TreesPub Date : 2025-09-25DOI: 10.1007/s00468-025-02680-4
Gesa Thomann, Wolfgang Bilger
{"title":"Heterogeneity of photosynthetic light acclimation within single leaves of Fagus sylvatica","authors":"Gesa Thomann, Wolfgang Bilger","doi":"10.1007/s00468-025-02680-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00468-025-02680-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Key message</h3><p>Rolled sun leaves of Fagus sylvatica L. showed strong heterogeneous light acclimation of the photosynthetic apparatus across the leaf lamina as reflected in blue light excited chlorophyll fluorescence.</p><h3>Abstract</h3><p>Many grasses, but also dicotyledonous species have rolled leaves, which is interpreted as a resistance mechanism against drought. Rolled leaves intercept less light, which causes a reduced heat load but may also induce an acclimation of the photosynthetic apparatus to reduced irradiance. We have investigated the light acclimation of different parts of permanently rolled leaves of beech (<i>Fagus sylvatica</i> L.) using various methods based on chlorophyll fluorescence as well as by HPLC analysis of photosynthetic pigments. Chlorophyll fluorescence emission excited by blue light showed a strong heterogeneity across the leaf lamina, with the highest emission in the upward bent sides of the leaf and minimal emission in the center and tip of the lamina. Heterogeneity was absent in flat shade leaves and the flat sun leaves of another beech tree and also in all types of leaves when red light was used for fluorescence excitation. Since blue-induced fluorescence intensity was negatively correlated with the pool size of the violaxanthin cycle, it is concluded that the heterogeneity in blue light-excited fluorescence was caused by the variation of these carotenoid pigments across the leaves. Also light saturated electron transport rate and sensitivity to photoinhibition indicated shade acclimation of the upward bent leaf sides. It is concluded that leaf rolling in beech leaves may also have a photoprotective function.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":805,"journal":{"name":"Trees","volume":"39 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00468-025-02680-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145169994","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yu Wang, Yue Yang, Mingkun Chen, Chenqi Huang, Yujie Qi, Hong An, Jun Wei, Zhuanxia Xin, Houhua Li
{"title":"The MpbZIP46-MpERF105 Module Responds to ABA and Ethylene Signalling to Promote Anthocyanin Synthesis in Malus 'Profusion' Under Rust Stress.","authors":"Yu Wang, Yue Yang, Mingkun Chen, Chenqi Huang, Yujie Qi, Hong An, Jun Wei, Zhuanxia Xin, Houhua Li","doi":"10.1111/pce.70209","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.70209","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Malus 'Profusion' synthesizes anthocyanins at the spots as a defence mechanism against rust fungi. While ethylene and abscisic acid (ABA) are known to synergistically regulate anthocyanin biosynthesis via transcription factors (TFs) in plants, their regulatory roles in M. 'Profusion' under rust stress remain elusive. In this study, we found that the release of ABA and ethylene significantly increased during rust infection. Crucially, we identified MpbZIP46, a novel ABA-responsive bZIP TF, as playing a key role in anthocyanin biosynthesis. Overexpression of MpbZIP46 significantly promoted anthocyanin synthesis, while CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockdown of MpbZIP46 significantly reduced anthocyanin content. Further studies showed that under rust conditions, the release of ABA and ethylene synergistically promoted the accumulation of anthocyanins in M. 'Profusion' rust spots. Mechanistically, MpbZIP46 physically interacts with the ethylene-responsive TF MpERF105, forming a functional complex that synergistically transactivates the promoter of MpMYB10b-the core regulator of anthocyanin synthesis, thereby driving anthocyanin production in rust-stressed leaves. In conclusion, this study established the molecular mechanism by which ABA and ethylene regulate anthocyanin synthesis in M. 'Profusion' leaves under rust stress through the MpbZIP46-MpERF105-MpMYB10b module.</p>","PeriodicalId":222,"journal":{"name":"Plant, Cell & Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145147217","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chitthavalli Y. Harshith, Dipasmit Palchaudhuri, Riju Dey, Steffi Raju, Padubidri V. Shivaprasad
