Search

Protein feed resources in China are scarce, which hinders the developement of feed industry and animal husbandry. Yeast protein is rich in nutrients and has significant development potential. Yeast strains were isolated and identified under acidic conditions (pH 3.5), from fermented flour, bovine rumen chyme, corn steep liquor, and other raw materials. Through the determination of the growth performance, bacterial protein and flavor of the strains, a promising high-protein yeast strain was identified as a potential strain for yeast protein processing. Further, the research indicated that 20 acid-tolerant yeast strains, including Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pichia fermentans, Kluyveromyces marxianus, Yarrowia lipolytica, Candida tropicalis, Starmerella bacillaris, Zygosaccharomyces rouxii and Hanseniaspora thailandica, were obtained from different raw materials. Two superior strains, Pichia pastoris B-1 (7.65 g/L biomass, 4.96 g/L protein yield at pH 3.5; 9.32 g/L biomass, 5.81 g/L protein yield at pH 7.0) and Lactobacillus cerevisiae D-1 (8.00 g/L biomass, 3.91 g/L protein yield at pH 3.5; 14.91 g/L biomass, 6.87 g/L protein yield at pH 7.0), were identified based on biomass and protein production under shaking flask culture conditions. Flavor analysis revealed that strain B-1 had a higher content of flavor nucleotides and glutamic acid than strain D-1, along with a greater concentration of ester compounds. Thus, strain B-1 was identified as the potential strain for further application.. Therefore, B-1 strain was determined as the target strain. Finally, the growth characteristics and stress tolerance of B-1 strain were examined. It exhibited robust growth under conditions of pH≥2.0, temperature≤40 ℃ and NaCl concentration ( w /v )≤70 g/L.

Abstract Background The complete mitochondrial respiratory chain is a precondition for maintaining cellular energy supply, development, and metabolic balance. Due to the evolutionary differentiation of complexes and the semi-autonomy of mitochondria, respiratory chain subunits have become critical targets for crop improvement and fungal control. In fungi, mitochondrial complex I mediates growth and metabolism. However, the role of this complex in the pathogenesis of phytopathogenic fungi is largely unknown. Results In this study, we identified the NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase 24-kDa subunit (VdNuo1) of complex in vascular wilt pathogen, Verticillium dahliae, and examined its functional conservation in phytopathogenic fungi. Based on the treatments with respiratory chain inhibitors, the mitochondria-localized VdNuo1 was confirmed to regulate mitochondrial morphogenesis and homeostasis. VdNuo1 was induced during the different developmental stages in V. dahliae, including hyphal growth, conidiation, and melanized microsclerotia development. The VdNuo1 mutants displayed variable sensitivity to stress factors and decreased pathogenicity in multiple hosts, indicating that VdNuo1 is necessary in stress tolerance and full virulence. Comparative transcriptome analysis demonstrated that VdNuo1 mediates global transcriptional effects, including oxidation and reduction processes, fatty acid, sugar, and energy metabolism. These defects are partly attributed to impairments of mitochondrial morphological integrity, complex assembly, and related functions. Its homologue (CgNuo1) functions in the vegetative growth, melanin biosynthesis, and pathogenicity of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides; however, CgNuo1 does not restore the VdNuo1 mutant to normal phenotypes. Conclusions Our results revealed that VdNuo1 plays important roles in growth, metabolism, microsclerotia development, stress tolerance, and virulence of V. dahliae, sharing novel insight into the function of complex I and a potential fungicide target for pathogenic fungi.

The jasmonate ZIM-domain (JAZ) family of proteins serves as co-receptors and transcriptional repressors of jasmonic acid (JA) in plants. Their functional diversity and multiple roles make them important components of the regulatory network of JA and other hormonal signaling pathways. In this review, we provide an overview of the latest findings on JAZ family proteins and emphasize their roles in plant growth and development, and response to biotic and abiotic stress, along with their underlying mechanisms. Moreover, existing challenges and future applications are outlined with the aim of offering a reference for further research on JAZ proteins in the context of plant physiology.

Abstract Trichosporon asahii, a dimorphic fungus, causes bloodstream infections in immunocompromised patients with neutropenia. Biofilms are formed on the surfaces of medical devices such as catheters as T. asahii transitions morphologically from yeast to hyphae in the host environment. Oxidative stress tolerance and morphological changes of T. asahii are regulated by Hog1, a mitogen-activated protein kinase. The role of Hog1 in the biofilm formation by T. asahii, however, has remained unknown. In the present study, we demonstrated that a hog1 gene-deficient T. asahii mutant formed excess biofilm under a rich medium in vitro, but did not form biofilm in an in vivo evaluation system using silkworms. The hog1 gene-deficient T. asahii mutant formed a greater amount of biofilm than the parent strain in vitro. Under an oxidative stress condition in vitro, however, lower amounts of biofilm were formed by the hog1 gene-deficient T. asahii mutant than by the parent strain. In an in vivo evaluation system using silkworms, lower amounts of biofilm were formed by the hog1 gene-deficient T. asahii mutant than by the parent strain. Our findings suggest that Hog1 regulates biofilm formation by T. asahii in response to host environmental conditions, including oxidative stress.

Abstract Background White lupin (Lupinus albus L.) is a multi-purpose, climate resilient, pulse crop with exceptionally high protein content that makes it a suitable alternative of soybean in livestock feed. Although white lupin grows well on marginal sandy soils, previous studies have reported its sensitivity towards salinity stress. This experiment aims to assess the influence of salinity stress and mitigating role of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on performance of white lupin. Methodology The white lupin plants were sown in pots maintained at three salinity levels (1, 3 and 4.5 dS m− 1) throughout the growing season and foliar sprayed with different PGRs, including ascorbic acid, potassium chloride, boric acid, ammonium molybdate and methionine at sowing, four weeks after emergence and at the initiation of flowering. Foliar spray of distilled water and salinity level of 1 dS m− 1 were maintained as control treatments. Data were recorded for seed germination indices, plant growth, antioxidant enzymes and photosynthetic efficiency variables. Results The severe salinity stress (4.5 dS m− 1) reduced the germination indices by 9–50%, plant growth traits by 26–54%, root nodulation by 12–26%, grain development by 44–53%, antioxidant enzymes activity by 13–153% and photosynthetic attributes by 1–8% compared to control (1 dS m− 1). Different PGRs improved several morpho-physiological attributes in a varied manner. The application of potassium chloride improved seed vigour index by 53%, while ascorbic acid improved root nodulation by 12% and number of pods per cluster by 75% at the severe salinity level. The foliar application of PGRs also displayed a recovery of 140% in the activity of superoxide dismutase and 70% in catalase. The application of multi zinc displayed an improvement of 37% in plant relative chlorophyll, while ascorbic acid brought an increase of 25% in non-photochemical quenching and 21% in photochemical quenching coefficient at the severe salinity level. On contrary, the application of PGRs brought a relatively modest improvement (8–13%) in quantum yield of photosystem II at slight to moderate (3 dS m− 1) salinity stress. The correlation analysis confirmed a partial contribution of leaf area and seed vigour index to overall photosynthetic efficiency of white lupin. Conclusions Clearly, salinity exerted a negative impact on white lupin through a decline in chlorophyll content, activity of antioxidant enzymes and efficiency of photosynthetic apparatus. However, PGRs, especially ascorbic acid and potassium chloride considerably improved white lupin growth and development by mitigating the negative effects of salinity stress.

Abstract Siberian wildrye (Elymus sibiricus) is a xero-mesophytic forage grass with high nutritional quality and stress tolerance. Among its numerous germplasm resources, some possess superior drought resistance. In this study, we firstly investigated the physiological differences between the leaves of drought-tolerant (DT) and drought-sensitive (DS) genotypes under different field water contents (FWC) in soil culture. The results showed that, under drought stress, DT maintained a lower leaf water potential for water absorption, sustained higher photosynthetic efficiency, and reduced oxidative damage in leaves by efficiently maintaining the ascorbic acid-glutathione (ASA-GSH) cycle to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) compared to DS. Secondly, using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), we analyzed the gene expression profiles of DT and DS leaves under osmotic stress of hydroponics induced by PEG-6000. Through differential analysis, we identified 1226 candidate unigenes, from which we subsequently screened out 115/212 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that were more quickly induced/reduced in DT than in DS under osmotic stress. Among them, Unigene0005863 (EsSnRK2), Unigene0053902 (EsLRK10) and Unigene0031985 (EsCIPK5) may be involved in stomatal closure induced by abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathway. Unigene0047636 (EsCER1) may positively regulates the synthesis of very-long-chain (VLC) alkanes in cuticular wax biosynthesis, influencing plant responses to abiotic stresses. Finally, the contents of wax and cutin were measured by GC–MS under osmotic stress of hydroponics induced by PEG-6000. Corresponding to RNA-seq, contents of wax monomers, especially alkanes and alcohols, showed significant induction by osmotic stress in DT but not in DS. It is suggested that limiting stomatal and cuticle transpiration under drought stress to maintain higher photosynthetic efficiency and water use efficiency (WUE) is one of the critical mechanisms that confer stronger drought resistance to DT. This study provides some insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying drought tolerance in E. sibiricus. The identified genes may provide a foundation for the selection and breeding of drought-tolerant crops.

