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Background: Argonaute (AGO), Dicer-like (DCL), and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDR) are essential components of RNA silencing pathways in plants. These components are crucial for the generation and regulatory functions of small RNAs, especially in plant development and response to environmental stresses. Despite their well-characterized functions in other plant species, there is limited information about these genes and their stress responses in centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides), a key turfgrass species. Results: Using genome-wide analysis we identified 20 AGO, 6 DCL, and 10 RDR members in centipedegrass and provided a comprehensive overview of their characteristics. We performed the chromosomal location, gene duplication, syntenic analysis, conserve motif, gene structure, and cis-acting elements analysis. And conducted phylogenetic analyses to clarify the evolutionary relationships among the EoAGO, EoDCL, and EoRDR gene families. Three-dimensional modeling prediction of EoAGO, EoDCL, and EoRDR proteins supported the phylogenetic classification. Furthermore, we examined the expression patterns of these genes in different tissues (spike, stem, leaf, root, and flower) and under different stress conditions (cold, salt, drought, aluminum, and herbicide) using RT-qPCR. The results revealed that most of EoAGO, EoDCL, and EoRDR genes were upregulated in response to multiple abiotic stresses, while some exhibited unique responses, suggesting potential specialized regulatory functions. Conclusion: In this study, we performed a comprehensive genome‑wide identification, and phylogenetic and expression pattern analyses of the EoAGO, EoDCL and EoRDR gene families. Our analysis provides a foundation for future research on the RNA silence elements of turfgrass, and affords scientific basis and insights for clarifying the expression patterns of EoAGO, EoDCL and EoRDR genes under adversity stress. Further functional validation and molecular breeding of these genes can be carried out for enhancing the stress resistance of centipedegrass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bamboo is an important nontimber forestry product worldwide, while growth, development and geographic distribution of bamboo are often affected by abiotic stresses. Fatty acid desaturases have important roles in regulating plant abiotic stress tolerance, especially low-temperature. However, there is no report on genome-wide of FAD genes in bamboo under abiotic stresses. Results: A toltal of 43 PeFAD genes were identified in moso bamboo genome, which were unevenly located in 17 scaffolds. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that PeFAD genes were divided into 6 groups and ADS/FAD5 group was absence in momo bamboo, and gene structure and histidine-motifs remained highly conserved in each group. The expansion of PeFAD genes was mainly caused by tandem and segmental duplications of SAD/FAB2 group. We also identified 59 types of miRNAs targeting PeFAD genes. RNA-seq data indicated that PeFAD genes were transcribed in various organs/tissues with different degrees, and responded to abiotic stresses and hormone treatments, including cold, salt, drought, SA, ABA, BR, NAA and GA. Co-expression analysis under cold stress showed that PeCBF3 might directly bind the promoter of top cold-responsive PeSLD1 gene that contained LTR cis-element and DRE core element. The qRT-PCR assay also validated the expression pattern of PeSLD1 and its upstream regulatory gene PeCBF3. Conclusion: In this study, we performed comprehensive genome-wide survey of PeFAD genes in moso bamboo and analyzed their expression patterns in various tissues and organs, and under abiotic stresses and phytohormones treatment. The qRT-PCR assay validated the cold inducibility of PeSLD1 and PeCBF3. This work showed critical roles of PeFAD genes in abiotic stresses responses. This is the first report on genome-wide analysis of PeFAD genes in moso bamboo, which will provide critical gene resources for molecular breeding of stress-toleranct moso bamboo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), a key molecule in plant biology, plays an essential role in stress response and growth regulation. Despite its importance, the SAM synthetase (SAMS) gene family in sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.) remains poorly understood. Methods: In this study, the SAMS genes were identified from the sunflower genome. Subsequently, the protein properties, gene structure, chromosomal location, cis-acting elements, collinearity, and phylogeny of the SAMS gene family were analyzed by bioinformatic methods. Finally, the expression patterns of SAMS genes in different tissues, under different hormonal treatment and abiotic stress were analyzed based on transcriptome data and qRT-PCR. Results: This study identified 58 SAMS genes across nine cultivated sunflower species, which were phylogenetically classified into seven distinct subgroups. Physicochemical properties and gene structure analysis showed that the SAMS genes are tightly conserved between cultivars. Collinearity analysis revealed segmental duplications as the primary driver of gene family expansion. The codon usage bias analysis suggested that natural selection substantially shapes the codon usage patterns of sunflower SAMS genes, with a bias for G/C-ending high-frequency codons, particularly encoding glycine, leucine, and arginine. Analysis of the cis-regulatory elements in promoter regions, implied their potential roles in stress responsiveness. Differential expression patterns for HanSAMS genes were observed in different tissues as well as under hormone treatment or abiotic stress conditions by analyzing RNA-seq data from previous studies and qRT-PCR data in our current study. The majority of genes demonstrated a robust response to BRA and IAA treatments in leaf tissues, with no significant expression change observed in roots, suggesting the response of HanSAMS genes to hormones is tissue-specific. Expression analyses under abiotic stresses demonstrated diverse expression profiles of HanSAMS genes, with HanSAMS5 showing significant upregulation in response to both drought and salt stresses. Discussion: This comprehensive genomic and expression analysis provides valuable insights into the SAMS gene family in sunflowers, laying a robust foundation for future functional studies and applications in crop improvement for stress resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) is a significant species utilized in afforestation efforts in southern China. It is distinguished by its rapid growth and adaptability to diverse environmental conditions. The GRAS gene family comprises a group of plant-specific transcription factors that play a pivotal role in plant growth and development, response to adversity, and hormone regulatory networks. However, the exploration of the GRAS family in gymnosperm Chinese fir has not yet begun. In this study, a total of 43 GRAS genes were identified in the whole genome of Chinese fir, and a phylogenetic analysis classified them into nine distinct subfamilies. Gene structure analysis revealed that the majority of ClGRAS genes lacked introns. It is notable that among these proteins, both ClGAI and ClGRA possess distinctive DELLA structural domains. Cis-acting element analysis revealed that nearly all ClGRAS genes contained light-responsive elements, while hormone-responsive elements, environmental-responsive elements (low-temperature- or defense-responsive elements), and meristem-organization-related elements were also identified. Based on transcriptome data and RT-qPCR expression patterns, we analyzed the expression of ClGAI and ClRGA genes across different developmental stages, hormones, and three abiotic stresses. Subcellular localization analysis demonstrated that ClGAI and ClRGA were localized to the nucleus. Transcriptional activation assays showed that both genes have self-activating activity. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that the ClGRAS gene family is involved in the response of Chinese fir to environmental stress. Further research on the ClDELLA genes provides valuable information for exploring the potential regulatory network of DELLA proteins in Chinese fir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Homology to E6-AP Carboxy Terminus (HECT) E3 ubiquitin ligases play pivotal roles in plant growth, development, and responses to abiotic stresses. However, the function of HECT genes in Phyllostachys edulis (P. edulis) remains largely uninvestigated. In this study, a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of the HECT E3 ubiquitin ligases gene family in P. edulis was conducted, aiming to elucidate its evolutionary relationships and gene expansion. Analysis of gene structure, conserved motifs and domains, and synteny genome regions were performed. Furthermore, cis-elements in HECT gene promoters that respond to plant hormones and environmental stresses were identified and corroborated by expression data from diverse abiotic stress conditions and hormone treatments. Based on the co-expression network of PeHECTs under cold and dehydration stresses, PeHECT1 was identified as a key candidate gene associated with abiotic stress tolerance. Overexpression of PeHECT1 in tobacco leaves significantly upregulated genes related to reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxification and polyamine biosynthesis. Yeast one-hybrid (Y1H), electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), and dual-luciferase (dual-LUC) assays suggested that the transcription factor ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR 3 (PeERF3) bound to the dehydration-responsive element (DRE) of the promoter of PeHECT1 and activated its transcription activity. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that PeHECT1 in P. edulis exhibited a close association with the diploid herbaceous bamboo Olyra latifolia, followed by the divergence of rice and bamboo. In summary, this study enhances our comprehensive understanding of the HECT E3 ubiquitin ligases gene family in P. edulis and highlights the potential role of PeHECT1 in plant abiotic stress response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of Gibberellic Acid-Stimulated Arabidopsis, GASA, gene family has been reported in many important plants, playing roles in various aspects of plant biology but little has been uncovered in soybeans. Soybean is one of the major plants providing nutrition for humans and livestock globally. In this study, we overexpressed a novel GASA gene (GmGASA1-like) in Glycine max and conducted bioinformatic analyses, evaluated the T2 transgenic line in an open field, and applied major stressors along with the growth promoter GA3 to investigate the potential functions of the GmGASA1-like gene. The results of bioinformatics implied that the GmGASA1-like gene is regulated by GA3, and its protein has the potential to influence key processes of plant growth and development. The transgenic plants (JN74-OE) were significantly taller and had a larger canopy in the field trial at the R1-growth stage and demonstrated superiority in some seed quantity and quality traits after harvesting. Under abiotic stresses (including cold, heat, and drought) and spraying of GA3, the level of GmGASA1-like gene expression in JN74-OE exceeded the levels measured before the treatments. Notably, the highest expression level was observed during the drought stress treatment. Photosynthesis pigments levels in both the overexpressed lines and the control group showed no significant differences. In summary, this study sheds light on the multifaceted roles of the GmGASA1-like gene, impacting soybean plant architecture, seed traits, and stress responses. Ultimately, this research paves the way for a more productive and sustainable soybean industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ubiquitin-specific proteases (UBPs), the largest subfamily of deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), are critical for plant growth and development as well as abiotic-stress responses. In this study, we discovered that the expression of the ubiquitin-specific protease 15 (UBP15) gene of the gene ubiquitin-specific protease 15 (UBP15) was induced by salt, mannitol and abscisic acid (ABA) treatments. Further research revealed that UBP15 is involved in modulation of salt, drought tolerance and ABA signaling during seed germination, early seedling development, post-germination root growth or adult-plant stage. Enrichment analysis showed that many genes related to abiotic stresses and metabolic pathways were altered in the ubp15-1 mutant. Through the joint analysis of the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and differentially-expressed gene relationship network, we found that UBP15 may mainly regulate salt-stress tolerance by modulating the dwarf and delayed flowering 1 (DDF1) pathway through a cascade reaction. In the regulation of drought-stress responses, ring domain ligase1 (RGLG1) may be a direct substrate of UBP15. Moreover, we cannot exclude the possibility that UBP15 acts in a feed-forward loop mechanism in the regulation of drought-stress responses via ethylene response factor 53 (ERF53) and its ubiquitin (Ub) ligase RGLG1. In ABA signal transduction, UBP15 may play a role in at least three aspects of the ABA signaling pathway: ABA synthesis, stomatal closure regulated by ABA signaling, and transcription factors in the ABA pathway. Taken together, our results suggest that UBP15 is involved in salt, osmotic, and drought-stress tolerance and the ABA signaling pathway by directly regulating the stability of key substrates or indirectly affecting the expression of genes related to abiotic stresses in Arabidopsis thaliana. Our research provides new germplasm resources for stress-resistant crops cultivation. These results demonstrate that UBP15 is a key regulator of salt, drought and ABA tolerance in Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanotechnology seems to have the potential to improve crop yields and help to meet the United Nations 2030 Goal 2: Zero Hunger. The literature is abreast with numerous reports on the application of various metallic, non-metallic, and other nanoparticles (NPs) that have been administered to various crop species over the last decade with fruitful results. The application of NPs has recently been considered as a viable option to alleviate the adverse effects of abiotic stresses on agricultural production. Typically, abiotic stress conditions include salinity, radiation, floods, heat, heavy metals, and drought. By influencing the physiological state of plants at different levels of their organization, NPs' application has shown promising results in mitigating the negative effects of abiotic stresses. In contrast, many reports emphasize upon the toxic effects of NPs on plants, especially at higher concentrations. Therefore, adequate research is required to understand the effects of different concentrations of NPs before nanotechnology can be successfully used in commercial agricultural systems. Simultaneously, it is equally important to promulgate the statutory regulations associated with the judicial and safe use, disposal, and toxicity studies of NPs as well as approval and release of the nano-products. In the present review, we have dwelled upon the forementioned aspects related to NPs application besides summarizing an updated account of the status of NPs-mediated mitigation of major abiotic stresses in crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melatonin has been found to be crucial in the growth and development of plants under stress conditions. In this study, the effects of melatonin and nano melatonin regarding the growth and development of tomato plants, along with their photosynthetic pigment, phenol, and antioxidant activity, were investigated under saline conditions. The study was conducted using a completely randomized design with three replications, and the applied treatments were salt stress and foliar spraying of melatonin at a concentration of 0 (control), melatonin (Mel), and nano capsule-melatonin (Nano-Mel) at 500 µM. Salinity treatments included application of sodium chloride with two concentration of 0 mM NaCl (S1) and 50 mM NaCl (S2). Under saline conditions, Mel and Nano-Mel increased both shoot and root fresh and dry weights, improved relative water content (RWC), and enhanced antioxidant activity and phenolic content. Salinity elevated leaf ABA content, unaffected by Mel or Nano-Mel. Chlorophyll fluorescence and SPAD values demonstrated resilience to salinity with Mel and Nano-Mel applications. Nano-Mel notably mitigated Na + accumulation in leaves under salinity, helping maintain K + homeostasis. Proline levels rise due to salinity but decreased with Mel and Nano-Mel treatments. Electrolyte leakage (EL) increased under salinity but is significantly reduced by Mel, indicating enhanced membrane stability. The findings reveal that salinity stress significantly reduced plasma membrane intrinsic protein (PIP) expression in roots and leaves, whereas Mel and Nano-Mel treatments enhance PIP expression, particularly in roots. The study concludes that Mel and Nano-Mel effectively alleviate salinity-induced stress, promoting growth and maintaining physiological homeostasis in tomato plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT In silico characterization of the Gretchen Hagen3 (GH3) gene family is required for understanding phytohormone regulation and stress responses in Brassica rapa to develop the improved stress‐tolerant cultivars. The main objective of this research was to identify the key BrGH3 genes under different abiotic stresses. Using bioinformatics tools, a total of 27 BrGH3 genes were identified in B. rapa for which phylogenetic relationship, syntenic pairing, conserved motifs, miRNA regulation, and cis‐regulatory elements of BrGH3s were also studied. BrGH3 gene expression has been examined in numerous tissues and under various abiotic and phytohormone stressors. Phylogenetic studies separated BrGH3 genes into three major classes and nine subclasses based on gene functional evolution. Collinearity analysis demonstrated that all BrGH3 genes had syntenic linkage with AtGH3, BnaGH3, and BolGH3, indicating that genome duplication mechanisms were crucial to BrGH3 gene evolution. The expression dynamics of BrGH3 under diverse phytohormonal stresses methyl jasmonate (MeJA), auxin (IAA), abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellic acid (GA), and salicylic acid (SA) at different time intervals suggest that BrGH3‐5.1 has a consistently greater expression than other BrGH3 genes. Under salt, drought, and low temperature stress, BrGH3‐1 and BrGH3‐4 genes expressed comparatively higher. The findings suggest that five genes (BrGH3‐5.1, BrGH3‐5.2, BrGH3‐15, BrGH3‐17.2, and BrGH3‐19) have a key role in inducing broad stress resilience. These results can be beneficial in developing stress‐tolerant varieties of Chinese cabbage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citriculture faces challenges from abiotic and biotic stresses, in which biotic stresses like diseases, insects and nematodes, abiotic stresses like salinity, drought, and temperature fluctuations. The complex interactions between several biotic and abiotic stressors and citrus. To understand, how salt affects citrus fruit production and quality and how citrus rootstocks respond morphologically and biochemically to different stress conditions like salinity. Further, it explores the mechanisms of resistance in citrus rootstocks by studying their morphological and biochemical responses to heat, cold, drought stress and combination stresses. Citrus greening (Huanglongbing), citrus tristeza virus (CTV), citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC), insects, diseases and nematodes are some of the main issues that are highlighted in terms of biotic challenges. Rootstocks play a crucial role in mitigating these stresses, influencing tree vigor, yield, and overall crop health. Strategies in rootstock development are explored for enhanced crop resilience. Citrus rootstocks respond differently to these biotic stresses, and their reactions and discuss effective management options. Additionally, the selection of rootstock and integrated management measures for sustainable citrus productivity. Methods of managing nematodes, Phytophthora infections, and citrus canker. Citrus producers and researchers can have more information about the biotic and abiotic challenges in citrus production from this comprehensive collection of facts which paves the way for the development of environmentally friendly methods that improve citrus yield by reducing the impact of stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pectin is a vital component of plant cell walls and its