Search Results (3,889)

Intensive monoculture exacerbates soil compaction and sodification in the West Liao River Plain. This study evaluated legacy effects of diversified 3-year rotations on sodic soil health (ESP > 15%, ECe < 4 dS m⁻¹) during two subsequent maize seasons. Rotations incorporating salt-tolerant forages and deep-rooted crops (sugar beet–Echinochloa–sorghum and Echinochloa–tall fescue–silage corn) significantly reduced bulk density (8.6–13.1%) and exchangeable sodium percentage (up to 14.1 percentage points) relative to continuous monoculture. Treatments with maximum desalination (22.6% reduction) enhanced fungal α-diversity by 98.0%, while forage-dominated systems enriched Acidobacteriota by 35.2%, shifting bacterial communities toward oligotrophic dominance. Structural equation modeling confirmed that rotation effects on enzyme activity were mediated through reduced bulk density and ESP. These systems provide effective biological models for sustainable maize cultivation in sodic soils via synergistic physical-chemical-biological amelioration. Full article

A bacterial strain M4 exhibiting high nattokinase (NK) activity and favorable antibacterial properties was isolated from fermented soybean paste in Northeast China. Based on morphological observation, physiological and biochemical characterization, 16S rDNA sequence analysis, and whole-genome sequencing, the strain was identified as Bacillus velezensis. Its probiotic potential and safety were systematically evaluated using a combination of in vitro assays and genome mining. Genomic analysis revealed that M4 possessed a complete genome consisting of a single circular chromosome of 4,473,838 bp with a GC content of 46.94%, encoding 4516 predicted proteins. Functional domain annotation identified four proteins (XLQ58132.1, XLQ58158.1, XLQ59409.1, and XLQ59873.1) containing both the Peptidase inhibitor I9 and Peptidase S8 domains, confirming the presence of the typical molecular signature of NK. Furthermore, the genome harbored 132 genes encoding carbohydrate-active enzymes, 37 biosynthetic gene clusters, and 142 genes encoding proteolytic enzymes. Comparative genomic analysis revealed a close phylogenetic relationship with other B. velezensis strains and identified 98 strain-specific genes. Safety assessment demonstrated that M4 exhibited no hemolytic activity, was susceptible to eight commonly tested antibiotics, and lacked genes encoding high-risk virulence factors. Probiotic characterization indicated that M4 exhibited certain levels of gastrointestinal tolerance, acid resistance, bile salt resistance, antioxidant activity, and antibacterial properties. In conclusion, B. velezensis M4 shows potential for development as a functional strain. Full article

Soil salinization is one of the major abiotic stresses that influences agricultural production and the environment. Auxin response factors (ARFs) are key components of the auxin signal transduction pathway, while their role in wheat salt stress responses remains unclear. In this study, we identified TaARF18 as a negative regulator of salt tolerance in wheat. The coding sequences of TaARF18-A, TaARF18-B, and TaARF18-D were 2106, 2088, and 2088 bp, respectively. TaARF18 is a hydrophilic protein featuring typical Auxin-resp and B3 DNA-binding domains and exhibits relatively high evolutionary conservation among Poaceae species. The expression of TaARF18 was upregulated under salt stress. TaARF18 predominantly accumulated in the nucleus. Silencing of TaARF18 via the BSMV-VIGS approach enhanced salt tolerance in wheat seedlings. In addition, haplotype analysis based on resequencing data from 355 wheat accessions identified 25, 31, and 16 haplotypes for TaARF18-A, TaARF18-B, and TaARF18-D, respectively. Fourteen wheat accessions carrying different haplotypes were evaluated under salt stress, and HapIII of TaARF18-A exhibited the highest level of salt tolerance, which can act as a strong selection locus in global wheat breeding. Our findings provide insight into the function of ARFs in salt stress responses and offer a potential target for CRISPR/Cas-mediated salt-tolerant wheat breeding programs. Full article

