Open Access

REVIEW

Paige M. Henning^*
Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 2957-2983, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.068899 - 29 October 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Utilization of Biostimulants in Plant Growth and Health)
Abstract Cytokinins are ancient hormones present across all kingdoms of life except archaea, although functional biosynthesis pathways have yet to be identified in animalia. Known for their roles in cell division and proliferation, cytokinins are critical to plant life, as they regulate various aspects of vegetative growth, stress response, and reproduction. In this review, we summarize literature from 2020 to 2025 pertaining to the cytokinin functions in plant reproduction. While general aspects of cytokinin’s role in plant reproduction have been addressed, we particularly focus on the role of cytokinin in reproductive systems due to recent work More >

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REVIEW

Xiaomei He¹, Xiaoting Wan¹, Muhammad Arif ², Ziyang Hu¹, Haiyu Wang¹, Muhammad Aamir Manzoor^3,*, Cheng Song^1,*
Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 2985-3002, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.070697 - 29 October 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crop Plants: Physio-biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms)
Abstract Melatonin is a multifunctional molecule found in all organisms that has been shown to play a crucial role in plant growth, development, and stress response. Plant melatonin is typically synthesized in organelles termed chloroplasts, and the mechanisms of its synthesis and metabolic pathways have been extensively studied. Melatonin serves a significant regulatory function in plant growth and development, influencing the morphological and physiological characteristics of plants by modulating biological processes. While studies on plant melatonin receptors are in their early stages compared to studies in animal receptors, the binding mechanism with melatonin is now recognized… More >

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254

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ARTICLE

Yi Yan^1,2,#, Min He^1,2,#, Feifeng Mao³, Xinyu Zhang⁴, Liyu Wang⁵, Jingwei Li^1,2,*
Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 3003-3021, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.069166 - 29 October 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Advances in Plant Breeding and Genetic Improvement: Leveraging Molecular Markers and Novel Genetic Strategies)
Abstract Houttuynia cordata, a characteristic edible and medicinal plant in southwestern China, is prone to absorbing lead (Pb²⁺). Excessive consumption may lead to Pb²⁺ accumulation in the human body, which has been linked to serious health risks such as neurotoxicity, kidney damage, anemia, and developmental disorders, particularly in children. Therefore, the development of molecular markers associated with Pb²⁺ uptake and the investigation of the plant’s physiological responses to Pb²⁺ pollution are of great significance. In this study, 72 H. cordata germplasms were evaluated for Pb²⁺ accumulation after exogenous Pb²⁺ treatment. A significant variation in Pb²⁺ content was observed among the germplasms, indicating… More >

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Ahmed Mahmoud Ismail^1,*, Eman Said Elshewy², Ayman Y. Ahmed³, Hossam M. Darrag⁴
Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 3023-3045, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.067444 - 29 October 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Plants Abiotic and Biotic Stresses: from Characterization to Development of Sustainable Control Strategies)
Abstract Powdery mildew of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is a destructive disease caused by Podosphaera xanthii (Castagne) U.Braun & Shishkoff. This study aimed to investigate the antifungal effect of extracts of Ulva lactuca, Spirulina platensis, and Nostoc muscorum against P. xanthii and to improve the physiological and morphological traits of cucumber under commercial greenhouse conditions. The chemical composition of the individual extracts from U. lactuca, S. platensis, and N. muscorum was analyzed utilizing High-performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Gas Chromatography/Mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Cucumber plants were sprayed twice with 5% of the crude extracts of U. lactuca, S. platensis, and N. muscorum and their mixture (U. lactuca, S. platensis, and N. muscorum).… More >

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Sy-Yu Shiau^*, Shuting Ni, Yanli Yu, Songling Cai, Wenbo Huang
Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 3047-3060, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.070289 - 29 October 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Ornamental Plants: Traits, Flowering, Aroma, Molecular Mechanisms, Postharvest Handling, and Application)
Abstract Consumers are increasingly demanding natural colorants that are safe and offer health benefits. In addition to their ornamental characteristics, Kanzan cherry (KC) blossoms present a promising source of red-hued natural colorants and functional bioactive substances. This research utilized distilled water to extract KC petals (KCP) and their ground powders (KCPP) under varying temperatures (30°C–90°C) and times (30–180 min). The total monomeric anthocyanins (TMAC) and total phenolics (TPC) in the extracts were evaluated via the pH differential and Folin–Ciocalteu methods. Antioxidant capacities were assessed by DPPH free radical scavenging ability and reducing power. Results indicated that… More >

