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        <title>Frontiers in Plant Science | New and Recent Articles</title>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science</link>
        <description>RSS Feed for Frontiers in Plant Science | New and Recent Articles</description>
        <language>en-us</language>
        <generator>Frontiers Feed Generator,version:1</generator>
        <pubDate>2026-05-14T21:21:03.936+00:00</pubDate>
        <ttl>60</ttl>
        <item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1801301</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1801301</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Tea tree recognition based on multi-source satellite data across Southeast China]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Nan Cong</author><author>Rongrong Zhao</author><author>Yuxin Qiu</author><author>Chuang Zhao</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The tea plant (Camellia Sinensis), as the world’s most popular non-alcoholic beverage, underscores the importance of precise and timely spatial data for industry insights and sustainability. Yet, the accurate delineation of spectrally similar vegetation types, notably tea trees, continues to elude conventional methods. This study innovatively integrates Sentinel-1 radar data with Sentinel-2 imagery to effectively overcome optical observation limitations imposed by Yunnan’s cloudy climate, particularly during non-growing seasons (e.g., February). By systematically analyzing annual phenological dynamics, we quantitatively identified April as the optimal temporal window for discriminating tea trees from spectrally similar vegetation, such as rubber and natural forests. Furthermore, optimizing the model through a feature selection process to eliminate redundant features significantly enhanced the overall classification accuracy from 87.1% to 89.1%. This study could assistant monitoring the crop dynamics and timely respond to cultivation activity.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1790032</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1790032</link>
        <title><![CDATA[From plant hormones to human health: progress and challenges in strigolactone biosynthetic structural diversity and antitumor effects]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Xiaoxu Li</author><author>Suxing Tuo</author><author>Guoxin Chen</author><author>Changbin Niu</author><author>Yiqiong Liang</author><author>Daozhu Dong</author><author>Wei Liu</author><author>Kejun Zhong</author><author>Zhiyuan Li</author><author>Jianfeng Zhang</author><author>Wei Luo</author><author>Bo Kong</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Strigolactones are plant growth regulatory compounds produced by plants through the breakdown of carotenoid pigments. The continued identification of key strigolactone biosynthetic enzymes and pathway branches, along with increasing evidence that synthetic strigolactone compounds have diverse biological activities, has led to the concept that strigolactones not only serve a dual role as plant hormones but also represent a class of potential medicinal scaffolds. Recent research summarizes the key components of strigolactone biosynthesis, highlights the conserved backbone and the key intermediate MeCLA generated through methylation and oxidation steps. Furthermore, the role of cytochrome P450 enzymes at the final stages of cyclization and oxidative modifications is highlighted to provide a molecular basis for the ability to generate canonical and noncanonical strigolactones simultaneously. This biosynthetic diversity is pharmacologically relevant since enzyme generated differences in scaffold architecture and oxidation pattern expand the strigolactone chemical space available for structure guided analog design and usage. In the field of biomedicine, strigolactone analogues have anticancer potential, which are able to inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells and modulate the process of angiogenesis, and most importantly, represent a new class of late-stage autophagy and mitophagy inhibitors that prevent the fusion of autophagosomes with lysosomes and enhance the efficacy of antitumor therapy. Strigolactones possess additional therapeutic activity, strigolactones have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Furthermore, there are several key barriers to strigolactone based drug development that have been identified, including chemical instability, inadequate in vivo testing for safety and metabolism profiles, and the absence of defined mammalian targets. Current evidence also indicates that the potential is more strongly supported for synthetic strigolactone inspired analogs than for canonical natural strigolactones. The future of strigolactones as potential drug candidates lies in their optimization through structure activity relationships and systems pharmacology validation for their target identification.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1778669</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1778669</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Evaluation of biochar-based phosphate fertilizer for improving soil properties, chili yield, and microbial function]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Xiaoqing Zhu</author><author>Fei Liu</author><author>Yingyuan Cen</author><author>Panfeng Tu</author><author>Lansheng Deng</author><author>Junjie Liang</author><author>Lifang Deng</author><author>Yong Chen</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionExcessive use of chemical fertilizers leads to soil degradation during chili cultivation, particularly in acidic red soils with low phosphorus (P) availability, which limits yield and quality.MethodsIn this study, a tobacco stem–derived biochar-based phosphate fertilizer (P-BCL800) was developed to address this problem. Pot experiments with six treatments (blank control; P-BCL800 alone; traditional phosphate fertilizer; and 33%, 66%, and 100% P-BCL800 replacement) were conducted.Results and discussionThe results indicated that all three P-BCL800 substitution treatments (33%, 66%, and 100% P-BCL800 replacement) significantly improved chili yield, photosynthetic efficiency, soil pH, and soil P availability compared to the traditional phosphate fertilizer treatment. Among these, the 66% substitution treatment achieved the highest yield (382 g) and exhibited the best overall performance. It also enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity and increased microbial diversity, including the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. Unlike previous studies that primarily focused on yield and soil nutrients, our findings indicate that P-BCL800 regulates microbial community structure and function in acidic red soil–chili systems. These results highlight key drivers (pH, organic matter, and available P) of sustainable cultivation.