Soil salinization severely restricts rice growth and global grain production, posing a serious threat to food security. Dongxiang wild rice serves as an important genetic resource for improving salt tolerance in rice. In this study, a backcross inbred line (BIL) population derived from Dongxiang wild rice DY80 and an indica restorer line R974 were used to detect QTLs for salt tolerance at the germination and seedling stages. Four QTLs related to germination-stage salt tolerance and three QTLs for seedling-stage salt tolerance were identified, among which qSTS5 on chromosome 5 showed the largest effect with a LOD score of 8.0 and a phenotypic contribution rate of 14.8%. An F_2:3 population was further constructed to validate qSTS5, which increased its LOD value to 10.4 and phenotypic variation explanation rate to 18.5%, and the locus was finally delimited to a 2.3 Mb interval. Transcriptome analysis identified eight differentially expressed genes (DEGs) within the qSTS5 region under salt stress. Sequence comparison between the parents revealed that three DEGs had no coding-region variations, while the other five showed nucleotide polymorphisms leading to amino acid changes. Among them, Os05g0349800 encodes a LEA protein, a typical stress-responsive gene, and harbors a frameshift mutation in DY80. Combined with its induced expression pattern under salt stress, this gene was considered the most promising candidate for qSTS5. This study not only provides a stable major QTL for rice breeding for salt tolerance but also lays a foundation for dissecting the molecular mechanism of salt tolerance in Dongxiang wild rice. Full article

Background: Anoectochilus roxburghii (Wall.) Lindl. is an endangered medicinal herb, and salt stress has been reported to promote the accumulation of bioactive secondary metabolites. Central carbon metabolism plays a key role in carbon allocation in plants; however, the integrated molecular and metabolic responses of A. roxburghii to salt stress remain largely unclear. Method: In this study, an integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic approach was employed to investigate the reprogramming of central carbon metabolism in A. roxburghii under 50, 100, and 200 mM NaCl treatments. Results: Metabolomic analysis revealed a significant accumulation of soluble sugars, which suggests enhanced osmotic adjustment and alteration in energy metabolism. Transcriptomic profiling identified 7019 upregulated and 5192 downregulated DEGs, with pathways related to the TCA cycle, galactose metabolism, and fructose/mannose metabolism predominantly upregulated, while oxidative phosphorylation was suppressed. Integrative transcriptome–metabolome profiling further identified key genes associated with oxaloacetate and fructose-6-phosphate, suggesting a coordinated regulation between central carbon metabolism and polysaccharide biosynthesis. Conclusions: Collectively, these findings demonstrate that salt stress induces coordinated metabolic and transcriptional reprogramming in A. roxburghii, driving carbon flux reallocation from growth-related processes toward osmoprotective metabolism. This provides a mechanistic basis for the enhancement of bioactive compounds under moderate stress and offers insights for improving both salt tolerance and medicinal quality in saline environments. Full article

Germplasm characterization can enhance the management and utilization of plant germplasm conserved in genebanks worldwide. This study was conducted to characterize 774 diverse soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] accessions, mainly conserved at Plant Gene Resources of Canada (PGRC), through a laboratory seedling vigor test under polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced dehydration stress and 72 selected accessions through a greenhouse salinity test. The PEG-based test identified 95 accessions that showed vigorous seedling growth in Petri dishes containing 20% (w/v) PEG 6000 solution. The salinity test revealed 58 accessions that produced total seed yields per plant ranging from 0.03 g to 1.47 g under severe salinity stress (EC_i 16.1 dS m⁻¹). Six accessions originating from five countries displayed higher salt tolerance than the Canadian salt-tolerant cultivar OAC Ayton, but the latter still had the highest seed yield. One unique accession, CN29789, originating from China and named ‘Hei Nung No.18’, consistently showed high tolerance to both dehydration and salinity stresses and had vigorous root growth under severe salinity stress. These findings are significant, as they not only provide useful germplasm for soybean genetic improvement for abiotic stress tolerance but also demonstrate the value of characterizing plant germplasm conserved in a genebank for better utilization. Full article

Soil salinity limits ginger productivity, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unclear. The 14-3-3 proteins are conserved regulators in stress signaling. Here, we genome-wide characterized the 14-3-3 family in Zingiber officinale and examined the possible involvement of Zo14-3-3-03 in salt response. A total of 21 Zo14-3-3 genes were identified and classified into four groups with uneven chromosomal distribution. Among them, Zo14-3-3-03 was strongly salt-responsive: transcript levels increased 9.91- to 33.82-fold during 1–7 days of treatment and reached 62.47-fold in leaves at day 14. NaCl treatment elevated GUS expression driven by the Zo14-3-3-03 promoter. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of Zo14-3-3-03 resulted in silenced plants exhibiting higher malondialdehyde (up to 73.6%), lower antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD, CAT, and APX: 18.9–31.9% reduction), reduced osmolytes (proline, soluble protein, sugars, and ascorbic acid: 23.2–36.2% reduction), excessive reactive oxygen species, and decreased relative water content. Several antioxidant-related genes were significantly downregulated. Protein interaction assays suggested a possible interaction with ZoSOS2, and the expression of SOS2 pathway genes was altered in silenced plants, indicating a potential link to calcium signaling and ion homeostasis. Taken together, these results suggest that Zo14-3-3-03 participates in ginger salt stress response possibly through redox balance, osmotic adjustment, and calcium-mediated pathways which would provide a basis for understanding 14-3-3-mediated stress responses and nominates Zo14-3-3-03 as a candidate requiring deeper validation for salt tolerance improvement in ginger. Nevertheless, due to limited functional validation, its role as a positive regulator and breeding target remains preliminary. Further genetic and mechanistic studies are needed to confirm causality and assess field-level applicability. Full article

