Plant BiologyPub Date : 2025-05-30DOI: 10.1111/plb.70045
V Jandova, J Dolezal
{"title":"Ontogenetic shifts in biomass allocation and xylem structure of the world's highest-occurring plants: balancing growth, storage, and resilience in the extreme Himalayan subnival zone.","authors":"V Jandova, J Dolezal","doi":"10.1111/plb.70045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.70045","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Understanding how plants allocate biomass to different organs and tissue types is essential for revealing their adaptive strategies across life stages and environments. This study investigates ontogenetic shifts in biomass allocation in Ladakiella klimesii, a long-lived alpine forb in the Himalayan subnival zone at 5900 m, to understand how plants adapt to extreme environments. Biomass distribution to roots, stems, and leaves, plus xylem tissue composition were measured in 205 individuals to determine how plant size and age influence resource prioritization across development stages. Root collar cross-sections were examined to determine plant age, annual growth increments, and tissue fractions. Smaller plants prioritized roots for nutrient uptake, while larger plants allocated more biomass to parenchyma for storage and metabolic activities. Lignified tissues decreased with increasing size, reflecting reduced structural requirements, while vessel fraction and radial growth were higher in younger plants to support water transport. Age modulated these patterns independently, with younger plants focusing on establishing structures and older plants emphasizing storage tissues for resilience. Ladakiella klimesii adapts to the extreme subnival zone through narrow xylem vessels to prevent freezing-induced embolism, the absence of fibres to minimize freezing risks, and high leaf mass fractions to optimize photosynthesis during short growing seasons. Its simplified xylem structure, dominated by parenchyma and single-lignified vessel rows, reflects thermal constraints and functional efficiency. These findings highlight the importance of integrating plant size and age in ecological studies and underscore this species' specialized strategies to thrive in a challenging subnival environment.</p>","PeriodicalId":220,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144179829","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}
Plant BiologyPub Date : 2025-05-29DOI: 10.1111/plb.70057
E Kejnovsky, P Jedlicka, M Lexa, Z Kubat
{"title":"Factors determining chromosomal localization of transposable elements in plants.","authors":"E Kejnovsky, P Jedlicka, M Lexa, Z Kubat","doi":"10.1111/plb.70057","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.70057","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Transposable elements (TEs) constitute a significant part of plant genomes and shape their genomic landscape. While some TEs are ubiquitously dispersed, other elements specifically occupy discrete genomic loci. The evolutionary forces behind the chromosomal localization of TEs are poorly understood. Therefore, we first review specific chromosomal niches where TEs are often localized including (i) centromeres, (ii) (sub)telomeres, (iii) genes, and (iv) sex chromosomes. In the second part of this review, we focus on the processes standing behind non-equal distribution of various TEs in genomes including (i) purifying selection, (ii) insertion site preference or targeting of TEs, (iii) post-insertion ectopic recombination between TEs, and (iv) spatiotemporal regulation of TE jumping. Using the combination of the above processes, we explain the distribution of TEs on sex chromosomes. We also describe the phenomena of mutual nesting of TEs, epigenetic mark silencing in TEs, and TE interactions in the 3D interphase nucleus concerning TE localization. We summarize the functional consequences of TE distribution and relate them to cell functioning and genome evolution.</p>","PeriodicalId":220,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144179506","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}
Plant BiologyPub Date : 2025-05-28DOI: 10.1111/plb.70034
M T Brock, K Nozue, D J Kliebenstein, B E Ewers, D S Mackay, L Maignien, D R Wang, C Weinig, J N Maloof
{"title":"Characterization of transcriptional and metabolic responses to a complex plant growth-promoting soil inoculum.","authors":"M T Brock, K Nozue, D J Kliebenstein, B E Ewers, D S Mackay, L Maignien, D R Wang, C Weinig, J N Maloof","doi":"10.1111/plb.70034","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.70034","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Soil microbes can have large impacts on plant growth and physiology. However, how these impacts manifest at the transcriptional and metabolite level is not well understood, especially responses to complex mixtures of soil microbes. Here we characterize the transcriptional and metabolomic response of Brassica rapa to a complex, naturally occurring soil inoculum that promotes shoot growth. Brassica rapa plants were treated with mock or growth-promoting soil inocula