Plants-Basel最新文献

{"title":"Fruit and Fruit-Derived Products of Selected Sambucus Plants as a Source of Phytosterols and Triterpenoids.","authors":"Otgonbileg Onolbaatar, Soyol Dashbaldan, Cezary Pączkowski, Anna Szakiel","doi":"10.3390/plants14101490","DOIUrl":"10.3390/plants14101490","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Plant-derived foods have gained recognition for their health-promoting values, which are largely attributed to bioactive compounds such as phytosterols and triterpenoids. This study aimed to analyze the content of these compounds in the fruit of black elder (elderberry) <i>Sambucus nigra</i> L. and in commercially available food products, including jam, juice, syrup and wine. An additional objective was to compare the phytosterol and triterpenoid profiles of fruits and fruit cuticular waxes from wild and cultivated elderberry (cultivar Haschberg), ornamental elderberry (<i>S. nigra</i> f. <i>porphyrophylla</i> cultivar Black lace \"Eva\"), and red elderberry (<i>S. racemosa</i>). Qualitative and quantitative determinations were performed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). This study provides a detailed characterization of triterpenoids in black and red elderberries, revealing a complex composition of oleanane-, 18-oleanane-, ursane-, lupane- and taraxastane-type compounds. Elderberry fruits were found to be rich sources of phytosterols (ranging from 0.54 mg/g d.w. in cultivated elderberry cv. Haschberg to 0.96 mg/g in ornamental elderberry) and triterpenoids (from 1.41 mg/g d.w. in <i>S. racemosa</i> to 13.81 mg/g in ornamental elderberry). Among the processed products, jam contained the highest concentration of these compounds (a total of 340 µg/g) and wine contained the lowest (0.87 µg/mL). Furthermore, the results suggest that certain features of the triterpenoid profile in <i>S. nigra</i> and <i>S. racemosa</i> may hold chemotaxonomic significance for the Sambucus genus.</p>","PeriodicalId":56267,"journal":{"name":"Plants-Basel","volume":"14 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12114898/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144163997","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification of a Specific Role of Dihydrozeatin in the Regulation of the Cell Differentiation Activity in <i>Arabidopsis</i> Roots.","authors":"Federico Vinciarelli, Mirko De Vivo, Alessio Terenzi, Francesca Cazzaniga, Samuele Amati, Pierpaolo Damato, Elena Salvi, Marta Del Bianco, Riccardo Di Mambro, Paolo Costantino, Sabrina Sabatini, Raffaele Dello Ioio","doi":"10.3390/plants14101501","DOIUrl":"10.3390/plants14101501","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The plant hormones cytokinins are a class of heterogeneous active compounds that control multiple aspects of development and physiology. Among cytokinins, trans-zeatin (<i>tZ</i>), the most abundant cytokinin, has been extensively studied in relation to its effects on development, and it plays a key role in promoting cell differentiation. In analogy with <i>tZ</i>, here we demonstrate that dihydrozeatin (DHZ) controls (root) development by promoting cell differentiation. By means of pharmacological and genetic analysis, we demonstrate that DHZ is specifically and uniquely perceived by the histidine kinase (HK) receptor AHK3, and that this interaction is sufficient to promote cell differentiation in the root meristem via activation of the transcription factors <i>ARABIDOPSIS</i> RESPONSE REGULATOR 1, 12, and 11. We also show that DHZ and <i>tZ</i> activity might be conserved among plants. Our results support the idea that different types of cytokinins act via specific receptors to exert their roles and suggest new approaches to study their activity in differentiation.</p>","PeriodicalId":56267,"journal":{"name":"Plants-Basel","volume":"14 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12114884/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144164153","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sugar and Free Amino Acid Contents in Winter Wheat Flour Under Fusarium Head Blight Treatment and Natural Infection.","authors":"Valentina Španić, Beka Sarić, Katarina Šunić Budimir, Jurica Duvnjak, Slađana Žilić","doi":"10.3390/plants14101504","DOIUrl":"10.3390/plants14101504","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fusarium head blight (FHB) is one of the most devastating diseases in wheat. Besides its negative impact on grain yield, FHB also negatively influences quality. Changes in sugar and free amino acid content were analyzed in flour from <i>Fusarium</i>-infected and non-infected grains of six wheat varieties differing in <i>Fusarium</i> resistance. The concentrations of sugars and free amino acids were determined using a high-performance liquid chromatography device. In flour from FHB-infected grains, the average total amount of fructose, glucose, maltose, total sugars, and total reducing sugars was significantly increased, compared to non-treated flour from the Tika Taka variety, which was