Plant Stress最新文献

{"title":"Supplemental red-light improves consistency of solid stem phenotype in solid-stem wheat varieties","authors":"Lavanya Mendu,&nbsp;Akshara Bathini,&nbsp;Nagendra Pratap Singh,&nbsp;Venugopal Mendu","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101475","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101475","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wheat stem sawfly (WSS) is a major pest of wheat with limited control options, causing substantial grain yield losses and reducing grain quality. Solid-stem genetic resistance has been the primary management strategy due to the lack of effective chemical or biological pest control options. However, the currently available solid-stem varieties often show inconsistent stem solidness across different environments. Because increased light intensity and longer day length are associated with stronger solid stem expression, we investigated the effect of supplemental red light (SL) in a greenhouse study comparing SL to standard greenhouse light (GL) across seven spring wheat varieties (Choteau, Conan, Dagmar, Duclair, Fortuna, Vida, along with Reeder, a hollow-stem variety). SL treatment enhanced solid-stem phenotypes in solid-stem varieties, with Duclair, Dagmar, and Choteau exhibiting consistent pith expression in both main stems and tillers, resulting in more uniform pith development. Transcriptomic analysis of first internode tissues from Reeder and Duclair under SL and GL conditions identified 55,997 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with SL upregulating pathways related to cell division, phytochrome signaling, and photosynthesis. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichments analyses indicated that SL suppressed Programmed Cell Death (PCD) and promoted cytoskeletal remodeling, and energy reallocation, suggesting activation of signaling networks that support pith proliferation. These findings indicate that supplemental red light can stabilize the solid-stem phenotype through light-mediated gene regulation and may provide physiological and molecular insights to support breeding for improved WSS resistance and reduced lodging.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101475"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148570490","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Plasma-activated water seed treatment modulates osmotic stress responses in pea through morphological, ionomic, hormonal, and antioxidant changes","authors":"Gábor Fejes,&nbsp;Tamás Bodor,&nbsp;András Kukri,&nbsp;Noémi Bába,&nbsp;Maria Gracheva,&nbsp;Ádám Solti,&nbsp;Ildikó Domonkos,&nbsp;Gyula Kajner,&nbsp;Ágnes Gallé,&nbsp;Réka Szőllősi,&nbsp;Gábor Galbács,&nbsp;Kinga Kutasi,&nbsp;Zsuzsanna Kolbert","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101471","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101471","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plasma-activated water (PAW) seed treatment is an emerging green technology that enhances plant germination and growth; however, its role in drought stress tolerance remains unclear. In this study, pea (<em>Pisum sativum</em> L.) seeds were treated with PAW (10 mg L⁻¹ nitrite, 30 mg L⁻¹ nitrate, pH 3.9), Zinc (Zn)-enriched PAW (PA(W+Zn); 6 mg L⁻¹ hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), 19 mg L⁻¹ nitrite, 20 mg L⁻¹ nitrate, 14 mg L⁻¹ Zn, pH 4.7), distilled water (DW), or Zn-enriched DW. Subsequently, three-week-old plants were subjected to osmotic stress using polyethylene glycol 8000 (PEG8000) (20% w/v). PAW induced partial hilum opening and mild seed coat damage, while PA(W+Zn) increased nitric oxide (NO) accumulation. Both treatments enhanced nutrient levels and shootward translocation, particularly of Zn and iron (Fe). Under stress, PAW promoted the formation of larger but thinner leaves, indicating adaptive morphological responses. However, stomatal conductance, relative water content, photosynthesis, and starch accumulation remained unaffected. Unchanged proline levels and reduced soluble sugars suggest that classical osmotic acclimation was not induced by PAW treatments. Instead, both PAW and PA(W+Zn) increased abscisic acid (ABA) levels and <em>PsDHN2</em> expression, indicating activation of ABA-dependent stress signalling, likely mediated by nitrate-, nitrite-, and H₂O₂-derived signals. Tissue-specific cytokinin (CK) responses and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT]) further suggest the establishment of a primed state. Overall, PAW-based seed treatments induce complex physiological and molecular responses involving ABA signalling, selected ion translocation, and antioxidant enzymes without significantly improved water status, stomatal regulation, or photosynthetic performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101471"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148570492","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genome mapping, transcriptome and metabolome analysis reveal the CmCNL2-mediated defense response to powdery mildew in melon","authors":"Fangyi Gong,&nbsp;Yanhong Lan,&nbsp;Linyu Jia,&nbsp;Rongjiang Dong,&nbsp;Chun Li,&nbsp;Yifan Li,&nbsp;Feng Xia,&nbsp;Xiaojun Liu,&nbsp;Duchen Liu,&nbsp;Genyun Liang,&nbsp;Chao Fang,&nbsp;Peng Cai","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101486","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101486","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Melon (<em>Cucumis melo</em> L.) is an important global horticultural crop whose production is often threatened by powdery mildew (PM) caused by <em>Podosphaera xanthii</em>, significantly impacting yield and quality. However, the cloning of PM resistance genes and the understanding of their underlying molecular mechanisms remain limited. In this study, a segregating population derived from breeding lines with contrasting PM resistance (resistant 2021-2 and susceptible 2021-1) enabled the mapping of a major resistance gene to 0.5 Mb interval on chromosome 2. Within this region, a gene, <em>CmCNL2</em>, encoding a CC-NBS-LRR protein, was identified and showed higher expression in resistant parent 2021-2 than in susceptible parent 2021-1 at 12 and 24 h post-inoculation. The <em>CmCNL2</em> sequence similarity between 2021-2 and 2021-1 was 91.83%, and markers <em>KASP5353-2, Indel5353</em> and <em>KASP5353-3</em> developed from this variation co-segregated completely with resistance in the F₂ population. Furthermore, silencing <em>CmCNL2</em> in 2021-2 via VIGS significantly reduced its resistance. To dissect the molecular basis of CmCNL2-mediated defense, comparative transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses further revealed 5,960 differentially expressed genes and 820 differentially accumulated metabolites in response to PM infection. CmCNL2‑mediated resistance was associated with the activation of key pathways, including ‘Plant‑pathogen interaction’, ‘MAPK signaling pathway-plant’, ‘Phenylpropanoid biosynthesis’, and ‘Glutathione metabolism’, indicating that <em>CmCNL2</em> may function through these pathways to enhance PM resistance in melon. The results of this study provide valuable molecular markers and candidate genes for PM resistance breeding in melon, and offer insights into the molecular mechanisms of PM resistance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101486"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148642532","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The JA signal-related MbMYC2 enhances cold tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana and a preliminary study of its regulatory mechanism","authors":"Yilu Zhao,&nbsp;Haoran Wang,&nbsp;Aiguo Wang,&nbsp;Huaiyu Ma,&nbsp;Ping Dai","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101463","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101463","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Low-temperature stress is one of the main environmental factors limiting the growth and development of apple trees early in the growing season. Previous studies have shown that exogenous methyl jasmonate (MeJA) can significantly improve the low-temperature tolerance of <em>Malus baccata</em> roots, but its molecular mechanism has not been clarified. Based on pre-transcriptome sequencing data, a <em>MbMYC2</em> (a key factor in JA signaling) and a <em>MbTRX</em> (a redox regulator) were identified in the combination treatment of low temperature and MeJA. The gene expressions of <em>MbMYC2</em> and <em>MbTRX</em> in the roots of <em>Malus baccata</em> were significantly upregulated by the MeJA application in under low-temperature stress. Subcellular localization test confirmed that the MbMYC2 protein was localized in the nucleus. To explore the function of <em>MbMYC2</em> in <em>Malus baccata</em> roots under low-temperature stress, we obtained transgenic <em>Arabidopsis thaliana</em> lines overexpressing <em>MbMYC2</em>. Phenotypic analysis showed that the leaf survival rate of transgenic <em>Arabidopsis thaliana</em> lines were significantly higher than those of WT plants under low-temperature stress. The results of physiological and biochemical indexes showed that the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, APX, and GR, etc.) and the contents of osmotic regulators (proline, etc.) of transgenic <em>Arabidopsis thaliana</em> lines were significantly increased, and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (H₂O₂, O₂·^-) were significantly decreased compared with WT. Under low-temperature stress, the expression levels of stress-responsive marker genes <em>AtDREB2A, AtRD26, AtRD29A</em>, and <em>AtRD29B</em> were significantly up-regulated in transgenic lines. Yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) assay confirmed that MbMYC2 protein can bind directly to <em>MbTRX</em> gene promoter and activated its transcription. GUS activity analysis and LUC analysis and chromatin immunoprecipitation quantitative PCR (ChIP-qPCR) results further confirmed the positive regulation of <em>MbMYC2</em> on <em>MbTRX</em> transcription. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that the MbMYC2 protein activates the expression of <em>MbTRX</em> by can bind to its promoter, thereby boosting the activity of antioxidant enzymes. This study provides a theoretical basis for the study of mechanism of JA signal regulating apple low-temperature tolerance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101463"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148642595","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biostimulants for sustainable agriculture: enhancing plant tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses","authors":"Saeedeh Zarbakhsh,&nbsp;Sasan Aliniaeifard,&nbsp;Antonio Ferrante,&nbsp;Nazim Gruda,&nbsp;Leilei Zhang,&nbsp;Iman Mirmazloum","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101449","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101449","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101449"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148642603","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Species-specific BVOC emission dynamics of Pinus sylvestris and Juniperus communis during different drought intensities","authors":"Judith Schmack,&nbsp;Anna de Vries,&nbsp;Felix Spielmann,&nbsp;Jörg-Peter Schnitzler,&nbsp;Jana Barbro Winkler,&nbsp;Baris Weber,&nbsp;Georg Wohlfahrt,&nbsp;Thomas Karl,&nbsp;Werner Jud","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101480","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101480","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Climate change is shifting drought frequency and severity in alpine regions, affecting plant physiological processes, including the production and emission of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs), that influence atmospheric chemistry and the radiative properties of the atmosphere.</div><div>While constitutive BVOC emissions are well-characterized for some plant species, drought-induced changes in monoterpene and sesquiterpene emissions remain poorly constrained, limiting predictions for future climate scenarios. We quantified the gas exchange of two conifer species, <em>Pinus sylvestris</em> and <em>Juniperus communis</em>, in a multi-week plant cuvette experiment with four drought intensity treatments. Continuous gas exchange measurements resolved temporal dynamics of CO₂ assimilation, transpiration, and BVOC emissions. Under severe drought, <em>P. sylvestris</em> maintained a positive carbon balance (21.0 g C m⁻² leaf area), while <em>J. communis</em> experienced net carbon loss (-0.48 g C m⁻² leaf area), reflecting contrasting carbon-uptake versus water-use strategies under drought stress. Total monoterpene emissions were largely drought-insensitive, although our data revealed a compound-specific regulation in <em>P. sylvestris.</em> Sesquiterpene emissions were strongly induced in both species, but diverged during the course of the experiment: sustained elevation in <em>J. communis</em> versus a bell-shaped response in <em>P. sylvestris</em>. Methyl salicylate responses were opposite: stress-induced and unimodal in <em>P. sylvestris,</em> but declining with drought severity in <em>J. communis</em>.</div><div>These findings demonstrate that BVOC drought responses are determined by species-specific carbon balance and physiological thresholds rather than phylogeny alone, providing important insights for models of BVOC emission dynamics under climate change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101480"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148642604","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cellular and molecular effects of nanosecond electromagnetic pulses on Arabidopsis thaliana: Preliminary evidence for a novel weed control strategy","authors":"Alexis Porcher,&nbsp;Chloé Davranche,&nbsp;Sébastien Girard,&nbsp;Vincent Guérin,&nbsp;Nathalie Brouard,&nbsp;Pierre Bonnet,&nbsp;Françoise Paladian,&nbsp;Alain Vian","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101468","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101468","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>High-amplitude electromagnetic pulses (EMP) represent a promising physical alternative for the