Environmental and Experimental Botany最新文献

{"title":"Enhancing ecological restoration efficiency in antimony mining areas using arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: Perspectives from plant physiology and transcriptomic analysis","authors":"Xinru Li ,&nbsp;Yidong Mi ,&nbsp;Rong Zhang ,&nbsp;Fuhan Guo ,&nbsp;Min Zhou ,&nbsp;Yuan Wei","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106249","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106249","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The high concentration of antimony (Sb) pollution poses severe challenges to ecological restoration in Sb mining areas in southwestern China. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have demonstrated considerable application potential this context; however, related research remains insufficient. This study systematically evaluated the enhancement effects and mechanisms of different AMF inoculations on ecological restoration efficiency using two pioneer plant species, <em>Trifolium repens</em> (Tr) and <em>Artemisia argyi</em> (Aa) in southwestern Sb mining areas, through plant physiology and transcriptomics analysis. The results showed that <em>Rhizophagus intraradices</em> (Ri) and mixed inoculation consistently exhibited superior growth-promoting effects, increasing the dry weight biomass by 1.89–6.13-fold and 1.90–7.44-fold, respectively. This was associated with increased phosphorus absorption and reduced Sb concentration in plant tissues, which mitigated environmental stress and enhanced both heavy metal tolerance and plant growth. <em>Funneliformis mosseae</em> (Fm) showed significant growth promotion only in soils with high pH and calcium content. Additionally, AMF inoculation increased the total Sb uptake by the plants in each pot while also activating soil nutrients, thereby improving the plant growth environment, which is a critical ecological restoration objective. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the effects of AMF on host plants varied depending on plant functionality and soil properties. In Tr, AMF regulated genes associated with signal transduction, oxidative stress response, and metal ion transport, while AMF in Aa primarily induced significant co-enrichment in photosynthetic pathways. This study substantiates the growth-promoting effects of AMF on pioneer plants and their improvement of rhizosphere soil physicochemical properties, providing a feasible strategy for ecological restoration of Sb mining areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106249"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145217020","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":"Comparative analysis of photosynthetic heat tolerance mechanisms in select Rubus subgenus Idaeobataus species using a numerical modeling and partitioning approach","authors":"Fa-Pin Chen,&nbsp;Wei-Chao Cheng,&nbsp;Ching-Lung Lee,&nbsp;Kuo-Tan Li","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106247","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106247","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The cultivated red raspberry (<em>Rubus idaeus</em>) in the genus <em>Rubus</em> subg. <em>Idaeobatus</em> is an economically valued berry crop but its cultivation has been limited by heat in the warm climate regions. Many species in the same subgenus are native to the subtropics and have been considered as potential germplasms for improving heat tolerance of raspberry cultivars. However, their photosynthetic responses to high temperatures and adaptation mechanisms have not been comprehensively exploited. In this study, leaf gas exchange characters of raspberry ‘Summer Festival’ and three subtropical native species, <em>R. fraxinifolius</em>, <em>R. rosifolius,</em> and <em>R. croceacanthus</em>, were mathematically analyzed. Net photosynthetic assimilation rate (<em>A</em>) and chlorophyll fluorescence against photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) and internal carbohydrate concentration (<em>C</em>_i) were measured at 25, 30, and 35℃. Data from the measurements were fitted to modified Farquar, von Cammerer and Berry (FvCB) models and key photosynthetic variables were extracted. Inter- and intra- species differences in <em>A</em> (% Δ<em>A</em>) were quantified by partitioning the total difference into individual and categorized variables using a numerical integration method. The results showed that light saturated <em>A</em> and transpiration (<em>E</em>) of <em>R. idaeus</em> were suppressed at 35℃ while both in the subtropical native species sustained or elevated at the high temperature of 30 and 35℃. The two key photosynthetic biochemical variables, maximum carboxylation rate (<em>V</em>_cmax) and maximum electron transport rate (<em>J</em>_max), were both increased at high temperatures in all studied taxa. Nevertheless, the superior <em>A</em> of the subtropical species was mainly contributed by the improved diffusional factors, i.e., stomatal conductance (<em>g</em>_sc) and mesophyll conductance (<em>g</em>_m), in response to elevated temperatures. This study demonstrated that the select