Journal of Plant Research最新文献

{"title":"Rice grain size: current regulatory mechanisms and future perspectives.","authors":"Muhammad Yaseen, Naveed Tariq, Rida Kanwal, Akasha Farooq, Hao Wang, Hua Yuan","doi":"10.1007/s10265-025-01626-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10265-025-01626-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Rice is a staple food for over half of the world's population. To feed the growing population, molecular breeders aim to increase grain yield. Grain size is an important factor for crop productivity, and it has been extensively studied. However, molecular breeders face a major challenge in further improving crop productivity in terms of grain yield and quality. Grain size is a complex trait controlled by multiple genes. Over the past few decades, genetic studies have identified various gene families involved in grain size development. The list of molecular mechanisms, and key regulators involved in grain size development is constantly expanding, making it difficult to understand the main regulators that play crucial roles in grain development. In this review, we focus on the major regulators of grain size, including G-protein signaling, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, transcriptional regulation, the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation (UPD) pathway, and phytohormone signaling. These molecular mechanisms directly or indirectly regulate grain size. We provided a comprehensive understanding of the genes involved in these mechanisms and cross discussions about how these mechanisms are interlinked. This review serves as a valuable resource for understanding the molecular mechanisms that govern grain development and can aid in the development of molecular breeding strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":16813,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Plant Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143582315","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of fieldwork-friendly coffee blender-based extraction methods and leaf tissue storage on the transcriptome of non-model plants.","authors":"Shine-Undarga Dagva, Josephine Galipon","doi":"10.1007/s10265-025-01624-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-025-01624-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The adaptation of plants to environmental conditions involves a transcriptional response. \"Field transcriptomics\" is an emerging concept for studying plants in their natural habitat. However, this term includes studies in which cold storage was possible until further processing in a laboratory. Previous studies proposing onsite RNA extraction methods are limited to descriptions of RNA purity, quantity, and quality, and lack a thorough evaluation of transcriptome quality, and transcriptomic evaluations of RNA storage solutions in plants are, to our knowledge, only available for periods of less than a day. This issue is critical for studying plants in geographically difficult-to-access regions, where keeping the cold chain is unrealistic. In this study, the transcriptome of the non-model plant Helonias orientalis (order: Liliales) was evaluated before and after storage of the leaf tissue for one and fourteen days at 25 °C in RNAlater and TRIzol, respectively. Additionally, field-friendly protocols were similarly evaluated for onsite plant RNA extraction at ambient temperature with lightweight equipment that can run on a portable generator, including a guanidine isothiocyanate-free protocol that is compatible with the polyphenol-rich wild strawberry Fragaria vesca. The quality of the transcriptome assembly after 1-day storage and our optimized onsite methods had similar results to that of the state-of-the-art. However, in terms of differential expression analysis, onsite extraction methods performed better overall than the stored tissue samples. We expect that our onsite RNA extraction methods will provide valuable insights into the transcriptional regulation of plants in areas where research equipment is difficult to access.</p>","PeriodicalId":16813,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Plant Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143573388","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Needle/electrode insertion device for measuring plant electrical signals.","authors":"Miguel Ángel García Servín, Amanda Kim Rico Chávez, Magdalena Mendoza Sánchez, José Alfredo Acuña García, Ramón Gerardo Guevara González, Luis Miguel Contreras Medina","doi":"10.1007/s10265-025-01625-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-025-01625-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Plants generate electrical signals in response to mild and severe environmental stimuli to transmit physiological information and ultimately trigger defensive responses during stressful events. It has been proposed that detecting and characterizing such signals could allow researchers to mimic specific electrical stimuli and provoke desirable responses in crops. Nevertheless, manually inserting electrodes in plant tissues leads to irregular data records due to a lack of uniformity across insertion events. For this reason, we manufactured a prototype of an electrode/needle insertion device built in aluminum and acrylic and used it to measure electrical signals in C. annuum plants. As a result, the device had more consistent insertion characteristics such as depth and alignment between electrodes and with plant stems. The device was also used to obtain electrical signals and compare them with the signals obtained using the traditional insertion technique, demonstrating that the use of the device promotes stability and repeatability in the captured signals.