Plant tolerance is explained by resource-based plant-nematode interactions.

Inhibition or interference? Revisiting allelopathy through the effects of Triadica sebifera on Chrysanthemum seticuspe as a model system.

Climate change is one of the key drivers of evolution. The environment is changing at a faster pace inducing variety of stresses on plants, animals,and microbes. These stresses or adverse stimuli from the environment affect the growth, development,and viability of organisms. Stressors like drought, salinity, heat, cold,and heavy metal poisoning affect plant growth and productivity significantly. Plant has evolved various mechanism to survive under this these abiotic stresses. Recently,the role of transcription factors (TFs), which binds to a short 18-22 nucleotides long DNA molecule, has gained attention. Our study investigates the role and of one of the TFs to improve survivability of plants under drought, salt, heat, cold and heavy metal stressors. This component is known as Dehydration-Responsive Element-Binding (DREB)TFs. These are factors promote or inhibit many stresses inducible genes. DREB indirectly increases the activity of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are released by plants in response to stress by interacting with the cis-element of DRE/CRT (dehydration-responsive element/C-repeat) present on the promoter region of the stress-induced genes. Harnessing this can help us in improving the crop productivity, crop quality, and crop viability. This review analyses and summarises the recent advancements of research regarding this versatile motif.

From molecules to field: Integrated insights into cuticle-mediated drought tolerance in plants.

Advances in the HAK/KUP/KT Potassium Transporter Family in Regulating Na+/K+ Homeostasis and Salt Tolerance in Plants.

Genome-wide identification of the fibrillin gene family and functional analysis of CsFBN1 and CsFBN4 in Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze.

Increasing pressure from xylem-limited pathogens has driven the search for beneficial xylem-inhabiting endophytes that can enhance growth, stress tolerance, and disease resistance in woody plants. This study characterized the culturable xylem microbiota of Salicaceae species (willow and poplar) and evaluated their potential as biological control agents against vascular pathogens. A combination of microbial isolation, metabarcoding, and whole-genome sequencing was used to characterize xylem-associated bacteria. Functional traits were assessed through in vitro assays, while genome mining identified genes linked to plant-beneficial activities. Interactions between endophytes and pathogens were tested using fluorescently labeled strains in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and in vitro-grown willow (Salix caprea). Bacterial genera (Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Erwinia) exhibited plant growth-promoting traits and strong antagonism against bacterial and fungal vascular pathogens, including Xylella fastidiosa, Brenneria salicis, Fusarium spp., and Verticillium dahliae. Genome analyses revealed functions related to nutrient acquisition, biofilm formation, and antimicrobial production. Co-inoculation assays significantly reduced pathogen load and disease symptoms in tobacco and mitigated symptoms in willow. Xylem endophytes act as context-dependent allies in woody plant defence. This study provides a functional and genomic framework supporting microbiome-based strategies to enhance resistance against vascular pathogens in long-lived woody hosts.

Effectiveness of composts from decentralised composting scenarios to promote degraded soil restoration and R. officinalis drought resilience.

Nitric oxide interplay with hydrogen sulfide modulates gene expression and photosystem II function through enhanced antioxidant defense under PEG-induced osmotic stress in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).

Oxalic acid enhances wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) resilience to combined abiotic stresses through integrated physiological and rhizospheric microbial modulation.

Huanglongbing (HLB) disease is caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), which is a bacterium that affects citrus metabolism, impacting fruit quality and yield. This study determined the effectiveness of a bio- enzyme that was prepared in the lab to help correct the metabolic disturbances that HLB causes in six varieties of Citrus limon and Citrus sinensis. The volatile and non-volatile metabolites were analysed by GC-MS, and significant changes in metabolites, such as limonene, linalool, alpha-terpineol or other stress factors like methyl salicylate, aldehyde and others, were found. Changes in the levels of metabolites by HLB infection were quantified by qPCR analysis. Bio-enzyme treatment resulted in a reduction in CLas titers and partially corrected metabolic stability by increase of defence associated metabolites, such as γ-terpinene, β-caryophyllene, ferulic acid, naringenin and chlorogenic acid. The principal component analysis showed a clear separation between treated and untreated plants, while ANOVA showed significant differences between cultivars and treatments (p < 0.05). Based on these results, it can be concluded that bioenzymes can be used as a mutation for better citrus plant tolerance toward HLB-infection that can be considered as a sustainable management practice.

