Plant Biology最新文献

{"title":"Mechanical interactions: A hidden component of plant signalling?","authors":"T Pasternak, I Lebedev","doi":"10.1111/plb.70287","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.70287","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mechanical interactions are increasingly recognized as integral components of plant development, yet their contribution to cell-fate decisions remains incompletely understood. Here, we examine how spatial organization, growth heterogeneity and mechanical constraints contribute to developmental patterning in plant tissues. Using Arabidopsis, tobacco and tomato as experimental systems, we combined three-dimensional confocal imaging, quantitative analysis of cell and nuclear geometry, and perturbation of growth and developmental state. Root hair morphogenesis and vascular differentiation were examined in relation to spatial position, cellular geometry and local developmental context. Our analyses reveal structured relationships between cell geometry, position and developmental state. During root hair development, changes in cellular organization are associated with spatially patterned growth behaviour. In vascular tissues, xylem and phloem differentiation likewise occur within geometrically constrained cellular environments. Together, these observations indicate that heterogeneous growth generates distinct local mechanical contexts associated with developmental transitions. We propose that mechanical interactions should be considered an active component of plant signalling rather than simply a consequence of growth. Integrating biochemical regulation with tissue geometry and mechanically generated context provides a more complete framework for understanding how plant cells coordinate fate, growth and differentiation across scales.</p>","PeriodicalId":220,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149316471","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Elevational patterns in plant breeding systems and pollen limitation in Afrotropical montane grasslands.","authors":"D Anýž, Š Janeček, S B Kongvong, C T Bawe, P Chlup, S Delabye, N T Fominka, F P Gaona, J Hodeček, P Janečková, I N Kobe, F E Luma, O Mottl, S P Sakhalkar, R Tropek","doi":"10.1111/plb.70311","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.70311","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Plant reproduction along elevational gradients may be limited by insufficient pollination service, variation in selfing capacity or post-pollination constraints, yet these mechanisms are rarely studied together across multiple co-occurring species. We examined how seed production, pollen limitation and selfing capacity vary along the full elevational gradient of Afromontane grasslands on Mount Cameroon. We combined a hand-pollination experiment with recordings of flower visitors at four elevations above the timberline (2300-3800 m a.s.l.). In seven zoogamous species, we quantified natural seed production, pollen limitation and indices of autonomous and facilitated selfing from controlled pollination treatments, while independently measuring visitation frequency and visitor diversity on unmanipulated plants. Natural seed production peaked at intermediate elevation and declined sharply towards the summit, where the pollen-limitation index was highest. At the highest elevation, some species produced few or no seeds even after supplemental outcrossing. Autonomous and geitonogamous selfing capacities showed no consistent elevational trends despite partial self-compatibility in several species. Visitation frequency and diversity declined towards the summit, and natural seed production increased with visitation frequency, whereas pollen limitation and selfing indices showed no clear relationships with visitation metrics. Together, our results indicate that elevational variation in reproductive success is linked to changes in pollination service, but that pollen limitation and selfing capacity do not track visitation in a simple way. No increase in selfing capacity towards the summit suggests limited potential for increased reproductive assurance through selfing under high-elevation conditions, while additional processes after pollen delivery may also constrain seed production near upper vegetation limits.</p>","PeriodicalId":220,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149316470","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Invasion legacies of Carpobrotus edulis negatively affect the endangered Iberodes littoralis subsp. gallaecica.","authors":"J G Campoy, M Lema, C Vieites-Blanco, S J González-Prieto, R Retuerto","doi":"10.1111/plb.70310","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.70310","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The invasive South African plant Carpobrotus edulis threatens biodiversity and disrupts coastal ecosystems, yet the effects of soil legacies on the life cycle of native plants remain poorly understood. Here, we assessed whether a short-term invasion by C. edulis induces soil changes that remain after removal and affect the performance of the endangered dune plant Iberodes littoralis subsp. gallaecica across its life cycle. In 16 experimental plots (eight previously invaded and eight non-invaded), we characterised soil properties at two depths and sowed seeds from five I. littoralis populations to assess germination, survival to flowering, flowering phenology, flower number, leaf reflectance, biomass traits and reproductive output. Previously invaded plots