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Frontiers in Plant Science 2023In recent years, numerous genes that encode proteins with specific domains that participate in different biological processes or have different molecular functions have... (Review)
Review
In recent years, numerous genes that encode proteins with specific domains that participate in different biological processes or have different molecular functions have been identified. A class of genes with typical domains whose function has rarely been identified and another type of genes with no typical domains have attracted increasing attentions. As many of these so-called as unknown/uncharacterized (U/U) genes are involved in important processes, such as plant growth and plant stress resistance, there is much interest in deciphering their molecular roles. Here, we summarize our current understanding of these genes, including their structures, classifications, and roles in plant growth and stress resistance, summarize progress in the methods used to decipher the roles of these genes, and provide new research perspectives. Unveiling the molecular functions of unknown/uncharacterized genes may suggest strategies to fine-tune important physiological processes in plants, which will enrich the functional network system of plants and provide more possibilities for adaptive improvement of plants.
PubMed: 38078098
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1276559 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2023It is well-established that plants are sessile and photoautotrophic organisms that rely on light throughout their entire life cycle. Light quality (spectral composition)... (Review)
Review
It is well-established that plants are sessile and photoautotrophic organisms that rely on light throughout their entire life cycle. Light quality (spectral composition) is especially important as it provides energy for photosynthesis and influences signaling pathways that regulate plant development in the complex process of photomorphogenesis. During previous years, significant progress has been made in light quality's physiological and biochemical effects on crops. However, understanding how light quality modulates plant growth and development remains a complex challenge. In this review, we provide an overview of the role of light quality in regulating the early development of plants, encompassing processes such as seed germination, seedling de-etiolation, and seedling establishment. These insights can be harnessed to improve production planning and crop quality by producing high-quality seedlings in plant factories and improving the theoretical framework for modern agriculture.
PubMed: 37514360
DOI: 10.3390/plants12142746 -
Environment International Aug 2023The plant microbiota can affect plant health and fitness by promoting methylmercury (MeHg) production in paddy soil. Although most well-known mercury (Hg) methylators...
The plant microbiota can affect plant health and fitness by promoting methylmercury (MeHg) production in paddy soil. Although most well-known mercury (Hg) methylators are observed in the soil, it remains unclear how rice rhizosphere assemblages alter MeHg production. Here, we used network analyses of microbial diversity to identify bulk soil (BS), rhizosphere (RS) and root bacterial networks during rice development at Hg gradients. Hg gradients greatly impacted the niche-sharing of taxa significantly relating to MeHg/THg, while plant development had little effect. In RS networks, Hg gradients increased the proportion of MeHg-related nodes in total nodes from 37.88% to 45.76%, but plant development enhanced from 48.59% to 50.41%. The module hub and connector in RS networks included taxa positively (Nitrososphaeracea, Vicinamibacteraceae and Oxalobacteraceae) and negatively (Gracilibacteraceae) correlating with MeHg/THg at the blooming stage. In BS networks, Deinococcaceae and Paludibacteraceae were positively related to MeHg/THg, and constituted the connector at the reviving stage and the module hub at the blooming stage. Soil with an Hg concentration of 30 mg kg increased the complexity and connectivity of root microbial networks, although microbial community structure in roots was less affected by Hg gradients and plant development. As most frequent connector in root microbial networks, Desulfovibrionaceae did not significantly correlate with MeHg/THg, but was likely to play an important role in the response to Hg stress.
Topics: Methylmercury Compounds; Oryza; Soil; Environmental Monitoring; Soil Pollutants; Mercury; Bacteria
PubMed: 37399771
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108066 -
Plant Signaling & Behavior Dec 2024Nitric oxide (NO) and cytokinins (CKs) are known for their crucial contributions to plant development, growth, senescence, and stress response. Despite the importance of... (Review)
Review
Nitric oxide (NO) and cytokinins (CKs) are known for their crucial contributions to plant development, growth, senescence, and stress response. Despite the importance of both signals in stress responses, their interaction remains largely unexplored. The interplay between NO and CKs emerges as particularly significant not only regarding plant growth and development but also in addressing plant stress response, particularly in the context of extreme weather events leading to yield loss. In this review, we summarize NO and CKs metabolism and signaling. Additionally, we emphasize the crosstalk between NO and CKs, underscoring its potential impact on stress response, with a focus on hypoxia tolerance. Finally, we address the most urgent questions that demand answers and offer recommendations for future research endeavors.
