Environmental and Experimental Botany最新文献

{"title":"Growth and wood-structural responses to moderate drought in young Quercus robur with contrasting heartwood production","authors":"Andrea Ponzecchi,&nbsp;Albin Lobo,&nbsp;Claudia Cocozza,&nbsp;Paolo Cherubini,&nbsp;Matthias Saurer,&nbsp;Erik Larnøy,&nbsp;Lisbeth G. Thygesen","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106460","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106460","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Broadleaf afforestation increasingly requires planting material that combines valuable wood properties with resilience to climatic stress. High heartwood content is a desirable trait in pedunculate oak (<em>Quercus robur)</em>, but it is unclear whether selecting for it could be a trade-off with resistance and resilience to drought. We addressed this question in a 24 year old progeny trial in southern Denmark where trees were ranked by heartwood production and the 2018 drought was used as a natural stress event. Trees with contrasting heartwood content were assessed using multiple indicators of drought response, including annual ring width, vessel anatomy, wood density, and dual stable isotopes (δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O) measured separately in earlywood and latewood over a five-year period. The 2018 summer drought was of moderate intensity at the trial site, with SPEI3 approximately −1.5, but it was clearly reflected in isotopic signals, indicating that trees perceived the water deficit. In contrast, radial growth did not decline, and ring widths remained above average in 2018. Across all metrics, trees with lower and higher heartwood content showed broadly similar physiological and wood-structural responses. Within the environmental conditions and drought intensity observed in this study, our results provide no evidence for a strong trade-off between heartwood content and response to a drought of moderate severity. They therefore support, with appropriate caution, the continued consideration of heartwood content as a selection trait in breeding and afforestation programs in comparable environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"250 ","pages":"Article 106460"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149142640","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genotype-specific metabolic shifts and polysaccharide dynamics in Huanglongbing (HLB)-infected citrus: Multi-platform metabolomics, glycoarray profiling, and ex vivo α-amylase activity","authors":"Sarana Rose Sommano,&nbsp;Pirawan Chaiwan,&nbsp;Jiraporn Sangta,&nbsp;Tibet Tangpao,&nbsp;Malaiporn Wongkaew,&nbsp;Tuan Nguyen,&nbsp;Mark S. Turner,&nbsp;Marlize Z. Bekker,&nbsp;Ieva Lelenaite,&nbsp;William Willats","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106458","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106458","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB), caused by <em>Candidatus</em> Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), is the most destructive citrus disease worldwide, characterised by phloem occlusion via callose (β-1,3-glucan) deposition and subsequent pathological starch accumulation. This study investigated genotype-specific metabolic shifts in <em>Citrus medica</em> L. (Citron), <em>C. reticulata</em> cv. Fremont (Fremont mandarin), and <em>C. reticulata</em> cv. Sai-Nam-Phueng (Tangerine) under asymptomatic and symptomatic HLB conditions and evaluated the potential of enzymatic hydrolysis to mitigate polysaccharide accumulation. Multi-platform metabolomics (LC-MS, GC-MS, and ¹H NMR) combined with glycoarray profiling revealed that CLas infection triggers comprehensive biochemical restructuring. While symptomatic tissues universally exhibited high bacterial load and genotype-dependent antioxidant responses, metabolic reprogramming was genotype-dependent. Citron displayed the most profound disruption, characterised by the depletion of signalling lipids (α-linolenic acid) and defence-related coumarins, alongside the retention of osmoprotectants (proline betaine). Conversely, Fremont mandarin exhibited a highly stable metabolic profile, while Sai-Nam-Phueng showed significant callose accumulation and flavonoid induction. A conserved stress-response volatile marker was identified across all infected genotypes at GC-MS retention time 56.39 min (Rtx-5ms capillary column, 30 m × 0.25 mm ID, 0.25 µm). Glycoarray analysis indicated the dominance of β-1,3-glucans in symptomatic tissues, which correlated with the formation of massive starch aggregates (300–500 μm) visualised by scanning electron microscopy. Crucially, ex vivo application of commercial α-amylase partially hydrolysed up to 10% of these starch deposits under ex vivo conditions. These findings elucidate distinct tolerance mechanisms involving lipid signalling turnover and osmotic regulation and suggest that while amylase specifically targets starch rather than callose, reducing this secondary starch accumulation represents a preliminary proof-of-concept that warrants further in vivo investigation before therapeutic claims can be substantiated.