Plant Growth Regulators Research Articles

NtWIN1 regulates the biosynthesis of scopoletin and chlorogenic acid by targeting NtF6′H1 and NtCCoAMT genes in Nicotiana tabacum

Scopoletin and chlorogenic acid (CGA) are important polyphenols that regulate plant growth, development, and stress resistance. The ERF transcription factor WAX INDUCER1 (WIN1) promotes the biosynthesis of cutin, suberine, and wax. However, its full roles in regulating the accumulation of plant secondary metabolites still remain to be further clarified. In this study, NtWIN1 gene encoding a SHINE-type AP2/ERF transcription factor of the Va subgroup was identified from N. tabacum. NtWIN1 showed high expression levels in tobacco stems, sepals, and pistils. Overexpression (OE) and knock-out of NtWIN1 showed that it promoted the accumulation of total polyphenols and altered their composition. Compare to that of WT plants, the CGA contents significantly increased by 25%–50% in the leaves, flowers, and capsules of OE lines, while the scopoletin contents in the OE plants significantly decreased by 30%–67%. In contrast, the CGA contents in ntwin1 lines reduced by 23%–26%, and the scopoletin contents in ntwin1 increased by 38%–75% compare to that of WT plants. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and Dual-Luc transcription activation assays showed that NtWIN1 could bind to the promoters of NtF6′H1 and NtCCoAMT, thereby modulating their expression. The scopoletin content in ntwin1/ntf6′h1 double mutant was significantly lower than that in ntwin1 and WT plants, but showed no significant differences with that in ntf6′h1 mutant, further indicating that the inhibition of NtWIN1 on scopoletin accumulation depends on the activity of NtF6′H1. Our study illustrates the new roles of NtWIN1, and provides a possible target for regulating the synthesis of polyphenols in tobacco.

Soil effects on the plant growth inhibitory activity of S-abscisic acid

The use of natural plant growth regulators (PGRs) as ecofriendly agrochemicals is gaining much attention, but the fate of these compounds once they enter the soil environment is poorly understood. In this work, we compared the plant growth inhibitory activity of the phytohormone S-abscisic acid (S-ABA) in the presence of three soils with that observed in soilless (Petri dish) conditions and related the differences in activity to the sorption and dissipation processes of the phytohormone in the soils. In Petri dishes, S-ABA inhibited the germination of Eruca sativa, Allium porrum, Lactuca sativa, and Hordeum vulgare with mean inhibitory concentration values (IC50) in the range of 0.5–8.2 mg/L. Eruca sativa was selected for subsequent studies based on its high sensitivity to S-ABA (IC50 = 0.5 mg/L). The inhibition of germination of E. sativa by S-ABA was fully reversible at a low phytohormone concentration (5 mg/L) and partially reversible at a higher phytohormone concentration (60 mg/L). S-ABA also inhibited the growth of pre-germinated seedlings of E. sativa, albeit at higher concentrations than those at which it inhibited germination. The three soils used in the study weakened the inhibitory activity of S-ABA by soil factors in the range of 0.008–0.380. As S-ABA displayed low or even negative sorption in the soils tested, the decrease in the activity of S-ABA was attributed to its biodegradation in the soils, rather than to a decrease in its bioavailability due to sorption. Despite the reduction in the activity of S-ABA observed in the presence of the soils, the phytohormone still expressed its activity at quite low soil concentrations (0.3–20 mg/kg), showing higher activity in soils where the compound degraded more slowly.

Genome-Wide Investigation of the CRF Gene Family in Maize and Functional Analysis of ZmCRF9 in Response to Multiple Abiotic Stresses.

