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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2026

From ecological threats to environmental solutions: a critical review of invasive plant species for heavy metal phytoremediation.

Heavy metal contamination represents a persistent environmental challenge threatening ecosystem stability, agricultural productivity, and human health. Therefore, the development of sustainable and cost-effective remediation strategies is essential. Phytoremediation, an environmentally compatible approach that utilizes plants and their associated biological processes to reduce contaminant mobility, bioavailability, and toxicity, has gained increasing attention as an alternative to conventional remediation techniques. Among potential phytoremediation candidates, invasive plant species (IPS) have attracted interest due to their rapid growth, high biomass production, extensive root systems, physiological plasticity, and tolerance to stressful environments, including heavy metal contamination. Species such as Alternanthera philoxeroides, Arundo donax, Eichhornia crassipes, and Pistia stratiotes have demonstrated potential for metal uptake, accumulation, immobilization, or tolerance in contaminated ecosystems. This review critically examines the role of invasive plants in heavy metal phytoremediation by evaluating the physiological, biochemical, and ecological traits that influence remediation outcomes. Key mechanisms, including phytoextraction, phytostabilization, rhizosphere-mediated processes, and plant-microbe interactions, are discussed using evidence from contaminated soil and aquatic environments. The potential advantages of invasive plants, particularly their high biomass production and environmental adaptability, are evaluated alongside ecological concerns associated with their utilization. Importantly, invasion success does not necessarily translate into remediation success, and the effectiveness of invasive plants depends on contaminant characteristics, ecosystem conditions, and management practices. Major challenges, including uncontrolled spread, ecosystem disruption, contaminated biomass management, and limited field-scale validation, are critically assessed. Overall, invasive plants represent context-dependent remediation resources rather than universal solutions. Their application requires integrated risk assessment, containment strategies, long-term monitoring, and evidence-based management frameworks to maximize remediation benefits while minimizing ecological risks.

Contamination↗

PubMed2026

Turnip mosaic virus alters phosphorus metabolism and shoot-root allocation without resource competition.

Plant viruses affect production through symptom induction in host plants. These symptoms could partially arise from nutrient deprivation: The resource competition hypothesis posits that massive viral replication deprives hosts of essential nutrients, yet direct evidence for phosphorus (P) competition is lacking. Moreover, it is reported that biotic stresses can lead to alterations on P metabolism. Using a hydroponic system enabling separate analysis of shoots and roots in adult Arabidopsis thaliana plants, we investigated whether Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) drawed significant P internal pools leading to P competition or altered P metabolism. TuMV genomic RNA represented < 0.3% of the P pool allocated to 18S rRNA, refuting the resource competition hypothesis. Instead, TuMV induced a marked shoot-to-root P redistribution: Shoot/Root Pi and Porg changed from 1.7 to 1.04 to 0.71 and 0.68, respectively. This altered partitioning correlated with organ-specific gene expression changes: high-affinity transporters PHT1; 4 and PHT1; 5 were co-induced in shoots, whereas immunity-related PHT1; 4 was uniquely repressed in roots. The senescence-associated gene SEN1 showed opposite regulation between organs (repressed in shoots, induced in roots), distinguishing virus-induced responses from canonical senescence. Multivariate analysis revealed that shoots and roots only partially share physiological and molecular responses to TuMV. The virus reprograms phosphorus metabolism through organ-specific changes, not through resource depletion, and roots act as a distinct hub integrating infection response, senescence, and nutrient dynamics. This study advances the understanding of growth-defense trade-offs in plant mineral nutrition and identifies new targets for maintaining crop productivity under biotic stress.

Arabidopsis↗

PubMed2025

WRKY14-DPB Module Enhances Drought Tolerance by Activating the Expression of UGT84B1 Involved in Hydrolyzable Tannin Biosynthesis.

