Totan Kumar Ghosh¹, Md. Roushonuzzaman Rakib¹, Munna¹, S. M. Zubair AL-Meraj¹, Md. Moshiul Islam², Anika Nazran¹, Mohammad Golam Mostofa^3,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.12, pp. 3925-3943, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.073382 - 29 December 2025

Abstract The productivity of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), an economically important legume, is severely hindered by drought stress. While melatonin (Mel) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) are known to alleviate abiotic stresses, their combined effects in mitigating drought-induced oxidative stress are unknown. Here, we examined the synergistic effects of Mel and MeJA in alleviating drought-associated oxidative damage in common bean. Compared with well-watered controls, drought stress caused a significant decline in plant biomass, photosynthetic pigments, and photosystem II efficiency (F_v/F_m). Drought also significantly increased hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) accumulation, which likely contributed to membrane lipid peroxidation, as indicated by… 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 >

Abdil Hakan Eren^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 3085-3107, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.069506 - 29 October 2025

Abstract The FAR1-related sequence (FAR1) gene family consists of transcription factors that originated from transposases and is crucial for light signaling and stress adaptation in plants. Despite the recognized importance of FAR1 genes in model organisms, their genomic architecture, structural variability, and expression patterns in Phaseolus vulgaris have yet to be investigated. This study offers the inaugural comprehensive genome-wide identification and characterization of the FAR1 gene family in P. vulgaris. A total of 27 PvulFAR1 genes were identified, and their chromosomal distribution, gene structures, conserved domains, and phylogenetic relationships were analyzed systematically. The promoter regions of these genes were discovered… More >

Lesya Voytenko^1,*, Mykola Shcherbatiuk¹, Valentyna Vasyuk¹, Kateryna Romanenko¹, Lidiya Babenko¹, Oleksandr Smirnov^2,3, Iryna Kosakivska¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.7, pp. 2195-2214, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.067772 - 31 July 2025

Abstract Prolonged lack of rain and high-temperature lead to soil water deficits, inhibiting cereal crop growth in early ontogenesis and reducing grain quality and yield. Rye (Secale cereale L.) is a key grain crop, particularly in regions where wheat cultivation is challenging or unfeasible. To clarify its drought adaptation mechanisms, we analyzed the effects of moderate soil drought on growth, hormonal homeostasis, and the dynamics and distribution of free amino acids and phenolic compounds in rye at early vegetative stages and post-recovery. Drought triggered both general and organ-specific changes in endogenous phytohormones. A nonspecific response involved the… More >

Nouha Haoudi^1,2, Lahcen Hssaini¹, Jamila Bahhou², Abderrahim Bentaibi¹, Hicham Aboumadane^1,2, Rachid Razouk^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.6, pp. 1857-1877, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.065116 - 27 June 2025

Abstract This study was carried out to assess plasticity to drought of 30 adult fig cultivars, based on a screening of leaf structural and functional traits under sustained deficit irrigation, corresponding to 60% of crop evapotranspiration. All trees, three per cultivar, are planted in an ex-situ collection in Sais plain, northern Morocco. The measurements concerned leaf area, blade thickness, trichomes density, trichome hair length, stomatal density, stomatal dimensions, stomatal area index, chlorophyll concentration index, relative water content, stomatal conductance, leaf temperature, water loss in detached leaves, cuticular wax content, proline content, total phenolic compounds, and total soluble… More >

Kesu Wei¹, Guangju Liu², Bin Wei³, Qifang Zhang⁴, Shengjiang Wu¹, Zhaowei Li^2,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.4, pp. 1287-1298, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.062385 - 30 April 2025

Abstract To systematically examine the tolerance of flue-cured tobacco K326 to soil drought stress, this study set up different water content trials for K326 at 60%, 40%, and 20% levels during the vigorous growing period by greenhouse pot planting. Pigment content, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, antioxidant enzyme activity, and SPS and GS activities associated with carbon and nitrogen metabolism were investigated in the K326 tobacco leaves. The results showed that chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b contents decreased, non-photochemical quenching coefficient Y(NPQ) decreased in the later stage of vigorous growth, and energy dissipation quantum yield Y(NO) levels increased… More >

Muhammad Imran Khan¹, Fahad Masoud Wattoo¹, Kamran Shehzad Bajwa^2,*, Zahid Akram¹, Sabahat Noor², Zaheer Abbas², Rashid Mehmood Rana¹, Muhammad Tahir Akram³, Shaukat Ali², Rai Muhammad Amir⁴, Ghulam Muhammad Ali⁵

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.4, pp. 1299-1318, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.062323 - 30 April 2025

Abstract The agricultural sector is notably affected by climate change, especially soybeans, which may face diminished yields because of severe water shortages. The evaluation of germplasm at morphological and molecular levels is an important pre-breeding step for crop improvement. This study employed 10 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to examine 60 soybean genotypes in the quest for drought-resistant lines during 2022–23. The results of the screening experiment (PEG-6000) revealed that the soybean genotypes SPS13, SPS195, PGRB83, and 39982 exhibited significant correlations in growth parameters. The results of molecular characterization indicated that five out of ten molecular… 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 >

Dristy Roy¹, Md. Zakarya Ibne Sayed², Durjay Mondal², Banosree Saha Bandhan³, Md. Maniruzzaman Bahadur¹, Md. Rabiul Islam¹, Ahmed Gaber⁴, Md. Parvez Kabir⁵, Akbar Hossain^5,*, Subrota Kumer Pramanik^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.3, pp. 763-779, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.062717 - 31 March 2025

Abstract The increasing frequency and intensity of drought caused by climate change necessitate the implementation of effective ways to increase the ability of wheat to withstand drought, with humic acid being a promising approach. Therefore, a pot experiment was conducted to determine the efficacy of exogenous humic acid on wheat under water deficit stress via a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. The impacts of four growing conditions, i.e., well water (65% field capacity), water deficit stress (35% field capacity), soil application of humic acid (44 mg kg⁻¹ soil) under water deficit stress and foliar feeding… More >

Ting Li¹, Jun Xv¹, Defang Zhang^1,2,3,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.3, pp. 911-927, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.061770 - 31 March 2025

Abstract The use of a stable reference gene is fundamental for achieving reliable quantitative qRT-PCR (qPCR) results. Developing and evaluating the stability of reference genes is necessary for studying the molecular mechanisms of M. transitoria in response to drought stress. In this study, 18 candidate reference genes were selected from transcriptome sequencing data of M. transitoria according to their FPKM values under different drought stress degrees. Cluster-23533.34641 was identified as the most stable reference gene for M. transitoria under drought stress based on qPCR results and combined analysis of Genorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and Delta Ct algorithms. The reference genes More >