Jo Van Damme¹, Stijn Van Damme², Soffe Struyf¹, Ghislain Opdenakker³

European Cytokine Network, Vol.36, No.1, pp. 6-14, 2025, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2025.0501 - 05 January 2026

Abstract Since their discovery, chemotactic cytokines or chemokines have been intensively studied for about half a century. Chemokines originate from tissue cells, leukocytes, blood platelets and plasma. Here, we review a number of seminal findings on plasma chemokines within an historical and international context. These aspects include how induction and purification protocols led to the discovery of a new family of mediators, named chemokines, on the basis of protein sequencing; how molecular cloning techniques facilitated discoveries of additional family members on the basis of conserved protein structures; how blood plasma and platelets were used as a More >

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

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.8, pp. 2529-2550, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.066894 - 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… More >

Mudasser Mehmood^1,*, Zoahaib Aslam Khan¹, Adil Mehmood², Madiha Zaynab³, Muhammad Atiq ur Rahman⁴, Mohammad Khalid Al-Sadoon⁵, M. Harshini⁶, Ling Shing Wong⁷

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.4, pp. 1111-1135, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.059812 - 30 April 2025

Abstract Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a staple crop critical for global food security, yet its productivity is significantly affected by abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and waterlogging, which are exacerbated by climate change. This study evaluated the effects of these stresses on vegetative growth, physiological responses, and yield. Field experiments were conducted using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) at the Mona Reclamation Experimental Project (MREP), WAPDA, Bhalwal, Sargodha, Punjab Pakistan. Stress treatments included three levels of drought (25%, 50%, and 75% field capacity), salinity (4, 8, and 12 dS/m), and waterlogging (24, 48, and… More >

Alexis Salazar-Navarro¹, Víctor Ruíz-Valdiviezo², José Joya-Dávila¹, Daniel González-Mendoza^1,*, Olivia Tzintzun-Camacho¹, Ulin Basilio-Cortes¹, Dagoberto Duran-Hernández¹, Henry López-Lopez¹, Onecimo Grimaldo-Juárez¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.3, pp. 641-655, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.062871 - 31 March 2025

Abstract The biochemical response of Coffea arabica var. Borbon to chitosan and chitosan oligosaccharides (COS) was evaluated in one-year-old plants under greenhouse conditions. COS solutions were synthesized through chemical and physical hydrolysis using acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and microwave irradiation. The obtained COS had an average molecular weight (Mw) of 3549.90 ± 0.33 Daltons (Da), a deacetylation degree (DD) of 76.64 ± 1.12%, and a polymerization degree (PD) of 18.91 ± 0.0018. Solutions of chitosan and COS were applied to C. arabica var. Borbon at concentrations of 0.25, 0.5, and 1 wt%. The experimental design was conducted using… More >

Hocine Bougrine^1,2, Salah Hadjout^1,*, Mohamed Zouidi¹, Abdeldjalil Belkendil¹, Amer Zeghmar¹, Chaouki Boulekdam¹, Walid Ouaret³, Walid Soufan⁴, Fathi Abdellatif Belhouadjeb⁵, Amar Mebarkia²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.1, pp. 251-267, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.060096 - 24 January 2025

Abstract Salinity stress is a major challenge for global agriculture, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, limiting plant productivity due to water and soil salinity. These conditions particularly affect countries along the southern Mediterranean rim, including Algeria, which primarily focuses on pastoral and forage practices. This study investigates salinity tolerance and ecotypic variability in Vicia narbonensis L., a fodder legume species recognized for its potential to reclaim marginal soils. Morphological, physiological, and biochemical responses were assessed in three ecotypes (eco2, eco9, and eco10) exposed to different salinity levels (low, moderate, and severe). The study was conducted using… More >

Abderrahim Boutasknit^1,2,3,*, Wissal Benaffari^2,3, Mohamed Anli^2,3, Abdoussadeq Ouamnina^2,3, Amine Assouguem⁴, Rachid Lahlali^4,*, Abdelilah Meddich^2,3,5

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.12, pp. 3589-3616, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.057881 - 31 December 2024