Background. Improving the work on psychological prevention of stagnation in professional and personal development of employees (military personnel) as well as counteracting the spread of negative information and psychological effects provide for professional efficiency and reliability of the personnel of law enforcement agencies. Objectives. The article is aimed at studying the issues of negative information and psychological impact as determinants of stagnation in professional and personal development of representatives of law enforcement agencies. Study Participants. The study was conducted on a sample of 163 people (62 police officers, 87 military personnel, 14 employees of the penal enforcement system). The participants are men who have been in office for more than 3 years and are experiencing negative information and psychological effects; the average age is 32.4 years. Methods. Questionnaire for studying the impact of negative information and psychological effects on the personnel of law enforcement agencies; questionnaires for assessing the stagnation of professional and personal development and assessing the information stress tolerance by V.E. Petrov's employees were applied. Descriptive statistics, frequency analysis, evaluation of differences using the Mann-Whitney U-test, correlation analysis by Ch. Spearman were used for statistical processing of the empirical data. Results. With intense negative information and psychological impact, representatives of law enforcement agencies expressed: a subjective feeling of stagnation, loss of motivation for self-realization, awareness of stagnation in development. Such characteristics of personality and behaviour as information intelligibility, moderate information activity and sensitivity to stress, stress regulation of behaviour act as protectors from stagnation under the influence of negative information and psychological effects. Conclusions. The study found that representatives of law enforcement agencies integrate negative intensive informational and psychological impact into the overall assessment of the level of psychological stress in the service. The etiology and generalization of information stress and stagnation of professional and personal development among police officers, the penal enforcement system officers, and military personnel are largely similar. Countering negative information and psychological effects and overcoming stagnation phenomena in professional and personal development can serve as the basis for a system of prevention of deviant behaviours in the personnel of law enforcement agencies.

Abstract Microalgae like Chlamydomonas are beneficial organisms employed as biological stimulants to improve plants’ growth, fruit quality, and stress tolerance. In the current study, the effects of Chlamydomonas sp. foliar spraying (0, 20, and 40 ml L−1) were assayed on Camarosa strawberry plants under salinity stress (0, 40, and 80 mM NaCl). The results showed that the foliar application of Chlamydomonas extract influenced strawberry’s morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics under salinity stress. Foliar treatment of Chlamydomonas extract with and without salinity stress increased the leaf number and leaf area, the leaf relative water content, and photosynthetic pigments content. Moreover, the foliar application of Chlamydomonas extract decreased lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide content and, on the other hand, enhanced the antioxidant enzymes activity (superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase, and peroxidase), phenolics, flavonoids, and anthocyanins content under salinity stress. For instance, the highest total antioxidant capacity was found in the plants foliar treated with 40 ml L−1 of Chlamydomonas algae extract under 80 mM salinity stress, which increased by 102.4% compared to the controls, as well as the highest total phenolic compounds and anthocyanin’s content were 30.22, and 7.2% more than the control plants, respectively. Overall, the foliar application of Chlamydomonas algae extracts, especially at a concentration of 20 ml L−1 enhanced the strawberry’s growth, yield, and physiological traits under saline conditions. The results with more detailed evaluations will be advisable for the pioneer farmers and extension section.

Abstract Background Soil bacteria often form close associations with their host plants, particularly within the root compartment, playing a significant role in plant growth and stress resilience. Vachellia tortilis subsp. raddiana, (V. tortilis subsp. raddiana)a leguminous tree, naturally thrives in the harsh, arid climate of the Guelmim region in southern Morocco. This study aims to explore the diversity and potential plant growth-promoting (PGP) activities of bacteria associated with this tree. Results A total of 152 bacterial isolates were obtained from the rhizosphere of V. tortilis subsp. raddiana. Rep-PCR fingerprinting revealed 25 distinct genomic groups, leading to the selection of 84 representative strains for further molecular identification via 16 S rRNA gene sequencing. Seventeen genera were identified, with Bacillus and Pseudomonas being predominant. Bacillus strains demonstrated significant tolerance to water stress (up to 30% PEG), while Pseudomonas strains showed high salinity tolerance (up to 14% NaCl). In vitro studies indicated variability in PGP activities among the strains, including mineral solubilization, biological nitrogen fixation, ACC deaminase activity, and production of auxin, siderophores, ammonia, lytic enzymes, and HCN. Three elite strains were selected for greenhouse inoculation trials with V. tortilis subsp. raddiana. Strain LMR725 notably enhanced various plant growth parameters compared to uninoculated control plants. Conclusions The findings underscore the potential of Bacillus and Pseudomonas strains as biofertilizers, with strain LMR725 showing particular promise in enhancing the growth of V. tortilis subsp. raddiana. This strain emerges as a strong candidate for biofertilizer formulation aimed at improving plant growth and resilience in arid environments.

Microorganisms are often affected by various environmental stresses (such as acid, heat, salt and oxidation) in the production and processing of fermented foods. Cross-protection refers to the phenomenon in which microorganisms are induced to increase stress tolerance after subjected to certain stresses. Improving microbial environmental tolerance with cross-protection is of great significance for improving the functional characteristics of microorganisms and promoting the development of the fermented food industry. In this paper, the cross-protection of microorganisms in fermented foods is reviewed. Furthermore, the response mechanisms of microbial cells under cross-protection are summarizes from the aspects of the cell wall and membrane barrier system, the intracellular pH regulation system, and the protein and amino acid regulation system, and possible strategies are suggested to improve the stability of microorganisms under stress conditions.

Zoysia japonica Steud. (zoysia grass), with its high drought, shade, and salt tolerance, it is an excellent choice for green areas. However, in regions with subtropical climates, it goes into winter dormancy with a loss of green color and functionality, which is a main barrier to its widespread use. The application of silicon and nitrogen in fall was hypothesized to enhance winter color retention of Z. japonica. This study assessed the impact of fall (late-season) nitrogen (0, 2.5, or 5.0 g/m2 ammonium sulfate) and foliar silicon (0, 3, or 6 mL/L potassium silicate) applications on the winter color retention of Z. japonica grown in the field. The experiment was conducted over two consecutive growing seasons in Antalya, Türkiye. Turfgrass quality, color, chlorophyll content, shoot density, and winter dormancy were all improved by late-season nitrogen application. Overall, two sequential nitrogen applications at 5 g/m2 in fall provided 65% to 100% green coverage with acceptable turfgrass quality during fall and winter, indicating the possibility of maintaining the year-round green color of Z. japonica in subtropical climates. However, the silicon treatment did not affect the winter color retention of Z. japonica. The apparent lack of a beneficial response of Z. japonica to the silicon application might be due to the dose, application methods, and silicon source.

