Search Results (424)

The pea is a crop of great economic and nutritional importance due to its protein contribution. However, its productivity is affected by water deficit, which is an increasingly frequent phenomenon due to rising climate variability. Brassinosteroids (BRs) are plant hormones that regulate multiple and diverse physiological processes and can mitigate the effects of water stress. The objective was to evaluate the physiological response of the ‘San Isidro’ pea crop variety to water deficit and the application of BRs during flowering. A completely randomized design was used with five treatments: well-watered control (CK) and four treatments with water stress (imposed by withholding irrigation until volumetric water content reached 5–9%, maintained for 21 days) and BR doses of 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg per plant. On average, water deficit reduced shoot dry biomass and pod biomass by 82% and 77%, respectively, and decreased the number of pods per plant (49%) and per branch (41%) compared to the well-watered control. It also significantly decreased water potential, net photosynthetic rate (A_n), stomatal conductance (g_s), transpiration (E), and intercellular CO₂ concentration, while foliar temperature increased. The application of BRs (especially the 0.5 mg per plant dose) increased 100-seed mass by 91.4% compared with the water-stressed 0-BR treatment. Although no statistically significant differences were detected, this dose also increased pod biomass by 130% and the number of pods by 73% compared with the water-stressed 0-BR treatment. BR application alleviated the impact of water stress by increasing q_L in leaves (at 85 DAP) and Φ_PSII in stipules (at 95 DAP) and by enhancing ATP synthase activity (g_H⁺) in both organs and promoting recovery of gas exchange (A_n, g_s, E) and water potential. The stipules showed significant differences in more physiological variables than the leaves, suggesting potentially higher sensitivity; however, formal organ × treatment interaction analyses are needed to confirm this. It should be noted that the experimental design included only one well-watered control and did not include a factorial combination of water status × BR dose; consequently, the scope of our conclusions is restricted to the evaluation of BR effects under water-stress conditions. Further studies with a complete factorial design are required to fully disentangle the interactions between water status and BR dose. Full article

Sustainable nutrient management in sweet potato requires matching fertilizer inputs with site-specific soil nutrient supply while maintaining productivity and processing quality. This study characterized site-specific NPK responses and identified fertilization regimes coordinating yield and starch content under contrasting soil nutrient backgrounds. To address this objective, a three-factor, five-level quadratic orthogonal rotatable composite design comprising 23 N–P–K experimental runs was conducted independently at two sites in Beibei and Youyang, Chongqing, China, using the starch-type sweet potato cultivar ‘Yushu 17’. The two sites differed markedly in initial soil nutrient status. Photosynthetic characteristics, nutrient accumulation, dry matter production and partitioning, fresh storage-root yield, and quality were measured. Quadratic regression models combined with a desirability function were used to characterize site-specific nutrient responses and optimize yield and starch content. The effects of N, P, and K differed markedly between sites. In Beibei, fresh storage-root yield was mainly affected by the linear effect of N, while P and K also had positive effects, and the P × K interaction was significant. In Youyang, yield was primarily regulated by the linear effect of K and showed a significant negative quadratic response to P. Photosynthetic performance; N, P, and K accumulation; total dry matter accumulation (TDMA); and root-to-top ratio (R/T) responded mainly to N in Beibei but were more sensitive to K in Youyang. Fresh storage-root yield was positively correlated with net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, chlorophyll content, leaf area index, nutrient accumulation, R/T, and TDMA, but negatively correlated with starch content, indicating a yield–starch trade-off. When yield was prioritized while starch content was maintained, the optimal N–P₂O₅–K₂O rates were 155.02–116.42–300.00 kg·ha⁻¹ in Beibei, predicting 42,800 kg·ha⁻¹ yield and 20.09% starch, and 153.34–75.00–282.90 kg·ha⁻¹ in Youyang, predicting 35,850 kg·ha⁻¹ yield and 24.92% starch. These site-specific optima provide a quantitative basis for more targeted fertilizer allocation while coordinating yield and starch content, thereby supporting sustainable nutrient management of starch-type sweet potato. Full article