Drought stress severely limits the growth and development of trees. Tannins, which serve as vital secondary metabolites in plant roots, help mitigate drought stress. The Lauraceae family, which holds major economic and ecological value, faces substantial developmental challenges due to its sensitivity to drought conditions. Despite this, research on the regulatory mechanisms governing tannin-specific accumulation under drought stress remains limited. In this study, we aim to explore how WRKY14 interacts with DPB to regulate the metabolism of hydrolyzable tannin (HT) via the key enzyme UGT84B1, thereby enhancing drought tolerance in Litsea cubeba, a main species within the Lauraceae family. The WRKY-DPB-UGT84B1 module was specifically expressed in roots in response to drought stress. LcUGT84B1 was found to generate 1-O-Galloyl-β-d-glucose in vitro and in overexpressing L. cubeba. Moreover, molecular biology and transformation experiments demonstrated that LcWRKY14 and LcDPB formed a complex that directly bound to the LcUGT84B1 promoter, activating its expression and thereby facilitating HT synthesis. Co-overexpression of LcWRKY14 and LcDPB significantly enhanced drought tolerance by increasing HT accumulation. These findings provide new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of the WRKY-DPB-UGT84B1 module in promoting drought tolerance and offer a potential breeding strategy for developing drought-resistant varieties.

Drought Resistance↗

PubMed2026

Genome-wide identification of the expansin gene family in Rosa rugosa and overexpression of RrEXPA1 contributes to drought and salt stress tolerance in Arabidopsis.

The expansin (EX) gene family plays a crucial role in the growth and development of various plants, as well as responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, genome-wide analysis of the EX gene family and their functions in drought and salt stress tolerance has not been examined in Rosa rugosa. In this study, a total of 30 RrEX genes were identified and located on seven different chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis classified these genes into four subfamilies: EXPA (24 members), EXPB (3 members), EXLA (1 member), and EXLB (2 members). The average amino acid length was 269.17 aa, with isoelectric points ranging from 4.79 to 9.97. Most members exhibited high aliphatic indices and protein stability, suggesting their adaptability to diverse environments. The synteny analysis provided insights into the evolution of the EX gene family in rose. Toxicity and autoactivation assays confirmed that BD-RrEXPA1 was non-toxic to yeast cells and lacked autoactivation activity, indicating its suitability for yeast two-hybrid screening. The transgenic Arabidopsis lines overexpressing RrEXPA1 improved seed germination and root length under abiotic stress. In addition, the overexpression lines showed reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increased chlorophyll content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. These results suggest that RrEXPA1 may enhance stress tolerance by promoting root elongation and modulating physiological responses. This study provides important insights into the role of RrEXs in salt and drought stress and lays the foundation for further studies on the regulatory mechanisms of abiotic stress.

Drought stress↗

PubMed2026

Multi-season analysis reveals hundreds of drought-responsive genes in sorghum.

Persistent drought affects global crop production and is becoming more severe in many parts of the world in recent decades. Deciphering how plants respond to drought will facilitate the development of flexible mitigation strategies. Sorghum bicolor L. Moench (sorghum), a major cereal crop and an emerging bioenergy crop, exhibits remarkable resilience to drought. To better understand the molecular traits that underlie sorghum's remarkable drought tolerance, we undertook a large-scale sorghum gene expression profiling effort, totaling nearly 1500 transcriptome profiles, across a 3-year field study with replicated plots in California's Central Valley. This study included time-resolved gene expression data from roots and leaves of two sorghum genotypes, BTx642 and RTx430, with different pre-flowering and post-flowering drought-tolerance adaptations under control and drought conditions. Quantification of genotype-specific drought tolerance effects was enabled by de novo sequencing, assembly, and annotation of both BTx642 and RTx430 genomes. These reference-quality genomes were used to construct a pangene set for characterizing conserved and genotype-specific expression. By integrating time-resolved transcriptomic responses to drought in the field across three consecutive years, we identified a set of 726 drought-responsive genes that responded similarly in all 3 years of our field study. Functional enrichment analysis identified abiotic stress, secondary cell wall-related processes and metabolism as particularly affected under both types of drought stress. We also found that some glyoxylate cycle pathway genes, including malate synthase and isocitrate lyase, are differentially regulated particularly during post-flowering drought stress, implicating this pathway as potentially important for drought responsiveness. This expansive dataset represents a unique resource for sorghum and drought research communities and provides a methodological framework for the integration of multi-faceted time-resolved transcriptomic datasets.

