Caffeate 3-O-methyltransferase (COMT) catalyzes the methylation of the 3-hydroxyl group of caffeate to produce ferulate, an important precursor of the lignin biosynthesis. As a crucial drawback for biofuel production, lignin limits the enzymatic hydrolysis of polysaccharides to result in fermentable sugars. We hypothesized that a controlled inhibition of maize COMT can be an efficient approach to reduce

Norharmane is an indole alkaloid that can be found in several terrestrial plants, as well as in some dinoflagellates and cyanobacteria. The aim of this study was to focus on the way this metabolite impacts the plant metabolism of the model species Arabidopsis thaliana. This metabolite caused increase of secondary and adventitious roots, as well as torsion, toxic effects, and a decrease in root length

In strawberry, sucrose is the major form of carbohydrate translocated from the leaves to the fruits and plays an important role in fruit ripening. As a conserved energy sensor, sucrose nonfermenting-1 (SNF1)-related kinase 1 (SnRK1) plays an important role in plant carbon metabolism. However, evidence that SnRK1 regulates sucrose accumulation in fruits is lacking. In this study, we transiently expressed

Cymbidium faberi Rolfe (Orchidaceae) is an herbaceous plant native to China, where it has a long history of cultivation owing to its beautiful flower pattern and floral fragrance. Previously, we conducted a transcriptome analysis of the flower and vegetative buds to elucidate the mechanisms of flower development in C. faberi. In the present study, we found nine secondary metabolic pathways through

Lily, a famous cut flower with highly fragrance, has high ornamental and economic values. Monoterpenes are the main components contributing to its fragrance, and terpene synthase (TPS) genes play critical roles in the biosynthesis of monoterpenoids. To understand the function of TPS and to explore the molecular mechanism of floral scent in cultivar Lilium ‘Siberia’, transcriptomes of petal at different

Acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS, E.C. 2.2.1.6) is the target site of several herbicide classes including imidazolinones. Imidazolinone resistance in wheat is conferred by two major genes AhasL-D1 and AhasL-B1. The objective of this work was to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo AHAS activity and plant growth in response to imazamox of nine wheat cultivars. Dose-response curves for two-gene resistant

The S-specific pollen rejection response in Nicotiana depends on the interaction between S-RNase and a suite of SLF proteins. However, the biochemical pathway requires other essential proteins. One of them is the stigmatic protein NaStEP, which belongs to the Kunitz-type protease inhibitor family. Within the pollen tubes, NaStEP is a positive regulator of HT-B stability, likely inhibiting its degradation

Apple fruit is covered by cuticle wax, which plays important roles protecting fruits from adverse environmental conditions. β-Ketoacyl-CoA synthase (KCS) is the key rate-limiting enzyme in plant wax synthesis. In this study, we identified 28 KCS gene family members from apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) by homology analysis. Multi-sequence alignment and phylogenetic analyses revealed that the 28 MdKCS

Soil salinity of fields is often non-uniform. To obtain a better understanding of molecular response to non-uniform salt stress, we conducted transcriptomic analysis on the leaves and roots of alfalfa grown under 0/0, 200/200, and 0/200 mM NaCl treatments. A total of 233,742 unigenes were obtained from the assembled cDNA libraries. There were 98 and 710 unigenes identified as significantly differentially

Phenolic compounds, such as phytoalexin resveratrol, can be induced in grapes in response to biotic and abiotic stresses and have been related in many healthy effects. Stilbene synthases (STSs) are the key enzyme responsible for resveratrol biosynthesis. They have been already isolated and characterized from several plant species, however, VviSTS is a multigene family and little is known about their

Apart from providing the much-needed strength, plant cell walls define the shape, size and function of cells. As such, there is a constant change in the cell wall dynamics. These are facilitated by various enzymes and proteins. Expansins are a typical example of those cell wall proteins that are involved in cell wall modifications underlying many plant developmental and physiological processes. In

The global presence of pharmaceuticals in the environment has been particularly considered a concerning problem with unknown consequences. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most frequently prescribed drugs in the world, and as a result, they are commonly found in different environmental compartments. In the present work, we studied the effects of NSAIDs (diclofenac, ibuprofen

