Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants最新文献

{"title":"Cloning and functional analysis of <i>MdCRCT1</i> in the regulation of drought tolerance in apple.","authors":"Xiao-Wen Li, Ya-Qi Liu, Jing-Yi Su, Xin-Rong Shi, Chang Li, Xue Wang, Qi-Fei Wu, Xuan He, Hong-Jian Cao, Xiao-Fei Wang, Ting-Ting Zhang","doi":"10.1007/s12298-026-01778-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12298-026-01778-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Abiotic stresses, particularly drought stress, impose a profound adverse effect on plant proliferation and development. Multiple categories of transcription factors have been associated with the modulation of stress responses in plants. CONSTANS, CONSTANS-like and TOC1 (CCT) proteins are transcription factors that contribute significantly to plant resilience under environmental stress, yet little is known about their role in apple and other woody plants. In this study, 28 members of the apple <i>CCT Motif Family</i> (<i>CMF</i>) subfamily, which all contain conserved CCT domains, were identified in the apple genome. qRT-PCR investigation demonstrated that the <i>MdCMF</i> genes were extensively distributed in diverse tissues and organs. Among them, the CO₂-responsive CCT protein <i>MdCRCT1</i> was significantly induced by drought stress, with its transcript level increasing approximately 4-fold at 1 h. Overexpression of <i>MdCRCT1</i> enhanced drought tolerance in both apple calli and <i>Arabidopsis</i>, as evidenced by improved growth and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation under drought stress. This enhanced tolerance was mechanistically linked to the transcriptional upregulation of drought-responsive genes by <i>MdCRCT1</i> in <i>Arabidopsis</i>, revealing a novel role for this regulator in drought stress adaptation. This study presents the first functional characterization of a <i>CMF</i> gene, <i>MdCRCT1</i>, in woody plants, thereby establishing a foundation for investigating the role of <i>CMF</i> genes in apple under environmental stress.</p><p><strong>Supplementary information: </strong>The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-026-01778-4.</p>","PeriodicalId":20148,"journal":{"name":"Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants","volume":"32 7","pages":"1541-1550"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13350760/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148423239","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Small RNA sequencing unveils predominant expression patterns and miRNA-target modules associated with seed development in sorghum.","authors":"Rubi Jain, Garima Yadav, Namrata Dhaka, Ira Vashisht, Anisha Maheshwari, Anisha Thalor, Manoj K Sharma, Rita A Sharma","doi":"10.1007/s12298-026-01765-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12298-026-01765-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sorghum is a prominent cereal crop of global importance. Advancements in seed research are essential to enhance seed yield and nutritional value in sorghum. Here, we report small RNA profiling from five stages of sorghum seed development, depicting miRNA dynamics during pollination, fertilization, early seed development, grain filling, and maturation. We identified a total of 226 miRNAs, of which 72 were known and 154 were novel. Based on the predominant expression patterns, these miRNAs were classified into five distinct groups. Target prediction unveiled 6640 miRNA-target modules, of which 1507 were predicted to regulate grain size. Based on the experimentally verified functions of the orthologs of miRNAs and their targets, 83 modules comprising 16 miRNA families and 24 target genes were shortlisted as promising candidates for grain size control. Notably, 13 modules co-localized with previously known grain size quantitative trait loci (QTLs) in sorghum. Additionally, we identified 12, 5, 3, and 3 candidate modules that were associated with starch content, seed dormancy, seed vigor, and seed shattering, respectively. By integrating miRNA expression profiles and their targets with comparative genomic data, we obtained significant insights into the putative roles of miRNAs in regulating seed development and associated agronomic traits.</p><p><strong>Supplementary information: </strong>The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-026-01765-9.