Search

Tall wheatgrass is cultivated for pasture in marginal areas around the world due to its tolerance to abiotic stress including seasonal droughts and floods, as well as saline and alkaline soils. However, there is concern about its biomass productivity, which often does not exceed that of natural pastures. In this work we hypothesize that tall wheatgrass is a plant more sensitive to low P availability than commonly assumed. A glasshouse sand culture experiment was conducted to analyze morpho-physiological responses of tall wheatgrass to different P availability levels: 1 µmol L−1 phosphorus (severe deficiency, P1), 10 µmol L−1 phosphorus (representative value of soil solution in the region, P10) and 500 µmol L−1 phosphorus (full P supply, P500). Our results show that both limiting P conditions strongly decreased plant development and biomass accumulation, and altered above- and below-ground morphology, in comparison with P500 plants. The latter, in turn, had relative growth rate values comparable to those of other cultivated grasses under non-limiting conditions. In both P-deficient treatments, plant development was severely delayed starting from leaf number 3, even when P concentration in the pseudostem at early stages was similar or even higher than that of P500 plants. Our results suggest that developmental inhibition of tall wheatgrass at low P supply may be the consequence of a specific plant response to P concentration in soil solution, rather than to direct P starvation in plant tissues, and underlines the need of improvement of this species to enhance productivity in this environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: MicroRNA169 (miR169) has been implicated in multi‐stress regulation in annual species such as Arabidopsis, maize and rice. However, there is a lack of experimental functional and mechanistic studies of miR169 in plants, especially in perennial species, and its impact on plant growth and development remains unexplored. Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) is a C3 cool‐season perennial turfgrass of significant environmental and economic importance. In this study, we generated both miR169 overexpression and knockdown transgenic creeping bentgrass lines. We found that miR169 acts as a positive regulator in abiotic stress responses but is negatively associated with plant growth and development, playing multiple critical roles in the growth and environmental adaptation of creeping bentgrass. These roles include differentiated spatial hormone accumulation patterns associated with growth and stress accommodation, elevated antioxidant activity that alleviates oxidative damage induced by stress, ion‐channelling membrane components for maintaining homeostasis under saline conditions, and potential cross‐talks with stress‐regulating transcription factors such as AsHsfA and AsWRKYs. Our results unravel the role of miR169 in modulating plant development and stress responses in perennial grass species. This underlines the potential of manipulating miR169 to generate crop cultivars with desirable traits to meet diverse agricultural demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) mRNA modification is crucial for plant development and stress responses. In rice, the male sterility resulting from the deficiency of OsFIP37, a core component of m6A methyltransferase complex, emphasizes the significant role of m6A in male fertility. m6A is reversible and can be removed by m6A demethylases. However, whether mRNA m6A demethylase regulates male fertility in rice has remained unknown. Here, we identify the mRNA m6A demethylase OsALKBH9 and demonstrate its involvement in male fertility regulation. Knockout of OsALKBH9 causes male sterility, dependent on its m6A demethylation activity. Cytological analysis reveals defective tapetal programmed cell death (PCD) and excessive accumulation of microspores exine in Osalkbh9‐1. Transcriptome analysis of anthers shows up‐regulation of genes involved in tapetum development, sporopollenin synthesis, and transport pathways in Osalkbh9‐1. Additionally, we demonstrate that OsALKBH9 demethylates the m6A modification in TDR and GAMYB transcripts, which affects the stability of these mRNAs and ultimately leads to excessive accumulation of pollen exine. Our findings highlight the precise control of mRNA m6A modification and reveal the pivotal roles played by OsALKBH9‐mediated m6A demethylation in tapetal PCD and pollen exine accumulation in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The B chromosomes exhibit diverse behaviour compared with conventional genetic models. The capacity of the B chromosome either to accumulate or to be eliminated in a tissue‐specific manner is dependent on biological processes related to aberrant cell division(s), but here yet remains compatible with normal development.We studied B chromosome elimination in Sorghum purpureosericeum embryos through cryo‐sections and demonstrated the B chromosome instability during plant growth using flow cytometry, molecular markers and fluorescent in situ hybridization techniques. Consequently, using B chromosome‐specific probes we revealed the non‐Mendelian inheritance of B chromosomes in developing pollen.We disclosed that the occurrence of the B chromosome is specific to certain tissues or organs. The distribution pattern is mainly caused by an extensive elimination that functions primarily during embryo development and persists throughout plant development. Furthermore, we described that B chromosome accumulation can occur either by nondisjunction at first pollen mitosis (PMI) or the initiation of extra nuclear division(s) during pollen development.Our study demonstrates the existence of a not‐yet‐fully described B chromosome drive process, which is likely under the control of the B chromosome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study assessed soil preparation in terms of the advantages it provides in lowering the physical obstacles and their influence on soybean cultivation, with reference to its establishment, development and yield, apart from quantification of the energy demand for tractor performance. The experiments were performed in the field adopting the randomized block design with a two-factor scheme (6x2). Factor A included a variety of soil preparations performed during the off-season of the soybean crop. Sowing was accomplished using the same fertilizer deposition mechanism only, and the areas having no soil preparation done were sown using various other fertilizer deposition mechanisms from the seeder, namely: (A1) sowing without soil preparation (SSPS)+double disc in the seeder (DD); (A2) SSPS+turbo disc (DT); (A3) SSPS+furrowing rod (HS); (A4) plow harrow+DD; (A5) scarified+DD and (A6) subsoiled+DD. Soil preparations before sowing were done on days 52 and 98 days, respectively, during the first and second harvests. Factor B included two soybean cultivars, namely: (B1) Nidera 6601 and (B2) Brasmax Valente. No interaction was observed between the factors investigated. While the scarification+DD showed the need for higher fuel consumption, the results were increased productivity. For the seeder-linked mechanisms, the HS gives more extensive root development of the plants and grain yield. On the contrary, while DD and DT show the combination of the highest operational capacity and lower fuel usage, this is related to lower grain yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cuadernos del Centro de Estudios de Diseño y Comunicación is the property of Cuadernos del Centro de Estudios de Diseno y Comunicacion and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The nucleolus is conventionally acknowledged for its role in ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis and ribosome biogenesis. Recent research has revealed its multifaceted involvement in plant biology, encompassing regulation of the cell cycle, development, and responses to environmental stresses. This comprehensive review explores the diverse roles of the nucleolus in plant growth and responses to environmental stresses. The introduction delves into its traditional functions in rRNA synthesis and potential participation in nuclear liquid–liquid phase separation. By examining the multifaceted roles of nucleolar proteins in plant development, we highlight the impacts of various nucleolar mutants on growth, development, and embryogenesis. Additionally, we reviewed the involvement of nucleoli in responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. Under abiotic stress conditions, the nucleolar structure undergoes morphological changes. In the context of biotic stress, the nucleolus emerges as a common target for effectors of pathogens for manipulation of host immunity to enhance pathogenicity. The detailed exploration of how pathogens interact with nucleoli and manipulate host responses provides valuable insights into plant stress responses as well as plant growth and development. Understanding these processes may pave the way for promising strategies to enhance crop resilience and mitigate the impact of biotic and abiotic stresses in agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melatonin plays an