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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2026 | Viewed by 3262

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Prof. Dr. Bartosz Płachno

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Guest Editor

Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, 9 Gronostajowa St., 30-387 Cracow, Poland
Interests: plant biology; cell ultrastructure; pollination;carnivorous plants; plant anatomy; cell wall structure and function
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue invites contributions exploring the development, organization, and adaptive complexity of plant organs, particularly those that elucidate the genetic, molecular, and structural mechanisms underlying organogenesis and tissue differentiation. The submission of manuscripts addressing the functional anatomy and evolution of plant organs—from vegetative to reproductive structures—is highly encouraged.

In addition, we seek research highlighting how plant organs interact with other organisms, including both defensive strategies and mutualistic or symbiotic associations. Studies focused on the development, ultrastructure, and specialization of secretory cells, glands, and tissues that contribute to these interactions are also of great interest.

Through this Special Issue, we aim to foster a multidisciplinary discussion linking developmental genetics, structural biology, and ecological function, advancing our understanding of how plant organs achieve their remarkable diversity and adaptability.

Prof. Dr. Bartosz Płachno
Guest Editor

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

leaf development
root development
plant cell ultrastructure
plant morphogenesis
plant organs and bacteria, fungi and animal interactions

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

13 pages, 2432 KB

Open AccessArticle

Programmed Cell Death in the Endosperm Is a Hallmark of Seed Germination in Viola

by Jacek Łuc, Monika Kwiatkowska, Aneta Słomka, Magdalena Surman, Magdalena Wilczak and Klaudia Sychta

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(7), 3046; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27073046 - 27 Mar 2026

Viewed by 389

Abstract

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a pivotal biological process that occurs at various stages of plant development, including embryogenesis and seed germination. This study investigated whether the absence of PCD in endosperm cells is connected to the poor germination of Viola odorata seeds. Seeds of poorly germinating V. odorata and well-germinating V. × wittrockiana were either cold-stratified for 10 days or left untreated. Germination tests, tetrazolium viability tests, Western blot analyses for caspase-like proteases, and Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assays for DNA strand break detection were performed. The results revealed that V. odorata seeds did not germinate, regardless of stratification or lack thereof, whereas in V. × wittrockiana, stratification significantly increased their germination capacity (34 ± 6.5% vs. 56.5 ± 9.8% in non-stratified and stratified seeds, respectively). The tetrazolium viability test revealed that V. odorata seeds were nonviable (100% nonviable endosperm and 96% nonviable embryos in total), whereas the seeds of V. × wittrockiana were highly viable (63% and 59% endosperm and embryos in total, respectively). Western blot analysis revealed that in the germinating seeds of V. × wittrockiana, caspase-like activity was detected in the endosperm but not in the embryos, whereas in seeds that failed to germinate, the PCD signal in the endosperm was very weak. In the seeds of V. odorata, caspase-like activity was detected in the embryos and endosperm collected directly after 10 days of stratification, but no signal was detected in the seeds left to germinate for one month after cold stratification. TUNEL assays revealed DNA strand breaks in the peripheral part of the endosperm in V. odorata and in non-germinating V. × wittrockiana, whereas in the germinating seeds of V. × wittrockiana, DNA strand breaks were detected in the endosperm cells adjacent to the embryo. These findings indicate that endosperm-localized PCD facilitates nutrient mobilization to the embryo and seems crucial for successful germination. Overall, these results suggest that PCD contributes to the regulation of seed germination in Viola spp. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Cell/Organ Structure and Function Research)

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18 pages, 13568 KB

Open AccessArticle

Immunocytochemical Analysis of the Wall Ingrowths and Cell Wall Microdomains in the Digestive Glands of Venus’ Flytrap

by Bartosz J. Płachno, Małgorzata Kapusta, Marcin Feldo, Piotr Stolarczyk and Piotr Świątek

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(3), 1193; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27031193 - 24 Jan 2026

