{"title":"Integrated microbiome and metabolome approaches reveal the resistant mechanisms of leaf blight resistant plum cultivar","authors":"Xinyan Zhou, Yufei Wei, Yu Zhu, Jiaoming Li, Runche Zhou, Qingju Xiao, Ruihong Luo, Shangdong Yang","doi":"10.1186/s40538-025-00780-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40538-025-00780-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Endophytic microbiome and metabolome are closely related to the plant resistance. Unravelling the compositional features of the endophytic microbiome and metabolome can help to understand plant resistant mechanisms. This study investigates the resistant mechanisms of leaf blight-resistant plum cultivars through comparative analysis of endophytic microbiome and metabolome features between leaf blight resistant (Mihuang Plum, RP) and susceptible (Pearl Plum, SP) cultivars.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The results showed that higher microbial diversity and richness could be detected in RP cultivar than those of SP cultivar. Meanwhile, the endophytic bacterial genera, such as <i>1174-901-12</i>, <i>Sneathia</i>, <i>Gardnerella</i>, <i>Bacteroides</i>, <i>Prevotella</i>, <i>Fastidiosipila</i>, and the endophytic fungal genera, <i>Paramycosphaerella</i>, <i>Epicoleosporium</i>, <i>Zasmidium</i>, and <i>Zeloasperisporium</i> were enriched in the RP cultivar. Moreover, in comparison with SP cultivar, Flavonoid biosynthesis, Isoflavonoid biosynthesis, Phenylalanine metabolism, Phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and Nucleotide metabolism showed high expression levels in RP cultivar, and the contents of (-)-Naringenin, 4-Coumaric acid, Epicatechin, Genistein, M-Coumaric acid, Dihydrokaempferol, and 4-Hydroxycinnamic acid were also significantly higher in RP cultivar.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Our findings had revealed that significant differences of endophytic microbiome and metabolome features could be found between leaf blight resistant (Mihuang Plum, RP) and susceptible (Pearl Plum, SP) cultivars. Meanwhile, positive correlations between potential functional microorganisms, metabolites and leaf blight resistant plum cultivar also had been identified. In future research, a deeper exploration of these microbial communities and metabolites is warranted to fully understand their functional roles in the resistance mechanisms. Identifying the specific microbial taxa and metabolites that contribute to leaf blight resistance could provide valuable insights into their potential applications in biological control. By harnessing these natural microbial and metabolic resources, it may be possible to develop sustainable, eco-friendly strategies for managing leaf blight, ultimately reducing the dependency on chemical pesticides.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":512,"journal":{"name":"Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://chembioagro.springeropen.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s40538-025-00780-4","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143949441","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rahmat Budiarto, Mohammad Miftakhus Sholikin, Syariful Mubarok, Tri Ujilestari, Danung Nur Adli, Temoor Ahmed, Hayssam M. Ali
{"title":"Exogenous melatonin as a natural preservative: a meta-analysis of its effects on fruit shelf life and oxidative stress during storage","authors":"Rahmat Budiarto, Mohammad Miftakhus Sholikin, Syariful Mubarok, Tri Ujilestari, Danung Nur Adli, Temoor Ahmed, Hayssam M. Ali","doi":"10.1186/s40538-025-00781-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40538-025-00781-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Damage to fruits during the postharvest period is inevitable, with oxidative stress due to environmental factors being the primary cause. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the consistent effects of exogenous melatonin application on postharvest fruit quality and shelf life by evaluating its influence on physiological parameters, antioxidant capacities, and oxidative stress-related factors. Meta-analysis via the Hedges’ g random effects model was employed to assess 52 relevant studies, with model validation performed via Egger's test. The meta-analysis results indicated that exogenous melatonin application significantly reduced fruit damage parameters such as the browning index (g = − 0.542), fresh weight loss (g = − 0.689), and decay incidence (g = − 1.23; <i>p</i> < 0.001). Conversely, the values for chroma (g = 0.224), hue (g = 0.488), lightness (g = 0.154), and firmness (g = 0.444) increased significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Chemical components such as ascorbic acid (g = 0.544), cellulose (g = 0.812), and titratable acidity (g = 0.308) also significantly increased (<i>p</i> < 0.001), while water-soluble pectin (g = − 0.935) decreased (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Antioxidant-related compounds, including phenolic acids, general flavonoids, and