Plants

18 pages, 1854 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Water Stress Effects on Biomass Allocation and Secondary Metabolism in CBD-Dominant Cannabis sativa L.

by Maddalena Cappello Fusaro, Irene Lucchetta and Stefano Bona

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1267; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081267 - 21 Apr 2025

Water availability is a key factor affecting both morphological development and secondary metabolite production in Cannabis sativa L. This study evaluated the effects of water stress applied during the vegetative and flowering stages on plant performance, cannabinoid concentration, and terpene composition in two [...] Read more.

Water availability is a key factor affecting both morphological development and secondary metabolite production in Cannabis sativa L. This study evaluated the effects of water stress applied during the vegetative and flowering stages on plant performance, cannabinoid concentration, and terpene composition in two Chemotype III (cannabidiol-dominant) varieties. Plants were subjected to moderate and severe water stress, and responses were assessed through biomass measurements, GC-MS analyses, and multivariate statistics. Water stress significantly influenced biomass allocation, with increased dry biomass but reduced harvest index, particularly under flowering-stage stress. Cannabidiol (CBD) content declined with increasing stress, while tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels increased under vegetative stress, indicating a stress-induced shift in cannabinoid biosynthesis. Cannabinol (CBN) levels also increased, suggesting enhanced THC degradation. Terpene composition was predominantly genotype-driven. PCA-MANOVA showed significant effects of variety, stress level, and their interaction, yet only minor volatiles were modulated by stress, while the most abundant terpenes remained stable across treatments, preserving the varietal aroma profile. These results underline the importance of genetic background and irrigation timing in determining cannabis yield and quality. Optimized water management is essential to ensure phytochemical consistency and sustainable production, especially in high-value medicinal and aromatic applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cannabis sativa: Advances in Biology and Cultivation—2nd Edition)

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22 pages, 18515 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Time-Lag of Seasonal Effects of Extreme Climate Events on Grassland Productivity Across an Altitudinal Gradient in Tajikistan

by Yixin Geng, Hikmat Hisoriev, Guangyu Wang, Xuexi Ma, Lianlian Fan, Okhonniyozov Mekhrovar, Madaminov Abdullo, Jiangyue Li and Yaoming Li

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1266; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081266 - 21 Apr 2025

Abstract

Mountain grassland ecosystems around the globe are highly sensitive to seasonal extreme climate events, which thus highlights the critical importance of understanding how such events have affected vegetation dynamics over recent decades. However, research on the time-lag of the effects of seasonal extreme [...] Read more.

Mountain grassland ecosystems around the globe are highly sensitive to seasonal extreme climate events, which thus highlights the critical importance of understanding how such events have affected vegetation dynamics over recent decades. However, research on the time-lag of the effects of seasonal extreme climate events on vegetation has been sparse. This study focuses on Tajikistan, which is characterized by a typical alpine meadow–steppe ecosystem, as the research area. The net primary productivity (NPP) values of Tajikistan’s grasslands from 2001 to 2022 were estimated using the Carnegie–Ames–Stanford Approach (CASA) model. In addition, 20 extreme climate indices (including 11 extreme temperature indices and 9 extreme precipitation indices) were calculated. The spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of the grassland NPP and these extreme climate indices were further analyzed. Using geographic detector methods, the impact factors of extreme climate indices on grassland NPP were identified along a gradient of different altitudinal bands in Tajikistan. Additionally, a time-lag analysis was conducted to reveal the lag time of the effects of extreme climate indices on grassland NPP across different elevation levels. The results revealed that grassland NPP in Tajikistan exhibited a slight upward trend of 0.01 gC/(m²·a) from 2001 to 2022. During this period, extreme temperature indices generally showed an increasing trend, while extreme precipitation indices displayed a declining trend. Notably, extreme precipitation indices had a significant impact on grassland NPP, with the interaction between Precipitation anomaly (PA) and Max Tmax (TXx) exerting the most pronounced influence on the spatial variation of grassland NPP (q = 0.53). Additionally, it was found that the effect of extreme climate events on grassland NPP had no time-lag at altitudes below 500 m. In contrast, in mid-altitude regions (1000–3000 m), the effect of PA on grassland NPP had a significant time-lag of two months (p < 0.05). Knowing the lag times until the effects of seasonal extreme climate events on grassland NPP will appear in Tajikistan provides valuable insight for those developing adaptive management and restoration strategies under current seasonal extreme climate conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing-Based Monitoring of Vegetation Phenology in a Changing Environment)

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Graphical abstract

16 pages, 2320 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transposon-Associated Small RNAs Involved in Plant Defense in Poplar

by Cui Long, Yuxin Du, Yumeng Guan, Sijia Liu and Jianbo Xie

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1265; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081265 - 21 Apr 2025

Abstract

Utilizing high-throughput Illumina sequencing, we examined how small RNA (sRNA) profiles vary in Chinese white poplar (Populus tomentosa) across two pivotal infection stages by the rust fungus Melampsora larici-populina: the biotrophic growth phase (T02; 48 h post infection) and the [...] Read more.

Utilizing high-throughput Illumina sequencing, we examined how small RNA (sRNA) profiles vary in Chinese white poplar (Populus tomentosa) across two pivotal infection stages by the rust fungus Melampsora larici-populina: the biotrophic growth phase (T02; 48 h post infection) and the urediniospore development and dispersal phase (T03; 168 h), both essential for plant colonization and prolonged biotrophic engagement. Far exceeding random expectations, siRNA clusters predominantly arose from transposon regions, with pseudogenes also contributing significantly, and infection-stage-specific variations were notably tied to these transposon-derived siRNAs. As the infection advanced, clusters of 24 nt siRNAs in transposon and intergenic regions exhibited pronounced abundance shifts. An analysis of targets indicated that Populus sRNAs potentially regulate 95% of Melampsora larici-populina genes, with pathogen effector genes showing heightened targeting by sRNAs during the biotrophic and urediniospore phases compared to controls, pointing to selective sRNA-target interactions. In contrast to conserved miRNAs across plant species, Populus-specific miRNAs displayed a markedly greater tendency to target NB-LRR genes. These observations collectively highlight the innovative roles of sRNAs in plant defense, their evolutionary roots, and their dynamic interplay with pathogen coevolution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Breeding of Trees)

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18 pages, 8426 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A C-Terminally Encoded Peptide, MeCEP6, Promotes Nitrate Uptake in Cassava Roots

by Fabao Lu, Xiuning Wang, Bo Liu, Hongxin Lin, Li Ai, Weitao Mai, Xiaochen Liu, Huaifang Zhang, Jinling Zhao, Luqman Khan, Wenquan Wang, Changying Zeng and Xin Chen

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1264; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081264 - 21 Apr 2025

Abstract

Cassava, an essential food crop, is valued for its tolerance to infertile soils. This study explores the role of C-terminally encoded peptides (CEPs) in cassava, mainly focusing on MeCEP6 and its function in nitrate uptake and plant growth. A comprehensive search on the [...] Read more.

