Environmental and Experimental Botany最新文献

{"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}

{"title":"Dynamic LED spectral strategy enhances lettuce (Lactuca sativa) productivity via periodic activation of light-responsive genes and improved light energy use efficiency","authors":"Yanke Liu ,&nbsp;Xinying Gao ,&nbsp;Rong Ye ,&nbsp;Zhanyi Li ,&nbsp;Rongcheng Lin ,&nbsp;Yang Li","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106337","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106337","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Artificial lighting in plant factories typically adopts a static, continuous spectral regime dominated by red light, with red-to-blue and red-to–far-red ratios generally maintained at approximately 3–6:1, resulting in limited exploration of dynamic light regulation strategies. In this study, blue and far-red light were alternately applied at 30-min intervals, reducing their daily light integrals while increasing the proportion of red light, thereby improving light energy utilization and signal responsiveness. Our results demonstrated that alternating light treatments significantly enhanced lettuce yield, with the optimized red-to-alternating light ratio increasing yield by 20.22% compared with the static control. Even low-intensity alternating light induced marked morphological responses, including stem elongation and leaf expansion, resulting in a 16.64% increase in total leaf area and an increase of 2.11 leaves per plant. These effects were primarily attributable to enhanced far-red–induced signaling; although this reduced chlorophyll content, an increased red light proportion maintained the net photosynthetic rate. These phenotypic changes were consistent with elevated expression levels of light-responsive genes, indicating that the dynamic lighting effectively leverages the signal enhancement mediated by alternating light to optimize light energy utilization. Dynamic transcriptome analysis revealed that light-responsive genes exhibited consistent periodic expression during 1-hour alternating light cycles, with expression magnitude modulated by light dose. Moreover, weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified gene modules that were strongly correlated with phenotypic traits and displayed regular response patterns, suggesting that these genes may be directly involved in the light response process in lettuce. These findings demonstrate that alternating light regimes entrain periodic gene activation and thereby enhance the coordination between light energy supply and signal regulation. The optimized dynamic spectral strategy increases artificial light use efficiency and crop productivity, providing a mechanistically informed framework for lighting optimization in plant factories.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"243 ","pages":"Article 106337"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147403269","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":"Leaf photosynthetic and morphological traits underlie heat stress resilience in northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.)","authors":"Stephanie Rett-Cadman,&nbsp;Joshua Vander Weide","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106327","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106327","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Northern highbush blueberry (<em>Vaccinium corymbosum</em> L.) is a temperate fruit crop increasingly exposed to heat stress as heatwaves become more frequent. This suggests the need to characterize thermotolerance traits to facilitate sustainable production. We hypothesized that variation in leaf photosynthetic temperature responses, thermotolerance, and morphology underpin genotypic differences in heat stress resilience in <em>V. corymbosum</em>. Leaf photosynthesis temperature response curves and chlorophyll fluorescence-based thermotolerance curves (LT₅₀) were measured at three phenological stages (bloom, mid-ripening, post-ripening) in ten genetically diverse <em>V. corymbosum</em> genotypes. Leaf morphological traits were also assessed at mid-ripening. Significant genotypic variation was observed in the photosynthesis temperature optimum (<em>T</em>_Opt) and LT₅₀ at all stages, and the leaf thermotolerance threshold of <em>V. corymbosum</em> was established at 43.1–47.2 °C, lower than values reported for many other plant species. To validate the functional relevance of these traits, four genotypes spanning the range of <em>T</em>_Opt and LT₅₀ were evaluated during a natural heatwave. Genotypes with the highest <em>T</em>_Opt and LT₅₀ maintained greater photosystem II efficiency and gas exchange under heat stress, whereas genotypes with the lowest values were more susceptible. Most genotypes exhibited long-term seasonal acclimation of photosynthesis from bloom to mid-ripening, while only the resilient genotype showed evidence of short-term acclimation of <em>A</em>_Opt during the heatwave. Leaf size and color were positively associated with LT₅₀, linking structural traits with thermotolerance. Collectively, these results demonstrate that photosynthetic <em>T</em>_Opt, LT₅₀, and leaf size and color determine heat stress resilience in <em>V. corymbosum</em>, providing mechanistic insight into plant responses to episodic heat stress.