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293

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Mingxin Zhong^1,#, Yuanyuan Zhang^1,#, Xinlei Guo¹, Bainian Zhang², Chengjia Tan¹, Zhuo Xu¹, Xin Hu¹, Daren Feng³, Zhenpeng Xi⁴, Qian Wang^1,*, Hui Tian^1,*
Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 3061-3084, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.070560 - 29 October 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Recent Research Trends in Genetics, Genomics, and Physiology of Crop Plants–Volume II)
Abstract Magnolia officinalis is a perennial deciduous tree that has medicinal properties. The AP2/ERF gene family has a number of roles in long-term growth and metabolism. The expression of this function varies with the growth period. In this work, based on the transcriptome data of Magnolia officinalis, the complete coding gene of Magnolia officinalis was obtained, and the corresponding protein sequence was retrieved from NCBI and compared with the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. After screening, 75 protein sequences from the AP2/ERF gene family were identified and called MoAP2/ERF1–MoAP2/ERF75, followed by bioinformatics analysis. 75 AP2/ERF gene families were found and classified into four… More >

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218

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Abdil Hakan Eren^*
Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 3085-3107, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.069506 - 29 October 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crop Plants: Physio-biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms)
Abstract The FAR1-related sequence (FAR1) gene family consists of transcription factors that originated from transposases and is crucial for light signaling and stress adaptation in plants. Despite the recognized importance of FAR1 genes in model organisms, their genomic architecture, structural variability, and expression patterns in Phaseolus vulgaris have yet to be investigated. This study offers the inaugural comprehensive genome-wide identification and characterization of the FAR1 gene family in P. vulgaris. A total of 27 PvulFAR1 genes were identified, and their chromosomal distribution, gene structures, conserved domains, and phylogenetic relationships were analyzed systematically. The promoter regions of these genes were discovered… More >

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Giovana Pinheiro Viana da Silva¹, Edilson Costa^1,*, Paulo Henrique Rosa Melo¹, Fernanda Pacheco de Almeida Prado Bortolheiro¹, Thaise Dantas², Flávio Ferreira da Silva Binotti¹, Carlos Eduardo da Silva Oliveira¹, Abimael Gomes da Silva¹
Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 3109-3123, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.070221 - 29 October 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Plant and Environments)
Abstract Hancornia speciosa ‘Gomes’, commonly known as mangabeira, is a fruit-bearing tree native to Brazil that plays a crucial role in sustaining its native biome, restoring degraded areas, and improving the socio-environmental conditions of these regions. The use of colored materials and bioinputs can help improve the quality of seedling production of Hancornia speciosa. This study aimed to evaluate the use of colored seedling tubes and a Chlorella vulgaris-based bioinput in developing Hancornia speciosa seedlings. The experiment was conducted at the Mato Grosso do Sul State University (UEMS), in Cassilândia, MS, using a completely randomized design in a 5 ×… More >

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Tetiana O. Yastreb^1,2, Mykola V. Shevchenko², Liubov N. Kobyzeva^1,3, Alexander I. Oboznyi¹, Yuriy E. Kolupaev^1,2,4,*
Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 3125-3143, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.071822 - 29 October 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Stress Metabolites of Plants: Protective and Regulatory Functions)
Abstract β-Aminobutyric acid (BABA) is a physiologically active plant compound that has not been extensively studied. It has been shown to increase resistance to biotic and abiotic stress factors and enhance seed germination in certain plant species. However, its effects on cereal grains with low germination rates have not yet been studied. This study investigated the effects of BABA on the germination of aged triticale seeds, the metabolite content of seedlings, and the state of their antioxidant systems. The study found that a three-hour treatment of seeds in BABA solutions at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to… More >