Sorghum↗

PubMed2025

Integrative spatial transcriptomic analysis pinpoints the role of the ferroxidase, TaMCO3, in wheat root tip iron mobilization.

Roots play a critical role in the sensing and absorption of essential minerals from the rhizosphere. Iron (Fe) deficiency, for example, triggers a well-known series of physiological and molecular responses within roots that facilitate uptake, which differs between monocots and dicots. In monocots, little is known about the molecular responses that occur within specific root development zones in response to iron deprivation, and how these differences result in overall nutrient uptake. Here, we conducted a transcriptome analysis of wheat root tips under Fe deficiency (-Fe) and performed a comparative transcriptome analysis with the previous datasets generated from the whole root. Gene ontology analysis of differentially expressed genes highlighted the significance of oxidoreductase activity and metal/ion transport in the root tip, which are critical for Fe mobilization. Interestingly, wheat, an allohexaploid species consisting of three different genomes (A, B, and D) displayed varying gene expression levels arising from the three genomes that contributed to similar molecular functions. Detailed analysis of oxidoreductase function at the root tip revealed multiple multicopper oxidase (MCO) proteins, such as Fe-responsive TaMCO3, that likely contribute to the overall ferroxidase activity. Further characterization of TaMCO3 shows that it complements the yeast FET3 mutant and rescues the -Fe sensitivity phenotype of Arabidopsis atmco3 mutants by enhancing vascular Fe loading. Transgenic wheat lines overexpressing TaMCO3 exhibited increased root Fe accumulation and improved tolerance to -Fe by augmenting the expression of Fe-mobilizing genes. Our findings highlight the role of spatially resolved gene expression in -Fe responses, suggesting strategies to reprogram cells for improved nutrient stress tolerance.

Triticum↗

PubMed2026

ARR1 and ARR12 negatively regulate arsenic stress tolerance by controlling flavonoid metabolism in Arabidopsis.

ARR1/12-mediated cytokinin signaling negatively regulates the accumulation of glycosylated flavonoids, thereby increasing plant susceptibility to As(III) stress. Cytokinins negatively regulate arsenic stress tolerance in plants through cytokinin-signaling type-B Arabidopsis response regulators (B-ARRs), specifically ARR1 and ARR12. However, the mechanism by which cytokinin signaling regulates plant metabolite dynamics, particularly antioxidant flavonoids, in response to arsenic toxicity remains largely unknown. Here, we hypothesized that ARR1/12-mediated cytokinin signaling modulates flavonoid metabolism to regulate arsenite [As(III)] tolerance. By comparing the global metabolic changes in roots of the arr1 12 double mutant (rD) and wild-type (WT) plants, we found that As(III) stress globally reduced metabolite abundance in WT roots. Importantly, the rD mutant accumulated significantly more flavonoids, most in glycosylated forms, than WT under As(III) exposure, which was supported by the specific upregulation of UDP-glycosyltransferase genes involved in flavonoid glycosylation. Accordingly, exogenous application of the glycosylated quercitrin-enhanced As(III) tolerance in WT roots, strengthening that the increase of glycosylated flavonoids in rD roots was beneficial for plant survival under As(III) exposure. Our data collectively strongly support that the increased glycosylation of flavonoids in the rD mutant improves their antioxidant functionality, thereby enhancing the As(III) stress tolerance. This study provides a new insight into the negative role of cytokinin signaling in repressing glycosylated flavonoid accumulation, causing increased susceptibility of plants to As(III) stress. Manipulation of cytokinin signaling or flavonoid glycosylation is, therefore, a promising approach for heavy metal stress mitigation in crops.

Arabidopsis↗

PubMed2025

Integrative omics of the genetic basis for wheat WUE and drought resilience reveal the function of TaMYB7-A1.

