Stress Tolerance In Plants Research Articles

A comprehensive review of the ecological significance, pharmacological potential and economic importance of Samanea saman

Samanea saman belongs to the Leguminosae family commonly known as rain tree. The phytochemical screening of S. saman revealed the presence of many secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, pithecolobine and saponin (Samarin) which have been used for the treatment of different diseases. Natural products from plants have been used as therapeutic drugs throughout the world. This review is mainly focused on the morphology, distribution and phytochemicals contributing to the pharmacological properties of S.saman.

Genome-wide identification, phylogeny and expression analysis of the R2R3-MYB gene family in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) under abiotic stress.

The MYB transcription factor (TF) are among the largest gene families of plants being responsible for several biological processes. The R2R3-MYB gene family are integral player regulating plant primary and secondary metabolism, growth and development, and responses to hormones and stresses. The phylogenetic analysis combined with gene structure analysis and motif determination resulted in division of R2R3-MYB gene family into 27 subgroups. Evidence generated from synteny analyses indicated that CqR2R3-MYBs gene family is featured by tandem and segmental duplication events. On the basis of RNA-Seq data, the expression patterns of different tissues under salt treatment were investigated resulting CqR2R3-MYB genes high expression both in roots and stem of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa ) plants. More than half of CqR2R3-MYB genes showed expression under salt stress. Based on this result, CqR2R3-MYB s may regulate quinoa plant growth development and resistance to abiotic stresses. These findings provided comprehensive insights on role of CqR2R3-MYBs gene family members in quinoa and candidate MYB gene family members can be further studies on their role for abiotic stress tolerance in crop plants.

Genome-wide identification and characterization of FAD family genes in barley.

Fatty acid desaturases (FADs) play pivotal roles in determining plant stress tolerance. Barley is the most salt-tolerant cereal crop. In this study, we performed genome-wide identification and characterization analysis of the FAD gene family in barley (Hordeum vulgare). A total of 24 HvFADs were identified and divided into four subfamilies based on their amino acid sequence similarity. HvFADs unevenly distributed on six of seven barley chromosomes, and three clusters of HvFADs mainly occurred on the chromosome 2, 3 and 6. Segmental duplication events were found to be a main cause for the HvFAD gene family expansion. The same HvFAD subfamily showed the relatively consistent exon-intron composition and conserved motifs of HvFADs. Cis-element analysis in HvFAD promoters indicated that the expression of HvFADs may be subject to complex regulation, especially stress-responsive elements that may involve in saline-alkaline stress response. Combined transcriptomic data with quantitative experiments, at least five HvFADs highly expressed in roots under salt or alkali treatment, suggesting they may participate in saline or alkaline tolerance in barley. This study provides novel and valuable insights for underlying salt/alkali-tolerant mechanisms in barley.

Genome-Wide Comprehensive Identification and In Silico Characterization of Lectin Receptor-Like Kinase Gene Family in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.).

