Search Results (2,700)

Maize plant height and stalk mechanical strength are critical traits that influence planting density, yield, and lodging resistance. Although numerous dwarf mutants have been characterized in maize, most cannot be directly utilized in breeding programs due to associated developmental and reproductive deficiencies. In a previous study, we demonstrated that ZmNAC17 regulates mesocotyl elongation by mediating auxin and reactive oxygen species (ROS) biosynthetic pathways. Here, we characterize the role of ZmNAC17 in maize stalk development using both zmnac17 mutants and ZmNAC17-overexpressing (OE) lines. Plant height, stalk diameter, and internode length were reduced in both the zmnac17-1 EMS mutant and the zmnac17-3 CRISPR mutant. Internode cell length and cell area were decreased, whereas cell number was increased in zmnac17-1. Cellulose and lignin contents were elevated in zmnac17-1. Stalk bending force was diminished in zmnac17-3 but enhanced in the OE lines. The ratio of syringyl to guaiacyl (S/G), a key lignin monomer composition, was increased in zmnac17-3 while reduced in the OE lines. ZmNAC17 functions as a transcription factor, with its downstream targets implicated in phytohormone biosynthesis, phytohormone signaling, and lignin biosynthesis. CUT&Tag binding profile, EMSA, and dual-luciferase reporter assay demonstrate that ZmNAC17 promotes the expression of caffeoyl-CoA O-methyltransferase (CCoAOMT). IP-MS, Co-IP, and GST pull-down assays reveal that ZmNAC17 interacts with Beta glucosidase aggregating factor1 (BGAF1). Collectively, our findings indicate that ZmNAC17 regulates maize stalk development through transcriptional activation and protein–protein interactions, thereby providing new genetic resources for modifying plant architecture and mechanical strength in maize. Full article

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a formidable soilborne fungus that wreaks havoc on numerous crops globally. While the role of ADP-ribosylation factor-like 1 (Arl1) small GTPases in vesicular trafficking and fungal development is well-documented, their specific impact on S. sclerotiorum remains unclear. Through reverse genetic techniques, we identified and characterized SsArl1, a typical Arl small GTPase conserved across fungi. Deleting SsArl1 hampers the hyphal growth of S. sclerotiorum, but leads to higher oxalic acid buildup and boosts cellulase activity. This speeds up the infection of host plants, yet increases their sensitivity to certain environmental stresses, particularly ionic and cell wall-related stress. Our results reveal that SsArl1 acts as a negative regulator of oxalic acid accumulation and virulence, while playing a positive role in enhancing resistance to environmental stresses in S. sclerotiorum. Full article

Pathogenesis-related 1 (PR1) proteins are important components of plant defense and stress responses and also serve as precursors of CAP-derived peptides (CAPE), a class of small bioactive peptides involved in immune and stress signaling. Despite their potential biological significance, CAPE-producing PR1 genes have not been systematically characterized in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). In this study, a genome-wide analysis identified 17 CAPE-producing PR1 genes, designated NtCAPE1 to NtCAPE17, in the tobacco genome. These genes encode proteins containing conserved CAP domains and N-terminal signal peptides, with predicted hydrophilic properties and mainly vacuolar localization, indicating conserved structural features within the family. Phylogenetic analysis, gene structure organization, conserved motif profiling, chromosomal distribution, and synteny analyses revealed both evolutionary conservation and duplication-driven diversification of the NtCAPE family. Promoter cis-element analysis showed enrichment of regulatory elements associated with phytohormone signaling, development, and stress responses. Public transcriptomic datasets revealed dynamic and gene-specific expression patterns under water-deficit and salinity stress, and qRT-PCR analysis further confirmed the stress-responsive expression of selected NtCAPE genes. Functional assays using synthetic mature peptides showed that NtCAPE9 and NtCAPE17 alleviated salinity stress- and osmotic stress-induced leaf yellowing, improved chlorophyll retention, suppressed senescence-associated responses, reduced H₂O₂ accumulation and POD activity, modulated stress-responsive gene expression, and promoted seed germination under salinity and osmotic stress, respectively. These results provide a comprehensive characterization of CAPE-producing PR1 genes in tobacco and identify NtCAPE9 and NtCAPE17 as candidate stress-associated peptides with exogenous activity under salinity and osmotic stress conditions. Full article

