Plant Molecular Biology最新文献

{"title":"Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Leonardite alter fatty acid and amino acid biosynthesis in sunflower grains.","authors":"Ghulam Murtaza, Muhammad Usman, Muhammad Rizwan, Sajad Ali, Zeeshan Ahmed, Khairiah Mubarak Alwutayd, Rashid Iqbal","doi":"10.1007/s11103-026-01713-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11103-026-01713-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Excessive application of chemical fertilizers has reduced agricultural yield and final product quality because of several adverse environmental effects. The increasing demand for sustainable agricultural practices requires novel approaches to improve crop yield while reducing environmental impact. This study examined the effects of Leonardite and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF), on the metabolite profile and sugar metabolism of sunflower grains. The research was conducted during the 2024 and 2025 growing seasons to evaluate the effects of bio-organic treatments and minimal chemical fertilizer application on sunflower. The combined use of AMF and Leonardite significantly improved the metabolic profile of the grains, resulting in substantial increases in saturated fatty acids by 139.29%, total amino acids by 39.33%, and total sugars by 17.20%, although unsaturated fatty acids showed a slight reduction of 9.47%. Changes in primary metabolites, including fatty acids and amino acids, are important for human nutrition and metabolic processes. The treatments also promoted the accumulation of secondary metabolites, including lipid soluble and water-soluble antioxidants, which play a crucial role in enhancing the antioxidant potential of the grains. The combined application of AMF and Leonardite also increased the elemental composition of the grains, particularly phosphorus and potassium levels. Our findings indicate that the combination of Leonardite and AMF greatly improves the nutritional quality and metabolic profile of sunflower grains. This environmentally sustainable approach offers a viable way to enhance sunflower yield, improve food safety, and support ecological wellbeing by reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers. Further research on plant soil interactions and bio-organic fertilizers across different plant species, along with fundamental molecular, biochemical, and physiological studies, is still needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":20064,"journal":{"name":"Plant Molecular Biology","volume":"116 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147974415","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":"Regulatory factors of starch metabolism in cereal endosperm.","authors":"Tian Tian, Peng Wang, Yanyan Zhang, Qiaoyun Wang, Kangchun Li, Lijian Guo, Tao Chen, Delong Yang","doi":"10.1007/s11103-026-01722-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11103-026-01722-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Starch represents the primary nutritional component in the cereal endosperm, typically constituting more than 80% of its dry weight, and serves as the core component determining final yield and quality. Starch metabolism in the endosperm is an extremely complex process that requires the precise coordination of a series of key enzymes and is regulated by multiple transcription factors. While significant progress has been made in understanding starch biosynthesis and degradation in recent years, the regulatory factors underlying starch metabolism remain limited. Here, we systematically summarize recent advances in gene cloning and the molecular factors associated with starch metabolism in cereal grain. This review will enhance the understanding of starch metabolism regulation and provide a solid theoretical foundation for improving grain yield and quality in cereal.</p>","PeriodicalId":20064,"journal":{"name":"Plant Molecular Biology","volume":"116 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147974560","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":"Epigenetically regulated transcriptional repressor, BASIC PENTACYSTEINE1 (BPC1) acts together with polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) to suppress camalexin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis.","authors":"Heewon Moon, Dasom Choi, Eojin Cho, Hyunjoon Kim, Adji Baskoro Dwi Nugroho, Dong-Hwan Kim","doi":"10.1007/s11103-026-01720-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11103-026-01720-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Camalexin is a phytoalexin produced by plants of the Brassicaceae family, including the model species Arabidopsis thaliana, and its biosynthesis is tightly regulated to balance growth and defense. Here, we identify BASIC PENTACYSTEINE 1 (BPC1) as a key negative regulator of camalexin biosynthesis. Transcriptome analyses of bpc1-1 and bpc1-1;bpc2-1 mutants revealed both distinct and overlapping functions of BPC1 and BPC2, with BPC1-specific differentially expressed genes being highly enriched for camalexin biosynthetic processes. Consistently, multiple camalexin pathway genes were upregulated in bpc1-1, leading to increased camalexin accumulation. Analysis of publicly available ChIP-seq data together with mutant expression profiles showed that several BPC1-regulated camalexin biosynthetic genes are enriched for the repressive histone mark, H3K27me3 and are de-repressed in Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) mutants, indicating