{"title":"OsWRKY53 dictates wound responses in rice through fine-tuning crosstalk between PEP and PSK-mediated signalling","authors":"Chitthavalli Y. Harshith, Dipasmit Palchaudhuri, Riju Dey, Steffi Raju, Padubidri V. Shivaprasad","doi":"10.1111/tpj.70481","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.70481","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Wounding is a major event during the multitude of stresses that plants face in their natural environment. Wound response is very dynamic and involves the integration of various regulatory networks culminating in successful wound-induced downstream signalling. Plants depend on endogenous molecular signals predominantly, small peptides, to initiate wound responses. Transcriptional response is paramount in dictating a successful wound response. Here we show the involvement of a WRKY transcription factor (TF) named <i>OsWRKY53</i> that is upregulated upon wounding as well as wound-derived plant elicitor peptide (PEP), OsPep2 treatments. OsWRKY53 is involved in the positive regulation of gene expression of OsPep2-responsive genes. OsWRKY53 displays altered DNA occupancy in response to OsPep2 treatment over time, correlating with the altered gene expression. OsWRKY53 undergoes phosphorylation upon OsPep2 perception, and this contributes to the enhanced stability of the protein. Further, OsWRKY53 is involved in the simultaneous activation and suppression of OsPep2-responsive and phytosulfokine (PSK)-responsive genes, respectively. In agreement with these findings, perturbed expression of OsWRKY53 leads to compromised transcriptional responses post-wounding. Collectively, we establish that OsWRKY53 acts at the intersection of PEP and PSK-mediated transition of wound responses.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":233,"journal":{"name":"The Plant Journal","volume":"123 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145146737","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Functional genetics of rice PISTILLATA genes reveals new roles and target genes in flowering time, female fertility, and parthenocarpy","authors":"Mohamed Zamzam, Ritabrata Basak, Sharad Singh, Sandhan Prakash, Raghavaram Peesapati, Imtiyaz Khanday, Sara Simonini, Ueli Grossniklaus, Usha Vijayraghavan","doi":"10.1111/tpj.70490","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.70490","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Floral organ identity is controlled largely by the combinatorial action of MADS domain homeotic transcription factors. Lodicules are specialized plant organs in cereals and grasses that are involved in floret opening and facilitate pollination and fertility in rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.). To understand the mechanisms underlying the specification of the rice lodicule, we investigated the developmental functions of the rice <i>PISTILLATA</i> (<i>PI</i>) paralogs, <i>OsMADS2</i>, and <i>OsMADS4</i>. Null <i>osmads2</i> mutants reiterated OsMADS2 nonredundant lodicule specification roles and revealed new roles in flowering time and floral organ number and fate. Doubly perturbed <i>osmads2 osmads4kd</i> florets had severe abnormalities, were female infertile, yet could initiate parthenocarpy. Ubiquitous <i>OsMADS4</i> overexpression rescued <i>osmads2</i> abnormalities. We also utilized genome-wide binding analyses and transcriptome profiling to identify putative target genes contributing to OsMADS2 functions. In <i>osmads2</i><sup><i>d8/d8</i></sup> null mutant, we observed deregulated genes in a plethora of processes including lodicule and stamen development, floral organ number, and cell wall development. Some examples are cell division regulators (Cyclin D6, Cyclin-P4-1-like), an aquaporin (PIP1A), a peptide transporter, a vascular developmental regulator (HOX1), and a cell wall modulator (GH9B16). The deregulation of these genes may be associated with the disrupted cell division, tissue differentiation, and physiology of the malformed lodicules in <i>osmads2</i> and <i>osmads2 osmads4kd</i> florets. Altogether, we reveal novel roles for the rice <i>PI</i> paralogs in flowering time, panicle exsertion, and embryo sac differentiation, identify gene targets for lodicule development, and provide mechanistic insights on the functional diversification of rice <i>PI</i> paralogs.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":233,"journal":{"name":"The Plant Journal","volume":"123 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145146521","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
TreesPub Date : 2025-09-25DOI: 10.1007/s00468-025-02683-1
Letícia Lanes Ferreira, Priscila Fernanda Simioni, Igor Araújo, Demétrius Lira-Martins, Gabriel do Amaral Ferreira, Maura Da Cunha
{"title":"How does variation in physiological and structural traits explain the occurrence of plants in different restinga formations?","authors":"Letícia Lanes Ferreira, Priscila Fernanda Simioni, Igor Araújo, Demétrius Lira-Martins, Gabriel do Amaral Ferreira, Maura Da Cunha","doi":"10.1007/s00468-025-02683-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00468-025-02683-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Key message</h3><p>This study reveals intraspecific variability in physiological and anatomical traits among tree species in different restinga formations, highlighting their adaptability to changing microclimatic conditions.