Zejin Zhang^1,2,#, Zhengnan Yan^3,#, Xiangyu Ding³, Weiming Ren³, Yarong Zhang³, Haoxu Shen³, Jinxiu Song⁴, Na Lu⁵, Ying Liang^1,2, Li Tang^1,2,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.5, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.083745 - 27 May 2026

Abstract Graphene oxide (GO) has shown great potential in agricultural applications, however, its concentration-dependent effects on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) growth, nutrient absorption, and root architecture remain unclear. In the present study, a hydroponic experiment was conducted with different GO concentrations (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg L⁻¹) and setting the non-GO treatment (0.0 mg L⁻¹) as the control for cucumber plants (cv. Qingbaizao). The results showed that low to moderate concentrations (0.5–1.0 mg L⁻¹) significantly promoted cucumber growth, increased shoot and root biomass, enhanced the accumulation of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and optimized root architecture by increasing cellulose and… 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

Ana Luisa Arantes Chaves^1,*, Marco Tulio Mendes Ferreira²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.077185 - 31 March 2026

Abstract Holocentric chromosomes, characterized by kinetochore activity distributed along almost their entire length, have attracted growing interest in cytogenetics and evolutionary biology, particularly because of their adaptive significance. This review provides a historical overview of research on holocentricity, from the earliest microscopic observations to recent advances made possible by modern molecular and cytogenetic techniques. We discuss the main hypotheses concerning the origin and evolution of holocentric chromosomes, emphasizing their multiple independent origins across diverse lineages, as well as the potential selective pressures underlying their maintenance and diversification. In addition, we examine the principal methods used for More >

Cheng Song^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.076582 - 31 March 2026

Abstract Coumarin, a significant secondary metabolite derived from the phenylpropanoid pathway, exhibits a broad spectrum of biological activities and medicinal properties. Structurally, coumarins are categorized into simple and angular types based on variations in the core structure of the parent skeleton, with further classifications as furanocoumarins and pyranocoumarins depending on their carbon atom count. In nature, coumarins are predominantly found in plants within families such as Apiaceae, Asteraceae, and Thymelaeaceae. The structural diversity observed among coumarins in higher plants is largely driven by coevolutionary interactions between herbivorous insects and their host plants. With recent advancements in More >

Ruikang Ma¹, Guangfei Wei², Songzi Li², Tongle Li¹, Fugang Wei³, Yong Wang⁴, Guozhuang Zhang^2,*, Linlin Dong^1,2,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.075657 - 28 February 2026

Abstract Keystone taxa are critical for microbial community homeostasis and ecological niche interactions. However, the functions and genomic traits of endophytic keystone fungi in plant tissues remain unclear. Via network analysis, this study identified keystone fungi Plectosphaerella (Plec) and Cladosporium (Clad) in roots/leaves of medicinal Panax plants (P. ginseng, P. quinquefolius, P. notoginseng). Both correlated strongly positively with ginsenoside Rd content in respective tissues (ρ > 0.6, p < 0.001). Co-cultivation confirmed their ability to convert ginsenoside Rb1 to Rd, linked to β-glucosidase activity. Whole-genome sequencing/assembly/evolutionary analysis of the two strains elucidated genomic features for their keystone roles and saponin biotransformation. More > Graphic Abstract

Dmytro A. Kiriziy¹, Oksana V. Dubrovna¹, Oksana G. Sokolovska-Sergiienko¹, Alina S. Holoboroda¹, Victor V. Rohach^1,2, Oleg O. Stasik^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.075371 - 30 January 2026

Abstract Water scarcity severely constrains the genetic potential of wheat yield worldwide. Proline is among the most versatile stress-related metabolites in plants, and targeting genes involved in proline synthesis and degradation represents a promising strategy for developing drought-tolerant wheat genotypes. This study evaluates the performance of the photosynthetic apparatus in transgenic wheat line with RNAi-mediated suppression of proline dehydrogenase (ProDH) and in the original (wild-type) genotype, under both drought and recovery conditions. Drought was induced at the flowering stage by lowering soil moisture to 30% field capacity for 7 days, compared with 70% field capacity in… More >

Heping Qi, Wenyao Sun^*, Yi Zhao, Xiaoyi Qian, Xingyu Jiang

Energy Engineering, Vol.123, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ee.2025.069603 - 27 December 2025

Abstract Virtual power plant (VPP) integrates a variety of distributed renewable energy and energy storage to participate in electricity market transactions, promote the consumption of renewable energy, and improve economic efficiency. In this paper, aiming at the uncertainty of distributed wind power and photovoltaic output, considering the coupling relationship between power, carbon trading, and green card market, the optimal operation model and bidding scheme of VPP in spot market, carbon trading market, and green card market are established. On this basis, through the Shapley value and independent risk contribution theory in cooperative game theory, the quantitative… More > Graphic Abstract

Mingwei Yue¹, Shen Rao^1,*, Xiaomeng Liu¹, Wei Yang², Yuan Yuan¹, Feng Xu², Shuiyuan Cheng^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.11, pp. 3319-3348, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.073602 - 01 December 2025

Abstract Cadmium (Cd), a highly toxic heavy metal, represents a major global environmental threat due to its widespread dispersion through anthropogenic activities. Environmental Cd contamination poses significant risks to living organisms, including humans, animals, and plants. Certain plant species have evolved Cd hyperaccumulating capabilities to adapt to high-Cd habitats, playing critical roles in phytoremediation strategies. Here we review the biodiversity and biogeography of Cd hyperaccumulators, the underlying mechanisms of Cd uptake and accumulation, and the ecological impacts of hyperaccumulation. The major points are the following: twenty-four Cd hyperaccumulator species have been documented, with shoot Cd concentrations More >

Ksenia Anikeeva^*, Ruslan Safin

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.13, No.11, pp. 2235-2252, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2025.02025-0128 - 24 November 2025

Abstract The use of wood-polymer composites (WPC) based on a polymer matrix and wood filler is a modern, environmentally friendly direction in material science. However, untreated wood filler exhibits poor adhesion to hydrophobic polymers due to its hydrophilic lignocellulose fibers. To address this, ozone treatment is employed to enhance compatibility, reduce water absorption, and regulate biodegradation rates. This study investigates the hypothesis that ozone modification of wood filler improves adhesion to thermoplastic starch, thereby enhancing the physico-mechanical properties and controlled biodegradation of WPCs under compost conditions. A comprehensive analysis was conducted on composites containing untreated and… More >

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 >