The cytokinin response factors (CRFs) are pivotal players in regulating plant growth, development, and responses to diverse stresses. Despite their significance, comprehensive information on CRF genes in the primary food crop, maize, remains scarce. In this study, a genome-wide analysis of CRF genes in maize was conducted, resulting in the identification of 12 members. Subsequently, we assessed the chromosomal locations, gene duplication events, evolutionary relationships, conserved motifs, and gene structures of all ZmCRF members. Analysis of ZmCRF promoter regions indicated the presence of cis-regulatory elements associated with plant growth regulation, hormone response, and various abiotic stress responses. The expression patterns of maize CRF genes, presented in heatmaps, exhibited distinctive patterns of tissue specificity and responsiveness to multiple abiotic stresses. qRT-PCR experiments were conducted on six selected genes and confirmed the involvement of ZmCRF genes in the plant's adaptive responses to diverse environmental challenges. In addition, ZmCRF9 was demonstrated to positively regulate cold and salt tolerance. Ultimately, we explored the putative interaction partners of ZmCRF proteins. In summary, this systematic overview and deep investigation of ZmCRF9 provides a solid foundation for further exploration into how these genes contribute to the complex interplay of plant growth, development, and responses to stress.

Optimization of stable genetic transformation protocol in castor (Ricinus communis L. cv. TMV 5) using beta glucuronidase reporter gene for pioneer of desirable genes

The simple and stable protocol was standardised for castor (Ricinus communis L. cv. TMV 5) genetic transformation using Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404 harbouring the binary plasmid pBAL2 (18.8 kb). Cotyledonary nodes from ten days old, in vivo seedlings were utilized as target cells for Agrobacterium mediated transformation. Explant pre-culture studies were carried out at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 day intervals. The 4th day old explants cultivated on mMS medium (MS medium+B5 Vitamins) using plant growth regulators had the highest response percentage (50.6%). Kanamycin (0-175 mg/L) and Hygromycin (0-13 mg/L) sensitivity in well-developed shoots was investigated. Of the two antibiotics, Kanamycin 50 mg/L and Hygromycin 3 mg/L was found optimum. Different levels of acetosyringone (0-200 mg/L) were used in the co-cultivation medium to study the transformation efficiency of castor. Among the different concentrations, maximum number of explants showed GUS expression at 100 mg/L of acetosyringone in the co-cultivation medium at 2 days of co-cultivation period and the Cotyledonary node produced multiple shoots development and plantlet establishment in 0.3 mg/L TDZ, 0.6 mg/L PF-68, kanamycin 50 mg/L, 0.3 mg/L GA3, 1.5 mg/L IBA and 0.6 mg/L AgNO3. The rooted shoots were successfully acclimatized. Histochemical GUS assay was used to monitor T-DNA delivery into the target cells. PCR and Southern hybridization were used to confirm the transformants with the NPT II and GUS gene. A very high frequency (29.3%) of β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene expression was obtained through Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer into cotyledonary node explants of Castor. The standardized protocol would be useful for Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of Cator with desirable gene of agronomic importance.

Small Peptides: Orchestrators of Plant Growth and Developmental Processes.

Small peptides (SPs), ranging from 5 to 100 amino acids, play integral roles in plants due to their diverse functions. Despite their low abundance and small molecular weight, SPs intricately regulate critical aspects of plant life, including cell division, growth, differentiation, flowering, fruiting, maturation, and stress responses. As vital mediators of intercellular signaling, SPs have garnered significant attention in plant biology research. This comprehensive review delves into SPs' structure, classification, and identification, providing a detailed understanding of their significance. Additionally, we summarize recent findings on the biological functions and signaling pathways of prominent SPs that regulate plant growth and development. This review also offers a perspective on future research directions in peptide signaling pathways.

Genome-Wide Identification of Seven in Absentia E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Gene Family and Expression Profiles in Response to Different Hormones in Uncaria rhynchophylla.

