Environmental and Experimental Botany最新文献

{"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}

{"title":"Silver nanoparticles inhibit root growth and promote root waving by inhibiting polar auxin transport and local auxin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis root tips","authors":"Wuttisak Sarikhit ,&nbsp;Yang Bi ,&nbsp;Zhi-Yong Wang ,&nbsp;Juthamas Chaiwanon","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106239","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106239","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) are incorporated into numerous consumer products for their antimicrobial and conductive properties. Despite the widespread use, the environmental implications of AgNP leakage, particularly on plant growth, remain underexplored. This study examined the effects of AgNP on root growth. Arabidopsis seedlings grown on vertical agar plates supplemented with AgNP showed a wavy root phenotype, which is caused by asymmetric growth at the root tips. The results showed that AgNP inhibited primary root growth and induced root waving in a dose-dependent manner; such effects were absent in seedlings treated with equivalent concentrations of silver ions (Ag⁺), indicating the unique impact of AgNP. Using auxin signaling mutants, we demonstrated that AgNP-induced root waving depends on functional auxin signaling. Analysis of auxin reporter lines revealed that AgNP disrupted normal auxin distribution and induce asymmetric auxin accumulation by interfering with polar auxin transport, specifically through downregulation of auxin efflux and influx carrier expression in the root tip —except for <em>PIN2</em>, which was upregulated in the epidermis and cortex. Furthermore, inhibition of TAA1-mediated local auxin biosynthesis using kynurenine, as well as mutation of the <em>TAA1</em> gene, exacerbated the root waving phenotype under AgNP treatment. Together, these findings reveal that AgNP modulates root growth and waving by interfering with auxin homeostasis and transport, highlighting a potential ecological risk posed by nanoparticle contamination in the environment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106239"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145045675","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":"Divergent responses to acid deposition and calcium addition in a subtropical secondary evergreen broadleaved forest: Experimental evidence from transpiration and water use efficiency dynamics","authors":"Lei Ouyang ,&nbsp;Longwei Lu ,&nbsp;Jingyi Wang ,&nbsp;Ping Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106237","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106237","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chronic acid deposition has induced severe soil acidification, leading to the depletion of calcium (Ca) and the accumulation of phytotoxic aluminum (Al). Ca is essential for sensing water stress, strengthening cellular structures, and enhancing plant water use efficiency (WUE), while Al impairs root function. Consequently, the altered soil Ca and Al dynamics are likely to produce divergent impacts on plant water use and WUE, yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. To investigate this, we conducted a manipulative field experiment simulating soil acidification (Acid) and calcium amendment (Ca) in a secondary evergreen broadleaved forest in South China from 2022 to 2024. We continuously monitored sap flow-based transpiration and analyzed the <em>δ</em>¹ ³C-derived intrinsic WUE (WUEi) in four dominant species: <em>Pyrenaria macrocarpa</em>, <em>Quercus myrsinifolia</em>, <em>Aporosa dioica</em>, and <em>Castanopsis fissa</em>. Additionally, we conducted periodic ecophysiological measurements, including soil and leaf stoichiometry, leaf water potential, and stomatal conductance. The results showed that species-specific responses to Acid and Ca treatments. <em>P. macrocarpa</em> exhibited no significant change in transpiration under the Acid treatment in 2022 and 2023 but showed a significant decline in 2024, suggesting a delayed toxicity effect from accumulated Al. In contrast, <em>A. dioica</em> consistently showed increased transpiration under the Acid treatment, potentially reflecting an adaptive strategy to maintain nutrient uptake and support photosynthesis in acidic soils. Both species showed a significant increase in WUEi with Ca amendment, positively correlating with soil Ca content and leaf Ca/Al ratio. In comparison, <em>Q. myrsinifolia</em> and <em>C. fissa</em> displayed no significant physiological responses to either treatment. These findings highlight the divergent strategies adopted by co-occurring dominant species in response to acid deposition and Ca amendment. Prolonged acid deposition may threaten species like <em>P. macrocarpa</em>, while species with high photosynthetic and water demands, such as <em>A. dioica</em> and <em>C. fissa</em>, may face increased risk of hydraulic failure under the combined stressors of acidification and drought.