methylation process is regulated by pectin methylesterase inhibitors (PMEIs). PMEIs regulate the structural and functional modifications of cell walls in plants and play an important role in plant processes such as seed germination, fruit ripening, and stress response. Although the PMEI gene family has been well characterized in model plants, the understanding of its molecular evolution and biological functions in watermelon remains limited. In this study, 60 ClPMEI genes were identified and characterized, revealing their dispersion on multiple chromosomes. Based on a systematic developmental analysis, these genes were classified into three subfamilies, which was further supported by the exon, intron, and conserved motif distribution. Analysis of cis-elements and expression patterns indicated that ClPMEIs might be involved in regulating the tolerance of watermelon to various abiotic stresses. Moreover, distinct ClPMEI genes exhibit specific functions under different abiotic stresses. For example, ClPMEI51 and ClPMEI54 showed a significant upregulation in expression levels during the late stage of drought treatments, whereas ClPMEI3 and ClPMEI12 displayed a significant downregulation under low-temperature induction. Subcellular localization prediction and analysis revealed that the ClPMEI family member proteins were localized to the cell membrane. This study provided an important foundation for the further exploration of the functions of ClPMEI genes in watermelon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in the frequency and magnitude of environmental stresses poses a significant risk to the stability of food supplies. In coastal areas of the Mediterranean, brackish water has long been considered a limitation on horticultural production. In this scenario, the use of biochar in agriculture could be considered a valuable tool to cope with the deleterious effects of salt stress. This work aimed to investigate, in a protected environment, the effects of different concentrations of biochar (0, 1, and 2% v/v) obtained from poplar (Populus L.) biomass on the yield and quality of dwarf San Marzano ecotype tomatoes irrigated with saline water at different concentrations of NaCl (0, 40 and 80 mM). The increase in salt concentration from 0 to 80 mM NaCl reduced the total yield (−63%) and the number of fruits (−25%), but improved the main quality parameters such as dry matter (+75%), total soluble solids (+56%), and polyphenol content (+43%). Compared to control conditions, biochar supplementation improved the total yield (+23%) and number of fruits (+26%) without altering the functional and organoleptic characteristics of the fruits. The promising results underscore the potential of biochar as a sustainable solution to amend soils in order to improve tomato production under unfavorable conditions such as high salinity. However, there is a need to clarify which adaptation mechanisms triggered by biochar amending improve production responses even and especially under suboptimal growing conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the intensification of global climate change and the increasing complexity of agricultural environments, the improvement of rice stress tolerance is an important focus of current breeding research. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the impact of various abiotic stresses on rice and the associated epigenetic responses (DNA methylation). Abiotic stress factors, including high temperature, drought, cold, heavy metal pollution, and high salinity, have a negative impact on crop productivity. Epigenetic changes are key regulatory factors in plant stress responses, and DNA methylation is one of the earliest discovered and thoroughly studied mechanisms in these epigenetic regulatory mechanisms. The normal growth of rice is highly dependent on the environment, and changes in the environment can lead to rice sterility and severe yield loss. Changes in the regulation of the DNA methylation pathway are involved in rice's response to stress. Various DNA methylation-regulating protein complexes that function during rice development have been identified. Significant changes in DNA methylation occur in numerous stress-responsive genes, particularly those in the abscisic acid signaling pathway. These findings underscore the complex mechanisms of the abiotic stress response in rice. We propose the effective improvement of tolerance traits by regulating the epigenetic status of rice and emphasize the role of DNA methylation in abiotic stress tolerance, thereby addressing global climate change and ensuring food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Argonaute (AGO), Dicer-like (DCL), and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDR) are essential components of RNA silencing pathways in plants. These components are crucial for the generation and regulatory functions of small RNAs, especially in plant development and response to environmental stresses. Despite their well-characterized functions in other plant species, there is limited information about these genes and their stress responses in centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides), a key turfgrass species. Results Using genome-wide analysis we identified 20 AGO, 6 DCL, and 10 RDR members in centipedegrass and provided a comprehensive overview of their characteristics. We performed the chromosomal location, gene duplication, syntenic analysis, conserve motif, gene structure, and cis-acting elements analysis. And conducted phylogenetic analyses to clarify the evolutionary relationships among the EoAGO, EoDCL, and EoRDR gene families. Three-dimensional modeling prediction of EoAGO, EoDCL, and EoRDR proteins supported the phylogenetic classification. Furthermore, we examined the expression patterns of these genes in different tissues (spike, stem, leaf, root, and flower) and under different stress conditions (cold, salt, drought, aluminum, and herbicide) using RT-qPCR. The results revealed that most of EoAGO, EoDCL, and EoRDR genes were upregulated in response to multiple abiotic stresses, while some exhibited unique responses, suggesting potential specialized regulatory functions. Conclusion In this study, we performed a comprehensive genome‑wide identification, and phylogenetic and expression pattern analyses of the EoAGO, EoDCL and EoRDR gene families. Our analysis provides a foundation for future research on the RNA silence elements of turfgrass, and affords scientific basis and insights for clarifying the expression patterns of EoAGO, EoDCL and EoRDR genes under adversity stress. Further functional validation and molecular breeding of these genes can be carried out for enhancing the stress resistance of centipedegrass.

Abstract Background Bamboo is an important nontimber forestry product worldwide, while growth, development and geographic distribution of bamboo are often affected by abiotic stresses. Fatty acid desaturases have important roles in regulating plant abiotic stress tolerance, especially low-temperature. However, there is no report on genome-wide of FAD genes in bamboo under abiotic stresses. Results A toltal of 43 PeFAD genes were identified in moso bamboo genome, which were unevenly located in 17 scaffolds. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that PeFAD genes were divided into 6 groups and ADS/FAD5 group was absence in momo bamboo, and gene structure and histidine-motifs remained highly conserved in each group. The expansion of PeFAD genes was mainly caused by tandem and segmental duplications of SAD/FAB2 group. We also identified 59 types of miRNAs targeting PeFAD genes. RNA-seq data indicated that PeFAD genes were transcribed in various organs/tissues with different degrees, and responded to abiotic stresses and hormone treatments, including cold, salt, drought, SA, ABA, BR, NAA and GA. Co-expression analysis under cold stress showed that PeCBF3 might directly bind the promoter of top cold-responsive PeSLD1 gene that contained LTR cis-element and DRE core element. The qRT-PCR assay also validated the expression pattern of PeSLD1 and its upstream regulatory gene PeCBF3. Conclusion In this study, we performed comprehensive genome-wide survey of PeFAD genes in moso bamboo and analyzed their expression patterns in various tissues and organs, and under abiotic stresses and phytohormones treatment. The qRT-PCR assay validated the cold inducibility of PeSLD1 and PeCBF3. This work showed critical roles of PeFAD genes in abiotic stresses responses. This is the first report on genome-wide analysis of PeFAD genes in moso bamboo, which will provide critical gene resources for molecular breeding of stress-toleranct moso bamboo.

Abstract Melatonin has been found to be crucial in the growth and development of plants under stress conditions. In this study, the effects of melatonin and nano melatonin regarding the growth and development of tomato plants, along with their photosynthetic pigment, phenol, and antioxidant activity, were investigated under saline conditions. The study was conducted using a completely randomized design with three replications, and the applied treatments were salt stress and foliar spraying of melatonin at a concentration of 0 (control), melatonin (Mel), and nano capsule-melatonin (Nano-Mel) at 500 µM. Salinity treatments included application of sodium chloride with two concentration of 0 mM NaCl (S1) and 50 mM NaCl (S2). Under saline conditions, Mel and Nano-Mel increased both shoot and root fresh and dry weights, improved relative water content (RWC), and enhanced antioxidant activity and phenolic content. Salinity elevated leaf ABA content, unaffected by Mel or Nano-Mel. Chlorophyll fluorescence and SPAD values demonstrated resilience to salinity with Mel and Nano-Mel applications. Nano-Mel notably mitigated Na + accumulation in leaves under salinity, helping maintain K + homeostasis. Proline levels rise due to salinity but decreased with Mel and Nano-Mel treatments. Electrolyte leakage (EL) increased under salinity but is significantly reduced by Mel, indicating enhanced membrane stability. The findings reveal that salinity stress significantly reduced plasma membrane intrinsic protein (PIP) expression in roots and leaves, whereas Mel and Nano-Mel treatments enhance PIP expression, particularly in roots. The study concludes that Mel and Nano-Mel effectively alleviate salinity-induced stress, promoting growth and maintaining physiological homeostasis in tomato plants.

Winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.), the principal oilseed crop in Europe, is notably vulnerable to spring frosts that can drastically reduce yields in ways that are challenging to predict with standard techniques. Our research focused on evaluating the efficacy of photosynthetic efficiency analysis in this crop and identifying specific chlorophyll fluorescence parameters severely impacted by frost, which could serve as noninvasive biomarkers for yield decline. The experiments were carried out in semi-controlled conditions with several treatments: a control, one day at -3°C, three days at -3°C, one day at -6°C, and three days at -6°C. We employed continuous-excitation and pulse-amplitude-modulation chlorophyll fluorescence measurements to assess plant sensitivity to frost. Also, plant gas exchange and chlorophyll content index measurements were performed. Certain parameters strongly correlated with final yield losses, thereby establishing a basis for developing new agricultural protocols to predict and mitigate frost damage in rapeseed crops accurately.

During their life cycle, plants are always exposed to multiple abiotic stresses that negatively affect their growth and development. Based on this fact, plants developed many mechanisms to reduce or tolerate those stresses. Plants undergo a wide range of morphological, physiological, and biochemical changes in response to environmental stresses. However, drought is one of many other environmental stresses which is considered to be the most significant environmental issues that affect the lives of organisms on the planet of Earth. With the recent increase in the severity of climate change, researchers have devoted their efforts to a deeper understanding of the effects of drought on the level of plant response from a physiological and biochemical standpoint. With the recent increase in the severity of climate changes, the problem of drought has gotten worse, thus researchers have focused their efforts on developing a deeper knowledge of how drought affects plant response at the physiological and biochemical levels. The plant undergoes several significant changes, one of which is an alteration in its hormonal balance. Specific hormones become more effective and assist the plant in sustaining a tolerable level of free radicals, while other hormones become less active under non-growth-promoting environments. Abscisic acid, sometimes referred to as the stress hormone, is one of these plant hormones. Its function under stress is to slow down the plant's growth to keep it at an acceptable level of growth. The hormones ascorbic acid, glycine betaine, alpha-tocopherol, melatonin, and Jasmonic are known to be growth-stimulating substances as well as non-enzymatic antioxidants that help suppress eliminated free radical formation. Focusing on this, this review highlighted the function of several plant hormones and the processes that accompany them in reducing the harm caused to plants by drought stress

Growth of crops in the semi-arid and arid regions of the world is significantly affected by salinity stress. The present study investigated maize, which is a globally cultivated crop and known for its salt sensitivity. Widespread cultivation and notable characteristics of maize make it an exemplary model for investigating stress response. We analyzed maize plants morphological and biochemical responses under salinity stress at different intervals. Current results showed that under 100 mM NaCl stress, germination rate of maize seeds decreases up to 40% compared to their respective control non-stressed seeds. Additionally, prolonged exposure to salinity stress negatively impacted various physiological and biochemical aspects of maize plants including shoot/root length, leaf width, and chlorophyll contents, especially in plants treated with NaCl for 21 days. Furthermore, our findings showed that the NaCl stress triggered various enzymatic and non-enzymatic activities, including catalase (CAT), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), total polyphenol (TPP), and flavonoid in maize plants. However, maize plants respond differently to NaCl stress regarding protein content in different durations. This research underscores the urgent need for innovative strategies to mitigate salinity stress and food security for local maize varieties in saline regions and provides valuable insights to tackle these challenges.

Abstract Insect’s resilience to adverse conditions poses a significant challenge for integrated pest control. This has resulted in huge economic losses to agriculture and forestry production as well as a range of severe ecological issues. As a physiological mechanism of insects, digestive physiology plays an important role in the process of adaptation to stress factors. However, there has been no systematic review of what stresses insects can adapt to through digestive physiology and how digestive physiology is involved in insect adaptation to stresses. In this review, the potential link between digestive physiology and adaptation of insects to biotic and abiotic stresses, including plant defense mechanisms, chemical insecticides, and entomopathogenic microorganisms, is analyzed. We point to that digestive physiology composed of digestive enzymes and gut microbial communities is an important strategy for insects to resist plant physical defense (e.g., hemicellulose, pectin, and microfibers), chemical defense (e.g., azadirachtin, diterpenoid acids, and phenolic glycosides), chemical insecticide stress, and entomopathogenic microorganism infection. In addition, the primary function of the digestive physiology in insects is to ensure energy supply during biotic and abiotic stress, assist in the metabolism of exogenous toxins (e.g., anti-insect proteins, primary metabolites, secondary metabolites, and insecticides), and improve their innate immunity against entomopathogenic microorganisms. This review is helpful to elucidate the mechanism of pest adaptation to adversity, and provide a breakthrough point for analyzing the causes of pest outbreaks. Graphical abstract

Abstract Background Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is the most widely planted legume forage and one of the most economically valuable crops in the world. Serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT), a pyridoxal phosphate-dependent enzyme, plays crucial roles in plant growth, development, and stress responses. To date, there has been no comprehensive bioinformatics investigation conducted on the SHMT genes in M. sativa. Results Here, we systematically analyzed the phylogenetic relationship, expansion pattern, gene structure, cis-acting elements, and expression profile of the MsSHMT family genes. The result showed that a total of 15 SHMT members were identified from the M. sativa genome database. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the MsSHMTs can be divided into 4 subgroups and conserved with other plant homologues. Gene structure analysis found that the exons of MsSHMTs ranges from 3 to 15. Analysis of cis-acting elements found that each of the MsSHMT genes contained different kinds of hormones and stress-related cis-acting elements in their promoter regions. Expression and function analysis revealed that MsSHMTs expressed in all plant tissues. qRT-PCR analysis showed that MsSHMTs induced by ABA, Salt, and drought stresses. Conclusions These results provided definite evidence that MsSHMTs might involve in growth, development and adversity responses in M. sativa, which laid a foundation for future functional studies of MsSHMTs.

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the simultaneous effects of drought and salinity on irrigation management coefficients in maize farms. A three-year field research was conducted in the form of a 3 × 3 factorial experiment with a randomized complete block design and three replications from 2020 to 2022 in a maize farm, in Aliabad Fashafoye, Qom province, Iran. The applied treatments included three levels of salinity (S0 = 1.8, S1 = 5.2, and S2 = 8.6 dS/m) and three levels of irrigation (W0 = 100%, W1 = 75%, and W2 = 50% of field capacity). Evapotranspiration stress coefficient (KS) due to W0S1 and W0S2 treatments was (0.975 and 0.934), (0.974 and 0.932), and (0.962 and 0.935) in 2020, 2021, and 2022, respectively. According to the results, KS decreased by increasing the salinity level of irrigation water, so a 1-unit increase in salinity level above the tolerance threshold of the crop to salinity decreased KS by 0.78 and 1.76% for S1 and S2, respectively. Moreover, each percent of volumetric moisture decrease from field capacity decreased KS by 5.9 and 13.3% in W1 and W2, respectively. Also, with the increase in the intensity of the stresses, the readily available water (RAW) of treatments decreased. The sole application of salinity stress decreased the decreasing slope of RAW by 3.2%, while the application of both stresses resulted in the decreasing slopes of 4.9, 5.7, and 7.8% at the salinity levels of S0, S1, and S2, respectively, compared to the control. The findings of this study show that the accurate estimation of crop evapotranspiration and RAW can help to improve the irrigation schedule, and the amount of irrigation water used is less than in non-stress conditions due to the reduction of total evapotranspiration and less water uptake in environmental stresses in maize farms.

