Plant Science最新文献

{"title":"Decoding nitric oxide signals: The S-denitrosation machinery in plants.","authors":"Tereza Jedelská, Lenka Luhová, Marek Petřivalský","doi":"10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112801","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112801","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>S-nitrosation of protein cysteines has been recognised as a crucial mechanism mediating the biological activity of nitric oxide (NO). Here, we review the current knowledge on the enzymatic machinery mediating protein S-denitrosation in plants, a key process that modulates S-nitrosothiol levels within NO redox signalling pathways. Three major enzymatic systems are characterised: the NADPH-dependent thioredoxin system, S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR), and aldo-keto reductases (AKRs). Protein S-nitrosothiols are reduced via dithiol-disulfide exchange mechanisms catalysed by thioredoxins, which are re-reduced by NADPH-dependent thioredoxin reductases. GSNO, the principal low-molecular-weight S-nitrosothiol, is degraded by GSNOR, indirectly modulating the global S-nitrosation status. This process is tightly regulated via reversible oxidative and nitrosative modifications of GSNOR's cysteine residues. In the absence or impairment of GSNOR activity, compensatory GSNO catabolism is mediated by upregulated AKR isoforms exhibiting NADPH-dependent GSNO reductase activity. The physiological and developmental relevance of protein denitrosation is examined in the context of root morphogenesis, gametophytic development, and immune responses, where S-denitrosation has been demonstrated to modulate the activity, stability, and subcellular localisation of key regulatory proteins. Moreover, pathogen-derived effectors targeting denitrosylases such as GSNOR have been implicated in virulence strategies to disrupt NO homeostasis. Denitrosation represents a critical regulatory node in NO redox signalling, with spatial and temporal specificity yet to be fully elucidated. Further elucidation of the enzymatic substrate specificity, subcellular localisation, and cross-regulatory mechanisms under both physiological and stress conditions is required to fully define the role of denitrosation in plant redox biology.</p>","PeriodicalId":20273,"journal":{"name":"Plant Science","volume":" ","pages":"112801"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145233121","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":"Corrigendum to \"Compromised function of ARM, the interactor of Arabidopsis telomerase, suggests its role in stress responses\" [Plant Sci. 325 (2022) 111453].","authors":"Klára Přikrylová Konečná, Agata Kilar, Petra Kováčiková, Jiří Fajkus, Eva Sýkorová, Miloslava Fojtová","doi":"10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112614","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112614","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":20273,"journal":{"name":"Plant Science","volume":" ","pages":"112614"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144333784","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":"Rice OsRDR1 and OsSGS3b enhance defense against viral, bacterial, and fungal infections.","authors":"S G Wagh, S A Bhor, M M Alam, T Tanaka, H Chen, M E Ali, T Ohira, Y Suitsu, A Miyao, H Hirochika, K Kobayashi, T Yaeno, M Nishiguchi","doi":"10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112793","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112793","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 1 (RDR1) and Suppressor of Gene Silencing 3 (SGS3) are central components of RNA silencing in plants. Here, we investigated the rice homologs of the genes OsRDR1 and OsSGS3b to determine their roles in defense against viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens in rice. Tos17 retrotransposon insertion rice mutant lines were used to generate single mutant lines (Osrdr1 and Ossgs3b), and a double mutant line (Osrdr1/Ossgs3b) was created through crossing. In addition, overexpressed (oe) lines of OsRDR1 and OsSGS3b were developed (OsRDR1oe and OsSGS3boe). These lines were inoculated with Cucumovirus cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Bymovirus rice necrosis mosaic virus (RNMV), Xanthomonas oryzae pv. Oryzae (XO) and Magnaporthe oryzae (MO), respectively. Among all lines tested, the double mutant showed the highest susceptibility to all pathogens, while single mutants were more susceptible than the wild type. Microarray analysis of the mutant lines revealed downregulation of defense-related and signaling pathway genes. Together, these findings demonstrate that OsRDR1 and OsSGS3b positively regulate broad-spectrum disease resistance in rice, highlighting the contribution of RNA silencing not only to antiviral defense but also to antibacterial and antifungal immunity.