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 >

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 >

Erna Karalija¹, Sabina Dahija¹, Sajra Prijić¹, Dunja Šamec^2,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.072517 - 28 February 2026

Abstract Salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses limiting chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) productivity, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions where soil salinization is intensifying. Developing cost-effective and practical strategies to enhance seedling establishment and early vigor under saline conditions is therefore essential. In this study, we compared two seed-priming agents—1 mM proline and 25 mM NaCl—under identical hydroponic conditions to elucidate tissue-specific responses to 25 mM NaCl stress. Proline priming significantly improved shoot length (by ~23%), total chlorophyll content (by ~19%), and ascorbate peroxidase (ASPOX) activity. In contrast, NaCl priming enhanced root biomass retention (by More >

Luis Felipe HernáNdez-Ayala¹, Russel J. Reiter², Annia Galano^1,*

BIOCELL, Vol.50, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.071635 - 23 January 2026

Abstract Objectives: Oxidative stress (OS) plays a pivotal role in chronic and neurodegenerative diseases, which has sparked interest in molecules that modulate redox-regulating enzymes. Melatonin and its metabolites exhibit antioxidant properties; however, their molecular mechanisms of enzymatic and transcriptional modulation remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate, through an exploratory in silico approach, the interactions of melatonin and related compounds with OS-related enzymes to generate hypotheses about their role in cellular redox control. Methods: A rational selection of antioxidant, pro-oxidant, and transcriptional targets was performed. Ligands were optimized at the DFT level (M05-2X/6-311+G(d,p)) and docked to OS… 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 >

Cheng Song^1,*, Iftikhar Hussein Shah², Ghulam Abbas Ashraf³, Muhammad Arif⁴, Muhammad Aamir Manzoor^1,5,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.11, pp. 3427-3451, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.070778 - 01 December 2025

Abstract Heavy metal pollution has become a pervasive environmental issue affecting numerous regions worldwide. Recently, there has been significant attention given to the application of nano-enabled technologies with the purpose of enhancing plant development and alleviating heavy metal stress. This study aimed to illustrate the potential of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) to enhance the morphological traits of D. huoshenense exposed to cadmium (Cd) stress. The chemical structure and elemental composition of the ZnO-NPs were characterised by a series of analytical methods, including X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis spectrometry, XPS, and TEM. Plant samples used were collected at 0, 5,… More > Graphic Abstract

Yi Yan^1,2,#, Min He^1,2,#, Feifeng Mao³, Xinyu Zhang⁴, Liyu Wang⁵, Jingwei Li^1,2,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 3003-3021, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.069166 - 29 October 2025

Abstract Houttuynia cordata, a characteristic edible and medicinal plant in southwestern China, is prone to absorbing lead (Pb²⁺). Excessive consumption may lead to Pb²⁺ accumulation in the human body, which has been linked to serious health risks such as neurotoxicity, kidney damage, anemia, and developmental disorders, particularly in children. Therefore, the development of molecular markers associated with Pb²⁺ uptake and the investigation of the plant’s physiological responses to Pb²⁺ pollution are of great significance. In this study, 72 H. cordata germplasms were evaluated for Pb²⁺ accumulation after exogenous Pb²⁺ treatment. A significant variation in Pb²⁺ content was observed among the germplasms, indicating… More >

Jing Zhang^1,#, Huifen Qiao^1,#, Shenglong Wang^1,#, Jiawei Yuan¹, Qingsong Ba¹, Gensheng Zhang^1,2,*, Guiping Li^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.9, pp. 2701-2718, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.070017 - 30 September 2025

Abstract Wheat stripe rust, a devastating disease caused by the fungal pathogen Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), poses a significant threat to global wheat production. Growing resistant cultivars is a crucial strategy for wheat stripe rust management. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of wheat resistance to Pst remain incompletely understood. To unravel these mechanisms, we employed high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) to analyze the transcriptome of the resistant wheat cultivar Mianmai 46 (MM46) at different time points (24, 48, and 96 h) post-inoculation with the Pst race CYR33. The analysis revealed that Pst infection significantly altered the expression of genes… 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 >

Chen Hao, Chunfeng Mu, Xinyan Yu, Xiaoran Chen, Mengmeng Zhu, Jianrui Wang^*, Yu Liu^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.12, pp. 3549-3572, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.056114 - 31 December 2024

Abstract Entoloma clypeatum, a kind of edible ectomycorrhizal fungus, can be usually symbiotic with Rosaceae fruit trees. Fruit trees have become an important part of China’s agriculture. The present work focused on exploring how E. clypeatum affected symbiotic Rosaceae plants and establishing a symbiotic culture with Malus robusta, Pyrus betulifolia and Prunus armeniaca rootstocks. The results showed that E. clypeatum and three Rosaceae plants can generate cylindrical or clavate mycorrhizae. The inoculation treatment had different degrees of positive effects on the three plants. Relative to the non-inoculated group, biomass in symbiotic plants increased (32.8%–191.1%), and photosynthesis enhanced. In the level of… More >