Lectin receptor-like kinases (LecRLKs) are a significant subgroup of the receptor-like kinases (RLKs) protein family. They play crucial roles in plant growth, development, immune responses, signal transduction, and stress tolerance. However, the genome-wide identification and characterization of LecRLK genes and their regulatory elements have not been explored in a major cereal crop, barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Therefore, in this study, integrated bioinformatics tools were used to identify and characterize the LecRLK gene family in barley. Based on the phylogenetic tree and domain organization, a total of 113 LecRLK genes were identified in the barley genome (referred to as HvlecRLK) corresponding to the LecRLK genes of Arabidopsis thaliana. These putative HvlecRLK genes were classified into three groups: 62 G-type LecRLKs, 1 C-type LecRLK, and 50 L-type LecRLKs. They were unevenly distributed across eight chromosomes, including one unknown chromosome, and were predominantly located in the plasma membrane (G-type HvlecRLK (96.8%), C-type HvlecRLK (100%), and L-type HvlecRLK (98%)). An analysis of motif composition and exon-intron configuration revealed remarkable homogeneity with the members of AtlecRLK. Notably, most of the HvlecRLKs (27 G-type, 43 L-type) have no intron, suggesting their rapid functionality. The Ka/Ks and syntenic analysis demonstrated that HvlecRLK gene pairs evolved through purifying selection and gene duplication was the major factor for the expansion of the HvlecRLK gene family. Exploration of gene ontology (GO) enrichment indicated that the identified HvlecRLK genes are associated with various cellular processes, metabolic pathways, defense mechanisms, kinase activity, catalytic activity, ion binding, and other essential pathways. The regulatory network analysis identified 29 transcription factor families (TFFs), with seven major TFFs including bZIP, C2H2, ERF, MIKC_MADS, MYB, NAC, and WRKY participating in the regulation of HvlecRLK gene functions. Most notably, eight TFFs were found to be linked to the promoter region of both L-type HvleckRLK64 and HvleckRLK86. The promoter cis-acting regulatory element (CARE) analysis of barley identified a total of 75 CARE motifs responsive to light responsiveness (LR), tissue-specific (TS), hormone responsiveness (HR), and stress responsiveness (SR). The maximum number of CAREs was identified in HvleckRLK11 (25 for LR), HvleckRLK69 (17 for TS), and HvleckRLK80 (12 for HR). Additionally, HvleckRLK14, HvleckRLK16, HvleckRLK33, HvleckRLK50, HvleckRLK52, HvleckRLK56, and HvleckRLK110 were predicted to exhibit higher responses in stress conditions. In addition, 46 putative miRNAs were predicted to target 81 HvlecRLK genes and HvlecRLK13 was the most targeted gene by 8 different miRNAs. Protein-protein interaction analysis demonstrated higher functional similarities of 63 HvlecRLKs with 7 Arabidopsis STRING proteins. Our overall findings provide valuable information on the LecRLK gene family which might pave the way to advanced research on the functional mechanism of the candidate genes as well as to develop new barley cultivars in breeding programs.

Nitrogen starvation modulates the sensitivity of rhizobacterial community to drought stress in Stevia rebaudiana

Alterations in water regimes or nitrogen (N) availability lead to shifts in the assemblage of rhizosphere microbial community; however, how the rhizosphere microbiome response to concurrent changes in water and N availability remains largely unclear. Herein, we investigated the taxonomic and functional characteristics of rhizobacteria associated with stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) under varying combinations of water and N levels. Community diversity and predicted functions of rhizobacteria were predominantly altered by drought stress, with N-starvation modulating these effects. Moreover, N fertilization simplified the ecological interactions within rhizobacterial communities and heightened the relative role of stochastic processes on community assembly. In terms of rhizobacterial composition, we observed both common and distinctive changes in drought-responsive bacterial taxa under different N conditions. Generally, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes phyla were depleted by drought stress but the Actinobacteria phylum showed increases. The rhizobacterial responses to drought stress were influenced by N availability, where the positive response of δ-proteobacteria and the negative response of α- and γ-proteobacteria, along with Bacteroidetes, were further heightened under N starvation. By contrast, under N fertilization conditions, an amplified negative or positive response to drought were demonstrated in Firmicutes and Actinobacteria phyla, respectively. Further, the drought-responsive rhizobacteria were mostly phylogenetically similar, but this pattern was modulated under N-rich conditions. Overall, our findings indicate an N-dependent specific restructuring of rhizosphere bacteria under drought stress. These changes in the rhizosphere microbiome could contribute to enhancing plant stress tolerance.