The development of salt-affected arable lands has become a serious challenge to agricultural sustainability and global food security due to climate change. The dangers posed by soil salinity and its impact on farming have not been sufficiently addressed through traditional breeding methods. Halo tolerant plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (HT-PGPR) are important for restoring degraded salt-affected soils and for helping plants grow better, improving their nutritional value and yield, and increasing their ability to withstand both living and non-living stressors. HT-PGPR use several methods to reduce soil salinity, including the production of substances and plant hormones, the creation of secondary metabolites and siderophores, the maintenance of ion balance, and the improvement of plant nutrient availability. As our study aims to expand our understanding of HT-PGPR and its effects on agriculture, this review addresses salinity-related problems and provides the scientific community with modern solutions, such as HT-PGPR, for sustainable farming practices and efficient agriculture.

Root-associated microbiota play a critical role in plant tolerance to salt stress. However, the conservation of beneficial interactions across diverse crops and soils and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we show that pseudomonads were consistently enriched in salt-stressed plant roots across multiple soil types and most crop species. Comparative genomics revealed that these pseudomonads harbored unique genomic signatures associated with high salinity tolerance, such as Na+ transporters. Pseudomonad isolates from salt-stressed plants robustly colonized soybean roots and significantly improved salt tolerance under both greenhouse and field conditions. Pseudomonads-dependent plant salt stress tolerance was mediated through plant lignin biosynthesis stimulation rather than the canonical mechanism of Na+ homeostasis. Overexpression of the key plant lignin biosynthesis genes, including GmCAD, GmCOMT, and Gm4CL, significantly enhanced soybean growth under salt stress. Furthermore, mutant plants deficient in lignin biosynthesis no longer showed pseudomonads-induced salt tolerance. Collectively, our findings reveal a previously unrecognized microbial-mediated pathway that enhances plant resilience to salt stress.

Aphid-microbe-plant interactions are fundamental to understanding plant responses to combined biotic and abiotic stress. The grain aphid Sitobion avenae is a major pest of wheat, particularly under drought conditions. Although arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can enhance plant tolerance to water deficit, their effects on aphid performance across wheat cultivars differing in drought resistance remain unclear. We examined the influence of Acaulospora delicata on S. avenae performance on two wheat cultivars-Yunhan-618 (drought-resistant) and Xinong-1376 (drought-susceptible)-under well-watered and water-deficit stress conditions. Under water-deficit stress conditions, root colonization by A. delicata was higher in both Yunhan-618 and Xinong-1376 when compared to well-watered conditions. In the absence of mycorrhiza, nymphal developmental time was prolonged, especially on drought-stressed Xinong-1376 plants. AMF inoculation shortened developmental time, increased adult longevity, and enhanced fecundity of S. avenae under both water regimes. On Yunhan-618, AMF association increased intrinsic growth rate and reproductive output of this aphid. Honeydew excretion by S. avenae was greater on AMF-inoculated plants under well-watered conditions. Aphid body mass and water balance traits were generally higher on AMF-associated Yunhan-618 plants under adequate water supply. Aphids also preferentially settled on AMF-inoculated drought-susceptible wheat plants under both water regimes as compared to drought-resistant wheat plants. Overall, A. delicata enhanced plant drought resilience but simultaneously promoted aphid fitness. These findings underscore the complex and context-dependent role of AMF in shaping plant-aphid interactions, with important implications for pest dynamics under climate change.