development of non-chemical weed control strategies. In this study, we analyzed the local and systemic effects of EMP application at morphological, physiological, and molecular levels on <em>Arabidopsis thaliana</em> leaves. The experimental design enabled spatial dissociation between the exposed area and the rest of the plant, allowing a detailed analysis of the multi-zone EMP-induced response. EMP exposure caused rapid and irreversible cellular damage at the impact site, characterized by membrane disorganization, massive electrolyte leakage, and severe lipid peroxidation, leading to the rapid collapse of the leaf tissue. This tissue disorganization was associated with early RNA degradation, revealing loss of cellular compartmentalization and triggering rapid wilting that determines the viability of the entire leaf. In contrast, distant leaves remained morphologically intact but showed early metabolic changes. A transient accumulation of H₂O₂, associated with an increase in the expression of genes involved in reactive oxygen species production and signaling, reflecting a systemic response activation, however, insufficient to induce whole plant mortality when the treatment was restricted to a unique leaf. We demonstrate that the modalities of exposure are critical for achieving lethal effects: a single-site stimulation resulted in localized damage, while a multi-site exposure across several leaves induced severe systemic injury, ultimately leading to plant death or a substantial decrease in reproductive success. Collectively, these findings highlight the importance of multi-site application strategies for achieving herbicidal efficacy and establish EMPs as a promising sustainable tool for weed management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101468"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148570556","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Metallochaperone protein SaHIPP41 enhances cadmium tolerance and accumulation in the hyperaccumulator Solanum americanum","authors":"Jungang Zhu,&nbsp;Mengxi Wu,&nbsp;Yunxi Lai,&nbsp;Linxi Wang,&nbsp;Peng Xiao,&nbsp;Jiayin Chen,&nbsp;Xin Zhao,&nbsp;Wenwen Liu,&nbsp;Yuanzhi Pan","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101442","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101442","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil cadmium (Cd) contamination is a major global environmental challenge. <em>Solanum americanum</em>, a Cd-hyperaccumulating plant, holds potential for application in phytoremediation. Although the heavy metal-associated isoprenylated plant protein (HIPP) family is known to play crucial roles in plant heavy metal accumulation and detoxification, its functions in <em>S. americanum</em> remain unclear. This study systematically identified 45 <em>SaHIPP</em> genes in <em>S. americanum</em> and, through evolutionary, collinearity, and expression-pattern analyses, selected the candidate gene <em>SaHIPP41</em>, which was significantly induced by Cd stress. Heterologous expression in yeast demonstrated that SaHIPP41 enhances yeast Cd accumulation and sensitivity, a function dependent on its conserved CxxC domain. Subcellular localization analyses revealed that <em>SaHIPP41</em> localizes to the cell membrane. Overexpression of <em>SaHIPP41</em> in <em>S. americanum</em> significantly increased plant Cd accumulation and improved growth performance under Cd stress. Physiological analysis indicated that the overexpression lines exhibited higher activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) peroxidase (POD). Transcriptome analysis revealed that <em>SaHIPP41</em> overexpression regulates multiple pathways, including those involved in heavy metal transport, antioxidant metabolism, and photosynthesis. In summary, <em>SaHIPP41</em> synergistically enhanced both Cd accumulation and tolerance in <em>S. americanum</em> through its dual role in promoting Cd accumulation and maintaining Cu homeostasis. These results provide novel insights into the role of plant HIPP genes in heavy metal detoxification and highlight a promising candidate for phytoremediation applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101442"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148570549","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unravelling the protective role of silicon in Cannabis sativa hypocotyls under cadmium and zinc stress with imaging and -omics","authors":"Roberto Berni,&nbsp;Céline C. Leclercq,&nbsp;Sébastien Planchon,&nbsp;Václav Motyka,&nbsp;Petre I. Dobrev,&nbsp;Sergio Sorbo,&nbsp;Adriana Basile,&nbsp;Jenny Renaut,&nbsp;Stanley Lutts,&nbsp;Gea Guerriero","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101464","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101464","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) such as cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) are environmental pollutants affecting soil quality and plant growth. Cd is a highly toxic element primarily introduced into the environment through anthropogenic activities. The impact of Cd on plants is particularly severe, as it disrupts cellular metabolism. Zn, conversely, is an essential micronutrient required for several enzymatic functions, including those involved in DNA synthesis, protein production, and oxidative stress regulation. However, excessive Zn levels in soils can lead to toxic effects on plants. The multi-purpose crop hemp (<em>Cannabis sativa</em> L.) has gained attention for its ability to tolerate and accumulate PTEs, including Cd and Zn. In this study, the impact of Cd and Zn with and without the beneficial metalloid silicon (Si) was evaluated on 20-day-old hemp plantlets, focusing on the hypocotyl as a model for bast fibre formation. An integrative approach combining microscopy and multi-<em>omics</em> was applied. The results showed that Cd and Zn impaired bast fibre organisation and disrupted cell wall ultrastructure, causing an altered tissue architecture. Si mitigated these effects by preserving cell wall structure and stabilising secondary wall components. At the molecular level, Si enhanced apoplastic reinforcement through the activation of hemicellulose biosynthesis and cell wall-associated proteins. In addition, Si improved redox homeostasis by stimulating glutathione-dependent detoxification under Cd stress and supported energy metabolism under Zn exposure. Hormonal profiling indicated that Si modulated stress responses by maintaining cytokinin signalling while attenuating ABA- and JA-mediated pathways. The data obtained revealed specific responses at the tissular, ultrastructural and molecular levels, highlighting the beneficial role of Si in mitigating the effects of Cd and Zn.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101464"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148570254","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genome-wide identification of the chickpea chitinase family reveals CaCHI4, a Class IV chitinase, as a positive regulator of salt tolerance","authors":"Yan Liang,&nbsp;Chaoni Liang,&nbsp;Fanzhen Fei,&nbsp;Jia Liu,&nbsp;Minghui Yang,&nbsp;Xiaoyun Zhou,&nbsp;Zifeng Lu,&nbsp;Bin Lei,&nbsp;Yigong Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101453","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stress.2026.101453","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chickpea (<em>Cicer arietinum</em> L.) is a vital legume crop, yet its productivity is severely constrained by soil salinity. While chitinases (CHIs) are well-recognized for their roles in biotic defense, their involvement in abiotic stress adaptation remains largely unexplored in chickpea. In this study, we systematically identified 25 <em>CaCHI</em> genes across the chickpea genome. Among them, <em>CaCHI4</em>, a tandemly duplicated Class IV chitinase localized to the apoplast, was identified as a key salt-responsive candidate. Overexpression of <em>CaCHI4</em> in <em>Arabidopsis thaliana</em> enhanced salt tolerance, as evidenced by improved germination rates, increased biomass, and enhanced primary root growth. Physiological analyses revealed that <em>CaCHI4</em> maintains cellular homeostasis by augmenting antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD, and CAT), thereby reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, <em>CaCHI4</em> promoted active stomatal closure and preserved photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry under stress. Consistently, its overexpression in chickpea hairy roots also conferred superior salt tolerance, alleviating leaf wilting and resulting in a more robust systemic phenotype. Integrated transcriptomic profiling (RNA-Seq) further demonstrated that <em>CaCHI4</em> orchestrates a hierarchical regulatory network, up-regulating signaling components such as receptor-like kinases (<em>MALE-RLK</em>) and key transcription factors (<em>DREB2C, NAC048</em>) to execute downstream stress responses. In conclusion, this study identifies the tandemly duplicated <em>CaCHI4</em> as a pivotal player with a non-canonical role in salinity resilience, elucidating its physiological and molecular regulatory mechanisms and providing a promising genetic candidate for the improvement of legume crop resilience in saline environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34736,"journal":{"name":"Plant Stress","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101453"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148570261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}