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1776503</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1776503</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Limited long-term changes in tree physiological function despite shifts in forest stand structure following moth (Lymantria dispar L.) outbreak and drought]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Diane Radwanski</author><author>Tomer Duman</author><author>Kenneth L. Clark</author><author>Dirk W. Vanderklein</author><author>Karina V. R. Schäfer</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionIn this study, we investigated forest stand dynamics and leaf gas exchange of co-occurring oak and pine species in an oak-pine forest in the Atlantic Coastal Plain in the Northeastern United States following defoliation by a moth (Lymantria dispar L.), and severe drought.MethodsWe used forest stand inventory and leaf gas exchange data spanning from 2005-2015 to analyze the effects of drought and defoliation.Results and discussionThe defoliation and subsequent drought caused great mortality in a selected group of species and moderate mortality in others. Investigating these dynamics on a decadal time scale (2005 – 2015) revealed a shift in species composition and recruitment in this forest. There was no enhancement of resource use efficiency of the remaining forest species. Long-term water use efficiency in leaves as determined through carbon isotopic analysis declined over the study period. Photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency of pines and oaks, however, remained relatively unchanged for all species over the period investigated, signaling a preservation of photosynthetic resource use. Also, quantum yield, as a proxy for light use efficiency, decreased over the study period for all species investigated signaling higher light availability. However, the leaves are progressively constructed with less carbon, thus still signaling leaf trait changes. Therefore, with a possible change in species dynamics and given the dynamics in resource use efficiency this forest may not be progressing toward recovery to pre-defoliation status, but rather toward a different, homeostatic, condition.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1778295</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1778295</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Research progress on the biosynthesis and regulatory mechanisms of resveratrol in plants]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>XueFeng Bao</author><author>Xuan Dong</author><author>Lin Yang</author><author>ShengChun Li</author><author>DingWei YU</author><author>XueBo Wang</author><author>XinHong Li</author><author>HuaFang Dong</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Resveratrol, a type of important polyphenolic secondary metabolite, plays a crucial role in plant resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. In recent years, numerous studies have emerged on its biosynthetic pathways and induction effects. However, existing reviews are mostly focused on early research and fail to cover the latest advancements. This review, based on a retrospective analysis of the effects of various inducers (including biotic factors, plant hormones and growth regulators, specific light qualities, and metal ions) on resveratrol biosynthesis, with a literature search timeframe restricted to 2010–2025 and using databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus with keywords ‘resveratrol biosynthesis’, ‘resveratrol regulatory mechanism’, ‘STS gene regulation’, and in combination with the latest research, focuses on analyzing: (1) the regulatory patterns of STS promoters by transcription factors acting alone or in interaction; (2) the regulatory roles of calcium signaling, hormone signal transduction (such as jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, and abscisic acid), and MAPK cascade reactions in resveratrol biosynthesis. This review aims to provide a new perspective for a deeper understanding of the biosynthesis and complex regulatory mechanisms of resveratrol.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1764043</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1764043</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Dual-platform screening of stripe rust resistance in advanced wheat breeding lines: integration of vegetation indices and SSR marker-based genotyping]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Kriti Singh</author><author>Tuhina Dey</author><author>Shruthi K.</author><author>Ashish Sheera</author><author>Subhash C. Kashyap</author><author>Ravinder Singh</author><author>M. K. Pandey</author><author>Simran Singh</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Climate change-induced biotic and abiotic stresses pose a significant threat to global efforts aimed at nutritional enhancement in wheat. Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), remains a major constraint to wheat production. Wheat improvement programs must now target multiple traits, particularly combining nutritional quality with durable stripe rust resistance. Integrating conventional breeding approaches with spectral vegetation indices and SSR-based genotyping offers an efficient, eco-friendly strategy for accelerating genetic gains. The present study, aimed to characterize high-micronutrient advanced wheat breeding lines developed during (2019-23) along with their parents for stripe rust resistance using both physiological and molecular tools during 2023-24. A total of 21 genotypes—comprising 13 advanced breeding lines and 8 parents—were evaluated in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications under both artificial epiphytotic and controlled conditions. Vegetation indices such as NDVI (based on NIR and IR reflectance), chlorophyll content (measured via absorbance at 650 nm and 940 nm), and canopy temperature (assessed via infrared radiation emission) were used as non-invasive indicators of plant health and stress response. Molecular analysis employed 12 SSR markers linked to known Yr resistance genes, among which four were found to be polymorphic but out of these four only Barc181 (Yr24) and Xgwm102 (Yr16) confirmed resistance in lines JWBL-3, JWBL-12 and JWBL-13, which also demonstrated high yield potential. Genotypes JWBL-1, JWBL-3, JWBL-4, JWBL-7, JWBL-13, and parental lines HP-25 and HP-45 exhibited lower values for Coefficient of Infection (CI) and Area Under Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC), indicating better resistance levels. These results underscore the potential of combining marker-assisted selection (MAS) with vegetation index-based physiological screening to efficiently identify and advance stripe rust-resistant, nutritionally enhanced wheat genotypes.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1792750</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1792750</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Simplicillium lamellicola (Smith) Zare & Gams, a novel hyperparasitic fungus infecting Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Mudi Sun</author><author>Xinyao Ma</author><author>Lin Yang</author><author>Yuhan Li</author><author>Huimin Tian</author><author>Zhensheng Kang</author><author>Jie Zhao</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Wheat stripe (or yellow) rust, caused by the Basidiomycota fungus Puccinia striiformis West. f. sp. tritici Eriks. & Henn. (Pst), is one of the most destructive wheat diseases globally. Frequent outbreaks of this disease often lead to substantial crop yield losses. Currently, the primary strategies for controlling wheat stripe rust rely on the cultivation of resistant cultivars and the application of fungicides. However, fungicide use is associated with a range of adverse effects, such as environmental pollution and disruption of ecological balance. As a result, the development of promising biocontrol agents or microbial pesticides based on parasitic microbes has emerged as a more sustainable and effective approach to managing this disease. In the present study, we used a combination of morphological observation and multigenes based-molecular phylogenetic analyses to identified a hyperparasite, isolated from Pst urediospores collected from infected wheat leaves, as Simplicillium lamellicola (Smith) Zare & Gams. Further experimental results demonstrated that inoculating Pst-infected wheat leaves with S. lamellicola inhibited the production of Pst urediospores and ultimately caused the death of rust spores. These findings suggest that S. lamellicola holds great potential for development as a bio-control agent against wheat stripe rust, offering an eco-friendly alternative to conventional fungicides.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1775113</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1775113</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Biocontrol of Kosakonia radicincitans and Paraburkholderia phytofirmans against Botrytis and Fusarium in tomato: role of potential inducing resistance and pathogen-specific responses]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Mohamed Matared</author><author>Imke Hutter</author><author>Katja Burow</author><author>Philipp Franken</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionPlant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) are increasingly recognized for their capacity to enhance plant growth and, in some cases, to induce systemic resistance against phytopathogens, though the extent and specificity of this protection remain strain- and pathosystem-dependent. This study investigates the biocontrol potential of two endophytic PGPB strains, Kosakonia radicincitans and Paraburkholderia phytofirmans, against the necrotrophic pathogen Botrytis cinerea and the soilborne hemibiotrophic pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici in tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.).MethodsWe tested both strains for their antagonistic potential in dual culture and two-compartment Petri plates todetermine their direct antifungal capacity under controlled conditions. After this, tomato plants were pre-inoculated with each PGPB and challenged with B. cinerea or F. oxysporum in greenhouse experiments. We analyzed tomato gene expression connected to salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), and ethylene (ET) signaling pathways after B. cinerea infection to determine potentially activated defense responses.ResultsThe results showed that K. radicincitans and P. phytofirmans significantly inhibited the mycelial growth of F. oxysporum in dual culture assays, while only K. radicincitans inhibited B. cinerea mycelial growth via diffusible compounds; volatile metabolites had negligible antifungal effects for both strains. In the Botrytis greenhouse experiment, P. phytofirmans significantly reduced gray mold disease symptoms in detached-leaf assays and enhanced root biomass, whereas K. radicincitans conferred neither effect. Gene expression analyses showed no consistent induction of JA- or ET-pathway marker genes across treatments. Notably, SlPR1a, an SA-pathway marker, was more strongly induced in P. phytofirmans-colonized plants upon B. cinerea challenge compared to K. radicincitans-inoculated and non-inoculated controls, a pattern consistent with, though not sufficient to confirm, a priming-associated mechanism. Formal demonstration of priming would require time-course analyses of defense gene kinetics, which were not conducted in this study. In the Fusarium greenhouse experiment, neither strain significantly suppressed vascular wilt disease or restricted F. oxysporum colonization in tomato stems, despite demonstrating in vitro antagonism, underscoring the well-documented disconnect between in vitro and in planta biocontrol performance.DiscussionThese findings indicate that in vitro antagonism poorly predicts in planta biocontrol performance. Paraburkholderia phytofirmans shows promise for indirectly controlling tomato gray mold, likely associated induction of systemic defense responses.