BMC Plant Biology最新文献

{"title":"Mycorrhizal symbiosis maintains DNA integrity and cellular homeostasis in lettuce under combined heavy metals and salt stress conditions.","authors":"Rabab A Metwally, Elham R S Soliman","doi":"10.1186/s12870-026-09544-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12870-026-09544-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Combination stresses are the primary obstacle that plants encounter in nature. Consequently, there is an urgent need for environmentally sustainable solutions. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) constitute one such eco-friendly approach for promoting agricultural sustainability under heavy metals (HMs) contamination, drought, heat, and salinity stress conditions, owing to their well-documented role as biostimulants. Therefore, the present investigation aimed to assess the impact of combined HMs (Cr, Pb, and Cd; each at 100 mg L^- 1) and salt stress (100 mM NaCl) on lettuce and to evaluate the potential of AMF inoculation to mitigate these combined stresses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>AMF colonization effectively mitigated this adverse effect, as evidenced by increases in shoot fresh weight (12.97%), total pigment (76.74%), relative water content (RWC, 10.98%), glycine betaine (GB, 21.04%), and phenolic content (15.68%). Conversely, a substantial decrease in stress markers was observed, including lipid peroxidation (MDA, 11.03%), H₂O₂ content (20.66%), and reductions in the antioxidant enzymes (23.56% in POD, 22.38% in PPO, and 14.73% in phenylalanine ammonia-lyase [PAL]). The Start codon targeted (SCoT) analysis demonstrated that all of these were associated with a 51% retention of genome integrity, and the percentage of damaged nuclei was reduced by 25.78%, as confirmed by the comet assay. Both easily extractable (EE, 29.58%) and total extractable (TE, 36.42%) glomalin content were significantly increased by AMF colonization upon stress. Although AMF-colonized roots exhibited a higher concentration of Pb, Cr, and Cd during combined stress, the concentration of these metals in the shoots was lower. This reduction was attributed to the ability of AMF to reduce the root-shoot translocation by 74.39, 61.42, and 56.92% for Cr, Pb, and Cd, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This method could be used to cultivate lettuce in contaminated locations by trapping HMs and Na⁺ ions in the roots, which are not edible, while allowing the edible shoots to develop. Thus, AMF could be used to protect food safety and agricultural output in contaminated areas.</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/PMC13452129/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148696976","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":"Differential metabolites and key pathways in quinoa rhizosphere responding to salt stress: implications for salt tolerance.","authors":"Jiaqi Gu, Yuanru Yang, Haiying Guo, Yiran Zhao, Yu Chun, Sarina Bao","doi":"10.1186/s12870-026-09698-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12870-026-09698-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>As an important salt-alkali-tolerant crop, quinoa can respond to salt stress through various pathways. However, the response mechanisms of the rhizosphere microenvironment to salt stress require further exploration. This study aimed to investigate the effects of salt stress on the metabolic profile of quinoa rhizosphere soil and to explore its salt tolerance mechanisms at the metabolic level.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Using Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS)based untargeted metabolomics, combined with multivariate statistical analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, this study systematically compared the metabolic differences in rhizosphere soil between the salt-stressed group and the control group. The results showed that a total of 856 metabolites were identified, with 439 significantly differential metabolites screened out, including 344 up-regulated and 95 down-regulated metabolites. The differential metabolites primarily included lipids and lipid-like molecules, organic acids and their derivatives, organooxygen compounds, organic nitrogen compounds, and heterocyclic compounds. The accumulation of key differential metabolites indicated that quinoa responds to salt stress through multiple synergistic strategies, such as osmotic regulation, antioxidant defense, membrane lipid remodeling, as well as hormone signaling and acetic acid metabolism. KEGG enrichment analysis further revealed that pathways including phenylalanine metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, and ATP-Binding Cassette transporters (ABC transporters) were significantly enriched, forming a systemic adaptation network encompassing defense substance synthesis, osmotic protection deployment, and substance transport regulation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In conclusion, composite saline-alkali stress induces extensive reprogramming of metabolite composition in quinoa rhizosphere soil. The observed shifts in rhizosphere metabolites are closely linked to the salt tolerance adaptation of quinoa. This study offers a theoretical foundation for understanding rhizosphere metabolic responses and may inform strategies for improving crop performance in saline-alkali lands.