses. In addition to water deficit, increased air temperature can act as a second stress factor. The recurrence of these stress factors may induce plant tolerance mechanisms, potentially mitigating future stress responses even of a different stress nature. We hypothesized that repeated cycles of water deficit can trigger tolerance mechanisms that make C. canephora leaves more resilient to supra-optimal temperatures. To test this hypothesis, young C. canephora plants were grown under non-limited water conditions for seven months (Ψ_mSoil > −20 kPa), after which they were subjected to two consecutive cycles of water deficit (Ψ_mSoil < −300 kPa), followed by rehydration. Two clones were used, ‘A1’ and ‘3V’, previously classified as drought sensitive and tolerant, respectively, considering the dynamics of physiological and architectural responses. After the second cycle, leaf discs were collected from completely expanded leaves formed during the two stress cycles and exposed to heat treatments (35 °C, 40 °C, 45 °C, 50 °C, and 55 °C) for 15 min in a water bath. Chlorophyll a fluorescence emission was then monitored, and the results were analyzed using OJIP transient kinetics and the JIP_Test. High temperatures induced negative changes in both OJIP kinetics and JIP_Test-derived parameters. A significant increase in F₀ and a reduction in F_M were observed mainly at 50 °C and 55 °C, due to changes in the stages of the OJIP curve. These changes impacted the “energy connectivity” and consequently the electron transport along the electron transfer chain (ETC), increasing energy dissipation, as confirmed by the JIP_Test variables. Despite the high temperature impacts, previous water deficit induced heat tolerance in clone ‘A1’, while it increased sensitivity in clone ‘3V’. This study suggests that selecting drought-resistant varieties should consider their subsequent response to short high-temperature stress to avoid cross-sensitivity caused by selecting for a single environmental factor. Full article

Global climate change is increasing the impacts of abiotic stresses on plants. Vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and a variety of phytochemicals, and thus, are of great significance to human health. The growth of vegetable crops is regulated by a variety of abiotic stress factors, which not only affect their normal growth and metabolism but also lead to reduced yield and quality. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can modulate the morphological or physiological characteristics of plants via nitrogen fixation, phosphorus dissolution, potassium dissolution, production of siderophores, secretion of secondary metabolites and hormones, and induction of plant stress resistance gene expression. This consequently increases the nutrient utilization rate in plants, improving their yield, quality, and stress resistance. In this review, the literature focused on how rhizosphere growth-promoting bacteria can improve the resistance of vegetable crops to drought, extreme temperature, heavy metals, and salt stresses is reviewed, and relevant application prospects and research directions provide a reference for further research on stress resistance and strategies to increase the yield of vegetable crops. Full article

In the process of maize production, extreme meteorological conditions such as drought and high temperature are often the main environmental stress factors affecting pollination efficiency. Previous studies have shown that, under adversity, the germination rate of pollen grains on the filaments of female spikes directly affects the success rate of reproduction and ultimately determines the grain yield. This study focuses on a cysteine protease named ZmPCP. The expression of this protease in maize pollen is significantly higher than in other tissues, and its specific function has not been clearly defined. Its localization in the cell membrane or apoplast was further confirmed by transient transfection experiments and plasmolysis. The interaction between ZmPCP and ZmSNAP33 was verified by yeast two-hybrid technology and a GST pull-down experiment, indicating that ZmPCP may affect pollen germination and stress resistance by regulating vesicle transport. Secondly, by analyzing the pollen germination rate of maize inbred lines B104, ZmPCP-KO and ZmPCP-OE transgenic maize plants, we found that ZmPCP overexpression could significantly enhance pollen viability and pollen tube growth under drought stress. After 1 h of short-term drying treatment, the pollen germination rate of the ZmPCP-OE line was maintained at 44%, which was significantly higher than that of the other lines. In addition, the observation of pollen tube growth showed that ZmPCP overexpression could promote the extension of pollen tubes in the filament. Moreover, a transcriptome sequencing analysis revealed the regulatory effects of ZmPCP on pollen in multiple biological processes, including stress response, carbohydrate metabolism, growth and development, cell wall material metabolism, signal transduction, etc. The involved pathways of these differential genes indicate that ZmPCP enhances pollen drought tolerance and promotes pollen tube growth through a “metabolism signal structure”. In the germination experiment on the seventh day, the germination rate of ZmPCP-OE maize seeds was the lowest, indicating that its overexpression inhibited seed germination. At the same time, ZmPCP-overexpressing Arabidopsis showed a significant advantage in taproot growth under high-concentration ABA stress. ZmPCP provides an important theoretical basis for regulating the pollination process and improving the pollination efficiency of maize varieties through interaction with ZmSNAP33. Full article

The Xinjiang wheat variety ‘Xindong 22’ was used as experimental material. Two soil moisture treatments were established: control (CK, 70–75% field capacity), drought (X1, 60–65%). The photosynthetic characteristics and resistance physiological indexes of wheat leaves under different stress levels were analyzed, and RNA-Seq technology was used to conduct transcriptome sequencing and analysis were performed on wheat leaves. The results showed that under drought stress, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly enhanced, while peroxidase (POD) activity decreased. Soluble sugar and proline contents also increased. These changes likely enhanced reactive oxygen species scavenging, thereby reducing the content of malondialdehyde in the leaves. Meanwhile, under the X1 treatment, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate of wheat leaves showed a slow decreasing trend, the intercellular CO₂ concentration decreased slightly, the decline in Fv/Fm was relatively small, and the value of the non-photochemical quenching coefficient gradually increased. Transcriptome analysis identified 1881 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Notably, drought stress induced the up-regulation of key genes involved in the ABA signaling pathway (e.g., SnRK2 and ABF) and the MAPK cascade, suggesting their crucial roles in mediating drought responses in this wheat variety. In the jasmonic acid signaling pathway, MYC2 functions as a positive regulator by interacting with JAZ proteins. These findings demonstrate that Xinjiang wheat employs integrated physiological and molecular strategies to cope with drought stress. Full article