SINA (Seven in absentia) E3 ubiquitin ligases are a family of RING (really interesting new gene) E3 ubiquitin ligases, and they play a crucial role in regulating plant growth and development, hormone response, and abiotic and biotic stress. However, there is little research on the SINA gene family in U. rhynchophylla. In this study, a total of 10 UrSINA genes were identified from the U. rhynchophylla genome. The results of multiple sequence alignments and chromosomal locations show that 10 UrSINA genes were unevenly located on 22 chromosomes, and each UrSINA protein contained a SINA domain at the N-terminal and RING domains at the C-terminal. Synteny analysis showed that there are no tandem duplication gene pairs and there are four segmental gene pairs in U. rhynchophylla, contributing to the expansion of the gene family. Furthermore, almost all UrSINA genes contained the same gene structure, with three exons and two introns, and there were many cis-acting elements relating to plant hormones, light responses, and biotic and abiotic stress. The results of qRT-PCR show that most UrSINA genes were expressed in stems, with the least expression in roots; meanwhile, most UrSINA genes and key enzyme genes were responsive to ABA and MeJA hormones with overlapping but different expression patterns. Co-expression analysis showed that UrSINA1 might participate in the TIA pathway under ABA treatment, and UrSINA5 and UrSINA6 might participate in the TIA pathway under MeJA treatment. The mining of UrSINA genes in the U. rhynchophylla provided novel information for understanding the SINA gene and its function in plant secondary metabolites, growth, and development.

Application of Plant Growth Regulators Mitigates Water Stress in Basil

Application of Plant Growth Regulators Mitigates Water Stress in Basil

Effect of Effective Microorganisms on Vegetative Growth of Wheat

Background: environmental pollution has led to climate change and agriculture is an aspect of this pollution, Pesticides, fertilizers and plant growth regulators are pollutants in soil and water. Therefore, beneficial microorganisms found in nature to provide plants with nutrients, resist pests and reduce mineral fertilizers is an ambitious goal for researchers. On the environment. Pseudomonas bacteria, baker’s yeast and mycorrhizal fungi are known for their ability to increase a group of nutrients’ organic and amino acids, as well as plant hormones that stimulate growth. Methods: A field experiment was conducted at University of Baghdad to assess the impact of beneficial microorganisms on wheat growth traits during winter Of 2019-2020., using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with eight treatments.: Pseudomonas fluorescens bacteria (Pse), Mycorrhizae Glomusspp. (Gl.), Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast (Sa.), Ps+Gl, Gl+Sa, Ps+Sa, Ps+Sa+Gl and control. Result: Experimental indicated that treatments significantly outperformed in plant height, tiller number, CGR (crop growth rate) and total dry weight. Additionally, the Ps+Sa+Gl treatment demonstrated a significant superiority over all other treatments in terms of plant height and tiller number. These observations suggest that the combination of biological factors within a single treatment resulted in a synergistic interaction, that led to enhancement of the vegetative growth indices in wheat plants.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the PP2C gene family in Apocynum venetum and Apocynum hendersonii

BackgroundProtein phosphatase class 2 C (PP2C) is the largest protein phosphatase family in plants. Members of the PP2C gene family are involved in a variety of physiological pathways in plants, including the abscisic acid signalling pathway, the regulation of plant growth and development, etc., and are capable of responding to a wide range of biotic and abiotic stresses, and play an important role in plant growth, development, and response to stress. Apocynum is a perennial persistent herb, divided into Apocynum venetum and Apocynum hendersonii. It mainly grows in saline soil, deserts and other harsh environments, and is widely used in saline soil improvement, ecological restoration, textiles and medicine. A. hendersonii was found to be more tolerant to adverse conditions. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the PP2C gene family and its expression pattern under salt stress and to identify important candidate genes related to salt tolerance.ResultsIn this study, 68 AvPP2C genes and 68 AhPP2C genes were identified from the genomes of A. venetum and A. hendersonii, respectively. They were classified into 13 subgroups based on their phylogenetic relationships and were further analyzed for their subcellular locations, gene structures, conserved structural domains, and cis-acting elements. The results of qRT-PCR analyses of seven AvPP2C genes and seven AhPP2C genes proved that they differed significantly in gene expression under salt stress. It has been observed that the PP2C genes in A. venetum and A. hendersonii exhibit different expression patterns. Specifically, AvPP2C2, 6, 24, 27, 41 and AhPP2C2, 6, 24, 27, 42 have shown significant differences in expression under salt stress. This indicates that these genes may play a crucial role in the salt tolerance mechanism of A. venetum and A. hendersonii.ConclusionsIn this study, we conducted a genome-wide analysis of the AvPP2C and AhPP2C gene families in Apocynum, which provided a reference for further understanding the functional characteristics of these genes.