</p><h3>Abstract</h3><p>Climate change, with increasingly frequent drought episodes, threatens the survival of tree species in biodiverse ecosystems like the Atlantic Forest. We investigated whether plants of the same species in different restinga formations exhibit intraspecific variability in physiological and secondary xylem traits. We evaluated five individuals of each of three tree species (<i>Scutia arenicola</i> (Casar.) Reissek (Rhamnaceae)<i>, Schinus terebinthifolia</i> Raddi (Anacardiaceae), and <i>Pera glabrata</i> (Schott) Baill. (Peraceae) all of which co-occur across three distinct formations within the restinga of northern Rio de Janeiro State: a beach grass and shrub, a <i>Clusia</i> formation, and a sandbanks forest formation. We used standard methods of plant physiology and anatomy to study the traits, focusing on the structure–function relationships between leaf and secondary xylem. The evaluated species exhibited a set of variations in functional traits. While the leaves invested in water-use efficiency, the wood remained conservative, prioritizing hydraulic safety. These traits vary mainly in the <i>Clusia</i> and beach grass and shrub formations, where the canopy is open and both soil moisture availability and irradiance are lower and higher, respectively. In the sandbanks forest, where the canopy is closed and soil moisture is higher, a pattern of photosynthetic efficiency, carbon acquisition, and water transport efficiency was observed. The physiological and tissue variation identified in this study may have played a role in the coexistence of the species, allowing them to adjust to variable microclimates among the different restinga formations. This variation may be essential for the persistence of these species, enabling efficient water to use and safety, which is reflected in their maintenance along vegetation gradients over time and under future climate scenarios.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":805,"journal":{"name":"Trees","volume":"39 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145169993","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
TreesPub Date : 2025-09-24DOI: 10.1007/s00468-025-02685-z
Mohsen Arsalani, Jussi Grießinger, Sugam Aryal, Achim Bräuning
{"title":"Sub-annual growth responses of Persian oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.) to climate in the Zagros Mountains, western Iran: regional climate imprint is stronger than the influences of microclimate and elevation","authors":"Mohsen Arsalani, Jussi Grießinger, Sugam Aryal, Achim Bräuning","doi":"10.1007/s00468-025-02685-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00468-025-02685-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Mountain ecosystems are dynamic and highly sensitive to the negative impacts of climate change. Within this study, we conducted the first comprehensive dendrochronological, multi-site and multi-elevational study of Persian oak (<i>Quercus brantii</i> Lindl.) across the Zagros Mountains in Western Iran. Besides total ring-width (TRW), we separately measured earlywood width (EWW) and latewood width (LWW) to analyze climate impact on oak growth with sub-annual resolution. We found strong correlations between TRW, EWW, and LWW, as well as between the individual site chronologies. Several negative extreme events and long-term growth patterns were captured by all site chronologies, revealing an increase in the frequency of negative extreme events during recent decades (1930–2022). The standard chronologies exhibited strong climate signals representative for larger areas in West Asia and the Mediterranean region. Climate-growth response analyses indicated that winter precipitation is the most important growth-limiting factor, having a strong positive effect on the growth of the native oak species. Conversely, we found negative correlations between Tmax and Tmean and TRW, EWW, and LWW of Persian oak during the previous and current growth years. Correlations with various drought indices confirmed the strong negative impacts of dry periods on oak forests, particularly for the central and southern parts of the Zagros Mts. The very homogenous growth response across elevation and different microsite conditions emphasizes the dominant role of macroclimate on oak growth. Correlation analysis between annual and sub-annual ring-width parameters of <i>Q. brantii</i> and climate indices highlights the strong effect of large-scale teleconnection patterns on the Zagros oak forests. Our findings highlight the pivotal role of sufficient winter precipitation supply. Therefore, watershed management that promotes soil moisture conservation under current and expected future climate change is recommended to ensure long-term resilience of Persian oak forests.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":805,"journal":{"name":"Trees","volume":"39 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00468-025-02685-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145169788","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jesús Pérez-López, Clara de la Osa, Jacinto Gandullo, Nora Gigli-Bisceglia, Inmaculada Coleto, Ana Belén Feria, Cristina Echevarría, Christa Testerink, Daniel Marino, Sofía García-Mauriño, José A Monreal