Climate change strongly impacts the physiological processes in the grapevine. Two Romanian autochthonous cultivars, Șarba and Fetească neagră (Vitis vinifera L.), grown under semi-arid conditions in 2024 (De Martonne Index: 23.6; Hydrothermal Coefficient: 0.75), showed different physiological behaviours. Leaf gas exchange parameters (A, g_s, E, C_i) and water use efficiency (WUE) were assessed at three phenophases (flowering, berry growth, and véraison), while photosynthetic pigment indices (Chl a/b, Chl/C+X) and leaf dry matter content (dm) were additionally determined at harvest maturity. Multivariate analysis consistently separated the two cultivars into distinct physiological groups: responses consistent with near-isohydric behaviour in Șarba and anisohydric behaviour in Fetească neagră, based on gas-exchange parameters interpreted within the established isohydric/anisohydric framework, as direct water potential measurements were not performed. Șarba exhibited a water-conserving strategy at véraison—characterised by early stomatal closure, high WUE, and maintained chlorophyll—protecting vine water status at the cost of reduced leaf carbon assimilation. Fetească neagră, by contrast, kept its stomata progressively open, sustaining high gas exchange rates in a pattern consistent with progressively declining shoot water potential. Berry sugars are expected to concentrate passively late in ripening, while severe deficit risks berry shrivelling and, under prolonged drought, premature senescence of basal leaves, to our knowledge, a phenomenon not previously reported for this cultivar. These findings support cultivar-specific management, with implications for irrigation scheduling and varietal selection under climate change. Full article

The mechanisms of plant leaf gas exchange and their relationship to energy transformation remain insufficiently studied quantitatively, limiting the assessment of CO₂ gas exchange processes. In this work, the stomatal system of a plant leaf is analyzed as a micro-, macro-, or nanoscale thermodynamic system, applying modeling based on bionic principles. An idealized thermodynamic cycle is constructed, allowing for the assessment of the conversion of thermal energy into mechanical work. The theoretical upper limit of the thermal efficiency coefficient is estimated at η_t ≈ 0.003, and the mechanical energy flux, at a temperature difference of approximately 1 °C between the leaf and the ambient temperature, reaches up to 0.6 W/m², i.e., about 0.3% of the solar radiation flux absorbed by the leaf. The results obtained show that even with low efficiency, this energy transformation is sufficient to influence the intensity of gas exchange. Based on the model, the plant’s CO₂ sorption potential, depending on canopy area, was also estimated. It is concluded that the stomatal system of a plant leaf can be interpreted as a theoretical bionic energy transformation model, suitable for the analysis of CO₂ exchange processes and the development of bionic micro-, macro-, or nanoscale systems. Full article

Plant-derived methane (CH₄) has already been reported, but the factors that regulate its production are not fully documented. Few studies have considered the effects of blue light on plant-derived CH₄, but the role of salicylic acid in the process has not been studied. We examined the effects of two blue light levels (0 and 4 mW cm⁻²) and two salicylic acid concentrations (0 and 100 μL of 1 mM solution every other day) on canola (Brassica napus) growth and CH₄ emissions by growing plants under the experimental conditions for 21 days. Blue light raised CH₄ emission by 184% and increased stem height, leaf area ratio, shoot–root mass ratio, nitrogen balance index, leaf water potential, soil water potential, and leaf water content, but decreased stem diameter, plant biomass, specific leaf mass, net CO₂ assimilation, photochemical quenching, photosynthetic pigments, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. Salicylic acid did not have a significant effect on plant traits. Methane had both positive and negative relationships with plant traits; for example, CH₄ was negatively correlated with plant dry mass (r = −0.776, p = 0.003), protective compounds (r = −0.914, p = 0.000) and stomatal density (r = −0.677, p = 0.016), but positively correlated with nitrogen balance index (r = 0.621, p = 0.031). Our findings suggest that blue light negatively affects canola growth but increases CH₄ emissions, whereas the application of salicylic acid, as described in this study, was insufficient for mitigating stress in plants. Full article

Urban construction often involves root cutting, which can affect tree stability and disrupt physiological processes. However, studies assessing the impacts of root cutting on urban trees remain limited. Our objective was to quantify the physiological responses of mature trees four years after root cutting of increasing severity, applied on one side of the tree or on two perpendicular sides. Stomatal conductance, net photosynthesis at the light saturation point and predawn leaf water potential were measured in Tilia cordata Mill. (n = 26) and Acer platanoides L. (n = 26), across six municipal parks in Québec City (Canada). No significant differences in stomatal conductance were observed among treatments. A general effect of root cutting on photosynthesis was detected, but no significant decline was observed with trench severity. Moreover, the predawn leaf water potential values suggest that trees maintained adequate overnight rehydration despite root disturbances. These results suggest the presence of compensatory root mechanisms and physiological resilience in both species under urban park conditions, even when trenching was performed closer to the trunk than the recommended distances, based on the International Society of Arboriculture Standards. This study can provide municipalities with valuable information to support root trench planning, assess associated risks, and implement effective measures to preserve mature trees in urban parks. Full article

