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Int. J. Plant Biol., Volume 17, Issue 2 (February 2026) – 5 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): Cynipid gall wasps redirect plant development to form highly specialised organs that shelter and nourish their larvae. We investigated how Andricus quercustozae manipulates axillary buds of Quercus virgiliana across four stages of gall formation. Histology revealed sustained hyperplasia, vascular redirection, and progressive lignification, generating a complex, self-contained structure. An exploratory transcriptomic comparison showed suppression of photosynthesis and modulation of developmental and metabolic pathways, supporting a shift from assimilatory tissue to a nutrient sink. Together, these findings provide a framework for future stage-resolved analyses and position Q. virgiliana as a model to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying the extended phenotype and insect–plant co-evolution in Mediterranean forests. View this paper

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31 pages, 4821 KB

Open AccessArticle

Grafting with Passiflora spp. as a Productive Strategy in the Cultivation of Passiflora edulis with Saline Water

by Gleyse Lopes Fernandes de Souza, Francisco Thiago Coelho Bezerra, Rejane Maria Nunes Mendonça, Walter Esfrain Pereira, Marlene Alexandrina Ferreira Bezerra, Tayd Dayvison Custódio Peixoto, José Adeilson Medeiros do Nascimento, Roberto Ítalo Lima da Silva, Thayná Kelly Formiga de Medeiros, Maria Alaíne da Cunha Lima, Daniela Rosario de Mello, Anne Alícia Meneses Ferreira Santana, Antenor Pereira de Araújo Neto, Anna Paula Marques Cardoso and Lourival Ferreira Cavalcante

Int. J. Plant Biol. 2026, 17(2), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb17020013 - 22 Feb 2026

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Abstract

Salinity causes morphophysiological changes that compromise the growth and production of cultivated species, such as Passiflora edulis. However, wild species better tolerate environmental adversities. Therefore, we evaluated the performance of P. edulis scion (Guinezinho, BSR YG1, BRS SC1) grafted on Passiflora rootstocks (P. cincinnata, P. foetida, and P. edulis), regarding the electrical conductivity of irrigation water (0.5 and 3.0 dS m⁻¹), and it was hypothesized that rootstocks would mitigate the effects of salinity and that there is a difference between non-grafted cultivars. Grafted plants reached the trellis stage sooner, and the use of P. foetida rootstocks reduced the time to prune the stem. The highest productivity was obtained with the YG1 cultivar grafted onto P. foetida, under irrigation with water salinity, reaching 8073.96 kg ha⁻¹ and exceeding by up to 139.19% the other grafting and electrical conductivity of the irrigation water. The grafting technique proved effective in mitigating the effects of salinity, particularly the combination between P. foetida and YG1 cultivar P. edulis, which showed compatibility and superior agronomic performance under saline stress conditions. These results indicate a promising strategy for the sustainability of yellow passion fruit cultivation in semi-arid regions, contributing to the maintenance of productivity, even in environments with restricted water quality resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Response to Stresses)

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11 pages, 1325 KB

Open AccessBrief Report

Composition and Structure of Tree Species in Twelve Plots Within Agroforestry Systems in the Amazonas Department, Peru

by Jaqueline Zuta Lopez, Rosalynn Y. Rivera, Elver Coronel Castro, Nixon Haro, Gerson Meza-Mori, Oscar Gamarra, Manuel Oliva-Cruz, Carlos A. Amasifuen Guerra, José Giacomotti and Elí Pariente

Int. J. Plant Biol. 2026, 17(2), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb17020012 - 12 Feb 2026

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Abstract

Globally, coffee-based agroforestry systems are recognized for their capacity to integrate agricultural production with biodiversity conservation, particularly in tropical landscapes under intense anthropogenic pressure. However, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding floristic composition, arboreal structure, and the ecological importance of woody species in Andean agroforestry systems of the Peruvian Amazon, especially along altitudinal gradients. The objective of this study was to characterize the diversity, floristic composition, arboreal structure, and ecological value of woody species in coffee-based agroforestry systems in the Department of Amazonas, Peru. Forest inventories were conducted in twelve one-hectare plots, recording dasometric variables, estimating diversity indices, analyzing floristic affinity, and calculating the Importance Value Index of species. A total of 57 tree species belonging to 41 genera and 25 families were recorded, with moderate diversity levels and a marked dominance of species from the Fabaceae family. The structure showed a predominance of young individuals, concentrated in low and intermediate diameter and height classes, and a moderate shade cover suitable for coffee cultivation. The species with the highest ecological and productive value were Pinus tecunumanii, Colubrina glandulosa, Clitoria juninensis, Inga edulis, and Inga mendozana, which perform key functions related to shade provision and soil fertility. These results are transferable to other coffee agroforestry systems in tropical montane regions and provide relevant evidence for sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation, and productive optimization, issues of international interest in the agricultural and agroforestry sectors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Ecology and Biodiversity)