ABSTRACT Microbial transformation is a favored approach for environmental remediation. However, the effectiveness of microbial remediation has been limited by the lack of chassis cells with satisfactory contaminant degradation performance. Pseudomonas putida B6-2, with a wide substrate spectrum and high solvent tolerance, is a chassis strain with great potential for application in environmental remediation. Here, guided by bioinformatic analyses and genome-scale metabolic model (GEM) predictions, we successfully optimized P. putida B6-2 by rationally reducing its nonessential genetic components and generating a more robust genome-streamlined strain, P. putida BGR4. Several improvements were observed compared with the original P. putida B6-2 strain, including a 1.4 × 105-fold increase in electroporation efficiency, an 8.3-fold increase in conjugation efficiency, improved glycerol utilization capability, and increased phenol utilization after heterologous expression of the phenol monooxygenase encoded by dmpKLMNOP. Additionally, P. putida BGR4 exhibited enhanced tolerance to several stressors, including starvation, oxidative stress, and DNA damage. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that genome streamlining led to the upregulation of genes involved in the “carbon metabolism” and “tricarboxylic acid cycle” pathways in P. putida BGR4, which likely contributed to the superior phenotype of P. putida BGR4 in terms of carbon source utilization and contaminant degradation capabilities. Furthermore, the absence of four prophages was identified as a potential cause of the enhanced stress resistance observed in P. putida BGR4. Overall, we developed a combined genome-streamlining strategy involving bioinformatic analyses and GEM predictions and generated a more robust chassis strain, P. putida BGR4, which expands the repertoire of chassis cells for environmental remediation.IMPORTANCEDespite the development of many chassis cells, there is still a lack of robust chassis cells with satisfactory contaminant degradation performance. Targeted genome streamlining is an effective way to provide powerful chassis cells. However, genome streamlining does not always lead to the improved phenotypes of genome-streamlined chassis cells. In this research, a novel procedure that combined bioinformatic analyses and GEM predictions was proposed to guide genome streamlining and predict the effects of genome streamlining. This genome streamlining procedure was successfully applied to Pseudomonas putida B6-2, which was a chassis cell with great potential for application in environmental remediation and resulted in the generation of a more robust chassis cell, P. putida BGR4, thereby providing a superior chassis cell for efficient and sustainable environmental remediation and a valuable framework for guiding the genome streamlining of strains for other applications.

Biostimulants are substances/micro-organisms that have the ability to stimulate plant growth, nutrition and stress tolerance independently of their nutritional content. They are increasingly replacing the use of chemical fertilizers, which have harmful consequences for the environment. Biostimulants are derived from a variety of sources, including micro-organisms, plant extracts, algae, hydrolysates of animal or plant proteins, and humic substances. They have been tested on a variety of crops under normal and abiotic stress conditions and have succeed each time in proving their effectiveness in improving the chemical composition of plants. This improvement has a positive impact on plants' nutritional properties and resistance to stress conditions. These effects not only have positive impact on human health, but also on climate change challenges, and increasing demand for food. However, the difficulty in interpreting the results obtained from the use of biostimulants is due to their variable composition, which is not always known, making it difficult to determine their modes of action and hence their regulation. The purpose of this review is to highlight the positive effect of biostimulants on the chemical composition of food crops under normal or abiotic stress conditions. It presents an overview of chemical variability in plants and gathers studies that help clarify the effect of biostimulants. Additional studies on economic aspects, research gaps, and future prospects in the field of biostimulants are also discussed.

It is incredible that plants can actively promote cellular dedifferentiation and regeneration. The change in cell fate is accompanied by modifications to the epigenetic landscape. Plants may regulate developmental processes and environmental adaptation via the establishment, maintenance, and removal of epigenetic changes in addition to genetically encoded variables. Studies on plant regeneration are very important since the underlying processes are connected to basic research in many different domains as well as the development of widely used plant biotechnology. De novo organogenesis, somatic embryogenesis, and tissue regeneration are the three primary kinds of regeneration observed in higher plants. In-vitro culturing may cause histone methylation to reassemble the nuclear architecture. The process of somatic embryogenesis and regeneration relates to different methylation states that regulate gene expression in-vitro. In order to generate huge amounts of top-notch planting materials or to enhance agronomic features that promote crop development, it may be necessary to change the methylation profile. Enhancing the embryogenic potential and totipotency in resistant plant species and specific genotypes could be achievable by developing techniques with the aid of an understanding of the molecular processes behind methylation changes and the acquisition of embryonic cell destiny during in-vitro cultures. Additionally, the methylation profile may help crops adapt to extreme conditions when they experience diverse challenges throughout in-vitro growth. In this article, we examine the studies on how histone methylation affects plant variety and explore the possibilities of targeted epigenetic modification for crop development.

Plants are considered as sessile organisms that cannot avoid adverse environmental conditions and developed complex signaling networks composed of different pathways. WRKY transcription factors (TFs) are key regulators of various plant processes, including the responses to abiotic stresses. WRKY TFs are one of the largest family of transcriptional regulators found in plants. WRKY TFs act as molecular switches that modulate the expression of stress-responsive genes. Stress-induced WRKY TFs expression modulated by a complex transcriptional regulatory network that maintain the proper balance between growth, development, and stress responses. WRKY TFs typically interact with the W-box [TGACC(A/T)] of the target gene promoter to activate the expression of downstream genes. These TFs are associated in the regulation of different physiological processes. Overexpression of various WRKY genes faces the paradox of having various significant effects. These overexpression-associated undesirable phenotypes must be identified and removed for proper plant development. The present review summarized the recent development of various WRKY TFs during adverse environmental conditions as well as their role in plant growth, development and productivity for sustainable agriculture in near future.

Rad6 functions as a ubiquitin-conjugating protein that regulates cellular processes in many fungal species. However, its role in filamentous entomopathogenic fungi remains poorly understood. This study characterizes Rad6 in Beauveria bassiana, a filamentous fungus widely employed as a critical fungicide globally. The results demonstrate a significant association between Rad6 and conidial properties, heat shock response, and UV-B tolerance. Concurrently, the mutant strain exhibited heightened sensitivity to oxidative stress, cell wall interfering agents, DNA damage stress, and prolonged heat shock. Furthermore, the absence of Rad6 significantly extended the median lethal time (LT50) of Galleria mellonella infected by B. bassiana. This delay could be attributed to reduced Pr1 proteases and extracellular cuticle-degrading enzymes, diminished dimorphic transition rates, and dysregulated antioxidant enzymes. Additionally, the absence of Rad6 had a more pronounced effect on genetic information processing, metabolism, and cellular processes under normal conditions. However, its impact was limited to metabolism in oxidative stress. This study offers a comprehensive understanding of the pivotal roles of Rad6 in conidial and hyphal stress tolerance, environmental adaptation, and the pathogenesis of Beauveria bassiana.

Osmolytes proline (Pro) and glycine betaine (GB) have been reported to impart tolerance against salinity stress in many plants. However, there is no report available on the combined application of Pro and GB to mitigate salinity-induced growth inhibition in maize. Consequently, the goal of the current study is to assess Pro's and GB's potential as priming and exogenous agents in maize under salt stress. Therefore, the present study was conducted using a petri dish and hydroponic pot experiment to evaluate the morpho-physiological and biochemical characteristics of maize plants subjected to salt stress, with the addition of Pro and GB. The seeds of maize were germinated under 20 mM of each Pro or GB, with or without 120 mM salinity stress. The findings demonstrated that salt stress lessened the final germination percentage (FGP) (52.9 %), photosynthetic pigments (40.0 %), relative water content (RWC) (20.2 %), stomatal size (59.3 %), and leaf and root K+/Na+ ratios of maize seedlings compared to control. In addition, compared to the control, higher levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) (24.2 %) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (25.7 %) were observed, whereas lower levels of catalase (CAT) (43.8 %) and peroxidase (POX) (30.4 %) were noted. The priming with Pro, GB, Pro+GB significantly increased FGP, germination index (GI), shoot-root biomass, seed vigor index (SVI), and reduced mean germination time (MGT) under salt stress. Foliar application of Pro, GB, or Pro+GB resulted in a significant increment in chlorophyll contents, RWC, K+ absorption, and stomatal size under salt stress. Furthermore, supplementing with Pro, GB, or Pro+GB reduced the accumulation of H2O2 (24.0, 23.3, and 31.1 %, respectively) and MDA (22.8, 17.2, and 32.1 %, respectively) caused by salt and augmented the levels of CAT (33.3, 22.8, and 45.2 %, respectively) and POX (36.4, 23.5, and 47.2 %, respectively) in the leaves. Taken together, the current study's findings indicate that combining Pro and GB is one of the most effective techniques for improving the salinity-tolerant seed germination and seedling traits of maize plants. Consequently, this study recommends that Pro and GB can be used as seed priming and exogenous agents to help maize grow faster in salt-stress situations.