Plateau environments are characterized by low temperatures, intensive radiation and drastic diurnal temperature fluctuations, all of which greatly suppress rooting and seedling establishment of tea chrysanthemum cuttings. To compare the regulatory effects of different rooting regulators on tea chrysanthemum cuttings under plateau cultivation conditions, this study conducted a 60-day plug-tray cultivation experiment from late July to late September with three biological replicates. All the cuttings, including the IBA-pre-treated control (CK), were uniformly pretreated with 500 mg·L⁻¹ indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). On this basis, four treatments, including 5-aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride (5-ALA, T1), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA, T2), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (T3) and Bacillus velezensis (T4), were applied to determine root morphology, seedling growth, physiological stress metabolism, photosynthetic capacity and rhizosphere substrate characteristics. The different rooting promoters exerted distinct regulatory effects on cutting performance. The GABA treatment significantly improved leaf gas exchange, seedling growth, antioxidant status and rhizosphere nutrient conditions, with net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate improved by 316.34%, 92.31% and 168.00%, respectively, and significantly increased seedling vigor index, plant height and stem diameter by 21.74%, 60.85% and 46.08%, respectively. It also elevated the soluble sugar content and the ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity, reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) accumulation, and optimized rhizosphere available nitrogen and phosphorus levels, as well as related enzyme activities. Nevertheless, the 5-ALA treatment exhibited unique advantages in improving rooting rate and seedling survival. Mantel tests confirmed that the seedling vigor index closely correlated with the root architecture, the total chlorophyll and the transpiration rate. A principal component analysis (PCA) and a cluster heatmap both identified GABA as the treatment with relatively balanced overall performance. A comprehensive D-value evaluation ranked the treatments as GABA > B. amyloliquefaciens > 5-ALA > B. velezensis > control. The treatment with 5-ALA mainly improved the antioxidant capacity, the B. amyloliquefaciens treatment favored root elongation and total nutrients, and the B. velezensis treatment only produced mild improvements. This study indicates that the different exogenous regulators target divergent growth and physiological processes, and the GABA treatment could coordinately boost root development, photosynthetic performance, antioxidant defense and rhizosphere nutrient cycling, thus presenting great application potential for tea chrysanthemum cutting propagation under plateau cultivation conditions. Full article

Photosynthesis is the fundamental biological process underlying plant growth, crop productivity, and global food security. However, its efficiency is highly vulnerable to abiotic stresses, which disrupt chlorophyll biosynthesis, electron transport, carbon assimilation, stomatal regulation, and photoprotective mechanisms, ultimately reducing crop yield. Improving photosynthetic resilience under adverse environments has therefore become a major objective of modern crop improvement. Recent advances in phenomics and high-throughput phenotyping (HTP) have transformed the evaluation of photosynthesis-related traits by enabling rapid, non-destructive, and large-scale assessment across diverse environments, while facilitating quantitative characterization of structural, physiological, biochemical, and thermal responses to abiotic stress. Technologies including chlorophyll fluorescence, gas-exchange analysis, thermal imaging, hyperspectral imaging, LiDAR, and UAV-based sensing provide comprehensive insights into plant physiological responses and stress adaptation. Integration of these phenomic approaches with genomic information and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven analytical frameworks has strengthened genomic and phenomic prediction, enabling more accurate identification of candidate genes, selection of superior genotypes, and accelerated genetic gain. This review critically synthesizes recent advances in photosynthesis-related traits, phenomics, HTP technologies, and their integration with genomics and AI-assisted breeding, highlighting current challenges, knowledge gaps, and future opportunities for developing climate-resilient wheat and rice cultivars and promoting sustainable crop production. Full article

The genus Euterpe, which includes açaí palm (Euterpe oleracea) and juçara palm (Euterpe edulis), plays an important socioeconomic and environmental role in Brazil. However, soil and water salinization is a global issue that compromises agricultural productivity by affecting plant physiological and metabolic processes. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological responses of young açaí and juçara plants under salt stress. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design in a 5 × 2 factorial arrangement, consisting of five irrigation water salinity levels (0.1, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 5.0 dS m⁻¹) and two Euterpe species (açaí and juçara), with four replicates. After 104 days of stress exposure, gas exchange, chlorophyll ‘a’ fluorescence, relative chlorophyll index (SPAD), and sodium, chloride, and phenolic compounds were evaluated. Increasing salinity caused linear reductions in the maximum quantum yield and potential photochemical efficiency of PSII, accompanied by an increase in F₀/Fm, indicating impaired PSII photochemical performance and photoinhibition. Stomatal conductance and transpiration also decreased significantly with increasing salinity, with reductions of up to 41.33% and 35.48%, respectively, at the highest salinity level. Salt stress negatively affected the physiological performance of both palm species through stomatal limitation and reduced photosystem II efficiency. However, açaí plants exhibited greater tolerance to salt stress than juçara plants. Full article