specifically pigmented molecules such as total anthocyanins (g = 0.33), increased significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.01), indicating enhanced fruit antioxidant capacity. Furthermore, exogenous melatonin led to an increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes, such as ascorbate peroxidase (g = 0.751), catalase (g = 0.815), and glutathione reductase (g = 0.918; <i>p</i> < 0.001), while decreasing the activity of cell wall-degrading enzymes (<i>p</i> < 0.01). A positive trend was observed with a reduction in hydrogen peroxide (g = − 0.8) and malondialdehyde levels (g = − 0.696), both of which are related to oxidative stress. Moreover, application of exogenous melatonin at concentrations up to 500 µM consistently tended to reduce decay incidence during storage for up to 60 days. On the basis of response surface methodology (RSM), the optimal dose is 116 µM, which is predicted to result in a fresh weight loss of only 4.4% and an increase in ascorbic acid content to 57.3 mg/100 g of fresh weight. In conclusion, exogenous melatonin serves as an effective natural preservative that improves postharvest fruit shelf life by reducing the physiological activities associated with oxidative damage and enhancing antioxidant resistance.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":512,"journal":{"name":"Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://chembioagro.springeropen.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s40538-025-00781-3","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143949440","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Detection of some secondary metabolites of Beauveria bassiana and the potential effects on Spodoptera littoralis","authors":"Wessam Houssiny Bakr, Mohemed Farouk Ghaly, Wafaa Ghatwary Tantawy, Samah Nour El-Shafeiy","doi":"10.1186/s40538-025-00774-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40538-025-00774-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p><i>Beauveria bassiana</i> is one of the most renowned entomopathogenic fungi and has recently been recognized as a potential biopesticide for a wide range of insect pests. The secondary metabolites of <i>B. bassiana</i> are believed to contribute to its pesticidal activity. Meanwhile, the Egyptian cotton leafworm, <i>Spodoptera littoralis</i>, is a significant pest that causes considerable damage to various key crops.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>In this study, secondary metabolites were extracted using ethyl acetate from both the culture medium filtrate and the mycelia separately. Subsequently, the extracts were separated via thin-layer chromatography into six fractions from the medium filtrate (F0:F5) and ten fractions from the mycelia (M1:M10). All fractions were assessed for their insecticidal effects on second instar larvae of <i>S. littoralis</i>. The treatment of F0 resulted in the highest larval mortality rate of 61.11%, followed by M3 with a mortality rate of 45.19%. M2 and M8 had similar effects, each resulting in a mortality rate of 40.00%. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy revealed cuticle disorders and deformations in larvae treated with all treatments. Fractions exhibited the highest mortality rates in <i>S. littoralis</i> larvae, and the total injuries were analyzed using GC/MS, which revealed the presence of eight bioactive compounds. Notably, this study represents the first detection of 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol in the mycelia of <i>B. bassiana</i>, a compound known for its high toxicity. In addition, other compounds contributed to the observed experimental results.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>These findings indicate that <i>B. bassiana</i> could serve as a sustainable source of bioactive metabolites with significant insecticidal effects on <i>S. littoralis</i>. This suggests a strong potential for improving integrated pest management (IPM), particularly when large-scale production is implemented.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":512,"journal":{"name":"Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://chembioagro.springeropen.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s40538-025-00774-2","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143938457","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kamal El-Baradie, Yusif S. El-Sayed, Nadia El-Wakiel, Basma M. Salem, Asmaa El-Nagar