Organic Amendments: Enhancing Plant Tolerance to Salinity and Metal Stress for Improved Agricultural Productivity

Salinity and metal stress are significant abiotic factors that negatively influence plant growth and development. These factors lead to diminished agricultural yields on a global scale. Organic amendments have emerged as a potential solution for mitigating the adverse effects of salinity and metal stress on plants. When plants experience these stresses, they produce reactive oxygen species, which can impair protein synthesis and damage cellular membranes. Organic amendments, including biochar, vermicompost, green manure, and farmyard manure, have been shown to facilitate soil nitrogen uptake, an essential component for protein synthesis, and enhance various plant processes such as metabolism, protein accumulation, and antioxidant activities. Researchers have observed that the application of organic amendments improves plant stress tolerance, plant growth, and yield. They achieve this by altering the plant’s ionic balance, enhancing the photosynthetic machinery, boosting antioxidant systems, and reducing oxidative damage. The potential of organic amendments to deal effectively with high salinity and metal concentrations in the soil is gaining increased attention and is becoming an increasingly popular practice in the field of agriculture. This review aims to provide insights into methods for treating soils contaminated with salinity and heavy metals by manipulating their bioavailability through the use of various soil amendments.

Sustainable agriculture through rhizosphere bacteria for plant growth promotion, nutrient acquisition, and stress alleviation

Rhizosphere bacteria are attracting a lot of interest in sustainable agriculture because of their capacity to stimulate plant growth, improve nutrient uptake, and reduce stress in plants. A review of recent discoveries in the field of using rhizosphere bacteria for these advantageous agricultural techniques is given in this article. Rhizosphere bacteria facilitate plant growth by solubilizing inaccessible elements like phosphorus, potassium, zinc, and manganese by producing a variety of enzymes and organic acids. Furthermore, these bacteria support plant nutrition by fixing atmospheric nitrogen, a necessary component for plant growth and development. Moreover, some rhizosphere bacterial strains can inhibit plant diseases, which lessen the need for artificial chemical pesticides. Rhizosphere bacteria have improved plant stress tolerance by producing stress-related substances, including phytohormones and osmoprotectants. These bacteria also give rise to systemic resistance in plants, successfully allowing them to survive various biotic and abiotic challenges. Concerning climate change and environmental variations, this rhizosphere bacteria-mediated stress reduction component holds a tremendous potential for sustainable agriculture. But for rhizosphere bacteria-based agricultural techniques to be successfully utilized, a thorough grasp of their variety, ecological relationships, and mode of action are necessary. Optimizing application techniques, formulating bioinoculants, and considering environmental aspects are crucial for consistent and dependable outcomes through rhizosphere bacteria.

Selenium Fertilizer Improves Microbial Community Structure and Diversity of Rhizospheric Soil and Selenium Accumulation in Tomato Plants

ABSTRACT Selenium (Se) is an essential microelement in living organisms, and has a beneficial effect on plant growth and stress tolerance at low concentrations. Se biofortification is commonly practiced in agriculture and is considered the best method for increasing human Se uptake. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Se fertilizer application on Se accumulation and microbial communities in the rhizospheric soil of tomato plants. A pot experiment with five treatments, i.e. (a) non-Se fertilizer as control (Ck) and Se fertilizer in the form of (b) sodium selenite (1 mg kg−1), (c) sodium selenite (5 mg kg−1), (d) sodium selenate (1 mg kg−1), and (e) sodium selenate (5 mg kg−1) was set up. The results showed that Se content in the tomato plants’ parts gradually increased with an increasing concentration of sodium selenate or selenite. Sodium selenate significantly increased tomato yield and improved Se accumulation in tomato plants. Se-treated treatments decreased the abundance of soil microbial community, and had no effect on the Chao1 and Shannon indices of them. Furthermore, Se application increased the relative abundance of Acidobacteriota and Actinobacteriota involved in the decomposition of organic matter, reducing Bacteriodota and Ascomyta, and significantly affected the bacterial community structure. Thus, Se fertilizer application increased the crop yield, improved Se accumulation, and the structure and diversity of rhizospheric soil microbial community in the tomato plants. In line with our experiment, 5 mg kg−1 concentration selenate is a reasonable way to harvest Se-enriched tomatoes.

Chemical and Transcriptomic Analyses of Leaf Cuticular Wax Metabolism in Ammopiptanthus mongolicus under Osmotic Stress.