PRC2-dependent transcriptional silencing. ChIP-qPCR analyses further demonstrated that BPC1 directly binds GA-rich cis-elements in camalexin pathway genes, including CYP71A12 and CYP71B15. Furthermore, epigenome profiling showed that the BPC1 locus itself is embedded within an active chromatin environment enriched in H3K4me2/3, H3K36me3, and histone acetylation. Loss-of-function mutants of histone H3 methyltransferases like ATX1, ATX2, ATXR7, and EFS exhibited reduced BPC1 expression, whereas a knock-out mutant of a histone H3 acetyltransferase gene, HDA9, hda9-1 displayed elevated H3ac levels and increased BPC1 transcript abundance, indicating that BPC1 transcription is epigenetically modulated by both histone methylation and acetylation dynamics. Together, our findings establish BPC1 as an epigenetically regulated transcriptional repressor that partners with PRC2 to suppress camalexin biosynthesis, revealing a previously unrecognized regulatory module controlling the basal suppression of specialized defensive metabolism in Arabidopsis.</p>","PeriodicalId":20064,"journal":{"name":"Plant Molecular Biology","volume":"116 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13171671/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147931978","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of a second-generation biofuel crop, Brassica carinata.","authors":"Reshma Roy, Shilpika Kassety, Nelson Gororo, Rick Bennett, Anthony A Millar, Srinivas Belide","doi":"10.1007/s11103-026-01717-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11103-026-01717-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Brassica carinata (B. carinata) is a promising non-food biofuel crop with the potential for low carbon intensity biofuel production under suitable management conditions. However, B. carinata requires extensive genetic improvement of many agronomic traits for it to be widely deployed into agriculture systems. Its rapid improvement via gene editing or genetic modification requires robust, genotype-flexible transformation protocols, as current methods are limited and have only been applied to a narrow germplasm base, hindering broader genetic enhancement efforts. In this paper, cotyledonary petioles from five diverse B. carinata genotypes were evaluated for shoot regeneration under different cytokinin treatments. Among the genotypes tested, regeneration efficiency varied substantially across the five B. carinata genotypes. Transient expression of the GUS reporter gene in cotyledonary petioles confirmed high transformation proficiency, with expression frequencies varying from 96.4 to 100% among four genotypes. Consistently, high stable transformation efficiency was achieved for these four genotypes of at least 5%, with the highest efficiency being 12%. Interestingly, transformation and regeneration efficiencies did not correlate, indicating the latter does not serve as a reliable indicator of transformation efficiency when subjected to selection pressures. Transgene integration was validated by PCR and copy number analysis was performed using digital droplet PCR. Furthermore, T₁ seedlings derived from selected transgenic events demonstrated resistance to glufosinate ammonium whereas wild-type seedlings exhibited mortality. Overall, this study presents a significantly improved and reproducible Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method for B.carinata, advancing the potential for rapid genetic improvement and trait development in this promising biofuel crop.</p>","PeriodicalId":20064,"journal":{"name":"Plant Molecular Biology","volume":"116 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13167906/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147931299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular mechanisms of plant hormones and sugars regulates strawberry fruit development and ripening.","authors":"Calistene Aparecida Pinto, Helyemari Valentim Althaus, Ranyelly Leão Coutrim, Ricardo Antonio Ayub, Fernanda Grimaldi","doi":"10.1007/s11103-026-01714-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11103-026-01714-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The strawberry consists of two main parts: the dry achenes (the true fruit) and an enlarged receptacle (the fleshy part). These parts exhibit high metabolic synchrony during the development and ripening stages. Due to the low rates of ethylene production and respiration during ripening, strawberries are currently classified as non-climacteric fruits. However, studies suggest that ethylene, along with its interactions with other plant growth regulators like abscisic acid and auxin influences the ripening process in strawberries. Auxins are crucial for the initial development of fruits, promoting cell expansion and modulating non-climacteric ripening. Recent research indicates that cytokinins and gibberellins might play a role in enhancing fruit development and ripening by promoting cell expansion. Additionally, the literature suggests that increased sugar concentration, accompanied by cell wall degradation and changes in pulp osmotic pressure, is linked to hormonal crosstalk between growth promoters, abscisic acid and ethylene. Although traditionally classified as non-climacteric, recent evidence may suggest that strawberries operate under a model similar to 'suppressed climacteric'. In this system, ethylene does not act as the primary trigger, but rather as an essential modulator of late ripening. Thus, strawberry ripening reflects a sophisticated hormonal interaction essential to the strawberry ripening cascade.