Plant Cell Reports最新文献

{"title":"Compatibility among Bacillus strains is linked to synthetic communities function, rhizosphere microbiome assembly and plant performance.","authors":"Abdur Rashid Khan, Qurban Ali, Sadia Khalid, Muhammad Ayaz, Li Li, Ma Jinbiao, Sunil Mundra, Vladislav Kuptsov, Emilia Kolomiets, Qin Gu, Huijun Wu, Xuewen Gao","doi":"10.1007/s00299-026-03998-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-026-03998-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Microbial compatibility is an important consideration for synthetic communities (SynCom) function, but its ecological and physiological consequences for plant-microbe interactions remain insufficiently understood. We investigated compatible and incompatible Bacillus-based SynComs and their effects on tomato growth, rhizosphere microbiome assembly, and microbial network organization. Compatible co-cultures exhibited enhanced co-culture phenotypes, including merged colony morphology, enhanced biofilm formation, and altered growth dynamics, whereas incompatible combinations formed demarcation zones, indicative of antagonism. The compatible pair NMCN6+LNXM12 showed higher attached biomass and relative indole-3-acetic acid production compared with most incompatible or single-strain inoculations. Greenhouse experiments revealed that compatible SynComs significantly promoted tomato growth, increased plant height, root length, photosynthesis, and stomatal conductance, while incompatible combinations showed distinct soluble sugar responses rather than consistent evidence of plant stress. Amplicon sequencing revealed treatment-associated variation in rhizosphere bacterial community composition. Compatible SynComs were associated with enrichment of specific bacterial taxa and produced more interconnected and stable co-occurrence networks, whereas incompatible combinations showed distinct taxonomic profiles and comparatively fragmented microbial associations. Community composition differed significantly among individual treatments but not among broader compatibility categories with unequal within-group dispersion. Collectively, the observed co-culture, plant, and microbiome responses highlight differences among the selected Bacillus combinations that cannot be attributed to compatibility alone. These findings may provide the selection of Bacillus strain combinations for further evaluation as plant inoculants.</p>","PeriodicalId":20204,"journal":{"name":"Plant Cell Reports","volume":"45 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149216574","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":"Reactivation of a loss-of-function SlGLK2 allele by frame-restoring genome editing in tomato.","authors":"Kentaro Ezura, Cheolwoo Park","doi":"10.1007/s00299-026-04024-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00299-026-04024-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Key message: </strong>Restoration of the crop improvement-related loss-of-function gene, Solanum lycopersicum GOLDEN2-LIKE, through an additional mutation by a conventional genome editing technique. Plant domestication and crop improvement processes have inadvertently led to the loss of gene functions that contribute to crop quality. In widely cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) varieties, the uniform ripening (u) mutation, a loss-of-function allele of the Solanum lycopersicum Golden2-like 2 (SlGLK2), has been selected to improve fruit appearance. However, this selection is associated with reduced fruit nutritional quality, lowering the levels of sugars and tocopherols due to impaired plastid development. In this study, the function of SlGLK2 was restored by introducing an additional mutation using the temperature-tolerant Lachnospiraceae bacterium ND 2006 Cas12a (LbCas12a) genome editing system. A 13-bp deletion in the linker region of SlGLK2 protein in the CR-Slglk2-4 line restored the reading frame and led to enhanced chlorophyll accumulation and plastid development, particularly in the stem end region of the fruit. The edited line also showed increased total soluble solids and tocopherol content in ripe fruit. Biochemical, transcriptomic, and transcriptional activity analyses confirmed the functional restoration of SlGLK2 in the CR-Slglk2-4 line. This study not only provides a useful Micro-Tom line for investigating plastid biogenesis in tomato fruit but also demonstrates the potential of genome editing to restore the latent functions of pseudogenized genes in modern crops, offering a new approach for recovering traits lost during plant domestication or crop improvement.