Plant cuticular wax forms a hydrophobic structure in the cuticle layer covering epidermis as the first barrier between plants and environments. Ammopiptanthus mongolicus, a leguminous desert shrub, exhibits high tolerances to multiple abiotic stress. The physiological, chemical, and transcriptomic analyses of epidermal permeability, cuticular wax metabolism and related gene expression profiles under osmotic stress in A. mongolicus leaves were performed. Physiological analyses revealed decreased leaf epidermal permeability under osmotic stress. Chemical analyses revealed saturated straight-chain alkanes as major components of leaf cuticular wax, and under osmotic stress, the contents of total wax and multiple alkane components significantly increased. Transcriptome analyses revealed the up-regulation of genes involved in biosynthesis of very-long-chain fatty acids and alkanes and wax transportation under osmotic stress. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified 17 modules and 6 hub genes related to wax accumulation, including 5 enzyme genes coding KCS, KCR, WAX2, FAR, and LACS, and an ABCG transporter gene. Our findings indicated that the leaf epidermal permeability of A. mongolicus decreased under osmotic stress to inhibit water loss via regulating the expression of wax-related enzyme and transporter genes, further promoting cuticular wax accumulation. This study provided new evidence for understanding the roles of cuticle lipids in abiotic stress tolerance of desert plants.

Plant Growth Regulating Phytohormones: The Potent Targets to Alleviate Abiotic Stress in Crop Plants —A Research Update and the Way Forward

The latest modifying models of global climate have changed to be an unadorned threat to the crops production. An extensive scale of biotic and abiotic stresses frequently impacts crop plants because of their stalkless characteristics. Crop plants failures are principally triggered by abiotic factors such as salt, heat, cold, floods, ultraviolet radiation and drought. For dealing with these harsh conditions, well-established mechanisms have been developed in plants, which perform a pivotal role in comprehending stress signals and assisting ideal development responses. Remarkably, the exploitation of plant growth regulating phytohormones for decreasing the adverse effect of abiotic stress has acquired much attention in current decades. For evasion of stress at various levels, including physiological, molecular, and biochemical, an erudite method is informed to be presented by phytohormones. Thus, labeling these phytohormones plays an important function in plant growth and overall development. Phytohormones can progresses tolerance against abiotic stresses by raising seed germination, seedling growth, root growth, leaf photosynthesis and antioxidant enzymes by dropping the accretion of reactive oxygen species, malonaldehyde, and electrolyte outflow. Current findings focus on the important function of a diversity of phytohormones counting, Abscisic acid (ABA), Salicylic acid (SA), Jasmonates (JA) and Ethylene (ET) in the abiotic stress tolerance improvement of crop plants. The contribution of Cytokinins (CKs), and some other novel phytohormones such as Brassinosteroids and Strigolactones in plant development has been acknowledged under normal and stress conditions. Therefore, this review is desired to recap the new progresses in the knowledge associated to phytohormones and their association in abiotic stresses of expectation, signaling, crosstalk, and the response processes. Therefore, such a review will be helpful in improving the pathway for sustainable agriculture development via involvement of phytohormones in improvement of abiotic stress tolerance of the crop plants.

Saving water under water deficit conditions by application of Xyway LFR@FMC: Greenhouse studies

Triazole fungicides are often referred to as "stress protectants" due to their ability to enhance the abiotic stress tolerance of plants. Xyway LFR@FMC (flutriafol) is a triazole and at-plant applied fungicide. The Xyway LFR@FMC fungicide that has been introduced into corn production system starting 2020 have been observed to improve plant performance under drought stress conditions. In this study, we accessed the potential of Xyway LFR@FMC product in altering the ability of corn (Zea mays L.) plants to control transpiration rates under water deficit-stressed (DS) conditions. Plants were grown under greenhouse conditions treated with Xyway LFR@FMC at 0.56, 0.77, and 1.11 L ha−1 in experiment 1 and 1.11 and 1.26 L ha−1 rates in experiment 2. Plants treated with 1.11 L ha−1 reduced the amount of water loss in response to DS and had the highest fraction of transpirable soil water (FTSW) thresholds. There was an increase in shoot hydraulic conductance (Kshoot) by 1.11 L ha−1 in both experiments. Plants treated with 0.77 and 1.11 L ha−1 had higher LWP rates compared to other treatments under DS conditions. In conclusion, the most likely chemical ingredient in Xyway LFR@FMC fungicide triggering the transpiration control response was flutriafol. This is the first report that early stomatal closure under soil drying conditions can be induced by the application of Xyway LFR@FMC fungicide. Application of at-plant fungicide, Xyway LFR@FMC has potential to reduce the negative effect of water-deficit stress in corn along with improving plants growth and physiological performance.