Heavy metal (HM) toxicity of agricultural soils poses a major risk to plant health, human life, and global food chain. Crop output and health are negatively impacted when HM levels in agricultural soils reach hazardous points. The nano-biochar (nano-BC) mediated stress tolerance has attracted growing scientific interest because biochar has the potential to be a novel and sustainable solution that may be actively included into the development of sustainable agriculture and food production. At present, biochar is extensively employed as a powerful tool to enhance sustainable agriculture with minimal impact on ecosystems and the environment. Nano-BC offers improved surface area, adsorption and mobility properties in soil compared to traditional fertilizers. Furthermore, nano-BC may prove to be the most practical substitute for traditional waste management techniques because of its affordability, sustainability, and environmental friendliness. In this review, we examine the application of nano-BC in the regulation of HM stress tolerance for improving plant growth and development. We focus on the impact of HMs impact on crop productivity, nano-BC amendments, their application, and production. The article also explores the nano-BC risk and toxicity. Through the perspective of multidisciplinary research, this work highlights the significance of nano-BC as cutting-edge tools in the field of agriculture, igniting a paradigm shift toward sustainable and stress-resilient farming systems.

Abstract Lead affects photosynthesis and growth and has serious toxic effects on plants. Here, the differential expressed proteins (DEPs) in D. huoshanense were investigated under different applications of lead acetate solutions. Using label-free quantitative proteomics methods, more than 12,000 peptides and 2,449 proteins were identified. GO and KEGG functional annotations show that these differential proteins mainly participate in carbohydrate metabolism, energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism, translation, protein folding, sorting, and degradation, as well as oxidation and reduction processes. A total of 636 DEPs were identified, and lead could induce the expression of most proteins. KEGG enrichment analysis suggested that proteins involved in processes such as homologous recombination, vitamin B6 metabolism, flavonoid biosynthesis, cellular component organisation or biogenesis, and biological regulation were significantly enriched. Nearly 40 proteins are involved in DNA replication and repair, RNA synthesis, transport, and splicing. The effect of lead stress on D. huoshanense may be achieved through photosynthesis, oxidative phosphorylation, and the production of excess antioxidant substances. The expression of 9 photosynthesis-related proteins and 12 oxidative phosphorylation-related proteins was up-regulated after lead stress. Furthermore, a total of 3 SOD, 12 POD, 3 CAT, and 7 ascorbate-related metabolic enzymes were identified. Under lead stress, almost all key enzymes involved in the synthesis of antioxidant substances are up-regulated, which may facilitate the scavenging of oxygen-free radical scavenging. The expression levels of some key enzymes involved in sugar and glycoside synthesis, the phenylpropanoid synthesis pathway, and the terpene synthesis pathway also increased. More than 30 proteins involved in heavy metal transport were also identified. Expression profiling revealed a significant rise in the expression of the ABC-type multidrug resistance transporter, copper chaperone, and P-type ATPase with exposure to lead stress. Our findings lay the basis for research on the response and resistance of D. huoshanense to heavy metal stress.

In this paper, I elucidated the influence of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on wheat cadmium (Cd) tolerance. Research results manifested that Cd stress increased superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione peroxidase activities, and ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) contents. However, Cd stress decreased AsA/ dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) and GSH/oxidised glutathione (GSSG) ratios, and inhibited photosynthetic performance and plant growth. Compared to Cd alone, GABA plus Cd improved wheat Cd tolerance by increasing the activities of above antioxidant enzymes, AsA and GSH contents, and AsA/DHA and GSH/GSSG ratios. Meanwhile, compared with Cd alone, GABA plus Cd also enhanced the photosynthetic performance by improving chlorophyll (Chl) and carotenoid (Car) contents and Car/Chl ratio, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular carbon dioxide concentration, and Chl fluorescence parameters maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII, photochemical quenching, nonphotochemical quenching and quantum efficiency of PSII photochemistry, which further promoted plant height and biomass. Compared to control, GABA alone also improved above indicators. Current results suggested that GABA can be applied as an anti-cadmium agent in wheat production practice.

Abstract Jujubae Fructus, the fruit of Ziziphus jujuba Mill has been used as one of the medicine food homology species for thousands of years in China. Studies have shown that the active ingredients of Jujubae Fructus have a variety of biological effects, but its role in the aging process still lacks knowledge. Here, we investigated the effect of Jujubae Fructus extract (JE) on Caenorhabditis elegans lifespan and its potential mechanism. The lifespan of C. elegans treated with JE was signifificantly increased in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, JE treatment prolonged the reproductive period and increased normal activity during aging in C. elegans. Similarly, JE supplementation also enhanced the resistance to heat and oxidative stress in C. elegans. Furthermore, the mutant worms' lifespan assays demonstrated that JE requires daf-16 to prolong lifespan. DAF-16::GFP analysis of TJ356 showed that JE treatment translocates DAF-16::GFP to nucleus in transgenic worms. By analyzing the downstream of daf-16, we identify that JE may regulate sod3 downstream of daf-16. Mutant worms' lifespan and transgenic reporter gene expression assays revealed that increasing SOD-3 expression was critical for extending longevity in C. elegans with JE therapy. Collectively, these data indicate that JE may have an important role in C. elegans longevity that is dependent on DAF-16 and SOD-3.

Abstract Fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew and rusts, significantly affect the quality and yield of wheat. Pyramiding diverse types of resistance genes into cultivars represents the preferred strategy to combat these diseases. Moreover, achieving collaborative improvement between diseases resistance, abiotic stress, quality, and agronomic and yield traits is difficult in genetic breeding. In this study, the wheat cultivar, Guinong 29 (GN29), showed high resistance to powdery mildew and stripe rust at both seedling and adult plant stages, and was susceptible to leaf rust at the seedling stage but slow resistance at the adult-plant stage. Meanwhile, it has elite agronomic and yield traits, indicating promising coordination ability among multiple diseases resistance and other key breeding traits. To determine the genetic basis of these elite traits, GN29 was tested with 113 molecular markers for 98 genes associated with diseases resistance, stress tolerance, quality, and adaptability. The results indicated that two powdery mildew resistance (Pm) genes, Pm2 and Pm21, confirmed the outstanding resistance to powdery mildew through genetic analysis, marker detection, genomic in situ hybridization (GISH), non-denaturing fluorescence in situ hybridization (ND-FISH), and homology-based cloning; the stripe rust resistance (Yr) gene Yr26 and leaf rust resistance (Lr) genes Lr1 and Lr46 conferred the stripe rust and slow leaf rust resistance in GN29, respectively. Meanwhile, GN29 carries dwarfing genes Rht-B1b and Rht-D1a, vernalization genes vrn-A1, vrn-B1, vrn-D1, and vrn-B3, which were consistent with the phenotypic traits in dwarf characteristic and semi-winter property; carries genes Dreb1 and Ta-CRT for stress tolerance to drought, salinity, low temperature, and abscisic acid (ABA), suggesting that GN29 may also have elite stress-tolerance ability; and carries two low-molecular-weight glutenin subunit genes Glu-B3b and Glu-B3bef which contributed to high baking quality. This study not only elucidated the genetic basis of the elite traits in GN29 but also verified the capability for harmonious improvement in both multiple diseases resistance and other comprehensive traits, offering valuable information for breeding breakthrough-resistant cultivars.

Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum, a plant pathogenic bacterium that can survive for a long time in soil and water, causes lethal wilt in the Solanaceae family. Sigma S is a part of the RNA polymerase complex, which regulates gene expression during bacterial stress response or stationary phase. In this study, we investigated the role of sigma S in R. pseudosolanacearum under stress conditions using a rpoS-defective mutant strain of R. pseudosolanacearum and its wild-type strain. The phenotypes of rpoS-defective mutant were complemented by introducing the original rpoS gene. There were no differences observed in bacterial growth rate and exopolysaccharide production between the wild-type strain and the rpoS mutant. However, the wild-type strain responded more sensitively to nutrient deficiency compared to the mutant strain. Under the nutrient deficiency, the rpoS mutant maintained a high bacterial viability for a longer period, while the viability of the wild-type strain declined rapidly. Furthermore, a significant difference in pH was observed between the culture supernatant of the wild-type strain and the mutant strain. The pH of the culture supernatant for the wild-type strain decreased rapidly during bacterial growth, leading to medium acidification. The rapid decline in the wild-type strain's viability may be associated with medium acidification and bacterial sensitivity to acidity during transition to the stationary phase. Interestingly, the rpoS mutant strain cannot utilize acetic acid, D-alanine, D-trehalose, and L-histidine. These results suggest that sigma S of R. pseudosolanacearum regulates the production or utilization of organic acids and controls cell death during stationary phase under nutrient deficiency.