</p>","PeriodicalId":20204,"journal":{"name":"Plant Cell Reports","volume":"45 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13672529/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149196171","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":"MdAGL29 positively regulates MdBRC1/2 and negatively controls shoot branching in apple.","authors":"Meng Ji, Jin-Wei Li, Fan Yang, Jun-Shuai Liu, Dong Zhang, Juan-Juan Ma","doi":"10.1007/s00299-026-04012-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-026-04012-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Key message: </strong>The MADS-box transcription factor MdAGL29 serves as a negative regulator of branching in apple by modulating MdBRC1/2 expression. Branch number is one of the major determinants in apple tree architecture. MdAGL29, a member of the MADS-box transcription factor family, is downregulated by 6-benzylaminopurine, a synthetic cytokinin. Heterologous overexpression of MdAGL29 in poplar resulted in fewer branches and lower endogenous cytokinin content compared with the control after decapitation treatment. Yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase reporter assays verified that MdAGL29 positively regulates the expression of branch negative regulators MdBRC1/2. Collectively, MdAGL29 acts as a negative regulator governing branch development in apple. These findings provide a promising target for precise regulation of plant branching.</p>","PeriodicalId":20204,"journal":{"name":"Plant Cell Reports","volume":"45 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149183721","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":"Histone deacetylase complex 1 modulates sepal length through the ethylene-ROS module.","authors":"Dan Xiang, Dengying Qiu, Rui Zhang, Xi He, Shouling Xu, Ming Zhou, Lilan Hong","doi":"10.1007/s00299-026-04018-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-026-04018-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Key message: </strong>HDC1 represses the expression of protein phosphatase genes to promote the activity of key ethylene biosynthetic enzymes, which in turn enhances ROS accumulation during sepal maturation, ultimately influencing sepal length. Organ size is precisely regulated during development to ensure proper function. The sepal must maintain an appropriate size throughout its growth to protect the developing flower bud until blooming. However, the mechanisms regulating sepal size during its maturation remain poorly understood. Here, we identify the histone deacetylase complex 1 (HDC1) as a regulator of sepal size during maturation in Arabidopsis thaliana. Through genetic, transcriptomic, and physiological analyses, we revealed that during sepal maturation, HDC1 repressed the expression of protein phosphatase 2As (PP2As) encoding genes through histone H3 deacetylation, which led to the dephosphorylation and activation of enzymes essential in ethylene biosynthesis. Increased ethylene levels facilitate ROS accumulation to promote sepal maturation and terminate sepal cell elongation, thereby regulating sepal length. Collectively, our study revealed that ethylene and ROS signaling are involved in the HDC1-mediated sepal length regulation during maturation, providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms that govern organ size during development in plants.</p>","PeriodicalId":20204,"journal":{"name":"Plant Cell Reports","volume":"45 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149183805","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":"Development of a genetic transformation system in Echinochloa phyllopogon by particle bombardment.","authors":"Takahiro Gondo, Manami Sugahara, Hwan May Ng, Kentaro Yasuda, Satoshi Iwakami","doi":"10.1007/s00299-026-03978-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00299-026-03978-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Key message: </strong>A stable particle bombardment-mediated transformation system was developed for Echinochloa phyllopogon, providing a platform for functional analysis of genes involved in herbicide metabolic detoxification. Echinochloa phyllopogon is a major C4 grass weed that causes serious yield losses in paddy fields and has evolved resistance to multiple herbicides. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying this resistance requires functional analysis of candidate genes involved in herbicide metabolic detoxification. However, the lack of a stable transformation system has limited such approaches. In this study, we established a particle bombardment-mediated transformation system for E. phyllopogon using embryogenic calli and plasmid pAHC25 carrying the GUS reporter gene and the bialaphos resistance gene (bar) selectable marker. Three morphologically distinct callus types were identified, among which Type 1 (compact) and Type 2 (friable) embryogenic calli exhibited significantly higher regeneration ability and transient GUS expression than Type 3 calli (wet and viscous). This finding indicates that callus quality is a critical determinant of transformation efficiency. In addition, callus culture duration significantly affected transformation outcomes. Calli cultured for 90 days produced the highest transformation efficiency (5.0%) and retained full regeneration capacity, whereas prolonged culture (300 and 630 days) resulted in reduced regeneration and transformation efficiency. Stable transgene integration and expression were confirmed by Southern blot analysis and histochemical GUS staining. Furthermore, transgenic plants exhibited strong resistance to Basta in the T₁ generation, indicating that the herbicide-resistant phenotype was transmitted to the next generation. These results demonstrate that both callus type and culture duration are key factors for efficient transformation. The transformation system established in this study provides a valuable platform for functional analysis of genes involved in herbicide metabolic detoxification in E. phyllopogon.</p>","PeriodicalId":20204,"journal":{"name":"Plant Cell Reports","volume":"45 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13668918/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149183763","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":"Glutathione and moringa leaf extract improve wheat tolerance to heavy metal-contaminated saline soil by regulation of antioxidant defense system and nutrient balance.","authors":"Amnah M Alamri, Hafeez Ur Rehman, Farhan Khalid, Hesham F Alharby, Ali Majrashi, Awatif M Abdulmajeed, Mostafa M Rady","doi":"10.1007/s00299-026-04010-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00299-026-04010-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Key message: </strong>Integrated application of MLE and GSH mitigated salinity and HM stress in wheat via enhancement of antioxidant defense system, nutrient balance, and reduced sodium toxicity, and thereby improved crop performance and grain nutritional quality. Salinity obstructs the uptake of essential minerals by simultaneously increasing heavy metal (HM) concentration to affect the growth, yield, and grain nutritional quality in crop plants. This study evaluated the potential of moringa leaf extract (MLE; 3%) and glutathione (GSH; 1 mM) applied in sequence with H₂O as a seed priming (SP) and foliar spray (FS) on antioxidant enzymes activity, GSH, and protein levels, leaf macronutrients as well leaf and grain micronutrients, and HM contents at booting and maturity stages under HM-contaminated saline conditions (9.06 dS m^-1) for two growing seasons. Soil salinity induced high Na⁺ and Cd toxicity, triggered leaf antioxidant enzymes activities (SOD, CAT, GPOX), enhanced GSH levels, and reduced protein content as well as macronutrient (N, P, Ca) and micronutrient (Fe, Mn, Zn) contents. This was associated with increased Na⁺ (~ 50-52.94%) and HMs (Cu~23.89%, Pb~65.58-86.52%, Cd~36.21-40.5%) as well NO₃ and NO₂ contents, ultimately reducing the straw (29.92-34.96%) and grain yields (31.59-32.78%) in wheat. Sequenced application of MLE and GSH as SP and FS further enhanced antioxidant enzymes activities (SOD~44.78-49.00%, GPOX~51.4-56.14%), increased total protein (~ 32.16-33.2%) and GSH (~ 60.38-70.4%) contents, macronutrients N (~ 28.01-50.94%), P (~ 47.62-50.0%), K⁺ ⁽~ 19.6-25.89%), and Ca²⁺ (~ 33.33-53.34%), and micronutrient contents (Fe~33.33-51.13, Zn~47.72-53.57, Mn~36.18-36.55) in the leaves and grains (Fe~47.1-50.44, Zn~48.57-74.19, Mn~48.57-74.19) of wheat. This increase was with a simultaneous decrease of HM contents (Cu~19.28%, Cd~47.21-50.42, Pb~48.50-49.31) in leaves and grain (Cu~26.47%, Cd~29.00-30.11%, Pb~47.05-53.86%), as well as grain NO₃ and NO₂ contents under saline HM conditions. This enhanced nutritional crop status, antioxidant defense system, and its homeostasis with reduced leaf Na⁺ (~ 40.00-45.45%) toxicity, and NO₃ (~ 47.32-54.25%) and NO₂ (~ 54.10-61.2%) contents, which led to increased wheat straw and grain yields under HM-contaminated saline soil. In conclusion, integrated applications of MLE and GSH can be a promising strategy to reduce the detrimental effects of dual salinity and HM stress with substantial increase in crop performance and grain nutritional quality in wheat.