BMC Plant Biology最新文献

{"title":"Region-specific carbon metabolism underlies floridean starch accumulation in rhizoid-like filament cells of Pyropia yezoensis.","authors":"Chengzhen Meng, Hongye Xin, Ka Bian, Wenlong Hu, Xinyu Zhu, Xianghai Tang, Yunxiang Mao","doi":"10.1186/s12870-026-09745-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12870-026-09745-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pyropia yezoensis thalli exhibit pronounced cellular differentiation throughout their growth and development. In particular, basal rhizoid-like filament cells (R-region cells) differ significantly from other thallus cells in cell morphology, photosynthetic physiology and carbon metabolism. Previous studies have shown that abundant floridean starch granules accumulate in R-region cells, whereas only few floridean starch granules are present in neighbouring vegetative cells (V-region cells). However, the specific mechanism underlying floridean starch accumulation in R-region cells remains unclear.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In this study, basal cells of the P. yezoensis thallus were first divided, according to cell morphology, structural features and functional differences, into lower R-region cells and upper V-region cells. Anthrone colorimetric quantification, iodine staining and transmission electron microscopy collectively confirmed that floridean starch content was significantly higher in basal R-region cells than in upper V-region cells. By combining physiological measurements with integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, we further provided mechanistic insights into floridean starch accumulation in R-region cells. First, compared with V-region cells, R-region cells showed a significantly lower growth rate and globally reduced energy metabolic activity, features that are consistent with reduced carbon consumption and may contribute to the net accumulation of floridean starch. Second, on this basis, R-region cells promoted the directed allocation of carbon skeletons towards starch biosynthesis through enhanced expression of UGP (UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase) genes and increased UGPase activity, thereby increasing UDP-glucose availability for floridean starch synthesis, while downregulating the expression of genes encoding starch-degradation-related enzymes. These coordinated changes promoted starch synthesis and suppressed starch degradation, jointly contributing to the efficient accumulation of floridean starch in R-region cells.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Based on the cellular differentiation characteristics of the P. yezoensis thallus, this study compares cells from distinct thallus regions and provides integrated physiological, biochemical, transcriptomic and metabolomic evidence that region-specific carbon metabolism is associated with floridean starch accumulation in R-region cells. These findings not only provide a theoretical basis for understanding thallus cell differentiation and carbon metabolism in P. yezoensis, but also advance our understanding of how differentiated cells in red algal thalli coordinate regional function with carbon storage.</p>","PeriodicalId":9198,"journal":{"name":"BMC Plant Biology","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13560127/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148918304","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":"Bioherbicidal activity and putative mode of action of Dittrichia graveolens against Amaranthus palmeri and A. retroflexus.","authors":"Mesut Sırrı, Ahlam Khalofah, Yunus Başar, Mustafa Abdullah Yılmaz, Shahid Farooq","doi":"10.1186/s12870-026-09743-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12870-026-09743-9","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Challenges in controlling Amaranthus weeds and rising cases of herbicide resistance necessitate the development of alternative weed control strategies. Plant-derived extracts may serve as valuable sources of phytotoxic chemicals. Nevertheless, their species-specific effects on germination and early seedling development require investigation. This study evaluated the allelopathic activity of aqueous extracts of Dittrichia graveolens on Amaranthus palmeri and A. retroflexus.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;Aqueous extracts of D. graveolens were evaluated against A. palmeri and A. retroflexus under controlled laboratory conditions using a concentration gradient of 0, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100%. The final germination, root and shoot lengths, inhibition in germination and growth, and germination timing indices were analyzed. Species-specific dose-response models were used to estimate IC&lt;sub&gt;50&lt;/sub&gt; and IC&lt;sub&gt;90&lt;/sub&gt; values, and comparative statistical analyses were conducted to assess interspecific variations in sensitivity. LC-MS/MS profiling was used to determine the phytochemical makeup of the extract. Molecular docking was conducted to predict potential interactions between the identified compounds and selected germination-related enzymes.