and monitored for growth. Root and shoot tissues were harvested for RNA-seq and metabolite analysis. Gene co-expression analysis and penalized regression were used to test for gene co-expression modules and metabolites that influence growth. We identify gene co-expression modules that both respond to microbial treatment and are associated with leaf growth. Gene ontology and custom category analysis of these modules revealed root modules that are enriched for mineral nutrition (especially nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur) and leaf modules enriched for photosynthetic and cellular processes. The metabolite data show an association of leaf length with nucleotide and amino acid levels, consistent with gene ontology terms observed in the leaf and perhaps reflecting the overall impact of growth-promoting microbes on key nitrogen-associated metabolic processes. Overall, this work provides an in-depth characterization of the molecular responses of plants to plant growth-promoting microbes.</p>","PeriodicalId":220,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144172109","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}
Plant BiologyPub Date : 2025-05-28DOI: 10.1111/plb.70033
C C Lathika, G B Sujatha, G Thomas, A J Johnson, G Viswanathan, T S Varghese, S Mohamed, L A Shereefa, S Baby
{"title":"Bait, not reward: CO<sub>2</sub>-enriched Nepenthes pitchers secrete toxic nectar.","authors":"C C Lathika, G B Sujatha, G Thomas, A J Johnson, G Viswanathan, T S Varghese, S Mohamed, L A Shereefa, S Baby","doi":"10.1111/plb.70033","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.70033","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nepenthes pitchers are leaf-evolved biological traps containing high levels of CO<sub>2</sub> within them. Extrafloral nectar (EFN) secreted by these pitchers has long been regarded as the major reward to visiting arthropods, but its chemical constituents and their role in prey capture are least explored. In this study Nepenthes EFNs were isolated, and their sugars, amino acids, proteins, vitamin C and fatty acids were analysed using HPTLC-densitometry, UFLC, and biochemical assays. C:N ratio, minerals and volatiles of EFNs were determined by CHNS, ICP-OES and headspace-GC-MS, respectively; metabolic profiling was carried out using LC-MS. Peristome/lid EFNs and their active constituent were subjected to acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition assays; the AChE inhibitor was characterized by bioactivity guided isolation and spectroscopy. Here we demonstrate Nepenthes EFN as a sugar (glucose-fructose-sucrose) mix with high C:N ratio, minimal amino acids, proteins, and vitamin C. N. khasiana peristome and lid EFNs displayed strong AChE inhibition; the naphthoquinone derivative, (+)-isoshinanolone, was identified as the AChE inhibitor. Plumbagin, the major volatile naphthoquinone in Nepenthes, also showed strong AChE inhibition. Direct EFN- and (+)-isoshinanolone-feeding bioassays showed symptoms of cholinergic toxicity in ants. Nepenthes EFN is a toxic bait which hinders neuronal activity in visiting arthropods. Their pitchers adopt various deceptive strategies for prey capture, and our study abolishes the notion that Nepenthes EFN is a reward to visiting ants and other arthropods. Moreover, our findings suggest that elevated CO<sub>2</sub> levels within the pitchers play a crucial role in regulating the growth, metabolism, herbivory, and carnivory in Nepenthes.</p>","PeriodicalId":220,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144172205","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}
Plant BiologyPub Date : 2025-05-28DOI: 10.1111/plb.70047
K Wolff, B Pucker
{"title":"Dark side of anthocyanin pigmentation.","authors":"K Wolff, B Pucker","doi":"10.1111/plb.70047","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.70047","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dark pigmentation can be observed in various parts of the plant, ranging from foliage to petals and berries. Here, we review the available knowledge about dark pigmentation in plants and the potential for biotechnological applications. The molecular basis of black pigmentation appears to vary among species, with anthocyanins playing a significant role, although specific anthocyanin types and their mechanisms differ. These findings suggest that the development of phenotypes is species-specific or varies between larger taxonomic groups; this is further supported by the polyphyletic nature of dark pigmentation. Additionally, several different regulatory mechanisms have been described for the occurrence of dark pigmentation. First, the repression or knockout of the competing flavone biosynthesis has been shown to lead to darker pigmentation while another mechanism is based on the activation and upregulation of the anthocyanin biosynthesis genes in the presence of MYB transcription factors. Potential ecological functions of dark pigmentation were identified as protection of the photosynthesis apparatus, camouflage against herbivores, and the attraction of pollinators. Promising industrial applications include microbial factories for the production of natural food colourants, induction of novel phenotypes for the ornamental plant industry and, lastly, increase of anthocyanins within agriculturally relevant crops. Understanding the genetic basis of dark pigment accumulation would facilitate biotechnological and agricultural applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":220,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144172150","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}