</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/PMC13539800/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148886029","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":"Tobacco intercropping with Allium crops reshapes soil microbiome-metabolome interactions and improves plant health and tobacco leaf quality.","authors":"Chaojun Shi, Honglin Zhang, Yao Liu, Guoqin Zhou, Yinbiao Zhou, Yuqiu Yan, Xinyi Huang, Xiufang Yang, Lijie Chen, Fen Lü","doi":"10.1186/s12870-026-09714-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12870-026-09714-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Intercropping systems play important roles in improving soil conditions, enhancing crop performance and suppressing soil-borne diseases. However, the mechanisms by which tobacco-Allium intercropping regulates soil microecology, tobacco growth and leaf quality remain insufficiently understood. In this study, tobacco monoculture and tobacco intercropping systems with onion, garlic or Chinese chive were established to evaluate tobacco agronomic traits, disease occurrence, cured leaf chemical composition and defence-related enzyme activities. Soil physicochemical properties, microbial community structure and metabolomic profiles were further analysed and integrated using a multi-omics approach.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared with tobacco monoculture, the tobacco-garlic intercropping treatment (CG) showed the most pronounced effects. CG alleviated soil acidification and increased the contents of available phosphorus and available potassium. The incidence and disease index of tobacco mosaic virus disease (TMVD) were significantly reduced by 27.91% and 31.77%, respectively. CG also significantly improved tobacco agronomic traits and enhanced the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) by 146.50%, 162.65% and 248.87%, respectively. In cured tobacco leaves, total nitrogen, nicotine and reducing sugar contents increased by 20.57%, 28.22% and 10.49%, respectively. In addition, CG significantly increased potassium content and improved the potassium-to-chloride ratio by 55.46%. Correlation analysis showed that intercropping promoted the enrichment of beneficial bacterial genera, including Gemmatimonas and Sphingomonas, and enhanced functional pathways associated with linoleic acid metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, purine metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, and the biosynthesis of antibiotics and other secondary metabolites.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Tobacco-Allium intercropping, especially tobacco-garlic intercropping, improved tobacco growth and cured leaf chemical quality and reduced field TMVD occurrence. These effects were associated with changes in rhizosphere soil properties, microbial communities and metabolites.</p>","PeriodicalId":9198,"journal":{"name":"BMC Plant Biology","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13479892/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148764244","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":"Integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analyses provide insights into potential molecular mechanisms underlying globulin content variation in maize embryos.","authors":"Yan Cui, Meiyu E, Meijie Cao, Xin Lu, Yutong Zhang, Ruiqi Wang, Changhong Guo, Zhiqiang Zhou, Xinhai Li","doi":"10.1186/s12870-026-08940-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12870-026-08940-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Globulin in maize kernels is a high-quality protein, which is mainly enriched in the embryo. However, academic research focusing on the molecular mechanism underlying globulin synthesis remains relatively limited to date. Therefore, unveiling the molecular mechanism of globulin synthesis in maize embryos is of great significance for the breeding of high-protein maize varieties. To gain better insights into this mechanism, we integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analysis to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between two types of materials with distinct globulin contents.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Two maize inbred lines were selected for this study, including B73 (low globulin content) and HP434 (high globulin content). Integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analyses revealed that DEGs and DEPs were predominantly enriched in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein processing pathway. Significantly, most of these DEGs and DEPs belonged to the heat shock protein (HSP) family. This indicates that globulin synthesis is closely related to the genes of this family, especially the small molecule heat shock proteins.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The high expression of HSP family genes in HP434 might alleviate the increased ER processing pressure caused by the aggregation of misfolded proteins during the high-abundance synthesis of globulin, thereby contributing to the synthesis of globulin in the ER.