Cassava, an essential food crop, is valued for its tolerance to infertile soils. This study explores the role of C-terminally encoded peptides (CEPs) in cassava, mainly focusing on MeCEP6 and its function in nitrate uptake and plant growth. A comprehensive search on the UniProt website identified 12 CEP genes in cassava, predominantly located on chromosomes 12 and 13. Notably, MeCEP6 demonstrated high expression levels in root tips and exhibited a significant response to low nitrate stress. Exogenous MeCEP6 and its overexpression enhanced NRT2 transporter expression while suppressing auxin-related genes, promoting nitrate uptake and inhibiting seedling growth under nitrogen limitation. This growth inhibition likely represents an adaptive mechanism, enhancing cassava’s survival under nitrogen limitation by optimizing nitrogen allocation and use efficiency, albeit at the cost of reduced growth potential in nitrogen-replete conditions. Moreover, it was identified that MeWRKY65 and MeWRKY70 could interact with the promoter of MeCEP6 to modulate the expression of MeCEP6. The dual-luciferase assays further prove that MeWRKY65 and MeWRKY70 can activate the transcription of MeCEP6 under low nitrate stress conditions. The study’s results help explain the underlying mechanism of MeCEP6 that benefits nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen deficiency tolerance in cassava. These findings provide a molecular basis for improving cassava yield in nitrogen-deficient soils and highlight MeCEP6 as a potential target for crop improvement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Nutrition Responses and Stress)

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23 pages, 5801 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimization of Fermentation Conditions for Bacillus amyloliquefaciens JL54 and Preparation of Powder Through Spray Drying

by Leilei Zhao, Yanru Wang, Min Pan, Weiliang Kong, Haifeng Wang and Jiajin Tan

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1263; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081263 - 21 Apr 2025

Abstract

Larch dieback disease, caused by Neofusicoccum laricinum, severely affects forest health and productivity. To effectively curb the occurrence of this disease, a powder formulation of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens JL54 was developed through spray drying. The research commenced with the optimization of fermentation medium [...] Read more.

Larch dieback disease, caused by Neofusicoccum laricinum, severely affects forest health and productivity. To effectively curb the occurrence of this disease, a powder formulation of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens JL54 was developed through spray drying. The research commenced with the optimization of fermentation medium and culture conditions through statistical design, aiming to maximize both bacterial viability and antagonistic activity. The optimal medium included 12 g/L yeast extract, 11.8 g/L yeast powder, and 7.2 g/L magnesium sulfate. Optimal culture conditions included 30% loading volume, 1% inoculum, 37 °C incubation temperature, 31.8 h shaking time, and initial pH 6.4. Under these conditions, the viable count of strain JL54 reached 4.45 × 10⁹ cfu/mL, a 296.67-fold increase compared with the unoptimized system. To evaluate its practical applicability, field trials were conducted, showing a 54% control efficiency against larch dieback disease, significantly suppressing disease progression. Subsequently, the spray drying process was optimized with a 1:10 protective agent-to-water ratio, 100 °C inlet temperature, and 630 mL/h feed flow rate, achieving a 78.41% powder recovery rate. Collectively, this study demonstrates the potential of B. amyloliquefaciens JL54 as an effective biocontrol agent for managing larch dieback and supports its application in spray-dried formulations for forest disease control. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions)

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18 pages, 4341 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Unveiling Novel Genetic Loci and Superior Alleles for Nickel Accumulation in Wheat via Genome-Wide Association Study

by Xia Shi, Shenghui Geng, Jinna Hou, Taotao Shi, Maomao Qin, Wenxu Li, Ziju Dai, Zhengfu Zhou, Minghui Zhang and Zhensheng Lei

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1262; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081262 - 21 Apr 2025

Abstract

Nickel (Ni) pollution poses significant threats to human health and crop development through the food chain. This study aimed to identify the novel genomic regions and superior alleles associated with Ni accumulation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grains using genome-wide association analysis [...] Read more.

Nickel (Ni) pollution poses significant threats to human health and crop development through the food chain. This study aimed to identify the novel genomic regions and superior alleles associated with Ni accumulation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grains using genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) with a diversity panel of 207 bread wheat varieties. In total, five unique genetic loci associated with Ni accumulation were identified and they explained, on average, 8.20–11.29% of the phenotypic variation. Among them, three unique genetic loci were mutually verified by different statistical models in at least two environments, indicating their stability across different environments. Moreover, the highest effect quantitative trait nucleotide (QTN) AX-111126872 with a quantitative trait locus (QTL) hotspot on chromosome 6B identified in this study was not reported previously. Three putative candidate genes linked to Ni accumulation were revealed from the stable genetic loci. Among them, one gene associated with the stable genetic locus on chromosome 6B (AX-111126872) encodes the glycine-rich proteins (GRPs) as a critical factor influencing Ni accumulation in wheat grains. This study increases our understanding of the genetic architecture of Ni accumulation in wheat grains, which is potentially helpful for breeding wheat varieties without Ni toxicity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding of Crops—2nd Edition)

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19 pages, 1951 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Simulated Nitrogen and Phosphorus Deposition on Dioecious Populus cathayana Growth and Defense Traits

by Junyu Li, Yongmei Liao, Wanrong Wei, Xiaoqin Xu, Jundong He and Tingting Zhao

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1261; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081261 - 21 Apr 2025

Abstract

Human activities have increased the imbalance in atmospheric N and P deposition, which changes soil nutrient availability and subsequently affects the structure and function of terrestrial ecosystems. Dioecious plants are important parts of terrestrial ecosystems and are characterized by sex-related differences in their [...] Read more.

Human activities have increased the imbalance in atmospheric N and P deposition, which changes soil nutrient availability and subsequently affects the structure and function of terrestrial ecosystems. Dioecious plants are important parts of terrestrial ecosystems and are characterized by sex-related differences in their response to the external environment and always exhibit a skewed sex ratio, which makes them more vulnerable to climate change and increases their risk of extinction. However, little attention has been paid to the effects of unbalanced N and P deposition on these plants, especially on their defense traits. In this study, we used dioecious Populus cathayana to investigate the influence of gradient N and P deposition on the correlation between growth and defense traits. The results showed that although the different rates of N and P deposition enhanced biomass accumulation in both sexes to varying degrees, the most substantial biomass increment was noted under a lower-nitrogen and higher-phosphorus (LNHP) treatment regimen, with females showing an approximately 112% increase and males a 47% increase in total biomass. In response to varying levels of simulated N and P deposition, males and females adopt distinct strategies for biomass allocation. Although declines in root biomass were observed in both sexes as nutrient availability increased, the decrement was more marked in males; under the LNHP treatment, it dropped by about 11%, while under a high-nitrogen and high-phosphorus (HNHP) treatment, the decrease was about 35%. Conversely, females demonstrated a heightened propensity to allocate biomass towards leaf development. Furthermore, with increasing N and P deposition, there was a general reduction in the concentrations of physical and chemical defense substances within the leaves of both sexes. Nonetheless, the correlations between defense substances, nutrient element content, non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) content, and dry biomass were more pronounced in males, suggesting a greater sensitivity to defense substance responses in males than in females. Overall, these results indicate that there is sexual dimorphism in the accumulation of chemical substances in male and female P. cathayana under unbalanced N and P deposition and they provide a technical and theoretical basis for predicting the population dynamics of dioecious plants, maintaining the stability of poplar populations, and constructing high-productivity poplar plantations globally in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Physiology and Metabolism)

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32 pages, 10072 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Taxonomy of the Genus Porella (Porellaceae, Marchantiophyta) on the Korean Peninsula

by Hyun Min Bum, Seung Jin Park, Narae Yun, Vadim A. Bakalin and Seung Se Choi

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1260; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081260 - 21 Apr 2025

Abstract

This paper provides a revision of Porella in the Korean Peninsula based mostly on a study of the collections housed in the herbaria of Jeonbuk National University (JNU) using an integrative approach to systematize the liverwort, as well as a study of the [...] Read more.