important role in plant growth and development. However, little information is available about melatonin regulating rice panicle structure and yield. This study explored the regulatory effects and mechanisms of melatonin spraying before the panicle differentiation stage on rice panicle structure and grain quality. The results showed that spraying melatonin before panicle differentiation increased rice yield, which was mainly reflected in the increase in spikelets per panicle and the percentage of filled grains. In addition, melatonin treatment significantly increased the panicle length. The results of panicle structure analysis showed that the increase in spikelets per panicle caused by melatonin was attributed to the significant increase in the number of secondary branches, total number of secondary branch spikelets, and number of spikelets per secondary branch. The results showed that melatonin can increase the content of zeatin, auxin, and gibberellin, and reduce the content of abscisic acid. These results showed that melatonin affected panicle structure by regulating hormone content, thereby improving yield. In addition, melatonin improves the processing quality, appearance quality, and nutritional quality of secondary branch grains. The above results indicate that application of melatonin improves the number of secondary branches and the quality of grainss on secondary branches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defining plant development timing through seasonal growth and dormancy phases is a valuable proxy for studying climate change and serves as an annual bioindicator. However, current methods for determining the growing season vary due to species‐specific interpretations and differing understandings of its main drivers. Körner et al. (2023) introduced four non‐interchangeable definitions of growing seasons to clarify this complex issue. While some studies have paired different methods, none have simultaneously applied a full set of methods at the individual tree or species level. Here, I aim to present a new perspective to understanding growing season timing by focusing on all facets of above‐ground tree growth and measurable biological and phenological markers. This approach calls for simultaneous, continuous monitoring during active and dormancy periods on the same trees and across different species at a large spatial scale. The goal is to comprehensively understand each method's errors, temporal lags, and the factors determining each growing season, as defined by Körner et al. (2023, Ecology Letters, 26, 1277). Accurate estimation of growing season timing can reshape our understanding of its environmental drivers, improve terrestrial ecosystem models, assess the impact of climate change on tree growth, determine the biological zero for various species, verify remote sensing indices and forecast species distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Autophagy, involved in protein degradation and amino acid recycling, plays a key role in plant development and stress responses. However, the relationship between autophagy and phytohormones remains unclear. We used diverse methods, including CRISPR/Cas9, ultra‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, chromatin immunoprecipitation, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, and dual‐luciferase assays to explore the molecular mechanism of strigolactones in regulating autophagy and the degradation of ubiquitinated proteins under cold stress in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). We show that cold stress induced the accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins. Mutants deficient in strigolactone biosynthesis were more sensitive to cold stress with increased accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins. Conversely, treatment with the synthetic strigolactone analog GR245DS enhanced cold tolerance in tomato, with elevated levels of accumulation of autophagosomes and transcripts of autophagy‐related genes (ATGs), and reduced accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins. Meanwhile, cold stress induced the accumulation of ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5), which was triggered by strigolactones. HY5 further trans‐activated ATG18a transcription, resulting in autophagy formation. Mutation of ATG18a compromised strigolactone‐induced cold tolerance, leading to decreased formation of autophagosomes and increased accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins. These findings reveal that strigolactones positively regulate autophagy in an HY5‐dependent manner and facilitate the degradation of ubiquitinated proteins under cold conditions in tomato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The GOLDEN2‐LIKE (GLK) transcription factors act as a central regulatory node involved in both developmental processes and environmental responses. Marchantia polymorpha, a basal terrestrial plant with strategic evolutionary position, contains a single GLK representative that possesses an additional domain compared to spermatophytes.We analyzed the role of MpGLK in chloroplast biogenesis and development by altering its levels, preforming transcriptomic profiling and conducting chromatin immunoprecipitation. Decreased MpGLK levels impair chloroplast differentiation and disrupt the expression of photosynthesis‐associated nuclear genes, while overexpressing MpGLK leads to ectopic chloroplast biogenesis. This demonstrates the MpGLK functions as a bona fide GLK protein, likely representing an ancestral GLK architecture.Altering MpGLK levels directly regulates the expression of genes involved in Chl synthesis and degradation, similar to processes observed in eudicots, and causes various developmental defects in Marchantia, including the formation of dorsal structures such as air pores and gemma cups. MpGLK, also directly activates MpMAX2 gene expression, regulating the timing of gemma cup development.Our study shows that MpGLK functions as a master regulator, potentially coupling chloroplast development with vegetative reproduction. This illustrates the complex regulatory networks governing chloroplast function and plant development communication and highlight the evolutionary conservation of GLK‐mediated regulatory processes across plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study involves extracting and characterizing fibers from the Typha Domingensis Pers (TDP) plant for the development of bio-composite sheets. The mechanical extraction process yielded 9.3% fibers with a high cellulose content of 70.45 wt%. These fibers also had a thermal stability of 210 °C, making them suitable for withstanding high temperatures during the composite preparation process. Using the hand layup process, three variations of bio-composite sheets were made by mixing sodium alginate and paddy husk powder in different ratios. The sheets were then tested for the basic mechanical, absorbency, and biodegradability properties. The bio-composite sheet blend 2 (BC2), which contained 50% fibers and 50% matrix, showed the greatest tensile and flexural strengths of 242 and 292 MPa, respectively, with lower moisture absorption properties. All three bio-composite sheets exhibited 100% biodegradability. However, bio-composite 1 (BC1) showed significant biodegradability within 60 days. The study revealed that fibers from the invasive Typha domingensis Pers plant can be utilized to create biodegradable composites with desirable properties, making them suitable for use as green planters and other similar agricultural applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) constitutes a group of rhizobacteria known for their ability to enhance plant growth and development, thereby playing a key role in alleviating abiotic stressors affecting plants. These microorganisms colonize the rhizosphere and deploy a diverse array of mechanisms to confer tolerance to various abiotic stresses. The utilization of PGPR as a bioinoculant stands out as an environmentally sustainable strategy to mitigate abiotic stress in plants. Consequently, the identification and exploration of highly efficient PGPR strain for application as bioinoculant is one of the thrust area to enhance crop production by ameliorating the impact of abiotic stress. This review meant to understand the ecology and diversity of PGPR, delineate the influence of abiotic stress on plant life, expound upon the response of PGPR to abiotic stress, mechanisms employed by PGPR to mitigate abiotic stress and highlight the significance of utilizing PGPR as bioinoculant to support plants in adapting to and surmounting abiotic stressors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPhosphorus (P) is the second most important essential macronutrient after nitrogen for plant growth and development. Even though P is plentiful in soil, it is largely inaccessible to plants as it is strongly bound with metal ions and form insoluble metal-P complexes. Therefore, different agrochemicals are used to improve the P availability in soils and mitigate the plant need for sustainable growth and productivity of crops. However, those agrochemicals deteriorate ecosystem integrity and