BMC Plant Biology最新文献

{"title":"Genome-wide analysis of CHYR gene family and BnA03.CHYR.1 functional verification under salt stress in Brassica napus L.","authors":"Yanli Guo, Qingxiao Ren, Manman Song, Xiangxiang Zhang, Heping Wan, Fei Liu","doi":"10.1186/s12870-025-06343-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12870-025-06343-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Brassica napus, an allotetraploid used as an oilseed crop, vegetable, or feed crop, possesses significant economic and medicinal value. Although the CHYR gene family has been functionally characterised in various aspects of plant growth, development, and stress responses, its systematic investigation in B. napus is lacking. In contrast to the seven CHYR genes (AtCHYR1-AtCHYR7) identified in Arabidopsis thaliana, nine CHYR orthologues were detected in B. rapa and B. oleracea, while 24 were found in B. napus. This discrepancy is consistent with the established triplication events that occurred during the Brassicaceae family evolution. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the 24 CHYRs identified in B. napus could be categorised into three distinct groups. Among these, 24 BnCHYRs contained conserved domains, including the CHY-zinc finger, C3H2C3-type RING finger and zinc ribbon domains. Group III members featured an additional one to three hemerythrin domains in their N-terminal regions. Each BnCHYR group shared similar patterns in the distribution of conserved domains. Our results revealed that the selected eight BnCHYRs were up-regulated following heat treatment, exhibiting varying expression patterns in response to salt, cold, and drought stress during the seedling stage. Expression analysis revealed that several BnCHYRs were significantly induced by one or more abiotic stressors. BnA03.CHYR.1 was significantly induced by salt and heat stress and repressed by polyethylene glycol treatment. BnA03.CHYR.1 was localised in the nucleus and cytoplasm, and its overexpression in A. thaliana enhanced tolerance to salt stress. Our results provide a comprehensive analysis of the CHYR family in B. napus, elucidating the biological role of BnA03.CHYR.1 in adaptive responses of plants to salt stress.</p>","PeriodicalId":9198,"journal":{"name":"BMC Plant Biology","volume":"25 1","pages":"363"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11924726/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143668996","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":"Effects of the plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium Zobellella sp. DQSA1 on alleviating salt-alkali stress in job's tears seedings and its growth-promoting mechanism.","authors":"Youzhen Li, Yulan Huang, Hongxia Ding, Yibo Huang, Dengkun Xu, Shihan Zhan, Mingli Ma","doi":"10.1186/s12870-025-06367-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12870-025-06367-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Plant probacteria as a sustainable microbial resource are crucial to plant, which not only promote plant growth but also increase the stress resistance of plants. In this study, whole-genome sequencing of Zobellella sp. DQSA1 was performed, and Zobellella sp. DQSA1 was applied to Job's tears seedings under salt-alkali stress. Whole-genome analysis revealed that Zobellella sp. DQSA1 can produce metabolites such as tryptophan, alpha-linolenic acid and other products through metabolism. In response to the action of Zobellella sp. DQSA1, the contents of jasmonic acid (JA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in the root system increased by 32.5% and 81.4% respectively, whereas the content of abscisic acid (ABA) decreased by 30.0%, and the contents of other endogenous hormones also significantly differed. Additionally, the physiological and biochemical indices related to growth and salinity demonstrated notable differences. Finally, sequencing analysis revealed that 57 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were involved in 16 Gene Ontology (GO) pathways. Furthermore, the correlations between the contents of endogenous hormones and 57 DEGs were analyzed, and JA was found to be the most significantly correlated. These results provide a theoretical basis for further exploration of the functions and mechanisms of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) under salt-alkali stress.</p>","PeriodicalId":9198,"journal":{"name":"BMC Plant Biology","volume":"25 1","pages":"368"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11924913/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143669062","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":"Geographical variation and the role of climate and soil on phenotypic traits of Calamus rhabdocladus across provenances in China.","authors":"Junqing Nong, Ruijing Xu, Songpo Wei, Shaohui Fan, Quan Qiu, Yiju Li, Guanglu Liu","doi":"10.1186/s12870-025-06329-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12870-025-06329-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Phenotypic traits are indicative of a plant's resource utilization and survival strategies. Understanding the geographical differentiation of Calamus rhabdocladus phenotypes holds significant theoretical and practical value for genetic breeding and the selection of superior geographical provenances. This study analyzed the geographic variation in 15 phenotypic traits of leaves, stems, roots, flagellums, and other parts from 10 provenances of C. rhabdocladus in China. The phenotypic characters of C. rhabdocladus were measured in the field, while soil factors were collected in the field and analyzed in the laboratory. Climatic data were obtained through online sources. Pearson's correlation was used to analyze the relationships between the 15 phenotypic traits. Redundancy analysis and variance decomposition analysis were used to quantify the effects of climatic and soil factors on the geographical variation in phenotypic traits of C. rhabdocladus, and the key influencing factors were obtained by comparing the explanatory rates of soil and climatic factors on phenotypic traits of C. rhabdocladus.