Aquaporins (AQPs) play an essential role in membrane water transport during plant responses to water stresses centered on conventional upstream signals. Phytohormones (PHs) regulate plant growth and yield, working with transcription factors to help plants withstand environmental challenges and regulate physiological and chemical processes. The AQP gene family is important, so researchers have studied its function and regulatory system in numerous species. Yet, there is a critical gap the understanding of many of their molecular features, thus our full knowledge of AQPs is far-off. In this study, we undertook a broad examination of the AQP family gene in Populus euphratica via bioinformatics tools and analyzed the expression patterns of certain members in response to drought, salt, and hormone stress. A total of 22 AQP genes were examined in P. euphratica, and were categorized into four main groups, including TIPs, PIPs, SIPs, and NIPs based on phylogenetic analysis. Comparable exon–intron gene structures were found by gene structure examination, and similarities in motif number and pattern within the same subgroup was determined by motif analysis. The PeuAQP gene family has numerous duplications, and there is a distinct disparity in how the members of the PeuAQP family react to post-translational modifications. Abiotic stress and hormone responses may be mediated by AQPs, as indicated by the abundance of stress response elements found in 22 AQP genes, as revealed by the promoter's cis-elements prediction. Expression pattern analysis reveals that selected six AQP genes from the PIP subgroup were all expressed in the leaves, stem, and roots with varying expression levels. Moreover, qRT-PCR analysis discovered that the majority of the selected AQP members were up- or down-regulated in response to hormone treatment and abiotic stress. Remarkably, PeuAQP14 and PeuAQP15 appeared to be highly responsive to drought stress and PeuAQP15 exhibited a high response to salt stress. The foliar application of the phytohormones (SA, IAA, GA3, MeJA, and ABA) were found to either activate or inhibit PeuAQP, suggesting that they may mitigate the effects of water shortage of poplar water stress. The present work enhances our knowledge of the practical roles of AQPs in stress reactions and offers fundamental information for the AQP genes in poplar species. It also highlights a direction for producing new varieties of poplar species with drought, salt, and hormone tolerance and holds substantial scientific and ecological importance, offering a potential contribution to the conservation of poplar species in arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The alternative oxidase (AOX), a common terminal oxidase in the electron transfer chain (ETC) of plants, plays a crucial role in stress resilience and plant growth and development. Oat (Avena sativa), an important crop with high nutritional value, has not been comprehensively studied regarding the AsAOX gene family. Therefore, this study explored the responses and potential functions of the AsAOX gene family to various abiotic stresses and their potential evolutionary pathways. Additionally, we conducted a genome-wide analysis to explore the evolutionary conservation and divergence of AOX gene families among three Avena species (Avena sativa, Avena insularis, Avena longiglumis) and four Poaceae species (Avena sativa, Oryza sativa, Triticum aestivum, and Brachypodium distachyon). We identified 12 AsAOX, 9 AiAOX, and 4 AlAOX gene family members. Phylogenetic, motif, domain, gene structure, and selective pressure analyses revealed that most AsAOXs, AiAOXs, and AlAOXs are evolutionarily conserved. We also identified 16 AsAOX segmental duplication pairs, suggesting that segmental duplication may have contributed to the expansion of the AsAOX gene family, potentially preserving these genes through subfunctionalization. Chromosome polyploidization, gene structural variations, and gene fragment recombination likely contributed to the evolution and expansion of the AsAOX gene family as well. Additionally, we hypothesize that AsAOX2 may have potential function in resisting wounding and heat stresses, while AsAOX4 could be specifically involved in mitigating wounding stress. AsAOX11 might contribute to resistance against chromium and waterlogging stresses. AsAOX8 may have potential fuction in mitigating ABA-mediated stress. AsAOX12 and AsAOX5 are most likely to have potential function in mitigating salt and drought stresses, respectively. This study elucidates the potential evolutionary pathways of the AsAOXs gene family, explores their responses and potential functions to various abiotic stresses, identifies potential candidate genes for future functional studies, and facilitates molecular breeding applications in A. sativa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollen grains are central to sexual plant reproduction and their viability and longevity/storage are critical for plant physiology, ecology, plant breeding, and many plant product industries. Our goal is to present progress in assessing pollen viability/longevity along with recent advances in our understanding of the intrinsic and environmental factors that determine pollen performance: the capacity of the pollen grain to be stored, germinate, produce a pollen tube, and fertilize the ovule. We review current methods to measure pollen viability, with an eye toward advancing basic research and biotechnological applications. Importantly, we review recent advances in our understanding of how basic aspects of pollen/stigma development, pollen molecular composition, and intra- and intercellular signaling systems interact with the environment to determine pollen performance. Our goal is to point to key questions for future research, especially given that climate change will directly impact pollen viability/longevity. We find that the viability and longevity of pollen are highly sensitive to environmental conditions that affect complex interactions between maternal and paternal tissues and internal pollen physiological events. As pollen viability and longevity are critical factors for food security and adaptation to climate change, we highlight the need to develop further basic research for better understanding the complex molecular mechanisms that modulate pollen viability and applied research on developing new methods to maintain or improve pollen viability and longevity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate change is affecting plant photosynthesis and transpiration processes, as well as increasing weather extremes impacting socio‐political and environmental events and decisions for decades to come. One major research challenge in plant biology and ecology is the interaction of photosynthesis with the environment. Stomata control plant gas exchange and their evolution was a crucial innovation that facilitated the earliest land plants to colonize terrestrial environments. Stomata couple homoiohydry, together with cuticles, intercellular gas space, with the endohydric water‐conducting system, enabling plants to adapt and diversify across the planet. Plants control stomatal movement in response to environmental change through regulating guard cell turgor mediated by membrane transporters and signaling transduction. However, the origin, evolution, and active control of stomata remain controversial topics. We first review stomatal evolution and diversity, providing fossil and phylogenetic evidence of their origins. We summarize functional evolution of guard cell membrane transporters in the context of climate changes and environmental stresses. Our analyses show that the core signaling elements of stomatal movement are more ancient than stomata, while genes involved in stomatal development co‐evolved de novo with the earliest stomata. These results suggest that novel stomatal development‐specific genes were acquired during plant evolution, whereas genes regulating stomatal movement, especially cell signaling pathways, were inherited ancestrally and co‐opted by dynamic functional differentiation. These two processes reflect the different adaptation strategies during land plant evolution. Summary statement: We review stomatal diversity and functional evolution in the context of environmental stresses. Our analyses suggest that novel stomatal development‐specific genes were acquired during plant evolution, whereas genes regulating stomatal movement were co‐opted by dynamic functional differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the resistance of Artemia urmiana to salt stress, researchers have isolated and investigated Artemin, the most prevalent protein within the cyst of this aquatic species. In vitro studies have revealed Artemin's role as a molecular chaperone, effectively engaging with the hydrophobic surfaces of unfolded and/or partially folded proteins. In light of Artemin's established functional significance, its encoding gene has been successfully introduced into mammalian cells; however, no published research has elucidated its potential role within plant cells. In the current investigation, the artemin gene was successfully cloned into the pPZPY122 plant vector and subsequently introduced into Arabidopsis thaliana plants. The T3 homozygote transgenic plants (art) were then subjected to a series of environmental stresses, including heat, salt (NaCl) and drought (Mannitol). To assess the mutant's resilience to these stresses, their seed germination indices were evaluated. The art line demonstrated a higher degree of tolerance towards the abiotic stresses. A comparative analysis revealed that ascorbate peroxidase activity, catalase activity, and proline content exhibited significantly enhanced levels in some NaCl-treated art plants compared to their counterparts in Col-0. Regarding the expression of the genes in the SOS pathway, it was found that SOS1 is significantly upregulated under NaCl treatment in the art mutant. Conversely, under normal growth conditions, the morphology and growth of transgenics remained indistinguishable from those of wild-type plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Insect's resilience to adverse conditions poses a significant challenge for integrated pest control. This has resulted in huge economic losses to agriculture and forestry production as well as a range of severe ecological issues. As a physiological mechanism of insects, digestive physiology plays an important role in the process of adaptation to stress factors. However, there has been no systematic review of what stresses