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Surelys Ramos-Bell¹, Edson Rayón-Díaz¹, Juan A. Herrera-González², Estefanía Martínez-Batista¹, Rita M. Velázquez-Estrada¹, Porfirio Gutiérrez–Martínez^1,*
Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 3145-3156, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.071543 - 29 October 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Advances in the Physiological, Biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Fruit Ripening in Tropical Fruits)
Abstract A significant portion of losses in the fruit and vegetable sector are caused by the necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea, due to its high prevalence in over 1000 crop species. Identifying a technology capable of exclusively inhibiting its growth and development remains challenging; therefore, various treatments have been proposed to act synergistically in preventing the spread of this pathogen. The objective of this study was to evaluate an ultrasound-assisted treatment combined with chitosan to control the development of B. cinerea. In vitro analyses showed that combining temperature, ultrasound, and chitosan inhibited the fungal radial growth by 80%, reduced sporulation, More >

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190

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Hongjuan Xu¹, Lan Yang¹, Lejuan Shi¹, Weize Wang¹, Yiwen Guan¹, Ye Liu¹, Panpan Yang^2,3,*, Zhilin Chen^1,*
Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 3157-3173, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.071147 - 29 October 2025
Abstract Vivipary in plants evolved under long-term adaptation to harsh environments and is an important reproduction pathway. However, the mechanisms driving vegetative vivipary are still unclear. In this study, we investigated the anatomy of viviparous inflorescences of Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’ using stereomicroscopy and paraffin section anatomical observation. We also determined the contents of endogenous hormones in normal and viviparous inflorescences using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In viviparous inflorescences, typical upper and lower epidermal tissues, spongy tissue, and palisade tissue of leaves appeared in developmental stages 2 and 3 (20 and 45 days after emergence), indicating vegetative… More >

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134

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Mutong Li^1,#, Xiaolian Yang^1,#, Zhishun Yu¹, Tingting Yuan¹, Wenjie Wang¹, Suqin Zhang^1,2,*, Guangdong Geng^1,*
Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 3175-3188, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.070731 - 29 October 2025
Abstract Wheat yield mainly depends on leaf photosynthesis and grain carbohydrate accumulation. The aux/indole-3-acetic acid 13-like (Aux/IAA13L) gene was successfully cloned from Tritipyrum ‘Y1805’ and transformed into common wheat. A bioinformatics analysis showed that the TtAux/IAA13L protein, encoding 232 amino acids, was hydrophilic and unstable. TtAux/IAA13L and Tel5E01G609500 were grouped together in a phylogenetic tree. The TtAux/IAA13L expression levels in the overexpression lines were higher than in the wild-type (WT) plants at five developmental stages: tillering, elongation, heading, flowering, and grain-filling. The expression levels in the overexpression lines first increased, peaked at the flowering stage, and then decreased.… More >

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ARTICLE

Ivica Delic¹, Goran Jukic², Ivan Varnica², Valentina Spanic^3,*
Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 3189-3203, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.070489 - 29 October 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Influence of Biotic and Abiotic Stresses Signals on Plants and their Performance at Different Environments)
Abstract This study evaluated agro-morphological traits, grain quality traits, and phenotypic stability of nine soybean genotypes across four environments over two growing seasons (2022–2023). Traits such as days to flowering, days to maturity, and disease symptoms were monitored throughout the season. At maturity, parameters including grain yield, grain oil and protein content, 1000-seed weight, test weight, scores of lodgings, shattering, plant height, and first pod height were evaluated. In addition, 18 morphological traits were scored, of which eight were sufficiently variable for further analysis. In terms of environmental stability, genotypes 2 and 13 excelled, while genotypes… More >

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Heng Zhang^1,#, Meng Wang^1,#, Dong Zeng^1,2, Yunbo Xu¹, Dongyuan Guo¹, Xuanchen Liu^1,3, Zhanqi Ren⁴, Jinzi Zhang¹, Yuhang Liu¹, Qiuyu Wang¹, Shuo Yu¹, Guanzheng Qu^1,*
Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 3205-3216, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.069994 - 29 October 2025
Abstract Hybridization remains an important method for breeding new poplar varieties. It results in significant variation in leaf phenotype among parents and offspring, and among offspring themselves. This study aimed to investigate whether leaf shape variations were similar in offspring produced from reciprocal crosses. Specifically, two hybrid combinations were produced: the direct cross with Populus ussuriensis as the maternal parent and P. simonii × P. nigra as the paternal parent (HY53), and the reciprocal cross with P. simonii × P. nigra as the maternal parent and P. ussuriensis as the paternal parent (HY268). Using 3-month-old rooted cuttings from 40 clones (36 F₁ hybrids… More >