</p>","PeriodicalId":9198,"journal":{"name":"BMC Plant Biology","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13455331/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148705418","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":"Comparative evaluation of module-based strategies for controlling lepidopterous and dipterous pests in rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation.","authors":"Akanksha N Humane, D B Undirwade, B N Chaudhari, U S Kulakrni, S L Borkar, G R Shamkuwar, M P Mohril, Sandeep Gawdiya, Ali Salem, Mohamed A Mattar","doi":"10.1186/s12870-026-09601-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12870-026-09601-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Rice cultivation in eastern Vidarbha region of Maharashtra is seriously affected by insect pests such as yellow stem borer, gall midge, and leaf folder. Farmers in this region mainly depend on repeated application of single chemical insecticides, which has led to the development of insecticide resistance and associated environmental concerns. To address this problem, a field experiment entitled \"Comparative evaluation of module-based strategies for controlling lepidopterous and dipterous pests in rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation\" was conducted during kharif 2020 and 2021 at the Agriculture Research Station, Bhandara, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, Maharashtra (India). The study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of different pest management modules in reducing pest incidence and improving the rice grain yield.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results revealed that all the treatment modules significantly reduced the incidence of major rice pests compared to untreated control. Among the tested modules, M4 comprising chlorantraniliprole 0.4% G, cartap hydrochloride 50% SP, and Dinotefuran 20% SG was found to be the most effective in controlling yellow stem borer, gall midge, and leaf folder. Besides the chemical module, module M1 consisting of Neemazal 1% EC applied at 25-30 days after transplanting (DAT), eucalyptus oil at 45-50 DAT, and cartap hydrochloride 50% SP at 60-65 DAT also showed promising performance against the target pests. Rice grain yield was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in both M4 and M1. The study further indicated that botanical-based modules supported comparatively better conservation of natural enemies under field conditions.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Among the evaluated pest management modules, M4 demonstrated the most effective suppression of major rice pests and achieved the highest grain yield. However, M1, integrating botanical formulations such as neem and eucalyptus oil with need-based insecticidal applications, emerged as a safer and more eco-friendly alternative. The study highlights that combining botanicals with selective insecticides can substantially reduce chemical dependence while maintaining effective pest control and crop productivity. These findings provide actionable guidance for farmers and policymakers to promote environmentally responsible pest management practices in rice cultivation systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":9198,"journal":{"name":"BMC Plant Biology","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13540895/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148886400","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":"Root traits are strongly associated with nitrogen uptake efficiency in contrasting rapeseed genotypes.","authors":"Xiao Guo, Tingting Dai, Ji Luo, Qian Luo, Yanli Chen","doi":"10.1186/s12870-026-09682-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12870-026-09682-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Screening the higher nitrogen (N) uptake efficiency (NUpE) rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) genotype (N-efficient-genotype) and exploring the N efficient uptake mechanism could be an ideal way to meet the environmentally use of valuable N and the increasing demand for edible oils. In this study, we selected a N-efficient-genotype and a N-inefficient-genotype to dissect the differences in root physiological indexes under a pot experiment and a hydroponic culture. Results showed that during the high and low N levels, root biomass was the main factor affecting NUpE at the pot experiment. Compared to the N-inefficient-genotype, N-efficient-genotype displayed respectively 39.72%, 31.52%, 39.94%, 41.28% and 54.80% higher root biomass, N content, root length, root surface area and Vmax, along with 36.86%,48.68%, 134.14%, 72.71%, nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) activity. These were accompanied by a significant increase (P < 0.05) in BnNRT1.1 (7.04 fold), BnNRT1.5 (4.66 fold), BnNRT2.1 (8.63 fold) and BnNRT2.5 (12.13 fold), which may result in the greater N uptake ability than did the N-inefficient-genotype under the hydroponic culture. Our results indicate that higher root indexes for the N-efficient-genotype could uptake more N to support the photosynthesis sustained and seed development, and would achieve the larger NUpE and NUE in rapeseed genotypes.