Pea cultivation has witnessed significant growth in international trade in recent years, leading to increased export volumes worldwide. However, seed germination and early seedling growth often exhibit low uniformity, resulting in heterogeneous seedling sizes, which limit agronomic management and affect overall performance. As a result, this study aimed to assess the effects of gibberellin (GA) doses on the germination of the ‘Santa Isabel’ pea variety, one of Colombia’s most commonly cultivated varieties. A completely randomized design was employed with five treatments (0, 50, 100, 150, or 200 mg L⁻¹). The application of 200 mg L⁻¹ GA significantly enhanced germination percentage, germination potential, and germination speed index by 66.4%, 64.9%, and 71.5%, respectively, compared to the control. Furthermore, it increased the vigor index. The GA application reduced the mean germination time to 6.48 days, while the control exhibited 8.98 days. GA treatment increased seedling height to 5.3 cm, compared with 3.0 cm in the control. The variation coefficient in germinated seedling height increased as germination progressed and stabilized towards the end. Although GA did not affect the total fresh mass of the seedling, it did influence the proportion of mass allocated to each organ. Notably, there was a decrease in the amount of photoassimilates transferred from the seed to the leaves and stipules, accompanied by an increase in dry and fresh mass in the stems. The control treatment exhibited the highest fresh and dry leaf mass values compared with the GA-treated treatments. Full article

The application of hydrogels in agriculture has gained increasing attention for its potential to support early plant development, a stage highly sensitive to environmental and biochemical fluctuations. This review examines the role of hydrogel-mediated delivery of plant-derived bioactives, particularly phytohormones, in regulating their availability during seed germination and seedling establishment. Evidence from recent studies shows that hydrogels function as three-dimensional polymeric matrices that enhance water retention and provide controlled delivery of encapsulated phytohormones. These properties are consistently associated with improved germination, root development, stress tolerance, and early plant establishment. Importantly, hydrogel-based systems regulate the timing, localization, and duration of phytohormone exposure, contributing to improved developmental responses while reducing losses and phytotoxic effects associated with conventional applications. Overall, this work highlights the need for further field-scale studies to determine how controlled release strategies can be leveraged to optimize plant development under realistic agricultural conditions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Barley malting is an agro-industrial process that produces malt, an essential ingredient for the brewing and distilling industries. Previously, tran-scriptome profiling has revealed mRNA changes during malting but less is known about their regulation. Methods: The spring 2-row barley variety ‘Conrad’ was sampled at five stages of malt-ing. Using small RNA (sRNA)-sequencing and degradome-sequencing data from these malting stages, de novo discovery of mature microRNA (miRNA), as well as cognate mRNAs targeted for slicing, was identified. ShortStack v4.1.0 was used to map sRNA reads to the Hordeum vulgare Morex V3 genome. Results: In total, 33 expressed MIRs were identified, six of which may be novel. Using the degradome-sequencing data from the same malting stages, CleaveLand4 v4.5 pre-dicted 64 sliced mRNA targets, predominantly transcription factors associated with root development. Conclusions: This study provides an overview of post-transcriptional modulations of miRNAs-cognate mRNA targets, as well as plausible interactions between miRNAs during barley malting. Full article