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;The LC-MS/MS profiling indicated a phenolic-rich extract, with quinic acid as the major chemical component (23.472 mg g⁻¹ extract), followed by fumaric acid (0.577 mg g⁻¹), salicylic acid (0.254 mg g⁻¹), protocatechuic acid (0.238 mg g⁻¹), and piceid (0.176 mg g⁻¹). The aqueous extract induced a significant dose-dependent suppression of germination and seedling development in both weed species. Higher final germination values were recorded under control and 6.25% extract treatments, decreased to 72% at 12.5%, and further reduced to 44-46% at 25%. Nevertheless, extract doses of 50% and 100% completely inhibited germination (&lt; 5%). Root development exhibited significant sensitivity. Root inhibition reached 87.6% in A. retroflexus, compared with 56.0% in A. palmeri at a 25% extract concentration. A comparative dose-response analysis indicated that A. retroflexus was more sensitive than A. palmeri, as shown by lower IC&lt;sub&gt;50&lt;/sub&gt; values for germination inhibition (16.4% compared to 20.8%), root inhibition (11.4% vs. 20.5%), and shoot inhibition (13.1% relative to 27.8%). Germination timing indices indicated that higher extract concentrations decreased germination speed, delayed mean germination time, and altered germination synchrony. Molecular docking predicted comparatively favorable binding energies between selected flavonoids and evaluated germination-related enzymes. Luteolin and apigenin showed the most favorable predicted binding energies for phytase, whereas amentoflavone showed favorable predicted binding energies for catechol oxidase and β-glucanase.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/strong&gt;The aqueous extract of D. graveolens exhibited conce","PeriodicalId":9198,"journal":{"name":"BMC Plant Biology","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13579893/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148975766","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":"Chromosome-scale genome assembly of Artabotrys hexapetalus provides insights into its evolution and terpenoid biosynthesis.","authors":"Zhen-Jia Cui, Dan Ye, Yun-Bao Liu, Ping Zhu, Shi-Shan Yu","doi":"10.1186/s12870-025-07645-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12870-025-07645-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Artabotrys hexapetalus is used as traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of malaria. Its antimalarial activity has been shown to be the result of the sesquiterpene designated as yingzhaosu A (YZSA), which mainly occurs in the roots of A. hexapetalus. Despite its medicinal significance, the genetic basis and molecular mechanisms underlying the biosynthesis of its active terpenoids remain unclear. In this study, a high-quality chromosome-scale genome of A. hexapetalus was first reported. In total, 915.15 Mb of genome sequences were assembled, of which 911.58 Mb was sorted into 8 chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the divergence between the genera Artabotrys and Annona happened at approximately 45.77 million years ago (Mya) and the Annonaceae family diverged from other Magnolia species about 103.58 Mya. An ancient whole genome duplication (WGD) event was discovered in the A. hexapetalus genome, earlier than the divergence between Annonaceae and Magnoliaceae families. It correlates with a significant expansion of gene families related to secondary metabolism, especially the terpene synthase (TPS) and cytochrome P450 (P450) families. The analysis of TPS, P450, and 2-oxoglutarate/Fe(II)-dependent dioxygenase (2-ODD) gene families provides a foundation for future functional studies. Additionally, three putative terpene biosynthetic gene clusters were identified within the genome. Our work provides a foundation for elucidating the complete biosynthetic pathway of terpenoids in A. hexapetalus in the future.</p>","PeriodicalId":9198,"journal":{"name":"BMC Plant Biology","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13471500/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148720573","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":"Combined application of bacterial biofertilizers, seaweed, and Thymbra spicata extract enhanced productivity, nutritional value, and postharvest shelf life of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.).","authors":"Bahareh Karami, Majid Bagnazari, Meisam Mohammadi, Afsaneh Azizi","doi":"10.1186/s12870-026-09735-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12870-026-09735-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Environmentally friendly biostimulants and biofertilizers have emerged as promising alternatives to synthetic agricultural inputs for improving crop productivity, fruit quality, and postharvest longevity. This study investigated the effects of Thymbra spicata L. extract at 0% (E0), 10% (TE1), and 20% (TE2), applied individually or in combination with seaweed