</p>","PeriodicalId":20148,"journal":{"name":"Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants","volume":"32 7","pages":"1507-1523"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13350620/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148423263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Topic: boron toxicity in semi-arid crops: the overlooked metalloid in abiotic stress.","authors":"Ashish Kumar Mishra, Supriya Tiwari","doi":"10.1007/s12298-026-01721-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12298-026-01721-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Boron (B) is an essential micronutrient, yet its excess induces phytotoxicity, especially in semi-arid and alkaline soils, severely constraining crop productivity. This review delineates the physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses of plants to B toxicity, highlighting oxidative stress, membrane disruption, metabolic imbalance, and photosynthetic impairment as primary consequences. Multi-omics studies, including transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, have identified key components of B tolerance, such as BOR and NIP transporters, antioxidant enzymes, and stress-inducible proteins. Proteomic investigations reveal tissue-specific responses, with the upregulation of detoxification proteins, SA-dependent defence proteins, and transcriptional regulators like RING1B, which is also implicated in stem cell maintenance. Emerging evidence underscores the role of epigenetic modifications, DNA methylation, and histone acetylation in modulating B-responsive gene expression. However, the absence of high-resolution spatial mapping of B toxicity zones and limited access to high-throughput phenotyping platforms hinder progress in breeding resilient genotypes. Additionally, the interplay between B toxicity and climate change remains underexplored, despite its likely influence on B solubility and plant uptake. Advancements in nanotechnology and microbiome engineering present novel strategies for mitigation, including nano-sensors for real-time B detection, nano-formulations for controlled delivery, and beneficial microbes for enhancing plant tolerance. Integrating these tools with precision breeding and systems biology offers a sustainable framework to counteract B toxicity. This review advocates for a transdisciplinary approach combining spatial analytics, molecular insights, and ecological resilience to manage B toxicity and ensure long-term agricultural sustainability.</p>","PeriodicalId":20148,"journal":{"name":"Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants","volume":"32 6","pages":"1325-1349"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13291296/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148331784","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating the phosphorus-induced tolerance mechanism in <i>Brassica juncea</i> exposed to arsenic.","authors":"Medha Panthri, Zainab Mirza, Afsana Praveen, Priyanka Bhatia, Himanshu Saini, Narjis Saba Khatoon, Asna Khan, Meetu Gupta","doi":"10.1007/s12298-026-01722-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12298-026-01722-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Metalloid contamination, notably arsenic (As) toxicity, severely impacts soil, water quality, and plant development. This study evaluated the role of phosphorus (P) supplementation in mitigating As stress in 15-day-old <i>Brassica juncea</i> seedlings. P-deficiency was detrimental across all As concentrations, with As300-P causing the most damage. P-supplementation significantly improved morphology in As150-P seedlings compared to As50-P and As300-P, where the former exhibited rapid recovery while the latter showed limited response. Stress markers, and the activity of antioxidant enzymes increased in As150-P and As300-P treatments, with P-supplementation aiding the restoration of protein-pigment complexes. Although cysteine metabolism was initially impaired by As-P stress, it revived after P-augmentation, peaking in As300-P. Glutathione metabolism also improved with P-enrichment, particularly in As150-P. Thiol and non-protein thiol levels, elevated under stress, declined post-P supplementation, signifying stress relief. These results highlight P-enhanced S-containing detoxification pathways as key to tolerance in mustard seedlings.</p>","PeriodicalId":20148,"journal":{"name":"Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants","volume":"32 6","pages":"1413-1424"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13291285/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148332095","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Agro-waste amendments alleviate nickel stress: insights into growth, physiology, metabolites, bioaccumulation and health risk assessment in wheat under tropical ecosystems.","authors":"Umesh Kumar, Prince Kumar Singh, Indrajeet Kumar, Rajesh Kumar Sharma","doi":"10.1007/s12298-026-01762-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12298-026-01762-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nickel (Ni) accumulation in agricultural soils from prolonged wastewater irrigation poses serious risks to crop productivity, while also contaminating food chain, endangering global food security and public health. This study assessed the potential of agro-residue-based amendments such as rice husk ash (RHA) and sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA) in mitigating Ni toxicity and enhancing the growth, yield and metabolites of two wheat cultivars (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L. cv. HUW 234; HUW 510) under tropical field conditions in India. Experiments were conducted using Ni-contaminated soil with 4% RHA (T₂) and 4% SBA (T₃), compared to untreated Ni-contaminated soil (T₁) and a