Enhancing Sugarcane Seedling Resilience to Water Stress through Exogenous Abscisic Acid: A Study on Antioxidant Enzymes and Phytohormone Dynamics.

Exogenous hormones play a crucial role in regulating plant growth, development, and stress tolerance. However, the effects of exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) on sugarcane seedlings under water stress remain poorly understood. Here, in this study, a pot experiment was conducted on sugarcane seedlings 4 weeks after transplanting, employing three treatments: control (normal growth), drought (water stress), and drought + ABA (foliar application of 100 μM ABA before water stress). The main objectives of this research are to understand the effects of exogenous ABA on sugarcane seedlings under water stress conditions and to assess the changes in antioxidant enzyme activity and phytohormone levels in response to exogenous ABA. Water stress was induced in the solution culture by adding 25% (w/v) polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 to the Hoagland solution. Leaf samples were collected at 3, 6, and 9 days after treatment, and the photosynthetic and biochemical responses of ABA-treated plants to drought stress were investigated. The indole acetic acid (IAA) activity of the ABA-treated drought plants is compared to that of drought plants. Moreover, the endogenous ABA levels of the ABA-treated drought plants were significantly enhanced by 42.2, 39.9, and 42.3% at 3, 6, and 9 days, respectively, compared to those of drought plants. Additionally, the proline content of the ABA-treated drought plants significantly increased by 45 and 80% at 6 and 9 days, respectively, compared to that of drought plants. The expression of the catalase 1 (CAT1) gene was increased in the ABA-treated drought plants by 2.1-fold, 0.7-fold, and 1.37-fold at 3, 6, and 9 days, respectively, compared to that in drought plants. Similarly, the expression of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase genes of the ABA-treated drought plants also increased compared to those of the drought plants. In conclusion, foliar application of ABA mitigated the negative effects of water shortage of sugarcane plants under water stress. Applying ABA improved the antioxidant defense system of sugarcane plants under drought stress, thereby enhancing their photosynthetic activities and productivity.

The transcription factor PagLBD4 represses cell differentiation and secondary cell wall biosynthesis in Populus

LBD (LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES DOMAIN) transcription factors are key regulators of plant growth and development. In this study, we functionally characterized the PagLBD4 gene in Populus (Populus alba × Populus glandulosa). Overexpression of PagLBD4 (PagLBD4OE) significantly repressed secondary xylem differentiation and secondary cell wall (SCW) deposition, while CRISPR/Cas9-mediated PagLBD4 knockout (PagLBD4KO) significantly increased secondary xylem differentiation and SCW deposition. Consistent with the functional analysis, gene expression analysis revealed that SCW biosynthesis pathways were significantly down-regulated in PagLBD4OE plants but up-regulated in PagLBD4KO plants. We also performed DNA affinity purification followed by sequencing (DAP-seq) to identify genes bound by PagLBD4. Integration of RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and DAP-seq data identified 263 putative direct target genes (DTGs) of PagLBD4, including important regulatory genes for SCW biosynthesis, such as PagMYB103 and PagIRX12. Together, our results demonstrated that PagLBD4 is a repressor of secondary xylem differentiation and SCW biosynthesis in Populus, which possibly lead to the dramatic growth repression in PagLBD4OE plants.

Role of ten different exogenous plant growth promoters in regulating cytotoxic and genotoxic processes in barley exposed to high temperature stress

Agricultural crop affected preliminary and the most prominent by the adverse effects of global climate change have to adapt to various abiotic factors that will occur as a result of climate fluctuations in the near-future and struggle to survive. Among abiotic factors, the one of the greatest impact on plant stress is high temperature. Therefore, the most important step to take action against the global threat is the development of new temperature tolerant varieties. Barley, which is the fourth most important cereal in the world after wheat, maize, and rice are affected by high ambient temperatures. In this work, the effects of their alone and in double, triple combinations of ten various plant growth regulators (PGRs) on mitotic activity and chromosome behaviors in root meristems of barley exposed to high temperature (30°C) were investigated. In the experiments, Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Bülbül 89 variety and GA3, KIN, BA, E, EBR, TRIA and PAs (Spm, Spd, Put, Cad) as growth regulators were used. The results obtained were compared with each other and with those of the seeds germinated at optimum temperature (20°C). Consequently; it has been determined that most of the PGRs studied, especially the GA3 and their combinations with GA3, exhibit a very successful performance on mitotic activity and cytogenetic aberrations in barley seeds germinated under high temperature stress- HTS conditions. The effects of these PGRs (except for EBR) and their combinations on mitotic activity and chromosome behaviors under HTS have been presented in this study for the first time.