Soil salinization is a major abiotic stressor limiting global agricultural and forestry productivity. This study aimed to assess the tolerance of four wild cherry (Prunus avium L.) genotypes (8-A, F-12, F-19, F-15) to salinity stress using the in vitro culture technique. Shoots were exposed to three NaCl concentrations (0—control treatment, 33, and 100 mM) in micropropagation medium under controlled laboratory conditions for 35 days. Morphological parameters, including shoot length, shoot number, survival and multiplication rate, shoot fresh and dry biomass, and shoot water content, were evaluated alongside biochemical markers such as total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activities assessed through ferric reducing–antioxidant power (FRAP), ABTS radical scavenging, DPPH radical scavenging and nitric oxide (NO•) scavenging. Consistent with the experimental design, exposure to 100 mM NaCl significantly inhibited shoot growth and biomass accumulation, while survival was comparatively less affected. Genotypic variation was evident, with genotypes F-19 and F-12 demonstrating higher tolerance, maintaining greater growth and antioxidant capacity (FRAP and ABTS) under salt stress compared to more sensitive genotypes like 8-A and F-15. Phenolic and flavonoid contents were also reduced at 100 mM NaCl, suggesting that intense salinity stress limited the biosynthesis and accumulation of these antioxidant compounds. Nitric oxide scavenging activity remained largely unaffected by salinity in all genotypes, which may indicate that the applied stress levels were insufficient to markedly alter this component of the antioxidant response. The genotype F-19 emerged as the strongest salinity-tolerant genotype, retaining superior shoot number, multiplication rate, fresh/dry biomass and stable/increased total phenolic content (TPC) under 100 mM NaCl compared to other genotypes. This integrative in vitro approach effectively distinguished salt-tolerant wild cherry genotypes and offers a valuable screening tool for breeding and selection programmes targeting improved resilience to salinity stress. The findings have practical relevance for forestry, horticulture, landscape architecture and the restoration of salt-affected sites, particularly in the context of climate change. They also align with current European and global priorities focused on identifying genetically suitable reproductive material for resilient afforestation and ecosystem restoration under increased environmental stress. Full article

Background: This study investigated the effects of increasing levels of salinity on leaf phytochemical composition and the antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-obesity activities. Method: Three quinoa accessions grown under escalating NaCl treatments had their leaves exposed to various chemical analyses. Polyphenols, tannins, and flavonoids were among the phenolic substances whose concentrations were measured. The phenolic chemicals in the water extract were identified using HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS. In vitro and in silico methods were used to measure anti-radical (DPPH), anti-alpha glucosidase, anti-alpha-amylase, and anti-lipase activities. Results: The results showed that water and ethanol, due to their polarity, were the most effective solvents for extracting phenolic compounds. Additionally, salt application led to a dose-dependent increase in total phenols (TPC), flavonoids (TFC), and tannins (CT) across all accessions. The accession DE-1 exhibited the highest contents with average values of 1453.03–4398.36 mg EGA/100 g DW, 322.7–1090.7 mg CAE/100 g DW, and 77.9–335.96 mg CAE/100 g DW of TPC, TFC, and Tannins, respectively. HPLC-ESI-DAD-MS/MS profiling of phenolic compounds led to identifying 18 constituents, including five major compounds (p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, p-coumaroyl hexose, and HHDP-galloyl glucose). Except for p-coumaroyl hexose and HHDP-galloyl glucose, which were extensively biosynthesized/accumulated in the salt-tolerant accession DE-1, the remaining phenolic compounds showed irregular evolution depending on accession and salt concentration. Moreover, ethanol and water extracts were evaluated for their anti-radical and enzyme-inhibitory activities. Conclusion: Salt-stressed DE-1 water extract showed strong antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities, indicating potential antidiabetic and anti-obesity effects. These activities were confirmed by in silico analysis. Full article