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"250 ","pages":"Article 106458"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149142639","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corrigendum to “TaMYC8 regulates TaERF6 and inhibits ethylene synthesis to confer Cd tolerance in wheat” [Environ. Exp. Bot. 198 (2022) 104854]","authors":"Hongcheng Wang,&nbsp;Dan Zuo,&nbsp;Bin Zhu,&nbsp;Xuye Du,&nbsp;Lei Gu","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106420","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106420","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"249 ","pages":"Article 106420"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148940917","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Split-root transcriptomics reveals the molecular basis of genotype-dependent root boron retention in rice","authors":"Ming Sun,&nbsp;Mingzhe Zhao,&nbsp;Mingda Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106436","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106436","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil boron pollution poses an increasing threat to crop productivity and agricultural sustainability, yet the early mechanisms underlying plant adaptation to boron toxicity remain poorly understood. Using a split-root system combined with transcriptome profiling, we dissected genotype-dependent responses to boron stress in two rice varieties with contrasting boron accumulation and allocation characteristics. Under localized boron exposure, BJ retained more boron in roots, whereas YR translocated more boron to shoots, indicating distinct genotype-dependent strategies of boron allocation. Early responses to boron toxicity were characterized by suppression of cell wall biosynthesis and assembly, cell cycle progression, and gibberellin signaling, together with induction of DNA repair, antioxidant defense (mediated by glutathione and catalase), and abscisic acid- and jasmonic acid-related hormone pathways. Boron transport was also rapidly reprogrammed, as reflected by the down-regulation of boron transporter 1 (<em>BOR1</em>) and the up-regulation of polyol transporter 5 (<em>PLT5</em>) and detoxification transporter 16 (<em>DTX16</em>). Spatial transcriptomic analyses further distinguished External-Boron-Responsive and Internal-Boron-Responsive modules, supporting a framework of local perception and systemic integration. Notably, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) showed broader repression of MAPK signaling, plant hormone signal transduction, amino acid and lipid metabolism, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis in BJ, suggesting reduced root physiological activity. In contrast, YR maintained these functions more effectively, consistent with its lower root boron retention. These findings advance our understanding of rice adaptation to boron toxicity and highlight candidate pathways associated with improved boron tolerance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"249 ","pages":"Article 106436"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148940802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ozone-induced hormonal effects underpin germination dynamics in temperate tree species","authors":"J. Atkin-Willoughby,&nbsp;M.P. Perring,&nbsp;P.A. Martínez‑Melgarejo,&nbsp;T. Peters,&nbsp;F. Hayes,&nbsp;L. Jones,&nbsp;J.R. Healey,&nbsp;A. Smith","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106434","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106434","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tropospheric ozone is a secondary air pollutant that negatively affects plant growth, but its impact on seed germination remains poorly understood despite the occurrence of ozone episodes in early spring. This study investigated the direct effects of ozone exposure on non-dormant seed germination, together with the impact on the key phytohormones that govern germination. We exposed seeds of five widely distributed temperate tree species (<em>Pinus sylvestris, Betula pendula, Alnus glutinosa, Acer pseudoplatanus</em>, and <em>Picea sitchensis</em>) to elevated (+ 60 ppb) or ambient atmospheric ozone concentrations over 27-day germination periods. Elevated ozone led to a significant delay and reduction in germination (by 17%) in <em>P. sylvestris</em>, with the same but weaker trends in <em>B. pendula</em> and <em>P. sitchensis</em>, and no detectable effects in <em>A. glutinosa</em> or <em>A. pseudoplatanus</em>. At the end of the trial, ozone altered the balance of the key germination-regulating hormone abscisic acid (ABA; 1.5-fold change) in ungerminated <em>P. sylvestris</em> seeds, as well as the levels of hormones that influence ABA transcription (auxin; 9-fold change) and plant responses to abiotic stress (jasmonic acid; 3-fold change; salicylic acid; 2-fold change). These phytohormonal effects provide a suggested mechanism through which ozone can induce changes in seed germination, with species sensitivity likely depending on oxidant uptake, antioxidant capacity and physical seed characteristics. Our results underscore ozone's potential role as a selective pressure by differentially affecting seed germination dynamics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"249 ","pages":"Article 106434"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148940803","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Photosynthetic drivers of heat resilience in peanut","authors":"Kelvin Jimmy Awori ,&nbsp;John L. Snider ,&nbsp;Soraya Leal-Bertioli ,&nbsp;David Bertioli ,&nbsp;Vinicius Soncini Trevisan ,&nbsp;Gabrielle Alves Comitre ,&nbsp;Olavo Betiol ,&nbsp;Cristiane Pilon","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106383","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106383","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rising temperatures threaten peanut (<em>Arachis hypogaea</em> L.) production worldwide, emphasizing the need for cultivars with enhanced heat