Mengjie Xu, Anbin Wang, Tonghong Zuo, Hecui Zhang, Zhihao Hu, Liquan Zhu^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.1, pp. 157-179, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.060566 - 24 January 2025

Abstract Calmodulin-like (CMLs) proteins are critical in calcium signaling and essential for plant growth, development, and stress responses. In many species, the CMLs families have been identified and described. However, the characterization and expression profiling of CMLs genes in tobacco is retrievable. In this study, a comprehensive whole-genome identification and analysis, and 75 NtCML genes were identified in tobacco, each containing two to four EF-hand domains. Most NtCML proteins exhibited conserved gene structures and motifs. Notably, most NtCML proteins were intron-less and distributed across 18 chromosomes. Two pairs of tandemly duplicated genes and seven pairs of segmentally More >

Su-Ee Lau^1,2,*, Lucas Wei Tze Lim³, Mohd Fadhli Hamdan⁴, Colin Chan⁵, Noor Baity Saidi⁶, Janna Ong-Abdullah⁶, Boon Chin Tan^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.1, pp. 1-31, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.059930 - 24 January 2025

Abstract Abiotic stresses such as drought, heat, salinity, and heavy metal contamination severely affect global agricultural productivity. Between 2005 and 2015, droughts caused losses of approximately USD 29 billion in developing countries, and from 2008 to 2018, droughts accounted for over 34% of crop and livestock yield losses, totaling about USD 37 billion. To support the growing human population, agricultural output must increase substantially, necessitating a 60%–100% rise in crop productivity to meet the escalating demand. To address environmental challenges, organic, inorganic, and microbial biostimulants are increasingly employed to enhance plant resilience through various morphological, physiological,… More >

Bouazza Chami^1,2, Nabil Touzout², Souad Guemouri-Athmani¹, Djamel Baali-Cherif³, Adil Mihoub⁴, Jakub Černý^5,*, Muhammad Farhan Saeed⁶, Aftab Jamal^7,*, Hayi Mohamed Yassine⁸, Yaser Hassan Dewir⁹, Aurelio Scavo¹⁰

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.12, pp. 3313-3329, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.059865 - 31 December 2024

Abstract Intensive agricultural practices have undeniably reduced soil fertility and crop productivity. Furthermore, alkaline calcareous soils represent a significant challenge for agricultural production, particularly durum wheat, which is vital for ensuring food security. It is therefore essential to explore new cereal management strategies to maintain food production and promote crop sustainability. The application of soil microorganisms, particularly plant growth–promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), as inoculants to enhance crop production is a growing area of interest. This study investigates the effects of the rhizobacteria Paenibacillus polymyxa SGH1 and SGK2, applied both individually and in combination, on the growth and… More >

Abdelhak Rhouma¹, Lobna Hajji-Hedfi^1,*, Nahla Alsayd Bouqellah^2,*, Pravin Babasaheb Khaire³, Samar Dali¹, Omaima Bargougui¹, Amira Khlif¹, Laith Khalil Tawfeeq Al-Ani⁴

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.11, pp. 2857-2881, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.057591 - 30 November 2024

Abstract Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium spp. are entomopathogenic fungi with potential applications beyond insect pest control, including plant disease suppression, plant growth promotion, and rhizosphere colonization. This study investigated the plant growth-promoting characteristics and extracellular enzyme activities of Metarhizium spp. and B. bassiana in relation to phytopathogen interactions and plant growth. Additionally, the efficacy of these fungi in mitigating damping-off and root rot caused by Rhizoctonia solani on cucumber plants was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Results indicate that B. bassiana and M. anisopliae produce indole-3-acetic acid, hydrocyanic acid, and hydrolytic enzymes. Seed treatment with these fungi significantly reduced disease severity (3.85%–1.86%, respectively)… More >

Ramiro Reyes-Castro¹, Héctor G. Núñez-Palenius^1,*, Juan I. Valiente-Banuet², María E. Sosa-Morales¹, Blanca E. Orosco-Alcalá¹, Rafael Guzmán-Mendoza¹, Graciela M. L. Ruiz-Aguilar¹, Rogelio Costilla-Salazar¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.7, pp. 1467-1484, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.051644 - 30 July 2024

Abstract Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), along with potato and tomato, is one of the three most cultivated vegetables in the world. Bell pepper is worldwide accepted due to its characteristics of color, smell, flavor, and texture. Bell pepper is also considered a nutritious food due to its vitamin and antioxidant contents. In Mexico, bell pepper production has a high value because it is grown for the international markets, particularly the United States of America. Nevertheless, the abscission of flowers and fruits is a factor that limits the yield, hinders the planning of activities, and causes a More >