</p>","PeriodicalId":20273,"journal":{"name":"Plant Science","volume":" ","pages":"112793"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145225833","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":"Effects of low light during grain-Filling stage on starch biosynthesis and related gene expression in rice","authors":"Yanxiu Du,&nbsp;Xin Ji,&nbsp;Chun Ye,&nbsp;Yile Sheng,&nbsp;Hongzheng Sun,&nbsp;Junzhou Li,&nbsp;Quanzhi Zhao,&nbsp;Shuping Xiong","doi":"10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112796","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112796","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>During the grain-filling stage of rice, overcast and rainy conditions with low sunlight reduce both yield and quality. Grain filling in rice primarily involves starch synthesis and accumulation, yet the molecular mechanisms by which low light affects starch biosynthesis remain poorly understood. In this study, shading treatments were applied during the grain-filling stage to simulate low-light conditions, and its effects on starch synthesis and related gene expression in rice grains were investigated. The result demonstrated that low light significantly decreased the 1000-grain weight while increasing chalky grain rate and chalkiness. It also reduced grain weight and starch content during grain filling. The endosperm starch structure displayed reduced compactness, with loosely arranged compound starch granules exhibiting intergranular gaps and surface adherents. Furthermore, the expression of key starch biosynthesis genes (<em>OsSuS3</em>, <em>OsBT1</em>, <em>GBSSI</em>, and <em>SSIII-2</em>) was downregulated under low light. Additionally, the expression of the light-signaling gene <em>OsPHYB</em> declined during the active grain-filling phase, whereas <em>OsPIL13</em>/<em>OsPIL14</em> increased. In <em>osphyb</em> mutants, increased chalkiness, elevated <em>OsPIL13</em>/<em>OsPIL14</em>, and reduced <em>SSIII-2</em>/<em>GBSSI</em> mRNA abundance were observed. Yeast one-hybrid assays confirmed <em>OsPIL13</em>/<em>OsPIL14</em> bind to <em>SSIII-2</em> and <em>GBSSI</em> promoters. Thus, <em>OsPHYB</em> likely regulates starch synthesis via OsPIL13/OsPIL14-mediated suppression of <em>SSIII-2</em> and <em>GBSSI</em>. These findings indicate that low light affects starch synthesis in rice grains through multiple pathways: by limiting substrate supply, reducing catalytic efficiency, and disrupting light-mediated signaling. This study provides new insights into the mechanisms by which low light influences rice yield and quality from both energetic and signaling perspectives.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20273,"journal":{"name":"Plant Science","volume":"361 ","pages":"Article 112796"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145225796","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":"African rice OgGL8 enhances grain length and yield in Asian rice","authors":"Mengna Mo ,&nbsp;Wei He ,&nbsp;Bin Gao,&nbsp;Yuhang Zhou,&nbsp;Liangcai Leng,&nbsp;Junman Zeng,&nbsp;Zhixue Huo,&nbsp;Jing Ning,&nbsp;Wenkai Luo,&nbsp;Leqin Chang,&nbsp;Zuofeng Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112794","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112794","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Grain length is a critical characteristic of grain shape and significantly impacts grain yield in rice. This study we present African cultivated <em>OgGL8</em>, an allele derived from African-cultivated rice (<em>Oryza glaberrima</em>), as a novel variant of the Grain Width 8 (<em>GW8</em>) gene that regulates both grain length and grain weight. We identified novel polymorphisms in the promoter sequences of <em>OgGL8</em> and <em>OsGL8</em>. Genetic complementation and overexpression experiments validated that <em>OgGL8</em> acts as a regulator of grain length and 1000-grain weight. The near-isogenic line (NIL^CG34) carrying <em>OgGL8</em> displayed significantly enhanced grain length (+12.93 %), grain yield (+13.76 %), and panicle length (+3.98 %) relative to TC65. The findings demonstrate that the <em>OgGL8</em> allele present in <em>Oryza glaberrima</em> confers a more pronounced enhancement of grain length and yield potential than its counterpart in <em>Oryza sativa</em>. It attributed to enhanced cell proliferation during panicle development. Expression pattern analysis