adversely affect the soil health. Consequently, there is a need for a more economical and ecologically beneficial P bio-fortification method by phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs). The characterization of phosphorus pools and the assessment of different microbial communities can help to improve our understanding of plant–microbe interaction and P availability. The objective of this study is to discuss the PSMs that facilitate P nutrition mechanisms, including the molecular aspects of P solubilization in soil, and to characterize their features that promote plant growth and development. We mainly focused on how PSMs constitute a fundamental resource for the release of P nutrient where described the several pathways of solubilization and mineralization. The use of PSMs is a viable resource for the future sustainable agriculture, mainly due to its application can helps to reduce the fertilizer dose of P and ultimately reduce the exploitation of fertilizer P and its resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant architecture is shaped by the production of new organs, most of which emerge postembryonically. This process includes the formation of new lateral branches along existing shoots. Current evidence supports a detached-meristem model as the cellular basis of lateral shoot initiation. In this model, a small number of undifferentiated cells are sampled from the periphery of the shoot apical meristem (SAM) to act as precursors for axillary buds, which eventually develop into new shoots. Repeated branching thus creates cellular bottlenecks (i.e. somatic drift) that affect how de novo (epi)genetic mutations propagate through the plant body during development. Somatic drift could be particularly relevant for stochastic DNA methylation gains and losses (i.e. spontaneous epimutations), as they have been shown to arise rapidly with each cell division. Here, we formalize a special case of the detached-meristem model, where precursor cells are randomly sampled from the SAM periphery in a way that maximizes cell lineage independence. We show that somatic drift during repeated branching gives rise to a mixture of cellular phylogenies within the SAM over time. This process is dependent on the number of branch points, the strength of drift as well as the epimutation rate. Our model predicts that cell-to-cell DNA methylation heterogeneity in the SAM converges to nonzero states during development, suggesting that epigenetic variation is an inherent property of the SAM cell population. Our insights have direct implications for empirical studies of somatic (epi)genomic diversity in long-lived perennial and clonal species using bulk or single-cell sequencing approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of chemicals that modulate plant development and adaptive responses to stresses has attracted increasing attention for agricultural applications. Recent basic studies have identified functional amino acids that are essential for plant organogenesis, indicating that amino acids can regulate plant growth. In this study, we newly identified 2‐aminopimelic acid (2APA), a nonproteinogenic amino acid, as a novel bioactive compound involved in root morphogenesis. This biological effect was confirmed in several plant species. Our phenotypic analysis revealed that the bioactive 2APA is an l‐form stereoisomer. Overall, our study identified a promising root growth regulator and provided insight into the intricate metabolism related to root morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melatonin regulates vital physiological processes in animals, such as the circadian cycle, sleep, locomotion, body temperature, food intake, and sexual and immune responses. In plants, melatonin modulates seed germination, longevity, circadian cycle, photoperiodicity, flowering, leaf senescence, postharvest fruit storage, and resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses. In plants, the effect of melatonin is mediated by various regulatory elements of the redox network, including RNS and ROS. Similarly, the radical gas NO mediates various physiological processes, like seed germination, flowering, leaf senescence, and stress responses. The biosynthesis of both melatonin and NO takes place in mitochondria and chloroplasts. Hence, both melatonin and nitric oxide are key signaling molecules governing their biological pathways independently. However, there are instances when these pathways cross each other and the two molecules interact with each other, resulting in the formation of N-nitrosomelatonin or NOMela, which is a nitrosated form of melatonin, discovered recently and with promising roles in plant development. The interaction between NO and melatonin is highly complex, and, although a handful of studies reporting these interactions have been published, the exact molecular mechanisms governing them and the prospects of NOMela as a NO donor have just started to be unraveled. Here, we review NO and melatonin production as well as RNS–melatonin interaction under normal and stressful conditions. Furthermore, for the first time, we provide highly sensitive, ozone-chemiluminescence-based comparative measurements of the nitric oxide content, as well as NO-release kinetics between NOMela and the commonly used NO donors CySNO and GSNO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem strength plays a crucial role in the growth and development of plants, as well as in their flowering and fruiting. It not only impacts the lodging resistance of crops, but also influences the ornamental value of ornamental plants. Stem development is closely linked to stem strength; however, the roles of the SPL transcription factors in the stem development of herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) are not yet fully elucidated. In this study, we obtained and cloned the full-length sequence of PlSPL14, encoding 1085 amino acids. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed that the expression level of PlSPL14 gradually increased with the stem development of P. lactiflora and was significantly expressed in vascular bundles. Subsequently, utilizing the techniques of virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) and heterologous overexpression in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.), it was determined that PlSPL14-silenced P. lactiflora had a thinner xylem thickness, a decreased stem diameter, and weakened stem strength, while PlSPL14-overexpressing tobacco resulted in a thicker xylem thickness, an increased stem diameter, and enhanced stem strength. Further screening of the interacting proteins of PlSPL14 using a yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) assay revealed an interactive relationship between PlSPL14 and PlSLR1 protein, which acts as a negative regulator of gibberellin (GA). Additionally, the expression level of PlSLR1 gradually decreased during the stem development of P. lactiflora. The above results suggest that PlSPL14 may play a positive regulatory role in stem development and act in the xylem, making it a potential candidate gene for enhancing stem straightness in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethylene-Responsive Factor (ERF) is a key element found in the middle and lower reaches of the ethylene signal transduction pathway. It is widely distributed in plants and plays important roles in plant growth and development, hormone signal transduction, and various stress processes. Although there is research on AP/ERF family members, research on AP2/ERF in Osmanthus fragrans is lacking. Thus, in this work, AP2/ERF in O. fragrans was extensively and comprehensively analyzed. A total of 298 genes encoding OfAP2/ERF proteins with complete AP2/ERF domains were identified. Based on the number of AP2/ERF domains and the similarity among amino acid sequences between AP2/ERF proteins from A. thaliana and O. fragrans, the 298 putative OfAP2/ERF proteins were divided into four different families, including AP2 (45), ERF (247), RAV (5), and SOLOIST (1). In addition, the exon–intron structure characteristics of these putative OfAP2/ERF genes and the conserved protein motifs of their encoded OfAP2/ERF proteins were analyzed, and the results were found to be consistent with those of the population classification. A tissue-specific analysis showed the spatiotemporal expression of OfAP2/ERF in the stems and leaves of O. fragrans at different developmental stages. Specifically, 21 genes were not expressed in any tissue, while high levels of expression were found for 25 OfAP2/ERF genes in several tissues, 60 genes in the roots, 34 genes in the stems, 37 genes in young leaves, 34 genes in old leaves, 32 genes in the early flowering stage, 18 genes in the full flowering stage, and 37 genes in the late flowering stage. Quantitative RT-PCR experiments showed that OfERF110a and OfERF110b had the highest expression levels at the full-bloom stage (S4), and this gradually decreased with the senescence of petals. The expression of OfERF119c decreased first and then increased, while the expression levels of OfERF4c and OfERF5a increased constantly. This indicated that these genes may play roles in