Shahin Imran^1,2, Maki Katsuhara^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.11, pp. 3653-3665, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.073959 - 01 December 2025

Abstract Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) employs the Na⁺ transporter HvHKT1;1, which is an N⁺-selective transporter. This study characterized the full-length HvHKT1;1 (HvHKT1;1-FL) and three mRNA variants (HvHKT1;1-V1, -V2, and -V3), which encode polypeptides of 64.7, 54.0, 40.5, and 32.9 kDa, respectively. Tissue-specific expression profiling revealed that HvHKT1;1-FL is the most abundant transcript across leaf, sheath, and root tissues under normal conditions, with the highest expression in leaves. Under 150 mM NaCl stress, HvHKT1;1-FL and its variants showed a dynamic, time-dependent expression pattern, with peak leaf expression at 2 h, sheath expression at 12 h, and root expression at 2 h, suggesting their… More >

Mingwei Yue¹, Shen Rao^1,*, Xiaomeng Liu¹, Wei Yang², Yuan Yuan¹, Feng Xu², Shuiyuan Cheng^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.11, pp. 3319-3348, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.073602 - 01 December 2025

Abstract Cadmium (Cd), a highly toxic heavy metal, represents a major global environmental threat due to its widespread dispersion through anthropogenic activities. Environmental Cd contamination poses significant risks to living organisms, including humans, animals, and plants. Certain plant species have evolved Cd hyperaccumulating capabilities to adapt to high-Cd habitats, playing critical roles in phytoremediation strategies. Here we review the biodiversity and biogeography of Cd hyperaccumulators, the underlying mechanisms of Cd uptake and accumulation, and the ecological impacts of hyperaccumulation. The major points are the following: twenty-four Cd hyperaccumulator species have been documented, with shoot Cd concentrations More >

Sena Yıldız¹, Nurhan Keskin^2,*, Birhan Kunter³, Harlene Hatterman-Valenti⁴, Ozkan Kaya^4,5,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.11, pp. 3471-3492, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.073180 - 01 December 2025

Abstract Climate change-driven environmental stresses, particularly ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation, pose severe threats to grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) productivity and physiological stability. This study investigated the protective role of melatonin in in vitro plantlets of two grapevine cultivars, ‘Merlot’ and ‘Erciş’, subjected to low (≈8.25 μW cm⁻², 16 h) and high (≈33 μW cm⁻², 4 h) UV-B exposure. Significant cultivar-specific responses were observed (p < 0.001). The ‘Erciş’ cultivar exhibited higher oxidative stress, with malondialdehyde (MDA) levels reaching 24.30 mmol g⁻¹ FW in control plants compared with 14.91 ± 0.25 mmol g⁻¹ FW in ‘Merlot’. Melatonin provided dose-dependent mitigation, reducing MDA to… More >

Manzhu Liao¹, Lan Yang¹, Liehua Tie¹, Qiqiang Guo^1,*, Weilie Zheng^2,*, Jiangrong Li², Yongxia Li²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.11, pp. 3633-3652, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.072725 - 01 December 2025

Abstract Cupressus gigantea is an endemic endangered tree species in the Tibet Plateau, and studying the survival status of the different C. gigantea populations and revealing the main environmental factors that affect the population survival are particularly significant for the conservation and sustainable development of endangered species. Based on the 28 sample plots, the Hierarchical Cluster Method was used to classify the C. gigantea populations into four community types. Age structure diagrams were drawn based on the structure of each community, static life tables and survival curves were compiled, and the future development trends of each age group in… More >

Iván De-la-Cruz-Chacón, Christian Anabí Riley-Saldaña, Marisol Castro-Moreno, Claudia Azucena Durán-Ruiz, Alma Rosa González-Esquinca^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.11, pp. 3509-3526, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.072586 - 01 December 2025

Abstract The seedling phase represents an initial and critical stage for the establishment of individuals in the ecosystem. During this stage, specialized metabolites contribute to survival; however, studies analyzing the presence of these molecules and the reasons for their production and accumulation are still scarce. Annonaceae is a botanical family recognized for the chemodiversity of its secondary metabolites; nearly 1000 alkaloids have been reported in approximately 150 adult specimens. The aim of this study was to determine whether alkaloid biosynthesis in Annonaceae is expressed from early stages. For this purpose, Annona macroprophyllata, Annona muricata, Annona purpurea, and Annona reticulata seedlings,… More >