Beneficial microbes are crucial for improving crop adaptation and growth under various stresses. They enhance nutrient uptake, improve plant immune responses, and help plants tolerate stresses like drought, salinity, and heat. The yield potential of any crop is significantly influenced by its associated microbiomes and their potential to improve growth under different stressful environments. Therefore, it is crucial and exciting to understand the mechanisms of plant–microbe interactions. Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the primary staple foods worldwide, in addition to wheat and rice. Maize is also an industrial crop globally, contributing 83% of its production for use in feed, starch, and biofuel industries. Maize requires significant nitrogen fertilization to achieve optimal growth and yield. Maize plants are highly susceptible to heat, salinity, and drought stresses and require innovative methods to mitigate the harmful effects of environmental stresses and reduce the use of chemical fertilizers. This review summarizes our current understanding of the beneficial interactions between maize plants and specific microbes. These beneficial microbes improve plant resilience to stress and increase productivity. For example, they regulate electron transport, downregulate catalase, and upregulate antioxidants. We also review the roles of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in enhancing stress tolerance in maize. Additionally, we explore the application of these microbes in maize production and identify major knowledge gaps that need to be addressed to utilize the potential of beneficial microbes fully.

Plant transcriptomics is an important field for understanding the dynamics of gene expression, regulatory mechanisms and interactions underlying plant development and stress responses. Despite advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies, the vast amount of transcriptomic data poses significant challenges to traditional methods of analysis and limits the generation of meaningful biological insights. This review addresses the integration of machine learning (ML) techniques in plant transcriptomics and emphasizes their potential to transform data analysis and interpretation. We analyzed different ML methods and their applications in the identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), the elucidation of functional annotations and the reconstruction of regulatory networks. The main results show that ML approaches improve the accuracy of transcriptome analyses and facilitate the identification of novel gene functions and regulatory interactions that may be overlooked by conventional methods. The implications of this work are profound. The use of ML can lead to a deeper understanding of plant biology and significantly impact crop improvement strategies. By revealing the complexity of stress tolerance and developmental processes, ML applications can inform breeding programs and improve agricultural resilience. Future research should focus on refining ML algorithms, improving the accessibility of these tools for plant scientists, and fostering interdisciplinary collaborations to maximize the potential of ML in plant transcriptomics.

ABSTRACT Brucellosis is a debilitating disease caused by the Gram-negative, facultative intracellular zoonotic pathogen Brucella. En route to its intracellular replicative niche, Brucella encounters various stressful environments that may compromise envelope integrity. Here we show that the proposed type 4 secretion system (T4SS) effector BspD is a conserved protein of the Rhizobiales, which does not show signs of co-evolution with the presence of a T4SS or a certain lifestyle. We further present data indicating that BspD is critical for the envelope integrity of Brucella abortus in the stationary phase and in the presence of EDTA, a compound known to destabilize the outer membrane. Deletion of bspD resulted in abnormal bacterial morphologies, indicating its involvement in maintaining envelope integrity. Additionally, the absence of BspD led to the formation of fewer and smaller intracellular microcolonies in a macrophage infection model. From our observations, we propose that BspD of B. abortus is critical for preserving the integrity of the bacterial envelope, particularly under stressful conditions, which may enhance Brucella’s ability to survive within host cells.IMPORTANCEBrucellosis, caused by the intracellular pathogen Brucella, poses a significant health threat. Understanding how Brucella adapts to stressful environments is crucial. This study unveils BspD, a conserved protein within the Rhizobiales order, as a key player in maintaining Brucella's envelope integrity. Remarkably, BspD’s presence within the Rizobiales appears independent of the presence of a T4SS or a specific lifestyle. Deletion of bspD resulted in compromised envelope integrity, abnormal bacterial morphologies, and reduced intracellular microcolony formation. These findings underscore BspD’s critical role, particularly in stressful conditions like the stationary phase and EDTA exposure, and highlight its significance for the survival of Brucella within host cells. This elucidation deepens our understanding of Brucella pathogenesis and may inform future therapeutic strategies against brucellosis.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is considered the most promising large-scale production strain with ethanol as the main product. The fermentation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is generally inhibited under various stress conditions. Various inhibitors in the hydrolysate severely inhibit yeast proliferation and yeast accumulation. In this study, S. cerevisiae ERG5, NTH1, and AMS1 were knocked out to improve the yeast stress tolerance by the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats Cas9 (CRISPR-Cas9) technology. The result indicated that the stress tolerance of S. cerevisiae ERG5ΔNTH1ΔAMS1Δ mutant (S. cerevisiae SCENA) was remarkably improved compared with the wild-type strain. The contents of fecosterol, trehalose, and mannan in S. cerevisiae SCENA were 1.67, 1.53, and 1.47 folds compared with those in the control. The ethanol concentration in S. cerevisiae SCENA reached 16.5 g/L, which was 1.23 folds compared with the control using rice bran hydrolysate. Further, the transcriptome analysis indicated down-regulated differential expression genes (DEGs) in S. cerevisiae SCENA were mainly from cellular response to glucose, cell periphery, and plasma membrane. Up-regulated DEGs were mainly from spore wall assembly, fungal-type cell wall assembly, and ascospore wall assembly. Thus, S. cerevisiae SCENA could effectively produce ethanol using the fermentation of lignocellulosic hydrolysate in the presence of inhibitors by regulating fecosterol, trehalose, and mannan metabolisms.

Metabolites represent the end product of gene expression, protein interaction and other regulatory mechanisms. The metabolome reflects a biological system’s response to genetic and environmental changes, providing a more accurate description of plants’ phenotype than the transcriptome or the proteome. Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.), established for the production of wine grapes, table grapes, and raisins, holds immense agronomical and economic significance not only in the Mediterranean region but worldwide. As all plants, grapevines face the adverse impact of biotic and abiotic stresses that negatively affect multiple stages of grape and wine industry, including plant and berry development pre- and post-harvest, fresh grapes processing and consequently wine quality. In the present review we highlight the applicability of metabolome analysis in the understanding of the mechanisms involved in grapevine response and acclimatization upon the main biotic and abiotic constrains. The metabolome of induced morphogenic processes such as adventitious rooting and somatic embryogenesis is also explored, as it adds knowledge on the physiological and molecular phenomena occurring in the explants used, and on the successfully propagation of grapevines with desired traits. Finally, the microbiome-induced metabolites in grapevine are discussed in view of beneficial applications derived from the plant symbioses.

Despite a critical role for tumor-initiating cancer stem cells (CSCs) in breast cancer progression, major questions remain about the properties and signaling pathways essential for their function. Recent discoveries highlighting mechanisms of CSC-resistance to the stress caused by chromosomal instability (CIN) may provide valuable new insight into the underlying forces driving stemness properties. While stress tolerance is a well-known attribute of CSCs, CIN-induced stress is distinctive since levels appear to increase during tumor initiation and metastasis. These dynamic changes in CIN levels may serve as a barrier constraining the effects of non-CSCs and shaping the stemness landscape during the early stages of disease progression. In contrast to most other stresses, CIN can also paradoxically activate pro-tumorigenic antiviral signaling. Though seemingly contradictory, this may indicate that mechanisms of CIN tolerance and pro-tumorigenic inflammatory signaling closely collaborate to define the CSC state. Together, these unique features may form the basis for a critical relationship between CIN and stemness properties.

Abstract Bacterial ClpB is an ATP-dependent disaggregate that belongs to the Hsp100/Clp family and facilitates bacterial survival under hostile environmental conditions. Streptococcus agalactiae, which is regarded as the major bacterial pathogen of farmed Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), is known to cause high mortality and large economic losses. Here, we report a ClpB homologue of S. agalactiae and explore its functionality. S. agalactiae with a clpB deletion mutant (∆clpB) exhibited defective tolerance against heat and acidic stress, without affecting growth or morphology under optimal conditions. Moreover, the ΔclpB mutant exhibited reduced intracellular survival in RAW264.7 cells, diminished adherence to the brain cells of tilapia, increased sensitivity to leukocytes from the head kidney of tilapia and whole blood killing, and reduced mortality and bacterial loads in a tilapia infection assay. Furthermore, the reduced virulence of the ∆clpB mutant was investigated by transcriptome analysis, which revealed that deletion of clpB altered the expression levels of multiple genes that contribute to the stress response as well as certain metabolic pathways. Collectively, our findings demonstrated that ClpB, a molecular chaperone, plays critical roles in heat and acid stress resistance and virulence in S. agalactiae. This finding provides an enhanced understanding of the functionality of this ClpB homologue in gram-positive bacteria and the survival strategy of S. agalactiae against immune clearance during infection.