Topics: Cytokinins; Nitric Oxide; Plant Development; Plants; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 38521996
DOI: 10.1080/15592324.2024.2329841 -
PeerJ 2023Endophytes are core of the plant-associated microbiome, and seed endophytes are closely related to the plant growth and development. Seed germination is an important...
Endophytes are core of the plant-associated microbiome, and seed endophytes are closely related to the plant growth and development. Seed germination is an important part of pecan's life activities, but the composition and changes of microbes during different germination processes have not yet been revealed in pecan seeds. In order to deeply explore the characteristics of endophytes during the germination process of pecan, high-throughput sequencing was performed on seeds at four different germination stages. Findings of present study was found that the diversity and composition of microorganisms were different in different germination stages, and the microbial richness and diversity were highest in the seed endocarp break stage. It was speculated that the change of endophytes in pecan seeds was related to the germination stage. By evaluating the relationship between microbial communities, the core microbiota , and (bacterial) and and (fungal) core microbiota were identified in germinating pecan seeds. Finally, biomarkers in different germination processes of pecan seeds were identified by LEfSe analysis, among which , and, and and were most abundant. Thus, this study will help to explore the interaction mechanism between pecan seeds and endophytes in different germination processes, and provide materials for the research and development of pecan seed endophytes.
Topics: Germination; Carya; Seeds; Bacteria; Microbiota; Proteobacteria; Endophytes
PubMed: 38107585
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16619 -
Plant Signaling & Behavior Dec 2023Silicon (Si) is abundant in the lithosphere, and previous studies have confirmed that silicon plays an important role in plant growth. Higher plants absorb soluble...
Silicon (Si) is abundant in the lithosphere, and previous studies have confirmed that silicon plays an important role in plant growth. Higher plants absorb soluble silicon from soil through roots which is deposited in plant tissues mainly in the form of phytoliths. Based on previous studies, the research progress in silicon and phytoliths in the structural protection, enhancement on photosynthesis and transpiration of plants and plant growth and stress resistance was reviewed. Meanwhile, gaps in phytolith research, including phytolith morphology and function, impact of diverse environmental factors coupling with phytoliths, phytolith characteristics at different stages of plant development and phytoliths in regional vegetation are identified. The paper intends to promote the wider application of phytolith research findings and provides reference for further research on phytoliths.
Topics: Embryophyta; Plants; Silicon; Soil; Plant Development; Plant Roots
PubMed: 37031433
DOI: 10.1080/15592324.2023.2198848 -
International Journal of Molecular... Dec 2023Bud dormancy and release are essential phenomena that greatly assist in adapting to adverse growing conditions and promoting the holistic growth and development of... (Review)
Review
Bud dormancy and release are essential phenomena that greatly assist in adapting to adverse growing conditions and promoting the holistic growth and development of perennial plants. The dormancy and release process of buds in temperate perennial trees involves complex interactions between physiological and biochemical processes influenced by various environmental factors, representing a meticulously orchestrated life cycle. In this review, we summarize the role of phytohormones and their crosstalk in the establishment and release of bud dormancy. External environmental factors, such as light and temperature, play a crucial role in regulating bud germination. We also highlight the mechanisms of how light and temperature are involved in the regulation of bud dormancy by modulating phytohormones. Moreover, the role of nutrient factors, including sugar, in regulating bud dormancy is also discussed. This review provides a foundation for enhancing our understanding of plant growth and development patterns, fostering agricultural production, and exploring plant adaptive responses to adversity.