</p>","PeriodicalId":16813,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Plant Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143557267","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Devastating impact of the seed-feeding fly Japanagromyza tokunagai on the endangered orchid Cephalanthera falcata.","authors":"Kenji Suetsugu, Rikiya Kurashige, Shigeki Fukushima","doi":"10.1007/s10265-025-01623-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-025-01623-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Numerous studies have examined the reproductive systems of threatened orchids to develop effective conservation strategies. However, the detrimental effects of seed predators on seed production are often overlooked. In this study, we evaluated the impact of the seed-parasitic fly Japanagromyza tokunagai on the seed production of the endangered orchid Cephalanthera falcata, based on observations from five locations over one year and from a single location over four years in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Our findings showed that J. tokunagai caused 100% capsule damage across all sites and years examined. Although some infested fruits still produced seeds in certain locations and years, the quantities were very low. Consequently, we observed a 99.1-100% reduction in seed production across all populations investigated. These results suggest that reduced seed production could limit generational turnover, potentially threatening the reproductive success and long-term survival of C. falcata, at least in the populations studied. This highlights the need to mitigate the negative impact of J. tokunagai on seed production in C. falcata. Combining artificial pollination with the bagging of individual inflorescences could be an effective approach, capable of increasing seed production by more than 100-fold. Given the fungal dependence and low germination rates of C. falcata, future work should also examine seedling recruitment to better understand the impacts of seed loss and improve estimates of long-term resilience.</p>","PeriodicalId":16813,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Plant Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143542346","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Wasp pollination and pollinator filtering by dense hairs at the floral tube entrance in Marsdenia tinctoria (Apocynaceae).","authors":"Ko Mochizuki, Ayako Watanabe-Taneda","doi":"10.1007/s10265-025-01621-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-025-01621-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The physical filtering of pollinators is an important factor influencing pollination effectiveness. This study explored the potential functions of dense hairs that completely obstruct the entrance of floral tube in Marsdenia tinctoria by characterizing the flowers of this species, as well as its pollinators and their behavior. The corolla was white upon blooming in the morning, then turned yellow at night, and the flower finally dropped by the third morning. The hairs tended to be disheveled in yellow-petaled flowers. Pollination success increased with floral age. Direct observations of flowers in natural M. tinctoria populations over a period of 32 h recorded 126 visitors, of which 70% were wasps. We observed pollinia attached to the mouthparts of wasps, carpenter bees, and honeybees, but not to those of butterflies, moths, flies, or ants. Detailed examination of insect mouthparts and floral morphology indicated that insect visitors that acted as pollinators had mouthparts longer than the floral tubes, equipped with hairs to which pollinia could attach. The mouthparts of potter wasps were often covered with pollinaria, carrying on average 30-75 pollinia. The dense floral hairs were penetrated by large-bodied visitors, and blocked smaller visitors. Disturbance of these floral hairs allowed smaller insects to access nectar, suggesting that the hairs function in preventing nectar theft by smaller insects. This study presents the first case of wasp pollination in the genus Marsdenia and provides insights into the potential function of its dense floral hairs, a synapomorphy of this genus, in filtering floral visitors.</p>","PeriodicalId":16813,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Plant Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143468348","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pressure-volume curves of fine roots reveal intraspecific variation across different elevations in a subalpine forest.","authors":"Taiga Masumoto, Yuki Hashimoto, Takumi Ito, Koichi Takahashi, Naoki Makita","doi":"10.1007/s10265-025-01618-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-025-01618-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Water conservation in fine roots can be important for the adaptation of trees to cold, nutrient-poor ecosystems. Although pressure-volume (p-v) curve traits are commonly used to assess leaf water conservation, little is known about their intraspecific variation in fine roots and their association with root functional traits, such as morphology and chemistry. Here, we aimed to determine the p-v curve traits of Betula ermanii