Abstract Drought stress (DS) and overuse of chemical fertilizers cause considerable losses in the agro-physiological as well as biochemical performance of plants. In this context, considerable effort will be required to replace chemical fertilizers (NPK) with biostimulants as an important approach to enhance the productivity and sustainability of agriculture. Here, we evaluated the effect of separating and/or combining arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) with compost (C) in comparison to the use of NPK on the growth, physiological and biochemical of tomatoes under DS. The findings showed that DS significantly reduced the growth and physiological attributes of tomatoes.… More >

Huiyan Liang¹, Wei Fang¹, Xiqiao Feng^1,*

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences, Vol.29, No.2, pp. 1-1, 2024, DOI:10.32604/icces.2024.012719

Abstract Cell–extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions play a pivotal role in many functions of cells, for example, sensing, signaling, migration, and gene expression. The spatial-temporal dynamic evolution of cell–substrate adhesions involves complicated mechano-bio-chemical coupling mechanisms of integrin, adaptor and signaling proteins, and the interplay between the cytoskeleton and ECM as well. In this paper, we establish a multiscale dynamic model of cell–substrate interfaces considering intermolecular force transmission pathways, i.e., intra- and extra-cellular bond dynamics, and mechanochemical coupling regulations. To illustrate its applications, this model is used to reproduce several adhesion-related experimental phenomena of cells, including substrate rigidity… More >

Md. Mosiur Rahman^1,2, Md. Ruhul Quddus³, Quanle Xu⁴, Muhammad Malek Hossain², Rong Liu¹, Mengwei Li¹, Xin Yan¹, Guan Li¹, Yishan Ji¹, Chenyu Wang¹, Ashutosh Sarker⁵, Tao Yang¹, Xuxiao Zong¹, Md. Monoar Hossain⁶, Saleh Alfarraj⁷, Mohammad Javed Ansari⁸, Sagar Maitra^9,*, Akbar Hossain^10,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.8, pp. 1781-1804, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.048992 - 30 August 2024

Abstract Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) is an imperative food crop cultured in dryland agricultural ecology. It is a vital source of dietary protein to millions of populaces living in low-income countries in South-East Asia and Africa. This study highlights the improvement of genomic properties and their application in marker-trait relationships for 17 yield-related characters in 400 grass pea genotypes from China and Bangladesh. These characters were assessed via 56 polymorphic markers using general linear model (GLM) (P+G+Q) and mixed linear model (MLM) (P+G+Q+K) in the tassel software based on the linkage disequilibrium and population structure analysis.… More >

Yi Xi, Li Zhang, Yanhong Xu, Wei Cheng, Chao Chen^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.7, pp. 1749-1765, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.051793 - 30 July 2024

Abstract In artificially controlled pot experiments, perennial ryegrass was mixed with other leguminous plants (white clover and alfalfa) and treated with lead, zinc and cadmium (337 mg·kg, 648 mg·kg, and 9 mg·kg, respectively) to simulate compound pollution conditions. The results showed that the concentrations of heavy metals, transport factors, and bioconcentration factors in mixed planting of ryegrass decreased compared with those in monoculture. Regardless of whether heavy metal pollution was introduced, mixed planting increased the aboveground and underground biomasses of ryegrass. The different mixed planting treatments had no significant impact on the chlorophyll concentration of ryegrass.… More >

CHENG-GONG LUO^1,2,#, JIAO ZHANG^1,#, YUN-ZHAO AN¹, XUAN LIU¹, SHUAI-JIE LI¹, WEI ZHANG¹, KAI LI¹, XU ZHAO¹, DONG-BO YUAN¹, LING-YUE AN¹, WEI CHEN², YE TIAN^1,*, BIN XU^1,*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.5, pp. 771-792, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2024.048878 - 06 May 2024

Abstract Background: Ferroptosis, a lipid peroxidation-mediated programmed cell death, is closely linked to tumor development, including prostate cancer (PCa). Despite established connections between ferroptosis and PCa, a comprehensive investigation is essential for understanding its impact on patient prognosis. Methods: A risk model incorporating four ferroptosis-related genes was developed and validated. Elevated risk scores correlated with an increased likelihood of biochemical recurrence (BCR), diminished immune infiltration, and adverse clinicopathological characteristics. To corroborate these results, we performed validation analyses utilizing datasets from both the Cancer Genome Atlas Cohort (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Synthesis Cohort (GEO). Moreover, we conducted… More >