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1814115</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1814115</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Opaque-2 induced zein reduction and lysine increase suggest a route to quality protein sweet corn]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Jonathan Niyorukundo</author><author>Abou Yobi</author><author>Caleb Wehrbein</author><author>Ruthie Angelovici</author><author>David R. Holding</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The zeins make up over 60 percent of the kernel total proteins in maize subspecies including sweet corn. However, zeins are devoid of the essential amino acid lysine rendering the protein content of sweet corn incomplete. The opaque-2 mutation reduces the accumulation of the zeins in maize endosperm, subsequently increasing lysine-containing non-zeins. In this study, the objective was to introduce the opaque-2 mutation from Quality Protein Maize (QPM) varieties (o2 donor) into sugary-1 and shrunken-2 sweet corn varieties to produce high-lysine sweet corn, namely quality protein sweet corn (QPS). To do this, two QPM varieties were crossed to sweet corn parents. The F1 plants were self-pollinated to produce F2 seeds which visibly segregated for opaque-2 and sweet corn phenotypes. Sweet corn kernels were advanced through the inbred phase by selecting for the opaque-2 mutation at kernel maturity, sweetness and flavor, and texture phenotypes at the prime eating stage (20 days after pollination; DAP). Six QPS lines were selected for o2 uniformity, satisfactory sweetness and flavor, and tender texture. These QPS lines were then used to produce 12 F1 QPS hybrids. The analysis of lysine and other amino acid profiles in six QPS inbred and 12 QPS hybrid lines revealed that all inbreds and hybrids had increased protein-bound lysine, and some lines had higher free lysine compared to the corresponding wild-type sweet corn parents. Furthermore, biochemical assays revealed that QPS sugar and starch contents were similar to parental sweet corn. This study shows proof of concept for the ability of the opaque-2 mutation to improve sweet corn protein quality without incurring penalties on its quality traits. This can ultimately contribute to enhanced nutrition and profitability of this important vegetable crop.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1807327</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1807327</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Metabolic response of Gardenia jasminoides cell suspensions to chitosan elicitation: bioactivity and phytochemical enrichment]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Durga Anusha Sampath Kumar</author><author>Deepa Sankar Parasurama</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionGardenia jasminoides Ellis is one of the most extensively investigated therapeutic plants and is a major source of bioactive phytoconstituents. Elicitor-mediated suspension cultures provide a transformative approach for bioactive metabolite enhancement to meet the escalating demand in the pharmaceutical sector. This study is the first to investigate the impacts of chitosan (CH)-elicited G. jasminoides suspension cultures on their bifunctional and metabolic profiling.MethodsThe suspension cultures were obtained by employing optimal phytohormone regulators [0.5 mg/ L kinetin (KT) and 1 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)] in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium, along with the application of CH elicitor. Antioxidant and antibacterial activities were evaluated, and metabolic profiling was performed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS).ResultsCH elicitation improved antioxidant capacity (28.93 ± 0.15%) with a fourfold increase, and marginal antibacterial activity was obtained at 40 mg/L CH. GC-MS assessment demonstrated crucial bioactive compounds [benzenamine, 2-(cyclopropylmethyl)-4,5- dimethoxy, (E)-3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-prop-2-enamide, methyl 8-methyldecanoate, N1-(4-hydroxybutyl)-N3-methylguanidine acetate, and trans-13- octadecenoic acid, methyl ester] of medicinal potential solely identified in the elicited extract.DiscussionThis study emphasized the critical influence of CH-induced elicitation strategy on G. jasminoides in vitro cultures, elucidated specifically for the metabolic activation of elicitation-specific bioconstituents for forthcoming drug formulations.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1752821</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1752821</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Integrated analysis of endophytic fungal communities and metabolites reveals root rot-induced disruptions in Monochasma savatieri]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Yuyin Zhang</author><author>Hua Dou</author><author>Chenlu Fan</author><author>Xuyu Chen</author><author>Jianhe Wei</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionMonochasma savatieri is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb valued for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Due to the depletion of wild resources, artificial cultivation of this species has expanded rapidly in recent years. However, the emergence of root rot has become a significant threat, potentially altering the plant’s endophytic microbiota and chemical composition. Understanding these microbial and metabolic changes is critical for improving disease management and maintaining medicinal quality.MethodsHigh-throughput sequencing (HTS) was employed to characterize the endophytic fungal communities in both healthy and root rot-infected M. savatieri plants. In parallel, non-targeted metabolomics based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was conducted to profile and compare the aqueous extracts of the two groups, aiming to assess metabolic alterations induced by root rot.ResultsHTS revealed that root rot significantly reduced the diversity and evenness of endophytic fungal communities, accompanied by distinct shifts in specific taxa, including Saitozyma and Paraphoma. Diseased plants exhibited