Calcium is an essential element for plants’ survival and ability to deal with environmental stresses. However, it can cause cell death due to cellular disequilibrium. Serpentine plants are sensitive to high concentrations of Ca2+, which induces lethal symptoms, especially under environmental stress. In this study, the direct effects of Ca2+ on cell death were investigated in cell cultures of Alyssum

Lipoic acid (LA) and its reduced form (dihydrolipoic acid, DHLA) have unique antioxidant properties among such molecules. Moreover, after a process termed lipoylation, LA is an essential prosthetic group covalently-attached to several key multi-subunit enzymatic complexes involved in primary metabolism, including E2 subunits of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH). The metabolic pathway of lipoylation has

NAC [No apical meristem (NAM), Arabidopsis transcription activation factor (ATAF), Cup-shaped cotyledon (CUC)] transcription factors (TFs) play an important role in plant growth and response to various environmental stress. Drought stress is the primary factor limiting the growth and fruit quality of grapevines worldwide. However, the biological function of the NAC family members in grapevine is not

Developing the new crop varieties with high productivity under low nitrogen (N) input is an important access to facilitate modern agricultural sustainability. In the present study, 20 broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) varieties were characterized for their morphological and nutrient parameters to different low N levels in seedling. The results showed that 0.25 mM NH4NO3 was the standard concentration

Salt is a major abiotic stress that negatively impacts plant growth and development. Research on the mechanisms of plant salt tolerance and the breeding of salt-tolerant plants is becoming an important research field. Transcription factors are master regulators that control the expression of many target genes, helping to regulate the response of plants to adverse conditions. GRAS are plant-specific

Anthocyanins in cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) is catalysed by a set of biosynthesis genes, however, the potential mechanism of transcriptional regulation remains unclear. In the present study, we traced the dynamic changes of petal colour development from white to violet and finally to blue on the same petal in cornflower. Pigment analysis showed that anthocyanin accumulation dramatically increased

In view of recent findings, it is still a matter of debate whether the composition of the phloem sap of higher plants is specific and based on a plasmodesmal selectivity filter for macromolecular transport, or whether simply related to size, abundance and half-life of the macromolecules within the phloem sap. A range of reports indicates specific function of phloem-mobile signaling molecules such as

Turfgrasses are monocotyledonous plants from the family Poaceae. They are widely used in green spaces, and are considered one of the most economically important horticultural crops in the world. Turfgrass quality is affected by several environmental factors including light, which is involved in the quality decline of transplanted sod. Ultraviolet-B (UV–B) is an important regulator of plant growth and

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens is a non-pathogenic and plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium that enhances plant resistance to drought and diseases. Arabidopsis thaliana is a multipurpose model plant for exploring microorganism-plant interactions and a crucial vegetal tool for molecular research. Non-coding RNAs are RNA molecules involved in the regulation of various biological functions and constitute

Drought has become an increasingly serious ecological problem that limits crop production. However, little is known about the response of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) to drought and shading, especially with respect to photosynthetic electron transport. Here, differential proteomics was used to study the response of ginger to four experimental treatments: control, drought, 50% shading, and the

Cadmium (Cd)1 and zinc (Zn) coexist in the environment but interact differently in plants. Cosmos bipinnatus has been potentially considered as a Cd-accumulator. Thus, this study investigated the detoxification mechanism in C. bipinnatus seedlings under Cd, Zn and Cd + Zn stresses. In the present study, the presence of Zn inhibited Cd uptake and translocation, whereas Cd merely hindered Zn uptake.

Seed germination and early seedling development are two critical phases in plant lifecycle that largely determine crop yield. Phytohormones play an essential role in governing these developmental processes; of these, ethylene (ET; C2H4), the smallest gaseous hormone, plays a major role via crosstalk with other hormones. Typically, the mechanism of hormone (for instance, auxin, cytokinins, ET, and gibberellins)

Paspalum urvillei and Setaria parviflora are two plant species naturally adapted to iron-rich environments such as around iron mines wastes. The aim of our work was to characterize how these two species cope with these extreme conditions by comparing them with related model species, Oryza sativa and Setaria viridis, that appeared to be much less tolerant to Fe excess. Both Paspalum urvillei and Setaria

Endogenous signals in response to exogenous factors determine the senescence of flowers. Interactions among phytohormones especially abscisic acid (ABA) and ethylene are the major determinant of the senescence. In the present study, complex expression patterns of the genes related to ABA and ethylene as endogenous signals were investigated on cut carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) that were exposed