Improving wheat drought resilience and water use efficiency (WUE) is critical for sustaining productivity under increasing water scarcity. Here, we integrate genome-wide association study (GWAS), expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) mapping, population-transcriptome analysis, and summary-data-based mendelian randomization (SMR), followed by functional validation using indexed EMS mutants and transgenic lines, to systematically identify key WUE regulators. GWAS across water conditions in 228 accessions identifies 73 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for WUE-traits. Transcriptome profiling of 110 diverse accessions reveals 28 drought-responsive modules. eQTL mapping uncovers 146,966 regulatory variants, including condition-specific hotspots associated with key drought-related pathways. Integrative analysis underscores 85 high-confidence candidate genes, notably TaMYB7-A1. Overexpression of TaMYB7-A1 enhances photosynthesis, WUE, root development, and grain yield under drought condition by activating TaPIP2;2-B1 (water transport), TaRD20-D1 (stomatal regulation), and TaABCB4-B1 (root growth), reflecting reduced water loss and improved physiological resilience. Our study presents a comprehensive regulatory map and robust targets for wheat drought adaptation and resilient cultivar breeding.

Triticum↗

PubMed2026

Genome-Wide Analysis of Triticum aestivum Root Meristem Growth Factor (RGF) Gene Family Highlights TaRGF5 as a Putative Component of Root-Associated Signaling.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum), a key global crop, faces rising drought stress that limits root growth and water uptake. Root meristem growth factors (RGFs) are small peptides that regulate root stem cell maintenance, meristem activity, and lateral root formation in model plants, yet the RGF gene family remains unexplored in wheat. Here, we performed a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of the TaRGF gene family, identifying 15 genes distributed across the A, B, and D subgenomes and classified into five homeologous groups (TaRGF1-TaRGF5), predominantly located on chromosomes 2 and 6. All TaRGFs contained a characteristic RGF motif, with dibasic cleavage sites and Asp-Tyr motifs indicating conserved maturation mechanisms. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, the TaRGF5 homeologs showed the highest similarity to Arabidopsis thaliana RGF5. Tested RNA-seq data revealed predominantly root-enriched expression for all TaRGF genes, with TaRGF5 exhibiting the most root-preferential and downregulation under drought stress. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) confirmed that drought stress suppressed the expression of TaRGF5A, TaRGF5B, and TaRGF5D in roots of wheat cultivar Sids-13 across all time points, unlike the higher accumulation seen in controls. Promoter analysis predicted a unique BES1 transcription factor binding site exclusively in TaRGF5B, linking brassinosteroid signaling to peptide-mediated root regulation. Structural modeling and molecular docking predicted an interaction between wheat TaRGF5 homeologs and root growth factor-insensitive receptor kinase (TaRGI3), characterized by conserved sulfotyrosine-mediated binding and favorable interaction energetics. Based on this characterization of the wheat RGF gene family, particularly the potential role of TaRGF5 in root development and drought-adaptation signaling, we propose targeting this gene for functional analysis to improve wheat resilience under water-limited conditions.

Triticum↗

PubMed2026

The metabolic and anatomical complexity of root microhabitats modulate their interaction with the microbiota.

Plant roots constantly communicate with their microbiota, adapting their anatomy to facilitate microbial colonisation under abiotic stresses. Microbes, in turn, can reshape root anatomy once they establish. However, the mechanisms that coordinate this interplay remain largely unknown. Working with the aquatic plant family Lemnaceae, we reveal that the inherent complexity of root anatomy determines root plasticity in response to microbial colonisation. This microbiota-driven anatomical plasticity enhances plant survival in nutrient-competitive environments. By combining synthetic root models with real roots, we also find that anatomical plasticity is associated with metabolic reprogramming during microbial establishment. Moreover, we identify a plant metabolite, N6,N6,N6-Trimethyl-L-lysine, that regulates anatomical plasticity in response to microbial colonisation. Our work generalizes the importance of microhabitat complexity for microbiome recruitment under challenging environmental conditions.

Plant Roots↗

PubMed2026

Physiological and transcriptomic responses of sunflower to combined saline-alkali stress.