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106237"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145046380","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":"Root nodule presence alters the dynamics of photosynthate translocation under varying soil moisture conditions","authors":"Yuta Miyoshi ,&nbsp;Shota Teramoto ,&nbsp;Fumiyuki Soma ,&nbsp;Yong-Gen Yin ,&nbsp;Nobuo Suzui ,&nbsp;Yusaku Noda ,&nbsp;Kazuyuki Enomoto ,&nbsp;Naoki Kawachi ,&nbsp;Joseph Peller ,&nbsp;Eiji Yoshida ,&nbsp;Hideaki Tashima ,&nbsp;Taiga Yamaya ,&nbsp;Yusaku Uga","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106235","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106235","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigated the dynamics of ¹¹C-labeled photosynthate translocation in nodulated and non-nodulated soybean plants across three time windows: during the low water condition, and at 0–3 h and 4–7 h after the recover water content. Advanced imaging techniques, including positron emission tomography (PET) and X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT), enabled three-dimensional visualization of root structures and carbon allocation patterns. Under low water condition, nodulated soybeans prioritized carbon translocation to taproots and nodules. Using logistic modeling of ¹¹C accumulation, <em>Vmax</em> (steepest slope; maximum translocation rate) and <em>Kmax</em> (asymptote; accumulation capacity) were calculated. In nodulated plants, <em>Vmax</em> at lateral root tips increased by 56 % during 0–3 h after rewatering relative to the low-water condition; during 4–7 h, <em>Vmax</em> and <em>Kmax</em> at middle-layer nodules increased by 55 % and 49 %, respectively. Collectively, these results indicate a temporal reorganization of sink activity after rewatering—from lateral root tips early to middle-layer nodules later. These observations are consistent with a role for nodules as prominent sinks that may facilitate the redistribution of photosynthates after rewatering, whereas non-nodulated plants showed decreases in <em>Vmax</em> and <em>Kmax</em> across root regions under low-water conditions and exhibited little recovery during 0–3 and 4–7 h after rewatering. These patterns are consistent with a role for nodules in facilitating the reactivation and redistribution of carbon sinks under changing water availability. This study clarifies how water status modulates belowground carbon allocation in soybean and provides a basis for evaluating nodule-associated sink behavior under fluctuating moisture. These insights may inform crop management and guide breeding strategies aimed at improving resilience to water variability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106235"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145096343","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":"Coprinellus disseminates ArsM confers multi-layer arsenic resistance in transgenic tobacco by coordinating detoxification, photosynthetic protection, and stress signaling","authors":"Yalin Yang,&nbsp;Fuxin Yang,&nbsp;Lijun Qin","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106236","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106236","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plant arsenic pollution, entering the food chain via soil-plant systems, constitutes a global environmental health threat. The macrofungus <em>Coprinellus disseminatus</em> (Pers.:Fr.) J.E. Lange, endemic to arsenic-contaminated areas of Bijie, China, exhibits exceptional arsenic resistance confirmed through physiological analysis under arsenic exposure. Integrated transcriptomics identified key resistance genes (<em>CdACR3</em>, <em>CdsHSP</em>, <em>CdSEP</em>, <em>CdArsM</em>), with qRT-PCR revealing time-dependent upregulation of <em>CdArsM</em> and <em>CdACR3</em> during prolonged arsenic stress. Given reported roles of ArsM orthologs in plant tolerance, we engineered codon-optimized <em>CdArsM</em>-expressing <em>Nicotiana tabacum</em> transgenics. Under arsenic stress, transgenic lines showed enhancing chloroplast/mitochondrial integrity, significantly reducing ROS accumulation (O₂˙⁻, H₂O₂), lower oxidative damage (reduced MDA) and elevating antioxidant enzyme activity. Transcriptomics revealed pronounced enrichment of upregulated DEGs in arsenic-stressed transgenics (12 h) versus wild-type across: photosynthesis, phenylpropanoid metabolism, light-circadian signaling, energy-carbon partitioning, stress transduction, and redox homeostasis. qRT-PCR further validated progressive upregulation of key regulators: phosphate transporter (<em>Pht1;1</em>), metal transporter (<em>MTP1</em>), transcription factor (<em>NAC029</em>), and glutathione peroxidase (<em>GSH2</em>). These results demonstrate <em>CdArsM</em>-mediated arsenic resistance involves coordinated activation of complementary physiological pathways.