biofertilizer (1%) (SB) and bacterial biofertilizer (10%) (BB), on the growth, yield, physiological responses, and postharvest characteristics of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. var. eureka) under field conditions. The experiment was conducted as a factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results showed that the combined application of TE1 + SB + BB was the most effective treatment with respect to yield, vitamin C content, antioxidant activity, and postharvest longevity. Compared with the untreated control, this treatment increased fruit number by 29.32%, total yield by 43.23%, fruit firmness by 22.34%, vitamin C content by 33.25%, antioxidant activity by 72.93%, and shelf life by 121.67%, while reducing fruit weight loss by 45.67%. Although several other treatments improved specific physiological and biochemical traits, TE1 + SB + BB provided the greatest benefits for the major yield- and postharvest-related attributes evaluated in this study. These findings indicated that integrating 10% T. spicata extract with seaweed and bacterial biofertilizers enhanced cucumber yield, antioxidant capacity, and postharvest longevity, and could represent an effective and sustainable approach for cucumber production.</p>","PeriodicalId":9198,"journal":{"name":"BMC Plant Biology","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13670490/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149179257","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":"Mechanistic insights into organic acid-mediated mitigation of nickel toxicity in maize (Zea mays L.) grown on mining-impacted soils.","authors":"Arwa Abdulkreem Al-Huqail, Waqas Haider, Mujahid Farid, Qudrat Ullah, Tarek Salem Abdennaji, Suliman Mohammed Suliman Alghanem, Haifa Abdul Sakit Alhaithloul, Mohammed S Alotaibi","doi":"10.1186/s12870-026-09732-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12870-026-09732-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The effects of oxalic acid, citric acid, and acetic acid (2.5 and 5 mmol) on nickel toxicity in maize (Zea mays L.) grown in nickel-contaminated soil from industrial and mining-affected sites were investigated in a pot experiment under controlled greenhouse conditions. While organic acids are commonly used as chelators to enhance metal uptake in phytoextraction strategies, this study demonstrates a contrasting mechanism: they reduced nickel bioavailability and uptake in maize, a non-hyperaccumulator crop, thereby promoting phytostabilization rather than phytoextraction. This distinction is important because it highlights the context-dependent role of organic acids and supports their safe application for crop production on moderately contaminated soils.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>High-dose oxalic acid (5 mmol) produced the strongest effects, significantly increasing growth parameters (shoot height + 43.7%, total biomass + 40%), with leaf area increasing 2.7-fold. Photosynthetic function was largely restored (photosynthetic rate + 78.8%, stomatal conductance + 79.6%), oxidative stress markers declined substantially (malondialdehyde - 56.5%, hydrogen peroxide - 51.4%), and antioxidant enzyme activities were enhanced (particularly ascorbate peroxidase + 82.8%). Shoot nickel accumulation decreased by 53.2% and the translocation factor by 30.2%, accompanied by reduced soil bioavailable nickel (- 27.9%) and pH, together with marked increases in available phosphorus (+ 99.6%) and microbial biomass carbon (+ 54.2%). Multivariate analyses (principal component analysis explaining 95.3% of total variation) confirmed strong positive associations among growth traits, antioxidant capacity, and improved soil quality under organic acid treatments.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings indicate that oxalic acid is a sustainable and cost-effective amendment for mitigating nickel toxicity in mining-impacted agroecosystems through rhizosphere chelation, pH modulation, reduced metal bioavailability, and enhanced antioxidant defense, thereby supporting both crop productivity and long-term soil remediation.</p>","PeriodicalId":9198,"journal":{"name":"BMC Plant Biology","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13536844/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148872969","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":"Taxonomic delineation of four Zygophyllum simplex L. (Zygophyllaceae) morphotypes using morphoanatomical, molecular (SCoT) and chemotaxonomic evidence.","authors":"Faiza A Shehata, Marwa M El-Demerdash, Heba H Elsehely, Khalil M Saad-Allah, Dina Gad","doi":"10.1186/s12870-026-09588-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12870-026-09588-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study presents a comprehensive taxonomic adjustment of Zygophyllum simplex (L.) four constituent varieties in Egypt, integrating morphological, anatomical, palynological, molecular, and phytochemical analyses to evaluate their infraspecific differentiation. Samples were collected from the eastern part of Egypt and subjected to detailed morphological, anatomical, and palynological analyses with SCoT molecular genotyping and HPLC phytochemical profiling.