BACKGROUND: Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), an important oilseed crop, is often used as a pioneer species for improving saline-alkali soils. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying sunflower seedling responses to combined saline-alkali stress remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular basis of saline-alkali tolerance at the seedling stage by comparing physiological and transcriptomic responses between tolerant and sensitive sunflower hybrids. The saline-alkali tolerant hybrid K-27 and the sensitive hybrid K-7 were used as experimental materials. Root samples were collected at 0, 3, 12, 24, 48, and 96 h after exposure to combined saline-alkali stress (0.5% NaCl + Na2CO3, adjusted to pH 9.0). Physiological parameters, including antioxidant enzyme activities, osmolyte contents, ion concentrations, membrane damage levels, and cell wall components, were measured, followed by transcriptome sequencing analysis. RESULTS: Phenotypic analysis showed that the root length inhibition rate and fresh weight loss rate of K-27 were significantly lower than those of K-7, indicating stronger tolerance. Physiological analysis revealed that K-27 exhibited an inducible antioxidant enzyme response pattern. In addition, K-27 achieved osmotic adjustment through sustained proline accumulation (peaking at 12 h and remaining significantly higher than that of K-7 at 96 h) and exhibited higher basal levels of lignin and hemicellulose. Transcriptome analysis showed that the number of upregulated genes in K-27 was consistently higher than in K-7 at all time points, with 5,283 genes upregulated as early as 3 h after stress exposure. Venn analysis identified 44 core differentially expressed genes (cDEGs) shared between the two genotypes, which were mainly enriched in auxin biosynthesis regulation, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and glutathione metabolism. Among them, the benzoic acid carboxyl methyltransferase gene (BAMT) was continuously upregulated in K-27 but persistently downregulated in K-7. In addition, five other genes (encoding fatty aldehyde dehydrogenase, pectin methylesterase inhibitor, glutathione S-transferase, INPP5E, and HXXXD-type acyltransferase) exhibited significantly higher expression levels in K-27. CONCLUSION: K-27 tolerates combined saline-alkali stress through coordinated multi-layered response mechanisms, including inducible antioxidant defense, maintenance of ion homeostasis, sustained osmotic adjustment, and activation of the phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway. Candidate genes such as BAMT may provide potential targets for molecular breeding of saline-alkali tolerant sunflower, although their functions require further experimental validation.

Helianthus↗

PubMed2025

Twisted Sister1: an agravitropic mutant of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) with altered root and shoot architectures.

We identified a mutant of hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum) with impaired responses to gravity. The mutant, named Twisted Sister1 (TS1), had agravitropic roots that were often twisted along with altered shoot phenotypes. Roots of TS1 were insensitive to externally applied auxin, with the genetics and physiology suggestive of a mutated AUX/IAA transcription factor gene. Hexaploid wheat possesses over 80 AUX/IAA genes, and sequence information did not identify an obvious candidate. Bulked segregant analysis of an F2 population mapped the mutation to chromosome 5A, and subsequent mapping located the mutation to a 41 Mbp region. RNA-seq identified the TraesCS5A03G0149800 gene encoding a TaAUX/IAA protein to be mutated in the highly conserved domain II motif. We confirmed TraesCS5A03G0149800 as underlying the mutant phenotype by generating transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana. Analysis of RNA-seq data suggested broad similarities between Arabidopsis and wheat for the role of AUX/IAA genes in gravity responses, although there were marked differences. Here we show that the sequenced wheat genome, along with previous knowledge of the physiology of gravity responses from other plant species, gene mapping, RNA-seq, and expression in Arabidopsis have enabled the cloning of a key wheat gene that defines plant architecture.

Triticum↗

PubMed2026

Chemometric insights into Lactiplantibacillus plantarum effects on onion (Allium cepa L.) metabolism and antidiabetic activity under cadmium stress.

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal that causes severe physiological damage in plants, inhibiting growth and ultimately reducing crop yield. Lactic acid bacteria regulate Cd availability through bioaccumulation and biosorption. This study evaluated the Cd tolerance of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 10CH by determining its survival capacity under Cd stress and its potential to mitigate Cd-induced stress in onion (Allium cepa L.). The bacterial strain tolerated Cd concentrations up to 100 µM, and whole-genome sequencing identified genes involved in Cd biosorption, accumulation, and efflux. Exposure of onion to increasing CdCl2 concentrations significantly reduced root and shoot biomass. Inoculation with Lb. plantarum 10CH alleviated Cd stress at 100 µM, enhancing root and shoot biomass, reducing Cd accumulation, lowering oxidative damage markers, and stimulating antioxidant enzyme activities. Metabolic profiling revealed that Cd stress significantly reduced primary metabolites and amino acids, particularly at 100 µM, while bacterial inoculation restored key amino acids and peptides, including arginine, tyrosine, and glutamic acid. Chemometric analysis using unsupervised (PCA) and supervised (OPLS-DA) models revealed clear metabolite variation among untreated, Cd-stressed, and bacterial inoculated Cd-stressed onion leaves. Furthermore, leaf extracts exhibited α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, with the highest activity in control plants (IC50 = 425.2 ± 0.5 µg/mL). Cd-stressed plants showed moderate antidiabetic activity, which was significantly reduced by bacterial inoculation. Overall, these findings demonstrate that Lb. plantarum 10CH can survive under Cd stress and alleviates Cd-induced stress in onion, highlighting its potential as a bioinoculant to mitigate heavy metal stress.