Plants are constantly exposed to diverse abiotic stresses, including drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures, which severely limit growth, development, and crop productivity. These stresses disrupt physiological, biochemical, and molecular processes, leading to reduced photosynthesis, altered water and ion homeostasis, and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Plants have evolved sophisticated sensing and signaling mechanisms to perceive these stresses, with phytohormones playing central roles in mediating adaptive responses. Key hormones, including abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA), jasmonates (JAs), gibberellins (GAs), auxin (IAA), ethylene (ET), melatonin, and strigolactones (SLs), regulate stress tolerance by controlling stomatal behavior, root architecture, antioxidant systems, osmolyte accumulation, and stress-responsive gene expression. Importantly, these hormones operate within an intricate network of crosstalk, integrating multiple signaling pathways to balance growth and stress adaptation. Interactions among ABA, GA, JA, SA, auxin, ET, SLs, and melatonin enable plants to coordinate transcriptional regulation, protein phosphorylation, and ROS signaling, optimizing survival under fluctuating environmental conditions. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying hormonal crosstalk and their roles in abiotic stress tolerance provides valuable insights for developing resilient crops in the face of climate change. Full article

Lithocarpus litseifolius is a medicinal tea plant recognized for its sweet flavor and anti-diabetic properties, but its limited leaf yield under cultivation restricts its economic sustainability. Melatonin (MLT) is a multifunctional plant growth regulator, but its roles in leaf growth under normal conditions remain not fully understood. Herein, we investigated the effects and mechanisms of foliar-applied MLT on L. litseifolius seedlings, including growth indices, phytohormone profiles, photosynthetic characteristics, and transcriptome alterations. The 100 μM MLT treatment significantly enhanced leaf dry weight by 33.8% and leaf dry matter content by 22.2% compared to the control group. MLT decreased both free and bound abscisic acid (ABA), while increasing gibberellins (GAs), 5-deoxystrigol, auxins (e.g., IAM), and cytokinins (e.g., cZ9G). Additionally, exogenous MLT improved photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, and soluble sugars in leaves. RNA-seq revealed that MLT up-regulated DEGs involved in hormone biosynthesis and signaling (CYP707A, BAK1, D14, CCD1, and IAA6), photosynthesis (PsbC/B, PetH, PsaB, and ATPase β), and sugar metabolism (WAXY, glgC, and otsB). Our results demonstrate that MLT promotes leaf dry matter accumulation through coordinated phytohormone homeostasis, photosynthetic enhancement, and transcriptional regulation, offering a cost-effective strategy to improve leaf yield in L. litseifolius. Full article

Systemic regulation of photosynthesis is crucial for plant survival in variable environments, yet the hormonal mechanisms coordinating photosynthetic responses to local stimuli are not fully elucidated. This study investigates the interplay between jasmonates (JAs) and abscisic acid (ABA) in systemic photosynthetic responses induced by local heat stress in Arabidopsis thaliana. Using phytohormone quantification, chlorophyll fluorescence and gas exchange measurements in wild-type and transgenic plants impaired in JA biosynthesis, this study showed that local heating-induced variation potential propagation triggers JA biosynthesis in systemic unstimulated leaves, followed by changes in ABA content, stomatal conductance and photosynthetic activity. Rapid systemic increases in jasmonoyl-L-isoleucine (JA-Ile) levels are essential for the systemic decreases in stomatal conductance and the consequent reduction in carbon assimilation. Systemic increases in JA-Ile levels also contribute to systemic accumulation of ABA, likely to maintain reduced stomatal conductance. Thus, the data support a model in which JA-Ile acts as a mediator of early stages of the systemic photosynthetic response, whereas ABA likely contributes to late stages of this response. These results highlight the complex integration of hormonal signals in the regulation of photosynthesis under stress conditions. Full article

Pine wilt disease, caused by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, poses a serious threat to global pine forest ecosystems and forestry production. Thaumatin-like proteins (TLPs), which belong to the PR-5 family, are known to participate in plant defense, but their roles in pine have not been well characterized. In this study, a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of the TLP gene family was conducted in Pinus taeda. A total of 116 TLP genes were identified and classified into four major clades based on phylogenetic analysis. Gene structure and conserved motif analyses revealed that members within the same clade generally exhibited similar exon–intron organization patterns and conserved motif compositions. Promoter analysis identified numerous cis-regulatory elements associated with stress responses and phytohormone signaling. Transcriptome data from different stages of pine wood nematode infection identified eight TLP genes that exhibited continuous differential expression, and their expression patterns were further confirmed by qRT-PCR. A multilayer regulatory network highlighted MYB and other transcription factors as key upstream regulators, and yeast one-hybrid assays confirmed MYB-mediated regulation. Together, these findings improve our understanding of the TLP gene family in P. taeda and offer valuable candidate genes and regulatory information for future studies on pine resistance to pine wilt disease. Full article