and Abies mariesii fine roots at 2,000 and 2,500 m elevations and explore their intraspecific variation with root morphological and chemical traits in a subalpine forest. Turgor loss point (π_tlp), relative water content at π_tlp, osmotic potential at full hydration, and capacitance at full turgor (C_ft) were evaluated as p-v curve traits. Additionally, root diameter, specific root length, and root tissue density (RTD) were assessed as morphological traits, and nitrogen (N) content was measured as a chemical trait. For A mariesii roots, the C_ft was lower, and π_tlp was more negative at 2,500 m than at 2,000 m. The p-v curve traits of B ermanii roots remained unchanged with elevation. There were strong correlations between RTD and π_tlp and between N content and π_tlp and C_ft, especially for A. mariesii. These results indicated A. mariesii adjusted p-v curve traits with RTD and N content and achieved water conservation in fine roots at higher elevations. The p-v curve traits, particularly π_tlp and C_ft, reflected diverse tree strategies for environmental acclimation with fine-root carbon economy. Our findings highlighted the importance of adjusting water relation traits for acclimation to cold and nutrient-poor subalpine regions, particularly for evergreen coniferous species. The p-v curve traits revealed diverse fine-root water relation traits as a basis for water conservation capacity by preserving root function under stress conditions and enabling prolonged resource acquisition in a subalpine forest.</p>","PeriodicalId":16813,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Plant Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143374221","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The variation of summer heat resistance was associated with leaf transpiration rate in relatively large-leaf Rhododendron plants in southwest China.","authors":"Hai-Xia Zhang, Huie Li","doi":"10.1007/s10265-025-01620-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-025-01620-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The summer heat is a vital factor limiting the introduction of relatively large-leaf Rhododendron plants to low-altitude areas, making it crucial to evaluate the resistance of different germplasm to summer heat. A pot experiment was conducted in 2023 to investigate the temporal changes in the photosynthetic characteristics, physiological and biochemical characteristics, and chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics of 14 representative relatively large-leaf Rhododendron germplasm. The results showed the R. irroratum and 'Hotspur Red' exhibited the highest heat damage index (HDI), while R. jiulongshanense and 'Moser Maroon' had the lowest HDI among the 14 Rhododendron germplasm. The photosynthesis rate and F_v/F_m (maximum photochemical efficiency) initially decreased and then recovered in all germplasm except R. irroratum. In contrast, the leaf transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and chlorophyll content gradually increased. Hydrogen peroxide concentration first decreased and then increased, while malondialdehyde concentration initially increased and then decreased. Additionally, the superoxide anion content gradually increased. The activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase (CAT) initially increased and then decreased. The HDI was positively correlated with CAT activity (r = 0.28, P < 0.05) but negatively correlated with photosynthesis rate (r = -0.26, P < 0.05), leaf transpiration rate (r = -0.27, P < 0.05), and F_v/F_m (r = -0.43, P < 0.001). Variation in summer heat resistance, as indicated by HDI, was observed among the 14 Rhododendron germplasm. This heat resistance was mainly associated with leaf transpiration rate and F_v/F_m. The indirect role of antioxidant enzymes in maintaining reactive oxygen species homeostasis in summer heat resistance was observed. The results provide a reference for introducing and cultivating relatively large-leaf Rhododendron plants to low-altitude areas.</p>","PeriodicalId":16813,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Plant Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143374223","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pregnane derivatives in wheat (Triticum aestivum) and their potential role in generative development.","authors":"Anna Janeczko, Jana Oklestkova, Barbara Jurczyk, Barbara Drygaś","doi":"10.1007/s10265-024-01614-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-024-01614-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pregnane derivatives such as pregnenolone or progesterone and many other metabolites are important in mammals where many of them act as hormones including sexual hormones. Much less is known about the presence and functions of pregnane derivatives in plants. The main objectives of this work were (1) to determine the presence of pregnane derivatives in winter wheat (2) verify if there are changes of concentration of pregnane derivatives during wheat growth/development with special attention to vernalisation process (3) to answer the question of whether selected pregnane derivatives are stimulators of wheat development and whether the potential stimulation of this development is accompanied by the expression of the Vrn1 (Vernalisation1) gene. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that demonstrates the presence of pregnenolone and 5α-dihydroprogesterone in the leaves and intact crowns of winter wheat. The levels of some of the pregnane derivatives changed during plant growth/development, it was demonstrated that pregnenolone, pregnanolone and 17α-hydroxypregnenolone stimulated wheat development. The changes in the Vrn1 expression are discussed in light of the stimulation of generative development by the pregnane derivatives.</p>","PeriodicalId":16813,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Plant Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143189177","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Differences in plant responses to nitrogen addition between the central and edge populations of invasive Galinsoga quadriradiata in China.","authors":"Xing-Jiang Song, Xin-Di Li, Yu Chen, Jia Wang, Jia-Bin Zou, Zhi-Hong Zhu, Gang Liu","doi":"10.1007/s10265-025-01617-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-025-01617-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Increased nitrogen deposition significantly impacts invasive plants, leading to population differentiation due to different environmental pressures during expansion. However, various populations respond differently to elevated nitrogen levels. This study explores the responses of central and edge populations of the annual invasive plant Galinsoga quadriradiata to different levels of nitrogen addition. The results indicate that the central population has a stronger need for nitrogen, with nitrogen addition promoting the growth of its aboveground parts, reducing intraspecific competition, and increasing reproductive allocation and total biomass. Specifically, nitrogen addition provides more nutritional resources, easing resource competition among plants, reducing intraspecific competitive pressure, and allowing plants to allocate more energy to growth and reproduction, thereby enhancing their expansion potential. In contrast, the edge populations respond differently to nitrogen. Although nitrogen addition promotes the growth of their underground parts and enhances root development, the impact on aboveground parts is smaller. The enhancement of underground parts helps edge populations better adapt to barren environments, improving their survival and competitive ability in new environments, thus increasing their expansion potential. Overall, the growth impact on edge populations due to nitrogen addition is smaller, possibly indicating they have exceeded their nitrogen limit. The study demonstrates that the degree of population differentiation in invasive plants at different invasion stages is a critical factor in studying their spread potential, aiding in predicting plant invasion trends under climate change and providing theoretical support for formulating targeted management strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":16813,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Plant Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143189080","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic strategies to reveal adaptive mechanisms in barley plant during germination stage under waterlogging stress.","authors":"Haiye Luan, Jiajia Gao, Yu Li, Xin Qu, Jinghan Yang, Xin Qian, Meng Xu, Miao Sun, Xiao Xu, Huiquan Shen, Yinghu Zhang, Gongneng Feng","doi":"10.1007/s10265-025-01616-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-025-01616-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is an important cereal crop used in animal feed, beer brewing, and food production. Waterlogging stress is one of the prominent abiotic stresses that has a significant impact on the yield and quality of barley. Seed germination plays a critical role in the establishment of seedlings and is significantly impacted by the presence of waterlogging stress. However, there is a limited understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of gene expression and metabolic processes in barley during the germination stage under waterlogging stress. This study aimed to investigate the metabolome and transcriptome responses in germinating barley seeds under waterlogging stress. The findings of the study revealed that waterlogging stress sharply decreased seed germination rate and seedling growth. The tolerant genotype (LLZDM) exhibited higher levels of antioxidase activities and lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content in comparison to the sensitive genotype (NN). In addition, waterlogging induced 86 and 85 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) in LLZDM and NN, respectively. Concurrently, transcriptome analysis identified 1776 and 839 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in LLZDM and NN, respectively. Notably, the expression of genes associated with redox reactions, hormone regulation, and other biological processes were altered in response to waterlogging stress. Furthermore, the integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed that the DEGs and DEMs implicated in mitigating waterlogging stress primarily pertained to the regulation of pyruvate metabolism and flavonoid biosynthesis. Moreover, waterlogging might promote flavonoid biosynthesis by regulating 15 flavonoid-related genes and 10 metabolites. The present research provides deeper insights into the overall understanding of waterlogging-tolerant mechanisms in barley during the germination process.</p>","PeriodicalId":16813,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Plant Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143039124","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}