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Four distinct morphological groups (informally designated as \"cylindrica\", \"retusa\", \"orbicularis\", and \"lanceolata\") were distinguished by significant differences in growth habit, leaf and stem anatomy, floral morphology, and fruit architecture. SCoT molecular marker analysis revealed a genetic similarity range of 0.825-0.881, with phylogenetic clustering strongly compatible with the morpho-anatomical groupings. HPLC profiling further identified group-specific accumulation patterns of key phenolic and flavonoid compounds, such as chlorogenic acid and catechin. While palynological analysis showed limited diagnostic value, the collective data from multiple disciplines provide robust evidence for the recognition of these four distinct morphotypes.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Morphological, anatomical, and fruit architectural traits, together with group-specific phytochemical profiles and SCoT molecular markers, provided robust evidence for the differentiation of four distinct morphotypes within the Z. simplex complex. However, given the moderate resolution of SCoT markers (37.77% polymorphism), formal varietal status is not proposed at this stage. We recommend that future studies employ higher-resolution molecular approaches, such as single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis and DNA barcoding, to validate whether these morphotypes represent genetically distinct and reproductively coherent varieties. Pending such validation, these taxa should be treated as morphotypes, thereby establishing a preliminary integrative framework for their identification.</p>","PeriodicalId":9198,"journal":{"name":"BMC Plant Biology","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13459657/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148711334","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":"Contrasting effects of mineral, farmyard manure, and integrated fertilization on soybean productivity, seed quality, and soil biochemical properties.","authors":"Emrah Ramazanoglu, Vedat Beyyavas, Suat Cun, Zehra Bozdag Karakeci, Songül Akdag, Zemzem Firat, Cevher İlhan Cevheri, Erdal Sakin, Ahmet Çelik","doi":"10.1186/s12870-026-09690-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12870-026-09690-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mineral and organic fertilizers differ in nutrient-release patterns and effects on soil biological processes, yet their combined influence on soybean productivity, seed composition, and soil biochemical functioning remains unclear. This study evaluated soybean and soil responses to mineral, farmyard manure (FYM), and combined fertilization over two growing seasons. A two-year field experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Eight fertilizer treatments, i.e., unfertilized control, triple superphosphate, 20-20 (20% N and 20% P₂O₅), 20-20 + urea, FYM + urea, and FYM at 40, 80, or 120 t ha⁻¹ were included in the study. Agronomic traits, chlorophyll index (SPAD), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), seed protein and oil contents, 100-seed weight, seed yield, soil enzyme activities, and soil NH₄⁺-N and NO₃⁻-N were recorded. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models, and Tukey-adjusted pairwise comparisons were used to compare means. Fertilizer treatment significantly affected all plant and soil variables. The 20-20 + urea treatment produced the highest number of pods and nodes plant^- 1 and the highest urease activity. FYM + urea and FYM at 80 t ha⁻¹ produced the highest seed yields, followed by FYM at 120 t ha⁻¹. Likewise, FYM + urea produced the highest seed protein content, whereas TSP, 20-20, and FYM-only treatments generally favored seed oil content. FYM at 40-120 t ha⁻¹ increased catalase activity, and FYM at 120 t ha⁻¹ produced the highest dehydrogenase activity and soil NO₃⁻-N concentration. Yield was strongly associated with 100-seed weight and dehydrogenase activity (r = 0.83 for both), SPAD (r = 0.78), and catalase activity (r = 0.73), whereas seed protein and oil contents were negatively correlated (r = - 0.87). PCA associated FYM at 80-120 t ha⁻¹ with yield, seed weight, mineral N, and soil enzyme activity, whereas FYM + urea and 20-20 + urea were more closely related to vegetative growth, NDVI, pod production, and seed protein content. The fertilizer treatments exhibited different responses among the measured plant and soil variables. FYM + urea and the higher FYM rates resulted in high soybean yield, greater seed weight, improved canopy performance, and enhanced soil biological activity, whereas 20-20 + urea mainly favored reproductive traits, urease activity, and soil NH₄⁺-N. Thus, integrated and organic nutrient inputs can improve both productivity and short-term soil biochemical functioning, but the responses should be interpreted as treatment-package effects, as the nutrient inputs were not equivalent.