Jianghan Ouyang^1,#, Yuxin Zhang^1,#, Xiaotong Ma^1,2, Xiangjian Tu^1,2, Pengxin Hou^1,2, Wei Cao³, Shangzhi Zhong^1,2,*, Lulu Sun^4,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.079919 - 31 March 2026

Abstract Salt stress has been demonstrated to trigger the overaccumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within plant tissues. This process, in turn, has been shown to induce oxidative damage and further impair the physiological and metabolic processes. As a promising organic soil conditioner, biochar has proven effective in mitigating the adverse effects of salt stress in crops. Nevertheless, the synergistic and interactive effects of salt stress and biochar application on the osmotic adjustment system and antioxidant defense system of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) have not been fully elucidated. This study employed a completely randomized design, comprising four… More >

Tetiana O. Yastreb¹, Pavel Vítámvás², Ilja T. Prášil², Zdeněk Cit², Ivan V. Shakhov¹, Yuriy E. Kolupaev^1,3,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.079882 - 31 March 2026

Abstract Low temperature is a major abiotic stress factor inducing the accumulation of dehydrins in plants. Dehydrins are hydrophilic, heat-stable proteins implicated in plant stress responses; however, their synthesis under cold conditions during the early stages of wheat development has not been sufficiently studied. This study investigated the relationship between cold-induced dehydrin accumulation in etiolated seedlings and frost tolerance in wheat cultivars differing in their level of frost tolerance. Three-day-old seedlings of high frost-tolerant (high-FT) cultivars (Antonivka, Doskonala, and Nordika) and low frost-tolerant (low-FT) cultivars (Tobak, Tonnage, and Altigo) of Triticum aestivum L. were hardened at +3°C… More > Graphic Abstract

Hajiba Benteima^1,2, Mohamed Ezzaitouni^2,*, Tarik Chileh-Chelh², Carlos Galindo³, José Luis Guil-Guerrero²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.079255 - 31 March 2026

Abstract Wild edible plants have evolved in response to persistent and often severe environmental pressures, including salinity, drought, extreme temperatures, high light intensity and nutrient-poor soils. Despite the considerable physiological flexibility and adaptive capacity exhibited by these species, they remain underrepresented in contemporary plant stress research, which has traditionally focused on a limited number of model species and major crops. The present review proposes a conceptual framework that positions wild edible plants as physiological and ecological reference systems for studying naturally evolved plant stress tolerance, rather than as alternative genetic model species. The synthesis of current… More > Graphic Abstract

Ioana Crișan^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.078943 - 31 March 2026

Abstract Citrus is a genus of great economic importance and a complex history of hybridization. The aim of this work is to present the trajectory of essential oil (EO) from the citrus fruit peel to their main uses. The flavedo is a morpho-functional region of the citrus fruit peel where EO-producing cavity glands are located. The EO produced is the source of the characteristic citrus aroma relevant for flavor (food and beverage industry) and fragrance applications (perfumery). The citrus EO is dominated by monoterpene hydrocarbons. Out of these, D-limonene is the major compound in the peel EO… More >

Xiangnan He¹, Xinyu Gao¹, Kaiyue Zhang², Dongfeng Wei³, Yuying Li¹, Chunling He², Xiaogai Hou^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.078506 - 31 March 2026

Abstract This study investigated the association between floral and fruiting traits in oil tree peony to inform elite breeding and hybrid programmes. Floral and fruiting metrics of Paeonia ostii ‘Fengdanbai’ and Paeonia rockii ‘Zibanbai’ were recorded under natural conditions; data were analysed using independent-samples t-tests, Pearson correlations, stepwise multiple linear regression and membership functions. Paeonia ostii ‘Fengdanbai’ produced more pollen number per flower, but fewer ovules and seeds per fruit than Paeonia rockii ‘Zibanbai’ (p < 0.05). Pollen viability and stigma receptivity followed similar unimodal temporal curves in both taxa. Peak pollen viability occurred on day 3 after anthesis in P. ostii… More >