higher fungal abundance but lower community stability. Metabolomic analysis demonstrated a clear separation between healthy and diseased samples, with 554 metabolites upregulated and 669 downregulated in diseased plants. These differentially accumulated metabolites were primarily involved in amino acid, lipid, and secondary metabolism, Pathway enrichment analysis further highlighting disruptions in tryptophan metabolism, ether lipid, and glycerophospholipid metabolism.ConclusionRoot rot substantially alters both the endophytic microbial structure and the metabolic landscape of M. savatieri, potentially compromising disease resistance and affecting the medicinal quality of the herb. The enrichment of specific amino acids and flavonoid metabolites in healthy plants suggests their possible involvement in plant defense mechanisms. Collectively, these findings provide a valuable foundation for future research on biological control strategies, metabolic regulation, and the establishment of quality standards for this medicinal species.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1850006</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1850006</link>
        <title><![CDATA[The complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic analysis of Festuca pratensis]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Wenlong Gong</author><author>Chunyu Tian</author><author>Yanting Yang</author><author>Lemeng Liu</author><author>Yumei Feng</author><author>Fengdan Wang</author><author>Zhiyong Li</author><author>Zinian Wu</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionFestuca pratensis is a perennial herb of Festuca in Poaceae. It has become an important forage and ecological restoration grass species due to its strong stress resistance and high nutritional value. Limited by the complexity of the forage grasses genome, the number of mitochondrial genome assembly in this genus is limited, which seriously restricts the research process of early mitochondrial genome evolution and key gene mining.MethodsWe assembled and annotated the first high-quality mitochondrial genome of Festuca pratensis using third-generation and second-generation sequencing technology. The genome structure, sequence characteristics, evolutionary selection pressure and genetic relationship of Festuca pratensis mitochondrial genome were analyzed.Results and discussionThe mitochondrial genome has a multichromosomal structure with a total length of 449,613 bp. A total of 51 genes were detected, including 14 core genes, 15 tRNA genes, 19 variable genes and 3 rRNA genes. Three types of repetitive sequences were detected, including 121 simple repetitive sequences, 12 tandem repetitive sequences and 112 scattered repetitive sequences. A total of 9,810 codons encoding 33 PCGs were detected, and the probability of codon preference and avoidance was 50% and 47%, respectively. A total of 454 effective RNA editing sites were detected, distributed on 30 PCGs with all base change types C-U. 84 inter-genome transfer fragments were identified, and four complete transfer DNA fragments were rps12, trnS-UGA, trnM-CAU and trnN-GUU, respectively. The rps3 gene showed positive selection (Ka/Ks > 1) in 36 (90%) of 40 species, indicating that it may be a functional gene adapted to rapid evolution. The Pi values of 33 genes ranged from 0 to 0.16277. Phylogenetic analysis divided 43 species into 6 categories. Combined with the results of collinearity, it was found that Festuca pratensis had the closest genetic relationship with Lolium perenne. In this study, the first high-quality mitochondrial genome of Festuca pratensis was assembled, which provided key high-quality reference data for subsequent organelle genome evolution, stress-resistant functional gene mining and germplasm resource identification of related species.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1809773</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1809773</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Mechanisms underlying patchy distribution pattern and spread of the invasive species Solanum rostratum (Solanaceae) in the Agro-Pastoral region of Northern China]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Qian-Mei Wu</author><author>Rui Wang</author><author>Li-Fen Hao</author><author>Cheng-Dong Xu</author><author>Hui Wang</author><author>Ke-Jian Lin</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionUnderstanding the mechanisms driving patchy distribution patterns is crucial for managing invasive species. This study investigates the multi-vector dispersal dynamics underlying the patchy spread of Solanum rostratum in the Agro-Pastoral Region of Northern China.MethodsWe integrated spatial analysis of historical and field‑collected occurrence data, mechanistic simulations, and field experiments to quantify dispersal by wind, vehicles, and animals. A Gamma Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) was used to attribute variation in empirically derived minimum arrival speeds to different vectors and their interactions.ResultsWe identified 103 spatially clustered patches with strong directional alignment to roads but not rivers. Wind‑mediated dispersal was limited (<0.12 km/year), whereas vehicle‑ and animal‑mediated epizoochory showed higher potential (0.08–0.58 and 0.44–0.56 km/year, respectively). Statistical models attributed 64.3% of the variance in spread speed to these three vectors, with vehicle dispersal being the most influential single factor. Synergistic interactions among vectors significantly enhanced local, within‑patch spread. However, observed long‑distance, inter‑patch dispersal speeds (up to 1,746 km/year) vastly exceeded the capacity of any natural vector or their synergy, implicating human‑mediated transport of contaminated materials as the primary driver of regional colonization.DiscussionThese findings demonstrate that patchy invasions can arise from distinct mechanisms operating at different scales: local synergistic dispersal among natural and anthropogenic vectors, and long‑distance jump dispersal via human activities. Effective management therefore requires dual strategies targeting local vector synergy and regional pathways of human‑assisted spread.