Chloride (Cl⁻) is an essential micronutrient for plants that supports multiple physiological functions throughout plant growth and development. Its effects are strongly concentration-dependent: low Cl⁻ availability promotes beneficial physiological processes, whereas excessive accumulation can induce cytotoxicity. In plants, the movement of Cl⁻ across plasma and organellar membranes is primarily mediated by three principal channel and transporter families: chloride channels (CLC), aluminum-activated malate transporters (ALMT), and slow anion channel-associated homologs (SLAC/SLAH). These families differ in gating mechanisms, ion selectivity, transport properties, and subcellular localization. This review synthesizes current knowledge of plant chloride transport proteins, with emphasis on their phylogenetic distribution, structural organization, and functional diversification. We summarize their core physiological roles in stomatal regulation, water-use efficiency, nutrient uptake, ion homeostasis, growth modulation, and abiotic stress tolerance. We also discuss how their activities are regulated by post-translational modifications, notably phosphorylation and dephosphorylation, as well as by ion concentrations, pH shifts, and phytohormone signaling. Unlike earlier reviews that primarily focused on individual transporter families or specific stress responses, this work provides an integrated framework linking structure–function relationships with regulatory networks. It also evaluates recent advances in high-resolution structural biology, electrophysiological approaches, and in vivo imaging techniques. Furthermore, we delineate current technical bottlenecks and unresolved questions, such as the molecular determinants of substrate specificity and potential cross-talk among transporter families, and propose future directions for crop improvement. By integrating structural, physiological, and regulatory perspectives, this review aims to serve as a valuable reference and stimulate interdisciplinary research on plant chloride biology. Full article

Allelopathy—the release of biologically active secondary metabolites by plants—is a key mechanism regulating plant community dynamics in forest and agro-forestry ecosystems, yet the physiological basis of allelochemical effects of angiosperm trees on acceptor plants remains insufficiently understood. This systematic review synthesises knowledge on the physiological effects of angiosperm tree allelochemicals, focusing on photosynthesis, respiration, water relations, mineral nutrition, and growth and development. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, five databases (Web of Science, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Wiley Online Library, and Scopus) were searched between October 2025 and June 2026 for English-language peer-reviewed articles on allelopathic effects on plant physiological processes; risk of bias was assessed via methodological transparency, and, given design heterogeneity, a qualitative narrative synthesis was performed. Of 7748 records identified, 99 met the eligibility criteria. Allelochemicals, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, naphthoquinones, terpenoids, alkaloids, and coumarins, were associated with disrupted photosynthetic efficiency, impaired mitochondrial electron transport, altered stomatal functioning, reduced nutrient uptake, and suppressed cell division, with oxidative stress—often linked to reactive oxygen species accumulation—recurring as a shared mechanism; effects were concentration-dependent, with synergistic interactions noted between allelochemicals. These findings advance mechanistic understanding of angiosperm tree allelopathy and highlight its relevance for sustainable agriculture and biological weed management. Full article

Salinity is a major abiotic constraint limiting strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) productivity by disrupting water relations, nutrient uptake, and photosynthetic processes. Biopolymer-based biostimulants have emerged as a sustainable strategy to enhance crop performance under stress conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a chitosan–maltodextrin (CHTMD) formulation on growth, physiological response, and fruit quality in strawberry plants under saline conditions at the Universidad Autonoma Agraria Antonio Narro in Saltillo, Mexico. A randomized complete block design with a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement was established, including two salinity levels (0 and 45 mM NaCl) and four CHTMD concentrations (0, 250, 500, and 1000 mg L⁻¹). The application of CHTMD significantly mitigated the adverse effects of salinity and improved plant growth, biomass accumulation, gas exchange, yield, and fruit quality. Under saline conditions, 250 mg L⁻¹ increased total fresh weight by 148.5% compared with the saline control, while root length increased by up to 58.5% under non-saline conditions. Yield was enhanced by 87.3% and 71.4% with 250 and 1000 mg L⁻¹, respectively, whereas fruit number increased by up to 63.8% under salinity. Photosynthetic rate increased from 12.58 to 16.19 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹ and stomatal conductance from 0.235 to 0.325 mol H₂O m⁻² s⁻¹. Fruit quality was also enhanced, with soluble solids increasing from 5.9 to 7.1 °Brix, vitamin C from 50.58 to 115.42 mg 100 g⁻¹ FW, and total anthocyanins from 65.7 to 106.2 C3G 100 g⁻¹ FW, indicating a substantial enhancement to the fruit’s nutraceutical quality, particularly at 500 mg L⁻¹ and 1000 mg L⁻¹. These findings demonstrate that the CHTMD system is an effective biostimulant capable of improving tolerance to salt stress by modulating key physiological and biochemical responses, as well as enhancing the functional quality of the fruit. This approach represents a promising and sustainable strategy for strawberry production in agricultural systems affected by salinity. Full article