non-contaminated control (C). Elevated Ni levels substantially (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05) diminished plant growth and yield while augmenting Ni bioaccumulation. RHA and SBA reduced Ni accumulation by 57-64% and 63-70% in non-edible parts, and by 45-49% and 76-93% in edible parts, respectively. Plant height increased by 18-39% (vegetative) and 40-52% (reproductive), and grain yield improved by 21-28% and 17-33% across treatments. The values of bioaccumulation factor (BAF) and translocation factor (TF) showed a notable decline by 37-42% and 31-33% with RHA, and by 48-54% and 43-47% with SBA. Health risk assessment was performed using multiple indices, including BAF, TF, EDI, HQ, and LTCR, confirmed Ni levels in grains were within safe limits. SBA revealved more effective than RHA in reducing Ni accumulation and enhancing wheat performance, underscoring their potential as sustainable, cost-effective amendments for Ni-contaminated soils to secure food safety and productivity.</p>","PeriodicalId":20148,"journal":{"name":"Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants","volume":"32 6","pages":"1293-1307"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13291282/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148332146","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Applications of fingerprint in Chinese herbal medicine: current status, challenges and future perspectives.","authors":"Minyuan Tian, Minghui Hao, Xihui Wang, Jiahui Li, Yang Wang, Chao Xie, Siyu Pan, Chungang Zhang","doi":"10.1007/s12298-026-01758-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12298-026-01758-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The inherent complexity and variability of Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) components necessitate the implementation of robust and holistic quality control strategies. Fingerprint technology has emerged as a critical tool for this purpose, systematically characterising CHM profiles. This review synthesises the current landscape of fingerprinting, critically evaluating diverse modalities including chemical (e.g., HPLC, GC-MS, FTIR, NMR), DNA, and physical fingerprints. A comprehensive analysis was conducted to elucidate the fundamental principles underpinning these systems, to discern their comparative strengths and weaknesses, and to ascertain their primary applications in the domains of authentication, quality assessment, and origin tracing. Despite the fact that fingerprinting has evolved into a fundamental discipline for CHM quality assurance, with a versatile arsenal of techniques at its disposal, significant challenges persist, notably concerning reproducibility, standardisation, and establishing a robust \"spectrum-effect\" correlation between chemical profiles and pharmacological efficacy. Moreover, the harmonisation of data across diverse platforms persists as a significant challenge. It is acknowledged that no singular technique can be considered universally superior; consequently, an integrated, multimodal approach is emphasised as being essential. In order to propel the field forward, this review puts forward a roadmap with three key pillars: the development of universal standards, the systematic research of spectrum-effect correlations integrated with multi-omics data, and the facilitation of clinical translation. The ultimate objective is to transition from descriptive quality assessment to predictive standards grounded in therapeutic efficacy, thereby enhancing the safety, effectiveness and global integration of CHM.</p>","PeriodicalId":20148,"journal":{"name":"Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants","volume":"32 6","pages":"1277-1291"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13291366/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148332124","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Endogenous cAMP elevation regulates proteostasis networks to integrate stress signaling, metabolic reprogramming, and immune defense in <i>Arabidopsis</i>.","authors":"Usman Babar, Hanfeng Zhang, Ruqiang Xu","doi":"10.1007/s12298-026-01757-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12298-026-01757-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The second messenger 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) serves as a critical transducer of environmental signals in plants, yet its systems-level integration of stress-responsive networks remains poorly characterized. To elucidate how cAMP signaling orchestrates long-term global cellular reprogramming, transcriptomic profiling was combined with integrative network analysis in <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i> having elevated endogenous cAMP. A cohort of 171 cAMP-responsive genes (CRGs) was first defined as anchor nodes of predicted interactions derived from transcriptomic data and constructed a high-confidence protein-protein interaction (PPI) network using the STRING database. Topological analysis revealed HSP90.1 and HSP70.5 as ultra-hubs within a densely interconnected chaperone network, alongside