insects can adapt to through digestive physiology and how digestive physiology is involved in insect adaptation to stresses. In this review, the potential link between digestive physiology and adaptation of insects to biotic and abiotic stresses, including plant defense mechanisms, chemical insecticides, and entomopathogenic microorganisms, is analyzed. We point to that digestive physiology composed of digestive enzymes and gut microbial communities is an important strategy for insects to resist plant physical defense (e.g., hemicellulose, pectin, and microfibers), chemical defense (e.g., azadirachtin, diterpenoid acids, and phenolic glycosides), chemical insecticide stress, and entomopathogenic microorganism infection. In addition, the primary function of the digestive physiology in insects is to ensure energy supply during biotic and abiotic stress, assist in the metabolism of exogenous toxins (e.g., anti-insect proteins, primary metabolites, secondary metabolites, and insecticides), and improve their innate immunity against entomopathogenic microorganisms. This review is helpful to elucidate the mechanism of pest adaptation to adversity, and provide a breakthrough point for analyzing the causes of pest outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The GDSL gene family plays diverse roles in plant growth and development. Despite its significance, the functions of the GDSL in the pitaya plant are still unknown. Pitaya (Selenicereus undatus L.) also called Hylocereus undatus (Hu), belongs to the family Cactaceae and is an important tropical plant that contains high dietary fibers and antioxidants. In the present investigation, we screened 91 HuGDSL genes in the pitaya genome by conducting a comprehensive computational analysis. The phylogenetic tree categorized HuGDSL genes into 9 distinct clades in combination with four other species. Further, 29 duplicate events were identified of which 12 were tandem, and 17 were segmental. The synteny analysis revealed that segmental duplication was more prominent than tandem duplication among these genes. The majority of duplicated gene pairs (95%) indicate their Ka/Ks ratios ranging from 0.1 to 0.3, which shows that maximum HuGDSL genes were under purifying selection pressure. The cis-acting element in the promotor region contains phytohormones such as auxin, gibberellin, jasmonic acid, and abscisic acid abundantly. Finally, the HuGDSL gene expression pattern under single and multiple stresses was analyzed via; RNA-seq. We select ten stress-responsive HuGDSL genes for RT-qPCR validation. After careful investigation, we identified five HuGDSL candidate genes (HuGDSL-1/3/55/59, and HuGDSL-78) based on RNA-seq, and RT-qPCR data that showed enhanced expression in stress and melatonin-applied seedlings. This study represents valuable insights into maintaining pitaya growth and development by preparing stress-resilient pitaya genotypes through modern biotechnological techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is the most widely planted legume forage and one of the most economically valuable crops in the world. Serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT), a pyridoxal phosphate-dependent enzyme, plays crucial roles in plant growth, development, and stress responses. To date, there has been no comprehensive bioinformatics investigation conducted on the SHMT genes in M. sativa. Results: Here, we systematically analyzed the phylogenetic relationship, expansion pattern, gene structure, cis-acting elements, and expression profile of the MsSHMT family genes. The result showed that a total of 15 SHMT members were identified from the M. sativa genome database. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the MsSHMTs can be divided into 4 subgroups and conserved with other plant homologues. Gene structure analysis found that the exons of MsSHMTs ranges from 3 to 15. Analysis of cis-acting elements found that each of the MsSHMT genes contained different kinds of hormones and stress-related cis-acting elements in their promoter regions. Expression and function analysis revealed that MsSHMTs expressed in all plant tissues. qRT-PCR analysis showed that MsSHMTs induced by ABA, Salt, and drought stresses. Conclusions: These results provided definite evidence that MsSHMTs might involve in growth, development and adversity responses in M. sativa, which laid a foundation for future functional studies of MsSHMTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of plant growth and development in dryland restoration relies on seed germination, seedling development, and establishment. The lack of rainfall and extreme temperature variations in arid regions impede germination and seedling establishment, necessitating new approaches and techniques. The present review summarizes the vital role of seed priming techniques for the sustainable restoration of drylands through their effects on enhancing seed germination, seedling growth and development, plants' nutrient use efficiency, soil fertility, essential enzymes, microbial community, and stress adaptation ability, helping to alleviate the effects of abiotic stresses on plants. The importance of seed priming is discussed in both agricultural and ecological restoration contexts. Priming maximizes crop yields, reduces crop failure, and promotes eco‐friendly farming practices. In ecological restoration, seed priming enhances plant establishment and survival, contributing significantly to the restoration of native vegetation and wildlife habitats. The review categorizes seed priming techniques into six subcategories, highlighting their unique advantages for optimizing restoration efforts. The review highlights the underlying mechanisms of seed priming techniques to improve seed germination and plant development in dryland regions, particularly under salinity and drought constraints. While seed priming has proven effective, it also faces several limitations, such as cost, seed longevity, and environmental concerns. Investigating environmentally friendly priming methods and understanding the prolonged effects of priming on seed viability and the environment is crucial. Further research is needed to find cost‐effective, eco‐friendly seed priming methods, and to explore the genetic and molecular bases of stress tolerance in various plant species across diverse environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the simultaneous effects of drought and salinity on irrigation management coefficients in maize farms. A three-year field research was conducted in the form of a 3 × 3 factorial experiment with a randomized complete block design and three replications from 2020 to 2022 in a maize farm, in Aliabad Fashafoye, Qom province, Iran. The applied treatments included three levels of salinity (S0 = 1.8, S1 = 5.2, and S2 = 8.6 dS/m) and three levels of irrigation (W0 = 100%, W1 = 75%, and W2 = 50% of field capacity). Evapotranspiration stress coefficient (KS) due to W0S1 and W0S2 treatments was (0.975 and 0.934), (0.974 and 0.932), and (0.962 and 0.935) in 2020, 2021, and 2022, respectively. According to the results, KS decreased by increasing the salinity level of irrigation water, so a 1-unit increase in salinity level above the tolerance threshold of the crop to salinity decreased KS by 0.78 and 1.76% for S1 and S2, respectively. Moreover, each percent of volumetric moisture decrease from field capacity decreased KS by 5.9 and 13.3% in W1 and W2, respectively. Also, with the increase in the intensity of the stresses, the readily available water (RAW) of treatments decreased. The sole application of salinity stress decreased the decreasing slope of RAW by 3.2%, while the application of both stresses resulted in the decreasing slopes of 4.9, 5.7, and 7.8% at the salinity levels of S0, S1, and S2, respectively, compared to the control. The findings of this study show that the accurate estimation of crop evapotranspiration and RAW can help to improve the irrigation schedule, and the amount of irrigation water used is less than in non-stress conditions due to the reduction of total evapotranspiration and less water uptake in environmental stresses in maize farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) has gained worldwide recognition for its nutritional values, adaptability to diverse environments, and genetic diversity. This review explores the current understanding of quinoa tolerance to environmental stress, focusing on drought, salinity, heat, heavy metals, and UV-B radiation. Although drought and salinity have been extensively studied, other stress factors remain underexplored. The ever-increasing incidence of abiotic stress, exacerbated by unpredictable weather patterns and climate change, underscores the importance of understanding quinoa's responses to these challenges. Global gene banks safeguard quinoa's genetic diversity, supporting breeding efforts to develop stress-tolerant varieties. Recent advances in genomics and molecular tools offer promising opportunities to improve stress tolerance and increase the yield potential of quinoa. Transcriptomic studies have shed light on the responses of quinoa to drought and salinity, yet further studies are needed to elucidate its resilience to other abiotic stresses. Quinoa's ability to thrive on poor soils and limited water resources makes it a sustainable option for land restoration and food security enterprises. In conclusion, quinoa is a versatile and robust crop with the potential to address food security challenges under environmental constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Galactinol synthase (GolS) serves as a pivotal enzyme in the biosynthesis of raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs) and assumes a crucial role in mediating plant responses to environmental stresses. However, a comprehensive exploration of the GolS gene family in the M. truncatula remains lacking. In this study, we identified five GolS genes (MtGolS) from the M. truncatula genome, and an analysis of evolution, domain, tissue expression, as well as their responses to various abiotic stresses and plant hormones was performed on these five genes. Comparative analysis revealed that the gene structure and domains of MtGolSs corresponded with those observed in GolS proteins in rice and Arabidopsis. Notably, the theoretical isoelectric point (pI) of MtGolS3 (8.31) was significantly surpassed that of its counterparts. And a segmental duplication event was found between MtGolS1 and MtGolS5. Furthermore, the expression patterns exhibited distinctive patterns for MtGolS3, characterized by predominant expression in flowers and shoot apical meristems, whereas MtGolS1, 2, 4, and 5 displayed heightened expression levels in seeds. Examination of promoters and expression profiles disclosed the responsiveness of the MtGolS genes to diverse abiotic stresses and phytohormone treatments. Specifically, MtGolS1, 2, 4, and 5 were significantly induced under drought, cold, and salt stress conditions. Additionally, MtGolS1, 3, 4, and 5 were upregulated by auxin (IAA) and gibberellin (GA), but inhibited by abscisic acid (ABA). Additionally, miRNA prediction analysis identified a total of 23 miRNA target sites within the five MtGolS genes, targeted by 17 distinct miRNAs. These findings furnish fundamental insights for further delving into the functional mechanisms of GolS genes in M. truncatula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The AT-hook motif nuclear-localized (AHL) family is pivotal for the abiotic stress response in plants. However, the function of the cassava AHL genes has not been elucidated. Promoters, as important regulatory elements of gene expression, play a crucial role in stress resistance. In this study, the promoter of the cassava MeAHL31 gene was cloned. The MeAHL31 protein was localized to the cytoplasm and the nucleus. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the MeAHL31 gene was expressed in almost all tissues tested, and the expression in tuber roots was 321.3 times higher than that in petioles. Promoter analysis showed that the MeAHL31 promoter contains drought, methyl jasmonate (MeJA), abscisic acid (ABA), and gibberellin (GA) cis-acting elements. Expression analysis indicated that the MeAHL31 gene is dramatically affected by treatments with salt, drought, MeJA, ABA, and GA3. Histochemical staining in the proMeAHL31-GUS transgenic Arabidopsis corroborated that the GUS staining was found in most tissues and organs, excluding seeds. Beta-glucuronidase (GUS) activity assays showed that the activities in the proMeAHL31-GUS transgenic Arabidopsis were enhanced by different concentrations of NaCl, mannitol (for simulating drought), and MeJA treatments. The integrated findings suggest that the MeAHL31 promoter responds to the abiotic stresses of salt and drought, and its activity is regulated by the MeJA hormone signal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (FBA) gene family exists in higher plants, with the genes of this family playing significant roles in plant growth and development, as well as response to abiotic stresses. However, systematic reports on the FBA gene family and its functions in cucumber are lacking. In this study, we identified five cucumber FBA genes, named CsFBA1-5, that are distributed randomly across chromosomes. Phylogenetic analyses involving these cucumber FBAs, alongside eight Arabidopsis FBA proteins and eight tomato FBA proteins, were conducted to assess their homology. The CsFBAs were grouped into two clades. We also analyzed the physicochemical properties, motif composition, and gene structure of the cucumber FBAs. This analysis highlighted differences in the physicochemical properties and revealed highly conserved domains within the CsFBA family. Additionally, to explore the evolutionary relationships of the CsFBA family further, we constructed comparative syntenic maps with Arabidopsis and tomato, which showed high homology but only one segmental duplication event within the cucumber genome. Expression profiles indicated that the CsFBA gene family is responsive to various abiotic stresses, including low temperature, heat, and salt. Taken together, the results of this study provide a theoretical foundation for understanding the evolution of and future research into the functional characterization of cucumber FBA genes during plant growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.; F. vesca) represents a resilient and extensively studied model organism. While the AP2/ERF gene family plays a pivotal role in plant development, its exploration within F. vesca remains limited. In this study, we characterized the AP2/ERF gene family in wild strawberries using the recently released genomic data (F. vesca V6.0). We conducted an analysis of the gene family expansion pattern, we examined gene expression in stem segments and leaves under cold conditions, and we explored its functional attributes. Our investigation revealed that the FvAP2/ERF family comprises 86 genes distributed among four subfamilies: AP2 (17), RAV (6), ERF (62), and Soloist (1). Tandem and segmental duplications significantly contributed to the growth of this gene family. Furthermore, predictive analysis identified several cis-acting elements in the promoter region associated with meristematic tissue expression, hormone regulation, and resistance modulation. Transcriptomic analysis under cold stress unveiled diverse responses among multiple FvAP2/ERFs in stem segments and leaves. Real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) results confirmed elevated expression levels of select genes following the cold treatment. Additionally, overexpression of FvERF23 in Arabidopsis enhanced cold tolerance, resulting in significantly increased fresh weight and root length compared to the wild-type control. These findings lay the foundation for further exploration into the functional roles of FvAP2/ERF genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As sessile organisms, plants cannot survive in harmful environments, such as those characterized by drought, flood, heat, cold, nutrient deficiency, and salt or toxic metal stress. These stressors impair plant growth and development, leading to decreased crop productivity. To induce an appropriate response to abiotic stresses, plants must sense the pertinent stressor at an early stage to initiate precise signal transduction. Here, we provide an overview of recent progress in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying plant abiotic stress sensing. Numerous biomolecules have been found to participate in the process of abiotic stress sensing and function as abiotic stress sensors in plants. Based on their molecular structure, these biomolecules can be divided into four groups: Ca2+-permeable channels, receptor-like kinases (RLKs), sphingolipids, and other proteins. This improved knowledge can be used to identify key molecular targets for engineering stress-resilient crops in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gibberellin（GA）is an important plant hormone that regulates plant development and its response to environmental signals, the biosynthesis and metabolism of GA are involved in a variety of enzymes, and gibberellin oxidase plays a key role in regulating the biosynthesis of gibberellin. Gibberellin oxidase is the key enzyme in gibberellin biosynthesis and catabolism and plays a complex regulatory role in the gibberellin biosynthetic pathway in plants. GA20ox（gibberellin 20 oxidase）, GA3ox（gibberellin 3 oxidase）and GA2ox（gibberellin 2 oxidase）are the gibberellin oxidase gene family. GA20ox and GA3ox are rate-limiting enzymes in gibberellin biosynthesis, while GA2ox is the key enzyme in gibberellin catabolism. And they regulate GA biosynthesis pathway in plants and ensure the plant's demand for GA during growth and development and interaction with the environment. Gibberellin oxidase is involved in regulating plant growth and development, and it is strictly regulated by environment and endogenous factors. Gibberellin oxidase has been cloned in Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa; and poplar species, and its function varies among species. Therefore, this review focuses on the functions of GA20ox, GA3ox and GA2ox, describes the characteristics, spatial and temporal expression of plant gibberellin oxidase and the response of gibberellin oxidase to light and hormones, with special emphasis on the function of gibberellin oxidase and its research progress, aiming to provide information for further studies on gibberellin oxidase gene function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most crop species are cultivated in nutrient-deficient soils, in combination with other challenging constraints that are exacerbated by the current climate changes. The significance of micronutrient shortage in stress management is often underappreciated, although their deficiency restricts both plant growth and resistance to abiotic stresses and diseases. While the application of nutrients to growing plants is a potential strategy to improve plant resistance to abiotic stresses, seed nutrient status may also play a role in crop stress tolerance as a storage and accumulation site of nutrients. To avoid hidden hunger problems, developing countries need to increase domestic cereal production, enhance their resilience to extreme weather events, and improve their nutritional status and quality. Here, we analyze the accumulated knowledge about the effects of nutri-priming in cereal crop species with a focus on mechanisms of application and stress tolerance, keeping in mind the risk of crop damage mostly caused by global climate change, which is driving an alarming increase in the frequency and intensity of abiotic stresses. We also propose new approaches to food production, which may be promising solutions for global warming, emerging diseases, and geopolitical conflicts recognized as major drivers of food insecurity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various environmental stresses induce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which have deleterious effects on plant cells. Glutathione (GSH) is an antioxidant used to counteract reactive oxygen species. Glutathione is produced by glutamylcysteine synthetase (GCS) and glutathione synthetase (GS). However, evidence for the GCS gene in sweetpotato remains scarce. In this study, the full-length cDNA sequence of IbGCS isolated from sweetpotato cultivar Xu18 was 1566 bp in length, which encodes 521 amino acids. The qRT-PCR analysis revealed a significantly higher expression of the IbGCS in sweetpotato flowers, and the gene was induced by salinity, abscisic acid (ABA), drought, extreme temperature and heavy metal stresses. The seed germination rate, root elongation and fresh weight were promoted in T3 Arabidopsis IbGCS-overexpressing lines (OEs) in contrast to wild type (WT) plants under mannitol and salt stresses. In addition, the soil drought and salt stress experiment results indicated that IbGCS overexpression in Arabidopsis reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, enhanced the levels of GCS activity, GSH and AsA