Onions↗

PubMed2026

Experimental and genomic evidence clarifies the mycorrhizal helper role of a widespread bacterium in Bishop pine forests.

Whether a widespread bacterial strain of Paraburkholderia can enhance the physiological responses of ectomycorrhizal fungi (EcMF) and host Bishop pine seedling growth remains unclear. We developed a 'top-down meets bottom-up' approach that harmonized data from molecular field surveys, experimental forest soil manipulations, statistical interaction models, metabolomics studies, bacterial isolations, controlled growth chamber experiments, and comparative genomics analyses to test the direction and strength of Paraburkholderia-EcMF interactions on host seedling physiology and identify potential mechanisms that support these tripartite interactions. Paraburkholderia sp. D1E increased host root colonization of Suillus pungens - a keystone EcMF taxon for seedling establishment. Paraburkholderia-Suillus co-inoculations also often drove additive seedling growth responses (e.g. biomass and foliar chemistry) and generated nonadditive, positive effects on seedling shoot height. Genomic comparisons identified low chitin and high arabinitol utilization potential as distinguishing features of Paraburkholderia-EcMF symbioses. Our analyses provide experimental evidence, genomic resources, and cross-data validation that highlight potential mechanisms involved in a widespread bacteria-EcMF-tree interaction. Given the diversity of bacteria and fungi in the rhizosphere, however, this approach should continue to be applied to other species combinations to generalize interaction mechanisms among bacterial, fungal, and plant partners.

Paraburkholderia↗

PubMed2026

Comparative Responses of Invasive and Native Plant Species to Combined Cd and Microplastic Pollution.

The co-occurrence of heavy metal contamination and biodegradable microplastic (polylactic acid, PLA) pollution poses increasing risks to terrestrial plant communities and soil functioning, yet species-specific responses to combined stress remain poorly understood. Cd and microplastics frequently co-occur in agricultural soils, where microplastics can alter cadmium mobility, bioavailability, and transport pathways, potentially modifying metal toxicity and plant stress responses compared with single-pollutant exposure. We investigated the responses of the invasive Bidens pilosa and the native Solanum nigrum grown in monoculture and mixed culture under combined cadmium (Cd) and biodegradable microplastic (PLA) stress by integrating plant growth, photosynthetic performance, oxidative physiology, and rhizosphere biochemical processes. Combined Cd-MP exposure markedly reduced plant growth, chlorophyll content (SPAD), photosystem II efficiency (Fv/Fm), nitrogen accumulation, biomass production, and rhizosphere enzyme activities associated with carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling. However, B. pilosa maintained greater physiological stability under stress, characterized by higher antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, POD), lower reactive oxygen species (H2O2, O2˙-) accumulation, and reduced lipid peroxidation (MDA), whereas S. nigrum exhibited stronger oxidative damage and functional impairment. Multivariate analyses further revealed that root antioxidant capacity was closely associated with rhizosphere microbial enzyme activity, suggesting a root-centered regulatory mechanism linking plant stress tolerance to soil functioning. Overall, the invasive species showed greater tolerance to combined contamination and maintained relatively higher rhizosphere functional activity than the native species, indicating that multi-pollutant stress may alter competitive interactions between invasive and native plants in contaminated environments.

Cadmium↗

PubMed2026

A novel domain of unknown function 707 protein coordinates root growth and drought tolerance.