This paper provides a revision of Porella in the Korean Peninsula based mostly on a study of the collections housed in the herbaria of Jeonbuk National University (JNU) using an integrative approach to systematize the liverwort, as well as a study of the types of several species and available literature sources. In total, 17 species were recorded, including six taxa (Porella acutifolia ssp. tosana, P. platyphylla, P. perrottetiana, P. pinnata, P. spinulosa, and P. subobtusa) whose identities were not confirmed with the available materials and were suspected to be recorded by mistake. Two species are described as new to science. Porella koreana sp. nov. is morphologically similar to P. caespitans and P. densifolia; however it has an acute apex, and cells in the middle of the dorsal lobe have convex trigones. Porella chulii sp. nov. is somewhat morphologically similar to P. japonica; however, it has a dorsal leaf lobe margin that is slightly incurved, and the cells in the middle of the dorsal lobe are 20–25 μm in size. Each confirmed species is annotated by morphological descriptions based on available Korean material, data on ecology, its distribution, specimens examined, and illustrations. The identification key for Porella taxa known in Korea is provided. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Systematics, Taxonomy, Nomenclature and Classification)

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28 pages, 6110 KiB

Open AccessArticle

MAF-MixNet: Few-Shot Tea Disease Detection Based on Mixed Attention and Multi-Path Feature Fusion

by Wenjing Zhang, Ke Tan, Han Wang, Di Hu and Haibo Pu

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1259; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081259 - 21 Apr 2025

Abstract

Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) disease detection in complex field conditions faces significant challenges due to the scarcity of labeled data. While current mainstream visual deep learning algorithms depend on large-scale curated datasets. To address this, we propose a novel few-shot end-to-end detection [...] Read more.

Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) disease detection in complex field conditions faces significant challenges due to the scarcity of labeled data. While current mainstream visual deep learning algorithms depend on large-scale curated datasets. To address this, we propose a novel few-shot end-to-end detection network called MAF-MixNet that achieves robust detection with minimal annotation data. The network effectively overcomes the bottleneck of insufficient feature extraction under limited samples of existing methods, through the design of a mixed attention branch (MA-Branch) and a multi-path feature fusion module (MAFM). The former extracts contextual features, while the latter combines and enhances the local and global features. The entire model uses a two-stage paradigm to pretrain on public datasets and fine-tune on balanced subset datasets, including novel tea disease classes, anthracnose, and brown blight. Comparative experiments with six models on four evaluation metrics verified the advancement of our model. At 5-shot, MAF-MixNet achieves scores of 62.0%, 60.1%, and 65.9% in precision, nAP50, and F1 score, respectively, significantly outperforming other models. Similar superiority is achieved in the 10-shot scenario, where nAP50 is 73.8%. Our model maintains a certain computational efficiency and achieves the second fastest inference speed at 11.63 FPS, making it viable for real-world deployment. The results confirm MAF-MixNet’s potential to enable cost-effective, intelligent disease monitoring in precision agriculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Precision Agriculture in Crop Production)

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6 pages, 159 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Crop Functional Genomics and Biological Breeding

by Jia Li, Jie Huang, Jiezheng Ying, Jian Zhang, Dawei Xue and Yifeng Wang

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1258; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081258 - 21 Apr 2025

Abstract

Over the past two decades, the rapid development of functional genomics has gradually clarified the regulatory effects of genotypes on phenotypes [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Functional Genomics and Biological Breeding)

19 pages, 5178 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pan-Genome-Based Characterization of the SRS Transcription Factor Family in Foxtail Millet

by Ruimiao Li, Cuiyun Lei, Qiang Zhang, Xiaomeng Guo, Xiting Cui, Xingchun Wang, Xukai Li and Jianhua Gao

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1257; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081257 - 21 Apr 2025

Abstract

The Short Internodes-Related Sequence (SRS) family, a class of plant-specific transcription factors crucial for diverse biological processes, was systematically investigated in foxtail millet using pan-genome data from 110 core germplasm resources as well as two high-quality genomes (xm and Yu1). We identified [...] Read more.

The Short Internodes-Related Sequence (SRS) family, a class of plant-specific transcription factors crucial for diverse biological processes, was systematically investigated in foxtail millet using pan-genome data from 110 core germplasm resources as well as two high-quality genomes (xm and Yu1). We identified SRS members and analyzed their intra-species distribution patterns, including copy number variation (CNV) and interchromosomal translocations. A novel standardized nomenclature (Accession_SiSRSN[.n]_xDy or xTy) was proposed to unify gene family nomenclature, enabling the direct visualization of member number variation across germplasms and the identification of core/variable members while highlighting chromosomal translocations. Focusing on the two high-quality genomes, both harboring six core SRS members, we performed whole-genome collinearity analysis with Arabidopsis, rice, maize, soybean, and green foxtail. Ka/Ks analysis of collinear gene pairs revealed purifying selection acting on SiSRS genes. Promoter analysis identified abundant stress-responsive cis-elements. Among core members, the xm_SiSRS5 gene exhibited the highest expression during vegetative growth but showed significant downregulation under drought and salt stress, suggesting its role as a key negative regulator in abiotic stress responses. This study demonstrates the utility of pan-genomics in resolving gene family dynamics and establishes SiSRS5 as a critical target for stress tolerance engineering in foxtail millet. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology)

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26 pages, 4094 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of the Genes from Gibberellin, Jasmonate, and Auxin Signaling Under Drought Stress: A Genome-Wide Approach in Castor Bean (Ricinus communis L.)

by Ygor de Souza-Vieira, Esther Felix-Mendes, Gabriela Valente-Almeida, Thais Felix-Cordeiro, Régis L. Corrêa, Douglas Jardim-Messeder and Gilberto Sachetto-Martins

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1256; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081256 - 20 Apr 2025

Abstract

Castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) can tolerate long periods of dehydration, allowing the investigation of gene circuits involved in drought tolerance. Genes from gibberellins, jasmonates, and auxin signaling are important for crosstalk in the developmental and environmental adaptation process to drought conditions. [...] Read more.

Castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) can tolerate long periods of dehydration, allowing the investigation of gene circuits involved in drought tolerance. Genes from gibberellins, jasmonates, and auxin signaling are important for crosstalk in the developmental and environmental adaptation process to drought conditions. However, the genes related to these signals, as well as their transcription profiles under drought, remain poorly characterized in the castor bean. In the present work, genes from gibberellins, jasmonates, and auxin signaling were identified and molecularly characterized. These analyses allowed us to identify genes encoding receptors, inhibitory proteins, and transcription factors from each signaling pathway in the castor bean genome. Chromosomal distribution, gene structure, evolutionary relationships, and conserved motif analyses were performed. Expression analysis through RNA-seq and RT-qPCR revealed that gibberellins, jasmonates, and auxin signaling were modulated at multiple levels under drought, with notable changes in specific genes. The gibberellin receptor RcGID1c was downregulated in response to drought, and RcDELLA3 was strongly repressed, whereas its homologues were not, reinforcing the suggestion of a nuanced regulation of gibberellin signaling during drought. Considering jasmonate signaling, the downregulation of the transcription factor RcMYC2 aligned with the drought tolerance observed in mutants lacking this gene. Altogether, these analyses have provided insights into hormone signaling in the castor bean, unveiling transcriptional responses that enhance our understanding of high drought tolerance in this plant. This knowledge opens avenues for identifying potential candidate genes suitable for genetic manipulation in biotechnological approaches. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Regulation of Plant Stress Responses)

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22 pages, 2046 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Role of MYC2 Transcription Factors in Plant Secondary Metabolism and Stress Response Mechanisms

by Tuo Zeng, Han Su, Meiyang Wang, Jiefang He, Lei Gu, Hongcheng Wang, Xuye Du, Caiyun Wang and Bin Zhu

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1255; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081255 - 20 Apr 2025

Abstract

Jasmonates (JAs) are essential signaling molecules that orchestrate plant responses to abiotic and biotic stresses and regulate growth and developmental processes. MYC2, a core transcription factor in JA signaling, plays a central role in mediating these processes through transcriptional regulation. However, the [...] Read more.

Jasmonates (JAs) are essential signaling molecules that orchestrate plant responses to abiotic and biotic stresses and regulate growth and developmental processes. MYC2, a core transcription factor in JA signaling, plays a central role in mediating these processes through transcriptional regulation. However, the broader regulatory functions of MYC2, particularly in secondary metabolism and stress signaling pathways, are still not fully understood. This review broadens that perspective by detailing the signaling mechanisms and primary functions of MYC2 transcription factors. It specifically emphasizes their roles in regulating the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, terpenes, and flavonoids, and in modulating plant responses to environmental stresses. The review further explores how MYC2 interacts with other transcription factors and hormonal pathways to fine-tune defense mechanisms and secondary metabolite production. Finally, it discusses the potential of MYC2 transcription factors to enhance plant metabolic productivity in agriculture, considering both their applications and limitations in managing secondary metabolite synthesis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Nutrition Responses and Stress)

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22 pages, 29994 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Situ Conservation of Orchidaceae Diversity in the Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean (Moroccan Part)

by Yahya El Karmoudi, Nikos Krigas, Brahim Chergui El Hemiani, Abdelmajid Khabbach and Mohamed Libiad

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1254; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081254 - 20 Apr 2025

Abstract

The focus of this study was the Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean (IBRM, part of the biodiversity hotspot of the Mediterranean Basin) and the Orchidaceae family, which is under-studied in the Moroccan part of the IBRM. For this reason, an inventory of [...] Read more.

The focus of this study was the Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean (IBRM, part of the biodiversity hotspot of the Mediterranean Basin) and the Orchidaceae family, which is under-studied in the Moroccan part of the IBRM. For this reason, an inventory of Orchidaceae diversity and factors that could influence their in situ conservation was undertaken, employing a series of field surveys conducted in the Northern Moroccan IBRM ecosystems. In total, 42 sites were surveyed in four protected areas of the Moroccan part of the IBRM. In total, 21 Orchidaceae species and subspecies (taxa) belonging to seven genera were identified, including Orchis spitzelii subsp. cazorlensis, as newly recorded in Morocco, as well as several new reports for different sites and/or areas surveyed, thus updating the previous knowledge of Moroccan Orchidaceae. Most of the Orchidaceae taxa were found in limited numbers of individuals (<30) and were restricted in a few sites (1–3) or a single area; thus, they were assessed as poorly conserved due to the scarcity of rainfall coupled with human pressures, such as the abstraction of surface water, forest fires, and the conversion of protected forests to Cannabis farms. The enforcement of existing laws, the adoption of strategies to combat desertification and forest fires, the prohibition of Cannabis farming, and raising awareness among the local population could reduce the pressures on the protected Orchidaceae members and their habitats, thereby contributing to their conservation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Conservation of Protected Plant Species: From Theory to Practice)

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16 pages, 10453 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cytological Studies of 25 Species and Four Varieties of Artemisia (Asteraceae) from China, Toward a Better Understanding of the Variation Patterns of Chromosomes in the Genus

by Xinqiang Guo, Yiran Jiang, Xianxiang Zeng, Fuhui Tan, Dawei Xue and Yuhuan Wu

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1253; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081253 - 20 Apr 2025

Abstract

The chromosome numbers of 56 populations belonging to 25 species and 4 varieties of Artemisia L. (Asteraceae) from China were examined, and those of 13 species and four varieties are reported here for the first time. The karyotypes of 39 populations in 23 [...] Read more.

The chromosome numbers of 56 populations belonging to 25 species and 4 varieties of Artemisia L. (Asteraceae) from China were examined, and those of 13 species and four varieties are reported here for the first time. The karyotypes of 39 populations in 23 species and four varieties were also studied. Among them, twelve species and one variety were found to be diploid, with 2n = 16 or 18; nine species and three varieties were found to be tetraploid, with 2n = 32 or 36; and two species were found to have both diploid and tetraploid cytotypes. Two species were found to have aneuploid cytotypes. The karyotypes of Artemisia are similar, with most chromosomes belonging to median-centromeric (m) and a few belonging to submedian-centromeric (sm) or subterminal-centromeric (st). The high level of polyploids in Artemisia from the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau indicates that polyploidy has played an important role in the evolutionary speciation of this highly diversified genus in this region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Cell Biology)

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14 pages, 1546 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quillaja lancifolia Immunoadjuvant Saponins Show Toxicity to Herbivores and Pathogenic Fungi

by Anna C. A. Yendo, Luana C. Colling, Hélio N. Matsuura, Lúcia R. B. Vargas, José A. Martinelli, Gabriela Z. Chitolina, Marilene H. Vainstein and Arthur G. Fett-Neto

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1252; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081252 - 20 Apr 2025

Abstract

Saponins from leaves of Quillaja lancifolia, a native species from southern Brazil, show potent immunoadjuvant activity in experimental vaccine formulations. The accumulation of the immunoadjuvant saponin fraction QB-90 is induced in cultured leaf disks and seedlings by several stresses and stress signaling [...] Read more.