Plant BiologyPub Date : 2025-05-28DOI: 10.1111/plb.70032
S. Yepes-Vivas, M. Popp, M. Reichelt, J. Gershenzon, J.-P. Schnitzler, S. B. Unsicker
{"title":"Deciphering organ-specific chemical changes following insect herbivory in Populus nigra using comparative metabolomics","authors":"S. Yepes-Vivas, M. Popp, M. Reichelt, J. Gershenzon, J.-P. Schnitzler, S. B. Unsicker","doi":"10.1111/plb.70032","DOIUrl":"10.1111/plb.70032","url":null,"abstract":"<p>\u0000 </p>","PeriodicalId":220,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biology","volume":"27 5","pages":"834-846"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/plb.70032","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144155326","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}
Plant BiologyPub Date : 2025-05-27DOI: 10.1111/plb.70056
A Amirkhosravi, G-J Strijkstra, A Keyl, F Häffner, U Lipka, C Herrfurth, I Feussner, A Polle
{"title":"Overexpression of jojoba wax ester synthase in poplar increases foliar lipid accumulation, alters stomatal conductance, and increases water use efficiency.","authors":"A Amirkhosravi, G-J Strijkstra, A Keyl, F Häffner, U Lipka, C Herrfurth, I Feussner, A Polle","doi":"10.1111/plb.70056","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.70056","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Poplars are important fast-growing, water-spending biomass tree crops. Here, we targeted the wax biosynthesis pathway of Populus × canescens by overexpressing jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) wax ester synthase (ScWS) for the production of lipids. We found that ScWS overexpression caused accumulation of lipid droplets in leaf cells but did not increase wax load on the leaf surface. However, the stomata had a high fraction of closed or semi-closed guard cells with aberrant lipid accumulation. This phenotype was accompanied by suppression of OCCLUDED STOMATAL PORE 1 (OSP1) and decreased stomatal conductance in the ScWS-expressing poplars. During short- and long-term drought scenarios under greenhouse and outdoor conditions, the ScWS lines had increased water use efficiencies, leading to a water-saving phenotype and delays in drought stress. In the ScWS poplars, photosynthesis was reduced under high, but not under low light intensities. Biomass production of ScWS lines was unaffected in short-term experiments but dropped below that of wild-type poplars at the end of two field seasons, indicating a long-term growth trade-off. Our results open new opportunities for the production of lipids in more water-efficient poplars.</p>","PeriodicalId":220,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144148811","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}
Plant BiologyPub Date : 2025-05-26DOI: 10.1111/plb.70048
J Han, F Wang, D Dmitrii, J Tian, P Han, Z Tan, J Zhang, J Lin, J Wang
{"title":"Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on root architecture and ultrastructure of Hordeum jubatum under the interactive impact of nitrogen deposition and cold stress.","authors":"J Han, F Wang, D Dmitrii, J Tian, P Han, Z Tan, J Zhang, J Lin, J Wang","doi":"10.1111/plb.70048","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.70048","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hordeum jubatum L. is a perennial herb with high ornamental value and strong stress tolerance. Nitrogen deposition and cold stress are key environmental factors that affect stability of ecosystems in cold regions of northeast China. These factors significantly affect plant growth and development. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are symbiotic soil fungi that can increase plant resistance and growth. However, research on impacts of nitrogen deposition and cold stress on roots of H. jubatum-AM symbionts remains limited. Root biomass (dry and fresh weight), architecture (length, surface area, volume, forks, number of fourth-order roots, and root fractal dimension), and ultrastructure of H. jubatum were assessed, both in the presence and absence of AMF, under conditions of nitrogen deposition and cold stress. Cold stress inhibited all indicators of root architecture and disrupted root ultrastructure, with greater inhibition shown in the N2 (NH<sub>4</sub> <sup>+</sup>/NO<sub>3</sub> <sup>-</sup> = 1:1) treatment under cold stress, indicating nitrogen deposition increased sensitivity of H. jubatum to cold stress. Inoculation with AMF significantly reduced damage caused by nitrogen deposition and cold stress on H. jubatum roots compared with the non-inoculation treatment. Our results demonstrate different effects of the interaction of nitrogen deposition and cold stress versus single stress (nitrogen deposition or cold stress) on plant root development and provide a scientific basis for the use of mycorrhizal technology to improve resistance and productivity of cold-tolerant plants in cold regions under stress conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":220,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144140955","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}