A well-developed root system is one of the morphological mechanisms through which xerophytes adapt to drought. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying root growth are not completely known. In this work, two domain of unknown function 707 (DUF707) proteins were identified as hub genes for the response of roots to drought stress in Lespedeza potaninii, a xerophytic subshrub. We found that angiosperm DUF707 proteins can be divided into two subfamilies. LpDUF707-1 expression was strongly induced under drought stress and abscisic acid (ABA) treatment in the roots of L. potaninii, and its promoter activity in the roots was significantly induced by drought stress and mannitol treatments. The overexpression of LpDUF707-1 significantly improved root growth and drought tolerance, whereas the silencing of LpDUF707-1 inhibited root growth and reduced drought tolerance. We further revealed that the LpOBP3.1 transcription factor directly binds to the promoter region of LpDUF707-1, thereby repressing its activity. LpOBP3.1 expression was strongly suppressed under drought stress and ABA treatment in the roots of L. potaninii. The overexpression of LpOBP3.1 significantly inhibited root growth and decreased drought tolerance, whereas LpOBP3.1-RNAi lines presented the opposite pattern. Collectively, our results demonstrated that this novel module regulates root growth and drought tolerance in L. potaninii, thus providing gene targets for the development of elite crop varieties with well-developed root-mediated drought tolerance.

Drought Resistance↗

PubMed2026

Transcriptomic responses of Porphyrophora sophorae larvae during licorice root colonization reveal coordinated remodeling of translation, mitochondrial energy metabolism and defense-related genes.

BACKGROUND: Porphyrophora sophorae is a subterranean piercing-sucking scale insect that damages licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) roots, but the molecular responses associated with larval root colonization remain insufficiently defined. METHODS: We compared non-parasitic larvae (NP) and root-colonizing larvae (RC) using six RNA-seq libraries, de novo transcriptome assembly, DESeq2-based differential expression analysis, GO/KEGG enrichment, annotation-based candidate gene screening, and RT-qPCR validation of selected genes. RESULTS: Sequencing yielded 260.91 million clean reads, and de novo assembly produced 60,794 non-redundant transcripts. DESeq2 identified 703 FDR-significant DEGs, including 49 upregulated and 654 downregulated genes in RC larvae. Upregulated genes were mainly associated with translation- and ribosome-related processes, whereas downregulated genes were enriched in mitochondrial, oxidation-reduction, energy metabolism, and oxidative phosphorylation-related functions. Annotation-based screening identified 75 FDR-significant candidate genes associated with chemosensation, defense-related responses, and energy metabolism, with mitochondrial energy metabolism-related genes forming the largest module. RT-qPCR validation based on the raw Ct data showed concordant expression directions for ten selected transcript targets. CONCLUSIONS: Root colonization in P. sophorae larvae was associated with coordinated transcriptional remodeling involving selective activation of translation-related processes, adjustment of mitochondrial energy metabolism, and changes in defense-related gene expression. These results provide candidate molecular targets for future functional studies of host contact, feeding establishment, and physiological adjustment in this subterranean scale insect.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Molecular mechanisms of natural de novo shoot organogenesis and their applications.

Natural de novo shoot organogenesis (DNSO) is the spontaneous regeneration of shoots from wound sites outside the shoot apical region through endogenous developmental programs. This regenerative capacity enables plants to recover from severe tissue damage by re-establishing the shoot-root axis. Here, we review current knowledge about the molecular mechanisms of natural DNSO, focusing on transcriptomic and physiological studies in model plants. Accumulating evidence suggests that natural DNSO proceeds through three sequential phases: (i) early wound responses, characterized by the activation of the WIND1-ESR1 module and the establishment of apical-basal auxin asymmetry; (ii) cellular proliferation driven by metabolic and cell-cycle reprogramming; and (iii) cytokinin-mediated establishment of shoot apical meristem identity. We also discuss how these mechanistic insights have been harnessed for practical applications, including tissue culture-free transformation systems such as the cut-dip-budding (CDB) method, and developmental reprogramming strategies that employ ectopic expression of developmental regulator (DR) genes to induce DNSO in otherwise recalcitrant species. Together, these advances illustrate how understanding natural regeneration can guide the development of simplified, broadly applicable plant transformation technologies.

Plant Shoots↗