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1828668</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1828668</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles analysis reveals a potential gene−metabolite network associated with anthocyanin−mediated color variation in maize kernels]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Junhao Ran</author><author>Ruirui Hu</author><author>Xuanyu Liu</author><author>Ziyi Fu</author><author>Zhiqiang He</author><author>Guangtong Xing</author><author>Yi He</author><author>Dongpu Ji</author><author>Chaofeng Li</author><author>Xiupeng Mei</author><author>Lian Zhou</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Anthocyanins are important flavonoid pigments responsible for coloration in maize kernels and are associated with nutritional and health-promoting properties. This study integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses to investigate the biochemical and genetic basis of kernel pigmentation in three maize inbred lines with distinct kernel colors: yellow (Yellow−K), red (Red−K), and purple (Purple−K). Phenotypic and biochemical analyses revealed that anthocyanins accumulated exclusively in the pericarp of Red−K and in both pericarp and aleurone layers of Purple−K, with total anthocyanin content highest in Purple−K. Metabolomic profiling identified 1,845 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) common across all comparisons, with flavonoids and anthocyanins significantly more abundant in colored kernels. Genotype-specific divergence in anthocyanin biosynthetic flux and decorative modifications showed that Purple−K specialized in malonylation and sambubiosylation, with massive accumulation of Pg3DiMalG; Red−K specialized in rutinosylation and 5−O−glycosylation. Transcriptome analysis identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 22 structural genes, including PALs, FHT1, PR1, A1, A2, BZ1, BZ2, were coordinately upregulated in Purple−K and Red−K, showing expression patterns highly correlated with metabolite levels. Integrated omics analysis further identified 101 transcriptional regulators, including 4 MYB and 10 bHLH transcription factors (e.g., R1, PL1) with expression correlated with anthocyanin accumulation. Downregulation of JAZ repressors in pigmented kernels, along with upregulation of R1 and other bHLH factors, were observed. Together, these findings suggest that the differential accumulation of specific anthocyanin metabolites, coordinated upregulation of structural genes, and involvement of key transcription factors collectively associated with kernel color variation. This study provides insights into the potential molecular mechanisms underlying anthocyanin-based pigmentation in maize and provides a useful resource for breeding programs aiming to improve nutritional quality and visual traits in maize germplasm.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1793924</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1793924</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Genetic enhancement of root, tuber and cereal crops via pangenomics, multi-omics integration and AI-driven prediction]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Simbo Diakite</author><author>Prince E. Norman</author><author>Lansana Kamara</author><author>Necla Pehlivan</author><author>Meisan Zargar</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Breeding root, tuber, and cereal crops faces the critical challenge of unlocking extensive genetic variation and addressing complex gene-environment interplays to boost yield, quality, and resilience. Recent technological advances in pangenomics, multi-omics data integration, and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven predictive modeling offer unparalleled opportunities to transform crop improvement. Pangenomics transcends the limitations of single reference genomes by encompassing the full genomic diversity within species, capturing critical structural variations and rare alleles that underpin stress tolerance and productivity traits. When layered with multi-omics datasets spanning genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, a holistic insight is gained into molecular networks governing plant adaptation and development. State-of-the-art AI methodologies harness these complex datasets, enabling precise genomic selection, accurate trait prediction, and discovery of novel candidate genes, thereby optimizing breeding pipelines. This review presents current knowledge on how this synergistic approach heralds a new era of climate-smart agriculture, empowering resilient, high-performing cultivars essential for global food security amid escalating environmental uncertainties with a particular focus on root, tuber and cereal crop genetic enhancement through pangenomics and multi-omics integration and AI-driven predictive modeling. Together, these innovations enable tailored breeding strategies that align genetic potential with environmental specificity and farmer needs, while highlighting the remaining hurdles-data standards, model interpretability, computational cost, and equitable access-that must be addressed to realize widespread impact. Demonstrated in staple crops such as maize, rice, wheat, potato, and cassava, this integrated framework accelerates genetic gain by reducing breeding cycles and facilitating allele introgression from wild relatives. The integrative approach also provides a better understanding of resolving persistent hurdles around data standardization, interpretability, computational demands, and equitable technology access. We recommend, (i) training on diverse, field-collected datasets; (ii) integrating envirotyping covariates into genomic selection to quantify G×E interactions; (iii) adopting standardized metadata schemas; and (iv) fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1829367</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1829367</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Dissolved oxygen limitation and Pythium root rot in strawberry NFT systems: mechanisms, research gaps, and prospects for substrate-free production]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Shalyne Scott</author><author>Camilo Villouta</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) production faces growing pressure to reduce reliance on peat and coconut coir