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"243 ","pages":"Article 106327"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147402641","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":"Key regulators of floral induction in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) are revealed from spatio-temporal gene expression analysis of contrasting genotypes","authors":"Umer Mahmood,&nbsp;Per Hofvander,&nbsp;Åsa Grimberg","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106334","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106334","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Flowering time is a crucial trait for crop adaptation and yield stability, yet its genetic regulation in <em>Vicia faba</em> remains poorly understood. In this study, we performed RNA-sequencing of shoot apex (SA) and leaf tissues to investigate the genetic mechanisms underlying variation in flowering time between two contrasting cultivars, Gubbestad (early flowering) and Honey (late flowering). Based on differential gene expression analysis, <em>K</em>-means clustering and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), we identified key transcriptional modules enriched in genes associated with gibberellin (GA) signaling, photoperiod response, and floral induction. Notably, <em>FT</em> homologs exhibited distinct expression patterns: two <em>FT</em> genes were expressed in Gubbestad, whereas only one was detected in Honey, in the SA during the reproductive stage. The late-flowering cultivar displayed high expression of the transcriptional cofactor <em>TFL1</em> and transcription factor <em>AP2</em> in the SA at the vegetative stage, which likely contributed to late floral initiation by suppressing downstream activators of flowering such as <em>SOC1</em>, <em>AP1</em>, and <em>SPL</em>/miR156. In contrast, the early-flowering cultivar showed <em>FT</em> gene expression in both leaf and SA, promoting <em>LFY</em>, <em>SOC1</em> which accelerate floral transition. Through co-expression analysis, WGCNA identified <em>SOC1</em> and <em>AG</em> as key hub genes within flowering-related modules, co-expressed with multiple genes encoding regulators of floral development. Our findings highlight the interplay between GA-mediated flowering pathways and photoperiod-responsive genes, revealing a complex regulatory network that controls floral induction. Unraveling these molecular mechanisms provides insights into breeding faba bean cultivars that are better adapted to different geographical regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"243 ","pages":"Article 106334"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147402635","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":"Circadian clock regulation of low R/FR light signaling and photosynthetic cross-talk in crop development","authors":"Ting Huang ,&nbsp;Yue Wu ,&nbsp;Chen Chen ,&nbsp;Jian-Ping Tao ,&nbsp;Ai-Sheng Xiong ,&nbsp;Xiong You","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106328","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106328","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The environmental light condition serves as a pivotal external cue governing plant growth and development. In particular, a low ratio of red to far-red light (low R:FR), resulting from vegetative shading, significantly limits crop yield under high-density planting—as often seen in cereal and horticultural crops. Plants perceive alterations in R:FR ratio via phytochromes, transduce this signal into multifaceted intracellular responses and initiate adaptive processes such as shade avoidance syndrome (SAS). This review comprehensively examines the molecular mechanisms of low R:FR-controlled photosynthesis mediated by the circadian clock. First of all, we elaborate on phytochromes initiation of downstream signaling cascades through nucleocytoplasmic partitioning and interactions with key components such as PIFs. We then systematically outline the cross-talk between low R:FR signaling and the core circadian oscillator. The central clock components, including LHY/CCA1 and TOC1, act as critical regulatory nodes within the phytochrome signaling network. By integrating photoperiodic and circadian information, these components finely modulate photosynthesis-related gene expression, chloroplast development, stomatal movement, and photosynthetic carbon assimilation, thereby optimizing photosynthetic performance in dynamically changing light environments. This review aims to provide integrative insights into how plants synchronize light signaling with the circadian clock to maximize photosynthetic efficiency, and to suggest potential molecular targets for breeding crops with improved shade tolerance and higher productivity in dense cultivation systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"243 ","pages":"Article 