EFFECTS OF BIOLOGICALS AND PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS ON THE SOWING QUALITY OF EGGPLANT SEEDS

Purpose. To investigate effects of biologicals with fungicidal and stimulating activities and natural and synthetic plant growth regulators on the sowing quality of seeds of various eggplant hybrids. Methods. Laboratory methods in compliance with DSTU 4138:2002. Results. Soaking of seeds of various eggplant hybrids in Phytocid, Mycosan-B, PhytoHelp, MycoHelp, Azotophyt, Vympel, Humisol, Ivin, and Emistim C solutions had positive effects on the sowing quality of seed: the germination energy increased on average by 1–34% and the laboratory germinability – by 2–28%. Regardless of the hybrid, soaking of seeds in Phytocid, PhytoHelp, and MycoHelp solutions significantly increased the germination energy by 34.2%, 32.5%, and 32.5%, respectively, compared to the control and the laboratory germinability of seeds by 27.6%, 27, 4% and 27.4%, respectively. When plant growth regulators Azotophyt, Ivin, and Emistim C were applied, the germination energy and laboratory germinability increased on average by 18–28% and 15–24%, respectively, compared to the control. With Mycosan-B, Vympel, and Humisol, the germinability and germination energy of seeds did not differ from the control levels. Soaking of eggplant seeds in solutions of the studied formulations positively affected the seedling length: there was on average a 1.24- to 1.94-fold elongation of seedlings. It was found that seeds of the investigated eggplant hybrids were contaminated with phytopathogenic micromycetes and, depending on damage degree, the hybrids were ranked in the following order: 'Sapfir'> 'Sharapova', 'Samurai' > 'Leire' > 'Night Lady', 'Fabina' > 'Destan'. Mycosan-B, Vympel, and Humisol were little effective (2.5–6.3%) against phytopathogens in comparison with the other formulations. Phytocid, PhytoHelp, and MycoHelp exerted potent fungicidal effects, which varied on different hybrids: 42.5–68.8%, 30.0–65.6%, and 32.5–65.6%, respectively. The fungicidal effectiveness of Ivin and Emistim C was 20.3% and 18.8%, respectively. Conclusions. Soaking of eggplant seeds in solutions of biologicals (Phytocid, PhytoHelp, and MycoHelp) and synthetic and natural plant growth regulators (Ivin and Emistim C, respectively) was shown to beneficially affect the sowing quality of seeds and suppress fungal phytopathogens. The greatest stimulatory effects of Phytocid, PhytoHelp, MycoHelp, Ivin, and Emistim C on the sowing quality of seeds were seen on hybs. 'Destan', 'Leire', and 'Fabina'. 51–58% suppression of phytopathogens was achieved when eggplant seeds were soaked in Phytocid, PhytoHelp, and MycoHelp; Ivin and Emistim C resulted in 19–20% suppression. The greatest suppression of phytopathogens on eggplant seeds was observed on hybs. 'Destan', 'Leire', 'Night Lady', and 'Fabina'.

Rhizosphere Bacteria Help to Compensate for Pesticide-Induced Stress in Plants.

