Jiazhou Li^1,2, Mingyu Zhang¹, Xing Li^1,3, Fangbo Cao^1,2, Jiana Chen^1,2, Weiqin Wang^1,2, Huabin Zheng^1,2, Min Huang^1,2,4,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.075255 - 30 January 2026

Abstract Spikelet filling characteristics in early-season rice in southern China may be distinctive due to its exposure to high temperatures during the ripening period. However, limited information is currently available on these characteristics. This study aimed to characterize spikelet filling in early-season rice and identify the key factors contributing to its improvement. Field experiments were conducted over two years (2021 and 2022) to mainly investigate the proportions of fully-filled, partially-filled, and empty spikelets, along with the biomass-fertilized spikelet ratio and harvest index, in 11 early-season rice varieties. The results revealed significant varietal variation in spikelet filling,… More >

Kirti A. Yadav¹, Yachana Jha¹, Haiam O. Elkatry², Heba I. Mohamed^3,*, Ahmed Mahmoud Ismail⁴, Abdelrahman R. Ahmed^2,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.074570 - 30 January 2026

Abstract Phytophthora blight is a devastating disease of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) that severely impacts plant growth and productivity. This study investigates the morphological, anatomical, and biochemical responses of a susceptible variety (ICPL 11260) and a resistant variety (IPAC-02) following infection by Phytophthora. Morphological analyses showed that infection caused a drastic reduction in root length, shoot length, leaf number, fresh weight, and dry weight in the susceptible ICPL 11260 variety, with reductions ranging from 0.5- to 2-fold compared to non-infected controls. Anatomical observations revealed pronounced cellular damage and mycelial invasion in infected ICPL 11260 plants by 30… More >

Xiaoqing Jiang^1,2,#, Pengchong Li^1,2,#, Hongchuang Liu^1,2, Wenjie Dong^1,2, Wenjing Liu^1,2, Di Wu^1,2, Jianping Xue^1,2, Fenglan Zhao^1,2,*, Yongbo Duan^1,2,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.074434 - 30 January 2026

Abstract As its tuberous alkaloids induce valuable pharmacological effects, Pinellia ternata has considerable clinical value. However, its production currently fails to meet its demand. In vitro microtuber culture, combined with salicylic acid (SA) elicitation, may provide an effective alternative to traditional field production. In this study, an in vitro P. ternata microtuber induction system was developed and used to evaluate SA-induced elicitation of alkaloid accumulation. The quality of in vitro microtubers was assessed by total alkaloid measurement, a cytotoxicity assay, and transcriptomic analysis. With or without SA treatment, P. ternata microtuber induction was achieved within 60 d using petiole-derived explants, with… More >

Ziying Huang¹, Ruikang Ma¹, Anning Li², Yufei Cheng¹, Xiaolin Lin², Mengzhi Li³, Yu Zhang², Liping Shi¹, Linlin Dong^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.074419 - 30 January 2026

Abstract Epimedium is commonly used to treat bone injury and kidney disease, with prenylated flavonol glycosides (PFGs) as its active ingredients. It has attracted much attention due to prominent healthcare and therapeutic effects, but faces problems of adulteration with closely related species and confusion about geographical origins. In this study, multiple technical approaches were employed to identify its genetic characteristics and metabolic differences. Based on DNA barcoding, 20 batches of samples were analyzed. The genetic distances of matK, ITS and psbA-trnH within species were all smaller than those between species, and psbA-trnH along with ITS + psbA-trnH proved most effective… More >

Olha Mykhailenko^1,2,3,#,*, Zigmantas Gudžinskas⁴, Liudas Ivanauskas⁵, Victoriya Georgiyants¹, Chia-Hung Yen^6,7,8, Chung-Fan Hsieh⁹, Riong Seulina Panjaitan⁶, Tsong-Long Hwang^10,11,12,13, Bing-Hung Chen^14,15, Michal Korinek^6,7,8,#,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.074209 - 30 January 2026

Abstract The sustainable sourcing of novel bioactive compounds from natural sources is crucial to the success of the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetics industries. Iris bucharica Foster (syn. Juno bucharica (Foster) Vved.) is a promising source of novel bioactive molecules, particularly phenolic compounds, which are renowned for their antioxidant properties. In this study, we developed a reliable HPLC-UV-DAD method to identify and quantify phenolic compounds in the leaves and bulbs of I. bucharica, establishing the first set of quality control markers for this species. A total of 21 phenolic compounds were identified in the leaves, with flavonoids isoorientin, guaijaverin, hyperoside, More >