</p>","PeriodicalId":20064,"journal":{"name":"Plant Molecular Biology","volume":"116 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13160971/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147869230","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"ICE1 plays a vital role in the development of pollen grains through regulating tapetum degradation and nutrient mobilization in Arabidopsis thaliana.","authors":"Fa-Li Chang, Jer-Lun Kuo, Meng-Ting Wu, Ching-Hsing Liang, Shiang-Jiuun Chen, Chien-Chih Yang","doi":"10.1007/s11103-026-01712-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11103-026-01712-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>ICE1 (Inducer of CBF Expression 1) of Arabidopsis thaliana is a transcription factor involved in a wide range of physiological processes, including stress responses and plant development. Recently, the regulatory role of ICE1 in the development of the male reproduction system was reported; the failure of the ICE1 mutant ice1-2 to carry out anther dehydration was observed to have resulted from impaired stomata development. In this study, we show that ICE1 influences anther and pollen development by facilitating timely tapetum degradation and nutrient mobilization. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that ice1-2 pollen grains exhibited disorganized cytoplasm and large vacuoles. Semi-thin sectioning of ice1-2 anthers from different developmental stages showed retarded anther dehiscence, defective pollen grains, and delayed tapetum degradation. In addition, ice1-2 exhibited altered sugar and lipid distribution patterns, suggesting that abnormal pollenkitt deposition results from impaired nutrient mobilization and defective tapetal degradation. Lastly, we also investigated and confirmed interactions between ICE1 and key regulators of tapetum and pollen development, DYT1 and AMS. Together, our observations suggest an additional role of ICE1 in anther and pollen development via the regulation of tapetum development, likely through the interactions of ICE1 and other transcription factors involved in tapetal and pollen development.</p>","PeriodicalId":20064,"journal":{"name":"Plant Molecular Biology","volume":"116 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147819532","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":"Transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory networks controlling cotton fibre development.","authors":"Rasmieh Hamid, Bahman Panahi, Zahra Ghorbanzadeh","doi":"10.1007/s11103-026-01715-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11103-026-01715-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cotton fibre development is an extreme form of plant cell differentiation in which a single ovule epidermal cell undergoes fate specification, sustained polar elongation, secondary cell wall thickening, and terminal maturation. This review provides a stage-resolved synthesis of the transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms that govern fibre development from initiation through maturation. We dissect the hierarchical organisation and functional interplay of major transcription factor families including MYB and MYBMIXTA-like proteins, HD-ZIP IV homeobox factors, WRKY, bHLH, NAC, TCP, bZIP, AP2/ERF, and zinc finger proteins and examine how these regulators coordinate epidermal cell fate acquisition, elongation-associated cell wall remodelling, and the onset of cellulose-dominated secondary wall biosynthesis. We further integrate evidence for post-transcriptional regulation mediated by microRNAs, phased siRNAs, and alternative splicing, highlighting their roles in shaping developmental timing, hormone-responsive transcriptional outputs, and regulatory stability across fibre developmental transitions. Genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic studies are synthesised to illustrate how dynamic chromatin states, RNA processing, and metabolic reprogramming intersect with transcription factor networks in a stage-dependent manner. The review also examines how polyploidy, subgenome expression bias, and regulatory divergence among Gossypium species contribute to variation in fibre morphology and quality traits.</p>","PeriodicalId":20064,"journal":{"name":"Plant Molecular Biology","volume":"116 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147819610","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":"Trehalose: a multifunctional sugar and its metabolites are biotechnological targets for crop salinity tolerance under saline conditions.","authors":"Mohamed Magdy F Mansour, Fahmy A S Hassan","doi":"10.1007/s11103-026-01705-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11103-026-01705-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Salinity stress is an abiotic threat that impairs crop growth, development, and productivity, placing a heavy burden on global agriculture. Understanding how crops tolerate salinity enables the development of biotechnological strategies to enhance crop resilience and yield, thereby securing sustainable food supplies for the growing global population. Trehalose, its metabolite trehalose-6-phosphate (T6P), along with key biosynthetic enzymes (trehalose-6-phosphate synthase, TPS; trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase, TPP), have garnered increasing attention for their ability to enhance crop tolerance to salinity by modulating physiological, biochemical, and