Saponins from leaves of Quillaja lancifolia, a native species from southern Brazil, show potent immunoadjuvant activity in experimental vaccine formulations. The accumulation of the immunoadjuvant saponin fraction QB-90 is induced in cultured leaf disks and seedlings by several stresses and stress signaling molecules, such as osmotic agents, salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, mechanical damage, ultrasound, UV-C radiation, and high light irradiance. These observations suggest a role in plant defense. To further examine this possibility, an investigation of the potential inhibitory role of Q. lancifolia saponins on plant and human pathogenic fungi and two herbivore models was carried out. The screening tests showed that saponin-rich fractions, particularly QB-90, were able to significantly inhibit the growth of Bipolaris micropus, Curvularia inaequalis, Fusarium incarnatum, and Cryptococcus gattii R265. The same metabolites acted as deterrents against the generalist mollusk and insect herbivores Helix aspersa and Spodoptera frugiperda, respectively. Significant reductions in consumption of leaf area and larvae body weight were recorded. Taken together, these data indicate a role for Q. lancifolia saponins in plant defense against diverse herbivores and fungi, having potential as a natural pest control agent and/or as a molecular platform for the development of new environmentally friendly biocide molecules. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biochemical Defenses of Plants)

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22 pages, 1502 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Microclimatic Influences on Soil Nitrogen Dynamics and Plant Diversity Across Rocky Desertification Gradients in Southwest China

by Qian Wu, Chengjiao Rao, Wende Yan, Yuanying Peng, Enwen Wang and Xiaoyong Chen

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1251; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081251 - 20 Apr 2025

Abstract

Soil active nitrogen (N) fractions are essential for plant growth and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. While previous studies have primarily focused on the impact of vegetation restoration on soil active nitrogen in karst ecosystems, the role of microclimate variation in rocky desertification [...] Read more.

Soil active nitrogen (N) fractions are essential for plant growth and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. While previous studies have primarily focused on the impact of vegetation restoration on soil active nitrogen in karst ecosystems, the role of microclimate variation in rocky desertification areas has not been well explored. This study investigates soil active nitrogen fractions and key biotic and abiotic factors across four grades of rocky desertification—non-rocky desertification (NRD), light rocky desertification (LRD), moderate rocky desertification (MRD), and intense rocky desertification (IRD)—within two distinct microclimates: a dry-hot valley and a humid monsoon zone in the karst region of Guizhou Province, China. We evaluate soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), soil nitrate nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N), ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), soluble organic nitrogen (SON), and plant diversity. Results showed that SOC, TN, and TP were significantly higher in IRD areas. Soil NO₃⁻-N, MBN, and SON initially decreased before increasing, with consistent MBN growth in the dry-hot valley. NH₄⁺-N did not differ significantly under NRD but was higher in the dry-hot valley under LRD, MRD, and IRD. The dry-hot valley had higher MBN and SON across most desertification grades. Microclimate significantly influenced soil active N, with higher levels in the dry-hot valley under LRD and MRD conditions. Plant diversity and regeneration varied markedly between the microclimates. In the dry-hot valley, Artemisia dominated herbaceous regeneration, especially in MRD areas. Conversely, the humid monsoon zone showed more diverse regeneration, with Artemisia and Bidens prevalent in MRD and NRD grades. Despite declining plant diversity with desertification, the humid monsoon zone displayed greater resilience. These findings highlight the role of microclimate in influencing soil nitrogen dynamics and plant regeneration across rocky desertification gradients, offering insights for restoration strategies in karst ecosystems. Full article

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22 pages, 3896 KiB

Open AccessReview

Trans-Kingdom RNA Dialogues: miRNA and milRNA Networks as Biotechnological Tools for Sustainable Crop Defense and Pathogen Control

by Hui Jia, Pan Li, Minye Li, Ning Liu, Jingao Dong, Qing Qu and Zhiyan Cao

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1250; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081250 - 20 Apr 2025

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs approximately 20–24 nucleotides in length, which play a crucial role during gene regulation in plant–pathogen interaction. They negatively regulate the expression of target genes, primarily at the transcriptional or post-transcriptional level, through complementary base pairing [...] Read more.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs approximately 20–24 nucleotides in length, which play a crucial role during gene regulation in plant–pathogen interaction. They negatively regulate the expression of target genes, primarily at the transcriptional or post-transcriptional level, through complementary base pairing with target gene sequences. Recent studies reveal that during pathogen infection, miRNAs produced by plants and miRNA-like RNAs (milRNAs) produced by fungi can regulate the expression of endogenous genes in their respective organisms and undergo trans-kingdom transfer. They can thereby negatively regulate the expression of target genes in recipient cells. These findings provide novel perspectives for deepening our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying plant–pathogen interactions. Here, we summarize and discuss the roles of miRNAs and milRNAs in mediating plant–pathogen interactions via multiple pathways, providing new insights into the functions of these RNAs and their modes of action. Collectively, these insights lay a theoretical foundation for the targeted management of crop diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biotechnological Advances for Crop Improvement and Sustainable Agriculture)

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20 pages, 3471 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Interactive Effects of Climate and Large Herbivore Assemblage Drive Plant Functional Traits and Diversity

by Maggie Klope, Ruby Harris-Gavin, Stephanie Copeland, Devyn Orr and Hillary S. Young

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1249; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081249 - 20 Apr 2025

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Abstract

Large herbivore communities are changing globally, with populations of wild herbivores generally declining while domestic herbivore populations are increasing, influencing ecosystem function along with the impacts of climate change. Manipulative experiments have rarely captured the interaction between patterns of large herbivore assemblage change [...] Read more.

Large herbivore communities are changing globally, with populations of wild herbivores generally declining while domestic herbivore populations are increasing, influencing ecosystem function along with the impacts of climate change. Manipulative experiments have rarely captured the interaction between patterns of large herbivore assemblage change and climatic conditions. This interaction may affect the functional traits and functional diversity of herbaceous communities; this requires investigation, as these metrics have been useful proxies for ecosystem function. We used a large herbivore exclosure experiment replicated along a topo-climatic gradient to explore the interaction between climate and herbivore assemblage on community-level functional traits and the functional diversity of herbaceous plant understories. Our findings demonstrate interacting effects between large herbivore assemblages and climate. We found a shift from drought-tolerant traits to drought-avoidant traits with increasing aridity, specifically with regard to plant leaf area and specific leaf area. We also determined that plant community responses to grazing changed from an herbivore avoidance strategy at drier sites to a more herbivore-tolerant strategy at wetter sites. We observed that the effects of herbivores on community-level traits can sometimes counteract those of climate. Finally, we found that cattle and large wild herbivores can differ in the magnitude and direction of effects on functional traits and diversity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trait–Environment Relationships in Plants: Acclimation and Adaptation)

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15 pages, 4608 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of Auxin Response Factor Transcription Factor Gene Family in Populus euphratica

by Yunzhu Shi, Zixuan Mu, Xiangyu Meng, Xiang Li, Lingxuan Zou, Xuli Zhu and Wenhao Bo

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1248; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081248 - 19 Apr 2025

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Abstract

Auxin response factor (ARF) is a plant-specific transcription factor that responds to changes in auxin levels, regulating various biological processes in plants such as flower development, senescence, lateral root formation, stress response, and secondary metabolite accumulation. In this study, we identified the ARF [...] Read more.