indicated significantly higher <em>GL8</em> expression levels in young panicles of TC65 than in CG34, consistent with the stronger promoter activity of <em>GL8</em>^{<em>TC65</em>} in protoplast assays. Subcellular localization confirmed that <em>OsGL8</em> protein is nuclear-localized. Yeast transactivation assays further revealed its transcriptional activation activity, with functional domains distributed in both the N-terminal and C-terminal regions. These findings not only elucidate the mechanism by which <em>OgGL8</em> regulates grain size but also provide new genetic resources for improving rice yield-related traits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20273,"journal":{"name":"Plant Science","volume":"362 ","pages":"Article 112794"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145213395","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":"Copper homeostasis: Crosstalk with plant secondary metabolism and stress responses","authors":"Muhammad Tanveer Akhtar,&nbsp;Zhaogeng Lu,&nbsp;Shi-xiong Ren,&nbsp;He-lin Zou,&nbsp;Iqra Noor,&nbsp;Biao Jin","doi":"10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112795","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112795","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Copper (Cu) is an essential micronutrient for plants that functioning as a cofactor in numerous enzymes. However, it becomes toxic in excess, necessitating homeostatic mechanisms. In this review, we synthesize current knowledge of the Cu uptake, transport, and homeostasis in plants, and examine the Cu-mediated regulation of plant secondary metabolism. This review outlines the forms of Cu present in soils and plant systems and describes how roots acquire Cu (predominantly as Cu²⁺, which is then reduced to Cu⁺ at the root surface) via high-affinity transporters. Within the plant, the Cu uptake and distribution are mediated by a network of membrane transporters, chaperones, and storage molecules. These components ensure an adequate supply to essential cuproproteins while preventing toxicity. Molecular regulatory mechanisms, notably the SQUAMOSA Promoter Binding Protein-Like 7 (<em>SPL7</em>) transcription factor and Cu-responsive microRNAs such as <em>miR397</em>, <em>miR398</em>, and <em>miR408</em>, regulate Cu concentration in plants and modulate gene expression to maintain homeostasis under fluctuating Cu availability. Cu availability significantly influences the secondary metabolite biosynthesis. As a cofactor of key enzymes such as polyphenol oxidases and laccases, Cu affects the production of phenolics (including lignin), flavonoids, and other defensive secondary metabolites. Adequate Cu nutrition thereby enhances plant defense responses by fortifying cell walls, supporting antioxidant enzymes, and promoting the synthesis of antimicrobial compounds. Finally, we highlight the practical applications of Cu management strategies, such as optimizing foliar Cu supplementation and breeding for Cu-efficient genotypes, to enhance stress resilience, yield stability, and the nutritional quality of crops.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20273,"journal":{"name":"Plant Science","volume":"362 ","pages":"Article 112795"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145213411","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":"Suppressing an AUX/IAA gene GhIAA43 expression activates the SA-mediated immune pathway and enhances Verticillium wilt resistance in cotton","authors":"Hanqiao Liu ,&nbsp;Wenshu Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhan Guo ,&nbsp;Zhe Yu ,&nbsp;Zhiguo Chen ,&nbsp;Jinming Kong ,&nbsp;Qihang Zheng ,&nbsp;Weixi Li ,&nbsp;Yaxin Su ,&nbsp;Guilin Wang ,&nbsp;Wangzhen Guo","doi":"10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112797","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112797","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Salicylic acid (SA) and auxin often exert antagonistic effects during pathogen challenge, and SA’s inhibitory effect on auxin-mediated signaling pathway plays a crucial role in plant defense mechanisms. However, whether SA-mediated immunity can be enhanced through the inhibition of auxin signaling pathway remains unclear. Cotton <em>GhIAA43</em>, a member from the Aux/IAA family, was a resistance-related gene against <em>Verticillium dahliae</em> attack. Here, we clarified the role of <em>GhIAA43</em> in regulating the auxin and SA-mediated pathways to improve the plant resistance by using the RNA interference (RNAi)-<em>GhIAA43</em> cotton plants and <em>GhIAA43</em>-overexpressing Arabidopsis lines. Both RNAi-<em>GhIAA43</em> cotton