</p>","PeriodicalId":20204,"journal":{"name":"Plant Cell Reports","volume":"45 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149183761","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":"Alternative splicing acts as a strategic switch for heat shock network diversification under escalating heat stress.","authors":"Yuqing Cao, Ruiyue Liu, Qianyi Hu, Jiawei Zhang, Hong Zhou, Liangsheng Zhang, Yiping Xia, Xiuyun Wang","doi":"10.1007/s00299-026-04007-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00299-026-04007-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Alternative splicing (AS) is a pivotal post-transcriptional mechanism for plant thermal adaptation, yet its dynamics in heat-tolerant woody species remain poorly understood. Here, we map the temperature-resolved AS landscape of the highly thermotolerant woody plant Rhododendron hainanense by combining Iso-Seq with RNA-seq. Transcriptomic profiling revealed a graded regulatory architecture: moderate heat (37 °C) elicited a targeted proteostatic response, whereas severe heat (42 °C) provoked a massive transcriptome expansion. Notably, this global AS surge coincided with a widespread downregulation of core splicing factors, a correlation suggesting that a more permissive splicing environment may contribute to the rapid generation of diverse stress-responsive isoforms. The heat shock protein (HSP) family emerged as the principal hub of this AS-associated diversification; the core chaperone genes ClpB1, HSP83, and HSP70 generated the greatest transcript complexity, with HSP83 alone producing 29 distinct AS transcripts that resolved into three temperature-dependent expression groups. Within the heat shock factor network, HSFA2 showed the strongest and most sustained induction, and DAP-seq identified in vitro HSFA2 binding at the promoters of ClpB1, HSP83, and HSP70, supporting these core chaperones as putative direct DNA-binding targets. Functional complementation in Arabidopsis further showed that three structurally distinct HSFA2 splice variants each restored thermotolerance to the hsfa2 mutant and consistently induced expression of the core ATP-dependent chaperone arm, suggesting that this central chaperone-induction capacity is retained across the tested splice variants in this heterologous system. Together, these findings provide a comprehensive atlas of temperature-modulated AS in a thermotolerant woody plant and support a model in which splicing-mediated diversification of the HSP chaperone network contributes to heat adaptation, offering post-transcriptional insights for breeding climate-resilient crops.</p>","PeriodicalId":20204,"journal":{"name":"Plant Cell Reports","volume":"45 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149169634","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":"mTREX2 co-expression promotes large deletions in CRISPR/Cas12a editing of the highly polyploid sugarcane genome.","authors":"Qasim Ali, Carolina Trujillo, Fredy Altpeter","doi":"10.1007/s00299-026-03935-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00299-026-03935-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Key message: </strong>The LbCas12aⁱ-mTREX2 system enhances large deletions, and the LbCas12aⁱ-RRV enables efficient editing of lw1 in sugarcane. Sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids) is a major feedstock for biofuel production and the primary source of global table sugar; however, its highly polyploid and complex genome constrains the effective deployment of functional genomics and precision breeding strategies. While CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing has been reported in sugarcane, Cas12a-based editing remains unexplored despite its advantages in targeting AT-rich genomic regions. In this study, we report efficient CRISPR/Cas12a-mediated targeted mutagenesis of the lw1 gene in sugarcane. The lemon white1 (lw1) is a key regulator of chlorophyll and carotenoid biosynthesis, and targeted lw1 mutagenesis results in a visible phenotype. We compared the editing performance of intron-containing LbCas12a-R (LbCas12aⁱ-R) and LbCas12a-RRV (LbCas12aⁱ-RRV) variants and assessed the impact of Mus musculus Three prime repair exonuclease 2 (mTREX2) co-expression on editing efficiency and deletion profiles. Editing efficiencies ranged from 31 to 85%, where LbCas12aⁱ-RRV consistently outperformed LbCas12aⁱ-R in both overall editing efficiency and allelic editing efficiency. Co-expression of the mTREX2 shifted the mutation spectrum toward larger deletions, increasing the frequency of moderate-to-large deletions. The ≥ 51 bp deletion class increased ~7-fold in both variants. Capillary electrophoresis-based genotyping provided a cost-effective, high-throughput alternative to next-generation sequencing (NGS) and accurately predicted allelic editing efficiency and indel size. This first report of CRISPR/Cas12a-mediated genome editing in sugarcane provides a framework for future engineering of AT-rich cis-regulatory elements in the polyploid sugarcane genome.