tolerance. Wild-derived genotypes represent valuable genetic sources for improving thermotolerance. This study aimed to (1) distinguish heat-sensitive and heat-resilient peanut genotypes using net photosynthesis (A_N) as a physiological marker, and (2) identify photosynthetic traits contributing to heat stress responses. We evaluated 28 peanut genotypes, 10 cultivars and 18 wild-derived advanced lines, under field-imposed heat stress at the University of Georgia in Tifton, Georgia. Heat stress was induced using heat-trapping shelters that increased canopy temperature by 5–10 °C for 14 days, and gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence were measured before, during, and after heat exposure. Net photosynthesis varied significantly over time; enabling the identification of both heat-tolerant and heat-sensitive genotypes. Wild-derived lines RBS-BC3–225_B, RBS-BC3–59_A, TVS-20–624–13-MR-MR-Tan, and TVS-19–82–38-MR-MR, along with cultivar TifNV-High O/L, showed greater heat tolerance than other genotypes evaluated. Principal component analysis revealed six photosynthetic traits driving genotypic differentiation under heat: stomatal conductance (g_s), electron transport rate for CO₂ assimilation (ETR_a), electron transport supporting photorespiration (ETR_p), quantum yield of photosystem II (Φ_PSII), chloroplast CO₂ concentration (C_c), and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). These findings demonstrate that photosynthetic performance is a robust indicator of peanut heat tolerance and provides trait-based targets for breeding climate-resilient cultivars.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"246 ","pages":"Article 106383"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148168083","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Heavy metal and metalloid contamination of nectar: Sources, ecological implications, and methods of analysis","authors":"Katarzyna Roguz ,&nbsp;Aleksandra Szaniawska","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106367","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106367","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pollination is among the most vital interactions in terrestrial ecosystems, yet it is increasingly under threat. One emerging concern is the contamination of nectar, the primary floral reward, with heavy metals and metalloids. Unlike other floral tissues, insect bodies, or bee products such as honey, nectar constitutes a distinct exposure route as it is a directly consumed, chemically dynamic resource that mediates immediate interactions between plants and floral visitors. Despite its potential ecological significance, research on how such pollution affects plants, pollinators, and their interactions remains scarce. Understanding these processes is crucial for developing effective strategies to protect wildlife, ensure stable crop production, and safeguard both environmental and human health. In this review, we synthesize current knowledge on nectar contamination by heavy metals and metalloids, assessing their impacts on plants, pollinators, and pollination itself. We evaluate the methods used to detect and analyze nectar contamination, examine available data, and consider the ecological and evolutionary implications. By highlighting key gaps and offering new insights, we aim to advance this emerging field and guide future research on pollination in polluted environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"245 ","pages":"Article 106367"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147850207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Elevated [CO2] alleviates AsGH3.8-mediated stolon growth inhibition via IAA accumulation and soluble sugar reduction in perennial grass","authors":"Tian Hao ,&nbsp;Ruonan Li ,&nbsp;Ruying Wang ,&nbsp;Xiujiang Yan ,&nbsp;Qiuguo Li ,&nbsp;Ningli Fan ,&nbsp;Zhimin Yang ,&nbsp;Jingjin Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106365","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106365","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rapid stolon growth is advantageous for greater turf density and faster establishment. Elevated CO₂ concentration ([CO₂]) can stimulate stolon growth by increasing the levels of auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in stolon nodes and internodes of stoloniferous creeping bentgrass (<em>Agrostis stolonifera</em>). Concurrently, the expression of the auxin-binding gene <em>AsGH3.8</em> is significantly upregulated by elevated [CO₂]. However, the role of auxin-binding gene <em>AsGH3.8</em> in stolon growth under elevated [CO₂] was still unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanism by which <em>AsGH3.8</em> mediates elevated [CO₂]-induced plant growth in creeping bentgrass. Transgenic and wild-type plants were grown in growth chambers under ambient [CO₂] (400 ± 10 μmol⋅mol⁻¹) or elevated [CO₂] (800 ± 10 μmol⋅mol⁻¹). Overexpression of <em>AsGH3.8</em> significantly inhibited the stolon growth, as shown by the decline in stolon internode number and length. Elevated [CO₂] could mitigate the inhibitory effects of <em>AsGH3.8</em> overexpression on the stolon growth of creeping bentgrass through increasing IAA and decreasing soluble sugar content in stolons of creeping bentgrass. This study provides new insights into the physiological mechanisms underlying <em>AsGH3.8</em>-mediated plant growth under elevated [CO₂].