{"title":"Novel indazole Schiff base metal chelates as potential antifungal agents: synthesis, characterization, and computational analysis","authors":"Kamal El-Baradie, Yusif S. El-Sayed, Nadia El-Wakiel, Basma M. Salem, Asmaa El-Nagar","doi":"10.1186/s40538-025-00769-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40538-025-00769-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Soil-borne phytopathogenic fungi pose a significant risk to many economically important crops due to their ability to survive in the soil for extended periods without a host. Thus, a novel Schiff base (HL), 3-(1H-indazol-5-ylimino)-1-phenylbut-1-en-1-ol, was synthesized by the condensation of 5-aminoindazole with benzoyl acetone. Its Co<sup>2+</sup>, Ni<sup>2+</sup>, and Cu<sup>2+</sup> chelates were also synthesized. These compounds were characterized by FT-IR, <sup>1</sup>H-NMR, <sup>13</sup>C-NMR, UV–Vis, EI–mass spectroscopy, XRD, TGA, magnetic susceptibility, elemental analysis, and molar conductance. The ligand possesses an enol form and functions as a monobasic bidentate through the deprotonated OH and C=N groups. The Co<sup>2+</sup> and Ni<sup>2+</sup> ions produced 1:1 (M:L) chelates, whereas Cu<sup>2+</sup> ion produced a 1:2 (M:L) chelate. From the characterization results and the DFT method, it was revealed that the Co<sup>2+</sup> chelate has tetrahedral geometry, while Ni<sup>2+</sup> and Cu<sup>2+</sup> chelates are octahedral. The antifungal activities of the ligand and the metal chelates were evaluated against some plant pathogenic fungi, namely, <i>Stromatinia cepivora</i>, <i>Botrytis allii</i>,<i> Rhizoctonia solani</i>, and <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> in comparison with the commercial fungicide Tebuconazole. The Ni<sup>+2</sup> chelate emerged as the most potent agent that achieved 100% inhibition for the <i>S. cepivora</i> and <i>S. sclerotiorum.</i> It also caused significant morphological alterations in <i>S. sclerotiorum</i> as revealed by the SEM micrograph. The treated <i>S. sclerotiorum</i> hyphae displayed irregular, shriveled, and collapsed structures in contrast to the smooth and robust appearance of the control. The molecular docking study further confirmed that Ni<sup>2+</sup> chelate strongly interacted with the active site of CYP51 protein compared with Co<sup>2+</sup> and Cu<sup>2+</sup> chelates and the fungicide Tebuconazole. The superior efficacy of Ni<sup>2+</sup> chelate offers a promising alternative to traditional fungicides.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":512,"journal":{"name":"Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://chembioagro.springeropen.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s40538-025-00769-z","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143938168","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Silver nanoparticles priming for drought tolerance in wheat: insights from antioxidant system activation and stress memory","authors":"Sijie Ding, Lihao Zheng, Tao Tao, Qing Li, Jian Cai, Qin Zhou, Yingxin Zhong, Xiao Wang, Dong Jiang","doi":"10.1186/s40538-025-00778-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40538-025-00778-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>AgNPs (nano-silver), as an important nano-material, has been shown to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). This feature can be applied to crop production, triggering a slight stress response and improving tolerance to subsequent stresses. This study investigates the effects of AgNPs on the antioxidant system of newly developed wheat leaves, highlighting their potential to enhance crop resilience.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>The morphology and particle size of AgNPs were observed using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The effects of AgNPs were evaluated by measuring chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence. Antioxidant enzyme activities and malondialdehyde content were quantified, and changes in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected using 2’,7’- dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) probe to investigate the physiological mechanism by which AgNPs enhance wheat drought tolerance. Additionally, silver content in different wheat tissues was determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS).</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Our findings demonstrate that lower concentrations of AgNPs (1 mg·L<sup>−1</sup>) improve drought tolerance without adversely affecting plant growth, while higher concentrations (5 mg·L<sup>−1</sup> and 10 mg·L<sup>−1</sup>) have detrimental effects. Pre-treatment with 1 mg·L<sup>−1</sup> AgNPs primes wheat plants for enhanced drought tolerance by inducing a stress memory effect, likely mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling. Spatiotemporal analyses revealed that AgNPs treatment leads to a controlled ROS accumulation, which activates the antioxidant system, reduces lipid peroxidation, and enhances photosynthetic efficiency under drought conditions. Moreover, AgNPs application significantly increases grain yield, with accumulation primarily in leaves and stems and no detectable presence in grains, suggesting a low risk of contamination in the food chain.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Spraying AgNPs produces ROS, which triggers the wheat stress response and forms stress memory. This enables wheat plants to respond rapidly to subsequent drought stress. AgNPs also enhance antioxidant enzyme activity, reduce lipid peroxidation, mitigate drought-induced damage, maintain photosynthetic efficiency, and ultimately improve wheat yield under drought conditions.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":512,"journal":{"name":"Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://chembioagro.springeropen.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s40538-025-00778-y","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143938456","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amr S. Abou El-Ela, Chao Zhang, Asim Munawar, Xuan Chen, Yixin Zhang, Eric Siaw Ntiri, Modhi O. Alotaibi, Amr Elkelish, Suhailah S. Aljameel, Wenwu Zhou, Zeng-Rong Zhu