substrates, driven by documented life cycle liabilities including carbon losses from peat extraction and embodied transport emissions from coir. Nutrient film technique (NFT), a substrate-free recirculating hydroponic system, eliminates growing media entirely and reduces material inputs across successive crop cycles, making it an environmentally attractive candidate for controlled environment strawberry production. Despite early commercial adoption in Europe during the 1970s, NFT was largely abandoned for strawberry production by the 1980s following systematic failures whose physiological basis remains incompletely characterized. This review synthesizes evidence from hydroponic systems engineering, plant physiology, and oomycete pathology to examine the two structural constraints underlying NFT’s historical rejection: dissolved oxygen depletion dynamics within recirculating nutrient solution, and exceptional susceptibility to Pythium spp. root rot. We demonstrate that these constraints are coupled rather than independent, sharing a common pathway through root-zone oxygen status. Progressive root mat development over a six-month fruiting cycle degrades passive film aeration and creates hypoxic conditions that impair root membrane integrity, alter rhizosphere exudate profiles, and facilitate Pythium zoospore encystment and necrotrophic transition. This interaction is compounded by strawberry’s exceptional oxygen sensitivity and absence of adaptive aerenchyma formation, rendering thresholds established for tomato and cucumber inapplicable to this species. We identify two prerequisite research gaps that must be resolved before NFT can be rationally reconsidered for commercial strawberry production: characterization of root mat effects on channel hydraulic performance, and establishment of a strawberry-specific dissolved oxygen threshold under NFT-relevant conditions.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1836813</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1836813</link>
        <title><![CDATA[High-throughput phenotypic analysis of plant and curd growth dynamics during the whole growth period of cauliflower based on instance segmentation]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Saichuan Cheng</author><author>Sidi Wu</author><author>Qingqing Shao</author><author>Mindong Chen</author><author>Jianting Liu</author><author>Boyin Qiu</author><author>Haisheng Zhu</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Efficient phenotyping monitoring of cauliflower is crucial for its breeding and production. However, traditional manual measurement methods are time-consuming and labor-intensive, and existing deep learning (DL) methods mostly focus on the seedling stage, lacking systematic research covering the entire growth period. In this study, RGB images of cauliflower from seedling to harvest were collected. Through systematic screening and evaluation of instance segmentation models, accurate segmentation of plants and curds was achieved, and plant canopy width, leaf area, and curd traits were automatically extracted to track their dynamic changes. Evaluation results showed that YOLO12s-seg was the optimal model. It can achieved a segmentation mask mAP50 of 99.4% for plants and curds in sparsely planted images and showed an advantage in identifying partially occluded early curds beneath inner leaves. Traits such as plant canopy width and curd diameter automatically extracted from segmentation results were highly consistent with manual measurements (R2 > 0.90). Furthermore, the Richards model and Sine model were used to accurately fit the growth dynamics of leaf area and curd area, respectively. Based on growth kinetics, curds were classified into three types: mature and compact type, peak-burst type, and steady-increase type. Cluster analysis of 47 germplasms based on high-throughput phenotyping data revealed four groups and their growth characteristics: comprehensively coordinated type, mid-maturity compact type, large high-yield type, and curd-dominant type. Integrating the above functions, a platform for cauliflower growth monitoring and phenotypic analysis was developed. It provided full-process support from automatic image processing to growth dynamic analysis. This work provides an effective automated solution for high-throughput phenotyping analysis and growth dynamic monitoring of cauliflower, and offers a referable analytical framework for crop growth pattern research and intelligent breeding decision-making.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1818796</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1818796</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Fungal foe: exploring cotton’s physiological responses to Verticillium wilt]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Xian Yu</author><author>Warwick N. Stiller</author><author>Warren C. Conaty</author><author>Lucy M. Egan</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is a globally important cash crop that supports the textile industry and provides valuable by-products such as edible oil and livestock feed. However, cotton productivity and fiber quality are increasingly constrained by Verticillium wilt (VW), a vascular disease caused by the soil-borne fungus Verticillium dahliae Kleb. This pathogen can persist in soil for long periods and cause substantial yield and economic losses in cotton worldwide. This review brings together current knowledge of cotton’s physiological responses to VW infection, focusing on how the disease disrupts plant water relations, photosynthesis, nutrient balance, and vascular function. Environmental factors including soil type, temperature, moisture, pH, inoculum density, and nutrient availability, are examined to assess their influence on disease development and severity. The review also explores advances in management strategies such as crop rotation, irrigation, biocontrol, precision agriculture, molecular diagnostics, and breeding for host plant resistance. It emphasizes how insights into cotton’s physiological responses can inform disease management, supporting earlier stress detection and more precise intervention strategies. Furthermore, incorporating physiological monitoring into breeding programs, alongside genomic selection and high-throughput phenotyping, may enhance functional resistance and yield stability under VW pressure. Understanding the complex interactions among the pathogen, host physiology, and environmental conditions is essential for designing proactive, sustainable strategies to mitigate VW impacts and ensure the long-term productivity of the cotton industry.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1727579</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1727579</link>