</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"245 ","pages":"Article 106365"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147798396","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ethylene-regulated synergy of pectin methylesterase and transport proteins in cadmium stress response: Molecular mechanisms","authors":"Siyang Wang ,&nbsp;Libo Liu ,&nbsp;Xiao Tian ,&nbsp;Chuangjing Liang ,&nbsp;Xiangmin Tu ,&nbsp;Yongping Wang ,&nbsp;Dan Xing ,&nbsp;Dehui Tu","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106329","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106329","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cadmium (Cd) contamination poses a serious threat to pepper production and food safety, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying Cd-induced ethylene biosynthesis and cell wall remodeling in pepper roots remain unclear. In this study, pepper genotypes with contrasting Cd accumulation were subjected to different Cd stress levels (0 mg/L, 0.5 mg/L, 2.0 mg/L) and time points (0.5, 1, 3, and 7 d) to systematically analyze physiological responses, cell wall polysaccharides, ethylene metabolites, and transcriptomic profiles. Low-Cd genotypes exhibited higher antioxidant enzyme activities, with CAT activity reaching 371.82 μmol/min/g under prolonged high-Cd treatment, while H₂O₂ peaked at only 5.675 nmol/g, 71.06 % of that in high-Cd genotypes. Galacturonic acid content was up to 1.2-fold higher, and root Cd sequestration reached 1.12-fold higher than in high-Cd genotypes. These results indicate that low-Cd genotypes maintain stronger antioxidant defenses and membrane stability, and enhance Cd immobilization by increasing pectin and galacturonic acid accumulation. Metabolite profiling showed significant shifts in ethylene precursors under Cd stress: SAM and methionine increased by more than 127 % (P &lt; 0.05), while ACC decreased by 65.67 %, suggesting metabolic flux regulation of ethylene biosynthesis. Transcriptome analysis revealed marked genotypic differences in genes related to cell wall modification, ethylene biosynthesis and signaling, and metal transport, with low-Cd genotypes exhibiting up to 2857 differentially expressed genes. Key candidates included PME/PMEI, Nramp, and ABCC, implicating their roles in Cd sequestration and tolerance. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that low-Cd peppers coordinate ethylene metabolism and cell wall remodeling to restrict Cd translocation to shoots, providing new molecular evidence for Cd accumulation divergence and offering theoretical and genetic resources for breeding low-Cd cultivars to ensure food safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"243 ","pages":"Article 106329"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147402640","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"One threat, two solutions: Grazing drives divergent adaptive strategies in two dominant Alpine grassland species","authors":"Wenting Liu ,&nbsp;Yuzhen Liu ,&nbsp;Yang Yu ,&nbsp;Xiaoxia Yang ,&nbsp;Chunping Zhang ,&nbsp;Quanmin Dong","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106341","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106341","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Herbivory is a major selective pressure shaping plant evolution, and the responses of plants to herbivory are typically explained by the growth-defense balance hypothesis (GDBH). However, GDBH often oversimplifies the effects of herbivore types and fails to explain why coexisting species adopt different adaptive strategies under the same stress conditions. The intrinsic hormonal regulatory mechanisms and trait network structures driving these strategy divergences remain largely unclear. This study, based on a decade-long (2014–2024) grazing experiment on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau alpine grassland, investigated the adaptive strategies of two coexisting dominant species under three grazing regimes: yak-only grazing, sheep-only grazing, and mixed grazing. We integrated multi-dimensional traits, including macro-morphological, anatomical, chemical stoichiometry, endogenous hormones, and secondary metabolites, to test the hypothesis of adaptive strategy differentiation (i.e., the divergence into distinct tolerance or defense pathways). We found that under grazing, <em>Carex alatauensis</em> S. R. Zhang increased the relative abundance of gibberellins, which mediated an increase in leaf number and the formation of a highly integrated trait network. The defense of <em>C. alatauensis</em> exhibited responses specific to the herbivore identity, selectively enhancing chemical defensive metabolites (e.g., tannins and total phenolics) when confronted with the larger yak. The trait network of <em>Potentilla acaulis</em> L. was highly modular, particularly in response to the more selective grazing by sheep, with a decoupling of morphological traits from chemical defense. This study suggests that plant adaptation to grazing is not merely a trade-off, but rather a complex, species-specific process involving unique hormonal regulation and trait network configurations. Our findings reveal that plant adaptation to grazing extends beyond simple trade-offs; it is a complex, species-specific process mediated by distinct hormonal regulatory pathways and trait network configurations. These mechanistic insights are crucial for understanding community assembly and the sustainable management of alpine grasslands.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"243 ","pages":"Article 106341"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147402632","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}