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 >

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

Xiaomei He¹, Xiaoting Wan¹, Muhammad Arif ², Ziyang Hu¹, Haiyu Wang¹, Muhammad Aamir Manzoor^3,*, Cheng Song^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 2985-3002, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.070697 - 29 October 2025

Abstract Melatonin is a multifunctional molecule found in all organisms that has been shown to play a crucial role in plant growth, development, and stress response. Plant melatonin is typically synthesized in organelles termed chloroplasts, and the mechanisms of its synthesis and metabolic pathways have been extensively studied. Melatonin serves a significant regulatory function in plant growth and development, influencing the morphological and physiological characteristics of plants by modulating biological processes. While studies on plant melatonin receptors are in their early stages compared to studies in animal receptors, the binding mechanism with melatonin is now recognized… More >

Lina Song¹, Caijie Yi¹, Shiwei Zhao¹, Yuxin Peng¹, Zijing Li¹, Yuqiang Zhang ², Hua Zhang¹, Helan Qin¹, Huali Zhang^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.8, pp. 2593-2613, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.068133 - 29 August 2025

Abstract Naturally occurring yellow leaf mutants are an important resource for studying pigment content and biosynthesis, as well as related gene expression. In our ongoing cultivation of Rehmannia chingii H. L. Li, we found an off-type yellow plant. The yellowing started with the new leaves and gradually spread downward until the entire plant exhibited a stable shade of yellow. We studied the differences in the chlorophyll and carotenoid content, carotenoid profile, and transcriptome of this yellow-leaf mutant (P2). Compared to the wild-type R. chingii plant (P1), P2 leaves had significantly lower chlorophyll and carotenoid content. LC-MS/MS analysis revealed More >

Tetyana Pokynbroda¹, Ihor Semeniuk^1,2, Agnieszka Gąszczak³, Elbieta Szczyrba³, Nataliya Semenyuk², Volodymyr Skorokhoda², Serhiy Pyshyev^4,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.13, No.7, pp. 1439-1458, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2025.02025-0030 - 22 July 2025

Abstract The selection of carbon sources and the biosynthesis of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) by the Azotobacter vinelandii N-15 strain using renewable raw materials were investigated. Among the tested substrates (starch, sucrose, molasses, bran), molasses as the carbon source yielded the highest PHB production. The maximum polymer yield (26% of dry biomass) was achieved at a molasses concentration of 40 g/L. PHB formation was confirmed via thin-layer chromatography, gas chromatography and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Composite films based on PHB, polylactic acid (PLA), and their blends were fabricated using the solvent casting. The biodegradation of these films was studied More > Graphic Abstract

Dandan Wang^*, Jiaxin Chen, Yanwen Zhang

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.4, pp. 1137-1158, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.063894 - 30 April 2025

Abstract Taxus cuspidata, a rare species of the Taxus genus, and its wild resources are under severe threat. The development of cultivated species has become an important strategy to replace wild species. The objective of this work was to elucidate the differences in secondary metabolite accumulation, particularly in the paclitaxel biosynthesis pathway, between wild and cultivated species. This study employed liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) technologies to conduct integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses of wild and cultivated species of T. cuspidata. The results showed that the content of paclitaxel in cultivated species was significantly higher… More >

Xinxin Chen¹, Fuxin Li¹, Jingyu Jia¹, Yajing Tian¹, Xin Li^1,2,3,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.3, pp. 825-842, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.062015 - 31 March 2025

Abstract In plants, transcription factor (TF) family LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES DOMAIN (LBD) has been identified to be involved in the ripening and senescence processes of fruits. However, the function of LBD in Hylocereus undatus (Haw.) Britton & Rose (H. undatus) has not been reported yet. Through transcriptomic analysis, virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) technology, and RT-qPCR validation, we investigated the role of the LBD TFs in the senescence of H. undatus. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that HuLBD1 is a key transcription factor of the LBD family regulating H. undatus senescence. After silencing HuLBD1, 5075 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. GSEA results showed… More >

Tatiana Volova^1,2, Natalia Zhila^1,2,*, Kristina Sapozhnikova^1,2, Olga Menshikova^1,2, Evgeniy Kiselev^1,2, Alexey Sukovatyi^1,2, Vladimir Volkov³, Ivan Peterson⁴, Natalia Ipatova^1,2, Ekaterina Shishatskaya^1,2

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.13, No.3, pp. 413-432, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2024.058775 - 20 March 2025

Abstract The article presents the results of a study on the possibility of synthesizing biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB-co-4HB)] from renewable waste fish oil (WFO) by the Cupriavidus necator B-10646 bacterium. For the first time, waste oil generated during the processing of Sprattus balticus in the production of sprats was used as the main carbon substrate for the synthesis of P(3HB-co-4HB), and ε-caprolactone was used as a precursor instead of the more expensive γ-butyrolactone. Samples of P(3HB-co-4HB) with a 4HB monomer content from 7.4 to 11.6 mol.% were synthesized, and values of the bacterial biomass yield and the total yield of the… More > Graphic Abstract

Yanlin Pan¹, Yibin Zhang¹, Xingui Wang¹, Hongbo Qin¹, Lunfa Guo^1,2,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.1, pp. 123-136, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.059598 - 24 January 2025

Abstract Derris fordii and Derris elliptica belong to the Derris genus of the Fabaceae family, distinguished by their high isoflavonoid content, particularly rotenoids, which hold significance in pharmaceuticals and agriculture. Rotenone, as a prominent rotenoid, has a longstanding history of use in pesticides, veterinary applications, medicine, and medical research. The accumulation of rotenoids within Derris plants adheres to species-specific and tissue-specific patterns and is also influenced by environmental factors. Current research predominantly addresses extraction techniques, pharmacological applications, and pesticide formulations, whereas investigations into the biosynthesis pathway and regulatory mechanism of rotenoids remain relatively scarce. In this study, we… More >

Dongxue Su¹, Jiarui Zheng¹, Yuwei Yi¹, Shuyuan Zhang¹, Luxin Feng¹, Danzeng Quzhen², De Qiong³, Weiwei Zhang¹, Qijian Wang¹, Feng Xu^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.9, pp. 2317-2337, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.055350 - 30 September 2024

Abstract The multifaceted roles of MYB transcriptional regulators are pivotal in orchestrating the complex processes of secondary metabolism, stress tolerance mechanisms, and life cycle progression and development. This study extensively examined the JrMYB genes using whole genome and transcriptomic data, focusing on identifying putative MYB genes associated with fatty acid metabolism. 126 MYB genes were identified within the walnut genome, characterized by hydrophilic proteins spanning lengths ranging from 78 to 1890 base pairs. Analysis of cis-acting elements within the promoter regions of MYB genes revealed many elements linked to cell development, environmental stress, and phytohormones. Transcriptomic data was utilized… More > Graphic Abstract