Biofilm producing plant growth promoting bacteria in combination with glycine betaine uplift drought stress tolerance of maize plant.

The escalating threat of drought poses a significant challenge to sustainable food production and human health, as water scarcity adversely impacts various aspects of plant physiology. Maize, a cornerstone in staple cereal crops, faces the formidable challenge of drought stress that triggers a series of transformative responses in the plant. The present study was carried out in two sets of experiments. In first experiment, drought stress was applied after maintaining growth for 45 days and then irrigation was skipped, and plant samples were collected at 1st, 3rd and 6th day of drought interval for evaluation of changes in plant growth, water relation (relative water content) and antioxidants activity by inoculating indigenously isolated drought tolerant biofilm producing rhizobacterial isolates (Bacillus subtilis SRJ4, Curtobacterium citreum MJ1). In the second experiment, glycine betaine was applied as osmoregulator in addition to drought tolerant PGPR to perceive modulation in photosynthetic pigments (Chlorophyll a and b) and plant growth under varying moisture stress levels (100, 75 and 50% FC). Results of the study revealed upsurge in root and shoot length, fresh and dry biomass of root and shoot besides increasing chlorophyll contents in water stressed inoculated plants compared to uninoculated plants. Glycine betaine application resulted in an additional boost to plant growth and photosynthetic pigments, when applied in combination with bacterial inoculants. However, both bacterial inoculants behaved differently under drought stress as evident from their biochemical and physiological attributes. Isolate SRJ4 proved to be superior for its potential to express antioxidant activity, leaf water potential and relative water contents and drought responsive gene expression while isolate MJ1 showed exclusive increase in root dry biomass and plant P contents. Though it is quite difficult to isolate the bacterial isolates having both plant growth promoting traits and drought tolerance together yet, such biological resources could be an exceptional option to be applied for improving crop productivity and sustainable agriculture under abiotic stresses. By exploring the combined application of PGPR and glycine betaine, the study seeks to provide insights into potential strategies for developing sustainable agricultural practices aimed at improving crop resilience under challenging environmental conditions.

Effects of combined application of selenium and various plant hormones on the cold stress tolerance of tomato plants

Effects of combined application of selenium and various plant hormones on the cold stress tolerance of tomato plants

Microbiome structure variation and soybean's defense responses during flooding stress and elevated CO2.

With current trends in global climate change, both flooding episodes and higher levels of CO2 have been key factors to impact plant growth and stress tolerance. Very little is known about how both factors can influence the microbiome diversity and function, especially in tolerant soybean cultivars. This work aims to (i) elucidate the impact of flooding stress and increased levels of CO2 on the plant defenses and (ii) understand the microbiome diversity during flooding stress and elevated CO2 (eCO2). We used next-generation sequencing and bioinformatic methods to show the impact of natural flooding and eCO2 on the microbiome architecture of soybean plants' below- (soil) and above-ground organs (root and shoot). We used high throughput rhizospheric extra-cellular enzymes and molecular analysis of plant defense-related genes to understand microbial diversity in plant responses during eCO2 and flooding. Results revealed that bacterial and fungal diversity was substantially higher in combined flooding and eCO2 treatments than in non-flooding control. Microbial diversity was soil>root>shoot in response to flooding and eCO2. We found that sole treatment of eCO2 and flooding had significant abundances of Chitinophaga, Clostridium, and Bacillus. Whereas the combination of flooding and eCO2 conditions showed a significant abundance of Trichoderma and Gibberella. Rhizospheric extra-cellular enzyme activities were significantly higher in eCO2 than flooding or its combination with eCO2. Plant defense responses were significantly regulated by the oxidative stress enzyme activities and gene expression of Elongation factor 1 and Alcohol dehydrogenase 2 in floodings and eCO2 treatments in soybean plant root or shoot parts. This work suggests that climatic-induced changes in eCO2 and submergence can reshape microbiome structure and host defenses, essential in plant breeding and developing stress-tolerant crops. This work can help in identifying core-microbiome species that are unique to flooding stress environments and increasing eCO2.