subtropical native species better adapt to heat than the cultivated raspberry by maintaining leaf temperature low and photosynthetic efficiency high through consistent <em>g</em>_sc and improved <em>g</em>_m. The information suggested that for breeding programs targeting on heat tolerance, screening candidate genotypes with photosynthetic diffusional factors should be more efficient than evaluating biochemical factors. The results also provide useful references for raspberry industry to develop cultivation strategies to alleviate the impact from intensifying climate change situations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106247"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145217021","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":"Integrative transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal crucial roles of phenylpropanoid-derived coumarin biosynthesis in the responses of peanut to iron deficiency","authors":"Jiaqi Ma,&nbsp;Rui Liu,&nbsp;Ziling Zhou,&nbsp;Qiyue Zhang,&nbsp;Gangrong Shi","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106250","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106250","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Iron (Fe) deficiency severely limits peanut productivity, particularly in calcareous soils. This study integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses to elucidate molecular mechanisms underlying Fe-deficiency responses in two peanut cultivars: Silihong (Fe-efficient) and Fenghua 1 (Fe-inefficient). Under Fe deficiency, both cultivars exhibited leaf chlorosis and reduced chlorophyll content, with Fenghua 1 showing greater sensitivity. Fe deficiency triggered extensive metabolic reprogramming, preferentially enhancing phenylpropanoid-derived coumarin biosynthesis while suppressing lignin and flavonoid pathways. Key genes, including <em>PAL1</em>, <em>4CL1</em>, <em>CCoAOMT</em>, <em>CSE</em>, <em>CYP98A2</em>, <em>HCT</em>, <em>F6′H1</em>, <em>S8H</em>, and <em>CYP82C4</em>, were upregulated, promoting the accumulation of Fe-mobilizing coumarins (scopoletin, fraxetin, esculetin). The efficient cultivar Silihong displayed stronger induction of coumarin synthesis genes, higher coumarin exudation, and greater suppression of competing pathways than Fenghua 1. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified hub genes (<em>FIT</em>, <em>MYB72</em>, <em>IRT1</em>, and <em>FRO2</em>) co-expressed with coumarin biosynthesis genes (<em>CCoAOMT</em>, <em>F6′H1</em>, <em>S8H</em>, and <em>CYP82C4</em>), suggesting an evolutionarily conserved FIT–MYB72 regulatory module for Fe acquisition. Additionally, <em>PDR3</em> homologs implicated in coumarin secretion were significantly induced. These findings highlight coumarin-mediated Fe mobilization as a critical adaptive strategy in peanuts and provide genetic targets for breeding Fe-efficient cultivars.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106250"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145217022","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":"Citric and malic acids influence uranium(VI) uptake into Brassica napus in hydroponic culture by affecting solubility and speciation","authors":"Warren A. John ,&nbsp;Robin Steudtner ,&nbsp;Jenny Jessat ,&nbsp;René Hübner ,&nbsp;Frank Bok ,&nbsp;Susanne Sachs","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106248","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106248","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The migration of uranium (U) in soil and its uptake into plants is known to be affected by many factors, one of which is the presence of organic acids, e.g. as root exudates of plants, in soil. To date, the influence of the organic acids on mobilization and uptake is known but very little has been elucidated about the mechanisms involved. In this study, using hydroponic cultivations of <em>Brassica napus</em> and combining the analytical methods time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, we explored the influence of two organic acids on the U speciation in hydroponic culture medium and the bioassociation of U to <em>B. napus</em> plants. Both citric acid and malic acid significantly increased the solubility of U in the hydroponic solution by forming U(VI) citrate and U(VI) malate complexes compared to control samples without the addition of the organic acids, in which a significant amount of U precipitated. By using this multi-method approach, for the first time, we could demonstrate the correlation between certain spectroscopically observed U species in solution and varying degrees of bioassociation to the plant as well as differences in U translocation patterns in <em>B. napus</em> between citric and malic acids, providing more insights into the interaction of U with plants.