Hengdong Zhang^1,2,*, Rongji Wang^1,2, Jianchong Zhang^1,2, Fali Zhang^1,2, Zhiwang He^1,2

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.077976 - 31 March 2026

Abstract Spent mushroom substrate (SMS), the residual byproduct of mushroom cultivation, represents a nutrient-rich agro-residues with potential for paddy field application. This study evaluated the effect of direct SMS application on rice yield, yield components, biomass production, and nitrogen uptake (NU), aiming to provide useful information for fresh SMS utilization in paddy. Field experiments were conducted using a split-plot design with three replications, three SMS rates (0, 9, and 18 t ha⁻¹ dry matter) as the main plots and three nitrogen (N) (0, 90, 180 kg ha⁻¹) as subplots in 2023 and 2024. Each plot was planted… More >

Yiming Chen^1,2, Qiong Luo^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.077896 - 31 March 2026

Abstract Lycium ruthenicum Murray (black goji berry) is an economically important crop rich in anthocyanins, however, the post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms underlying anthocyanin accumulation in its fruits are unknown. Here, we used whole-transcriptome sequencing to identify differentially expressed circRNAs and lncRNAs in black goji (BS4) and white goji (WS4). Furthermore, we analyzed the regulatory networks of the key ncRNAs and their target genes by combining targeted phytohormone metabolomics with molecular docking technology. We found that the circRNA plantcirc_001165 synergistically upregulated the flavonoid biosynthesis gene LrHCT with the lncRNA MSTRG.28703 to promote anthocyanin accumulation. However, MSTRG.28703 repressed LrZOX1 expression, leading More >

Fen Liu^1,2, Cheng Qu^1,3,*, Hongliang Yuan³, Xinpeng Xiang³, Yingbo Chen³, Yuxuan Cai³, Yue Wang^4,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.077734 - 31 March 2026

Abstract To explore the physiological mechanism of rice seeds’ tolerance to cold damage stress, the hybrid rice variety H-You 518 and the conventional rice variety Zhongjiazao 17 were used as experimental materials. A low-temperature cold damage treatment (4°C) and a normal germination treatment (25°C) were used to measure seed vitality, antioxidant enzyme activity, soluble sugar content, soluble protein content, α-amylase activity, endopeptidase, and related gene expression levels. The results showed that low temperature inhibited seed vitality and germination ability, and after restoring normal growth conditions, the activities of POD and CAT, as well as the content… More >

Ivica Delic¹, Maja Matosa Kocar², Goran Jukic³, Ivan Varnica³, Valentina Spanic^4,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.077597 - 31 March 2026

Abstract Soybean oil is one of the most widely consumed vegetable oils globally, valued not only for its affordability and functional properties but also for its rich profile of bioactive compounds. This review critically synthesizes current knowledge on the non-volatile bioactive constituents of crude and refined soybean oil, particularly polyunsaturated fatty acids, tocopherols, phytosterols, phospholipids, and saponins, as well as volatile bioactives present in soybean essential oil. Emphasis is placed on their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, metabolic, antimicrobial, and dermatological activities, alongside their relevance for functional foods, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and pharmaceutical applications. The review examines how oil… More >

Rosalba Lira-Ortiz^1,2, Juan Esteban Bello-Lara³, Verónica Alhelí Ochoa-Jiménez³, José Orlando Jiménez-Zurita⁴, Rosendo Balois-Morales^1,4,*, Guillermo Berumen-Varela^1,5,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.077481 - 31 March 2026

Abstract Genetic diversity is essential for the conservation and genetic improvement of perennial fruit crops such as soursop (Annona muricata L.), an economically important species in tropical and subtropical regions. However, information on the genetic variability of soursop across different producing regions remains limited. In this study, we evaluated the genetic diversity and population structure of soursop accessions from two geographically distant producing regions: the Pacific–Occident region of Mexico (R1) and Valle del Cauca, Colombia (R2). A total of 11 accessions, collected from seven orchards in R1 and four orchards in R2, were analyzed using three simple… More >