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106236"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145020003","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":"Dissecting possible correlations between leaf functional traits and heavy metal accumulation in two contrasting mangrove species across tidal gradients","authors":"Dadong Li ,&nbsp;Mengjie Tian ,&nbsp;Wei Ding ,&nbsp;El-Hadji Malick Cisse ,&nbsp;Lingfeng Miao ,&nbsp;Bingbing Ye ,&nbsp;Mengqi Li ,&nbsp;Yifan Long ,&nbsp;Fan Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106234","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106234","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The leaves of mangroves are a key component of the plant biomass, and they have a prominent function in heavy metal accumulation from contaminated sediments, which modulates their functional traits. However, it remains unclear how mangrove leaf heavy metals coordinate with leaf traits at different tidal levels. Thus, two species, exotic <em>Sonneratia apetala</em> and native <em>Bruguiera sexangula</em>, were selected to perform a qualitative study that shed light on the mechanisms underlying mangrove leaf functional traits and heavy metal dynamics (As, Pb, Cd, Cr, and Cu) across different tidal levels. The results showed that with increasing tidal levels individual leaf weight and individual leaf area increased in <em>B. sexangula</em> but decreased in <em>S. apetala</em>. The <em>B. sexangula</em> showed a markedly higher capacity for heavy metal accumulation, sequestering metals in the spongy mesophyll, contrasting with <em>S. apetala</em>, which concentrated metals in the palisade mesophyll. Both species peaked in leaf heavy metal concentrations at mid-tidal levels, a phenomenon linked to specialized leaf structural adjustments, increased phytohormone levels (ZR, JA-Me, IAA and ABA), and amplified detoxification mechanisms, including reduced glutathione, non-protein thiols, glutathione-S-transferase, flavonoids, tannins, and anthocyanins, which were facilitated by acidic pH and Fe plaque deposition on roots. Partial least squares path modeling further suggested that phytohormones influenced metal accumulation indirectly by altering leaf anatomical features and boosting detoxification. These results highlight the importance of phytohormones' regulatory role in determining the variation of heavy metals in both species, which has significant implications for applications in using and selecting mangrove plants for phytoremediation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106234"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145020071","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":"Transcriptomic and metabonomic analysis of quorum sensing signal (N-octanoyl-DL-homoserine lactone) on regulating poplar fine roots growth","authors":"Qi Liang Zhu ,&nbsp;Nian Zhao Wang ,&nbsp;Wen Hao Han ,&nbsp;Shu Qi Ma ,&nbsp;You Lv ,&nbsp;Yan Ping Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106229","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106229","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Root-microbe transboundary communication is important to dominate the interaction between plant and microorganism. However, the influence of quorum sensing signals among bacteria community on the root growth and development is still obscure. The study focused on one quorum sensing signal isolated from poplar rhizosphere, <em>N</em>-octanoyl-DL-homoserine lactone (C8-HSL), and examined its influence on the morphological structure, ultrastructure, and subcellular structure of poplar roots. Transcriptome and metabolome sequencing were further performed to reveal the potential mechanisms of C8-HSL regulating the root morphological development. The results showed C8-HSL demonstrated dual regulatory effects on the growth of poplar fine roots. At high concentrations (more than 100 μM), root growth of poplar seedlings was suppressed by C8-HSL, and the primary and lateral roots appeared short and thick. Conversely, at low concentrations (10 nM), root growth was promoted by C8-HSL, and the primary and lateral roots were elongated. Fluorescent probes indicated that Ca^2 + , reactive oxygen species (ROS), and nitric oxide (NO) in root tip cells were significantly up-regulated at concentrations more than 1 μM of C8-HSL, while only Ca²⁺ and NO concentration were significantly up-regulated at concentrations less than 1 μM of C8-HSL. Transcriptome and metabolome analysis further revealed that high concentration C8-HSL significantly upregulated the expression of poplar genes related to secondary wall biogenesis (e.g., <em>MYB46</em>, <em>MYB83</em>, <em>CESA</em>) and auxin transport (e.g., <em>PIN6</em>, <em>AUX22B</em>, <em>GH3.6</em>). In contrast, low concentration C8-HSL upregulated calmodulin expression and increased indoleacrylic acid and 3-indolebutyric acid content. Taken together, these findings provide a deeper insight to the interaction between root and microbes, and imply the potential utilization of quorum sensing signals in regulating root growth.