Auxin response factor (ARF) is a plant-specific transcription factor that responds to changes in auxin levels, regulating various biological processes in plants such as flower development, senescence, lateral root formation, stress response, and secondary metabolite accumulation. In this study, we identified the ARF gene family in Populus euphratica Oliv. using bioinformatics analysis, examining their conserved structural domains, gene structure, expression products, and evolutionary relationships. We found that the 34 PeARF genes were unevenly distributed on 19 chromosomes of P. euphratica. All 56 PeARF proteins were hydrophilic and unstable proteins localized in the nucleus, with secondary structures containing α-helices, extended strands, random coils, and β-turns but lacking transmembrane helices (TM-helices) and signal peptides. Evolutionary analysis divided the PeARF proteins into five subfamilies (A–E), with high conservation observed in the order and number of motifs, domains, gene structure, and other characteristics within each subfamily. Expression pattern analysis revealed that 17 PeARF genes were upregulated during cell growth and heterophylly development. This comprehensive analysis provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of ARF genes in P. euphratica growth, development, and stress response, serving as a basis for further studies on the auxin signaling pathway in P. euphratica. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Breeding of Trees)

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39 pages, 17649 KiB

Open AccessReview

Endophytes in Cannabis sativa: Identifying and Characterizing Microbes with Beneficial and Detrimental Effects on Plant Health

by Liam Buirs and Zamir K. Punja

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1247; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081247 - 19 Apr 2025

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Abstract

The roles of endophytes in Cannabis sativa (cannabis, hemp) remain poorly explored. While in vitro studies suggest that there can be several benefits, such as plant growth promotion and protection against pathogens, more in planta studies are needed. This review summarizes the bacterial [...] Read more.

The roles of endophytes in Cannabis sativa (cannabis, hemp) remain poorly explored. While in vitro studies suggest that there can be several benefits, such as plant growth promotion and protection against pathogens, more in planta studies are needed. This review summarizes the bacterial and fungal endophytes previously reported in tissues of C. sativa and discusses the factors influencing their presence, as well as their potential beneficial and detrimental effects. Using genome sequencing and culture-based approaches, we describe the microbial diversity in hydroponically cultivated cannabis plants at several developmental stages. These include mother plants, cuttings, vegetative and flowering plants, and tissue-cultured plantlets. Microbes that were present include fungal, yeast, and bacterial endophytes found in roots, stems, leaves, inflorescences, and seeds. These may have originated from the growing substrate or be transmitted through vegetative propagation. Notable endophytes included Rhizophagus irregularis (a mycorrhizal fungus), Penicillium chrysogenum (an antibiotic producer), and various endophytic yeast species not previously described in C. sativa. Endophytes representing potential plant pathogens, such as Fusarium oxysporum, are also present within cannabis tissues, which can negatively impact plant health. Using scanning electron microscopy, we observed that fungal propagules are present within pith parenchyma cells and xylem vessel elements in stem tissues, illustrating for the first time the in situ localization and distribution of endophytes in cannabis vascular tissues. The mechanism of spread through xylem vessels likely contributes to the spread of endophytes within cannabis and hemp plants. Further research is required to validate the roles of endophytes in cannabis and hemp plants grown under commercial production conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cannabis sativa: Advances in Biology and Cultivation—2nd Edition)

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11 pages, 1934 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Silicon Supply Improves the Rhizodeposition and Transfer of Nitrogen from Trifolium incarnatum L. to Brassica napus L.

by Raphaël Coquerel, Mustapha Arkoun, Philippe Laîné and Philippe Etienne

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1246; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081246 - 19 Apr 2025

Viewed by 59

Abstract

The association of legumes with other non-legume plants, such as Brassica napus L., has been reported as an agro-ecological alternative for reducing the nitrogen (N) inputs required for B. napus growth, thanks in particular to the transfer of N compounds from the legume [...] Read more.

The association of legumes with other non-legume plants, such as Brassica napus L., has been reported as an agro-ecological alternative for reducing the nitrogen (N) inputs required for B. napus growth, thanks in particular to the transfer of N compounds from the legume to B. napus. Moreover, recent studies have evidenced that silicon (Si) supply can improve either N uptake by B. napus or the dinitrogen fixation capacity of T. incarnatum. However, the effect of Si supply on the N nutrition of both B. napus and T. incarnatum, especially when growing in association, has not been assessed so far. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Si supply on the growth of B. napus and T. incarnatum cultivated in association by focusing particularly on N rhizodeposition by T. incarnatum and its transfer to B. napus. The experiment was performed for 10 weeks under a split-root system combined with an ¹⁵N labeling method. The results showed that the Si supply increased the amount of rhizo-deposited N by T. incarnatum by over 40% and enhanced its transfer to B. napus. The transferred N was allocated mainly to pods (17%), as their biomass increased under Si supply. For the first time, this study demonstrates that the association with legume plants together with the Si supply could be an effective approach to improve the agro-ecological balance of B. napus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Exogenous Silicon in Plant Response to Abiotic Stress)

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19 pages, 6455 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Winter Oilseed Rape LAI Inversion via Multi-Source UAV Fusion: A Three-Dimensional Texture and Machine Learning Approach

by Zijun Tang, Junsheng Lu, Ahmed Elsayed Abdelghany, Penghai Su, Ming Jin, Siqi Li, Tao Sun, Youzhen Xiang, Zhijun Li and Fucang Zhang

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1245; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081245 - 19 Apr 2025

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Abstract

Leaf area index (LAI) serves as a critical indicator for evaluating crop growth and guiding field management practices. While spectral information (vegetation indices and texture features) extracted from multispectral sensors mounted on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) holds promise for LAI estimation, the limitations [...] Read more.

Leaf area index (LAI) serves as a critical indicator for evaluating crop growth and guiding field management practices. While spectral information (vegetation indices and texture features) extracted from multispectral sensors mounted on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) holds promise for LAI estimation, the limitations of single-texture features necessitate further exploration. Therefore, this study conducted field experiments over two consecutive years (2021–2022) to collect winter oilseed rape LAI ground truth data and corresponding UAV multispectral imagery. Vegetation indices were constructed, and canopy texture features were extracted. Subsequently, a correlation matrix method was employed to establish novel randomized combinations of three-dimensional texture indices. By analyzing the correlations between these parameters and winter oilseed rape LAI, variables with significant correlations (p < 0.05) were selected as model inputs. These variables were then partitioned into distinct combinations and input into three machine learning models—Support Vector Machine (SVM), Backpropagation Neural Network (BPNN), and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost)—to estimate winter oilseed rape LAI. The results demonstrated that the majority of vegetation indices and texture features exhibited significant correlations with LAI (p < 0.05). All randomized texture index combinations also showed strong correlations with LAI (p < 0.05). Notably, the three-dimensional texture index NDTTI exhibited the highest correlation with LAI (R = 0.725), derived from the spatial combination of DIS5, VAR5, and VAR3. Integrating vegetation indices, texture features, and three-dimensional texture indices as inputs into the XGBoost model yielded the highest estimation accuracy. The validation set achieved a determination coefficient (R²) of 0.882, a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.204 cm²cm⁻², and a mean relative error (MRE) of 6.498%. This study provides an effective methodology for UAV-based multispectral monitoring of winter oilseed rape LAI and offers scientific and technical support for precision agriculture management practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Application of Spectral Techniques in Agriculture and Forestry—2nd Edition)

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17 pages, 4584 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phytochemical Analysis and Biological Activities of Wollemia nobilis W.G.Jones, K.D.Hill & J.M.Allen Leaves Collected in the Botanical Garden of Rome

by Claudio Frezza, Daniela De Vita, Ottavia Giampaoli, Marzia Beccaccioli, Michela Verni, Federica Violetta Conti, Laura Fonti, Marco Franceschin, Fabio Sciubba, Claudio Scintu, Letizia Corsetti, Antonella Di Sotto, Carlo Giuseppe Rizzello, Massimo Reverberi and Fabio Attorre

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1244; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081244 - 19 Apr 2025

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Abstract

In this work, a preliminary screening of the bioactivities of an ethanolic extract obtained from the leaves of Wollemia nobilis W.G.Jones, K.D.Hill & J.M.Allen was carried out to explore its potential pharmaceutical applications. In particular, the radical scavenging, chelating, reducing antiglycative, antimicrobial and [...] Read more.