Viewed by 802

Abstract

The digestive gland of Venus flytrap consists of various types of specialized cells. Secretory cells form two layers: the first is a more external outer layer and the second is an internal layer that is connected to stalk cells. Our goal was to check whether the position/location of cells is essential in terms of cell wall composition (whether cell wall microdomains exist). We also focused on the structure of cell wall ingrowths in secretory cells. To achieve this, the localization of the cell wall components in the cell walls of gland cells was performed using the immunolabeling technique and confocal microscopy. It has been found that cells within the gland head are not equal. Their location determines the composition of their cell walls in terms of the presence of various epitopes. The cell walls of the secretory cells in the outer layer were deficient in epitopes recognized by antibodies, including JIM5 (low methylesterified homogalacturonans), CCRC-M38 (low methylesterified homogalacturonans), LM5 (galactan), and CCRC-M48 (xyloglucan), which contrasted with the cell walls of the cells in the inner layer. In terms of the occurrence of pectic homogalacturonans, cell wall ingrowths constitute cell wall microdomains. The digestive glands of Dionaea muscipula exhibit pronounced cell wall microdomain organization, with distinct distributions of pectins, hemicelluloses, and arabinogalactan proteins across different glandular layers. These compositional differences reflect functional specialization in secretion, absorption, and structural support. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Cell/Organ Structure and Function Research)

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21 pages, 2597 KB

Open AccessArticle

Characteristics and Phylogenetic Analysis of the Complete Chloroplast Genome of Abelmoschus esculentus

by Junyuan Dong, Guanghui Du, Qingqing Ji, Xingcai An, Ziyi Zhu, Shenyue Tang, Xiahong Luo, Changli Chen, Tingting Liu, Lina Zou, Shaocui Li, Jiquan Chen and Xia An

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(1), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010118 - 22 Dec 2025

Viewed by 537

Abstract

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the Malvaceae family. Its medicinal properties and edible value have attracted widespread scientific attention, yet its systematic taxonomy, evolution, and photosynthetic mechanisms warrant further investigation. Chloroplasts, specialized semi-autonomous organelles within green plants, possess their own genetic material and serve as an excellent source of genetic information. This study employed Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology to sequence the complete chloroplast genome of the cultivar ‘Gan Kui No. 1’. The complete chloroplast genome was determined to be 163,121 bp in length, with A, C, G, T, and GC nucleotides accounting for 31.24%, 18.71%, 18.02%, 32.02%, and 36.74% of the total, respectively. It exhibits a classic tetrad structure, comprising one large single-copy region (88,071 bp), one small single-copy region (19,032 bp), and one pair of inverted repeat regions (28,009 bp). The entire chloroplast genome contains 132 annotated genes, including 37 tRNA genes, 8 rRNA genes, 87 mRNA genes, and 0 pseudogenes. A phylogenetic tree constructed using 20 species, including Abelmoschus esculentus, revealed a clear phylogenetic relationship between the genus Hibiscus and Abelmoschus esculentus. The complete gene sequences have been uploaded to the NCBI database (accession number PX590535). This study provides insights into understanding the evolutionary relationships of Abelmoschus esculentus and refining its taxonomy, laying a theoretical foundation for subsequent research on the Abelmoschus esculentus chloroplast genome. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Cell/Organ Structure and Function Research)

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Review

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16 pages, 976 KB

Open AccessReview

From Root Exudates to Eco-Corona: Mechanisms Shaping Nanoplastic Fate and Plant–Soil Interactions

by Agata Leszczuk and Adrian Zając

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(4), 2080; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27042080 - 23 Feb 2026

Viewed by 814

Abstract

Plastic contamination in agricultural soils constitutes an emerging threat to plant growth, nutrient acquisition, and food safety. Micro- and nanoplastics (NPs) elicit oxidative stress, perturb root morphology, and interfere with key physiological processes. Despite extensive studies in aquatic systems, the mechanistic understanding of NP behavior in soils, particularly the formation of soil-specific eco-coronas, remains limited. This review provides a mechanistic synthesis of current evidence on the role of root exudates, comprising proteins, amino acids, lipids, and low-molecular-weight metabolites, in modulating NP fate and plant responses within the rhizosphere. We delineate key processes, including exudate adsorption onto NP surfaces, eco-corona formation, aggregation, transport, root uptake, and species- and polymer-specific effects. Root exudation dynamically alters NP surface properties, mediates heteroaggregation, modulates mobility, and regulates interactions with plant roots. At the same time, NP exposure induces species-specific metabolic responses, including enhanced secretion of organic acids, stress-related metabolites, and secondary compounds (e.g., flavonoids). Despite extensive research in aquatic and hydroponic systems, mechanistic understanding of NPs behavior in soils, particularly regarding eco-corona formation and the modulatory role of root exudates, remains limited. This review synthesizes these insights to propose a conceptual framework linking eco-corona dynamics with root exudation processes, thereby providing a foundation for future soil-focused investigations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Cell/Organ Structure and Function Research)

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