        <title><![CDATA[A multi-model genotype × environment interaction analysis discerning phenotypic plasticity of the strong culm trait in rice]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Akshay Mamidi</author><author>Krishna Lavuri</author><author>Jyothi Badri</author><author>S. V. Sai Prasad</author><author>Raman Menakshi Sundaram</author>
        <description><![CDATA[A strong culm is a key trait for reducing lodging in rice, arising from the intricate coaction of morphological and environmental factors. As both grain yield (GY) and culm strength (CS) are complex traits, modeling genotype × environment interaction (G × E) and quantifying genotypic stability are essential for recommending genotypes in multi-environment trials (METs). We evaluated a selected set of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from indica cv. Swarna and tropical japonica acc. IRGC 39111, along with checks across transplanted and direct-seeded environments, employing a multi-model approach to dissect mean performance and stability (MPS) for CS and GY traits. Phenotypic plasticity and stability were assessed using parametric and multivariate approaches, emphasizing AMMI, GGE, BLUPs, and the multi-trait stability index (MTSI). We further computed the weighted average of absolute scores (WAASB) to summarize G × E effects and WAASBY to integrate MPS. Selection was guided by genotype–ideotype distance via MTSI, and a genotype selection index (GSI) was used to synthesize yield and stability rankings. Breaking resistance (BR) was used as the primary proxy for CS. Significant G × E effects were detected for all traits. WAASB and WAASBY effectively captured stability and MPS, enabling the discrimination of broadly adapted and high-performing RILs. Multi-trait selection via MTSI improved selection efficiency relative to single-trait criteria and was consistent with AMMI-, GGE-, and BLUP-based inferences. The GSI identified RIL 315 (G16) as superior for GY and RIL 421 (G3) for BR. Consistently across AMMI, GGE, and MTSI, RIL 417 (G1), RIL 419 (G2), RIL 314 (G15), and tropical japonica acc. IRGC 10658 exhibited stable and high GY coupled with a strong culm across environments. A multi-model, multi-trait strategy robustly identified strong-culm, high-yielding RILs across variable environments. The convergence of WAASB/WAASBY, MTSI, and GSI supports the confident advancement of candidate lines and broadens the phenotyping framework and germplasm base for lodging resistance in future breeding programs.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1815995</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1815995</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Mechanisms behind idr1–1 mutation conferring osmotic-stress tolerance to rice seedlings as revealed by stage-based transcriptomes]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Tiange Hu</author><author>Yi Zhou</author><author>Yan Liu</author><author>Yifei Sun</author><author>Rongdi Yang</author><author>Fei Chen</author><author>Xianwen Zhang</author><author>Waseem Hussain</author><author>Mohamed Abdel-Gawad Emam</author><author>Zhaoyu Zhai</author><author>Shaoxia Zhou</author><author>Honggui La</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Osmotic stress, which is mainly caused by water deficiency, is one of the major environmental factors limiting rice productivity. Osmotic stress influences many aspects of plant growth and development, especially flowering. The α subunit of the heterotrimeric G protein complex, IDR1 (also known as RGA1), has been reported to be involved in multiple abiotic-stress responses, while its role in coping with osmotic stress remains unclear. Here, we performed stress stage-based transcriptomic analyses of rice leaves from idr1–1 mutant and wild-type IAPAR9 seedlings that underwent early or middle stage of osmotic stress induced by 20% PEG solution, in order to ascertain the differences in transcriptomes between idr1–1 mutant and IAPAR9 seedlings following early- or middle-stage osmotic stress. Our results showed that 2881 upregulated and 2191 downregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in idr1–1 mutant seedlings relative to wild-type IAPAR9 seedlings under early-stage osmotic stress. Similarly, 2824 upregulated and 2153 downregulated DEGs were also detected in idr1–1 mutant seedlings relative to IAPAR9 seedlings under middle-stage osmotic stress. Overlap analyses revealed that 44 and 325 DEGs were found in idr1–1 mutant seedlings under early and middle stages of osmotic stress, respectively, which were co-regulated by both idr1–1 mutation and osmotic stress. Gene Ontology (GO) analyses of these DEGs demonstrated that in idr1–1 mutant seedlings, GO terms were mainly associated with quick responses to stress (including responses to phytohormones, scavenging of ROS and stomatal movement) following early-stage osmotic stress, while those were associated with operation of photosynthetic systems (including assembly and repair of photosystem complexes, chlorophyll catabolism, and thylakoid) following middle-stage osmotic stress. Interaction assays indicated that IDR1 was able to interact with 5 proteins, OsFLU1, OsHHO3, OsRLIN1, NADPH HC and OsS40-14, with their gene expression being also regulated by idr1–1 mutation. Altogether, our results suggest that idr1–1 mutation contributes to enhanced tolerance to osmotic stress by altering responsiveness to different physiological processes, like responses to water deficit, salt and heat stresses, phytohormone signaling, ROS scavenging, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and maintenance and repair of photosynthetic systems, which may play essential roles in enabling idr1–1 mutant seedlings to survive persistent osmotic stress.]]></description>
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