Thioredoxins (TRXs), a class of ubiquitous oxidoreductases, are essential for thiol redox regulation in plants. So far, the Trx system has been established in herbaceous plants. However, studies of the Trx system and its post-transcriptional regulation mediated by miRNAs in woody plants are scarce, and especially the functions of the regulatory mode in poplar responding to drought remain unclear. In this investigation, antioxidant enzyme activities and osmotic adjustment responses suggested that the chloroplast-specific antioxidants were indispensable for regulating the drought tolerance of poplar. The Trx system genes were comprehensively identified and classified, and the miRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulation of Trx system genes was investigated in poplar, revealing the high number of atypical TRXs and their special functions. PagCDSP32, an atypical TRX located in the chloroplast, was identified as a drought tolerance candidate. Transgenic poplars overexpressing PagCDSP32 exhibited stronger ROS scavenging ability and drought tolerance, while those with suppressed PagCDSP32 expression showed the opposite. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that differentially expressed genes affected by PagCDSP32 were mainly enriched in maintaining cell homeostasis. PagCDSP32 could interact with two peroxiredoxins, and inhibition of miR6427-5p expression increased the ROS scavenging ability of poplar under drought stress by liberating the cleavage of PagCDSP32. Intriguingly, the expression of the miR6427-5p-PagCDSP32 module determined the drought tolerance of poplar varieties. Overall, a potential module regulating poplar drought tolerance was proposed, which would provide a valuable resource of Trx system genes in poplars and facilitate future efforts to decipher the role of TRXs in regulating plant tolerance to abiotic stresses.

Cold tolerance and tea quality are essential for profitable tea cultivation, yet the genetic interplay between them remains elusive. Here, we systematically evaluated cold tolerance and quantified 12 key tea quality-related metabolites over two consecutive years of 108 geographically diverse tea accessions in China. Multi-trait genome-wide association mapping identified a central hub regulator, COLD AND CATECHINS REGULATOR 1 (CCR1), significantly associated with cold tolerance and catechins biosynthesis in tea plants. Functional analysis demonstrated that CsCCR1 positively regulates cold tolerance and catechins accumulation in tea plants, and that a missense variation (A-to-C) in CsCCR1 significantly enhances cold tolerance and catechins accumulation. Exogenous application of catechins (EGCG/EGC/EC) could also significantly alleviate cold-induced oxidative damage through ROS scavenging. We demonstrated that CsCCR1, activated by upstream regulators CsLUX and CsKUA1, directly activates catechin biosynthetic genes (CsCHS1, CsFLS1, CsSCPL4, CsSCPL5) and a novel cold-responsive gene CsELIP1. Furthermore, CsCCR1 physically interacts with CsCBF1/3 to form a transcriptional activation complex that synergistically amplifies expression of these downstream targets, thereby simultaneously modulating cold tolerance and catechins biosynthesis. Our findings underscore the importance of CsCCR1 in linking cold tolerance with quality formation of tea plants, offering targets for breeding elite tea cultivars with superior cold resistance and quality.

Land plants demonstrate high tolerance to acute ionizing radiation compared to other metazoans. However, few studies have analyzed plant gene expression in response to low-dose ionizing radiation. The present study performed two different sets of transcriptomic analysis of acutely exposed potato plants to 0.5-5Gy of gamma radiation. In the first experiment, a total of 4,955 genes were differentially expressed in treated versus control plants. Among them, the gene expression of thirty-five genes were proportionally increased in a dose dependent manner. GO terms of these genes was enriched in DNA repair and metabolism related gene categories. Treatments caused no observable phenotypic effect until six weeks post-treatment, when apical growth aberrations led to an increase in lateral branching that corresponded with the total dose of gamma radiation. A second experiment analyzed the effect of shorter-duration exposures over the same dose range. While the shorter-duration exposures led to increased differentially expressed genes, thirty-one out of thirty-five genes identified in the first analysis were consistently expressed in this experiment. Also, the gene expression of these gene groups was reduced to baseline levels after recovery, indicating these genes are specific responsive genes against IR stress. Taken together, we identified DNA repair and metabolism related genes that were expressed at ~ 1Gy of gamma radiation. These findings are important for future biotechnological studies to improve stress tolerance in plants, as well as, in the design of advanced potato phytosensors to report gamma radiation injuries.