Salinity stress is a major constraint affecting rice establishment and productivity in many coastal and salt-affected regions of the world, as well as in Bangladesh. Seed priming has emerged as an effective technique to enhance seed germination, seedling vigor and growth, and stress tolerance. To address this challenge, the present study investigated the potential of four different seed-priming agents (non-, hydro-(H₂O), osmo-(Polyethylene glycol, 30%), nano-(Zinc EDTA (12%), and 170 ppm) applied to two rice varieties (Binadhan-10 and BINA dhan25) under four levels of salinity stress (0, 5, 8, and 11 dS m⁻¹), with the aim of enhancing germination, improving the seedling vigor index, and promoting early growth performance in a completely randomized design with four replications. Nano-priming with Zinc EDTA (12%, at 170 ppm) involves soaking seeds in a solution containing this concentration of zinc chelate, which can improve seedling vigor and stress resilience, especially under challenging conditions like salinity. The results indicated that salinity significantly reduced germination and seedling growth, whereas seed priming improved seed performance under stress conditions. Among the treatments, nano-priming showed the most pronounced improvement in germination and seedling vigor. Binadhan-10 exhibited a greater tolerance to salinity compared with BINA dhan25. Multivariate analyses, including principal component analysis, correlation analysis, and heatmap, revealed strong positive relationships among germination, vigor index, and seedling biomass traits. The findings demonstrate that seed priming, particularly nano-priming, can effectively enhance rice seed germination, the vigor index, and different seedling traits under saline conditions, providing a promising strategy for improving rice production in salt-affected areas in Bangladesh. Full article

Polymer gel profile control technology can effectively modify water flow channels in water-flooded oil reservoirs and enhance oil recovery. However, most polymer gel systems exhibit poor performance, such as low strength, not suitable for high-temperature and high-salinity reservoir conditions, leading to ineffective water shutoff. To address this challenge in complex formations of high-temperature, high-salinity fractured reservoirs, a temperature- and salt-tolerant polymer gel system with delayed crosslinking was developed based on the concept of slow hydrogen-bond crosslinking. Laboratory evaluations demonstrated that a gel system formulated with 0.4 wt% HPAM and 0.2 wt% PEI (HPAM/PEI) achieved a gel strength grade of G index. Even at 100 °C or a salinity of 200,000 ppm, the HPAM/PEI system maintained a gel strength grade of F, indicating excellent temperature resistance and shear stability. The slow hydrogen-bond crosslinking mechanism endowed the system with delayed gelation characteristics. Sandpack and core flooding experiments confirmed that the HPAM/PEI system could form high-strength gels in situ with low polymer retention. After treatment, the permeability of the core was reduced by over 99%, and the effective blocking duration exceeded 12 months. This study provides a theoretical foundation for applying the HPAM/PEI gel system in deep profile control and water shutoff in high-temperature and high-salinity reservoirs. Full article

Background: C2H2 zinc finger proteins (C2H2-ZFPs) are one of the largest transcription factor families in plants and play vital roles in plant organ development and patterning, seed germination, and fruit ripening, as well as responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Although widely studied in many species, the genome-wide characterization of the C2H2-ZFP family in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) remains lacking. Methods: In this study, we identified 96 ClZFP genes in the watermelon genome and analyzed their chromosomal positions, gene structures, conserved motifs, and expression profiles. A tissue-specific expression analysis of 12 representative ClZFP genes revealed diverse and organ-preferential expression profiles, indicating functional differentiation during development. Results: Under abiotic stress treatments, four genes were significantly downregulated under drought, while one gene was strongly induced; six genes were inhibited and three genes were activated under low temperature; and most tested genes were upregulated at 72 h under salt stress, with one gene continuously induced throughout the treatment period. Key ClZFP members such as ClZFP36 and ClZFP72 showed specific and strong induction under drought and salt stress, respectively. Conclusions: These results indicate that ClZFPs may be involved in the tolerance of watermelon to various abiotic stresses. This study not only clarifies the evolutionary and expression characteristics of the ClZFP family in watermelon but also provides candidate genes for the genetic improvement of stress tolerance in cucurbit crops. Full article