Lucija Galić, Zdenko Lončarić, Miroslav Lisjak^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.11, pp. 3297-3318, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.072504 - 01 December 2025

Abstract Phenolic compounds represent a broad and structurally diverse class of plant secondary metabolites with importance for both plant biology and human health. This review provides a comprehensive overview of their biosynthesis, chemical diversity, multifaceted functions in plants, roles in the wider ecosystem, and significance in human nutrition and biotechnology. Primarily synthesized via the phenylpropanoid pathway, these compounds encompass major classes such as lignin, flavonoids, and tannins. Within the plant, they perform critical functions including providing structural support (lignin), defending against biotic stresses (e.g., pathogens, herbivores), mediating ecological interactions (pollination, symbiosis, allelopathy), and protecting against abiotic… More >

Nadia Lamsaadi¹, Oumaima Maarouf², Soukaina Lahmaoui², Hamid Msaad², Omar Farssi², Chaima Hamim², Mohamed Tamoudjout², Hafsa Hirt², Habiba Kamal², Majida El Hassni², Cherki Ghoulam^3,4, Ahmed El Moukhtari^5,*, Mohamed Farissi²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.11, pp. 3585-3610, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.072311 - 01 December 2025

Abstract Abiotic stresses, such as drought, heavy metals, salinity, and extreme temperatures, are among the most common adverse threats that restrict the use of land for agriculture and limit crop growth and productivity. As sessile organisms, plants defend themselves from abiotic stresses by developing various tolerance mechanisms. These mechanisms are governed by several biochemical traits. The biochemical mechanisms are the products of key genes that express under specific conditions. Interestingly, the expression of these genes is regulated by specialized proteins known as transcription factors (TFs). Several TFs, including those from the bZIP, bHLH, MYB, HSF, WRKY,… More >

Ruikang Ma^1,2, Ziying Huang¹, Zexiu Zhang³, Ruohui Lu⁴, Menghan Li¹, Zhiyi Luo³, Mengni Li⁵, Pengyue Zhang³, Xiaohong Lin³, Guozhuang Zhang^1,*, Linlin Dong^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.11, pp. 3721-3748, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.072062 - 01 December 2025

Abstract Dendrobium officinale (DO) is a well-recognized medicinal and edible plant with a long history of application in traditional medicinal practices across China and Southeast Asia. Recent studies have demonstrated that DO is abundant in diverse bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides (DOP), flavonoids, alkaloids, and bibenzyls thought to exert a range of pharmacological effects, such as anti-tumor and immunomodulatory effects. However, our comprehensive understanding of two key aspects—pharmacological functions and biosynthetic mechanisms—of DO’s major constituents remains limited, especially when considered within the clinical contexts of traditional use. To address this gap, this study reviews DO’s historical applications, clinical effects, and… More > Graphic Abstract

Qunlu Liu^1,#, Fiza Liaquat^1,2,#, Qiqi Tang¹, Jun Yang^3,4, Shuai Qiu⁵, Amber Malik², Kang Ye^3,4, Kai Gao⁵, Jun Qin^3,4,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.11, pp. 3539-3562, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.071989 - 01 December 2025

Abstract Hydrangea macrophylla is a popular ornamental shrub with a lot of economic and aesthetic value. It is known for its different flower shapes (lacecap and mophead) and the way its flowers change color depending on the pH of the soil. Even though it is important for gardening, we still don’t know much about the molecular processes that lead to flower growth. The purpose of this study was to find and study SNP-related genes and transcription factors that are connected to the growth of H. macrophylla flowers. Genome-wide SNP analysis identified 11 SNPs associated with MYB transcription factors… More >

Nada Zaari Jabri¹, Mohamed Ait-El-Mokhtar^1,*, Fadoua Mekkaoui¹, Najwa Rabah¹, Ilham Amghar¹, Ghizlane Diria², Abdelaziz Hmyene¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.11, pp. 3687-3701, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.071634 - 01 December 2025

Abstract Cadmium (Cd) contamination is a major environmental stressor that adversely affects crop germination and early development. This study assessed the impact of increasing Cd concentrations (0.125 to 1 g/L) on seed germination and early seedling growth in three bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars: Achtar, Lina, and Snina. The results revealed a clear dose-dependent inhibitory effect of Cd. Germination percentage (GP) significantly declined with increasing Cd levels, while mean germination time was progressively delayed, particularly at higher concentrations. Vigor index (VI) also showed significant reductions, reflecting compromised seedling establishment. Morphological traits, especially shoot and root lengths,… More >