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106248"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145217023","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":"Saprotrophic-ectomycorrhizal fungal interactions affect poplar performance","authors":"Rodica Pena ,&nbsp;Gemma Milner ,&nbsp;Mark Tibbett","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106246","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106246","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mycorrhizal and saprotrophic fungi are key players in plant nutrition in forest ecosystems, affecting nutrient availability and plant nutrient acquisition, but the impact of their interaction on plant performance remains largely understudied. Their interaction is particularly important under nutrient-limited conditions (e.g., nitrogen limitation) as they may compete for resources or engage in facilitative interactions that ultimately affect plant nutrient uptake and growth. Here, we used a simplified, plant-centric experimental design to investigate the effects of fungal interactions on plant performance. Poplar (<em>Populus × canescens</em>) plantlets were grown under nutrient-poor conditions for 23 weeks with a single nutrient source: a mixture of ¹⁵N-labelled poplar (labile) and beech (recalcitrant) leaf litter. Plants were inoculated with <em>Pholiota squarrosa</em> (saprotrophic), <em>Laccaria bicolor</em> (ectomycorrhizal), both, or neither. We analysed growth, nitrogen uptake, and photosynthetic performance.</div><div>Ectomycorrhizal-inoculated plants showed greater growth, root development, and nitrogen accumulation than non-inoculated controls or those inoculated with saprotrophic fungi alone. Photosynthetic performance, particularly at 16 weeks, was also enhanced. In contrast, saprotrophic fungi increased nitrogen concentration in roots but did not improve plant biomass. Plant biomass and root architecture did not differ between EMF-only and dual-inoculated plants, suggesting that the addition of saprotrophic fungi did not further enhance or impair these traits. However, for nitrogen-related traits, dual-inoculated plants showed intermediate values between EMF-only and STF-only treatments. Despite these trends, statistical analysis did not detect a significant interaction between fungal guilds. These findings indicate that ectomycorrhizal fungi play a stronger role in promoting plant performance under nitrogen-limited conditions, likely through enhanced nutrient uptake and photosynthetic efficiency. Saprotrophic fungi alone did not promote plant growth under the experimental conditions, nor did their presence alter the benefits conferred by ectomycorrhizal fungi.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106246"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145118188","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":"Biochar amendment enhances water use efficiency in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) under partial root-zone drying irrigation by modulating abscisic acid signaling and photosynthetic performance","authors":"Shangzhi Zhong ,&nbsp;Xiang Zhang ,&nbsp;Pengxin Hou ,&nbsp;Jianghan Ouyang ,&nbsp;Tovohery Rakotoson ,&nbsp;Congcong Zheng ,&nbsp;Qibo Tao ,&nbsp;Juan Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106244","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106244","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Deficit irrigation can potentially increase plant water use efficiency by regulating stomatal morphology and photosynthetic physiology, whereas the combined effects of biochar amendment and deficit irrigation on alfalfa growth and leaf physiology remain largely unknown in salt-affected soil. A split-root pot experiment was implemented to investigate the effect of biochar amendments (WSB: wheat straw biochar; CSB: corn straw biochar) and irrigation regimes (FI: full irrigation; DI: deficit irrigation, 70 % of FI on the entire root zone; PRDI: partial root-zone drying irrigation, only irrigating half of the root zone with soil water content maintained at the same level as that under DI) on the leaf morpho-physiological traits and water use efficiency of alfalfa (<em>Medicago sativa</em> L.). DI and PRDI exhibited a similar trend, with both leading to a significant reduction in stomatal conductance (<em>g</em>_s), carbon isotope discrimination (Δ¹³C_leaf), and net CO₂ assimilation rate (<em>A</em>) by altering stomatal traits and elevating leaf abscisic acid concentration ([ABA]_leaf), resulting in lower biomass accumulation. In contrast, biochar amendment of WSB and CSB significantly improved soil water-holding capacity, root water uptake and leaf water status, resulting in lower [ABA]_leaf and enhanced stomatal density (SD), stomatal size (SS) and Δ¹³C_leaf. Notably, PRDI combined with biochar amendment substantially enhanced leaf intrinsic WUE (<em>A</em>/<em>g</em>_s) and long-term WUE indicated by lower Δ¹³C_leaf, thereby increasing plant-scale WUE (WUE_plant) by 39–56 % compared to non-biochar-amended under PRDI treatment. Overall, co-application of biochar amendment and deficit irrigation facilitates more efficient and ecologically sustainable alfalfa management in salt-affected soil. Future studies should investigate long-term effects, underlying mechanisms, and large-scale applicability across diverse environmental contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106244"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145155219","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":"Palette