Alhagi camelorum is a dominant leguminous shrub distributed in the Taklamakan Desert, an area characterized by extreme drought and high soil salinization, which can complete its life cycle normally in salt-affected soils. However, the underlying molecular regulatory mechanism of its salt tolerance remains largely unclear. The AcABI5 gene was successfully cloned and characterized, and it encodes a typical nuclear-localized bZIP transcription factor. Functional characterization demonstrated that overexpression of AcABI5 markedly improved the salt stress tolerance of A. camelorum calli, whereas silencing of AcABI5 via virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) rendered the plant more sensitive to salt stress. Further mechanistic investigations revealed that AcABI5 enhanced salt tolerance by regulating the expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD)- and peroxidase (POD)-related antioxidant genes. Compared with the wild type, AcABI5-overexpressing calli exhibited significantly increased SOD and POD activities and remarkably reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content under salt treatment, whereas AcABI5-silenced lines exhibited the opposite physiological phenotypes. Furthermore, heterologous silencing of AcABI5 in Nicotiana benthamiana via virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) produced comparable salt-sensitive phenotypes, similar to those observed in A. camelorum AcABI5-silenced lines. Collectively, these results provide insights into the molecular mechanism by which AcABI5 enhances salt tolerance in A. camelorum, and lay a solid theoretical foundation for the optimization of the A. camelorum genetic transformation system and the expansion of related salt-tolerant crop research. Full article

Saline–alkali stress severely limits crop production worldwide. Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is particularly sensitive during seed germination, a stage critical for stand establishment. This complex stress environment encompasses two distinct yet equally critical dimensions: neutral salt stress and alkaline salt stress, each eliciting specialized physiological and metabolic responses. Here, a comparative assessment of four genotypes (tolerant: CN16, CN17; sensitive: Williams 82, K18) under 100 mmol/L Na⁺ revealed that alkaline salt stress exerts a significantly more potent inhibitory effect than neutral salt stress. Tolerant cultivars maintained 75–80% germination under alkaline conditions, whereas sensitive ones dropped below 15%, a divergence primarily driven by superior oxidative mitigation capacity. Integrated multi-omics analysis of the tolerant variety CN16 identified stage-specific regulatory shifts: early alkaline salt stress (60 h) triggers extensive transcriptional reprogramming focused on physical barrier reinforcement, including cell walls and lipid remodeling. By 96 h, regulatory modes between the two stress types diverged: neutral salt elicited a transcriptional surge, while alkaline salt transitioned to a metabolically dominant regulation, shifting flux from growth-related isoflavonoids to defense-related anthocyanins. Crucially, this study uncovers the distinct bioenergetic trade-offs governing these responses: whereas adaptation to neutral salt relies on low-energy galactose metabolism, tolerance to alkaline salt demands energy-intensive processes, specifically the active vacuolar compartmentalization of organic acids and anthocyanins for intracellular buffering. This obligatory energy expenditure restricts biomass accumulation, explaining the severe growth penalties observed in complex saline-alkali environments. Finally, the identification of a core regulatory module driven by key genes, including GmPHOT2b, GmLOG, and GmSHMT08, enriches the metabolic regulatory network under saline-alkali stress, providing core targets and a theoretical framework for precisely balancing metabolic expenditure with biomass accumulation in breeding practice. Full article

Salinity is a critical environmental stressor that inhibits seed germination and seedling growth globally. This study aimed to determine the optimal priming conditions for hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) seeds to alleviate salt stress-induced germination and growth reductions. Priming treatments included hydro-priming, chemical-priming (24-epibrassinolide (EBL), sodium nitroprusside (SNP), and polyamines), halo-priming (KNO₃), and modified drum-priming. Following treatment, germination characteristics, total polyphenol content (TPC), ABTS⁺ radical scavenging activity, and seedling growth traits were evaluated under 100 mM NaCl stress. Optimal conditions were identified as hydro-priming (50 h), chemical-priming (10⁻⁶ M EBL, 10⁻⁴ M SNP, 50 mM putrescine), halo-priming (300 mM KNO₃), and drum-priming (20 h hydration and 60 h incubation). Although NaCl treatment significantly reduced all germination traits, priming effectively mitigated these declines. A modified drum-priming method resulted in the shortest mean germination time (MGT) of 4.0 days, the highest germination rate (GR) of 25.2%·day⁻¹, and a 94% healthy seedling percentage (HSP), whereas the results for the untreated control were recorded as 6.6 days, 15.2%·day⁻¹, and 66%, respectively, under stress conditions. EBL and drum-priming showed the highest TPC and ABTS⁺ radical scavenging activity. Furthermore, priming prevented salt-induced reductions in seedling growth. EBL and drum-priming treatments resulted in the highest vitality index (VI). These results indicate that drum-priming and EBL priming are highly effective strategies for enhancing salt tolerance and ensuring uniform stand establishment in pepper seeds. Full article