content, and antioxidant enzyme activity. In summary, overexpressing IbGCS in Arabidopsis showed improved salt and drought tolerance. Headings: •IbGCS gene was cloned from the sweetpotato cultivar Xu18. • The multiple abiotic stresses significantly increased the expression of IbGCS gene. • Overexpression of IbGCS significantly improved the salt and drought stress tolerance [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schima superba, commonly known as the Chinese guger tree, is highly adaptable and tolerant of poor soil conditions. It is one of the primary species forming the evergreen broad-leaved forests in southern China. Dirigent proteins (DIRs) play crucial roles in the synthesis of plant lignin and lignans, secondary metabolism, and response to adversity stress. However, research on the DIR gene family in S. superba is currently limited. This study identified 24 SsDIR genes, categorizing them into three subfamilies. These genes are unevenly distributed across 13 chromosomes, with 83% being intronless. Collinearity analysis indicated that tandem duplication played a more significant role in the expansion of the gene family compared to segmental duplication. Additionally, we analyzed the expression patterns of SsDIRs in different tissues of S. superba. The SsDIR genes exhibited distinct expression patterns across various tissues, with most being specifically expressed in the roots. Further screening identified SsDIR genes that may regulate drought stress, with many showing differential expression under drought stress conditions. In the promoter regions of SsDIRs, various cis-regulatory elements involved in developmental regulation, hormone response, and stress response were identified, which may be closely related to their diverse regulatory functions. This study will contribute to the further functional identification of SsDIR genes, providing insights into the biosynthetic pathways of lignin and lignans and the mechanisms of plant stress resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grafting technology has recently emerged as a potential and alternative approach to the comparatively sluggish conventional breeding procedures for increasing tolerance to abiotic stressors, soil pathogens, and improving production and quality features in fruit vegetables. Grafting has been used commercially on watermelons, muskmelon, cucumbers, tomatoes, sweet peppers, and eggplants to increase plant tolerance to a variety of abiotic conditions, such as soil salinity, drought, waterlogging, high or low temperatures, and heavy metal toxicity, as well as to increase vegetable crop output and quality characteristics. The purpose of this review was to create a complete evaluation based on the available literature on the role of grafting technique in combating various abiotic stresses and boosting yield and quality of vegetable crops. Such information may aid researchers and vegetable growers in improving vegetable quality, particularly under abiotic stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using wild plants as food is one of the survival strategies, and it is closely linked to a strong aspect of their customs and culture. The prevalence of malnutrition, non-communicable diseases associated with diet, and poverty worldwide has led to the investigation of wild crops as a potential solution for a wholesome food crop to deal with these problems. For centuries, wild vegetables have been a primary source of micronutrients for humans, supplying essential vitamins and minerals necessary for maintaining good health and bolstering immunity against infections. This has resulted in millions of people relying on them as a dietary staple. Wild vegetables are characterized by their resilience and low maintenance requirements, making them superior to traditional cultivated varieties. Additionally, they are an abundant source of essential nutrients. Therefore, their potential to address micronutrient malnutrition and ensure food security is significant. Wild vegetables are an excellent source of nourishment due to the abundance of accessible components with the ability to stand against different abiotic stresses like salinity, drought, and heavy metals. They can make significant contributions to people's diets around the world. Natural selection has refined the genetic diversity of wild crops over millennia, enabling them to flourish in a variety of environmental situations. Genes that confer resistance to abiotic stressors such as heat, salinity and drought are present in wild relatives. To increase the robustness of cultivated cultivars, these genes have been effectively introgressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.), Europe's foremost oilseed crop, is significantly impacted by hailstorms, leading to substantial yield reductions that are difficult to predict and measure using conventional methods. This research aimed to assess the effectiveness of photosynthetic efficiency analysis for predicting yield loss in winter rapeseed subjected to hail exposure. The aim was to pinpoint the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters most affected by hail stress and identify those that could act as non-invasive biomarkers of yield loss. The study was conducted in partially controlled conditions (greenhouse). Stress was induced in the plants by firing plastic balls with a 6 mm diameter at them using a pneumatic device, which launched the projectiles at speeds of several tens of meters per second. Measurements of both continuous-excitation and pulse-modulated-amplitude chlorophyll fluorescence were engaged to highlight the sensitivity of the induction curve and related parameters to hail stress. Our research uncovered that some parameters such as Fs, Fm', ΦPSII, ETR, Fo, Fv/Fm, and Fv/Fo measured eight days after the application of stress had a strong correlation with final yield, thus laying the groundwork for the creation of new practical protocols in agriculture and the insurance industry to accurately forecast damage to rapeseed crops due to hail stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alfin-like (AL) is a small plant-specific gene family characterized by a PHD-finger-like structural domain at the C-terminus and a DUF3594 structural domain at the N-terminus, and these genes play prominent roles in plant development and abiotic stress response. In this study, we conducted genome-wide identification and analyzed the AL protein family in Gossypium hirsutum cv. NDM8 to assess their response to various abiotic stresses for the first time. A total of 26 AL genes were identified in NDM8 and classified into four groups based on a phylogenetic tree. Moreover, cis-acting element analysis revealed that multiple phytohormone response and abiotic stress response elements were highly prevalent in AL gene promoters. Further, we discovered that the GhAL19 gene could negatively regulate drought and salt stresses via physiological and biochemical changes, gene expression, and the VIGS assay. The study found there was a significant increase in POD and SOD activity, as well as a significant change in MDA in VIGS-NaCl and VIGS-PEG plants. Transcriptome analysis demonstrated that the expression levels of the ABA biosynthesis gene (GhNCED1), signaling genes (GhABI1, GhABI2, and GhABI5), responsive genes (GhCOR47, GhRD22, and GhERFs), and the stress-related marker gene GhLEA14 were regulated in VIGS lines under drought and NaCl treatment. In summary, GhAL19 as an AL TF may negatively regulate tolerance to drought and salt by regulating the antioxidant capacity and ABA-mediated pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The glutathione peroxidase (GPX) family in plants contains various isoenzymes, each with distinct subcellular localizations, tissue-specific expression patterns, and responses to environmental stress. In current study, we conducted genome-wide bioinformatics analyses of the GPX gene family in Nymphaea colorata, identifying five putative NcGPX genes dispersed across five of the fourteen chromosomes. Examination of the protein sequences revealed that NcGPXs comprehend three conserved cysteine residues, with predicted in-silico subcellular localizations in chloroplast, extracellular, or cytoplasm. We reported that NcGPX genes protein lengths and molecular weight (MW) ranged from 171 to 248 amino acids (aa) and 18.798–27.076 kDa, respectively. A comparative neighbor-joining phylogenetic study revealed that GPX genes were clustered into four main groups (Group A– D) from water lily and two closely related plant species, alongside with Arabidopsis thaliana. The universal analysis showed that segmental duplications occurred within the NcGPX gene family. Investigation of gene structure and motifs suggested that most NcGPX genes have relatively conserved exon-intron structures and motif arrangements. Promoter region exploration of NcGPX genes revealed numerous cis-acting regulatory elements associated with development, stress, and hormone responses. The identified 3D protein structures showed that water lily GPXs form conserved dimeric protein signatures. Finally, gene expression and enzymes accumulation of NcGPXs in response to different abiotic stresses, in leaves of N. colorata were analysed using real-time RT-qPCR and spectrophotometry. The results indicate that different members of the GPX gene family are co-ordinately regulated under specific environmental stress conditions, establishing a foundation for studying their gene functions and improving abiotic stress tolerance in water lily genetic breeding.

In this past decade, the bond between agriculture, food security, and climate change has become increasingly strong. Agriculture is recognized as one of the most endangered systems adversely affected by human activities and environmental issues. In particular, abiotic stress limits the quantity and quality of plant-based food. Heat stress, drought, and salinity impact plants at all different life stages, inducing morphological and physiological changes and provoking a reduction in their nutritional value. Accordingly, low-quality food results in a serious risk for the health of people worldwide. In this scenario, different genetic and biotechnological strategies have been investigated, including the use of New Plant Breeding Techniques (NBTs) and plant cell cultures. In this review, we describe how abiotic stresses alter the property and availability of nutritious food. In addition, we illustrate the advanced techniques that could be employed to address these issues and ameliorate the agricultural practices