Textile industries produce highly saline and chemically complex effluents that severely degrade soil quality and limit plant growth. This study assessed the phytodesalination capability of the halophyte Sesuvium portulacastrum, both independently and in conjunction with the halotolerant plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium Bacillus megaterium (OPS2), for the reclamation of saline soils contaminated by textile effluent in Tirupur District, Tamil Nadu, India. S. portulacastrum collected from Pichavaram tolerated salinity levels up to 5000mgkg⁻1 NaCl and accumulated sodium up to 4.4% in plant tissues, demonstrating strong salt hyperaccumulation capacity. Among 25 rhizosphere bacterial isolates screened, B. megaterium (OPS2) exhibited superior salt tolerance (growth up to 3% NaCl) and notable plant growth-promoting traits, including indole-3-acetic acid production (18.5µgmL⁻1), siderophore secretion, and phosphate solubilization. Pot culture experiments revealed that the combined application of S. portulacastrum, vermicompost (5 t ha⁻1), and PGPR reduced soil electrical conductivity (EC) from 10.1 to 2.8 dS m⁻1 and sodium concentration from 3095 to 610mgkg⁻1 within 60days. Field trials further confirmed these results, showing a decrease in soil EC from 13.5 to 3.2 dS m⁻1 and sodium from 3500 to 700mgkg⁻1 over the same period. Moreover, PGPR inoculation significantly enhanced the biomass of S. portulacastrum, which reached 475g plant⁻1 under field conditions. These findings highlight the synergistic potential of S. portulacastrum and B. megaterium-based bioaugmentation as an effective, sustainable strategy for the rapid reclamation of effluent-contaminated saline soils.

Drought stress severely restricts plant growth, productivity and the functioning of their physiological structures. This study investigated the effects of humic acid (2.5 mL/L), urea (200kg/ha), and a microalgal biostimulant (MB) (3mg/100g extract) on the vegetative growth, yield, and physiological and biochemical characteristics of pea (Pisum sativum L.) under varying drought conditions applied at control (100% FC), 70%, 40%, and 25% field capacity (FC). The experiment was conducted as a factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Results showed significant effects of treatments on growth and physiological traits (p ≤ 0.05). The treatments significantly enhanced growth and yield traits, where humic acid notably increased plant height and biomass production by 35.65%, while MB application improved leaf area by 22.96% and pod length by 60.40%. Urea treatments increased the chlorophyll levels of the plants (SPAD values increased by 35.24%) and MB treatments increased the amount of relative water content in the plants (9.54%) and the protein accumulation (38.88%). These improvements were accompanied by a significant increase in osmotic adjustment, as seen in the amount of proline accumulation (+ 16.40%), due to increased levels of phenolics and greater total antioxidant activity and enhancement of the antioxidant enzymes (catalase and superoxide dismutase), and indicating reduced oxidative damage. The combined application of humic acid, nitrogen, and microalgal biostimulants synergistically enhanced drought tolerance in pea plants.

Phytohormonal integration, rather than isolated hormone action, coordinates salinity and temperature-stress resilience through shared signaling hubs, cross-tolerance, and translational crop-improvement strategies. Salinity and temperature extremes, as abiotic stresses, affect over 20% of global arable land, reducing crop yields by up to 50% under severe conditions and greatly threatening food security. Phytohormones, which include abscisic acid, auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, salicylic acid, jasmonates, and ethylene, are small signaling molecules that play central roles in mediating plant adaptation and resilience under such stresses. This review critically examines the mechanisms by which phytohormones regulate plant responses to salinity and temperature stress. Specifically, physiological adjustments, molecular signaling pathways, and cross-talk interactions are discussed. The phytohormone-mediated modulation of osmotic balance and ion homeostasis, reactive oxygen species scavenging, stress-responsive gene expression, and hormonal priming underpins plant tolerance, often improving survival rates by 20-40% under experimental stress. Furthermore, integrative signaling mechanisms that contribute to cross-tolerance are discussed, along with practical applications, such as exogenous hormone treatment, breeding strategies, and genetic engineering, aimed at developing climate-resilient crops. To guide future studies, emerging research directions, such as multi-omics approaches, CRISPR-based manipulation, and computational modeling, are highlighted. This review provides a comprehensive framework for leveraging phytohormonal regulation to enhance plant resilience under salinity and extreme temperatures.