106328"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147402637","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":"Carbon dynamics in European beech and Norway spruce under present and future RCP scenarios","authors":"Qiao-Lin Gu ,&nbsp;Benjamin D. Hesse ,&nbsp;Manuela Baumgarten ,&nbsp;Bálint Jákli ,&nbsp;Manfred Reppke ,&nbsp;J. Philipp Benz ,&nbsp;Anja Rammig ,&nbsp;Thorsten E.E. Grams","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106330","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106330","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To elucidate how trees adjust their C dynamics under future climate, we conducted a unique growth chamber experiment with tree saplings grown for three years under the present climate conditions (PC), a mitigation scenario (RCP2.6) and a worst-case scenario (RCP8.5). The RCPs were simulated by increased air temperature, vapor pressure deficit, irradiance, CO₂ and O₃ concentrations at hourly resolution. Both species, European beech and Norway spruce, grew more biomass under RCP8.5 than PC and RCP2.6, accompanied by increased partition to belowground. Towards the end of the three-year experiment, the mean residence time (MRT) and mean transit time (MTT) of C along the tree-soil system were assessed in a ¹³CO₂ tracer experiment. MRT in leaves was unaffected in both species but decreased significantly in beech stem CO₂ efflux under both RCP scenarios. MTT for beech from leaves to stem CO₂ efflux decreased under RCP2.6. For both species, we found a negative correlation between MTT and maximum assimilation, indicating faster C flux through trees at higher assimilation rates. Conversely, no positive correlation was found between biomass growth and maximum assimilation rates. After three years of growth under the simulated RCP scenarios, we conclude that C turnover would accelerate under future climate conditions. The additional C fixed by photosynthesis will be released back to the atmosphere more rapidly, as a smaller fraction could remain in the biomass. These results support the implementation of faster C turnover in process-based dynamic vegetation models, although confirmation for mature trees is still needed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"243 ","pages":"Article 106330"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147402639","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":"Exploring the mechanisms by which sodium promotes growth of euhalophytes under potassium deficiency: A case study of Suaeda salsa","authors":"Dong Zhang ,&nbsp;Axiang Cai ,&nbsp;Changyan Tian ,&nbsp;Wenxuan Mai","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106343","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106343","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Suaeda salsa</em> L<em>.</em> is a leaf succulent euhalophyte. Its leaves are rich in secondary metabolites, such as polyphenols and flavonoids, which enhance its salt tolerance and have industrial value in pharmaceuticals, antioxidants, and food additives<em>.</em> Its growth is promoted under moderate salinity conditions<em>.</em> However, the mechanisms by which euhalophytes maintain a balance between growth and salt stress tolerance have not been elucidated, especially under K⁺ deficiency. Here, we used multi-omics and physiology analyses to investigate the role of Na⁺ in the growth and metabolic processes of <em>S. salsa</em>. Exogenous NaCl application significantly enhanced the photosynthetic efficiency of <em>S. sals</em>a under K⁺ deficiency, including the net photosynthetic rate, PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm), photochemical quenching (qP), non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), and the activities of enzymes such as ferredoxin-NADP⁺ reductase (FNR) and Rubisco. Meanwhile, transcriptomic analysis revealed that NaCl treatment upregulated genes related to photosynthetic subunits, light-harvesting complexes (LHCs), and key Calvin cycle enzymes, including phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and Rubisco. These findings provide strong molecular evidence for the observed recovery of photosynthetic efficiency in NaCl-treated <em>S. salsa</em> under K⁺ deficiency. Furthermore, the relative contents of flavonoids and isoflavonoids, including isorhamnetin, isolupalbigenin, osajin, corylin, and wedelolactone, as well as unsaturated fatty acids (9-Hexadecenoic acid), were significantly upregulated treating with NaCl and KCl. These results suggest that <em>S. salsa</em> can utilize Na⁺ to enhance photosynthesis under high salinity and low K⁺ conditions, thereby enabling it to balance salt tolerance and growth. Our findings elucidate the key mechanisms underlying the critical role of Na⁺ in the physiological and metabolic processes of halophytes, providing a theoretical basis for the development of saline agriculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"243 ","pages":"Article 106343"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147402633","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}