Topics: Plant Growth Regulators; Plants; Germination; Temperature; Trees; Plant Dormancy; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
PubMed: 38139028
DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417200 -
Genes Jan 2024Alfin-like (AL) proteins are an important class of transcription factor (TF) widely distributed in eukaryotes and play vital roles in many aspects of plant growth and... (Review)
Review
Alfin-like (AL) proteins are an important class of transcription factor (TF) widely distributed in eukaryotes and play vital roles in many aspects of plant growth and development. AL proteins contain an Alfin-like domain and a specific PHD-finger structure domain at the N-terminus and C-terminus, respectively. The PHD domain can bind to a specific (C/A) CAC element in the promoter region and affect plant growth and development by regulating the expression of functional genes. This review describes a variety of AL transcription factors that have been isolated and characterized in , , , , , , , , and other species. These studies have focused mainly on plant growth and development, different abiotic stress responses, different hormonal stress responses, and stress responses after exposure to pathogenic bacteria. However, studies on the molecular functional mechanisms of Alfin-like transcription factors and the interactions between different signaling pathways are rare. In this review, we performed phylogenetic analysis, cluster analysis, and motif analysis based on sequences. We summarize the structural characteristics of AL transcription factors in different plant species and the diverse functions of AL transcription factors in plant development and stress regulation responses. The aim of this study was to provide a reference for further application of the functions and mechanisms of action of the AL protein family in plants.
Topics: Transcription Factors; Plant Proteins; Phylogeny; Arabidopsis; Plant Development
PubMed: 38397174
DOI: 10.3390/genes15020184 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Oct 2023Only recently there has been a strong focus on the impacts of microplastics on terrestrial crop plants. This study aims to examine and compare the effects of...
Only recently there has been a strong focus on the impacts of microplastics on terrestrial crop plants. This study aims to examine and compare the effects of microplastics on two monocotyledonous (barley, Hordeum vulgare and wheat, Triticum aestivum), and two dicotyledonous (carrot, Daucus carota and lettuce, Lactuca sativa) plant species through two complimentary experiments. First, we investigated the effects of low, medium, and high (10, 10, 10 particles per mL) concentrations of 500 nm polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) on seed germination and early development. We found species-dependent effects on the early development, with microplastics only significantly affecting lettuce and carrot. When acutely exposed during germination, PS-MPs significantly delayed the germination of lettuce by 24%, as well as promoted the shoot growth of carrot by 71% and decreased its biomass by 26%. No effect was recorded on monocot species. Secondly, we performed a chronic (21 d) hydroponic experiment on lettuce and wheat. We observed that PS-MPs significantly reduced the shoot growth of lettuce by up to 35% and increased its biomass by up to 64%, while no record was reported on wheat. In addition, stress level indicators and defence mechanisms were significantly up-regulated in both lettuce and wheat seedlings. Overall, this study shows that PS-MPs affect plant development: impacts were recorded on both germination and growth for dicots, and responses identified by biochemical markers of stress were increased in both lettuce and wheat. This highlights species-dependent effects as the four crops were grown under identical conditions to allow direct comparison. For future research, our study emphasizes the need to focus on crop specific effects, while also working towards knowledge of plastic-induced impacts at environmentally relevant conditions.
Topics: Microplastics; Polystyrenes; Plastics; Seedlings; Germination; Lactuca; Triticum
PubMed: 37482341
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122243 -
Plant Communications Jun 2024Four distinct types of sulfated peptides have been identified in Arabidopsis thaliana. These peptides play crucial roles in regulating plant development and stress... (Review)
Review
Four distinct types of sulfated peptides have been identified in Arabidopsis thaliana. These peptides play crucial roles in regulating plant development and stress adaptation. Recent studies have revealed that Xanthomonas and Meloidogyne can secrete plant-like sulfated peptides, exploiting the plant sulfated peptide signaling pathway to suppress plant immunity. Over the past three decades, receptors for these four types of sulfated peptides have been identified, all of which belong to the leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein kinase subfamily. A number of regulatory proteins have been demonstrated to play important roles in their corresponding signal transduction pathways. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the discoveries of sulfated peptides and their receptors, mainly in Arabidopsis thaliana. We also discuss their known biological functions in plant development and stress adaptation. Finally, we put forward a number of questions for reference in future studies.
Topics: Arabidopsis; Peptides; Stress, Physiological; Adaptation, Physiological; Plant Development; Arabidopsis Proteins; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 38600699
DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2024.100918