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Başak Müftüoğlu, Sevinç Başay^*
Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 3217-3229, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.071755 - 29 October 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Emerging Strategies in Sustainable Vegetable Cultivation and Protection)
Abstract Water scarcity is an escalating global challenge that severely threatens productivity and reproductive success in crops, particularly in drought-sensitive species such as Capsicum annuum L. Although deficit irrigation strategies are widely recommended to enhance water use efficiency, knowledge remains limited regarding their interactions with soil amendments such as biochar and the consequent impacts on reproductive traits. This study aimed to evaluate the combined effects of deficit irrigation strategies and biochar application on pollen viability and morphology in Capsicum annuum. The experiment was conducted under full, partial, and deficit irrigation regimes with and without biochar treatment, following a… More >

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Fida Hussain^1,*, Farooq Khan², Javed Ahmad¹, Heqiang Huo³, Tao Jiang³, Iqrar Rana⁴, Sajida Habib⁵, Muhammad Umer Farooq^1,*
Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 3231-3249, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.069654 - 29 October 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Advances in Enhancing Grain Yield: From Molecular Mechanisms to Sustainable Agriculture)
Abstract The analysis of combining ability and heterosis is very important in enhancing the yield and oil quality of sunflowers under adverse conditions, and it reveals the potential of the parents and the mechanism of gene action. In this study, twenty-one hybrids were developed by crossing seven cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines with three restorer lines and evaluated for agronomic and quality traits. Highly significant general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects were observed, confirming the role of both additive and non-additive gene actions. Among the tested crosses, A-42 × R-86, A-92 ×… More >

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Guiling Xu^1,#, Xiaoxuan You^1,#, Yuehua Feng^1,2,*, Xiaoke Wang¹, Yuqi Gao¹, Hongjun Ren¹, Zhili Han¹, Jiale Li¹
Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 3251-3268, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.067997 - 29 October 2025
Abstract Nitrogen (N) reduction combined with organic fertilizer has become a highly popular fertilization method, meeting the sustainable development of agriculture. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of N reduction (NR) and combined application of organic fertilizer (OF) on N utilization, yield, and quality of hybrid indica rice in the karst area. Using rice ‘Yixiangyou2115’ as the material, a split-plot design experiment was carried out with OF application rate as the main plots and NR rate as the subplots. The OF application rate had three levels: M0 (0 kg/ha), M1 (low OF, 1673… More >

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Heba A. S. El-Nashar^1,*, Ahmed T. Negmeldin^2,3,*, Aziza El Baz⁴, Marizé Cuyler⁵, Brandon Alston⁵, Namrita Lall^5,6,7, Naglaa S. Ashmawy^1,8,*
Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 3269-3281, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.067998 - 29 October 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Innovative Approaches in Experimental Botany: Essential Oils as Natural Therapeutics)
Abstract Pimenta dioica is a tropical Caribbean tree belonging to the family Myrtaceae, widely used in various human activities, including perfume production, food flavoring, natural pesticides, and medicine. This study aimed to explore the chemical composition of Pimenta dioica flower essential oil obtained via hydrodistillation using GC-MS analysis. Additionally, the oil’s tyrosinase inhibitory activity was investigated. The effectiveness of the oil’s major constituents in binding to tyrosinase was also evaluated through molecular docking simulations. GC-MS analysis identified fifteen compounds, with eugenol (70.59%) as the major component, followed by β-myrcene (10.54%), limonene (8.55%), β-ocimene (4.92%), α-phellandrene (1.39%), and linalool… More >

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Ceren Ayşe Bayram^*
Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 3283-3295, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.073047 - 29 October 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Advances in Plant Nutrition-Mechanisms, Regulation, and Sustainable Applications)
Abstract In semi-arid regions where climatic limitations hinder open-field vegetable production, greenhouse-based lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cultivation plays a vital role in ensuring off-season supply. In this study, the potential of sustainable input combinations was evaluated to enhance lettuce productivity, quality, and profitability under unheated greenhouse conditions in Southeastern Türkiye. Treatments included farmer practice and a mycorrhizal biofertilizer (ERS, a water-soluble arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus product) applied alone or in combination with organic-based biostimulants (IS and NM). Evaluated parameters were plant height, leaf pigmentation (a*, h°), SPAD values, vitamin C, nitrogen and phosphorus content, and gross margin. The More >

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