major hubs such as RD29A linking dehydration-responsive transcription and abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis. Community detection partitioned the interactome into specialized modules governing proteostasis, cold/drought adaptation, and sulfur/nitrogen metabolism. Prediction-based pathway inference delineated a hierarchical signaling cascade, progressing from kinase-mediated defense activation through proteostasis reinforcement to metabolic and transcriptional reprogramming. Strikingly, cAMP elevation triggered a functional pivot: suppression of broad-spectrum abiotic stress responses and energy-intensive chaperone networks, coupled with selective activation of immune signaling and sulfur-based defense metabolism. KEGG pathway analysis confirmed this reallocation, showing upregulation of linoleic acid metabolism, glutathione homeostasis, and sulfur assimilation, concurrent with downregulation of growth-promoting hormone pathways and central carbon metabolism. This study establishes cAMP not as a linear activator but as a systems-level metabolic switch that reprioritizes cellular resources from constitutive stress preparedness toward active defense and metabolic resilience. These findings provide a comprehensive framework for understanding how second messengers compute stress signals into optimized survival strategies, with implications for engineering stress-adaptive crops.</p><p><strong>Supplementary information: </strong>The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-026-01757-9.</p>","PeriodicalId":20148,"journal":{"name":"Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants","volume":"32 6","pages":"1165-1181"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13291302/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148332067","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrative insight into cadmium-induced alterations in accumulation, antioxidant defense, antibacterial potential, and metabolite profile of <i>Mentha arvensis</i> L. under dry tropical conditions.","authors":"Akanksha Dwivedi, Rajesh Kumar Sharma","doi":"10.1007/s12298-026-01724-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12298-026-01724-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Cd contamination in soil on metabolite composition, antioxidant defense system, and antibacterial potential of <i>Mentha arvensis L.</i> leaves. Plants were grown in pots exposed to Cd contamination through soil drenching at the rate of 100 ml pot^-1 of solution containing 20 mg Cd L^-1 as CdCl₂·H₂O till the maturity at an interval of seven days. Leaf extracts were prepared using 80% (v/v) methanol and were analysed for metabolite profiling, stomatal and secretory gland, biochemical analyses, and antibacterial activity using high-resolution mass spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, spectrophotometric assays and disc diffusion method, respectively. The findings revealed a substantial increase in Cd accumulation within the roots and shoots of <i>M. arvensis</i>, by 86% and 93%, respectively, as a result of higher Cd levels in soil. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis of the methanol leaf extract indicated a marked reduction in amino acids and their derivatives, alongside elevated levels of phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and lipids. A total of 953 and 792 phytochemicals were found to be upregulated and downregulated, respectively under elevated Cd exposure. Additionally, Cd stress significantly enhanced the levels of malondialdehyde, catalase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, proline, and ascorbic acid in the leaf tissues by 33%, 43%, 100%, 21%, 64%, 80%, and 66%, respectively, as compared to the control plants. Among the tested bacterial strains, methanol leaf extract showed the greatest reduction in inhibition zone against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>. Overall, the findings demonstrate that Cd stress induces strong oxidative and metabolic reprogramming in <i>M. arvensis,</i> leading to enhanced antioxidant responses and selective modulation of secondary metabolites. However, excessive Cd accumulation in plant tissues compromises the safety of the raw material for direct medicinal use. These results highlight the need for developing safe extraction technologies and phytoremediation-based strategies to harness stress-induced metabolites of <i>M. arvensis</i> without posing health risks.</p><p><strong>Graphical abstract: </strong></p><p><strong>Supplementary information: </strong>The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-026-01724-4.