signaling processes. Therefore, strategies to increase trehalose levels or to enhance its metabolic functions are promising for researchers seeking to improve crop tolerance and yield in saline environments. This review explores the structure of trehalose, its biosynthesis, protective molecular mechanisms, and the vital functions of its metabolites in enhancing crop tolerance and productivity in saline soils. It also underscores biotechnological strategies targeting trehalose metabolism to enhance salinity resilience of crops, while critically evaluating current limitations and knowledge gaps. Further targeted manipulation of trehalose metabolism, tissue-specific regulations, and validating results in field-grown crops are also required to translate laboratory findings into agricultural applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":20064,"journal":{"name":"Plant Molecular Biology","volume":"116 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13106238/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147778392","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Wall-associated kinase-like4 regulates plant salt tolerance by maintaining cell wall pectin homeostasis and cellular redox homeostasis in Arabidopsis.","authors":"Xincheng Yang, Xixian Feng, Haifan Shi, Xi Chen, Yanan Pang, Zhongping Liu, Shiqi Xing, Dan Chang, Huapeng Zhou","doi":"10.1007/s11103-026-01708-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11103-026-01708-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Soil salinization poses a significant threat to global agricultural productivity. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that enable plants to cope with salt stress is crucial for developing salt-resilient crops. We found that several Arabidopsis WAK/WAKL genes are upregulated by salt stress, and their loss-of-function mutants exhibit altered salt tolerance compared WT plants. Here, we focused on WAKL4 and demonstrated that it plays a pivotal positive regulatory role in salt tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis). Loss of WAKL4 function resulted in enhanced sensitivity to salt stress, while WAKL4 overexpression conferred enhanced root growth and reduced germination. In addition, WAKL4 only has minor effect on ionic homeostasis regulation during salt response. Importantly, we found that WAKL4 functions in maintaining cell wall integrity under salt stress, primarily through ensuring the normal biosynthesis of pectin. The salt-sensitive phenotype of the wakl4 mutant was associated with deficiency in pectin content and could be effectively rescued by exogenous calcium supplementation. Furthermore, we discovered that WAKL4 is essential for redox homeostasis regulation during salt response. The wakl4 mutant accumulated excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) compared to WT plants. Interestingly, the expression levels of some ROS-related genes in the wakl4 mutant was also lower than that in WT plants under salt stress. WAKL4 directly interacts with and enhances the enzymatic activity of CATALASE2 (CAT2), a central enzyme in H₂O₂ scavenging. WAKL4 regulates plant salt tolerance partly via the action of CAT2. This study provides insights into plant salt tolerance and offers possible genetic targets for the improvement of crop tolerance in saline soils.</p>","PeriodicalId":20064,"journal":{"name":"Plant Molecular Biology","volume":"116 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147778407","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":"Crop biofortification for global food security: advances in genetic engineering and biotechnological approaches.","authors":"Lamiaa M Mahmoud, Nabil Killiny","doi":"10.1007/s11103-026-01706-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11103-026-01706-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Micronutrient deficiencies, affecting over two billion people worldwide, pose significant health challenges. Recent advancements in biofortification and genetic engineering have shown considerable promise in enhancing the nutritional content of staple crops, thereby improving global nutrition and health outcomes. Biofortification, the process of increasing the nutrient content of crops through conventional breeding techniques and genetic engineering, has expanded the possibilities by enabling precise modifications to enhance nutrient profiles. These technologies have led to crops with increased levels of pigments, iron, zinc, vitamin A, and other critical micronutrients. Despite the potential benefits, several challenges hinder the widespread adoption of biofortified and genetically engineered crops. Regulatory hurdles, consumer acceptance, and socioeconomic factors continue to be significant barriers. Additionally, the long-term environmental impacts and ethical considerations of genetic modifications continue to spark debate. Continued research and collaboration among scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders are essential to overcome these challenges. This review reports the current state of biofortification through genetic engineering, while also addressing the barriers to its adoption. These plant-based solutions can play an essential role in advancing global food security and improving public health.</p>","PeriodicalId":20064,"journal":{"name":"Plant Molecular Biology","volume":"116 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147778359","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}