of green: Exploring the effects of different wavelengths of green light on biomass and morphology in lettuce (Lactuca sativa)","authors":"Yunke Chen ,&nbsp;Elias Kaiser ,&nbsp;Ep Heuvelink ,&nbsp;Kai Cao ,&nbsp;Zhonghua Bian ,&nbsp;Qichang Yang ,&nbsp;Leo F.M. Marcelis","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106242","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106242","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>It is increasingly evident that green light (500–600 nm) affects plant growth, but the varying effects of different regions within this waveband remain unclear. We investigated how different regions of green light affect lettuce (<em>Lactuca sativa</em>) growth, morphology and physiology. Lettuce was grown in a climate chamber with red/blue light as a reference treatment. In three green light treatments, 28 % of the red/blue light was replaced by green light. A higher fraction of green light logically meant a lower fraction of red and blue light. The green light was provided either by narrowband green LEDs peaking at 515 nm or 550 nm, or by a broadband green LED. In all treatments, light intensity was 212 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹. After 21 days of growth, shoot biomass (+14–29 %) and height (+16–18 %) increased in all green light treatments compared to the reference, while leaf photosynthetic gas exchange and pigmentation remained unchanged. The largest biomass (+29 %) and leaf area (+18 %) were obtained in the narrowband green light treatment peaking at 550 nm. We conclude that the increase in lettuce biomass was not caused by a higher carbon assimilation per leaf area but may instead be explained by improved light distribution within the canopy. Our results suggest that specific regions in the green light waveband are more beneficial to lettuce growth than others.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106242"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145118090","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":"From signal perception to adaptive responses: A comprehensive review of plant mechanisms under cadmium, lead, and aluminum stress","authors":"Natalia Krówczyńska,&nbsp;Małgorzata Pietrowska-Borek","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106240","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106240","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Heavy metals (HMs), pollutants produced by humans, significantly impact crop yields. The contamination of soil and water by HMs poses a serious environmental challenge. Although HMs naturally occur in the soil as rare elements, agricultural practices, refuse dumping, metallurgy, and manufacturing contribute to their environmental spread in higher concentrations that lead to negative effects on crop plants and human health. Even at low concentrations, HMs, such as cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and aluminum (Al), adversely impact root uptake and transport to vegetative and reproductive organs, disrupting mineral nutrition and homeostasis, which in turn influence the growth and development of both plant shoots and roots. Plants absorb HMs from contaminated soil or water, which inhibits root growth, causes leaf chlorosis, hinders stomatal opening, and can lead to wilting or death. Additionally, it suppresses photosynthesis and transpiration, induces oxidative stress, alters enzyme activity, and modifies gene expression. Resource allocation between growth and defense is a key trade-off for plant survival and fitness. Under heavy metal exposure, stronger defense responses often coincide with reduced growth, even without visible damage. Plants have evolved complex signaling networks that respond to environmental stimuli through signaling proteins, such as plasma membrane receptors and ion transporters, as well as cascades of kinases and other enzymes, ultimately leading to the activation of effectors. In the plant response to HMs stress, the pivotal signaling role is played by hormones and many additional compounds, including second messengers such as cytosolic Ca^2 + , reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and cyclic nucleotides such as cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). Moreover, it has recently been demonstrated that nucleotides such as exogenous ATP (eATP) can also play signaling roles in plant cells. These are part of the regulatory network, involving MAP kinase, SnRK, and transcription factors, that leads to the synthesis of metabolites capable of mitigating plant stress caused by HMs. Their uptake triggers diverse epigenetic mechanisms that may either promote or hinder plant stress tolerance. In response to HMs exposure, plants adjust gene expression through DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and microRNA-mediated gene silencing. Recent findings also highlight the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms as important post-transcriptional regulators within this signaling network, further fine-tuning plant responses to HMs. However, more research is still needed to identify the signaling networks involved in this process. This review summarizes the current understanding of perception, signal transduction, and plant responses to Cd, Pb, and Al stress.