and <em>GhIAA43</em>-overexpressing Arabidopsis exhibited the enhanced plant resistance to <em>V. dahliae</em>. In <em>GhIAA43</em>-overexpressing Arabidopsis, more auxin pathways were activated, resulting in the increased lignin content and robust root development, which enhances the plant physical resistance. Whereas in RNAi-<em>GhIAA43</em> cotton, the auxin signal transduction pathway was inhibited, leading to the reduction of lignin content, the decrease of H₂O₂ scavenging ability, while the increase of H₂O₂ levels and activation of the SA immune pathway, which confers the plant resistance. This study indicates that SA-mediated immune pathway can be activated by modulating auxin signaling component Aux/IAA protein, also provides a strategy for improving Verticillium wilt resistance by the knockdown of <em>GhIAA43</em> in cotton breeding practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20273,"journal":{"name":"Plant Science","volume":"362 ","pages":"Article 112797"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145213393","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":"Characterization and functions of Caffeic acid O-methyltransferase genes in Cucumis sativus against Corynespora cassiicola infection","authors":"Shaoqin Chen ,&nbsp;Shuo Zhang ,&nbsp;Weili Wang ,&nbsp;Yingze Zhou ,&nbsp;Haiyan Fan ,&nbsp;Xiangnan Meng ,&nbsp;Wenyang Cai","doi":"10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112792","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112792","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lignin is a crucial structural component of plant cell walls and serves as an essential weapon in plant defense responses. Caffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT) is a key enzyme in the lignin biosynthetic pathway and also plays a pivotal role in plant disease resistance. However, the sequence and structural characteristics and defense functions of <em>COMT</em> family members in <em>Cucumis sativus</em> have not been extensively studied. In this study, six <em>CsCOMT</em> family genes were identified in <em>C. sativus</em>. Molecular phylogeny and sequence analyses revealed functional similarities and distinct characteristics among the <em>CsCOMT</em> family members. Expression profiles under <em>Corynespora cassiicola</em> infection demonstrated significant upregulation of <em>CsCOMT1</em>, and downregulation of <em>CsCOMT2</em> and <em>CsCOMT4</em>, indicating their potential involvement in the response to pathogen attack. Functional analyses revealed that <em>CsCOMT1</em> positively regulated cucumber defense against <em>C. cassiicola</em>, whereas <em>CsCOMT2</em> and <em>CsCOMT4</em> negatively regulated this defense, with <em>CsCOMT2</em> exerting the strongest suppressive effect. Further investigations showed that <em>CsCOMT1</em> promotes and <em>CsCOMT2</em> suppresses lignin biosynthesis during plant defense. This study has revealed the unique involvement of different <em>CsCOMT</em> family members in response to <em>C. cassiicola</em> stress and provides strategic targets for breeding disease-resistant cucumber cultivars.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20273,"journal":{"name":"Plant Science","volume":"362 ","pages":"Article 112792"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145207272","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":"AhNHL24 enhances peanut resistance to bacterial wilt and stem rot via glutathione and phenylpropanoid pathways","authors":"Mengtian Hou ,&nbsp;Hao Li ,&nbsp;Zenghui Cao ,&nbsp;Fang Wang ,&nbsp;Sasa Hu ,&nbsp;Yanzhe Li ,&nbsp;Qian Ma ,&nbsp;Yaoyao Li ,&nbsp;Yi Fan ,&nbsp;Kai Zhao ,&nbsp;Kunkun Zhao ,&nbsp;Ding Qiu ,&nbsp;Fangping Gong ,&nbsp;Zhongfeng Li ,&nbsp;Xingli Ma ,&nbsp;Rui Ren ,&nbsp;Dongmei Yin","doi":"10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112791","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112791","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Peanut is one of the most important food and oil crops in the world. However, the production of peanut is seriously affected by various pathogens, especially the bacterial wilt (BW) and fungal stem rot (SR) caused by <em>Ralstonia solanacearum</em> and <em>Sclerotium rolfsii</em>, respectively. <em>Nonrace-specific disease resistance gene 1/Harpin-induced gene 1 (NDR1/HIN1)-like (NHL)</em> family genes play crucial roles in plant defense response. Herein, a genome-wide identification of peanut <em>AhNHL</em> genes was conducted. Totally, 45 <em>AhNHL</em> genes were identified, and they were phylogenetically classified into two groups. The four genes (<em>AhNHL14</em>, <em>AhNHL24</em>, <em>AhNHL31</em> and <em>AhNHL33</em>), exhibiting significant differences in responses to <em>R. solanacearum</em> infection and hormone treatments, were selected for functional characterization. Subcellular localization analysis showed that these protein fusions are primarily located on plasma membrane and/or nucleus. Meanwhile, they were transiently overexpressed in tobacco and peanut leaves, which resulted in increased resistance to <em>R. solanacearum</em>. Transgenic tobacco lines overexpressing <em>AhNHL24</em> exhibit resistance to <em>R. solanacearum</em> and <em>S. rolfsii</em>. Further expression analysis revealed that <em>AhNHL24</em> enhances the resistance to BW and SR mainly through regulating glutathione metabolism and phenylpropanoids biosynthesis. Our findings provide novel insights into roles of <em>NHL</em> genes in plant resistance, which would promote breeding of broad-resistant crop cultivars.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20273,"journal":{"name":"Plant Science","volume":"362 ","pages":"Article 112791"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145191920","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":"Whole-genome identification and expression characterization of the HSFP gene family of Triticum aestivum under heat and drought stress","authors":"Qi Wang ,&nbsp;Xiangyang Wang ,&nbsp;Zhihao Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhicheng Wang ,&nbsp;Wentao Chen ,&nbsp;Xin Hua ,&nbsp;Mengke Liu ,&nbsp;Zhengchun Li ,&nbsp;Julius Mugweru ,&nbsp;Zichao Wang ,&nbsp;Jinshui Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112780","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112780","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>HSF-type DNA-binding domain-containing proteins (HSFPs) are key transcription factors that regulate plant responses to abiotic stresses, including heat and drought. As a staple crop, <em>Triticum aestivum</em> faces increasing threats from climate change, making it critical to understand the molecular mechanisms of HSFP-mediated stress adaptation. While HSF families have been studied in model plants, systematic analysis of <em>Triticum aestivum HSFP</em> genes, particularly their evolutionary divergence and stress-responsive regulation, remains limited.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Using bioinformatics approaches, we identified 81 non-redundant TaHSFP genes in the <em>Triticum aestivum</em> genome (<em>Triticum aestivum</em> refseqv2.1). These genes are unevenly distributed across all 21 chromosomes, encoding proteins with 227–569 amino acids, isoelectric points (pI) ranging from 4.81 to 9.52, and instability indices of 32.26–71.13. Phylogenetic analysis classified TaHSFP proteins into five distinct evolutionary lineages, showing expanded complexity compared to Arabidopsis and rice. Structural characterization revealed 10 conserved motifs (Motif 1–10) and prevalent bi-exonic (62 genes) or tri-exonic (10 genes) architectures. Promoter regions of <em>TaHSFP</em> genes are enriched with stress-responsive cis-elements (e.g., abscisic acid, drought, and heat shock elements), and subcellular localization predictions indicate 75 proteins target the nucleus, 4 the cytoplasm, and 2 chloroplasts. Expression profiling using transcriptome data and qRT-PCR (3 biological replicates, 2 technical replicates) showed tissue-specific expression, with 37 <em>TaHSFP</em> genes highly expressed in leaves and stems. Under heat (40°C), drought (20 % PEG-6000), and combined stress, 12 <em>TaHSFP</em> genes (e.g., <em>TraesCS7B03G0454600.1, TraesCS5A03G0601000.1</em>) were significantly upregulated (log2FC &gt; 2, p &lt; 0.05), with the highest induction (269-fold) observed for <em>TraesCS7B03G0454600.1</em> under 1 h heat stress. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis predicted 60 core TaHSFP proteins with 1047 interactions, enriched in heat shock response pathways (GO:0009408).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study provides the first comprehensive analysis of the <em>Triticum aestivum HSFP</em> gene family, revealing their evolutionary and functional diversity. The identified stress-responsive <em>TaHSFP</em> genes and their regulatory motifs offer novel targets for improving <em>Triticum aestivum</em> resilience to climate stress via molecular breeding.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20273,"journal":{"name":"Plant Science","volume":"362 ","pages":"Article 112780"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145186437","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}