In this work, a preliminary screening of the bioactivities of an ethanolic extract obtained from the leaves of Wollemia nobilis W.G.Jones, K.D.Hill & J.M.Allen was carried out to explore its potential pharmaceutical applications. In particular, the radical scavenging, chelating, reducing antiglycative, antimicrobial and antifungal activities as well as the inhibitory effects on the production of aflatoxin B1 in Aspergillus flavus Link were evaluated. The extract demonstrated promising biological activities, although generally with lower potency compared to the positive control. To identify the metabolites potentially responsible for these effects, the extract was subjected to phytochemical analysis evidencing the presence of eight known compounds. Among them, 15-agathic acid methyl ester (1) and ladanein (5) were reported for the first time in this species. Furthermore methyl-(E)-communate (2), 7,4′,7″,4‴-tetra-O-methyl-robustaflavone (6), agathisflavone (7) and quinic acid (8) were detected for the first time in the leaf tissue of W. nobilis. Their presence and the presence of isocupressic acid (3) and acetyl-isocupressic acid (4) in this species highlights the taxonomic correlations within the Araucariaceae family and suggests a possible contribution of these compounds in the bioactivities of the extract. However, further studies are required to confirm these contributions and to elucidate their mechanisms of action. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Phytochemistry)

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17 pages, 4413 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transcriptomic Profiling Reveals Regulatory Pathways of Tomato in Resistance to Verticillium Wilt Triggered by VdR3e

by Xiao Wang, Qian Tan, Xiyue Bao, Xinyue Gong, Lingmin Zhao, Jieyin Chen, Lei Liu and Ran Li

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1243; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081243 - 19 Apr 2025

Viewed by 145

Abstract

Tomatoes are important horticultural crops worldwide. Verticillium wilt is a disease caused by Verticillium dahliae that causes serious tomato yield losses. V. dahliae can be classified into three distinct races in tomatoes. We identified the specific VdR3e gene of V. dahliae race 3 [...] Read more.

Tomatoes are important horticultural crops worldwide. Verticillium wilt is a disease caused by Verticillium dahliae that causes serious tomato yield losses. V. dahliae can be classified into three distinct races in tomatoes. We identified the specific VdR3e gene of V. dahliae race 3 and found that VdR3e triggered immune responses in the resistant tomato cultivar IVF6384. We confirmed that VdR3e triggers immune responses in the parents of IVF6384 plants and conducted transcriptome sequencing between male and female IVF6384 plants after VdR3e infiltration to analyze the potential regulatory network response to VdR3e. We found that both parents had a series of detoxification and stress resistance responses to VdR3e, but those of the male IVF6384 parent were concentrated in disease resistance-related signaling pathways. Moreover, several vital differentially expressed genes involved in functional annotation related to plant–pathogen interactions and plant hormone signaling stimulated immune responses in Nicotiana benthamiana. This study provides a new and comprehensive perspective on tomato resistance to Verticillium wilt. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions)

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17 pages, 4597 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Foliar Silicon Alleviates Water Deficit in Cowpea by Enhancing Nutrient Uptake, Proline Accumulation, and Antioxidant Activity

by Larissa Lanay Germano de Queiroz, Evandro Franklin de Mesquita, Caio da Silva Sousa, Rennan Fernandes Pereira, José Paulo Costa Diniz, Alberto Soares de Melo, Rayanne Silva de Alencar, Guilherme Felix Dias, Vitória Carolina da Silva Soares, Francisco de Oliveira Mesquita, José Philippe Martins Montenegro Pires, Samuel Saldanha Rodrigues, Lays Klécia Silva Lins, Anailson de Sousa Alves, Karoline Thays Andrade Araújo and Patrícia da Silva Costa Ferraz

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1241; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081241 - 19 Apr 2025

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Abstract

Silicon has emerged as a beneficial element in mitigating water deficit in various crops, although the underlying mechanisms still require further investigation. This study evaluated the foliar content of nutrients (N, P, K, and Ca) and proline, antioxidant activity, growth, water use efficiency, [...] Read more.

Silicon has emerged as a beneficial element in mitigating water deficit in various crops, although the underlying mechanisms still require further investigation. This study evaluated the foliar content of nutrients (N, P, K, and Ca) and proline, antioxidant activity, growth, water use efficiency, and yield of cowpea cultivars subjected to two irrigation depths (50% and 100% of crop evapotranspiration) and a foliar application of silicon (orthosilicic acid). A field experiment was conducted in a split-plot scheme using the randomized block design with four replications in a semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil. Silicon supplementation increased the foliar contents of N, P, and Ca; stimulated proline synthesis; and enhanced the activity of the SOD, CAT, and APX enzymes. These changes promoted growth, improved water use efficiency, and increased crop yield. The results indicate that foliar silicon application mitigates the effects of water deficit in cowpea plants while enhancing crop performance under full irrigation (100% of crop evapotranspiration), leading to higher yields even under favorable water conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Exogenous Silicon in Plant Response to Abiotic Stress)

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17 pages, 3837 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Elaeagnus angustifolia Linn. on the Physicochemical Properties and Microbial Community Structure of Inter-Rhizosphere Soils

by Mengyi Sui, Xin Qin, Nan Sun, Yangbo Liu, Chen Yang, Luofei Guan, Yawen Zhang, Haiyan Wang, Manman Zhang, Yunfei Mao and Xiang Shen

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1242; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081242 - 18 Apr 2025

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Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of Elaeagnus angustifolia Linn. (E. angustifolia L.) on the structure and abundance of the soil microbial community. This paper provides a theoretical foundation for guiding the establishment of E. angustifolia L. [...] Read more.

Aims: The aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of Elaeagnus angustifolia Linn. (E. angustifolia L.) on the structure and abundance of the soil microbial community. This paper provides a theoretical foundation for guiding the establishment of E. angustifolia L. forests to enhance the physicochemical properties of soil. Methods: This study employed high-throughput sequencing technology to analyse the composition, diversity, and structural changes of various soil fungal and bacterial communities and correlated the results with soil physicochemical properties. Results: The results indicated a significant increase in the total nitrogen (0.66 g/kg–0.87 g/kg), ammonium nitrogen (3.60 mg/kg–6.56 mg/kg), and organic matter (1.06–1.38%) contents of the inter-rhizosphere soil of E. angustifolia L. after 3, 4, and 5 months of planting. Additionally, the total phosphorus, potassium, and nitrate nitrogen contents increased, whereas soil pH and salinity decreased. The abundance of soil microbial communities also increased. The fungal phyla with relative abundances greater than 1% were Ascomycota, Fungi_unclassified, Basidiomycota, Zygomycota, and Glomeromycota. Chytridiomycota, Rozellomycota, Mortierellomycota, and Olpidiomycota were not found in the bare soil control but were observed in the rhizosphere soil of the date palm. The relative abundance of bacteria from the phyla Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, and Chloroflexi in the inter-root soil of jujube dates showed an increase in comparison with the control group. At the same time, correlation analysis found that soil total phosphorus, nitrogen content, and soil enzyme activity were positively correlated with the bacterial level, with TN (p < 0.01) and NO₃⁻-N (p < 0.05) showing significant positive correlations. Conversely, soil pH and salinity were mostly negatively correlated with the fungi, and soil enzyme activity was significantly correlated with the fungal and bacterial at different RAD levels. Conclusions: The introduction of E. angustifolia L. markedly affected the physicochemical properties and microbial community composition of the soil. Full article