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11 pages, 1675 KB

Open AccessArticle

Genome and Transcriptome Sequencing of Oca (Oxalis tuberosa Molina) Reveals Photoperiod-Induced FT Homologs as Candidate Tuberigens

by Maria Gancheva and Aleksandr Tkachenko

Int. J. Plant Biol. 2026, 17(2), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb17020011 - 10 Feb 2026

Viewed by 589

Abstract

Oxalis tuberosa (oca) is a tuber crop native to the Andes, valued for its nutrition but understudied genetically. Its strict short-day (SD) tuberization suggests a photoperiodic control mechanism similar to that of potato, where an FT-like protein acts as a mobile “tuberigen” signal. To identify this key regulator, we generated a de novo genome assembly for oca using long- and short-read sequencing. Integrated transcriptomic analysis of leaves under long-day (LD) and SD conditions, along with stems, roots, and tubers, enabled gene annotation and expression analysis. Our study focused on the Phosphatidylethanolamine-Binding Protein (PEBP) gene family, the source of florigen and tuberigen signals. We identified 23 OtPEBP genes and characterized their expression patterns. Among these, we discovered three FT-like homologs that are specifically and strongly upregulated in leaves under SD conditions. We therefore propose these genes as the prime candidates for the mobile tuberigen signal in oca. This work provides the foundational genomic resource for O. tuberosa and advances our understanding of the conserved photoperiodic network controlling storage organ formation beyond the Solanaceae family. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Recent Advances in Plant Genetics and Breeding)

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15 pages, 10066 KB

Open AccessArticle

Colletotrichum fructicola Causes Necrotic Leaf Lesions in Avocado (Persea americana) in Amazonas, Peru: First Record and In Vitro Control Using Piper Essential Oils

by Marly Guelac-Santillan, Jherson Rojas-Vargas, Elmer Chávez-Chacón, Eryka Gaslac-Zumaeta, Manuel Oliva-Cruz and Angel F. Huaman-Pilco

Int. J. Plant Biol. 2026, 17(2), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb17020010 - 9 Feb 2026

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Abstract

Anthracnose is one of the most destructive diseases of avocado worldwide; however, foliar infections remain poorly documented in Peru. We investigated the etiology of necrotic leaf lesions observed in avocado plantations in Amazonas and assessed the in vitro antifungal activity of two Piper essential oils (EOs). Incidence was quantified in a 420-tree plot (n = 150 plants). Two representative isolates (MGS03, MGS04) were obtained from symptomatic leaves and characterized by morphology and multilocus sequencing (ITS, CHS-1, ACT, and TUB2). Maximum-likelihood phylogeny within the C. gloeosporioides species complex clustered with C. fructicola. Pathogenicity tests on detached leaves (unwounded inoculation) reproduced field symptoms and fulfilled Koch’s postulates. The antifungal activity of Piper carpunya and P. aduncum EOs (50–1000 µL L⁻¹) was evaluated using poisoned-medium assays, revealing a strong dose-dependent inhibition of mycelial growth. Inhibition reached >89.8% at 500 µL L⁻¹ and ~100% at 1000 µL L⁻¹, with P. aduncum showing slightly higher activity. This study provides the first confirmed record of C. fructicola associated with necrotic leaf lesions in avocado in Peru and demonstrates the promising antifungal potential of Piper EOs as eco-friendly candidates for anthracnose management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant–Microorganisms Interactions)

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23 pages, 77169 KB

Open AccessArticle

Structural Complexity of Quercus virgiliana Galls Induced by Andricus quercustozae (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae)

by Sanja Puljas, Juraj Kamenjarin and Ivica Šamanić

Int. J. Plant Biol. 2026, 17(2), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb17020009 - 5 Feb 2026

Viewed by 545

Abstract

Cynipid gall wasps are known for their ability to manipulate host plant development, redirecting undifferentiated tissues into complex, highly specialised structures. In this study, we investigated how Andricus quercustozae larvae manipulate axillary bud tissues of Quercus virgiliana across four key stages of gall development: initiation, differentiation and growth, maturation, and lignification. Using detailed histological analyses, we characterised progressive tissue differentiation within galls, focusing on the organisation of nutritive, protective, and vascular tissues. Gall development was marked by sustained hyperplasia and hypertrophy, extensive vascular proliferation, and progressive cell wall lignification, resulting in a complex organ optimised for larval nutrition and protection. To complement these anatomical observations, we conducted a preliminary transcriptomic comparison between gall tissue and unmodified leaf tissue. Gene expression analyses revealed suppression of photosynthesis-related functions and coordinated modulation of developmental, regulatory, and metabolic pathways, consistent with a transition from assimilatory leaf tissue to a specialised nutrient sink. Integration of anatomical and transcriptomic evidence supports a model in which cynipid gall wasps intervene at key regulatory nodes of bud development, progressively reprogramming host tissues to form a functionally autonomous gall. These findings provide new insight into the extended phenotype and highlight the plasticity of plant developmental programmes under insect control. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Resistance to Insects)

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