Global salinization affects approximately one billion hectares of land in more than 100 countries, posing a severe threat to food security and ecosystem sustainability. Microbial remediation using plant growth-promoting microorganisms offers an eco-friendly alternative to physicochemical methods. However, bridging the gap between laboratory cultivation of single strains and field-scale application of synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) remains difficult, owing to inconsistent efficacy and a lack of unified design frameworks. This review examines the evolution from single strains to rationally designed SynComs for saline soil remediation. A ‘structure–function–mechanism’ framework is proposed, integrating five core microbial modules, namely ion regulation and osmotic stabilization, ethylene and phytohormone modulation, antioxidant activation, nutrient cycle activation, and systemic resistance induction. The review elucidates key determinants of synthetic community success, including functional complementarity, strain compatibility, and host–environment matching, while revealing a marked quantitative gap between controlled experiments and field performance. Key bottlenecks are identified, including the lack of high-throughput compatibility screening, poorly quantified long-term ecological risks, and the absence of standardized application guidelines across agro-ecological zones. Finally, emerging avenues are discussed, such as microbial–microalgal symbiosis and AI-assisted design, outlining a roadmap for next-generation smart microbial products integrated into climate-resilient farming systems. Full article

Drought stress is one of the most severe constraints affecting wheat production worldwide. Under these conditions, the development of sustainable and economically viable strategies, such as seed priming, is essential to improve wheat performance and drought resilience. The present study carried out a greenhouse experiment on four Mediterranean durum wheat cultivars (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum Desf), i.e., Karim (Kr) and Khiar (Kh) from Tunisia and Espelta (Esp) and Mocho (Mo) from Spain, subjected to drought stress conditions, and using primed abscisic acid (ABA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), melatonin (Mlt), and salicylic acid (SA), and non-primed seeds. In order to assess the physio-biochemical responses of durum wheat, such as plant growth, chlorophyll, relative water content (RWC), water potential (Ψw), osmotic potential (Ψs), proline, soluble sugars, starch, glycine betaine, hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, and antioxidant enzyme activities. The results showed that water stress significantly reduced plant growth, SPAD index, RWC, Ψw, and Ψs, while upregulating H₂O₂ and MDA levels, depending on the wheat cultivars. Soluble sugars decreased, whereas starch, glycine betaine, and proline accumulated in all cultivars. Superoxide dismutase activity was reduced (24–37%) under water stress as compared to the control condition, while APX, CAT, and POD activities significantly increased. Among the cultivars, Esp exhibited the greatest plasticity in response to water deficit, whereas Kh appeared to be most sensitive. Furthermore, the present results revealed that the priming durum wheat seeds with ABA, IAA, Mlt, and SA improved leaf hydration, particularly through soluble sugar accumulation. Seed priming also alleviated oxidative stress by reducing H₂O₂ and MDA levels and stimulating APX, CAT, POD, and SOD activities. Plants grown from non-primed seeds of Spanish and Tunisian cultivars exhibited differential responses to drought stress, and those derived from primed seeds showed varying degrees of enhanced drought tolerance. Espelta demonstrated a high potential for stress tolerance and responsiveness to priming, followed by Karim, whereas Khiar was the most sensitive cultivar. Overall, the cultivars can be ranked in decreasing order of stress tolerance as Esp > Kr > Mo > Kh. These findings highlight the potential of phytohormone-based seed priming as an efficient and practical approach to enhance drought resilience in durum wheat, offering promising prospects for improving crop performance and stability under increasingly water-limited conditions in the era of climate change. Full article