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106229"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144926418","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":"Phenylpropanoid derived flavonoid biosynthesis pathway compensates for abiotic and biotic stress tolerance in dhurrin-free forage sorghum","authors":"Anita Kumari ,&nbsp;Alondra Cruz ,&nbsp;Pallavi Dhiman ,&nbsp;S.M. Impa ,&nbsp;Mitchell R. Tuinstra ,&nbsp;Gunvant B. Patil ,&nbsp;S.V. Krishna Jagadish","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106230","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106230","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sorghum (<em>Sorghum bicolor</em> L. Moench) is a multipurpose cereal valued for its drought tolerance and biomass productivity. Despite its agronomic advantages, the widespread adoption of sorghum as a forage crop is significantly limited by the presence of dhurrin, a cyanogenic glucoside that, upon stress or herbivory, releases hydrogen cyanide (HCN), posing considerable risks to grazing animals. This study systematically investigated the metabolic ramifications of dhurrin elimination in a prussic acid-free (PF) sorghum genotype cultivated under contrasting irrigation regimes. The major aim was to elucidate the consequences of the loss of cyanogenesis on both agronomic performance and the modulation of stress-associated metabolic pathways. Untargeted metabolomics using UHPLC-QTOF-MS revealed significant metabolic reprogramming in PF sorghum, with comparable biomass and no yield penalty. Over 470 metabolites were differentially accumulated, including reduced alkaloids and phenolic acids and increased flavonoids, terpenoids, and jasmonates. Metabolic flux was redirected from dhurrin synthesis toward 4-coumarate-derived phenylpropanoid and flavonoid pathways, boosting antioxidant production. Upregulated jasmonic acid biosynthesis suggests activation of alternative defence signalling. The loss of dhurrin leads to a comprehensive specialization of metabolism favoring antioxidant and hormone pathways without compromising growth, providing key insights for developing safer, resilient prussic acid-free forage sorghum.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106230"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144933595","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":"Metabolic and antioxidant responses drive Haloxylon ammodendron’s adaptation to drip irrigation with saline and freshwater in saline-alkali soils","authors":"Haitao Dou ,&nbsp;Qiao Xu ,&nbsp;Tao Lin ,&nbsp;Zewen Tong ,&nbsp;Aishajiang Aili ,&nbsp;Hailiang Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106225","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106225","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Saline water irrigation represents a promising strategy for addressing freshwater scarcity and rehabilitating saline-alkali lands, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying plant adaptation to varying salt conditions remain poorly understood. This study investigated the molecular responses of <em>Haloxylon ammodendron（H. ammodendron）</em> to freshwater versus saline water drip irrigation in saline-alkali soils using integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses coupled with dynamic soil ion monitoring. Freshwater irrigation temporarily reduced soil Na⁺ and Cl⁻ levels through leaching but caused Ca²⁺ and SO₄²⁻ accumulation, while saline water irrigation initially increased Na⁺ and Cl⁻ concentrations before achieving ion rebalancing and pH stabilization. Transcriptomic analysis revealed distinct molecular responses: freshwater irrigation induced 1305 differentially expressed genes primarily associated with secondary metabolite biosynthesis and antioxidant pathways, whereas saline water irrigation activated 825 genes enriched in carbohydrate metabolism and flavonoid biosynthesis. Metabolomic profiling showed higher numbers of differentially expressed metabolites under freshwater irrigation, particularly organic acids and amino acids. Correlation analysis demonstrated that saline water irrigation enhances salt tolerance through suppressed gene expression and metabolic pathway reconstruction, notably involving key flavonoid biosynthesis genes (SS2296411, SS3033913) that enable precise adaptation to salt fluctuations. These findings reveal that <em>H. ammodendron</em> maintains physiological homeostasis under salt stress by dynamically regulating secondary metabolism, energy balance, and antioxidant systems, providing theoretical foundations for optimizing saline water utilization and developing salt-tolerant crops through targeted genetic engineering.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11758,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Experimental Botany","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106225"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144912571","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}