Background/Objectives: Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) have transformed the therapeutic landscape of breast cancer, expanding treatment opportunities across multiple disease settings. However, their increasing clinical use has revealed a heterogeneous spectrum of toxicities that extends beyond conventional chemotherapy-related adverse events. Emerging evidence suggests that ADC-associated toxicities are driven by a complex interplay between ADC structural characteristics, including target antigen expression, payload properties, linker stability, drug-to-antibody ratio, and patient-related susceptibility factors. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of ADC-related toxicities in breast cancer, integrating mechanistic insights with clinical management strategies and risk-adapted approaches. Methods: A narrative review of the literature was conducted focusing on clinical trials, real-world studies, translational investigations, and mechanistic evidence related to ADC-associated toxicities in breast cancer. Particular attention was given to the relationship between ADC design, toxicity mechanisms, patient-specific risk factors, and clinical management. Results: ADC-related toxicities encompass a broad range of adverse events, including hematologic toxicity, interstitial lung disease, gastrointestinal complications, hepatotoxicity, peripheral neuropathy, stomatitis, ocular toxicity, dermatologic adverse events, and cardiovascular manifestations. Current evidence indicates that toxicity profiles differ substantially across ADCs and are influenced by multiple factors, including payload class, linker chemistry, target biology, intracellular trafficking, bystander effects, systemic payload exposure, and host-related characteristics. While several toxicities can be anticipated through careful monitoring and early intervention, clinically significant variability remains, and validated predictive biomarkers are largely lacking. Emerging real-world evidence further highlights the importance of individualized toxicity assessment and multidisciplinary management. Conclusions: ADC-related toxicity should be viewed as a multifactorial biological process resulting from the interaction between ADC design and host susceptibility rather than as a uniform class effect. A mechanistic understanding of toxicity pathways may improve risk stratification, toxicity monitoring, and personalized management strategies. Future research should focus on the development of predictive biomarkers, pharmacologic risk models, and next-generation ADC platforms with improved therapeutic indices. This review proposes an integrated framework linking ADC structural determinants, toxicity mechanisms, and clinical management to support safer and more individualized use of ADCs in breast cancer. 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

Plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs), a subfamily of aquaporins (AQPs), play critical roles in various physiological processes in plants, including the transport of water and CO₂, regulation of stomatal movement, absorption of neutral molecules and nutrients, and H₂O₂ signaling. Nevertheless, the functions of PIP aquaporins in adventitious root formation in trees are still poorly understood. PtrPIP2:4 is specifically expressed in roots, and PtrPIP2:4 fused with GFP localizes to the plasma membrane. Overexpression of PtrPIP2:4 significantly accelerated adventitious root induction in poplar. Stem cuttings from overexpression lines exhibited more rapid rooting compared to wild-type (WT) plants, although the total number of adventitious roots did not differ significantly. Additionally, the number of lateral roots was markedly increased in PtrPIP2:4 overexpression lines. Comparative transcriptome analysis identified 4204 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between WT and PtrPIP2:4 overexpression plants. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that genes associated with auxin-related and flavonoid biosynthesis were significantly enriched. RT-qPCR results showed that the transcription levels of nine auxin-related genes (i.e., PtrARF, PtrIAA, PtrGH3 and PtrPIN) were significantly upregulated, while the transcription levels of five flavonoid synthesis genes (i.e., PtrDFR, PtrANS, PtrANR and PtrLAR) were also significantly upregulated. Previous studies have implicated these genes in adventitious root formation. Collectively, these findings reveal that PtrPIP2:4 accelerates adventitious root emergence, promotes adventitious root elongation, and increases lateral root number while the total number of adventitious roots exhibited no significant difference in poplar, suggesting its potential utility in improving tree propagation and breeding strategies. Full article