Soil salinity is a major constraint on soybean (Glycine max) production. While ionic toxicity is a primary factor, the integration of metabolic and hormonal responses remains unclear. Here, we characterize the salt-sensitive mutant, soybean salt-sensitive 1 (sss1), using physiological, metabolomic, and transcriptomic analyses. We demonstrate that the primary defect in sss1 is disrupted ion homeostasis, characterized by excessive Na⁺ accumulation, impaired K⁺ retention, and a high Na⁺/K⁺ ratio. Multi-omics integration revealed that sss1 exhibits extensive metabolic reprogramming. Notably, mannose was identified as a potential hub linking carbohydrate metabolism and glycosylation; its reduction in the mutant suggests a metabolic vulnerability. Furthermore, the mutant showed a dual impairment of abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonic acid (JA) signaling, evidenced by reduced hormone levels and downregulation of biosynthetic genes. Collectively, our results associate the sss1 locus with systemic disruptions in ion homeostasis, hormone signaling, and metabolic reprogramming. This multi-omics landscape provides a foundation for the future cloning of SSS1 and elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying salt sensitivity in soybean. Full article

Phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) is a vital glycolytic enzyme that provides energy and carbon skeletons to support fatty acid synthesis. However, the PGK gene family has not been characterized in soybean (Glycine max), and its role in soybean oil accumulation remains unclear. Here, we identified six GmPGK genes in soybean, all of which encode proteins containing conserved PGK domains. Phylogenetic analysis clustered soybean PGK proteins into three groups. Analysis of GmPGK promoters revealed relatively abundant cis-elements related to plant growth, development, and phytohormone response. Expression profiling showed that GmPGK5 transcript abundance increases progressively with oil accumulation during seed development, and is significantly higher in the high-oil variety NN1138-2. Overexpression of GmPGK5 significantly increased total fatty acid content in soybean hairy roots. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) located at Chr15:49447855 within the GmPGK5 promoter was significantly associated with both seed oil content and seed weight in natural soybean accessions. Based on this SNP, a derived cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (dCAPS) marker was developed to facilitate soybean molecular breeding. Our findings suggest that GmPGK5 may positively regulate fatty acid accumulation in soybean. The identified natural variation and dCAPS marker provide potential valuable tools for marker-assisted selection to improve soybean oil content and seed weight. Full article

Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt., a medicinal and edible herb, is valued for its diverse leaf coloration, attributed to varying levels of anthocyanin accumulation. The primary anthocyanins in P. frutescens are acylated cyanidin glycosides; however, the enzymes facilitating the acylation process have yet to be characterized. BAHD acyltransferases, known to catalyze such modifications, remain uncharacterized in P. frutescens. To systematically identify potential genes that may be associated with this function, we performed a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of the BAHD acyltransferase family in P. frutescens. Our study identified 134 PfBAHD genes, which were subsequently analyzed for their physicochemical properties, phylogenetic relationships, conserved domains, motif compositions, and promoter cis-elements. Phylogenetic analysis categorized the PfBAHD genes into six clades, with Clade I being the primary candidate for anthocyanin-related activity due to its enrichment with members known to acylate flavonoids in other species. Promoter analysis indicated a significant presence of cis-elements associated with light, phytohormones, and stress responses. By integrating tissue-specific metabolomic and transcriptomic data, we established correlations between anthocyanin accumulation patterns and PfBAHD gene expression. Through the integration of multi-omics data, six candidate genes were prioritized, with PfBAHD05, PfBAHD77, and PfBAHD112 emerging as the most promising candidates. These genes demonstrated predominant expression in leaves, were induced under conditions of high light exposure, and were predicted to be localized in the cytoplasm. To further explore their potential functions, molecular docking analyses were conducted, suggesting that PfBAHD77 may have a preference for highly glycosylated anthocyanins, whereas PfBAHD05 and PfBAHD112 may favor substrates with lower levels of glycosylation. Collectively, these findings provide a preliminary foundation for understanding anthocyanin acylation in P. frutescens and identify several BAHD candidate genes that could be potentially targeted in future metabolic engineering efforts pending further biochemical and genetic validation. Full article