</p>","PeriodicalId":20204,"journal":{"name":"Plant Cell Reports","volume":"45 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149167474","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":"SRF6, a heat-inducible receptor-like kinase, regulates thermotolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana.","authors":"Hsin-Ying Chang, Chih-Chi Lai, Jian-Cheng Huang, Ya-Chen Huang, Hui-Chen Wu, Tsung-Luo Jinn","doi":"10.1007/s00299-026-04015-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00299-026-04015-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Key message: </strong>SRF6 is a heat-inducible, non-RD receptor-like kinase that contributes to thermotolerance in Arabidopsis by modulating heat-, ER stress-, ABA-, and ROS-responsive pathways. Receptor-like kinases (RLKs) are central regulators of plant growth, development, and stress perception, yet their roles in heat stress (HS) responses remain largely unclear. Here, we identify STRUBBELIG-RECEPTOR-FAMILY 6 (SRF6) as a heat-inducible, plasma membrane-localized, non-arginine-aspartate (non-RD) RLK that contributes to thermotolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. HS significantly induces SRF6 expression, and this induction is attenuated in hsfA1a/b/d/e quadruple knockout and hsfA7b mutants, suggesting that HSFA1s and HSFA7b influence its heat-induced expression. Although SRF6 lacks detectable kinase activity, its sustained expression after heat priming is consistent with a heat-memory-associated response. Functionally, the srf6-1 mutant exhibits impaired thermotolerance, whereas SRF6 overexpression in srf6-1 restores heat tolerance. Targeted gene expression analyses revealed that loss of SRF6 alters the expression of heat-, ER stress-, ABA-, and ROS-responsive genes, including HSP22/70/90/101, CaM3, bZIP28/60, BiP2, AREB1/2, RD29A/B, APX1/2, CAT1, and RBOHD, accompanied by enhanced ER stress and altered heat-memory-associated responses under HS. Together, these findings suggest that SRF6 contributes to cellular stress homeostasis and thermotolerance during HS and provide evidence for a role of the LRR-V/SRF family in plant HS responses.</p>","PeriodicalId":20204,"journal":{"name":"Plant Cell Reports","volume":"45 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149137614","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":"A miR65-MsbZIP11 post-transcriptional regulatory module coordinates saline-alkali stress tolerance in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.).","authors":"Jiaqi Li, Rui Guo, Lei Liu, Lu Tang, Yarong Zhang, Jinyi Wang, Mengni Feng, Lei Ling, Changhong Guo","doi":"10.1007/s00299-026-03986-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00299-026-03986-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Key message: </strong>Integrated multi-omics analyses reveal that novel miR65 represses MsbZIP11 and negatively regulates saline-alkali tolerance in alfalfa by impairing photosynthetic maintenance and disrupting redox homeostasis. MicroRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulation plays an important role in plant adaptation to saline-alkali stress; however, the underlying regulatory modules remain poorly understood in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Here, integrated profiling of small RNAs, the transcriptome, and degradome identified 175 stress-responsive miRNAs and 418 degradome-supported miRNA-mRNA interactions. We identified a previously uncharacterized miR65-MsbZIP11 module as a central regulatory node in the saline-alkali stress response. Reporter assays confirmed the novel miR65-directed repression of MsbZIP11. Silencing MsbZIP11 reduced stress tolerance, characterized by impaired photosynthetic performance, decreased soluble sugar accumulation, and elevated oxidative damage. miR65 overexpression produced similar phenotypes in hairy roots. Epistasis analysis further supported that miR65 acts upstream of MsbZIP11, as miR65 overexpression did not intensify stress sensitivity in an MsbZIP11-RNAi background. Together, these findings identify the miR65-MsbZIP11 module as a key post-transcriptional regulatory node coordinating saline-alkali stress tolerance in alfalfa by linking photosynthetic maintenance, redox homeostasis, and biomass stability.</p>","PeriodicalId":20204,"journal":{"name":"Plant Cell Reports","volume":"45 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149137194","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}