Abstract Human adipose-derived stem cell (ASC) grafts have emerged as a powerful tool in regenerative medicine. However, ASC therapeutic potential is hindered by stressors throughout their use. Here we demonstrate the transgenic expression of the tardigrade-derived mitochondrial abundant heat soluble (MAHS) protein for improved ASC resistance to metabolic, mitochondrial, and injection shear stress. In vitro, MAHS-expressing ASCs demonstrate up to 61% increased cell survival following 72 h of incubation in phosphate buffered saline containing 20% media. Following up to 3.5% DMSO exposure for up to 72 h, a 14–49% increase in MAHS-expressing ASC survival was observed. Further, MAHS expression in ASCs is associated with up to 39% improved cell viability following injection through clinically relevant 27-, 32-, and 34-gauge needles. Our results reveal that MAHS expression in ASCs supports survival in response to a variety of common stressors associated with regenerative therapies, thereby motivating further investigation into MAHS as an agent for stem cell stress resistance. However, differentiation capacity in MAHS-expressing ASCs appears to be skewed in favor of osteogenesis over adipogenesis. Specifically, activity of the early bone formation marker alkaline phosphatase is increased by 74% in MAHS-expressing ASCs following 14 days in osteogenic media. Conversely, positive area of the neutral lipid droplet marker BODIPY is decreased by up to 10% in MAHS-transgenic ASCs following 14 days in adipogenic media. Interestingly, media supplementation with up to 40 mM glucose is sufficient to restore adipogenic differentiation within 14 days, prompting further analysis of mechanisms underlying interference between MAHS and differentiation processes.

Background. In the context of global climate change, the study and development of genetic material with environmental plasticity and stability in the manifestation of its traits becomes relevant. The scientific and practical results achieved in triticale breeding place this crop among the most popular cereals in terms of economic importance. However, the main problem for the use of triticale in breeding practice is its limited genetic resources.Materials and methods. The research materials were 161 winter triticale (× Triticosecale Wittm. ex A. Camus) accessions from the global collection of VIR. The study and breeding-oriented assessment of the material were based on conventional breeding techniques and carried out according to the guidelines approved by VIR with minor amendments. The obtained research data underwent statistical analysis using the method by A. V. Kilchevsky and L. V. Khotyleva.Results. Environmental and genetic parameters were analyzed under the conditions of the Middle Volga Region of Russia. Genotypes were identified for their high general adaptability, i. e., securing the highest average yield in the entire set of environments. Cultivars were also selected for their least variable high yields under the impact of weather conditions. The analysis of the studied set of accessions showed that both high-yielding and low-yielding genotypes were stable. The character’s mean value and its environmental sensitivity were relatively independent and could be incorporated in one genotype in various combinations. This finding can be used in the process of triticale breeding.

Abstract Purpose Co-culturing is a widely used method to improve bioethanol production from biomass enriched in fermentable sugars. This study aims to produce bioethanol from sugarcane molasses by simultaneous co-fermentation of S. cerevisiae isolate TA2 and W. anomalus isolate HCJ2F-19. Methods Response surface methodology (RSM) based on the central composite design (CCD) was employed to optimize fermentation conditions, including mixing rate (110–150 rpm), temperature (25–35 °C), molasses concentration (25–35 obrix), and incubation time (36–72 h). The ethanol concentration was analyzed using HPLC equipped with a UV detector. Results The monocultureS. cerevisiae isolate TA2 produced 17.2 g.L−1 of ethanol, 0.33 g.g−1 of ethanol yield, and 0.36 g.L−1.h−1 of productivity compared to W. anomalus isolate HCJ2F that produced 14.5 g.L−1, 0.30 g.g−1 and 0.28 g.L−1.h−1 ethanol, ethanol yield, and productivity under laboratory conditions, respectively. In comparison to single cultures of S. cerevisiae TA2 and W. anomalus HCJ2F, the co-fermentation using both isolates showed an increased ethanol yield of 29% and 53% compared to the single species fermentations, respectively. The results showed that the growth of W. anomalus HCJ2F-19 and S. cerevisiae TA2 was not influenced by each other during the co-fermentation process. The one variable at a time optimization (OVAT) analysis resulted in an ethanol concentration of 26.5 g.L−1 with a specific yield and productivity of 0.46 g.g−1, 0.55 g.L−1.h−1, respectively, at pH 5.5, 25 obrix, 48 h, 150 rpm, 30 °C, 60:40 inoculum ratio, and 10% overall inoculum size. The maximum ethanol concentration of 35.5 g.L−1 was obtained by co-fermentation using the RSM-CCD tool at 30 obrix, 30 °C, 54 h, and 130 rpm. Conclusion The results suggested that the co-fermentation of S. cerevisiae isolate TA2 and W. anomalus isolate HCJ2F improves bioethanol production from sugar cane molasses under optimum fermentation conditions.

Abstract O-GlcNAcylation is a unique monosaccharide modification that is ubiquitously present in numerous nucleoplasmic and mitochondrial proteins. The hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP), which is a key branch of glycolysis, provides the unique sugar donor UDP-GlcNAc for the O-GlcNAc modification. Thus, HBP/O-GlcNAcylation can act as a nutrient sensor to perceive changes in nutrient levels and trigger O-GlcNAc modifications of functional proteins in cellular (patho-)physiology, thereby regulating diverse metabolic processes. An imbalance in O-GlcNAcylation has been shown to be a pathogenic contributor to dysfunction in metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cancer, and neurodegeneration. However, under acute stress conditions, protein O-GlcNAc modification exhibits rapid and transient upregulation, which is strongly correlated with stress tolerance and cell survival. In this context, we discuss the metabolic, pharmacological and genetic modulation of HBP/O-GlcNAc modification in the biological system, the beneficial role of O-GlcNAcylation in regulating stress tolerance for cardioprotection, and neuroprotection, which is a novel and rapidly growing field. Current evidence suggests that transient activation of the O-GlcNAc modification represents a potent pro-survival signalling pathway and may provide a promising strategy for stress-related disorder therapy.

The growing demand for food production and increasing stress scenarios increase the crucial need for sustainable alternatives to achieve increased crop yield and quality without affecting the environment. The use of brown macroalgae, being a renewable resource, is a promising option with various application options in agricultural systems, mainly in the form of extracts, direct applications, and compost. Brown algae are a source of active biomolecules and minerals that are currently used as agricultural biostimulants, since they increase crop productivity. This type of biostimulants derived from brown algae improve seed germination, increase the accumulation of plant biomass by accelerating cell division and elongation, activating the antioxidant system of plants, making them more resistant to stress, and contributes to the absorption and translocation of nutrients present in the soil. These products are also compatible with other agricultural inputs, such as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which makes them ideal for comprehensive applications and maintaining a balance in agroecosystems. This review incorporates fundamental and applied aspects of brown seaweeds that impact yields, biochemical quality, physiology, stress mitigation, and soil properties. Based on the above, the review is divided into different Sections that show the formulation of brown seaweed products; their effect on crop yield, quality, and physiology; their effect on biotic and abiotic stress mitigation; and their impact on soil physical, chemical, and biological properties.

Grass endophytes (Epichloë) are important symbiotic microorganisms of perennial ryegrass, playing a vital role in plant resistance against various stresses. This study investigated the effects of grass endophyte on leaf spot disease caused by fungal pathogen Bipolaris sorokiniana and subsequent feeding preferences of aphids (Rhopalosiphum maidis) on perennial ryegrass, with a particular focus on how grass endophyte influence the interactions between pathogens and aphids. The results indicated that grass endophytes significantly increased the net photosynthetic efficiency of perennial ryegrass. The interactions among grass endophytes, pathogen, and aphids affected the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidases (POD), and catalase (CAT). Grass endophytes enhanced SOD and CAT activities in pathogen-infected ryegrass. While pathogen infection and aphid infestation decreased jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) concentrations, grass endophyte increased SA levels. Correlation analysis revealed a negative relationship between shoot dry weight and plant transpiration rate, SOD, and CAT activities. Aphid feeding choice showed that grass endophytes attracted more aphid feeding when co-infected with pathogens. This preference correlated positively with H2O2 and SA levels but negatively with NO and JA concentrations. Overall, grass endophytes enhance perennial ryegrass resistance to leaf spot pathogens and aphids, offering a novel pest and disease management strategy in agriculture.

