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ARTICLE

Physiological and Biochemical Responses and Non-Parametric Transcriptome Analysis for the Curcumin-Induced Improvement of Saline-Alkali Resistance in Akebia trifoliate (Thunb.) Koidz

Xiaoqin Li, Yongfu Zhang^*, Zhen Ren, Jiao Chen, Zuqin Qiao, Xingmei Tao, Xuan Yi, Kai Wang, Zhao Liu

College of Agriculture and Life Science, Kunming University, Kunming, 650214, China

* Corresponding Author: Yongfu Zhang. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Plant Responses to Abiotic Stress)

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2025, 94(8), 2529-2550. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2025.066894

Received 19 April 2025; Accepted 05 August 2025; Issue published 29 August 2025

Abstract

Soil salinization is a major abiotic stress that hampers plant development and significantly reduces agricultural productivity, posing a serious challenge to global food security. Akebia trifoliata (Thunb.) Koidz, a species within the genus Akebia Decne., is valued for its use in food, traditional medicine, oil production, and as an ornamental plant. Curcumin, widely recognized for its pharmacological properties including anti-cancer, anti-neuroinflammatory, and anti-fibrotic effects, has recently drawn interest for its potential roles in plant stress responses. However, its impact on plant tolerance to saline-alkali stress remains poorly understood. In this study, the effects of curcumin on saline-alkali resistance in A. trifoliata were examined by subjecting plants to a saline-alkali solution containing 150 mmol/L sodium ions (a mixture of Na₂SO₄, Na₂CO₃, and NaHCO₃). Curcumin treatment under these stress conditions leads to anatomical improvements in leaf structure. Furthermore, A. trifoliata maintained a favorable Na⁺/K⁺ ratio through increased potassium uptake and reduced sodium accumulation. Biochemical analysis revealed elevated levels of proline, soluble sugars, and soluble proteins, along with improved activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD). Similarly, the concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly reduced. Transcriptome analysis under saline-alkali stress conditions showed that curcumin influenced seven key metabolic pathways annotated in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database, with differentially expressed unigenes primarily enriched in transcription factor families such as MYB, AP2/ERF, NAC, bHLH, and C2C2. Moreover, eight differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with plant hormone signal transduction were linked to the auxin and brassinosteroid pathways, critical for cell elongation and plant growth. These findings indicate that curcumin increases saline-alkali stress tolerance in A. trifoliata by modulating physiological, biochemical, and transcriptional responses, ultimately supporting improved growth under adverse conditions.

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Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material File

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