A genome-wide association analysis for salt tolerance during the soybean germination stage and development of KASP markers.

Salt stress poses a significant challenge to crop productivity, and understanding the genetic basis of salt tolerance is paramount for breeding resilient soybean varieties. In this study, a soybean natural population was evaluated for salt tolerance during the germination stage, focusing on key germination traits, including germination rate (GR), germination energy (GE), and germination index (GI). It was seen that under salt stress, obvious inhibitions were found on these traits, with GR, GE, and GI diminishing by 32% to 54% when compared to normal conditions. These traits displayed a coefficient of variation (31.81% to 50.6%) and a substantial generalized heritability (63.87% to 86.48%). Through GWAS, a total of 1841 significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified to be associated with these traits, distributed across chromosome 2, 5, 6, and 20. Leveraging these significant association loci, 12 candidate genes were identified to be associated with essential functions in coordinating cellular responses, regulating osmotic stress, mitigating oxidative stress, clearing reactive oxygen species (ROS), and facilitating heavy metal ion transport - all of which are pivotal for plant development and stress tolerance. To validate the candidate genes, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis was conducted, revealing three highly expressed genes (Glyma.02G067700, Glyma.02G068900, and Glyma.02G070000) that play pivotal roles in plant growth, development, and osmoregulation. In addition, based on these SNPs related with salt tolerance, KASP (Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR)markers were successfully designed to genotype soybean accessions. These findings provide insight into the genetic base of soybean salt tolerance and candidate genes for enhancing soybean breeding programs in this study.

OsACA9, an Autoinhibited Ca2+-ATPase, Synergically Regulates Disease Resistance and Leaf Senescence in Rice.

Calcium (Ca2+) is a versatile intracellular second messenger that regulates several signaling pathways involved in growth, development, stress tolerance, and immune response in plants. Autoinhibited Ca2+-ATPases (ACAs) play an important role in the regulation of cellular Ca2+ homeostasis. Here, we systematically analyzed the putative OsACA family members in rice, and according to the phylogenetic tree of OsACAs, OsACA9 was clustered into a separated branch in which its homologous gene in Arabidopsis thaliana was reported to be involved in defense response. When the OsACA9 gene was knocked out by CRISPR/Cas9, significant accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected in the mutant lines. Meanwhile, the OsACA9 knock out lines showed enhanced disease resistance to both rice bacterial blight (BB) and bacterial leaf streak (BLS). In addition, compared to the wild-type (WT), the mutant lines displayed an early leaf senescence phenotype, and the agronomy traits of their plant height, panicle length, and grain yield were significantly decreased. Transcriptome analysis by RNA-Seq showed that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between WT and the Osaca9 mutant were mainly enriched in basal immune pathways and antibacterial metabolite synthesis pathways. Among them, multiple genes related to rice disease resistance, receptor-like cytoplasmic kinases (RLCKs) and cell wall-associated kinases (WAKs) genes were upregulated. Our results suggest that the Ca2+-ATPase OsACA9 may trigger oxidative burst in response to various pathogens and synergically regulate disease resistance and leaf senescence in rice.