</p>","PeriodicalId":9198,"journal":{"name":"BMC Plant Biology","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13560114/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148918325","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":"Curcumin-rich plant material production through a robust and reproducible micropropagation protocol.","authors":"Gilles Habib Todjro Cacaï, Serge Sètondji Houedjissin, Jérôme Anani Houngue, Bamidélé Viviane Alakè Ogounchi, Jaurès Riwan Uriel Kouke, Corneille Ahanhanzo","doi":"10.1186/s12870-026-08669-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-026-08669-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Curcuma longa Linné is a widely valued spice due to its nutritional and therapeutic properties. Its production methods, vulnerability to diseases, and increasing anthropogenic pressure contribute to the limited availability of planting materials. This study aims to develop a micropropagation protocol that ensures the production of curcumin-rich planting stocks. Rhizomes were either pre-treated or not with Copper hydroxide (8%), disinfected with Mercuric chloride (HgCl₂ at 0.5%, 1%, or 2%), then treated with Ethanol (70%), followed by disinfection with Sodium hypochlorite (NaClO at 30%, 40%, or 50%). Buds from primary and secondary rhizomes were cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (2 mg/L or 4 mg/L), Kinetin (4 mg/L), and Magnesium chloride (0.75 g/L). Data were analyzed using ANOVA, and a linear model was applied to determine the relationships between parameters and treatments. The optimal disinfection protocol that minimized contamination and necrosis while promoting successful in vitro establishment consisted of HgCl₂ (0.1%), NaClO (30%), and Ampicillin (0.1%). The addition of Magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) to the culture medium enhanced organogenesis and proliferation, with significant improvement when combined with BAP (4 mg/L), resulting in increased shoot proliferation (15.4 shoots per plant), root number (12.1 ± 0.15), leaf development (11.3 ± 0.08), as well as improved shoot elongation (12.38 ± 1.4 cm) and root elongation (5.18 ± 0.5 cm). During acclimatization, the \"Terreau Semis Pouss'activR U\" (TSP) substrate ensured optimal survival (100%) and better shoot and leaf growth compared to the local substrate composed of sand and compost (1:1) and the SAH substrate based on moderately decomposed sphagnum peat and black peat. This optimized protocol supports large-scale of curcumin-rich plant material production and enhanced valorization of curcuma.</p>","PeriodicalId":9198,"journal":{"name":"BMC Plant Biology","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13629140/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149104310","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":"Multi-trait assessment of Meloidogyne incognita resistance in developed Cucumis spp. inbred lines: horticultural, physiological, biochemical, and histological insights.","authors":"Eman El-Remaly, Ahmed Asa El-Eslamboly","doi":"10.1186/s12870-026-09586-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12870-026-09586-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to develop nematode-resistant inbred lines from Cucumis sativus, C. sativus var. hardwickii, and C. metuliferus, and to elucidate their resistance mechanisms against Meloidogyne incognita. Three parental genotypes were self-pollinated across five generations, with simultaneous selection for superior horticultural traits and nematode resistance. Resistance levels were assessed based on root gall index, gall number, egg mass, and egg count per root system. To investigate the underlying mechanisms, histological, biochemical, and molecular analyses were conducted, focusing on salicylic acid (SA) content and the expression of SA pathway genes (PR1-1A, PR3, and LOX1). Based on the coefficient of variation (CV%) for horticultural traits, three inbred lines were selected from C. sativus (Cs), three from C. sativus var. hardwickii (Ch), and five from C. metuliferus (Cm). Among these, Cs-L1, Ch-L2, Cm-L1, and Cm-L2 exhibited superior horticultural traits, whereas Cs-L1, Ch-L3, Cm-L4, and Cm-L5 showed the lowest nematode infection parameters. Histological examination revealed localized necrosis and cellular degeneration in the resistant lines, suggesting a hypersensitive response (HR)-like mechanism that likely contributes to nematode containment and developmental arrest. Biochemical assays further demonstrated greater induction of defense-related enzymes, including peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), in the roots of resistant lines. Notably, SA levels increased significantly upon infection in all resistant roots, particularly in C. metuliferus, compared with the susceptible control (Barracuda F1). This elevated SA accumulation correlated with the upregulated expression of PR1-1A, PR3, and LOX1. Overall, resistance in the selected inbred lines is multifaceted, encompassing reduced nematode development, HR-associated necrosis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, and coordinated SA-mediated gene upregulation. These responses most pronounced in C. metuliferus play a crucial role in mitigating root-knot nematode damage and provide valuable targets for breeding nematode-resistant cucumber genotypes.