the most FHB-susceptible. The total content of free amino acids in flour from FHB-infected varieties increased in proportion to their susceptibility. In Tika Taka, there was a significant increase in free amino acid content of about 46%, while a significant decrease of 16% was observed in the highly resistant Vulkan variety. A highly significant correlation was established between the degree of FHB susceptibility and the content of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glutamine and histidine, glycine, alanine, methionine, valine, tryptophan, phenylalanine, leucine, and threonine. Most amino acids had strong positive correlations with each other, but among the sugars, only fructose and glucose content showed a strong positive correlation with specific amino acids that were induced by <i>Fusarium</i> infection. Overall, it can be concluded that FHB-susceptible varieties have a high risk of FHB infection, which results in the hydrolysis of sucrose into fructose and glucose, together with an increase in free amino acids, which deteriorates the quality of wheat.</p>","PeriodicalId":56267,"journal":{"name":"Plants-Basel","volume":"14 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12114655/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144164209","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Distinctive Traits of European Mistletoe (<i>Viscum album</i> spp. <i>austriacum</i>) and Its Impact on Host Tree Wood (<i>Pinus sylvestris</i>).","authors":"Alicja Dołkin-Lewko, Esra Pulat, Roman Wójcik, Barbaros Yaman, Urszula Zajączkowska, Tomasz Oszako, Mirela Tulik","doi":"10.3390/plants14101489","DOIUrl":"10.3390/plants14101489","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>European mistletoe is a hemi-parasitic plant increasingly infesting forests in Central Europe, causing premature tree death, and is anticipated to expand its range due to global warming. This study aimed to describe the unique anatomical features of mistletoe and examine the morpho-anatomical response of pine trees to infestation. Anatomical analyses were conducted on mistletoe internodes and the branch wood of affected pines. The findings revealed that mistletoe infestation triggers callose deposition in the cell walls of pine tracheids, a defense mechanism that restricts water flow to the mistletoe. Unique structural features of mistletoe were also identified, including structural dimorphism with the inner system forming only vessels and parenchyma cells, in contrast to the outer system, composed of protective, ground, and conductive tissues, and which displays an uneven distribution of chlorophyll and starch grains along the plant axis. Additionally, starch and chlorophyll were present in the parenchyma cells of the haustorium. Starch presence there may potentially enable internal photosynthesis, and the compounds formed after starch hydrolysis may facilitate water uptake from the host's xylem sap. These results provide new insights into the anatomical adaptations of mistletoe and the defensive responses of pine trees, contributing to a deeper understanding of host-parasite interactions in forest ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":56267,"journal":{"name":"Plants-Basel","volume":"14 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12114866/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144164042","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phosphite Compounds Suppress Anthracnose in Soybean Seeds Infected by <i>Colletotrichum truncatum</i> and Stimulate Growth and Defense Mechanisms.","authors":"Manoel Batista da Silva Júnior, Mário Lúcio Vilela de Resende, Edson Ampélio Pozza, Alexandre Ribeiro Maia de Resende, Gustavo César Dias Silveira, Jayne Deboni da Veiga, Júlia Marques Oliveira, André Costa da Silva","doi":"10.3390/plants14101494","DOIUrl":"10.3390/plants14101494","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Soybean is one of the main agricultural commodities, and its productivity is limited by several diseases, such as anthracnose, which is caused by a complex of fungal species, with <i>Colletotrichum truncatum</i> being the most prevalent. Management is mainly carried out through chemical seed treatment. However, a reduction in the sensitivity of <i>C. truncatum</i> to fungicides was observed. Therefore, it is extremely important to search for products that are effective in controlling the disease. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of commercial formulations of copper, potassium, manganese, and zinc phosphites in the treatment of soybean seeds infected by <i>C. truncatum</i>, as well as their direct fungitoxicity and ability to induce soybean defense mechanisms. For this purpose, seeds inoculated with <i>C. truncatum</i> were subjected to phosphites and a fungicide (carbendazim + thiram). The seeds were exposed to germination, health, and vigor tests. Fungal toxicity and the ability of phosphites to induce defense through the activities of catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase enzymes, as well as the levels of lignin and total soluble phenols, were also evaluated. Mn and Zn phosphites showed direct toxicity to <i>C. truncatum</i> and were as effective as the fungicide (carbendazim + thiram) in treating soybean seeds infected by the fungus. Mn phosphite induced the production of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX) and lignin, while Zn phosphite increased the production of CAT and POX. These results demonstrate the efficacy of Mn and Zn phosphites in controlling <i>C. truncatum</i> in infected soybean seeds, their direct toxic action, and their ability to induce resistance.</p>","PeriodicalId":56267,"journal":{"name":"Plants-Basel","volume":"14 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12115083/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144164229","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Study on the Photosynthetic Physiological Responses of Greenhouse Young Chinese Cabbage (<i>Brassica rapa</i> L. <i>Chinensis Group</i>) Affected by Particulate Matter Based on Hyperspectral Analysis.","authors":"Lijuan Kong, Siyao Gao, Jianlei Qiao, Lina Zhou, Shuang Liu, Yue Yu, Haiye Yu","doi":"10.3390/plants14101479","DOIUrl":"10.3390/plants14101479","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Particulate matter affects both the light environment and air quality in greenhouses, obstructing normal gas exchange and hindering efficient physiological activities such as photosynthesis. This study focused on young Chinese cabbage (<i>Brassica rapa</i> L. <i>Chinensis Group</i>) in a greenhouse at harvest time, monitoring and comparing hyperspectral information, net photosynthetic rate, and microscopic leaf structure under two conditions: a quantitative artificial particulate matter environment and a healthy environment. Based on microscopic results combined with spectral responses and changes in photosynthetic physiological information, it is believed that particulate matter enters plant cells through stomata. Through retention and transport pathways, it disrupts the membrane structure, organelles, and other components of plant cells, resulting in adverse effects on the plant's physiological functions. The study analyzed the mechanisms by which particulate matter influences the photosynthesis, spectral characteristics, and physiological responses of young Chinese cabbage. Physiological Reflectance Index (PRI), Modified Chlorophyll Absorption Ratio Index (MCARI), spectral red-edge position (λr), and spectral sensitive bands were used as spectral feature variables. Through cubic polynomial and 24 combinations of spectral preprocessing and modeling methods, an inversion model of spectral features and net photosynthetic rate was established. The optimal combination of spectral preprocessing and modeling methods was finally selected as SG + SD + PLS + MSC, which consists of Savitzky-Golay smooth (SG), second derivative (SD), partial least squares (PLS), and multiplicative scatter correction (MSC). The coefficient of determination (R²) of the model is 0.9513. The results indicate that particulate matter affects plant photosynthesis. The SG + SD + PLS + MSC combination method is relatively advantageous for processing the photosynthetic spectral physiological information of plants under the influence of particulate matter. The results of this study will deepen the understanding of the mechanisms by which particulate matter affects plants and provide a reference for the physiological information inversion of greenhouse vegetables under particulate matter pollution.</p>","PeriodicalId":56267,"journal":{"name":"Plants-Basel","volume":"14 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12115036/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144164122","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Emergent Plants Improve Nitrogen Uptake Rates by Regulating the Activity of Nitrogen Assimilation Enzymes.","authors":"Yu Hong, Ruliang Liu, Wenhua Xiang, Pifeng Lei, Xi Fang","doi":"10.3390/plants14101484","DOIUrl":"10.3390/plants14101484","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Effectively utilizing aquatic plants to absorb nitrogen from water bodies and convert it into organic nitrogen via nitrogen assimilation enzyme activity reduces water nitrogen concentrations. This serves as a critical strategy for mitigating agricultural non-point source pollution in the Yellow River Basin However, emergent plants' rate and mechanism of uptake of different forms of nitrogen remain unclear. This study determined the nitrogen uptake rates, nitrogen assimilation activities, root properties, and photosynthetic parameters of four emergent plants, &lt;i&gt;Phragmites australis&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;Typha orientalis&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;Scirpus validus&lt;/i&gt;, and &lt;i&gt;Lythrum salicaria&lt;/i&gt;, under five NH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;/NO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;-&lt;/sup&gt; ratios (9:1, 7:3, 5:5, 3:7, and 1:9) using &lt;sup&gt;15&lt;/sup&gt;N hydroponic simulations. The results demonstrated that both the form of nitrogen and the plant species significantly influenced the nitrogen uptake rates of emergent plants. In water bodies with varying NH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;/NO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;-&lt;/sup&gt; ratios, &lt;i&gt;P. australis&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;T. orientalis&lt;/i&gt; exhibited significantly higher inorganic nitrogen uptake rates than &lt;i&gt;S. validus&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;L. salicaria&lt;/i&gt;, increasing by 11.83-114.69% and 14.07-130.46%, respectively. When the ratio of NH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;/NO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;-&lt;/sup&gt; in the water body was 9:1, the uptake rate of inorganic nitrogen by &lt;i&gt;P. australis&lt;/i&gt; reached its peak, which was 729.20 μg·N·g&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;·h&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; DW (Dry Weight). When the ratio of NH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;/NO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;-&lt;/sup&gt; was 5:5, the uptake rate of &lt;i&gt;T. orientalis&lt;/i&gt; was the highest, reaching 763.71 μg·N·g&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;·h&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; DW. The plants' preferences for different forms of nitrogen exhibited significant environmental plasticity. At an NH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;/NO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;-&lt;/sup&gt; ratio of 5:5, &lt;i&gt;P. australis&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;T. orientalis&lt;/i&gt; preferred NO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;-&lt;/sup&gt;-N, whereas &lt;i&gt;S. validus&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;L. salicaria&lt;/i&gt; favored NH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;-N. The uptake rate of NH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;-N by the four plants was significantly positively correlated with glutamine synthetase and glutamate synthase activities, while the uptake rate of NO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;-&lt;/sup&gt;-N was significantly positively correlated with NR activity. These findings indicate that the nitrogen uptake and assimilation processes of these four plant species involve synergistic mechanisms of environmental adaptation and physiological regulation, enabling more effective utilization of different nitrogen forms in water. Additionally, the uptake rate of NH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;-N by &lt;i&gt;P. australis&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;T. orientalis&lt;/i&gt; was significantly positively correlated with glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), suggesting that they are better adapted to eutrophication via the GDH pathway. The specific root surface area plays a crucial role in regulating the nitrogen uptake rates of plants. The amount ","PeriodicalId":56267,"journal":{"name":"Plants-Basel","volume":"14 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12114743/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144163714","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Comprehensive Review of Deep Learning Applications in Cotton Industry: From Field Monitoring to Smart Processing.","authors":"Zhi-Yu Yang, Wan-Ke Xia, Hao-Qi Chu, Wen-Hao Su, Rui-Feng Wang, Haihua Wang","doi":"10.3390/plants14101481","DOIUrl":"10.3390/plants14101481","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cotton is a vital economic crop in global agriculture and the textile industry, contributing significantly to food security, industrial competitiveness, and sustainable development. Traditional technologies such as spectral imaging and machine learning improved cotton cultivation and processing, yet their performance often falls short in complex agricultural environments. Deep learning (DL), with its superior capabilities in data analysis, pattern recognition, and autonomous decision-making, offers transformative potential across the cotton value chain. This review highlights DL applications in seed quality assessment, pest and disease detection, intelligent irrigation, autonomous harvesting, and fiber classification et al. DL enhances accuracy, efficiency, and adaptability, promoting the modernization of cotton production and precision agriculture. However, challenges remain, including limited model generalization, high computational demands, environmental adaptability issues, and costly data annotation. Future research should prioritize lightweight, robust models, standardized multi-source datasets, and real-time performance optimization. Integrating multi-modal data-such as remote sensing, weather, and soil