Fujian Shan^1,2,#, Yi Yang^2,3,#, Liangliang Li^3,4, Tao Li^2,5, Wenwen Su⁴, Zhencheng Han^2,*, Yuanxun Tao^2,*, Xiaopeng Wen^1,*, Weijie Li^2,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.7, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.084154 - 30 July 2026

Abstract Rootstock plays an important role in commercial horticultural production by influencing scion growth, physiology, and fruit quality. However, information on the effects of different rootstocks on kiwifruit growth and fruit quality remains limited. In this study, Actinidia valvata was evaluated as an experimental rootstock and compared with the commonly used A. deliciosa rootstock to investigate their effects on photosynthetic characteristics, carbohydrate metabolism, and fruit quality of A. deliciosa cv. ‘Guichang’. Leaf photosynthetic parameters, fruit quality attributes, carbohydrate contents, and the activities of enzymes related to sucrose and starch metabolism were investigated during fruit development and postharvest ripening. The… More >

Nan Zhao^1,2,*, Qianru Zhao¹, Xiangyu Wu¹, Jiawei Hong¹, Luanmei Lu¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.7, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.083994 - 30 July 2026

Abstract The growth and landscape application of Bougainvillea, a widely cultivated ornamental plant, are often influenced by light conditions. The effects of shade on two Bougainvillea cultivars, ‘Imperial Delight (ID)’ and ‘San Diego Red (SDR)’, cultivated under full sunlight (CK) and 50% shade (S) were investigated. Under shading, both cultivars presented decreased leaf thickness; increased chlorophyll a, b and total contents; and reduced light compensation points (LCPs) and dark respiration rates (R_ds), reflecting morphological and photosynthetic acclimatization. Decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents indicated attenuated membrane lipid peroxidation. In ‘ID’, shading significantly reduced the leaf,… More >

Xuebing Zhu^1,2, Yongqiang Jiang^1,2, Wei Li^1,2, Lihui Wang^1,2, Xuemei Sun^1,2,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.7, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.083772 - 30 July 2026

Abstract Although transcriptional regulators of anthocyanin biosynthesis have been studied in many crops, the regulatory network controlling the purple leaf trait in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) remains incompletely understood. Our previous transcriptome analysis identified LsMYB1. This study further carried out the cloning and structural feature analysis of the LsMYB1 gene, and systematically verified its function using the tobacco heterologous overexpression system and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology. Sequence analysis revealed a structural difference between the two alleles: the LsMYB1 allele in the purplecultivar contains two introns and three exons, whereas the allele in the greencultivar comprises only a single exon. More >

Sonia Mansouri^1,*, Yassmine Abidi^1,2, Leila Riahi³, Ali Ltifi²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.7, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.083697 - 30 July 2026

Abstract Doubled haploid technology is an important tool for accelerating barley breeding by enabling the rapid development of fully homozygous lines. However, the efficiency of androgenesis in barley remains highly genotype-dependent and is strongly influenced by pretreatment conditions, particularly cold exposure. Despite advances in barley anther culture protocols, the optimal duration of cold pretreatment to enhance androgenic response and green plant regeneration remains poorly understood for many breeding materials. This study therefore aimed to examine the effects of genotype and cold pretreatment duration on androgen induction and regeneration efficiency in spring barley lines. Fifteen barley lines,… More >

Siyi Fang¹, Bin Zheng¹, Jiao Ma², Shengwen Tang², Lanying Chen^3,4,#,*, Qiumei Quan^1,#,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.7, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.083644 - 30 July 2026

Abstract Pollen viability plays a pivotal role in determining fertilization success, directly influencing fruit and seed production, as well as the genetic improvement and conservation of flowering plants. This study sought to establish the optimal culture medium and environmental conditions for in vitro pollen germination and pollen tube growth in Hibiscus mutabilis Linn., a species of notable ornamental and ecological significance. We employed Brewbaker and Kwack medium(BK) supplemented with varying concentrations of sucrose, H₃BO₃, CaCl₂, MgSO₄·7H₂O, and KNO₂ to systematically evaluate the effects of these components on pollen viability. Additionally, we investigated the impact of environmental factors including temperature, light… More >