showed reductions in NH₄ ⁺-N, total N, Cu and Zn, and increases in δ¹³C, P and Al, while invasion effects on NO₃ ^--N and pH varied with soil depth, as did soil-plant relationships. Soil legacies promoted germination in I. littoralis but reduced survival to flowering, flowering duration, growth and reproductive investment, ultimately resulting in lower seed production. Despite phenotypic differences among provenances, intra-specific variation did not mitigate the adverse effects of soil legacies on plant performance. Our findings show that just 14 months of C. edulis invasion can leave soil legacies in nutrient availability and soil chemistry, with functional consequences for I. littoralis across its full life cycle. These results highlight the importance of considering legacy effects of invasion beyond early life stages of native plants and accounting for depth-related variation in soil properties and soil-plant relationships in restoration planning.</p>","PeriodicalId":220,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149293636","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Could mycorrhizal symbiosis prepare the grapevine to withstand subsequent biotic stresses through changes in the volatilome and ionome of leaves?","authors":"D Kozikova, I Pascual, I Garmendia, N Goicoechea","doi":"10.1111/plb.70308","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.70308","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Searching alternatives to chemicals to protect vines against biotic stresses, while minimizing environmental impact, is a priority. The association of grapevines with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is a promising tool, since AMF can change volatilome (VOCs) profile and improve mineral status of grapevine. Whether the inoculation of Tempranillo (T) and Cabernet Sauvignon (CS) with beneficial microorganisms (AMF and plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria, PGPRs) improved the nutritional status and the levels of VOCs in leaves thus reinforcing the constitutive defences of this crop against potential biotic stresses was evaluated. VOCs were isolated and analysed by headspace-solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Minerals were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, while proteins, sugars, phenolics, starch and proline spectrophotometrically. More than 40 VOCs were detected in the leaves of T and CS, mostly synthesized via the lipoxygenase-hydroperoxide lyase pathway. The total amount of VOCs was higher in CS than in T, as were pentyl leaf volatiles, some green leaf volatiles (GLVs) and VOCs synthesized via the shikimate pathway. Mycorrhizal association increased the concentration of GLVs only in CS. AMF favoured the accumulation of 2-hexenal and 3-hexenal in CS, but reduced VOCs synthesized via the mevalonate pathway in T. Mycorrhization increased copper in leaves of T, but reduced iron in CS. Soluble leaf phenolics also decreased in CS associated with AMF. AMF (in the presence of PGPRs) triggered subtle and cultivar-specific changes in the ionome and volatilome of leaves in T and CS, which may be linked to different resistance levels. VOCs synthesis in response to pathogen attack cannot be excluded.</p>","PeriodicalId":220,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149284449","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Drought resistance is influenced by soil water uptake depth in dryland shrubs.","authors":"E Tamudo, E González de Andrés, J J Camarero, A Gazol","doi":"10.1111/plb.70307","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.70307","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Climate change exacerbates aridity in dry shrublands leading to different responses of coexisting shrubs to drought, including different resistance (capacity to sustain growth during droughts). However, it is unknown how resistance depends on shifts in soil water uptake depth and functional traits. To address this issue, we studied seven shrub species in two semi-arid Mediterranean sites. Using the isotopic composition of oxygen and hydrogen in soil and xylem water samples (δ¹⁸O, δ²H), we quantified depth of soil water uptake. Traits (height, leaf mass per area-LMA and wood specific gravity-WSG) were measured to evaluate whether they were related to intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) and radial growth resistance to drought. The iWUE was positively correlated with LMA and increased during dry periods in the less arid site. Soil water uptake depth, height and WSG were positively associated with drought resistance. Species that shifted from shallow to deep water sources during the dry season, such as Pistacia lentiscus, Quercus coccifera and Rhamnus lycioides, were more resistant, whereas less resistant species such as Juniperus phoenicea, Juniperus oxycedrus, Rhamnus alaternus and Ephedra spp. used more shallow and stable soil-water sources. Synthesis. Drought resistance depended on shifts in soil water uptake depth. Drought resistance should be integrated in future analyses of dryland plant communities given its linkages with functional traits.