information-can further boost decision-making. Addressing these challenges will enable DL to play a central role in driving intelligent, automated, and sustainable transformation in the cotton industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":56267,"journal":{"name":"Plants-Basel","volume":"14 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12115130/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144162740","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mitigating Drought Stress in Maize: Synergistic Effects of Zinc Sulfate and <i>Pseudomonas</i> spp. on Physiological and Biochemical Responses.","authors":"Fahimeh Khaledi, Hamidreza Balouchi, Mohsen Movahhedi Dehnavi, Amin Salehi, Beata Dedicova","doi":"10.3390/plants14101483","DOIUrl":"10.3390/plants14101483","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to evaluate the synergistic effects of zinc sulfate and <i>Pseudomonas</i> spp. in terms of mitigating drought stress in maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) by analyzing physiological, biochemical, and morphological responses under field conditions. A two-year (2018-2019) field experiment investigated two irrigation levels (optimal and moderate stress) and twelve treatment combinations of zinc sulfate application methods (without fertilizer, soil, foliar, and seed priming) with zinc-solubilizing bacteria (no bacteria, <i>Pseudomonas fluorescens</i>, and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>). Drought stress significantly reduced chlorophyll content, increased oxidative damage, and impaired membrane stability, leading to a 42.4% increase in electrolyte leakage and a 10.9% reduction in leaf area index. However, the combined application of zinc sulfate and <i>P. fluorescens</i>, and <i>P. aeruginosa</i> mitigated these effects, with seed priming showing the most significant improvements. Specifically, seed priming with zinc sulfate and <i>P. fluorescens</i> increased catalase activity by 76% under non-stress conditions and 24% under drought stress. Principal component analysis revealed that treatments combining zinc sulfate and <i>P. fluorescens</i>, and <i>P. aeruginosa</i> were strongly associated with improved chlorophyll content, carotenoid content, and grain yield while also enhancing osmotic adjustment and antioxidant enzyme activity. These findings highlight the potential of the use of zinc sulfate and <i>P. fluorescens</i> as well as <i>P. aeruginosa</i> as sustainable strategies for enhancing maize drought tolerance, mainly through seed priming and soil application methods.</p>","PeriodicalId":56267,"journal":{"name":"Plants-Basel","volume":"14 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12114627/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144164073","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Drought-Driven Divergence in Photosynthetic Performance Between Two <i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i> Provenances: Insights from Gas Exchange and Chlorophyll Fluorescence Dynamics.","authors":"Xiaofei Gong, Ziyun Wan, Peng Jin, Songheng Jin, Xueqin Li","doi":"10.3390/plants14101487","DOIUrl":"10.3390/plants14101487","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i>, contributing 25% to China's commercial timber production, faces severe drought threats. However, provenance-specific photosynthetic adaptations remain poorly understood. Here, we compared gas exchange, prompt/delayed fluorescence (PF/DF), and modulated 820-nm reflection (MR) responses of two provenances (JXJJ and FJSM) under different drought treatment times. JXJJ maintained a higher net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and stomatal conductance (Gs) than FJSM under drought stress. The declining rates of F_V/F_M, φE_O, Ψ_O, δR_O, PI_ABS, TR_O/CS_M, and ET_O/CS_M were much more rapid in the FJSM than in the JXJJ. An MR kinetics analysis revealed significantly greater PSI impairment in FJSM, evidenced by a 60.2% reduction in P700⁺ re-reduction rate (V_red) compared to only 44.4% in JXJJ (<i>p</i> < 0.05) at 20 d drought treatment. Similarly, DF measurements demonstrated more pronounced PSII energy transfer disruption in FJSM, with the I₂/I₁ ratio increasing by 51.3% vs. 43.0% in JXJJ at 20 d drought treatment. These results demonstrate JXJJ's superior drought resilience through coordinated stomatal and non-stomatal regulation. Our findings provide actionable criteria for selecting drought-tolerant <i>C. lanceolata</i> provenances, which is essential for sustainable forestry as the climate changes. This study underscores the significance of photosynthetic activity in how <i>C. lanceolata</i> responds to drought and gives insights into boosting drought tolerance in forest species through genetic improvements.</p>","PeriodicalId":56267,"journal":{"name":"Plants-Basel","volume":"14 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12115317/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144164136","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}