{"title":"Unravelling the Significance of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase in Phosphate Starvation Responses.","authors":"Jesús Pérez-López, Clara de la Osa, Jacinto Gandullo, Nora Gigli-Bisceglia, Inmaculada Coleto, Ana Belén Feria, Cristina Echevarría, Christa Testerink, Daniel Marino, Sofía García-Mauriño, José A Monreal","doi":"10.1111/pce.70204","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.70204","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Low phosphate availability is a major concern for agriculture. Plants develop a plethora of responses to improve phosphate acquisition, known as phosphate starvation responses (PSR). Among them, the induction of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) has been described in many plants. However, most studies have been conducted in the absence of phosphate, thus the real impact of PEPC in PSR is missing as there is no phosphate to take up. In this study, we used modified sorghum plants silenced in the main PEPC isozyme in roots, SbPPC3, and analyzed the role of PEPC in the presence of insoluble calcium phosphate (PCa), showing a phosphate starvation phenotype in silenced but not in WT plants. Interestingly, root exudation of citrate was not reduced in silenced plants, probably due to a higher citrate synthase activity, but it was reduced for succinate, another compound with phosphate solubilisation capacity. Finally, silenced plants accumulated less P in roots with PCa, leading to a reduced phosphate acquisition efficiency (PAE). Our results show, for the first time, the actual role of PEPC in phosphate solubilisation through succinate exudation, proposing PPC3 as a specific target to improve PAE in plants.</p>","PeriodicalId":222,"journal":{"name":"Plant, Cell & Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145136172","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xuewen Wang, Hongjin Wei, Jiaojiao Lei, Zhibing Rui, Cun Yu
{"title":"Trichoderma koningiopsis Induced Changes in Root Exudates of Masson Pine Seedlings Alter Rhizosphere Microbiome to Enhance Damping-Off Disease Resistance.","authors":"Xuewen Wang, Hongjin Wei, Jiaojiao Lei, Zhibing Rui, Cun Yu","doi":"10.1111/pce.70203","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.70203","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Damping-off disease, primarily caused by Fusarium oxysporum, poses a significant challenge to the cultivation of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana) seedlings. Although Trichoderma koningiopsis improves damping-off disease resistance in Masson pine by regulating the rhizosphere microbial community, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Metabolomic analysis showed that T. koningiopsis altered Masson pine root exudates, especially plant organic acids such as capric acid (CA), lauric acid (LA) and pelargonic acid (PA). Co-culturing rhizosphere microbes with 0.1 mM CA, LA, PA and a combination of the three (1:1:1, CDNs1) significantly inhibited F. oxysporum and promoted the growth of rhizosphere biocontrol strains (Trichoderma, Penicillium and Bacillus), with CDNs1 exerting a superior effect. Amplicon sequencing and RT-qPCR showed that CDNs1 significantly altered the microbial community composition in the rhizosphere, especially inhibited the growth of Fusarium and enriched beneficial microbes (Trichoderma and Penicillium). CDNs1 effectively decreased the incidence and severity index of damping-off disease in Masson pine seedlings by 73.33% and 41.67%, respectively. Mechanistically, CDNs1 enhanced resistance to damping-off disease by modulating plant hormones, oxidative stress defences and the photosynthesis pathway. Collectively, this study provides insight into the mechanism by which T. koningiopsis enhances damping-off disease resistance by regulating the rhizosphere microbial community.</p>","PeriodicalId":222,"journal":{"name":"Plant, Cell & Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145129725","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Symbiotic Nodulation Enhances Legume Tolerance to Abiotic Stresses: Mechanisms and Perspectives.","authors":"Ting Wang, Fang Wu, Hanwen Liu, Xuanyu Zhang, Yunhao Zhou, Senlei Zhang, Peizhi Yang","doi":"10.1111/pce.70207","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.70207","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity, heavy metal contamination and cold, pose significant challenges to global agriculture, reducing crop productivity and threatening food security. Legume-rhizobium symbiosis not only facilitates biological nitrogen fixation but also improves plant tolerance to abiotic stresses. Nodulated leguminous plants exhibit better growth and improved productivity under abiotic stress conditions. In this review, we highlight recent advances in understanding how symbiotic nodulation mitigates abiotic stresses, focusing on physiological and biochemical responses, as well as molecular pathways. We then discuss future research directions to optimise rhizobial applications for stress-tolerant and climate-adaptive farming systems. Rhizobial inoculation is presented as a promising, sustainable and eco-friendly strategy for mitigating abiotic stresses, offering significant potential for stressed agricultural systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":222,"journal":{"name":"Plant, Cell & Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145136159","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}