Plant BiologyPub Date : 2025-05-26DOI: 10.1111/plb.70051
Celegeer, N Watanabe, K Otani, T Okada, M Matsushita, M Nakagawa
{"title":"Factors affecting seedling establishment in a warm-temperate secondary forest affected by oak wilt disease.","authors":"Celegeer, N Watanabe, K Otani, T Okada, M Matsushita, M Nakagawa","doi":"10.1111/plb.70051","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.70051","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Diseases are major natural disturbances to forest ecosystems that cause changes to overstory tree structure and influence seedling dynamics by altering environmental conditions via functional traits. Thus, identifying factors affecting seedling dynamics would improve broader understanding of the seedling regeneration process after disease disturbance. We investigated 13,010 current year seedlings from 59 woody species, 44 genera, and 21 families in a Japanese warm-temperate secondary forest, following Japanese oak wilt disease (JOW) in 2009-2013 and in 2018-2020. We also quantified temporal changes in canopy openness and soil moisture. Structural equation model (SEM) was used to explore the effects of environmental conditions and seedling functional traits on current year seedling density in autumn for 13 dominant species. Canopy openness gradually increased, whereas soil water content decreased throughout the study site. After disruption by JOW, recruitment of current year seedlings increased through improvements in light conditions. The functional traits of current year seedlings were likely affected by soil nutrients in the late JOW period (2011-2013), whereas litterfall production influenced functional traits of current year seedlings in the post-JOW period (2018-2020). Factors affecting seedling density varied as environmental conditions changed across the JOW periods. Seedling establishment was enhanced by increased canopy openness in the late JOW period and by low litterfall, high soil nutrient content, and high soil moisture in the post-JOW period. Our study provides evidence that temporal changes in environmental conditions and seedling densities occurring after disruption by JOW differ from the changes in forests impacted by other natural disturbances.</p>","PeriodicalId":220,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144140958","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}
Plant BiologyPub Date : 2025-05-23DOI: 10.1111/plb.70044
M D de Amorim, J P R Borges, A C P Machado, A R Rech, P K Maruyama, P J Bergamo
{"title":"Neighbourhood flower diversity increases reproductive success of Lantana hypoleuca Briq (Verbenaceae).","authors":"M D de Amorim, J P R Borges, A C P Machado, A R Rech, P K Maruyama, P J Bergamo","doi":"10.1111/plb.70044","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.70044","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The attraction of floral visitors depends on intrinsic plant traits and the surrounding floral abundance and diversity. Therefore, it is important to consider the conspecific and heterospecific co-flowering context to understand plant-pollinator interactions and, consequently, plant reproductive success. We investigated the influence of the floral neighbourhood on pollination of Lantana hypoleuca (Verbenaceae) in the Brazilian Campos rupestres. We evaluated how flower richness, conspecific and heterospecific abundance, and similarity in corolla length influence reproductive success (conspecific pollen deposition, heterospecific pollen deposition, and likelihood of fruit production) of L. hypoleuca individuals. For this, we evaluated the surrounding neighbourhood of 20 L. hypoleuca individuals. We recorded 73 visits of bees, butterflies, and wasps. Conspecific pollen was not related to any of the studied variables, while heterospecific pollen increased with plant richness. Finally, the likelihood of fruit production increased with plant species richness and decreased with conspecific floral abundance. The positive effect of plant species richness on plant reproduction suggests facilitative interactions, in which higher community diversity may attract a more diverse set of pollinators to L. hypoleuca. Our results stress the importance of assessing multiple community features and plant reproductive steps to better understand the complex co-flowering effects on pollination and reproduction.</p>","PeriodicalId":220,"journal":{"name":"Plant Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144126107","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}