{"title":"Physiological, biochemical and histological effects of abscisic acid-synthesized silver and copper oxide nanoparticles on the potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella","authors":"Amr S. Abou El-Ela, Chao Zhang, Asim Munawar, Xuan Chen, Yixin Zhang, Eric Siaw Ntiri, Modhi O. Alotaibi, Amr Elkelish, Suhailah S. Aljameel, Wenwu Zhou, Zeng-Rong Zhu","doi":"10.1186/s40538-025-00782-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40538-025-00782-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The potato tuber moth (PTM), <i>Phthorimaea operculella</i>, poses a significant threat to potato cultivation in tropical and subtropical regions. Chemical control, though widely used, poses risks to human and environmental health, necessitating safer alternatives. This study investigated eco-friendly alternatives by synthesizing silver (AgNPs) and copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) using abscisic acid (ABA).</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Characterization through UV–vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and zeta potential analysis confirmed the successful synthesis of AgNPs with a uniform size of 35.8 nm and a plasmon resonance at 430 nm. CuONPs displayed a porous, rugby sheet-like structure, with a thickness of 68.5 nm and a 290 nm absorption peak. The effectiveness of the nanoparticles against PTM larvae was assessed through larval spraying and leaf-dipping. Larval spraying outperformed leaf-dipping, with median lethal concentration (LC<sub>50</sub>) values of 670 mg/L for AgNPs and 1320 mg/L for CuONPs. AgNPs and CuONPs significantly altered digestive enzyme activities in treated PTM larvae, reducing α-amylase, β-glucosidase, lipase, protease, and trypsin, and increasing acid phosphatase activity. Histological studies revealed damage to the larvae's midgut epithelial layer and peritrophic membrane, resulting in nuclei dispersion.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Our study shows a cost-effective, minimal-impact strategy for synthesizing AgNPs and CuONPs, which can serve as a potential approach for managing PTM.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":512,"journal":{"name":"Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://chembioagro.springeropen.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s40538-025-00782-2","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143930046","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yuning An, Yuan Wang, Mu Qier, Wenwen Wang, Yanbin Wang, Yuquan Wang, Xiaoping An
{"title":"From agricultural waste to antioxidant treasure: valorization of Astragalus stems through high-pressure steam explosion-derived polysaccharides with dual ROS-scavenging and embryoprotective effects","authors":"Yuning An, Yuan Wang, Mu Qier, Wenwen Wang, Yanbin Wang, Yuquan Wang, Xiaoping An","doi":"10.1186/s40538-025-00775-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40538-025-00775-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><i>Astragalus</i>, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, has been widely utilized. However, its stems (AS) are often discarded as agricultural waste. High-pressure steam explosion (HPSE) is an effective technique for disrupting plant cell walls and releasing bioactive substances. In this study, a novel antioxidant crude polysaccharide (HPSEASCP) was developed from AS through HPSE pretreatment combined with water extraction, ethanol precipitation, and protein removal. The bioactive components, structural composition, and antioxidant properties of HPSEASCP were systematically evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. Results demonstrated that HPSE pretreatment significantly enhanced the antioxidant capacity of ASCP by reducing molecular weight, increasing uronic acid levels, and promoting the release of polysaccharide, bound polyphenols and flavonoids, thereby enriching its bioactive components. Importantly, these modifications preserved the core <i>β</i>-polysaccharide structure and functional groups. HPSEASCP exhibited significantly higher DPPH radical scavenging activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, and reducing power compared to ASCP. In vivo studies leveraging a zebrafish model revealed that 25 μg/mL HPSEASCP effectively improved embryo survival and hatching rates while alleviating AAPH-induced oxidative stress. Concretely, HPSEASCP reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, suppressed lipid peroxidation levels, and decreased cell death rates in embryos under oxidative stress conditions, thereby promoting healthy larval development. These findings highlight the remarkable antioxidant potential of HPSEASCP as a candidate for functional food or pharmaceutical applications while providing new insights into the valorization of AS agricultural waste.