Ronglin Liu¹, Yizhuo Feng¹, Zezhong Lin², Daiquan Ye³, Hui Xiao², Jinhua Huang³, Kehui Zheng⁴, Guangqiu Cao¹, Shijiang Cao^1,*, Renhua Zheng^2,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.7, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.083495 - 30 July 2026

Abstract Space-induced mutagenesis, as a tool for generating genetic variation, has been widely exploited in crop improvement. However, its mutagenic impact on long-lived forest trees—especially the long-term effects on traits expressed at reproductive maturity—remains systematically unassessed. In this study, we used Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata), a key timber species in China, to evaluate the influence of the space environment on mature-phase traits. We compared growth and cone characters between a 14-year-old space-mutated plantation derived from seeds flown aboard the Shijian-8 recoverable satellite and a contemporaneously planted ground control stand. Mean diameter at breast height and individual stem… More >

Aygül Dayan^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.7, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.083460 - 30 July 2026

Abstract Broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) is valued for its nutritional quality, and production practices increasingly focus on improving quality as well as yield. This study evaluated the effects of colored plastic mulches (red, black, grey, and brown) on yield, antioxidant activity, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), and mineral composition under open-field conditions. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with four mulch treatments and three replications under open-field conditions. Mulch color did not significantly affect total yield, indicating stable biomass production across treatments. In contrast, antioxidant activity and Vitamin C content were significantly More >

Syadza Ghaidha Ramadhan¹, Nia Rossiana^1,*, Dedat Prismantoro², Thomas Argyarich Jefferson¹, Malvin Albert¹, Irvan Satria¹, Mia Miranti¹, Mehrdad Alizadeh³, Kumudini Belur Satyan⁴, Febri Doni^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.7, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.083440 - 30 July 2026

Abstract Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is central to global food security, yet its production systems remain highly vulnerable to environmental pressures. Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of abiotic stresses, including drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, flooding, and heavy metal toxicity, which significantly reduce global rice productivity. Conventional strategies, including breeding and genetic engineering, have improved stress tolerance; however, their effectiveness is often constrained by long development timelines, complex genetic regulation, and limited performance under multiple concurrent stresses. In this context, plant-associated microorganisms have emerged as a sustainable and promising approach to enhancing rice plant resilience.… More >

Alberto Sandoval-Rangel¹, Adalberto Benavides-Mendoza¹, Rebeca Betancourt-Galindo², Eneida Adilene Pérez-Velasco^2,*, Bertha Alicia Puente-Urbina²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.7, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.083195 - 30 July 2026

Abstract In soils and substrates, the bioavailability of Zn²⁺ is generally low. The use of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) has emerged as a promising strategy in agriculture to improve zinc availability and stimulate plant growth. Their physicochemical properties and biocompatibility promote greater micronutrient uptake and the regulation of physiological processes in plants. In this study, the effects of five concentrations of ZnO-NPs (0, 100, 250, 500, and 1000 mg L⁻¹) and two application methods (foliar or drench) on the growth, gas exchange, and flowering quality of marigold were evaluated. ZnO-NPs significantly influenced plant growth; plant height and… More >

Gian Marco Ludovici^1,2,*, Paola Amelia Tassi², Alba Iannotti^2,3, Colomba Russo^2,3, Francesco Gargallo di Castel Lentini⁴, Timothy Alexander Mousseau⁵, Andrea Malizia^1,2

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.7, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.083056 - 30 July 2026

Abstract The detonation of nuclear weapons, beginning with the Trinity test in New Mexico and followed by the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, created distinct environments of ionizing radiation exposure. While the ecological consequences of reactor accidents at Chernobyl and Fukushima have been extensively investigated, the potential evolutionary implications of historical weapons testing for plant communities remain comparatively underexplored, particularly in arid ecosystems. This review synthesizes available, yet fragmented, evidence to examine the hypothesis that residual radionuclides in arid test-site environments may have acted as potential selective pressures influencing plant persistence and stress-associated traits in native… More >