Although exogenous chemicals frequently exhibit a biphasic response in regulating plant growth, characterized by low-dose stimulation and high-dose inhibition, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. This study demonstrates, for the first time, the compensatory function of rhizosphere microbiota in assisting plants to withstand pesticide stress. It was observed that pak choi plants, in response to foliar-spraying imidacloprid at both low and high doses, could increase the total number of rhizosphere bacteria and enrich numerous beneficial bacteria. These bacteria have capabilities for promoting plant growth and degrading the pesticide, such as Nocardioides, Brevundimonas, and Sphingomonas. The beneficial bacterial communities were recruited by stressed plants through increasing the release of primary metabolites in root exudates, such as amino acids, fatty acids, and lysophosphatidylcholines. At low doses of pesticide application, the microbial compensatory effect overcame pesticide stress, leading to plant growth promotion. However, with high doses of pesticide application, the microbial compensatory effect was insufficient to counteract pesticide stress, resulting in plant growth inhibition. These findings pave the way for designing improved pesticide application strategies and contribute to a better understanding of how rhizosphere microbiota can be used as an eco-friendly approach to mitigate chemical-induced stress in crops.

Synergistic enhancement of plant growth and cadmium stress defense by Azospirillum brasilense and plant heme: Modulating the growth–defense relationship

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) play important roles in plant growth and defense under heavy metal (HM) stress. The direct integration of microbial and plant signals is key to the regulation of plant growth and HM stress defense, but the underlying mechanisms are still limited. Herein, we reveal a novel mechanism by which PGPR regulates plant growth-regulating substances in plant tissues and coordinates plant growth and defense in pak choi under cadmium (Cd) stress. This might be an efficient strategy and an extension of the mechanism by which plant-microbe interactions improve plant stress resistance. Azospirillum brasilense and heme synergistically reduced the shoot Cd content and promoted the growth of pak choi. The interaction between abscisic acid of microbial origin and heme improved Cd stress tolerance through enhancing Cd accumulation in the root cell wall. The interaction between A. brasilense and heme induced the growth–defense shift in plants under Cd stress. Plants sacrifice growth to enhance Cd stress defense, which then transforms into a dual promotion of both growth and defense. This study deepens our understanding of plant-microbe interactions and provides a novel strategy to improve plant growth and defense under HM stress, ensuring future food production and security.

Paclobutrazol persistence dynamics in mango (Mangifera indica) orchard soil using HPLC and LC-MS/MS analysis

Paclobutrazol, a plant growth regulator, is used commercially in soil application to counter the alternate bearing habit of mango (Mangifera indica L.) all over the country. The experiments were conducted during 2020–21 and 2021–22 at ICAR-Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh to study the persistence of paclobutrazol in soil and its subsequent uptake in mango fruits using HPLC and validated by LC-MS/MS after its application to tree basin soil of mango cv. Dasheri @2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 g a.i./tree. The residues of paclobutrazol dissipated in soil from its initial values of 10.33, 17.25, 25.71, 50.80, and 62.36 µg/g soil at 0 days to 0.14, 0.30, 0.47, 1.32 and 2.38 µg/g soil after 300 days of application. The dissipation rate in soil followed first-order kinetics with half-life values ranging between 57.75 and 77.00 days. Residues of paclobutrazol were not detected in fully mature fruits harvested after 85 days of fruit set. LC-MS/MS analysis confirmed that the sample peaks corresponded to paclobutrazol residues in mango fruit and soil. Thus, HPLC and LC-MS/MS analysis clearly showed that the paclobutrazol persisted in the soil for longer, but the mature fruits harvested from treated trees were free from its residue even at higher doses and safe for consumption. The response of paclobutrazol to the quality of fruits in terms of phenolic content was also assessed. The paclobutrazol was more responsive in altering phenolic acid composition than the control.

Effect of Epidermal Mucous Secretion of Earthworms and other Selected Organic Substances on Rooting of Semi-Hardwood Cuttings of <em>Citrus aurantifolia</em> and Top Cuttings of <em>Dracaena sanderiana</em>

