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Molecular Mechanism of Plant Growth, Development and Secondary Metabolism

A special issue of Current Issues in Molecular Biology (ISSN 1467-3045). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 2650

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Joint Center for Single Cell Biology, Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center of Agri-Seeds, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Interests: plant genetics and genomics; molecular plant physiology; plant breeding and genetic; synthetic biology; abiotic stress; secondary metabolism; plant growth and development

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying plant growth, development, and secondary metabolism remains a critical research frontier. Although the genetic basis of plant development is relatively well characterized, our comprehension of how gene activity translates into organ shapes is limited. Biological structures emerge from complex interactions between cellular growth, patterning, differentiation, and mechanical constraints. To fully understand development, it is essential to measure tissue deformation over time and link it to gene expression and physical constraints.

Recent advances in growth imaging, quantification, genetics, and computational modeling have significantly increased our understanding of how cell- and tissue-level regulation controls plant organogenesis. Additionally, secondary metabolites play crucial roles in regulating these processes, influencing plant defense, signaling, and adaptation mechanisms. The intricate interplay between primary metabolic pathways and secondary metabolism is vital for optimizing plant growth and development.

Future research must delve deeper into the molecular, cellular, and biomechanical control of plant growth and secondary metabolism. By integrating interdisciplinary approaches, we aim to elucidate how cellular growth, proliferation, and differentiation produce consistent organ shapes and how these processes, coupled with secondary metabolic pathways, can be modulated to allow diversity during evolution.

This Special Issue invites contributions that explore these themes, aiming to inspire and advance research in this field of research. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Genetic and epigenetic regulation of cellular growth, proliferation, and differentiation in plant development.
  • How primary metabolic pathways interact with secondary metabolites to regulate growth and development.
  • The role of mechanical constraints and feedback mechanisms in shaping plant organs.
  • Molecular signaling mechanisms that coordinate plant growth, development, and secondary metabolism.
  • Functions of secondary metabolites in plant defense mechanisms and adaptation to environmental stresses.
  • Evolutionary perspectives on the modulation of developmental processes and secondary metabolism to generate diversity in plant forms.
  • Combining genetics, quantitative imaging, mathematical modeling, and biophysical methods to study plant growth and development.

Dr. Naveed Ahmad
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • secondary metabolites
  • plant defense
  • signaling and adaptation mechanisms
  • plant development
  • genetic and epigenetic regulation
  • plant physiology