Hasan Kaan Kucukerdem^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.074188 - 30 January 2026

Abstract Root-zone temperature (RZT) strongly affects plant growth, nutrient uptake and tolerance to environmental stress, making its regulation a key challenge in greenhouse cultivation in cold climates. This study aimed to assess the potential of passive techniques, namely black polyethylene mulch and row covers, for modifying RZT dynamics in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) production and to evaluate the predictive performance of the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) algorithm. Experiments were conducted in Iğdır, Türkiye, over a 61-day period, with soil temperature continuously monitored at depths of 1–30 cm under mulched and non-mulched conditions, alongside measurements of greenhouse air… More >

Adolfo Amador Mendoza^1,*, Rosalba Guadalupe Gomez Raymundo², Ana Rosa Ramírez Seañez¹, Hipolito Hernández Hernández¹, Rogelio Enrrique Palacios Torres¹, Nelda Xanath Martínez Galero³, Miguel Ángel García Muñoz³, Saribel Zilli Gutiérrez^4,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.073856 - 30 January 2026

Abstract The cultivation of Soledad pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is essential in Oaxaca and Veracruz, but it faces issues with pests and diseases, which affect yield and cause economic losses. To mitigate these impacts, farmers have started using biostimulants such as chitosan and plant growth promoting bacteria instead of agrochemicals due to their environmental and health benefits. This study evaluated the effect of Bacillus subtilis and chitosan, both individually and combined, on the growth, yield, and fruit quality of Soledad pepper under greenhouse conditions. Four treatments were applied at different stages of the crop cycle: Q (Chitosan), BS (Bacillus More >

Lu Chen^1,2,#, Zhijie Ren^2,#, Guangmin Zhao², Xuan He², Legong Li², Sheng Teng^1,*, Yikun He^2,*, Fang Bao^2,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.073817 - 30 January 2026

Abstract ERD4 proteins, members of the early responsive-to-dehydration family, act as plasma membrane ion channels that contribute to ion homeostasis and modulate plant response to abiotic stresses. However, the functions of ERD4 homologs in non-vascular species remain largely unexplored. Here, we characterized an ERD4 family homolog in Physcomitrium patens (Hedw.) Mitt., PpCSC1 (Calcium-permeable Stress-responsive Cation Channel 1), and investigated its role in salt stress response. PpCSC1 localized to the plasma membrane and functioned as a non-selective cation channel permeable to Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺. Under salt treatment, PpCSC1 transcripts were markedly downregulated, whereas overexpression lines exhibited enhanced salt sensitivity.… More >

Wonkyu Yi, Jongseok Park^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.073450 - 30 January 2026

Abstract Understanding plant responses under low-pressure conditions is important for developing closed cultivation systems that simulate space environments. This study aimed to assess the effects of different pressure levels on growth, photosynthesis, and secondary metabolite accumulation in red leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. ‘Super Caesar’s Red’). Plants were cultivated for three weeks in sealed chambers under 101 kPa (atmospheric pressure), 66 kPa (moderate low pressure), and 33 kPa (severe low pressure). Growth analysis showed that leaf length and leaf area decreased significantly with reduced pressure, while chlorophyll content and SPAD values increased gradually. Photosynthetic measurements indicated More >

Mario D’Ambrosio¹, Elisabetta Bigagli^1,*, Lorenzo Cinci¹, Cecilia Brunetti^2,*, Edgardo Giordani³, Francesco Ferrini³, Cristina Luceri¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.073250 - 30 January 2026

Abstract Moringa oleifera (MO) is traditionally used to mitigate inflammatory-mediated disorders; however, the influence of ecotypic variation on its anti-inflammatory activity remains poorly understood. In this study, we compared the phytochemical composition and anti-inflammatory activity of ethanolic extracts obtained from fresh and dried leaves of four MO ecotypes (India, Paraguay, Mozambique, and Pakistan), all grown under the same outdoor conditions, as well as two commercial powders (Just Moringa and WISSA), using LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Extracts from fresh leaves were 19–43% more cytotoxic than those from dried leaves, depending on the ecotype, likely due to higher cyanogenic… More >