</p>","PeriodicalId":9198,"journal":{"name":"BMC Plant Biology","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13520155/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148839143","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":"Phytochemical mediated green synthesis of molybdenum-based nanoparticles for enhancing seedling vigour and early establishment of greengram (Vigna radiata L.).","authors":"Ritu Dwivedi, Jayadeva H M, Somashekarappa P R, Kadalli G G, Benherlal P S, Surabhi, Shreedevi Jinnur, Amina M, Somashekar K S, Pruthviraj N, Shruthi D L, Manoj K N, Adarsha T S","doi":"10.1186/s12870-026-09691-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12870-026-09691-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Sustainable micronutrient management is vital for early crop establishment in legumes, as conventional molybdenum fertilizers often exhibit low bioavailability during early growth stages. In legumes, molybdenum plays an important role in nitrogen fixation and root nodule functioning through nitrogenase and nitrate reductase enzymes. Therefore, phytochemical-mediated molybdenum-based nanoparticles were synthesized and evaluated as a seed treatment for improving seedling vigour and early establishment of greengram (Vigna radiata L.) during 2024-2025 at the Department of Agronomy, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru, India.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The research examined how the phytochemical composition involved in the green synthesis of molybdenum-based nanoparticles influences seedling vigour responses in greengram (Vigna radiata L.). Molybdenum-based nanoparticles were synthesized using aqueous extracts of six plant species (Azadirachta indica, Centella asiatica, Citrus limetta, Psidium guajava, Simarouba glauca and Vitex negundo) with ammonium heptamolybdate as the precursor. Differences in phenolic and flavonoid content among extracts influenced nanoparticle formation, which was characterized using UV-Visible spectroscopy, particle size analysis, SEM, EDX and FTIR. A marked reduction in phenolic and flavonoid contents after synthesis confirmed the direct involvement of phytochemicals in nanoparticle reduction and stabilization. Among the tested extracts, Vitex negundo produced comparatively smaller and more uniform nanoparticles, with a Z-average particle size of 17.13 nm and a dominant size distribution peak accounting for 79.5% intensity, and was therefore selected for biological evaluation. Seed priming with green synthesized molybdenum-based nanoparticles resulted in clear improvements in seedling growth parameters without affecting germination percentage. The highest shoot length (18.84 cm), root length (16.49 cm) and seedling vigour index (3533) were recorded when seeds were primed at 200 ppm for 30 min, representing a substantial increase over hydro-primed control seedlings. Lower concentrations produced moderate improvements, whereas concentrations above 200 ppm caused a decline in shoot and root growth, indicating a narrow optimal dose range and phytotoxicity at higher concentrations.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings demonstrate that plant-based phytochemicals strongly influence the green synthesis of molybdenum-based nanoparticles and its performance and that optimized molybdenum-based nanoparticles priming can significantly enhance early seedling vigour, offering a sustainable strategy for improving early crop establishment in legume-based agroecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":9198,"journal":{"name":"BMC Plant Biology","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13613622/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149058303","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":"Salinity stress and drought stress differentially affect biomass allocation, leaf orientation and performance of two sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) cultivars.","authors":"Taha Mohamed El-Katony, Nemat Mohamed Hassan, Samia Helmy Abo-Ismael, Shaimaa Nassim Abdelfatah","doi":"10.1186/s12870-026-09646-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12870-026-09646-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Drought and salinity stresses are major and interrelated threats to crop productivity in arid lands. Understanding the mechanisms of tolerance to salinity and drought stresses is critical for selection of productive crop cultivars.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This work investigates the differential impact of salinity and drought stresses on growth and performance of Sohag 1 (Sohg) and Shandaweel 3 (Shnd) cultivars of sesame at the same water potential (0, -100, -250 and - 450 kPa) and nutrient supply in a hydroponic sand culture. Plant response to stress was evaluated in terms of growth and biomass fractionation, leaf orientation and gas exchange as well as the contents and fractionation of leaf photosynthetic pigments and carbohydrates.