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results showed that the Coefficient of variation (CV) of phenotypic traits among provenances ranges from 7.48 to 182.16%, with root dry weight exhibiting the largest variation. The plasticity indices varied between 0.16 and 0.82, with the flagellum volume showing the highest value. Significant correlations were observed among leaf, stem, flagellum, and root traits. Average air temperature was identified as the crucial climatic factor influencing the phenotypic traits of C. rhabdocladus, while effective nitrogen and organic matter content were the key soil factors influencing these traits. Within the scope of this study, climatic factors provided a better explanation of phenotype variation than soil factors.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These results highlight the importance of climatic adaptation in shaping phenotypic diversity and suggest that future research should explore the genetic mechanisms underlying these traits and their interactions with environmental factors at finer spatial scales.</p>","PeriodicalId":9198,"journal":{"name":"BMC Plant Biology","volume":"25 1","pages":"365"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11924748/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143668997","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":"Integrative RNA-seq and ATAC-seq analysis unveils antioxidant defense mechanisms in salt-tolerant rice variety Pokkali.","authors":"Qiaoyu Yang, Yutong Zheng, Xitao Li","doi":"10.1186/s12870-025-06387-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12870-025-06387-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Salt stress is one of the most significant environmental challenges, severely impacting rice growth and yield. While different rice varieties exhibit varying levels of tolerance to salinity, Pokkali, a traditional salt-tolerant variety, stands out for its ability to thrive in saline conditions. Understanding the molecular and physiological mechanisms that underpin this tolerance is essential for breeding and developing rice varieties with enhanced resilience to salt stress.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this study, we selected the salt-tolerant rice variety Pokkali and the salt-sensitive variety IR29 for a controlled saline stress experiment. Plants were subjected to a 150 mM NaCl treatment for 7 days, after which leaf samples were collected from both varieties. Antioxidant physiological parameters were measured, and RNA-seq and ATAC-seq analyses were conducted to explore gene expression and chromatin accessibility. Key genes identified through sequencing were validated using RT-qPCR.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Under salt stress, Pokkali demonstrated strong tolerance and a higher antioxidant capacity compared to IR29, as evidenced by increased survival rates and fresh weight. Pokkali also showed elevated activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase, along with reduced accumulation of hydrogen peroxide. Transcriptomic and ATAC-seq analyses revealed that Pokkali's upregulated genes were significantly enriched in pathways related to redox homeostasis. These genes were also involved in metabolic processes such as glycan biosynthesis, amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and energy production. Furthermore, ATAC-seq analysis indicated increased chromatin accessibility in the promoter regions of key antioxidant genes under salt stress in Pokkali, reflecting enhanced transcriptional activity. Four key antioxidant-related genes-MnSOD1, OsAPx7, OsGR1, and Osppc3-were identified and validated by qPCR, showing significant upregulation in Pokkali. ATAC-seq data further supported that these genes had increased promoter accessibility under salt stress, aligning with the RNA-seq findings.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study underscores the critical role of antioxidant defense mechanisms in conferring salt tolerance in Pokkali. The identification of key genes involved in redox regulation provides valuable insights into the molecular basis of salt tolerance, offering potential targets for the genetic improvement of salt-sensitive rice varieties through breeding programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":9198,"journal":{"name":"BMC Plant Biology","volume":"25 1","pages":"364"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11924786/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143668999","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":"Complete plastomes serve as desirable molecular makers for precise identification of Asparagus cochinchinensis (Asparagaceae) and nine other congeneric species frequently utilized as its adulterants.","authors":"Xiaorong Guo, Pingxuan Xie, Guangfei Zhang, Tinglu Wang, Jieyan Li, Xinqi Zhang, Weigeng Su, Yunheng Ji","doi":"10.1186/s12870-025-06316-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12870-025-06316-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Backgroud: </strong>The processed tuberous roots of Asparagus cochinchinensis (Asparagaceae), known as Asparagi Radix, have long been used in East Asia (particularly in China) as traditional medicines and play an indispensable role in the pharmaceutical industry. However, the frequent adulteration of Asparagi Radix with processed tuberous roots obtained from nine other congeneric species could potentially compromise the quality control measures for related pharmaceutical products, while also posing challenges to the conservation and rational exploitation of the nine adulterant congeneric species that are also used as traditional ethnomedicines. Given this issue, this study aims to develop a molecular authentication method for the accurate identification of A. cochinchinensis and the nine congeneric adulterants, employing the genome skimming approach to generate complete plastid genomes (plastomes) and nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) arrays as the candidate molecular markers.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Through comprehensive phylogenetic and genetic distance analyses based on extensive sampling at both inter- and intra-specific levels, the efficacy of the two candidate molecular markers was assessed by investigating whether their inter-specific genetic divergences align with the taxonomically delineated species boundaries.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The results indicated that complete plastomes exhibit superior performance for accurately identifying A. cochinchinensis (the botanical source of Asparagi Radix) and the nine congeneric adulterants, thus can serve as the optimal molecular markers for effective authentication of Asparagi Radix. The desirable discriminative power demonstrated by complete plastomes suggests that the PCR-free molecular authentication method developed in this study will not only contribute to the quality control of pharmaceutical products derived from Asparagi Radix but also facilitate the conservation efforts and rational exploitation of the nine Asparagus species commonly used as adulterants.</p>","PeriodicalId":9198,"journal":{"name":"BMC Plant Biology","volume":"25 1","pages":"366"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11924869/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143669059","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":"Comprehensive analysis and identification of the WOX gene family in Schima superba and the key gene SsuWOX1 for enhancing callus regeneration capacity.","authors":"Yuanting Jia, Zihang Lin, Haixin He, Zhichun Zhou, Kai Gao, Kejiu Du, Rui Zhang","doi":"10.1186/s12870-025-06377-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12870-025-06377-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of the SsuWOX gene family in Schima superba, elucidating its role in plant growth and stress response mechanisms. The genome contains 15 WOX genes primarily encoding nuclear proteins unevenly distributed across 18 chromosomes. Phylogenetic classification grouped these genes into three distinct subfamilies, with members in each subfamily showing conserved gene structures. Interaction network analysis and cis-regulatory element characterization revealed that SsuWOX gene expression is influenced by hormones and various abiotic stresses. Tissue-specific expression profiles showed six genes exhibiting spatial specificity with significant expression level variations across developmental stages. Notably, SsuWOX1 overexpression in callus tissue significantly elevated CLAVATA3 (CLV3) expression levels. CLV3, a crucial small peptide signaling molecule, primarily regulates stem cell maintenance and differentiation in the shoot apical meristem (SAM). Transgenic callus cells displayed bud-like cell characteristics, including increased cell density and organized spatial arrangement. These findings establish a foundation for functional characterization of SsuWOX1 and provide insights into its regulatory mechanisms in plant development.</p>","PeriodicalId":9198,"journal":{"name":"BMC Plant Biology","volume":"25 1","pages":"367"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11924843/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143669060","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":"Tissue-specific transcriptomic analysis reveals the molecular mechanisms responsive to cold stress in Poa crymophila, and development of EST-SSR markers linked to cold tolerance candidate genes.","authors":"Liuban Tang, Yuying Zheng, Huanhuan Lu, Yongsen Qiu, Huizhi Wang, Haoqin Liao, Wengang Xie","doi":"10.1186/s12870-025-06383-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12870-025-06383-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Poa crymophila is a perennial, cold-tolerant, native grass species, widely distributed in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. However, the tissue-specific regulatory mechanisms and key regulatory genes underlying its cold tolerance remain poorly characterized. Therefore, in this study, based on the screening and evaluation of cold tolerance of four Poa species, the cold tolerance mechanism of P. crymophila's roots, stems, and leaves and its cold tolerance candidate genes were investigated through physiological and transcriptomic analyses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Results of the present study suggested that the cold tolerance of the four Poa species was in the following order: P. crymophila > P. botryoides > P. pratensis var. anceps > P. pratensis. Cold stress significantly changed the physiological characteristics of roots, stems, and leaves of P. crymophila in this study. In addition, the transcriptome results showed that 4434, 8793, and 14,942 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in roots, stems, and leaves, respectively; however, 464 DEGs were commonly identified in these three tissues. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that these DEGs were mainly enriched in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway (roots), photosynthesis pathway (stems and leaves), circadian rhythm-plant pathway (stems and leaves), starch and sucrose metabolism pathway (roots, stems, and leaves), and galactose metabolism pathway (roots, stems, and leaves). A total of 392 candidate genes involved in Ca²⁺ signaling, ROS scavenging system, hormones, circadian clock, photosynthesis, and transcription factors (TFs) were identified in P. crymophila. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified nine hub genes that may be involved in P. crymophila cold response. A total of 200 candidate gene-based EST-SSRs were developed and characterized. Twenty-nine polymorphic EST-SSRs primers were finally used to study genetic diversity of 40 individuals from four Poa species with different cold tolerance characteristics. UPGMA cluster and STRUCTURE analysis showed that the 40 Poa individuals were clustered into three major groups, individual plant with similar cold tolerance tended to group together. Notably, markers P37 (PcGA2ox3) and P148 (PcERF013) could distinguish P. crymophila from P. pratensis var. anceps, P. pratensis, and P. botryoides.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the cold tolerance of P. crymophila, and also lays a foundation for molecular marker-assisted selection for cold tolerance improvement in Poa species.</p>","PeriodicalId":9198,"journal":{"name":"BMC Plant Biology","volume":"25 1","pages":"360"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11921722/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143656139","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":"Population dynamics, threat assessment, and conservation strategies for critically endangered Meconopsis aculeata in alpine zone.","authors":"Muhammad Manzoor, Mushtaq Ahmad, Syed Waseem Gillani, Muhammad Waheed, Hamayun Shaheen, Abdul Basit Mehmood, Beatrice Ambo Fonge, Abeer Al-Andal","doi":"10.1186/s12870-025-06361-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12870-025-06361-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Himalayan alpine zone harbors a rich diversity of endemic medicinal plant species, such as Meconopsis aculeata, due to its habitat heterogeneity. Globally, alpine environments are most significantly affected by climate change, characterized by low temperatures and restricted growing seasons, offering essential services yet remaining most vulnerable. M. aculeata holds immense ecological significance in alpine ecosystems, while human disturbances and climate change pose serious threats to its long-term viability. The present study was conducted to explore population ecology, spatial distribution patterns, significant threats, diversity patterns along elevational gradients, and future conservation strategies for the dwindling populations of M. aculeata.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Field sampling was carried out from 2022 to 2024 in various districts of Kashmir to examine the vegetation characteristics of M. aculeata populations, along with the geographic variables and threats impacting these populations. The quadrat method was used to investigate the vegetation characteristics across an extensive elevational gradient, ranging from 3000 m to 4600 m.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Healthier M. aculeata populations were found in the middle elevational range of 3700 m to 4100 m. The SIMPER analysis revealed an overall average dissimilarity of 80.08, indicating spatial variability in species composition across the studied sites. GIS analysis showed that M. aculeata was found on the north aspect, with steppe slope in rocky habitat. The average herb density was calculated to be 20.6/ha, while 60% of sampled sites experienced intense grazing. A total of 20 indicator species were identified as associated with M. aculeata populations. Mantel tests identified key species influencing the population structure of M. aculeata. Aconitum heterophyllum (R = 0.7954, P = 0.003) was found to be the most critical indicator species, followed by Anaphalis nepalensis (R = 0.6564, P = 0.034), and Bistorta affinis (R = 0.522, P = 0.044). CCA analysis identified NTFP extraction, grazing and fire as serious threats for the sustainability of M. aculeata populations. Alpha diversity results highlight significant altitudinal influences on the diversity metrics of M. aculeata populations. Beta diversity results indicate that Site 8 exhibited substantial differences in species composition compared to other sites, while Sites 1 and 9 highlighted the spatial heterogeneity within the M. aculeata populations. As this species is already classified as a critically endangered species, we recommend implementing effective conservation measures such as habitat restoration, sustainable harvesting practices, involving local communities, and promoting stewardship. These initiatives will encourage sustainable management of the species in the region.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial number: </strong>Not applicable.