A recent trend in plant growth and propagation is to use natural substances rather than synthetic plant growth regulators. Two experiments were conducted to find out the effect of epidermal mucous secretion (EMS) of earthworms and other organic substances including Aloe vera gel, coconut water and ripe banana on rooting of semi-hardwood cuttings of Citrus aurantifolia and top cuttings of Dracaena sanderiana compared to commercially available plant growth regulators (PGRs). Eleven treatments were prepared using sole application of EMS solution, Aloe vera gel, coconut water and ripe banana, and mixtures of EMS and other organic substances in two different ratios by allocating equal and more inputs from EMS. The present experiments were set up adopting a completely randomized design. The number of roots per cutting, total root length per cutting (cm), length of the longest root per cutting (cm) and root vigor score were recorded for both plant species where destructive sampling was done at two months after planting for C. aurantifolia and one and two months after planting for D. sanderiana. The number of roots per cutting, length of the longest root per cutting and the root vigor score were significantly greater in the control treatment that used commercially available PGR and the cuttings treated with EMS: coconut water (1:1) for C. aurantifolia suggesting the possibility to us EMS and coconut water mixture to substitute the PGR for root induction in C. aurantifolia. The number of roots, total root length and the length of the longest root per cutting were significantly high in the treatments administrated with Aloe vera gel, ripe banana, and a mixture of EMS: ripe bananas (1:1) together with the PGR at two months after planting for D. sanderiana. Hence, the ingredients listed above could be utilized as alternative organic substances to produce adventurous roots in D. sanderiana top cuttings as same as the PGR. The results of the present study could be extremely valuable for developing a unique organic rooting replacement for the synthetic root inducing materials for C. aurantifolia and D. sanderiana. Nonetheless, additional research is required to validate the results of this study.

Are miRNAs applicable for balancing crop growth and defense trade-off?

Securing agricultural supplies for the increasing population without negative impacts on environment demands new crop varieties with higher yields, better quality, and stronger stress resilience. But breeding such super crop varieties is restrained by growth-defense (G-D) trade-off. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are versatile regulators of plant growth and immune responses, with several being demonstrated to simultaneously regulate crop growth and defense against biotic stresses and to balance G-D trade-off. Increasing evidence also links miRNAs to the metabolism and signaling of phytohormones, another type of master regulator of plant growth and defense. Here, we synthesize the reported functions of miRNAs in crop growth, development, and responses to bio-stressors, summarize the regulatory scenarios of miRNAs based on their relationship with target(s), and discuss how miRNAs, particularly those involved in crosstalk with phytohormones, can be applied in balancing G-D trade-off in crops. We also propose several open questions to be addressed for adopting miRNAs in balancing crop G-D trade-off.

Use of humic substance and GA3 in Agaricus bisporus cultivation

In this study, the effects of commercially used gibberellic acid and humic acid, known as plant growth regulators, on mushroom yield were investigated. At the end, the positive effect of both humic substance and gibberellic acid (GA3) which were added to the irrigation water was determined. The highest efficiency was obtained from the trials in which 0.75% and 1% solutions of both substances were used, on average. According to these results, humic substance or gibberellic acid addition to the post-harvest maintenance water in Agaricus bisporus cultivation positively affects the harvest amount.

A pair of nuclear factor Y transcription factors act as positive regulators in jasmonate signaling and disease resistance in Arabidopsis.

The plant hormone jasmonate (JA) regulates plant growth and immunity by orchestrating a genome-wide transcriptional reprogramming. In the resting stage, JASMONATE-ZIM DOMAIN (JAZ) proteins act as main repressors to regulate the expression of JA-responsive genes in the JA signaling pathway. However, the mechanisms underlying de-repression of JA-responsive genes in response to JA treatment remain elusive. Here, we report two nuclear factor Y transcription factors NF-YB2 and NF-YB3 (thereafter YB2 and YB3) play key roles in such de-repression in Arabidopsis. YB2 and YB3 function redundantly and positively regulate plant resistance against the necrotrophic pathogen Botrytis cinerea, which are specially required for transcriptional activation of a set of JA-responsive genes following inoculation. Furthermore, YB2 and YB3 modulated their expression through direct occupancy and interaction with histone demethylase Ref6 to remove repressive histone modifications. Moreover, YB2 and YB3 physically interacted with JAZ repressors and negatively modulated their abundance, which in turn attenuated the inhibition of JAZ proteins on the transcription of JA-responsive genes, thereby activating JA response and promoting disease resistance. Overall, our study reveals the positive regulators of YB2 and YB3 in JA signaling by positively regulating transcription of JA-responsive genes and negatively modulating the abundance of JAZ proteins.