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The horizontal leaf orientation of Shnd was marginally affected by stress; meanwhile, the vertical leaves of Sohg became more vertical under salinity stress but less vertical under drought stress. Foliage of the two sesame cultivars was more tolerant to salt stress than to drought stress, with better tolerance of Shnd than Sohg. This was evident from the progressive drought-induced inhibition of foliage growth versus a mild retardation or even benefit by low salinity, along with slightly less severe effect of high salinity. Salinity targeted particularly root growth with favored biomass allocation to the foliage. By contrast, the enhancement of root growth and retardation of foliage growth under drought implies favored biomass allocation to root. Salinity reduced leaf pigment content in the two cultivars, particularly Sohg but drought either increased it or was without effect. Stress, post a threshold of -100 kPa, reduced stomatal conductance, the rates of photosynthesis and transpiration and water use efficiency, with stronger impact of salinity than drought. The lowering in leaf carbohydrate content was more aggressive under salinity than under drought, and was associated with increasing proportion of pectin at the expense of starch but variable changes in soluble sugars.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Salinity and drought stresses, at equivalent water potentials, differentially affect sesame growth, gas exchange, leaf orientation, photosynthetic pigments and carbohydrate fractions in a genotype-dependent pattern. Among the two investigated sesame cultivars, Shnd seems more stress-tolerant than Sohg. The present findings, obtained from a hydroponic sand culture under partially protected conditions, needs further evaluation under field conditions employing wider collection of genotypes.</p>","PeriodicalId":9198,"journal":{"name":"BMC Plant Biology","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13452122/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148697000","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":"Characterization, evolution, and expression profiling of cotton DUF677 protein family and their potential role in drought and salt stress response.","authors":"Isah Mansur Aminu, Zeeshan Ahmad, Jingwen Pan, Yan Li, Wei Chen, Jinbo Yao, Shengtao Fang, Khadija Kamaluddeen Faruk, Ali Ahmad, Washu Dev, Shouhong Zhu, Yongshan Zhang","doi":"10.1186/s12870-026-08413-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-026-08413-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The membrane-bound proteins belonging to DUF677 (domain of unknown function 677) are found mainly in green plants. The function of the DUF677 gene (AT14A) has been investigated in Arabidopsis and tomato in relation to drought stress tolerance. Overexpression of AT14A improves drought tolerance in tomato, promotes growth in Arabidopsis during drought stress, and confers tolerance against oxidative damage caused by drought stress in suspension-cultured A. thaliana. However, the role of the DUF677 gene family has not yet been reported in cotton.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified 148 DUF677 genes from 15 selected plant species using domain-based and homology-supported bioinformatics approaches and classified them into two major groups (I and II) based on phylogenetic analysis. Group I is further divided into two sub-groups (IA and IB). Structural analysis revealed the presence of a few introns in the DUF677 genes. The evolution and expansion of the DUF677 protein family were primarily driven by segmental duplication. Seventy-one miRNAs were predicted to target 29 GhDUF677 genes, including Ghi-MIR397, Ghi-MIR8722, and Ghi-MIRN1429. Several cis-elements, such as MBS, ABRE, TCA elements, and W-Box, which were known to play a role in abiotic stress response, were observed in the promoter region of GhDUF677 genes. RNA-seq data were analyzed for tissue-specific expression, and qRT‒PCR was performed on six selected genes. The outcomes revealed high levels of GhDUF677 gene expression across different tissues under abiotic stress conditions.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study provides a genome-wide bioinformatics and expression-based characterization of the DUF677 gene family in cotton, identifying candidate genes potentially associated with drought and salt stress responses. While the findings are based on evolutionary, regulatory, and transcriptomic evidence, they do not constitute direct functional validation. Instead, this study establishes a theoretical and genomic foundation for future functional studies aimed at elucidating the precise roles of DUF677 genes in cotton stress tolerance.</p>","PeriodicalId":9198,"journal":{"name":"BMC Plant Biology","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13471261/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148764202","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}