Lei Liang, Xiangyang Hu^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.3, pp. 517-531, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.049277 - 28 March 2024

Abstract With the rapid development of modern molecular biology and bioinformatics, many studies have proved that transcription factors play an important role in regulating the growth and development of plants. SPATULA (SPT) belongs to the bHLH transcription family and participates in many processes of regulating plant growth and development. This review systemically summarizes the multiple roles of SPT in plant growth, development, and stress response, including seed germination, flowering, leaf size, carpel development, and root elongation, which is helpful for us to better understand the functions of SPT. More >

Eduardo Burgos-Valencia^1,#, Federico García-Laynes^1,#, Ileana Echevarría-Machado¹, Fatima Medina-Lara¹, Miriam Monforte-González¹, José Narváez-Zapata^2,*, Manuel Martínez-Estévez^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.2, pp. 151-183, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2023.046943 - 27 February 2024

Abstract Habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) is a crop of economic relevance in the Peninsula of Yucatan. Its fruits have a high level of capsaicinoids compared to peppers grown in other regions of the world, which gives them industrial importance. Soil is an important factor that affects pepper development, nutritional quality, and capsaicinoid content. However, the effect of soil type on fruit development and capsaicinoid metabolism has been little understood. This work aimed to compare the effect of soils with contrasting characteristics, black soil (BS) and red soil (RS), on the expression of genes related to the… More >

Ahmed Hassan Abdou^1,*, Omar Abdullah Alkhateeb², Hossam Eldin Hamed Mansour³, Hesham S. Ghazzawy⁴, Muayad Saud Albadrani⁵, Nadi Awad Al-harbi⁶, Wasimah B. Al-Shammari⁷, Khaled Abdelaal^8,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.92, No.12, pp. 3305-3321, 2023, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2023.044780 - 28 December 2023

Abstract Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) play an important role in improving agricultural production under several abiotic stress factors. PGPB can be used to increase crop growth and development through hormonal balance and increase nutrient uptake. The positive effect of PGPB may be due to its pivotal role in morphophysiological and biochemical characteristics like leaf number, leaf area, and stem length. Furthermore, relative water content, chlorophyll content, carotenoids, antioxidant enzymes, and plant hormones were improved with PGPB treatment. Crop yield and yield components were also increased with PGPB treatment in numerous crops. The anatomical structure of plant… More >

Xiandang Shen^1,2,3, Runxi He^2,3, Xin Li³, Zhuogong Shi^2,3,*, Jinfang Meng^2,3,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.92, No.12, pp. 3251-3266, 2023, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2023.042735 - 28 December 2023

Abstract In this study, newly sprouted shoots of Zanthoxylum armatum (Z. armatum), which were collected after the harvesting period, were used as the primary experimental specimens. A randomized block design and paraffin sectioning method were used to investigate the flower bud differentiation process and the quantity and vitality of buds. Furthermore, the study examined the response of flowering and fruiting to cultivation methods for shoot growth, including layering and plant growth regulator application. The results showed that (a) layering and application of plant growth regulators for Z. armatum accelerated the process of flower bud differentiation by approximately 20 days… More >

Shugufta Parveen¹, Fayaz A. Mohiddin^2,*, M. Ashraf Bhat³, Zahoor Ahmed Baba⁴, Fehim Jeelani⁵, M. Anwar Bhat⁶, Sajad Un Nabi⁷, Burhan Hamid², Saba Bandey⁸, Farhanaz Rasool⁹, Zakir Amin¹, Ibrahim Al-Ashkar^10,*, Muhammad Adnan¹¹, Ayman El Sabagh¹²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.92, No.11, pp. 3021-3041, 2023, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2023.030921 - 24 October 2023

Abstract One hundred twenty-five endophytic microorganisms were isolated from the roots, stems, and leaves of four prominent rice cultivars growing in temperate regions. Their potential to combat rice blast disease and promote plant growth was investigated. The dual culture tests highlighted the strong antagonistic activity of five fungal (ranging from 89%–70%) and five bacterial (72%–61%) endophytes. Subsequent examination focused on volatile compounds produced by selected isolates to counter the blast pathogen. Among these, the highest chitinase (13.76 µg mL⁻¹) and siderophore (56.64%), was exhibited by Aspergillus flavus, and the highest HCN production was shown by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (36.15 µM… More >