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

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14 pages, 4328 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Study of the Mechanisms Underlying the Effects of Prohexadione-Calcium and Gibberellin on the Morphogenesis and Carbon Metabolism of Rice Seedlings Under NaCl Stress

by Meiling Liu, Naijie Feng, Dianfeng Zheng and Fengyan Meng

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1240; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081240 - 18 Apr 2025

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Abstract

NaCl stress is one of the most serious forms of salt stress. Prohexadione–calcium (EA) is a plant growth regulator, and gibberellin (GA) is a plant hormone that regulates various plant developmental processes. In this experiment, Guanghong 3 and Huang Huazhan served as experimental [...] Read more.

NaCl stress is one of the most serious forms of salt stress. Prohexadione–calcium (EA) is a plant growth regulator, and gibberellin (GA) is a plant hormone that regulates various plant developmental processes. In this experiment, Guanghong 3 and Huang Huazhan served as experimental rice (Overza sativa L.) varieties to study the effects of EA and GA on the growth of rice seedlings. The results revealed that NaCl treatment significantly inhibited plant growth and destroyed the balance of the carbon metabolism. The inhibition effect of NaCl stress on the growth and physiological metabolism of rice seedlings was alleviated by EA and GA, but the effects of EA and GA were slightly different. Compared with the NaCl treatment, the EA and GA treatments significantly increased the net photosynthetic rate, stem base width, and dry matter accumulation but had opposite effects on the plant height, with the GA treatment significantly increasing the plant height of rice seedlings. The EA treatment was superior to the GA treatment in improving the metabolic pathway efficiency of sucrose and starch in the leaves of rice seedlings. The soluble sugar content, sucrose content, fructose content, sucrose synthase activity, sucrose phosphate synthase activity, α-amylase activity, β-amylase activity, and starch phosphorylase activity increased with increasing NaCl stress time, and the changes in the starch content and acid invertase activity were the opposite. The max/min values were reached on the 13th day of NaCl stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Crop Physiology and Crop Production)

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14 pages, 464 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phenotypic Diversity in Cell Wall Lignocellulosic Constituents and Ethanol Yield of USDA Guayule and Mariola Germplasm

by Hussein Abdel-Haleem, Steve Masterson, Aaron Sedivy and Rob Mitchell

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1239; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081239 - 18 Apr 2025

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Abstract

Guayule (Parthenium argentatum A. Gray) is a valuable domestic source for rubber and resin. At its center of origin in the Northern Mexico and Southern Texas deserts, guayule, a perennial shrub, is hybridized with its relative species mariola (Parthenium incanum Kunth). As [...] Read more.

Guayule (Parthenium argentatum A. Gray) is a valuable domestic source for rubber and resin. At its center of origin in the Northern Mexico and Southern Texas deserts, guayule, a perennial shrub, is hybridized with its relative species mariola (Parthenium incanum Kunth). As rubber and resin are the main products derived from guayule, there is interest in using guayule bagasse as a bioenergy feedstock to meet the growing bioenergy and biofuel demands. This study aimed to explore and characterize phenotypic diversity in cell wall constituents (lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose) and their yields among 51 guayule and mariola genotypes under two irrigation regimes (well-watered and water-stressed). Significant genotypic and environmental effects were observed for lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose concentrations, and yields, indicating the wide genetic variability of the collection for bioenergy-related traits. Moderate to high entry-mean heritability values for lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose suggest that selection is feasible to enhance genetic gain. Significant positive correlations were found among cellulose and hemicellulose concentrations and yields, indicating the possibility to select multiple traits together during breeding cycles. High positive correlations between rubber and resin and lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose yields highlight the opportunity to develop guayule germplasm with enhanced multi-use traits for industrial applications. Wide variations in drought stress indices (stress tolerance index, yield index, and yield stability index) underscore the environmental impact on the lignocellulosic traits. Several genotypes were identified with high stress index scores and could be parental candidates for improving guayule for arid and semi-arid sustainable agricultural systems. The current study is the first to characterize the phenotypic diversities in guayule and mariola for lignocellulosic components and yield, providing the foundation for future breeding efforts aimed at enhancing guayule’s value for diverse production goals and environmental conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Physiology and Metabolism)

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19 pages, 2478 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Description of Ficus carica L. Italian Cultivars II: Genetic and Chemical Analysis

by Raffaella Petruccelli, Cristiana Giordano, Deborah Beghè, Lorenzo Arcidiaco, Alessandra Bonetti, Francesca Ieri, Margherita Rodolfi and Tommaso Ganino

Plants 2025, 14(8), 1238; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081238 - 18 Apr 2025

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Abstract

Ficus carica L., present in Italy since ancient times, is represented by numerous cultivars grown in both southern and central regions. In recent years, local accessions, as a source of genetic biodiversity, have gained increasing interest for both genetic conservation and their agronomic [...] Read more.

Ficus carica L., present in Italy since ancient times, is represented by numerous cultivars grown in both southern and central regions. In recent years, local accessions, as a source of genetic biodiversity, have gained increasing interest for both genetic conservation and their agronomic characteristics, which are well suited for ‘sustainable agriculture’. Based on these considerations, we conducted a parallel study combining the genetic analysis (SSRs marker) and chemical profiling (polyphenols and antioxidant capacity) of fig leaves to characterize 15 cultivars of the Tuscany region. A genetic analysis performed using seven SSR oligonucleotide primers successfully allowed the discrimination of the cultivars studied, with primers MFC2, MFC3, and LMFC30 exhibiting the highest polymorphism. The phytochemical profiling of the leaves, conducted by HPLC-DAD-TOF-MS, revealed 17 phenolic compounds, among which caffeic acid derivatives were the most abundant. The psolaren compound was absent only in Gigante di Carmignano cv. The antiradical capacity varied among cultivars, with Perticone, Brogiotto Nero, and Paradiso exhibiting the highest antiradical capacity. Additionally, Brogiotto Bianco, Corbo, Dottato, Paradiso, Pecciolo Nero, and Verdino contained the highest concentrations of total sugars. Statistically significant differences were observed in total polyphenol content (values ranging from 14.1 to 36.6 mgGAE/gDW) and in flavonoid content (ranging from 25.7 to 52.3 mgQE/gDW). In terms of sugars, the sum of fructose, glucose, and sucrose ranged from 20.60 (Bianco di Carmignano) to 49.24 mg g⁻¹ (Verdino), with fructose present in the highest amounts. In conclusion, the 15 cultivars were completely characterized genetically and chemically, offering valuable insights for both conservation strategies and agricultural applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Genetic Resources)

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