Shaowei Zhang^1,2,#, Bingbing Li^3,#, Xiaogai Zhao^2,#, Guoqiang Fan^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.5, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.081526 - 27 May 2026

Abstract Growth regulatory factor (GRF) genes play a crucial role in plant growth and development, reproduction, metabolism, and stress resistance. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide integrated analysis of transcriptome and miRNA expression profiles in Paulownia fortunei challenged by phytoplasma infection, with a specific focus on elucidating the functional landscape of the PfGRF transcription factor (TF) family. A comprehensive investigation was conducted on the PfGRF TF family. A total of 16 PfGRF genes were identified in this study, among which 13 were located on the chromosomes of P. fortunei. They were divided into six groups based on amino acid… More >

Damilola Olofintuyi, Ayesha Siddika, Abdollah Monfared, Hong Zhang, Jennifer Smith^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.079971 - 28 April 2026

Abstract Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of overlapping abiotic stresses, making cross-tolerance a critical component of plant resilience. While single stress responses have been extensively characterized, plants in natural and agricultural environments frequently encounter simultaneous or sequential stresses such as drought–heat, light–drought, and drought–salinity, which trigger nonadditive and often unpredictable physiological outcomes that vary with stress intensity, timing, and species. This review synthesizes current understanding of the mechanisms underlying cross-tolerance, emphasizing how contradictory signals, stress timing, and physiological integration shape plant responses under combined stress. We highlight how stomatal regulation, leaf energy balance,… More >

Haoran Li, Qi Sun, Haoran Sun, Ziyan Wu, Wenjin Wang, Fang Liu^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.079359 - 28 April 2026

Abstract Soil salinization is an increasingly severe global issue, posing a significant threat to crop growth and food security. Although sorghum exhibits moderate tolerance to saline-alkali stress, it remains highly sensitive to such conditions during the seedling stage. This study investigates the mechanisms by which zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) alleviate saline-alkali stress in sorghum seedlings and determines their optimal application concentration, thereby providing a scientific basis for agricultural production in saline-alkali soils. Hydroponic experiments were conducted to simulate varying degrees of saline-alkali stress. Sorghum seedlings were treated with different concentrations of ZnO NPs (0, 50,… More >

Cuifang Chang, Hua Fang, Xinfang Chen, Zhongfeng Yao, Yali Zhu, Caicai Ma, Qi Wang, Weibiao Liao^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.077290 - 28 April 2026

Abstract The cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR) gene family plays a pivotal role in lignin biosynthesis and plant stress adaptation by catalyzing the first committed step in the monolignol-specific branch of the phenylpropanoid pathway. However, a comprehensive and systematic analysis of CCRs in the economically important Rosa genus remains lacking. Here, we conducted a systematic genome-wide investigation of CCR genes in a diploid species, Rosa chinensis, and a tetraploid cultivar, Rosa × hybrida. We identified 15 and 36 non-redundant CCR genes in R. chinensis and R. × hybrida, respectively. From these, we selected 14 high-confidence orthologs of RcCCR in the R. × hybrida genome as a core… More >

Matthew Starr¹, Lori Unruh-Snyder^1,*, Luke Gatiboni¹, Koralalage Jayaratne²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.072898 - 28 April 2026

Abstract Biostimulants, categorized as microbial or non-microbial, including humic substances, seaweed extracts, chitosan, or protein hydrolysates (PHs), have gained significant attention in modern agriculture for their ability to enhance crop productivity, improve nutrient use efficiency, and increase resilience to abiotic and biotic stresses, while reducing dependence on conventional agrochemicals. This review synthesizes the historical development, classification, mechanisms of action, and agronomic benefits of biostimulants, with a particular emphasis on PHs, which are mixtures of amino acids, peptides, and polypeptides derived from plant or animal proteins through enzymatic, chemical, or thermal hydrolysis. The concept of biostimulants has… More >

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

Aaron David Lugo-Palacios¹, Edgar Omar Rueda-Puente², César Omar Montoya-García², Ignacio Orona-Castillo³, Urbano Nava-Camberos³, José Luis García-Hernández^3,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.075449 - 30 January 2026

Abstract To ensure the efficient use of resources, particularly in water-scarce arid and semi-arid regions where abiotic stress threatens food security, assessing soil and climate suitability for specific crops is crucial. Simultaneously, food production must align with sustainable development goals by minimizing negative environmental impacts. Therefore, establishing agro-climatic suitability using a spatiotemporal approach is essential. This involves three key steps: first, determining the climatically appropriate months based on the species’ requirements (temporal suitability), and second, establishing the soil suitability of specific plots (spatial suitability). Following this, quantifying crop evapotranspiration allows for optimized water use. This study… More >

Mohammed Majid Abed^1,2,*, Murat Aydin¹, Esma Yiğider¹, Melek Ekinci³, Ertan Yildirim³

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.12, pp. 3845-3860, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.073163 - 29 December 2025

Abstract Plants are continuously exposed to abiotic and biotic stresses that threaten their growth, reproduction, and survival. Adaptation to these stresses requires complex regulatory networks that coordinate physiological, molecular, and ecological responses. However, such adaptation often incurs significant costs, including reduced growth, yield penalties, and altered ecological interactions. This review systematically synthesizes recent advances published between 2018 and 2025, following PRISMA criteria, on plant responses to abiotic and biotic stressors, with an emphasis on the trade-offs between adaptation and productivity. It also highlights major discrepancies in the literature and discusses strategies for enhancing plant stress tolerance 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 >

Nadia Lamsaadi¹, Oumaima Maarouf², Soukaina Lahmaoui², Hamid Msaad², Omar Farssi², Chaima Hamim², Mohamed Tamoudjout², Hafsa Hirt², Habiba Kamal², Majida El Hassni², Cherki Ghoulam^3,4, Ahmed El Moukhtari^5,*, Mohamed Farissi²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.11, pp. 3585-3610, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.072311 - 01 December 2025

Abstract Abiotic stresses, such as drought, heavy metals, salinity, and extreme temperatures, are among the most common adverse threats that restrict the use of land for agriculture and limit crop growth and productivity. As sessile organisms, plants defend themselves from abiotic stresses by developing various tolerance mechanisms. These mechanisms are governed by several biochemical traits. The biochemical mechanisms are the products of key genes that express under specific conditions. Interestingly, the expression of these genes is regulated by specialized proteins known as transcription factors (TFs). Several TFs, including those from the bZIP, bHLH, MYB, HSF, WRKY,… More >