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 3647 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Volatile Metabolome and Transcriptome in Sweet Basil Under Drought Stress
by Yuan Zhou, Guangying Ma, Wenlue Li, Lupeng Xie, Shuxia Zhan, Xingda Yao, Ziwei Zuo and Danqing Tian
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2025, 47(2), 117; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb47020117 - 11 Feb 2025
Viewed by 567
Abstract
Basil, renowned for its aromatic properties, exhibits commendable drought tolerance and holds significant value as an edible and medicinal plant. Recognizing the scarcity of studies addressing basil’s response to drought stress, we performed physiological experiments and omics analyses of sweet basil across four [...] Read more.
Basil, renowned for its aromatic properties, exhibits commendable drought tolerance and holds significant value as an edible and medicinal plant. Recognizing the scarcity of studies addressing basil’s response to drought stress, we performed physiological experiments and omics analyses of sweet basil across four distinct levels of drought stress. During drought stress, basil showed increased activity of antioxidant enzymes and accumulated more osmoregulatory compounds. Our metabolic analysis meticulously identified a total of 830 metabolites, among which, 215 were differentially accumulated. The differentially accumulated metabolites under drought stress were predominantly esters and terpenes; however, none were identified as the primary volatile compounds of basil. Transcriptome analyses highlighted the pivotal roles of phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis and lipid metabolism in fortifying the resistance of sweet basil against drought stress. α-linolenic acid, lignin, flavonoid, and flavonol contents significantly increased under stress; the essential genes involved in the production of these compounds were confirmed through quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and their variations aligned with the outcomes from sequencing. This holistic approach not only enriches our understanding of the molecular intricacies underpinning basil’s drought resistance but also furnishes valuable insights for the molecular breeding of basil varieties endowed with enhanced drought tolerance. Full article
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19 pages, 2420 KiB  
Article
The Adaptive Mechanism of Ginseng Rhizomes in Response to Habitat Changes
by Meng Zhang, Yingxin Sun, Zeliang Lv, Hongmei Lin, Mei Han and Limin Yang
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2024, 46(11), 12260-12278; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb46110728 - 30 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 900
Abstract
Panax ginseng, a perennial medicinal plant, utilizes its dried roots and rhizomes for medicinal purposes. Currently, in China, ginseng cultivation employs two methods: under-forest and farmland planting. These methods create distinct habitats, significantly influencing the ginseng’s rhizome morphology and, consequently, its economic [...] Read more.
Panax ginseng, a perennial medicinal plant, utilizes its dried roots and rhizomes for medicinal purposes. Currently, in China, ginseng cultivation employs two methods: under-forest and farmland planting. These methods create distinct habitats, significantly influencing the ginseng’s rhizome morphology and, consequently, its economic value. In this study, two-year-old ginsengs were transplanted into farmland (TCG), a larch forest (TLCG) and a Quercus mongolica forest (TQCG) to analyze the differences in rhizome phenotypes caused by habitat changes. The results showed that there were significant differences in light intensity and the soil’s available phosphorus and potassium contents between farmland and forest environments. The differences in habitats led to different adaptability of the ginseng’s rhizome morphology. Compared with TCG, the rhizomes of TLCG and TQCG were significantly elongated by 48.36% and 67.34%, respectively. After the rhizomes’ elongation in TLCG and TQCG, there was an increase in indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) contents and a decrease in lignin contents. By analyzing the expression of key genes, we found that, compared with TCG, the expression of key enzymes of lignin biosynthesis genes such as PgCOMT and PgCCR4 were down-regulated. The difference in ginseng’s rhizome length is related to the signal transduction pathway of auxin and gibberellin. In addition, we preliminarily screened out transcription factors PgWRKY75, PgDIV, and PgbHLH93.1, which can actively respond to habitat changes and play important roles in the elongation of ginseng rhizomes. In summary, this study elucidates the phenotypic plasticity strategy of ginseng rhizomes in response to habitat changes and delineates the regulatory mechanism behind phenotypic adaptation, offering novel insights into ginseng’s morphogenesis. Full article
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Review

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19 pages, 1282 KiB  
Review
Chemical Seed Priming: Molecules and Mechanisms for Enhancing Plant Germination, Growth, and Stress Tolerance
by Mason T. MacDonald and Vijaya R. Mohan
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2025, 47(3), 177; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb47030177 - 7 Mar 2025
Viewed by 550
Abstract
Food security is one of the world’s top challenges, specifically considering global issues like climate change. Seed priming is one strategy to improve crop production, typically via increased germination, yields, and/or stress tolerance. Hydropriming, or soaking seeds in water only, is the simplest [...] Read more.
Food security is one of the world’s top challenges, specifically considering global issues like climate change. Seed priming is one strategy to improve crop production, typically via increased germination, yields, and/or stress tolerance. Hydropriming, or soaking seeds in water only, is the simplest form of seed priming. However, the addition of certain seed priming agents has resulted in a variety of modified strategies, including osmopriming, halopriming, hormonal priming, PGR priming, nutripriming, and others. Most current research has focused on hormonal and nutripriming. This review will focus on the specific compounds that have been used most often over the past 3 years and the physiological effects that they have had on crops. Over half of recent research has focused on four compounds: (1) salicylic acid, (2) zinc, (3) gibberellic acid, and (4) potassium nitrate. One of the most interesting characteristics of all chemical seed priming agents is that they are exposed only to seeds yet confer benefits throughout plant development. In some cases, such benefits have been passed to subsequent generations, suggesting an epigenetic effect, which is supported by observed changes in DNA methylation and histone modification. This review will summarize the current state of knowledge on molecular changes and physiological mechanisms associated with chemical seed priming agents and discuss avenues for future research. Full article
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