This study evaluates the stress tolerance and metabolic adaptability of twelve yeast strains, including eleven commercial strains from Wyeast Laboratories and one prototrophic laboratory strain, under industrially relevant conditions. Yeast strains were assessed for their fermentation performance and stress responses under glucose limitation, osmotic stress, acid stress, elevated ethanol concentrations, and temperature fluctuations. Results revealed significant variability in glucose consumption, ethanol production, and stress tolerance across strains. ACY34 and ACY84 demonstrated the highest fermentation efficiency, while ACY19 exhibited exceptional stress resilience, excelling under multiple stress conditions such as osmotic and ethanol stress. The findings highlight strain-specific performance, with some strains suited for high-yield fermentation and others excelling under challenging environmental conditions. These results provide critical insights for selecting and optimizing yeast strains tailored to specific industrial fermentation processes, contributing to improved productivity and product quality in food and beverage production.

Plants are frequently challenged by a variety of microorganisms. To protect themselves against harmful invaders, they have evolved highly effective defense mechanisms, including the synthesis of numerous types of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Snakins are such compounds, encoded by the GASA (Gibberellic Acid-Stimulated Arabidopsis) gene family, and are involved in the response to biotic and abiotic stress. Here, we examined the function of the newly identified TdGASA1 gene and its encoded protein in Triticum durum subjected to different biotic stress-related simulants, such as mechanical injury, methyl jasmonate (MeJA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), salicylic acid (SA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), as well as infection with pathogenic fungi Fusarium graminearum and Aspergillus niger. We found that in durum wheat, TdGASA1 transcripts were markedly increased in response to these stress simulants. Isolated and purified TdGASA1 protein exhibited significant antifungal activity in the growth inhibition test conducted on eight species of pathogenic fungi on solid and liquid media. Transgenic Arabidopsis lines overexpressing TdGASA1 obtained in this study showed higher tolerance to detrimental effects of H2O2, MeJA, and ABA treatment. In addition, these lines exhibited resistance to Fusarium graminearum and Aspergillus niger, which was linked to a marked increase in antioxidant activity in the leaves under stress conditions. This resistance was correlated with the upregulation of pathogenesis-related genes (AtPDF1.2a, AtERF1, AtVSP2, AtMYC2, AtPR1, AtACS6, AtETR1, and AtLOX2) in the transgenic lines. Overall, our results indicate that TdGASA1 gene and its encoded protein respond ubiquitously to a range of biotic stimuli and seem to be crucial for the basal resistance of plants against pathogenic fungi. This gene could therefore be a valuable target for genetic engineering to enhance wheat resistance to biotic stress.

Early non-destructive detection of stress effect is crucial for efficient breeding strategies and germplasm characterization. Recently developed hyperspectral technologies allow to perform fast real-time phenotyping through reflectance-based vegetation indices. However, efficiency of these vegetation indices has to be validated for each crop in different environment. The aim of this study was to reveal efficient vegetation indices for phenotyping of abiotic stress (cold, freezing and nitrogen deficiency) response in tea plant. Among 31 studied VIs, few indices were efficient to distinguish tolerant and susceptible tea plants under abiotic stress: ZMI (Zarco-Tejada & Miller Index), VREI1,2,3 (Vogelmann Red Edge Indices), RENDVI (Red Edge Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), CTR1 and CTR2 (Carter Indices). Most of these indices are calculated based on reflectance in near-infrared area at 705–760 nm, indicating this range as promising for tea germplasm characterization under abiotic stresses. Tolerant tea plants showed the following values under freezing: ZMI ≥1.90, VREI1 ≥ 1.40, RENDVI ≥0.38, Ctr1 ≤ 1.74. The leaf N-content was positively correlated (Pearson's) with the following indices ZMI, VREI1, RENDVI, while negatively correlated with CTR, and VREI2,3. These results will be useful for tea germplasm management, genomics and breeding research aimed at abiotic stress tolerance of tea plant.

Researchers have recently sought a comprehensive strategy to reduce the harmful effects of synthetic chemicals in agricultural production to improve productivity and quality. Biostimulants benefit plants by protecting soil and water resources and eliminating adverse environmental effects from pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Plant biostimulants, also called bioactivators, are becoming increasingly well-liked in the agricultural sector due to their capacity to boost a plant’s growth rate and increase its resistance to stress. Biostimulants are frequently used because they can increase crop quality, nutrient assimilation, growth rate, and stress tolerance. This article thoroughly examines biostimulants’ effects on ornamental plants, concentrating on their ability to withstand environmental stressors. Prior studies have demonstrated that a combination of non-pathogenic microbes, protein hydrolysates, humic and fulvic acids, and algal extracts benefits ornamental plants. This review’s main aims are biostimulants’ effects on raising agricultural yield, enhancing nutrient uptake, enhancing photosynthesis, and shielding plants from biotic and abiotic stress. The role of biostimulants in more resilient and sustainable farming practices is also covered

IntroductionThe formidable survival mechanisms employed by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), combined with the low bioavailability of anti-tubercular drugs and their associated hepatotoxicity, worsen tuberculosis management. Traditional medicinal plants offer potential solutions to these challenges. This study focuses on exploring the anti-tubercular potential of Solanum virginianum against Mycobacterium smegmatis, mc2155.Methods and resultsHPTLC and UHPLC phytochemically characterized the hydro-methanolic extract of Solanum virginianum (SVE). SVE curtails the growth and viability of mc2155 under normal and in vitro stress conditions. The compromised cell wall integrity of mc2155 with SVE is depicted through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) while EtBr permeability assays and TLC-based comparative changes in lipids extraction addressed the integrity of the cell wall. Furthermore, SVE augmented the susceptibility of mc2155 towards Isoniazid (INH) through enhanced bioavailability. Adjunct treatment of SVE with INH demonstrated a markedly reduced survival of the intracellular bacilli. The study also uncovered the hepatoprotective potential of SVE in HepG2 cells.ConclusionThis research paves the way for deeper exploration into the potential of Solanum virginianum against virulent Mtb strains, emphasizing over the significance of traditional medicinal plants in tuberculosis treatment. Collectively, the findings suggest SVE as a potent candidate for independent or adjunct anti-tubercular therapy.

The 21st century is considered to be an era of global climate change while recurring drought causes severe yield losses, challenging crop production, and raising serious concerns about sustainable food production/security. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as a new candidate for improving/modulating developmental processes in plants, including grain yield, productivity, and response to various abiotic stresses such as drought, heat, and salinity. miRNA can regulate expression of genes either by translation repression or by mRNA cleavage. To regulate expression of gene(s), it targets transcription factors and/or the stress-associated gene responsible for enhancing adaptive potential of plant. For example, miR159-MYB, miR169-NFYA, and miR160-ARF are well-known conserved miRNA-target combinations which regulate drought stress responses in plants. Stress-responsive miRNAs have been demonstrated to modulate physiological, biochemical, and molecular processes, thus serving as key regulators for genetic modification of plants for enhanced drought tolerance. The present review provides insights on the miRNAs involved in drought stress response in rice and their role in regulation of critically important biological processes including photosynthesis, respiration, phytohormone signaling, osmotic stress, and senescence. In addition, the current limitations in using miRNA-based strategies and future perspectives have also been discussed. We envisage that this review would help understanding the role of miRNAs as a part of gene regulatory network for genetic improvement of rice towards enhancing yielding potential under water-deficiency stress.

The genetic basis of plant response to light and heat stresses had been unveiled, and different molecular mechanisms of leaf cell homeostasis to keep high physiological performances were recognized in grapevine varieties. However, the ability to develop heat stress tolerance strategies must be further elucidated since the morpho-anatomical and physiological traits involved may vary with genotype × environment combination, stress intensity, and duration. A 3-year experiment was conducted on potted plants of Sardinian red grapevine cultivars Cannonau (syn. Grenache) and Carignano (syn. Carignan), exposed to prolonged heat stress inside a UV-blocking greenhouse, either submitted to low daily UV-B doses of 4.63 kJ m−2 d−1 (+UV) or to 0 kJ m−2 d−1 (−UV), and compared to a control (C) exposed to solar radiation (4.05 kJ m−2 d−1 average UV-B dose). Irrigation was supplied to avoid water stress, and canopy light and thermal microclimate were monitored continuously. Heat stress exceeded one-third of the duration inside the greenhouse and 6% in C. In vivo spectroscopy, including leaf reflectance and fluorescence, allowed for characterizing different patterns of leaf traits and metabolites involved in oxidative stress protection. Cannonau showed lower stomatal conductance under C (200 mmol m−2 s−1) but more than twice the values inside the greenhouse (400 to 900 mmol m−2 s−1), where water use efficiency was reduced similarly in both varieties. Under severe heat stress and −UV, Cannonau showed a sharper decrease in primary photochemical activity and higher leaf pigment reflectance indexes and leaf mass area. UV-B increased the leaf pigments, especially in Carignano, and different leaf cell regulatory traits to prevent oxidative damage were observed in leaf cross-sections. Heat stress induced chloroplast swelling, plastoglobule diffusion, and the accumulation of secretion deposits in both varieties, aggravated in Cannonau −UV by cell vacuolation, membrane dilation, and diffused leaf blade spot swelling. Conversely, in Carignano UV-B, cell wall barriers and calcium oxalate crystals proliferated in mesophyll cells. These responses suggest an adaptive divergence among cultivars to prolonged heat stress and UV-B light. Further research on grapevine biodiversity, heat, and UV-B light interactions may give new insights on the extent of stress tolerance to improve viticulture adaptive strategies in climate change hotspots.