The genus Prunus contains many fruits used in the human diet, which exhibit a variety of different flavors. However, publications on the diversity of carotenoid profiles and sequestering structures in Prunus fruits are limited. In this study, carotenoids and their associated sequestering structures in mature fruits of four Prunus species, including peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batschi], nectarine [Prunus

To better understand cytokinin signaling in melon (Cucumis melo L.), one of the most important fruit crops in the Cucurbitaceae family, we identified and characterized melon two-component system (TCS) genes in this study. The results showed that there were 51 genes encoding putative TCS proteins in melon, and these TCS genes were classified into 3 subgroups, with 17 HK(L)s (histidine kinase/histidine-kinase

The basic region/leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors play key roles in regulating diverse biological processes in plants. However, their participation in shoot branching has been rarely reported. Here, we isolated a CmbZIP1 transcription factor gene, a member of the bZIP family, from chrysanthemum. Subcellular localization analysis indicated that CmbZIP1 is a nuclear protein. Tissue-specific

Both nitric oxide (NO) and cold storage have positive effects on the maintenance of fruit quality during storage. However, the roles of NO and storage temperatures in regulating the responses of sphingolipids metabolism to chilling injury of peach fruit during storage remain unknown. Peaches were treated by immersion in distilled water and 15 μmol L−1 NO solution, then stored at 25 °C and 0 °C, respectively

Drought is one of the major constraints for soybean production in Brazil. In this study we investigated the physiological traits of two soybean parental genotypes under progressive soil drying and rewetting. The plants were evaluated under full irrigation (control) conditions and under water deficit imposed by suspending irrigation until the plants reached predawn leaf water potentials (Ψam) of −1

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill [Solanum lycopersicum L.].) is an important food material and cash crop, as well as a model plant for genetic evolution and molecular biology research. However, as a cold-sensitive crop originating from the tropics, the growth and development of tomato is often affected by low temperature stress. Therefore, how processing tomatoes resist this type of stress has

Light and temperature are two primary environmental factors for plant growth and development. The response of plants to multiple stresses of high light intensity and heat stress are complex. The priming effects of high light and heat stress on improving heat tolerance of plants need to be further illuminated. This study aimed to explain the effect of high light intensity, high temperature and their

Brassinazole-resistant (BZR) transcription factors have important roles in the brassinosteroid (BR) signalling pathway and are widely involved in plant growth and abiotic stress processes. However, there are few studies on the functions and regulatory mechanisms of BZR TFs in birch. In this study, 5 BZR genes were identified from birch. The qRT-PCR results showed that the expression levels of most

Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) is one of the most damaging plant viruses from an economic and research point of view. Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (EGCG), a flavonoid type secondary metabolite can selectively improve plant defense against pathogens; however, the effect of EGCG on plant defense against TMV and the underlying mechanism(s) remain elusive. In this study, exogenous EGCG application increased

Iron (Fe)-deficiency causes chlorosis and growth inhibition in sunflower, an important commercial crop. This study examines whether and how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) ameliorate Fe-deficiency symptoms in Fe-deficiency sensitive sunflower plants. AMF supplementation showed a significant improvement in plant biomass, chlorophyll score, Fv/Fm (quantum efficiency of photosystem II), and Pi_ABS

Oxidations in grape berries are gaining major interest as they affect grape characteristics and quality. Considering berries, Reactive Oxygen Species are involved in the responses to both ripening process and stresses, including photooxidative sunburn. Redox metabolism involves a multitude of chemical and enzymatic reactions. In this study, four white grape cultivars were examined for natural ripening

Global warming has reached an alarming situation, which led to a dangerous climatic condition. The irregular rainfalls and land degradation are the significant consequences of these climatic changes causing a decrease in crop productivity. The effect of drought and its tolerance mechanism, a comparative roots proteomic analysis of chickpea seedlings grown under hydroponic conditions for three weeks

Physio-biochemical adaptations of wheat landraces may have great importance in their growth, survival and yield under drought stress. Here, we evaluated the effects of drought stress on some defense systems of wheat cultivar “Sistan” (drought-sensitive) and landrace “Bolani” (drought-tolerant). Under drought stress, Bolani plants showed lower increases in hydrogen peroxide content compared to Sistan