</p>","PeriodicalId":20148,"journal":{"name":"Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants","volume":"32 6","pages":"1395-1412"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13291303/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148331692","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Primed acclimation of two Greek olive cultivars to water deficit.","authors":"Georgia-Maria Nteve, Evangelia Stavridou, Emmanouil D Pratsinakis, Christina Skodra, Michail Michailidis, Stefanos Kostas, Athanassios Molassiotis, Alexios N Polidoros, Panagiotis Madesis, Irini Nianiou-Obeidat","doi":"10.1007/s12298-026-01747-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12298-026-01747-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Water scarcity, intensified by climate change, threatens olive cultivation in the Mediterranean region. Understanding cultivar responses to drought is key to developing strategies to sustain this vital crop. Ιn the present work, we studied the responses of two Greek olive cultivars, \"Lefkolia Serron\" and \"Chondrolia Chalkidikis\", to water limitation and we evaluated their ability to acclimatize through cis long term-priming, using a combination of morpho-physiological parameters, primary metabolite profiling and gene expression analysis of drought-related genes. Our findings indicated that the two cultivars follow different strategies to cope with water shortage and priming. Particularly, \"Lefkolia Serron\" showed a more conservative response, maintaining greater photosynthetic functionality, intrinsic Water Use Efficiency (iWUE) and antioxidant activity upon stress re-exposure. \"Chondrolia Chalkidikis\" showed greater susceptibility to stress with more pronounced changes at the morpho-physiological, metabolic and gene expression levels. Metabolomic data demonstrated shifts in energy metabolism in response to the drought cycles, while principal component analysis of gene expression patterns showed that drought priming can regulate transcriptional processes, such that drought priming aligned primed plants with controls. Pre-exposure to drought induces a form of transcriptional memory, making the plant more efficient in responding to repeated stress. These findings suggest that long-term drought priming may function as a coping strategy for stressful environmental conditions, however, it is genotype-dependent, as the outcomes vary with genetic background. Understanding olive stress responses and applying eco-friendly strategies like drought priming is a sustainable way to protect this crop from environmental threats.</p><p><strong>Supplementary information: </strong>The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-026-01747-x.</p>","PeriodicalId":20148,"journal":{"name":"Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants","volume":"32 6","pages":"1309-1324"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13291286/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148331744","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Growth responses and metabolic adaptations to sugar mill effluents in <i>Terminalia arjuna</i>.","authors":"Priyanshi Singh, Aanchal Verma, Pratibha Bharti, Vijay Kumar, Atul Kumar Anand, Vineet Kumar Singh, Alka Kumari","doi":"10.1007/s12298-026-01741-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12298-026-01741-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study examined the growth performance, physiological and biochemical responses, and phytoremediation potential of <i>Terminalia arjuna</i> across sugar mill effluent (SME) concentrations (0, 10, 25, 50, 75, and 100%). Physicochemical characterization of the SME indicated elevated heavy metals and other toxic constituents. A pot experiment showed that at a 10% effluent concentration, plants experienced significant increases in shoot and root lengths, biomass, and photosynthetic pigments, with only slight changes in stress indicators. However, increasing the effluent concentration to 25-75% led to declines in growth and pigment production, along with an increase in biochemical stress markers. At the highest effluent concentration (100%), pronounced reductions were recorded in morphological traits, with shoot length decreasing by 86%, root length by 55%, fresh weight by 90%, and dry weight by 136% compared with the control. Photosynthetic pigments were also strongly affected, including chlorophyll <i>a</i>, chlorophyll <i>b</i>, total chlorophyll, and carotenoids. Non-protein thiols declined, whereas oxidative stress indicators such as hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation increased substantially. In response to effluent-induced stress, antioxidant defense mechanisms were activated, with enhanced activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxidase (G-POD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Heavy metal analysis revealed high accumulation in plant roots, surpassing concentrations in shoots. The findings indicate that <i>T. arjuna</i> can tolerate and accumulate heavy metals from sugar mill effluent. This study is the first to detail its adaptations under SME stress and to emphasize its potential for phytoremediation of contaminated environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":20148,"journal":{"name":"Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants","volume":"32 6","pages":"1379-1393"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13291276/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148332153","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}