</p>","PeriodicalId":220,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149260089","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatial variation in morphological traits of natural Haloxylon ammodendron populations on the eastern margin of the Badain Jaran Desert.","authors":"S Hongfei, W Chengjie, L Shijie","doi":"10.1111/plb.70306","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.70306","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Spatially explicit information on morphological variation within natural Haloxylon ammodendron populations remains limited. We examined size-associated morphological and spatial variation in a natural population on the eastern margin of the Badain Jaran Desert. Plant height, crown diameter, and stem-base diameter were measured for 1,151 individuals. Based on the lower and upper quartiles of stem-base diameter, individuals were classified into small, intermediate, and large stem-base diameter classes. Descriptive statistics and geostatistical analyses were used to characterize morphological variation and model spatial dependence. Mean plant height and crown diameter increased across the small, intermediate, and large stem-base diameter classes. The interpolated maps showed spatial variation in all measured traits. Plant height and crown diameter exhibited partially similar spatial patterns, whereas stem-base diameter showed a different spatial pattern. The fitted semivariogram parameters also differed among traits and diameter classes. The observed differences represent size-associated morphological and spatial variation rather than independently validated age-dependent changes. Because soil moisture, groundwater depth, local topography, wind fields, and plant interactions were not directly measured, the environmental mechanisms underlying the observed patterns remain unresolved.</p>","PeriodicalId":220,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149242268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Contact zones as natural laboratories for cryptic speciation: genetic and ecological divergence in the autopolyploid Aster amellus aggregate.","authors":"M Benítez-Prián, J Jičínská, C García-Verdugo, A Datta, G Šrámková, Z Münzbergová, M Mairal","doi":"10.1111/plb.70293","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.70293","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Polyploidy is a major driver of plant evolution and speciation. Autopolyploidy, in particular, plays a key role in the emergence of cryptic lineages that are morphologically similar yet genetically and ecologically distinct. We investigated the extent of genetic exchange and climatic differentiation between diploid (2×) and hexaploid (6×) cytotypes of Aster amellus (Asteraceae) within a narrow contact zone in Central Europe to assess whether reproductive isolation and divergence are maintained where cytotypes occur in close proximity. We implemented a spatially explicit sampling of 735 individuals from 32 adjacent diploid and hexaploid populations located 1-10 km apart. Genetic variation was analysed using nuclear microsatellite markers, and ecological divergence was quantified through hypervolume-based niche analysis. We found strong genetic differentiation between cytotypes, with hexaploids exhibiting higher genetic diversity and occupying a broader climatic space than diploids. Genetic connectivity was high within cytotypes, but sharply reduced between them, and evidence of a recent polyploidization event in one population revealed hexaploid individuals genetically close to the diploid cluster, suggesting recurrent formation of hexaploids. Our findings indicate that reproductive isolation between cytotypes remains effective even at fine spatial scales, maintaining both genetic and ecological divergence despite geographical proximity. Fine-scale sampling reveals that narrow diploid-polyploid contact zones increase the likelihood of detecting early-stage polyploid formation before such signals are obscured by drift or selection, reinforcing their role as key natural laboratories for studying cryptic autopolyploid speciation.</p>","PeriodicalId":220,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149260147","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Plant species with differing flowering periods tend to co-occur more in patchy vegetation of a semi-arid environment.","authors":"S Brutsaert, A Montesinos-Navarro","doi":"10.1111/plb.70300","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.70300","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Stressful environments can lead to patchy vegetation patterns, bringing plants into close spatial proximity, which may intensify plant-plant interactions. These interactions are influenced by functional variation among co-occurring species, and increased variation can reduce niche overlap. One such trait, phenology, has been shown to influence both competitive and facilitative interactions. Phenological differences may reduce competition for resources and enhance facilitation between neighbouring plants during high-demand periods (e.g. flowering). We therefore hypothesized that species with more distinct phenologies would co-occur more frequently across vegetation patches. Plant data were collected from gypsum outcrops in Spain, where the phenology of plant species was recorded over 2 years and co-occurrence over 4 years. Indices of phenological difference and co-occurrence were correlated to test for a statistical relationship. Phenological and co-occurrence data from six species, of 166 and 1560 individuals, respectively, were used in the analyses. The species generally flowered during the same season but differed in flowering duration and intrinsic occurrence. The correlated indices showed a significant positive relationship, indicating that a species pair with more dissimilar flowering periods is more likely to co-occur within the same