flower senescence and the ethylene response. In the subsequent subcellular localization experiments, we found that ERF1-4 was localized in the nucleus, indicating that it was expressed in the nucleus. In yeast self-activation experiments, we found that OfERF112, OfERF228, and OfERF23 had self-activation activity. Overall, these results suggest that OfERFs may have the function of regulating petal senescence in O. fragrans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought, an important abiotic stress factor, has a profound effect on plant growth, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. This study investigated the interactive effects of drought stress [100, 75, 50 and 25% Field Capacity (FC)] and plant development stages (20, 40 and 60 days after flowering) on pepper species (Capsicum annuumL. and Capsicum chinense Jacq.). The results show that drought affects plant morphology and reduces photosynthetic pigments while increasing phytochemicals [total phenolics (TPh), total flavonoids (TFv) and total antioxidant activity (TAa)], malondialdehyde (MDA), protein, proline, and antioxidant enzymes [catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD)] (P ≤ 0.05). Throughout plant development, a decrease in photosynthetic pigments and phytochemicals was observed, accompanied by an increase in biochemical components and antioxidant enzymes. The photosynthetic pigments of C. annuum were less affected by drought. Extreme irrigation conditions (25 and 100% FC) caused significant phytochemical changes. With increasing drought stress severity, C. annuum showed significantly higher biophysical and enzymatic values compared to C. chinense. Different stress conditions resulted in significantly higher increases in SOD, POD and CAT levels in C. annuum compared to C. chinense at all growth stages, with average increases of 1.40-fold, 1.25-fold and 1.75-fold, respectively. In addition, antioxidant enzyme activities were significantly higher in C. annuum with increasing stress severity, helping to cope with oxidative stress. In conclusion, C. annuum shows more stable morphological, physiological and biochemical performances compared to C. chinense, establishing itself as a more drought-tolerant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity is a widespread environmental stress that severely impedes plant growth and development from seed germination to harvest. Thus, the development of suitable management practices to minimize the deleterious effects of salt stress has become necessary. Among these methods, seed priming is considered as one of the potential physiological approaches to enhance seed germination in salt-affected soils. In the present research, we investigated the potentiality of gallic acid (1 mM) and hydrogen peroxide (2 mM) as priming agents to alleviate the salinity-inhibited germination of three faba bean cvs. (Najeh, Chourouk and Bachaar). The seeds were soaked in distilled water (hydropriming) or pretreated with gallic acid and hydrogen peroxide, individually and simultaneously, and then subjected to 150 mM NaCl-salinity. Our results revealed that mean germination time was significantly increased; whereas final germination percentage and germination index as well as dry weight and water content of the embryonic axes were considerably lowered by salt stress in the unprimed seeds of the three faba bean cvs. This decrease was associated with inhibited starch degradation and increased malondialdehyde contents. Our results also indicated that although all germination traits as well as starch metabolism were enhanced following gallic acid, hydrogen peroxide and hydropriming treatments to varying degrees, priming-mitigating effects were agent-dependent with regard to salt-induced oxidative damage, and osmoprotectant accumulation (proline and glycine betaine) as well as non-enzymatic (total polyphenols and flavonoids) and enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, catalase and guaiacol peroxide) antioxidant defense system. Contrarily to hydropriming treatment for which no obvious effects were observed, gallic acid and hydrogen peroxide priming significantly decreased the malondialdehyde content, increased proline and glycine betaine accumulation and enhanced the non-enzymatic as well as the enzymatic defense system to varying degrees for the three faba cvs. When compared to other treatments, simultaneous priming with gallic acid and hydrogen peroxide was more efficient in mitigating the adverse effects of salt stress on faba bean at the germination stage and may be, therefore, suggested as a potential strategy to overcome the salinity-mediated impairment of faba bean, particularly salt-sensitive genotypes, at the germination stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Potatoes are regarded very prone to chloride toxicity, and the application of sulfate‐based potassium fertilizers is therefore recommended. However, in several studies, no significant differences between KCl and K2SO4 on tuber yield and starch concentration were found. In addition, plant shoots occasionally showed more pronounced stress symptoms after sulfate compared to chloride treatment. Aims: This study aimed to identify reasons for enhanced stress occurrence of potato plants after K2SO4 instead of KCl fertilization. Methods: We conducted a pot experiment with the potato cultivar Marabel, which showed to be chloride‐resistant in our previous study, and applied 1 g K or 2 g K either as K2SO4 or KCl. Plant shoots were analyzed for nutrients, sugars, and antioxidative capacity shortly before start of flowering (intermediate harvest), and tubers were harvested at physiological maturity and their starch concentration and yield were determined. Results: With sulfate‐based K fertilization, the start of flowering and ripening as well as the achievement of physiological maturity occurred earlier than with KCl supply. However, the accelerated development of K2SO4‐treated plants did not affect shoot fresh and dry mass shortly before flowering and at maturity, showing similar values as in the KCl treatment. With 2 g K as K2SO4, the potato plants produced much larger and less than half the number of tubers compared to 2 g K as KCl, resulting in a significantly reduced tuber fresh mass. Tuber starch concentration as well as starch yield per plant were not significantly affected by the kind of K fertilization. In plant shoots shortly before flowering, calcium and magnesium concentrations were significantly decreased, combined with a significant increase in antioxidative capacity after application of 2 g K as K2SO4 compared to KCl. Sugar concentrations and contents in potato shoots at flowering were mostly unaffected by the kind of K fertilizer. Conclusions: Stronger toxicity symptoms and growth inhibition after sulfate compared to chloride application, combined with a significant increase in antioxidative capacity, provide evidence for sulfate‐induced oxidative stress. A higher production of organic anions such as succinate may be involved in the stress reaction. This needs to be investigated in more detail in further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hyperaccumulation potential of zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) and their synergistic effects were examined in relation to Christmas moss (Vesicularia montagnei (Bél) Broth., Hypnaceae), an aquatic and terrestrial moss, dosed with Cd (Cd1 and Cd2), Zn (Zn1 and Zn2) and combined Zn and Cd (Cd1Zn1 and Cd2Zn2). Zinc promoted plant growth and development, particularly in the highest Zn and combined Zn/Cd treatments (Zn2 and Cd2Zn2). The Zn treatment resulted in substantial moss chlorophyll content and highest percentage relative growth rate in biomass value (0.23 mg L−1 and 106.8%, respectively); however, the Cd2Zn2 treatment achieved maximal production of chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll (0.29 and 0.51 mg L−1, respectively) due to synergistic effects. These findings suggest that Christmas moss is a highly metal-tolerant and adaptable bryophyte species. Zinc was essential for reducing the detrimental effects of Cd while simultaneously promoting moss growth and biomass development. Furthermore, Christmas moss exhibited hyperaccumulation potential for Cd and Zn in the Cd2Zn2 and Zn alone treatments, as evidenced by highest Cd and Zn values in gametophores (1002 and 18,596 mg per colony volume, respectively). Using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometry, atomic percentages of element concentrations in moss gametophores in the Zn2, Cd2 and combined Zn/Cd treatments were generally in the order: K > Ca > P > Zn > Cd. When comparing the atomic percentages of Zn and Cd in gametophores, it is likely that the higher atomic percentage of Zn was because this element is essential for plant growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Strigolactones (SL) function as plant hormones in control of multiple aspects of plant development, mostly via the regulation of gene expression. Immediate early‐gene regulation by SL remains unexplored due to difficulty in dissecting early from late gene expression responses to SL. We used synthetic SL, rac‐GR24 