</p>","PeriodicalId":9198,"journal":{"name":"BMC Plant Biology","volume":"25 1","pages":"358"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11921755/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143656205","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":"Enhancing wheat resilience to salinity: the role of endophytic Penicillium chrysogenum as a biological agent for improved crop performance.","authors":"Soheila Aghaei Dargiri, Shahram Naeimi, Mojtaba Khayam Nekouei","doi":"10.1186/s12870-025-06388-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12870-025-06388-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Salinity stress severely impacts wheat productivity, necessitating effective strategies to enhance crop resilience. This study investigates the potential of Penicillium chrysogenum CM022 as a biological agent to alleviate the impact of salinity stress on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). P. chrysogenum CM022 improved germination of wheat seeds, particularly under salinity of 150 mM NaCl. Fungal inoculation significantly improved plant growth in terms of root length, plant height, and seedling biomass, even under high salinity conditions. Notably, inoculated plants preserved photosynthetic pigments and reduced oxidative damage, evidenced by lower levels of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and malondialdehyde (MDA), compared to non-inoculated controls. The inoculated plants also exhibited enhanced proline and soluble sugar contents, which are crucial for osmotic adjustment under stress. Additionally, P. chrysogenum CM022 significantly increased the antioxidant capacity of wheat, boosting total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity under high salinity. These findings underscore the potential of P. chrysogenum CM022 in improving wheat tolerance to salinity stress through physiological, biochemical, and antioxidant defense mechanisms, supporting its use in sustainable agricultural practices to mitigate the adverse effects of salinity on crop production.</p>","PeriodicalId":9198,"journal":{"name":"BMC Plant Biology","volume":"25 1","pages":"354"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11921529/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143656101","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":"Multiple functions of exogenous melatonin in cucumber seed germination, seedling establishment, and alkali stress resistance.","authors":"Qiuxia Li, Yiqiu Zhang, Yu Liu, Tianyue Li, Hua Xu, Qinwen Wei, Huiliang Zeng, Huiyi Ni, Shuzhen Li","doi":"10.1186/s12870-025-06359-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12870-025-06359-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Exogenous melatonin plays a crucial role in various plant developmental processes and stress responses and has considerable potential for future agricultural applications. However, its effects on early cucumber seedling growth and resistance to alkaline stress have not been adequately explored. This study investigated the role of exogenous melatonin during the early growth stages of cucumber, specifically focusing on seed germination, post-germination seedling growth, and 1-leaf stage seedling growth, with particular emphasis on its influence on alkali stress resistance. These findings are intended to enhance the application of melatonin in cucumber seedling cultivation and provide a theoretical basis for promoting growth and improving stress tolerance in agricultural production.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Exogenous melatonin enhanced cucumber seed germination and early seedling growth with promoting and inhibitory effects at low and high concentrations, respectively. However, the effects of exogenous melatonin on cucumber growth varied at different developmental stages. Additionally, alkali stress significantly hampered the growth of cucumber seedlings; however, the external application of melatonin mitigated the damage caused by this stress. This protective effect was evidenced by a marked increase in the survival rate, stem diameter, and biomass of cucumber seedlings, along with a significant reduction in malondialdehyde content and electrolyte leakage rate. Further investigation revealed that exogenous melatonin promotes the accumulation of osmoregulatory substances, specifically soluble sugars, and proline, under alkaline stress. It also enhances the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and dehydroascorbate reductase, while significantly decreasing the accumulation of reactive oxygen species such as H₂O₂ and O₂⋅-. Furthermore, exogenous melatonin increased the activities of PM-H⁺-ATPase and V-H⁺-ATPase and stimulated the expression of stress-related genes, thereby regulating Na⁺ and K⁺ homeostasis under alkali stress. Additionally, exogenous melatonin promoted the synthesis of endogenous melatonin in cucumbers subjected to alkaline stress by inducing the expression of melatonin synthase genes, namely, CsASMT, CsCOMT, CsTDC, and CsSNAT.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Exogenous melatonin promoted cucumber seed germination and seedling establishment and enhanced cucumber alkali stress tolerance by mediating osmotic adjustment, reactive oxygen species scavenging, ion homeostasis maintenance, endogenous melatonin synthesis, and expression of stress-related genes.</p>","PeriodicalId":9198,"journal":{"name":"BMC Plant Biology","volume":"25 1","pages":"359"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11921661/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143656203","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}