An Insight into the Role of Phenolics in Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Plants: Current Perspective for Sustainable Environment

Phenolic compounds (PCs) are a prominent class of secondary metabolites produced by plants and are essential for the natural role of the entire plant life cycle. PCs are formed in plants under both favorable and unfavorable conditions and have essential functions in signaling pathways, such as cell division, nutrient mineralization, hormone control, and reproduction. Under abiotic stress conditions, plants produce more polyphenols, which aid them in adapting to their environment. The phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway is activated under various environmental stress conditions, such as drought, heavy metal toxicity, salinity, and high/low temperatures, resulting in the deposition of compounds. These compounds can neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced in excessive amounts in crops under stressful conditions and adversely affect plants. It is imperative to investigate the functions of PCs in response to several abiotic stresses, as the phenylpropanoid pathway plays a crucial role in the metabolic pathway in crop plants, leading to the biosynthesis of a wide range of PCs. These compounds play various roles in plant growth, development, and response to environmental stress. Therefore, this review provides a comprehensive understanding of PCs and their exchanges with other cellular components, which is crucial for harnessing their potential to improve crop resilience to environmental stresses.

Breaking new ground: Decoding the root’s molecular circuits to penetrate compacted soil

Penetration capacity is a central root phenotype for enhancing rooting into compacted soils and improving abiotic stress tolerance in crop plants, but the molecular mechanisms are unclear. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Xu etal. demonstrate the vital role of the FER-PIF3-PIEZO circuitry in controlling primary root penetrability into compacted substrates.

Distribution pattern and influencing factors of bacterial communities in different soil depths of Caragana jubata shurb in Luya Mountain, China.

Soil microorganisms are important components of terrestrial ecosystems, affecting soil formation and fertility, plant growth and stress tolerance, nutrient turnover and carbon storage. In this study, we collected soil samples (humus layer, 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, 20-40 cm, and 40-80 cm) from Caragana jubata shrubland in Shanxi subalpine to explore the composition, diversity, and assembly of soil bacterial communities at different depths across the soil profile. The results showed that Actinomycota (19%-28%), Chloromycota (10%-36%) and Acidobacteria (15%-24%), and Proteobacteria (9%-25%) were the dominant bacterial phyla. α-diversity of soil bacterial community significantly decreased with the increases of soil depth. Soil bacterial β-diversity varied across different soil depths. Soil pH, water content, and enzyme activity were the main ecological factors affecting the distribution of soil bacterial communities. Soil bacterial communities had more complex interactions in humus layer and 0-10 cm layer. On the whole, soil bacterial communities were dominated by coexistence in C. jubata shrubland, and the soil bacterial community assembly was driven by random process.

Rapid and low-cost screening for single and combined effects of drought and heat stress on the morpho-physiological traits of African eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum) germplasm.

Drought and heat are two stresses that often occur together and may pose significant risks to crops in future climates. However, the combined effects of these two stressors have received less attention than single-stressor investigations. This study used a rapid and straightforward phenotyping method to quantify the variation in 128 African eggplant genotype responses to drought, heat, and the combined effects of heat and drought at the seedling stage. The study found that the morphophysiological traits varied significantly among the 128 eggplants, highlighting variation in response to abiotic stresses. Broad-sense heritability was high (> 0.60) for chlorophyll content, plant biomass and performance index, electrolyte leakage, and total leaf area. Positive and significant relationships existed between biomass and photosynthetic parameters, but a negative association existed between electrolyte leakage and morpho-physiological traits. The plants underwent more significant stress when drought and heat stress were imposed concurrently than under single stresses, with the impact of drought on the plants being more detrimental than heat. There were antagonistic effects on the morphophysiology of the eggplants when heat and drought stress were applied together. Resilient genotypes such as RV100503, RV100501, JAMBA, LOC3, RV100164, RV100169, LOC 3, RV100483, GH5155, RV100430, GH1087, GH1087*, RV100388, RV100387, RV100391 maintained high relative water content, low electrolyte leakage, high Fv/Fm ratio and performance index, and increased biomass production under abiotic stress conditions. The antagonistic interactions between heat and drought observed here may be retained or enhanced during several stress combinations typical of plants' environments and must be factored into efforts to develop climate change-resilient crops. This paper demonstrates improvised climate chambers for high throughput, reliable, rapid, and cost-effective screening for heat and drought and combined stress tolerance in plants.