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106240"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145118187","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":"The development of biological soil crusts reshapes the strategies of non-structural carbohydrates in response to nitrogen deposition","authors":"Mingming Wang ,&nbsp;Zihan Kan ,&nbsp;Tingting Hui ,&nbsp;Boyi Song ,&nbsp;Huiliang Liu ,&nbsp;Benfeng Yin ,&nbsp;Ye Tao ,&nbsp;Xiaoying Rong ,&nbsp;Wei Hang ,&nbsp;Yuanming Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiaobing Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106241","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106241","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) are critical indicators of the carbon acquisition and consumption balance in vascular plants, and are equally important for biological soil crusts (BSCs), which serve as significant carbon sinks in arid regions. Nitrogen (N) deposition significantly alters NSC storage by affecting plant growth, photosynthesis, and the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio. However, the response of NSC to N deposition may vary across different developmental stages of BSCs due to differences in physiological structures and soil properties. We conducted a long-term field N addition experiment (2010–2021) in the Gurbantunggut Desert, with N rates from 0 to 3 g m⁻² yr⁻¹ and a 2:1 NH₄⁺-N to NO₃⁻-N ratio, to examine the effects of N on NSC and their components (fructose, sucrose, soluble sugars, and starch) in three BSC types: cyanobacterial, lichen, and moss crusts. Our results revealed that the development of BSCs from cyanobacterial to lichen and moss crusts significantly alters NSC allocation, with an increasing ratio of soluble sugars to starch (0.24–1–1.68). As N added levels rise, NSC content in all three BSC types exhibits a nonlinear trend, characterized by low promotion and high inhibition, with distinct threshold points (N1.5-N0.5-N0.5). This phenomenon arises from shifts in the NSC driving factors under N addition: transitioning from soil nutrient dependence (cyanobacteria) to regulation by plant antioxidant enzyme activity (lichen), and ultimately to a more complex physiological regulation involving photosynthetic pigments and antioxidant enzyme activities (Moss). This study reveals the transition of BSCs from “environmental adapters” to “ecological regulators” throughout their successional stages. These findings provide new insights into the C metabolism of BSCs and have important implications for ecological restoration in N-impacted arid regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106241"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145096344","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":"Position-specific isotope labelling gives new insights into chiral monoterpene synthesis of Norway spruce (Picea abies L.)","authors":"L. Erik Daber ,&nbsp;Philipp Nolte ,&nbsp;Jürgen Kreuzwieser ,&nbsp;Mirjam Meischner ,&nbsp;Jonathan Williams ,&nbsp;Christiane Werner","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106238","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106238","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chiral forms of monoterpenes and their enantiomeric composition are of ecological significance, e.g. for plant-insect interactions. However, biosynthetic pathways and drought-induced changes of enantiomeric monoterpene emissions are barely understood. We analyzed, for the first time, drought effects on the enantiomeric composition of <em>de novo</em> vs. storage emitted monoterpenes from Norway spruce saplings by position-specific ¹³C-pyruvate (¹³C2- and ¹³C1-labelled) feeding and ¹³CO₂ fumigation. Drought reduced total monoterpene emissions already during its early stages, strongly linked to net photosynthesis, and lead to a decline in <em>de novo</em> synthesis of monoterpenes. However, it unevenly affected chiral monoterpenes, leading to compositional changes of emissions with increasing drought. At the onset of drought, the (-)-enantiomers of limonene, β-phellandrene, α- and β-pinene were emitted at higher rates than the (+)-enantiomers. Our results suggest that (-)-enantiomers were emitted mainly from storage pools while emissions of (+)-enantiomers rather depended on <em>de novo</em> biosynthesis. Even though biosynthesis of different monoterpenes derives from the same precursor pool, isotopic label incorporation revealed three groups among monoterpenes: storage derived, dominantly labelled via ¹³C2-pyruvate, and dominantly labelled via ¹³CO₂-fumigation. Our results contribute to a growing amount of evidence of high flexibility in metabolic pathways of monoterpene biosynthesis in plant cells.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106238"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145096345","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}