treatment of protoplasts and RNA‐seq to explore early SL‐induced changes in gene expression over time (5–180 minutes) and discovered rapid, dynamic and SL receptor D14‐dependent regulation of gene expression in response to rac‐GR24. Importantly, we discovered a significant dependence of SL signalling on chromatin remodelling processes, as the induction of a key SL‐induced transcription factor BRANCHED1 requires the SWI/SNF chromatin remodelling ATPase SPLAYED (SYD) and leads to upregulation of a homologue SWI/SNF ATPase BRAHMA. ATAC‐seq profiling of genome‐wide changes in chromatin accessibility in response to rac‐GR24 identified large‐scale changes, with over 1400 differentially accessible regions. These changes in chromatin accessibility often precede transcriptional changes and are likely to harbour SL cis‐regulatory elements. Importantly, we discovered that this early and extensive modification of the chromatin landscape also requires SYD. This study, therefore, provides evidence that SL signalling requires regulation of chromatin accessibility, and it identifies genomic locations harbouring likely SL cis‐regulatory sequences. Significance Statement: We have identified that the significant transcriptomic reprogramming by rac‐GR24 requires extensive changes to chromatin accessibility at over a thousand locations throughout the genome. We showed that two chromatin remodellers, SPLAYED and BRAHMA, are involved in this response. Our findings discovered a new component of gene regulation by the plant hormone strigolactone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Gene expression analysis is essential for understanding the mechanisms involved in plant development. Here, we developed M2WISH, a protocol based on MicroWave treatment for Wholemount mRNA In Situ Hybridization in Arabidopsis. By permeabilizing tissues without damaging cellular organization this protocol results in high and homogeneous hybridization yields that enable systematic analysis of gene expression dynamics. Moreover, when combined with cellular histochemical staining, M2WISH successfully provides a cellular resolution of gene expression. Thus, we demonstrate the robustness of M2WISH with 10 genes on roots, aerial meristems, leaves, and embryos in the seed. We applied M2WISH to study the spatial dynamics of WUSCHEL (WUS) and CLAVATA3 (CLV3) expression during in vitro meristematic conversion of roots into shoot apical meristems. Thus, we showed that shoot apical meristems could arise from two different types of root structures that differed by their CLV3 gene expression patterns. We constructed 3D cellular representations of WUS and CLV3 gene co‐expression pattern and stressed the variability inherent to meristem conversion. Thus, this protocol generates a large amount of data on the localization of gene expression, which can be used to model complex systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Neomarica longifolia is a commercially important ornamental iris plant. • Silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) along with plant hormones in the medium improved the rate of shoot amplification. • Silicon NPs had a positive impact on the morpho-structural differentiation of leaves. • Silicon NPs also increased chlorophyll contents, rooting efficiency, and acclimatization of plantlets. Neomarica longifolia (Link & Otto) Sprague is a commercially important ornamental iris plant. This study aimed to explore in vitro regeneration and the relevance of silicon nanoparticles during the shoot amplification phase and their impact on the subsequent development of plants, structural differentiation, and rooting efficiency of N. longifolia. A maximum number of shoots (4.3 per explant) from node explants was recorded on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium augmented with 1.5 mg L−1 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). However, lower concentration of BAP (0.5 mg L−1) combined with 0.2 mg L−1 Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) were optimal for multiple shoot production (9.3 shoots). The foliages of such shoots were structurally weak and underdeveloped with reduced photopigments. The incorporation of 2.0 mg L−1 SiNPs in the nutrient solution showed a positive impact on the rate of amplification (15.0 shoots per explant) and well differentiation of mechanical and vascular tissues and photopigments. The increased concentrations of SiNPs (beyond optimum) decreased the above-studied parameters. The shootlets obtained from optimized concentrations of SiNPs along with optimum plant growth regulators (PGRs) rooted maximum (94.5 % response, 13.0 roots per shoot) on ½ MS medium + 0.5 mg L−1 Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and survived well in the greenhouse. We, therefore, hypothesize that the incorporation of optimal SiNPs (2.0 mg L−1) along with optimal PGRs at the shoot proliferation phase is important for upregulating the rate of shoot amplification, differentiation of foliar architecture, synthesis of photopigments, root development, and survival of the plantlets during hardening. Furthermore, the present study addressed the limitations of in vitro -induced morpho-structural disorders by introducing SiNPs in the medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper, a micronutrient in low concentrations, in excess causes negative changes in the growth and development of plants. This study advances understanding in the dynamics of potentially toxic elements in areas with different uses, making it possible to evaluate the potential of C. cajan to remedy/reduce excess Cu in the soil. It was observed that in C. cajan grown in agricultural soil with high P availability, the translocation of Cu to shoot was 5−7 times greater than in grassland and grassland contaminated with Cu, where the preferred allocation for Cu was the root. The efficiency of the photosynthetic and symbiotic system was not affected; but an increase in the concentration of amino acids was observed. Because of considerable accumulation of Cu in the root and shoot, C. cajan was tolerant to a dose of approximately 100 mg kg−1 of Cu in viticulture soil and may be indicated as a phyto-extractor agent for this metal in agricultural soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold stress negatively impacts the growth, development, and quality of Camellia sinensis (Cs, tea) plants. CBL‐interacting protein kinases (CIPK) comprise a pivotal protein family involved in plant development and response to multiple environmental stimuli. However, their roles and regulatory mechanisms in tea plants (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) remain unknown. Here we show that CsCBL‐interacting protein kinase 11 (CsCIPK11), whose transcript abundance was significantly induced at low temperatures, interacts and phosphorylates tau class glutathione S‐transferase 23 (CsGSTU23). CsGSTU23 was also a cold‐inducible gene and has significantly higher transcript abundance in cold‐resistant accessions than in cold‐susceptible accessions. CsCIPK11 phosphorylated CsGSTU23 at Ser37, enhancing its stability and enzymatic activity. Overexpression of CsCIPK11 in Arabidopsis thaliana resulted in enhanced cold tolerance under freezing conditions, while transient knockdown of CsCIPK11 expression in tea plants had the opposite effect, resulting in decreased cold tolerance and suppression of the C‐repeat‐binding transcription factor (CBF) transcriptional pathway under freezing stress. Furthermore, the transient overexpression of CsGSTU23 in tea plants increased cold tolerance. These findings demonstrate that CsCIPK11 plays a central role in the signaling pathway to cold signals and modulates antioxidant capacity by phosphorylating CsGSTU23, leading to improved cold tolerance in tea plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