</p>","PeriodicalId":9198,"journal":{"name":"BMC Plant Biology","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13439878/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148673053","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":"Exogenous melatonin modulates growth, antioxidant defense, and secondary metabolism of Matthiola incana under drought stress.","authors":"Noor Alhuda H Hasan, Nada Wahab Ahmed, Amal Rajab Shaker, Marwan Abdullah Sanam","doi":"10.1186/s12870-026-09679-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12870-026-09679-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Drought stress is a major environmental constraint that adversely affects plant growth, physiological performance, and the accumulation of bioactive compounds. The use of biostimulants such as melatonin (MT) has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance plant tolerance to abiotic stress. In this study, the effects of exogenous MT on growth, physiological traits, antioxidant defense, and secondary metabolism of Matthiola incana under different irrigation regimes (100, 70, 40, and 25% field capacity, FC) were investigated. The experiment was conducted as a factorial design with four MT concentrations (0, 100, 200, and 400 mg L⁻¹). Drought stress significantly reduced growth parameters, chlorophyll content, and relative water content (RWC), while increasing oxidative stress indicators. However, MT application mitigated these adverse effects by enhancing photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm), improving water status, and stimulating antioxidant enzyme activities, including superoxide dismutase and catalase. Under optimal irrigation, 200 mg L⁻¹ MT significantly enhanced plant height (up to 29.6%), leaf number (22.1%), plant fresh weight (43.3%), flowering (17.2%), and chlorophyll content (16.5%). Under drought stress, MT markedly mitigated growth inhibition. At 40% FC, plant height increased by up to 29.5% with 400 mg L⁻¹, while leaf production rose by 21.4%. Principal component analysis further confirmed the integrative role of MT in coordinating physiological and biochemical responses. Overall, the results demonstrate that exogenous MT enhances drought tolerance in M. incana through improved antioxidant defense, maintenance of photosynthetic performance, and regulation of osmotic balance. These findings highlight the potential application of MT as an effective biostimulant for improving plant performance under water-limited conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":9198,"journal":{"name":"BMC Plant Biology","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13539711/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148886047","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":"Integrated light spectrum and growth regulators improved the growth of saffron daughter corms by regulating carbohydrate metabolism in a novel two-stage cropping system.","authors":"Mostafa Eftekhari, Majid Ghorbani Javid, Nazim S Gruda","doi":"10.1186/s12870-026-09687-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12870-026-09687-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Saffron, a valuable spice and industrial crop used in food, pharma, and cosmetics, is propagated only vegetatively via corms due to triploid male sterility. Corms are the primary storage organs and determine both the yield and quality of daughter corms. However, the optimal growing conditions for producing large, heavy daughter corms remain unclear.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Here, we examined the effects of light spectra and plant growth regulators on photosynthetic pigments, starch accumulation, and daughter corm production in a two-stage system, with reproductive growth occurring indoors followed by outdoor maturation. The plants were grown under four light spectra: white, red, blue, and a combination of half red and half blue. Two plant growth regulators, gibberellic acid and gamma-aminobutyric acid, were applied during the reproductive stage of the plant. After flowering, the mother corms were directly transplanted to the field for the development of daughter corms.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The combination of red and blue light with gamma-aminobutyric acid produced the heaviest daughter corms, reaching 8.7 g dry weight, and the highest starch accumulation in the corms reached 383 milligrams per gram fresh weight. Red and blue light combined with gibberellic acid increased the leaf starch concentration to 926 milligrams per gram of fresh weight. A higher pigment content and larger leaf area support greater photosynthetic performance, preserve carbohydrate reserves in mother corms, and ultimately favor the production of heavier daughter corms.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These results provide practical insights for optimizing saffron propagation in controlled-environment and field systems, directly contributing to industrial-scale production and value chain efficiency. Future research should test dynamic light spectra and optimized regulatory strategies to refine corm development and strengthen commercial and industrial saffron production.</p>","PeriodicalId":9198,"journal":{"name":"BMC Plant Biology","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13584465/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148987677","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}