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":512,"journal":{"name":"Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://chembioagro.springeropen.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s40538-025-00775-1","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143908635","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Morphophysiological responses and gene regulation of two bermudagrass cultivars differing in response to drought stress","authors":"Jia Jiang, Along Chen, Jiayi Qi, Xiashun Liu, Qianhan Zhao, Chen Wang, Tiantian He, Xueling Zheng, Wenjing Deng, Jingbo Chen, Dandan Li, Fuchun Xie, Yajun Chen","doi":"10.1186/s40538-025-00773-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40538-025-00773-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Bermudagrass (<i>Cynodon dactylon</i>) is a widely used warm-season turfgrass worldwide. However, bermudagrass often faces the challenges from drought stress in practical application. Selection and breeding of drought-tolerant cultivars of bermudagrass is crucial for thriving in arid environments. In this study, we employed two different drought-tolerant bermudagrass cultivars ‘Yangjiang’ and ‘Guanzhong’ to assess the morphology, physiology and transcriptome under various drought stress conditions. The outcomes unveiled that drought-tolerant ‘Guanzhong’ exhibited superiority in morphology, light utilization efficiency, relative water content, antioxidant and osmotic regulation capabilities compared to drought-susceptible ‘Yangjiang’. In addition, transcriptome sequencing showed that photosynthesis, amino acid metabolism, peroxisome and plant hormone signal transduction pathways were the key metabolic pathways of bermudagrass in response to drought stress. Compared to the drought-sensitive cultivar ‘Yangjiang’, the drought-tolerant ‘Guanzhong’ exhibited lower expression of <i>AUX/IAA</i> genes (negative regulators of auxin signaling), which reduces their inhibitory effect on auxin response factors (<i>ARF</i>), thereby enhancing auxin signaling efficiency to coordinate adaptive growth. Additionally, compared with ‘Yangjiang’, the down-regulated protein phosphatases (<i>PP2C</i>) in ‘Guanzhong’ weaken their suppression of <i>SnRK2</i>, resulting in heightened ABA signaling sensitivity. In comparison to ‘Yangjiang’, ‘Guanzhong’ displayed a higher IAA concentration and a lower ABA concentration under stress conditions, thus ensuring a more efficient utilization of water by minimizing stomatal aperture and reducing water evaporation. The results suggested that regulation of morphology, physiological metabolism and genes expression could contribute to drought tolerance in bermudagrass.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":512,"journal":{"name":"Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://chembioagro.springeropen.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s40538-025-00773-3","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143883681","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mariangela Carlucci, Pompea Gabriella Lucchese, Cinzia Benincasa, Rosa Nicoletti, Andrea Pacifico, Enzo Perri, Franco Nigro
{"title":"Unveiling the occurrence and role of Methylobacterium endophytes in olive trees: insights into potential interactions with Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca","authors":"Mariangela Carlucci, Pompea Gabriella Lucchese, Cinzia Benincasa, Rosa Nicoletti, Andrea Pacifico, Enzo Perri, Franco Nigro","doi":"10.1186/s40538-025-00770-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40538-025-00770-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Olive quick decline syndrome (OQDS), caused by <i>Xylella fastidiosa</i> subsp. <i>pauca</i> (<i>Xfp</i>), is a destructive vascular disease affecting olive trees, particularly in Apulia, Southeastern Italy. Control measures rely on containment and replanting with resistant cultivars. Endophytic bacteria, including <i>Methylobacterium</i> spp., have shown potential in mitigating vascular diseases. These facultative methylotrophic bacteria inhabit xylem vessels and compete with pathogens like <i>Xfp</i> by producing siderophores that limit iron availability.