YABBY genes encode specific TFs of seed plants involved in development and formation of leaves, flowers, and fruit. In the present work, genome‐wide and expression analyses of the YABBY gene family were performed in six species of the Fragaria genus: Fragaria × ananassa, F. daltoniana, F. nilgerrensis, F. pentaphylla, F. viridis, and F. vesca.The chromosomal location, synteny pattern, gene structure, and phylogenetic analyses were carried out. By combining RNA‐seq data and RT‐qPCR analysis we explored specific expression of YABBYs in F. × ananassa and F. vesca. We also analysed the promoter regions of FaYABBYs and performed MeJA application to F. × ananassa fruit to observe effects on gene expression.We identified and characterized 25 YABBY genes in F. × ananassa and six in each of the other five species, which belong to FIL/YAB3 (YABBY1), YAB2 (YABBY2), YAB5 (YABBY5), CRC, and INO clades previously described. Division of the YABBY1 clade into YABBY1.1 and YABBY1.2 subclades is reported. We observed differential expression according to tissue, where some FaYABBYs are expressed mainly in leaves and flowers and to a minor extent during fruit development of F. × ananassa. Specifically, the FaINO genes contain jasmonate‐responsive cis‐acting elements in their promoters which may be functional since FaINOs are upregulated in F. × ananassa fruit under MeJA treatment.This study suggests that YABBY TFs play an important role in the development‐ and environment‐associated responses of the Fragaria genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floral transition, the switch from vegetative to reproductive growth, is extremely important for the growth and development of flowering plants. In the summer chrysanthemum, CmBBX8, a member of the subgroup II B‐box (BBX) family, positively regulates the transition by physically interacting with CmERF3 to inhibit CmFTL1 expression. In this study, we show that CmBBX5, a B‐box subgroup I member comprising two B‐boxes and a CCT domain, interacts with CmBBX8. This interaction suppresses the recruitment of CmBBX8 to the CmFTL1 locus without affecting its transcriptional activation activity. CmBBX5 overexpression led to delayed flowering under both LD (long‐day) and SD (short‐day) conditions, while lines expressing the chimeric repressor gene‐silencing (CmBBX5‐SRDX) exhibited the opposite phenotype. Subsequent genetic evidence indicated that in regulating flowering, CmBBX5 is partially dependent on CmBBX8. Moreover, during the vegetative growth period, levels of CmBBX5 expression were found to exceed those of CmBBX8. Collectively, our findings indicate that both CmERF3 and CmBBX5 interact with CmBBX8 to dampen the regulation of CmFTL1 via distinct mechanisms, which contribute to preventing the premature flowering of summer chrysanthemum. Summary statement: Here, we found CmBBX5 and CmBBX8 dampen the recruitment of CmBBX8 to the CmFTL1 locus, thereby preventing premature flowering in summer chrysanthemum, which contributes to deep understanding of the flowering regulation and laying the foundations for molecular breeding in chrysanthemum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoplasmic SAP11 effectors alter host plant architecture and flowering time. However, the exact mechanisms have yet to be elucidated. Two SAP11‐like effectors, SJP1 and SJP2, from 'Candidatus Phytoplasma ziziphi' induce shoot branching proliferation. Here, the transcription factor ZjTCP7 was identified as a central target of these two effectors to regulate floral transition and shoot branching. Ectopic expression of ZjTCP7 resulted in enhanced bolting and earlier flowering than did the control. Interaction and expression assays demonstrated that ZjTCP7 interacted with the ZjFT‐ZjFD module, thereby enhancing the ability of these genes to directly bind to the ZjAP1 promoter. The effectors SJP1 and SJP2 unravelled the florigen activation complex by specifically destabilising ZjTCP7 and ZjFD to delay floral initiation. Moreover, the shoot branching of the ZjTCP7‐SRDX transgenic Arabidopsis lines were comparable to those of the SJP1/2 lines, suggesting the involvement of ZjTCP7 in the regulation of shoot branching. ZjTCP7 interacted with the branching repressor ZjBRC1 to enhance suppression of the auxin efflux carrier ZjPIN3 expression. ZjTCP7 also directly bound to and upregulated the auxin biosynthesis gene ZjYUCCA2, thereby promoting auxin accumulation. Our findings confirm that ZjTCP7 serves as a bifunctional regulator destabilised by the effectors SJP1 and SJP2 to modulate plant development. Summary statement: Efectors SJP1 and SJP2 interact with and destabilise the bifunctional regulator ZjTCP7 to modulate flowering‐related ZjFT‐ZjFD pathway and branching signalling controlled by ZjBRC1 in jujube, suggesting a novel regulatory mechanism mediated by JWB phytoplasmas to modulate host plant development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important signalling molecules that influence many aspects of plant biology. One way in which ROS influence plant growth and development is by modifying intercellular trafficking through plasmodesmata (PD). Viruses have evolved to use PD for their local cell‐to‐cell spread between plant cells, so it is therefore not surprising that they have found ways to modulate ROS and redox signalling to optimise PD function for their benefit. This review examines how intracellular signalling via ROS and redox pathways regulate intercellular trafficking via PD during development and stress. The relationship between viruses and ROS‐redox systems, and the strategies viruses employ to control PD function by interfering with ROS‐redox in plants is also discussed. Summary statement: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and redox are important players in pathways related to intercellular trafficking between plant cells. This reviews discussed the roles of ROS and redox in plant development and stress, focusing on how viruses redirect host ROS and redox signalling for their replication and spread during infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idesia polycarpa is a woody oil plant with great development and application prospects. However, stem canker disease of I. polycarpa was frequently observed in Henan and Hubei provinces of China in 2020–2022. The seriousness of the disease caused a large number of trees deaths, which affected seedling production and fruit yield, restricting the development of the I. polycarpa industry. We performed isolation, purification and pathogenicity analysis of canker samples. Pathogenicity tests reproduced typical canker disease symptoms on detached branches of I. polycarpa. Based on morphological observations, conidial morphology and phylogenetic analysis of isolates with high similarity to the rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS), EF‐1α and TUB2 sequences screened in GenBank by BLAST, the pathogen of canker disease on I. polycarpa was identified as Botryosphaeria dothidea. This is the first report of B. dothidea as the pathogen of stem canker of I. polycarpa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest restoration in post-open pit mining areas is complex and faces the challenge of "recreating" the soil under horizontal disruption, representing strong barriers to root growth. Hence, trenches (paths opened by digging) for planting are an alternative to improve root development conditions and plant growth. This study aimed to evaluate growth of six tree species planted in trenches under three treatments: Topsoil or control (CT), Sawdust (SD), and Cow manure (CM). The trenches (1 m in height and length by 40 m long) were filled with topsoil. In the 6-m space between trenches, two treatments were performed: soil covered and not covered by sawdust to test natural regeneration. Six tree species (250 individuals) in pits over trenches where mortality, mean annual increment in height (MAIHt,), diameter (MAIDSH), and crown area (MAICA) were assessed. Natural regeneration and litter stock were also evaluated. After 18 months, mortality was zero, except Byrsonima spicata with less than 5% in CT, SD, and CM. Clitoria fairchildiana, Tachigali vulgaris, and Croton matourensis showed highest MAIHt and MAIDSH, and C. fairchildiana presented the highest MAICA with no statistical differences among treatments. Sawdust coverage had no effects on litter amounts and on tree species from the natural regeneration. Herbs and grasses covered 45.5% and 57.2% of the soil with and without sawdust. Based on growth and mortality, C. fairchildiana, T. vulgaris, and C. matarensis can be recommended for initial restoration after kaolin mining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant transcription factors are evolutionarily conserved proteins that play an important role in the transcriptional regulation of gene expression by binding to their specific DNA sequences. BSD (mammalian BTF2-like transcription factors, synapse-associated proteins, and DOS2-like proteins) transcription factors are conserved in various species, from protozoa to humans, and are characterized by a typical BSD domain. However, little information is available about their possible roles in plant growth and development, and to date, members of this transcription factor family have not been systematically identified and analyzed in apricot. In this study, two BSD domain-encoding genes were identified in the apricot genome. Expression profile analysis by RT-qPCR revealed that both genes participate in different developmental stages of three different organs in apricot. PaBSD1 was expressed higher than PaBSD2 only in the stamen. Moreover, PaBSD2 was higher expressed than PaBSD1 in four different fruit stages, young leaf, leaf bud, sepal and petal. This study reveals the critical roles of BSD transcription factors in apricot development, with PaBSD1 showing higher expression in stamen and PaBSD2 in various fruit stages and leaf tissues. These findings provide a foundation for future functional studies and apricot breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Science & Technology of Food Industry is the property of Science & Technology of Food Industry Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Plants have the fascinating ability to regulate their genetic expression through epigenetic mechanisms. Polycomb group (PcG) proteins in Polycomb repressive complexes (PRC1 and PRC2) especially regulate cellular and developmental processes in eukaryotes through epigenetic mechanisms. Arabidopsis thaliana