The role of melatonin and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in enhancing abiotic stress tolerance has been widely investigated. However, the mechanism underlying the interaction between melatonin and PGPR in drought stress tolerance is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the role of Bacillus sp. strain IPR-4 co-inoculated with melatonin (IPR-4/MET) to ameliorate drought stress response in soybean. Initially, 16 random isolates were selected from a previously pooled collection of isolates from soil at plant physiology lab, and were screesn for plant growth promoting (PGP) traits and their survival rate polyethylene glycol (PEG6000) (5%, 10%, and 15%). Among these isolate Bacillus sp. strain IPR-4 were selected on base of its significant PGP traits such as the survival rate gradient concentrations of PEG6000 (5%, 10%, and 15%) compared to other isolates, and produced high levels of indole-3-acetic acid and organic acids, coupled with exopolysaccharide, siderophores, and phosphate solubilization under drought stress. The Bacillus sp. strain IPR-4 were then validated using 16S rRNA sequencing. To further investigate the growth-promoting ability of the Bacillus sp. IPR-4 and its potential interaction with MET, the bacterial inoculum (40 mL of 4.5 × 10−8 cells/mL) was applied alone or in combination with MET to soybean plants for 5 days. Then, pre-inoculated soybean plants were subjected to drought stress conditions for 9 days by withholding water under greenhouse conditions. Furthermore, when IPR-4/MET was applied to plants subjected to drought stress, a significant increase in plant height (33.3%) and biomass (fresh weight) was observed. Similarly, total chlorophyll content increased by 37.1%, whereas the activity of peroxidase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione reductase increased by 38.4%, 34.14%, 76.8%, 69.8%, and 31.6%, respectively. Moreover, the hydrogen peroxide content and malondialdehyde decreased by 37.3% and 30% in drought-stressed plants treated with IPR-4 and melatonin. Regarding the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl activity and total phenolic content, shows 38% and 49.6% increase, respectively. Likewise, Bacillus–melatonin-treated plants enhanced the uptake of magnesium, calcium, and potassium by 31.2%, 50.7%, and 30.5%, respectively. Under the same conditions, the salicylic acid content increased by 29.1%, whereas a decreasing abscisic acid content (25.5%) was observed. The expression levels of GmNCED3, GmDREB2, and GmbZIP1 were recorded as the lowest. However, Bacillus–melatonin-treated plants recorded the highest expression levels (upregulated) of GmCYP707A1 and GmCYP707A2, GmPAL2.1, and GmERD1 in response to drought stress. In a nutshell, these data confirm that Bacillus sp. IPR-4 and melatonin co-inoculation has the highest plant growth-promoting efficiency under both normal and drought stress conditions. Bacillus sp. IPR-4/melatonin is therefore proposed as an effective plant growth regulator that optimizes nutrient uptake, modulates redox homeostasis, and enhances drought tolerance in soybean plants.

Abstract Actinidia arguta, known as hardy kiwifruit, is a widely cultivated species with distinct botanical characteristics such as small and smooth-fruited, rich in beneficial nutrients, rapid softening and tolerant to extremely low temperatures. It contains the most diverse ploidy types, including diploid, tetraploid, hexaploid, octoploid, and decaploid. Here we report a haplotype-resolved tetraploid genome (A. arguta cv. ‘Longcheng No.2’) containing four haplotypes, each with 40,859, 41,377, 39,833 and 39,222 protein-coding genes. We described the phased genome structure, synteny, and evolutionary analyses to identify and date possible WGD events. K s calculations for both allelic and paralogous genes pairs throughout the assembled haplotypic individuals showed its tetraploidization is estimated to have formed ~ 1.03 Mya following Ad-α event occurred ~ 18.7 Mya. Detailed annotations of NBS-LRRs or CBFs highlight the importance of genetic variations coming about after polyploidization in underpinning ability of immune responses or environmental adaptability. WGCNA analysis of postharvest quality indicators in combination with transcriptome revealed several transcription factors were involved in regulating ripening kiwi berry texture. Taking together, the assembly of an A. arguta tetraploid genome provides valuable resources in deciphering complex genome structure and facilitating functional genomics studies and genetic improvement for kiwifruit and other crops. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Acetoin, a versatile platform chemical and popular food additive, poses a challenge to the biosafety strain Bacillus subtilis when produced in high concentrations due to its intrinsic toxicity. Incorporating the PHB synthesis pathway into Bacillus subtilis 168 has been shown to significantly enhance the strain’s acetoin tolerance. This study aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the response of B. subtilis 168-phaCBA to acetoin stress, employing transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses. Acetoin stress induces fatty acid degradation and disrupts amino acid synthesis. In response, B. subtilis 168-phaCBA down-regulates genes associated with flagellum assembly and bacterial chemotaxis, while up-regulating genes related to the ABC transport system encoding amino acid transport proteins. Notably, genes coding for cysteine and d-methionine transport proteins (tcyB, tcyC and metQ) and the biotin transporter protein bioY, are up-regulated, enhancing cellular tolerance. Our findings highlight that the expression of phaCBA significantly increases the ratio of long-chain unsaturated fatty acids and modulates intracellular concentrations of amino acids, including l-tryptophan, l-tyrosine, l-leucine, l-threonine, l-methionine, l-glutamic acid, l-proline, d-phenylalanine, l-arginine, and membrane fatty acids, thereby imparting acetoin tolerance. Furthermore, the supplementation with specific exogenous amino acids (l-alanine, l-proline, l-cysteine, l-arginine, l-glutamic acid, and l-isoleucine) alleviates acetoin’s detrimental effects on the bacterium. Simultaneously, the introduction of phaCBA into the acetoin-producing strain BS03 addressed the issue of insufficient intracellular cofactors in the fermentation strain, resulting in the successful production of 70.14 g/L of acetoin through fed-batch fermentation. This study enhances our understanding of Bacillus’s cellular response to acetoin-induced stress and provides valuable insights for the development of acetoin-resistant Bacillus strains.

Societal Impact Statement The human population is expected to reach 9.7 billion in the next 30 years, increasing the strain on our already precarious food system. Climate change is shifting weather patterns, leading to unpredictable and catastrophic events that further threaten the agronomic sector. Plant scientists are implementing biotechnological tools to sustainably increase both the production and nutritional content of our crops. Engineering GOLDEN2‐LIKE (GLK) transcription factors is a promising route to improve photosynthesis, as well as other important agronomical traits, to achieve food security for a growing population under an unpredictable climate. Summary Using agricultural biotechnology to increase the photosynthetic efficiency of crops has been a focus of plant science research over the last two decades. Transcription factors coordinate the expression of gene networks that are the basis of plant development and physiological responses and, as such, are good targets to help improve photosynthesis. Among the known plant transcriptional regulators, GOLDEN2‐LIKE transcription factors (GLKs) may be ideal candidates to improve photosynthesis in crops, as they are master regulators of genes associated with photosynthesis and chloroplast biogenesis across a broad diversity of plant lineages. Moreover, recent work has revealed their involvement in environmental response, pathogen defence and development regulation across the plant's whole life cycle. Thus, manipulating GLK expression and activity, alone or likely in combination with other modifications, has clear potential to improve plant development and growth. Here, we review the research into GLK function and discuss the potential of these key transcription factors as biotechnological tools to enhance photosynthetic efficiency and stress tolerance in crops. Additionally, we take advantage of the vast plant genome and transcriptome datasets available to explore the evolutionary history of GLKs across the plant kingdom and discuss the implications for their adoption into crop engineering projects.