Soldanella alpina differing in leaf epidermal UV-A absorbance (DEA375), as measured with the Dualex, was investigated as a model alpine plant for the flavonoid (Flav) composition and concentration and for anatomical and pigment characteristics. In sun leaves, twenty-three flavones were characterised by their mass formula, their maximum absorption, their glycosylation, their methylation and dehydroxylation

Plants and crops are widely suffered by shade stress in the natural communities or in the agricultural fields. The three main phytohormones auxin, gibberellins (GAs) and brassinosteroids (BRs) were found essential in shade avoidance in Arabidopsis. However, their relationship have been seldom reported in plant shade avoidance control. Here, we report our investigation of the crosstalk of auxin, GAs

Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea L. var. gongylodes L.) was biofortified with selenium (Se), as selenite and selenate, and iodine (I), as iodide and iodate, and their combinations through foliar spraying, to study absorption of these elements by the plants, separately and in combination. The effects on selected physiological and morphological traits and optical characteristics were monitored. Treatments

Nitric oxide (NO) and potassium (K+) exert a profound influence on the acclimation of plants to multiple stress conditions. A recent report indicated that exogenous addition of an NO donor causes, under conditions of adequate K+ supply, a detrimental effect on K+ status. It remains unknown whether an exogenous NO source could negatively affect the potential capture of this element when plants are faced

Drought is a major threat in agriculture and horticulture, including commercial strawberry production. Here, we compare hormonal regulation of a first-line drought stress response, namely stomatal closure, in two Fragaria x ananassa cultivars, known to differ in their drought stress phenotype. We show that the observed difference in xylem abscisic acid accumulation cannot explain the different stomatal

The response of Damask rose to drought and the underlying mechanisms involved are not known. In this study, vegetative, propagated rose plants were grown under control and water-deficit conditions in a greenhouse at Taïf University, south-west of Saudi Arabia. Control plants were irrigated to field capacity (FC), while water-stressed plants were irrigated to either 50% FC (mild stress) or 25% FC (severe

Although WRKY transcription factors (TFs) are known to be involved in the regulation of plant root development, the mechanisms by which these TFs regulate plant tolerance to ammonium (NH4+) toxicity remain unclear. To identify the molecular mechanisms underlying NH4+-induced repression of primary root growth and NH4+ sensitivity in Arabidopsis, wild-type (Col-0) and mutant (wrky23) plants were treated

Withering is an important biological process accompanied by dehydration and cell wall metabolism in postharvest plant organs during curing/processing and storage. However, dynamics involved in cell wall metabolism and resultant water loss during withering in postharvest tobacco leaves is not well-documented. Here, tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomic analysis in postharvest tobacco leaves

Root water uptake is strongly influenced by the morphology and anatomical structure of roots, which are regulated by nitrogen forms and environmental stimuli. To further illustrate the roles of different nitrogen forms on root water uptake under osmotic stress, a split-root system was supplied with different nitrogen forms and osmotic stress simulated by adding 10% (w/v) polyethylene glycol (PEG, 6000)

Drought is a major factor limiting crop productivity and quality. Sucrose non-fermenting-1 (SNF1)-related protein kinase 2s (SnRK2s) play critical roles in plant abiotic stress responses, especially in drought stress. However, knowledge regarding the functional roles of SnRK2s in drought stress and their underlying mechanisms is relatively limited in tea plant. In this study, CsSnRK2.5, a PEG 6000-

Hybrid necrosis and hybrid chlorosis are sometimes observed in interspecific hybrids between the tetraploid wheat cultivar Langdon and diploid wild wheat Aegilops tauschii. Many WRKY transcription factor genes are dramatically upregulated in necrosis and chlorosis wheat hybrids. Here, we isolated cDNA clones for four wheat WRKY transcription factor genes, TaWRKY49, TaWRKY92, TaWRKY112, and TaWRKY142

Protein acetylation (KAC) is a significant post-translational modification, which plays an essential role in the regulation of growth and development. Unfortunately, related studies are inadequately available in angiosperms, and to date, there is no report providing insight on the role of protein acetylation in cotton fiber development. Therefore, we first compared the lysine-acetylation proteome (acetylome)