has a fascinating name, LIKE HETEROCHROMATIN PROTEIN 1 (LHP1), called TERMINAL FLOWER 2 (TFL2). This protein was initially recognized as the plant equivalent of animal HP1 due to the presence of a chromo domain and a chromo shadow domain. It can bind to the trimethylated lysine 27 of histone H3 (H3K27me3) mark spread throughout the genome and regulate gene expression. This is crucial for the plant PcG system, which PRC2 establishes for epigenetic control. Although LHP1 has been found to perform diverse functions, it is still unclear whether these functions are carried out through similar mechanisms and whether it regulates the same target genes. This highlights the need for further research on LHP1 to better understand its mechanisms and functions. The following review provides detailed information about LHP1, which is closely linked to histone marks and the regulation of gene expression and explores how LHP1 influences flower timing and root development to improve crop traits. Recent progress in tomato and soybean production highlights the crucial role of LHP1 in shaping crop characteristics. The review suggests that LHP1 may control H3K27me3 in different plant species by regulating specific genes through epigenetic mechanisms. In summary, it emphasizes the importance of understanding LHP1's role in plant development for breeding purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phelipanche ramosa is a root parasitic plant fully dependent on host plants for nutrition and development. Upon germination, the parasitic seedling develops inside the infected roots a specific organ, the haustorium, thanks to the cell wall-degrading enzymes of haustorial intrusive cells, and induces modifications in the host's cell walls. The model plant Arabidopsis thaliana is susceptible to P. ramosa; thus, mutants in cell wall metabolism, particularly those involved in pectin remodeling, like Atpme3-1, are of interest in studying the involvement of cell wall-degrading enzymes in the establishment of plant–plant interactions. Host–parasite co-cultures in mini-rhizotron systems revealed that parasite attachments are twice as numerous and tubercle growth is quicker on Atpme3-1 roots than on WT roots. Compared to WT, the increased susceptibility in AtPME3-1 is associated with reduced PME activity in the roots and a lower degree of pectin methylesterification at the host–parasite interface, as detected immunohistochemically in infected roots. In addition, both WT and Atpme3-1 roots responded to infestation by modulating the expression of PAE- and PME-encoding genes, as well as related global enzyme activities in the roots before and after parasite attachment. However, these modulations differed between WT and Atpme3-1, which may contribute to different pectin remodeling in the roots and contrasting susceptibility to P. ramosa. With this integrative study, we aim to define a model of cell wall response to this specific biotic stress and indicate, for the first time, the role of PME3 in this parasitic plant–plant interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA demethylation is a very important biochemical pathway regulating a group of biological processes, such as embryo development, fruit ripening, and response to stress. Despite the essential role of DNA demethylases, their evolutionary relationship and detailed biological functions in different land plants remain unclear. In this study, 48 DNA demethylases in 12 land plants were identified and classified. A phylogenetic tree was constructed to demonstrate the evolutionary relationships among these DNA demethylases, indicating how they are related across different species. Conserved domain, protein motif, and gene structure analysis showed that these 48 DNA demethylases fell into the presently identified four classes of DNA demethylases. Amino acid alignment revealed conserved catalytic sites and a previously less-studied protein region (referred to as domain A) within the DNA demethylases. An analysis showed a conserved pattern of gene duplication for DNA demethylases throughout their evolutionary history, suggesting that these genes had been maintained due to their importance. The examination of promoter cis-elements displayed potential signaling and regulating pathways of DNA demethylases. Furthermore, the expression profile was analyzed to investigate the physiological role of rice DNA demethylase in different developmental stages, in tissues, and in response to stress and various phytohormone signals. The findings offer a deeper insight into the functional regions of DNA demethylases and their evolutionary relationships, which can guide future research directions. Understanding the role of DNA demethylases can lead to improved plant stress resistance and contribute to the development of better crop and fruit varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

bZIP transcription factors play important roles in regulating plant development and stress responses. Although bZIPs have been identified in many plant species, there is little information on the bZIPs in Chrysanthemum. In this study, bZIP TFs were identified from the leaf transcriptome of C. mongolicum, a plant naturally tolerant to drought. A total of 28 full-length bZIP family members were identified from the leaf transcriptome of C. mongolicum and were divided into five subfamilies based on their phylogenetic relationships with the bZIPs from Arabidopsis. Ten conserved motifs were detected among the bZIP proteins of C. mongolicum. Subcellular localization assays revealed that most of the CmbZIPs were predicted to be localized in the nucleus. A novel bZIP gene, designated as CmbZIP9, was cloned based on a sequence of the data of the C. mongolicum transcriptome and was overexpressed in tobacco. The results indicated that the overexpression of CmbZIP9 reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and increased the peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities as well as the expression levels of stress-related genes under drought stress, thus enhancing the drought tolerance of transgenic tobacco lines. These results provide a theoretical basis for further exploring the functions of the bZIP family genes and lay a foundation for stress resistance improvement in chrysanthemums in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread globally, primarily due to long-term anthropogenic pollution sources. Since PAHs tend to accumulate in soil sediments, liverwort plants, such as Lunularia cruciata, are susceptible to their adverse effects, making them good models for bioindicators. The aim of this study was to probe the impact of anthracene, a three-ring linear PAH, on the growth parameters of L. cruciata and the relationship established with the internalization of the pollutant throughout the phenology of the plant. Intrinsic plant responses, isolated from external factors, were assessed in vitro. L. cruciata absorbed anthracene from the culture medium, and its bioaccumulation was monitored throughout the entire process, from the gemma germination stage to the development of the adult plant, over a total period of 60 days. Consequently, plants exposed to concentrations higher than 50 μM anthracene, decreased the growth area of the thallus, the biomass and number of tips. Moreover, anthracene also impinged on plant symmetry. This concentration represented the maximum limit of bioaccumulation in the tissues. This study provides the first evidence that architectural variables in liverwort plants are suitable parameters for their use as bioindicators of PAHs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO2-Responsive CCT Protein (CRCT) is a transcription factor regulating the expression of starch synthesis-related genes in the vegetative organs of rice. Among six rice cultivars (Nipponbare, Koshihikari, Habataki, Takanari, Momiroman, Leafstar), the expression of CRCT was highly correlated with the starch content of leaf sheath in Nipponbare, but not in Koshihikari, Takanari and Momiroman during plant development. Meanwhile, the expressions of starch synthesis-related genes such as ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase large subunit 1 was correlated with CRCT expression in Nipponbare, Momiroman, and Leafstar, but the correlations were ambiguous in Koshihikari, Habataki, and Takanari. In addition, the slopes of its regression lines in Nipponbare were larger than those cultivars. These results suggest that the influence of CRCT on starch synthesis varies among these cultivars. Additionally, the similar cultivar differences were observed when these gene expressions were analyzed after sucrose treatment in leaf blade. Some mutations in the promoter regions of the starch synthesis-related genes were identified among these cultivars. There were cultivars in which the presence of mutations correlated with decreased expression of starch synthesis genes in response to CRCT. Thus, these mutations can partially explain the responsiveness of the starch synthesis-related genes to CRCT, and difference in starch content of vegetative organs among rice cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vacuolar processing enzymes (VPEs) are important proteases for the processing and maturation of vacuolar proteins. The VPEs in model plant Arabidopsis have been well researched. However, less is known about this gene family in the crop plant soybean (Glycine max). This study performed genome-wide identification of soybean VPE genes and 7 members were isolated. Their sequence information was firstly collected, and then phylogenetic relationship, chromosome distribution, gene duplication, conserved motifs as well as gene structure were analyzed for further insight into this gene family. The 7 GmVPEs were located on 6 chromosomes, and their encoding proteins were classified into three groups. Collinearity analysis indicated that 5 GmVPEs were involved in gene duplication events and they have undergone purifying selection during evolution. Conserved motif and gene structure analysis revealed the similarity and diversity among the sequences of different GmVPEs. To uncover the possible functions of soybean VPEs, cis-acting elements and TF binding sites on their promoters were identified, the results implied soybean VPE genes might participate in various biological processes and transcriptional regulation pathways. Through analyzing the RNA-Seq data, expression of the soybean VPE genes were found to exhibit spatiotemporal differences, with some being expressed almost ubiquitously, while others being expressed uniquely in seed. Finally, the expression profile analysis indicated that two VPE members, namely GmVPE4 and GmVPE7, likely play key roles in plant response to both biotic and abiotic stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The endogenous levels of plant hormones, including gibberellins (GAs), are strictly regulated and maintained during growth and development in seed plants. The regulation of endogenous levels of bioactive GAs is mediated by the mechanisms of their biosynthesis and inactivation. The moss Physcomitrium patens harbors a partial GA biosynthetic pathway from geranylgeranyl diphosphate to ent-kaurenoic acid (KA). Recently, we have identified ent-3β-hydroxy kaurenoic acid (3OH-KA) as a biologically active metabolite of KA to control the protonemal cell differentiation. In addition, ent-2α-hydroxy kaurenoic acid catalyzed by KA 2-oxidase (KA2ox) was also identified as inactive product. Although the activation and inactivation pathways from KA have been identified, the inactivation pathway of 3OH-KA remains to be elucidated. Considering the GA inactivation mechanism of flowering plants, in which GA2ox hydroxylates the C-2 position of GAs as part of the biosynthetic pathway, it was presumed that 3OH-KA was converted to 2,3-dihydroxy KA by PpKA2ox; however, this work shows that PpKA2ox undergoes hydroxylation at the C-16 position to synthesize a new compound ent-3β,16β-dihydroxy kaurenoic acid (3,16diOH-KA) from 3OH-KA. The protonemal cell differentiation activity of 3,16diOH-KA was low, and 3,16diOH-KA was detected in wild-type strains. These results indicate that 3,16diOH-KA was the major inactivating metabolite of 3OH-KA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the agricultural areas of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation varies widely. UV-B can affect the growth and development of plants. Turnip (Brassica rapa var. rapa) is an important traditional economic crop in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, but how turnip responds to UV-B and the complex molecular mechanisms underlying UV-B tolerance remains unclear. In this work, we found that landrace KTRG-B48b grew better and obtained a higher fresh weight of taproot in Lhasa and Kunming than landrace KTRG-B48a through common garden experiments. The phenotypic differences between the two landraces may be mechanism-based. Transcriptomes was used to analyze the differences between KTRG-B48a and KTRG-B48b. The relative expression levels of anthocyanin synthesis genes were upregulated significantly after UV-B treatment. In addition, KTRG-B48b produced less hydrogen peroxide and superoxide than KTRG-B48a. The high expression levels of anthocyanin-related genes can increase accumulation of anthocyanin, which can decrease reactive oxygen species accumulation and improved plant adaptation to the living environment of strong UV-B radiation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. In this study, we proposed a model for turnip anthocyanin biosynthesis under strong UV-B radiation. Our results can provide an overview of the transcriptome response of turnip to UV-B tolerance, thus expanding our understanding the functions of anthocyanins biological in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants being mostly sessile are exposed to several adverse environmental conditions. Many endogenous and exogenous factors play a vital role in acclimatizing plants in such varying environments. Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are one such endogenous factor that regulates the phenomenon of growth and development in plants. Strigolactone (SL) has been accepted as a new class of phytohormones or PGRs. It has contributed to different aspects of plant growth and development such as root growth and shoot branching as well as the response of plants to several biotic and abiotic stresses. Lately, a deep understanding of the SL biosynthetic pathway has been revealed. Transcriptomics and genetic analysis showed that SLs are derived from an intermediate carotenoid biosynthesis pathway, all-trans-β-carotene. Carlactone (CL) is formed from all-trans-β-carotene by the subsequent action of a set of core enzymes DWARF27 (D27), and carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases (CCD7 and CCD8). CL is the ultimate biosynthetic precursor of all naturally occurring SLs. The investigation has been also carried out on signal perception and downstream cascade involved in SL signaling by utilizing various mutants from different plant species. D14, AtD14, and DAD2 are identified as orthologous SL receptors of Oryza sativa, Arabidopsis thaliana, and Petunia, respectively. These are identified as αβ hydrolase, having the activity of both receptor and enzyme. The present review summarizes the current perception of the nature and biosynthesis of SL and the deciphering of the mechanism involved in its signal transduction cascade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractCurrent treatments for osteoporosis include a calcium-rich diet, adequate exercise, and medication. Many synthetic drugs, although fast-acting, can cause a range of side effects for patients when taken over a long period, such as irritation of the digestive tract and a burden on the kidneys. As the world’s population ages, the prevalence of osteoporosis is increasing, and the development of safe and effective treatments is urgently needed. Active compounds in edible and medicinal homologous plants have been used for centuries to improve bone quality. It is possible to employ them as dietary supplements to prevent osteoporosis. In this review, we analyze the influencing factors of osteoporosis and systematically summarize the research progress on the anti-osteoporosis effects of active compounds in edible and medicinal homologous plants. The literature suggests that some naturally occurring active compounds in edible and medicinal homologous plants can inhibit bone loss, prevent the degeneration of bone cell microstructure, and reduce bone fragility through alleviating oxidative stress, regulating autophagy, anti-inflammation, improving gut flora, and regulating estrogen level with little side effects. Our review provides useful guidance for the use of edible and medicinal homologous plants and the development of safer novel anti-osteoporosis dietary supplements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The epitranscriptomic mark N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most common type of messenger RNA (mRNA) post-transcriptional modification in eukaryotes. With the discovery of the demethylase FTO (FAT MASS AND OBESITYASSOCIATED PROTEIN) in Homo Sapiens, this modification has been proven to be dynamically reversible. With technological advances, research on m6A modification in plants also rapidly developed. m6A modification is widely distributed in plants, which is usually enriched near the stop codons and 3'-UTRs, and has conserved modification sequences. The related proteins of m6A modification mainly consist of three components: methyltransferases (writers), demethylases (erasers), and reading proteins (readers). m6A modification mainly regulates the growth and development of plants by modulating the RNA metabolic processes and playing an important role in their responses to environmental signals. In this review, we briefly outline the development of m6A modification detection techniques; comparatively analyze the distribution characteristics of m6A in plants; summarize the methyltransferases, demethylases, and binding proteins related to m6A; elaborate on how m6A modification functions in plant growth, development, and response to environmental signals; and provide a summary and outlook on the research of m6A in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]