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Analysis of endophytic bacterial populations in olive trees identified <i>Methylobacterium</i> spp. in both healthy and <i>Xfp</i>-infected plants, with variable isolation frequencies. Molecular identification based on 16S rDNA and <i>mxaF</i> gene sequences classified isolates as <i>M. radiotolerans</i> (70%) and <i>M. mesophilicum</i> (30%). Phylogenetic analysis showed limited genetic variation, clustering isolates with reference strains. In vitro experiments revealed that culture supernatants from <i>Methylobacterium</i> spp., grown in siderophore-inducing media, affected <i>Xfp</i> growth in a concentration-dependent manner. At low concentrations (up to 2%), supernatants stimulated <i>Xfp</i> growth, while higher concentrations (20% and 50%) inhibited growth. Selected strains of <i>M. radiotolerans</i> and <i>M. mesophilicum</i> were confirmed as siderophore producers through CAS blue agar tests and targeted LC–MS/MS analysis. LC–MS/MS identified ferrioxamine E and ferrichrome in all <i>Methylobacterium</i> strains, with the highest levels in <i>M. organophilum</i> and <i>M. aminovorans</i>. Deferoxamine was absent, whereas <i>Xfp</i> exhibited elevated production of ferrioxamine E, deferoxamine, and ferrichrome.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>This study underscores the biocontrol potential of <i>Methylobacterium</i> spp. against <i>Xfp</i>, suggesting an ability to compete with the pathogen through siderophore-mediated mechanisms. The dual effect of <i>Methylobacterium</i> supernatants—stimulatory at low concentrations and inhibitory at higher levels—highlights the complexity of plant–microbe–pathogen interactions. The production of ferrioxamine E and ferrichrome suggests a possible role in modulating iron availability in vivo, potentially reducing <i>Xfp</i>'s growth and virulence. These findings provide a basis for developing <i>Methylobacterium</i> spp. as sustainable biocontrol agents to manage <i>Xfp</i> in olive production systems.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":512,"journal":{"name":"Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://chembioagro.springeropen.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s40538-025-00770-6","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143877691","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tábata A. Bublitz, Heberto Rodas-Gaitan, Rainer Georg Joergensen, Vincent Masson, Juergen Fritz
{"title":"Microbial functional diversity indicators in vineyard soils under organic and biodynamic land management","authors":"Tábata A. Bublitz, Heberto Rodas-Gaitan, Rainer Georg Joergensen, Vincent Masson, Juergen Fritz","doi":"10.1186/s40538-025-00766-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40538-025-00766-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>An on-vineyard approach was used to investigate the effects of biodynamic (BD) preparations on microbial functional diversity and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in four vineyards on different bedrocks under organic management.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Soil organic carbon (SOC), total N, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), multi-substrate-induced respiration (MSIR), with 17 substrates and H<sub>2</sub>O, EPS, and glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) were measured in soils taken from vineyards without (BD -) and with (BD +) biodynamic preparations.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>All parameters showed a significant vineyard effect due to specific soil types, and all, except GRSP and the GRSP/EPS-prot, showed an effect of BD preparations. BD + resulted in significant increases in MBC, MBC/SOC, EPS-carbohydrates and respiratory response for most vineyards but a significant decrease in the <i>q</i>CO<sub>2</sub> values. The significant increases in mean SOC, Total N, CO<sub>2</sub>C, and the ratios EPS-carb/EPS-prot with BD +, as well as decreases in mean EPS-proteins and the ratios EPS-carb/MBC and EPS-prot/MBC were not reflected by significant differences between the individual vineyards. GRSP was negatively related to the microbial respiratory response of all substrates added.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The significant effects of vineyard are closely connected to soil pH and texture. The significant increases in BD +, visible in MBC, MBC/SOC and EPS-carbohydrates, and the latter positive correlation with the respiratory response demonstrates an improvement of soil chemical and biological properties for most vineyards. Lower ratios of EPS-carb/MBC, EPS-prot/MBC and amounts of EPS-protein indicate that soil microorganisms diverted less substrate to the formation of EPS and more to the production of microbial biomass. GRSP and GRSP/EPS-prot did not show any explainable pattern. Future investigations on soil structure might be of benefit for studies on the effect of BD preparations in vineyards.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":512,"journal":{"name":"Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://chembioagro.springeropen.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s40538-025-00766-2","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143865462","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}