vegetation patch. Temporal niche partitioning can thus reduce competition for nutrients and pollinators and enhance nitrogen transfer between species. Complementary species can reduce the negative impacts of peak resource demand. The study suggests that phenological relationships between species should be considered during conservation and restoration efforts targeting patchy vegetation in semi-arid environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":220,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149242352","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"CO₂ emission and microbial community dynamics in soybean farmland under different organic material returning.","authors":"J Fu, M Guo, W Wang, J Gao, M Yang, R Ma, F Xiong, T Zhang, X Liu, J Qu, Y Jin","doi":"10.1111/plb.70309","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.70309","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fertilization not only influences crop productivity but also plays a pivotal role in regulating soil CO₂ emissions within agricultural ecosystems. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms governing soil CO₂ emissions under different fertilization regimes in the Northeast China Black Soil Region. Field experiments were conducted using four treatments: mineral fertilizer (NPK), and NPK combined with biochar (NPK + BC), organic fertilizer (NPK + OF) or straw (NPK + SF). A comprehensive assessment was performed, including measurements of soil CO₂ flux, physicochemical properties, microbial community composition, plant physiological traits and crop yield. The results showed that, compared with the CK, soybean yields significantly increased by 10.00%, 8.15% and 3.70% under NPK + BC, NPK + OF and NPK + SF, respectively. Regarding mature stage soil properties, NPK + BC, NPK + OF and NPK + SF significantly elevated soil organic matter (SOM) by 16.30%, 23.86% and 1.39%, meanwhile available phosphorus (AP) by 19.76%, 24.00% and 6.78%, respectively. CO₂ flux was reduced by 24.66% in NPK + BC but increased by 41.34% in NPK + OF. Furthermore, fertilization significantly altered microbial diversity; the ACE index increased by 7.82% under NPK + BC in the mature stage. Specifically, Proteobacteria abundance rose by 41.30% under NPK + OF, while Basidiomycota-associated with carbon sequestration-increased by 163.88% under NPK + BC. Structural equation modelling indicated that variation in soil CO₂ flux was associated with SOM and microbial metabolic responses. DNDC model projections suggest that adopting biochar-based fertilization could reduce CO₂ emissions in Heilongjiang Province by approximately 586,465 tons annually. These findings provide quantitative evidence for developing low-carbon, yield-enhancing fertilization strategies in sustainable soybean production.</p>","PeriodicalId":220,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149242314","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Contrasting resistance and recovery of co-occurring conifers to larch caterpillar defoliation in a Northeast China temperate forest.","authors":"X Wang, X Jia, X Yan, D Lu, Y Liu, S Bai, S Jin, D Yu","doi":"10.1111/plb.70305","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.70305","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Climate change has been linked to the intensification of forest pest outbreaks, posing a serious threat to non-coevolved tree species because of their potentially weak defensive capabilities. However, unlike broad-scale climatic disturbances such as drought and heatwaves, insect outbreaks are highly heterogeneous in space and among host species, and the response of occurring conifers to such outbreaks remains poorly understood. The core area of the Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve in northeastern China was severely defoliated in 2019 by larch caterpillars (Dendrolimus superans Butler)-a conifer-feeding defoliator that prefers larch but also attacks other conifers. In this region, a vegetation transition zone between the broadleaf-Korean pine and spruce-fir forests hosts multiple conifer species co-existing within short distances under similar defoliation intensities. We monitored 1,837 trees in 2019 (pre-disturbance), 2021 and 2024, and sampled needles of healthy individuals of each species in 2024 to obtain species-level proxies of intrinsic foliar traits. Results revealed that: (i) mortality of attacked Korean pine peaked within 2 years, with little subsequent increase, resulting in a cumulative mortality rate of 31.3%; in contrast, mortality of spruce and fir continued to increase until the fifth year, reaching a combined cumulative rate of 78.6%, while larch exhibited nearly 100% survival. (ii) a deciduous habit, low needle biomass allocation and low carbohydrate concentrations enhanced survival by reducing canopy regeneration costs. (iii) regarding radial growth responses, spruce showed stronger compensatory growth but weaker recovery ability than fir and Korean pine, likely due to its limited carbon and nutrient reserves. Considering these findings, prioritizing the protection of non-coevolved conifers is recommended to minimize biomass loss during pest outbreaks. This study also provides important insights for temperate and boreal conifer forest conservation, highlighting the high vulnerability of spruce-fir forests to larch caterpillar outbreaks.</p>","PeriodicalId":220,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149236296","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}