The variations in gene expression of GAPDH in Ocimum basilicum cultivars under drought-induced stress conditions

Beyond glycolysis: multifunctional roles of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases in plants

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), a highly conserved enzyme in the glycolytic pathway, also acts as a moonlighting protein, performing various functions beyond its classical role in glycolysis, such as regulating gene expression, participating in cell signal transduction, and responding to environmental stress. By interacting with various signaling molecules, GAPDH plays a regulatory role in hormone signaling pathways, influencing plant growth and development. Functional plasticity in GAPDH is modulated mainly through redox-driven post-translational modifications, which alter the enzyme's catalytic activity and influence its subcellular distribution. This review explores the diverse functionalities of GAPDHs in plants, highlighting their significance in plant metabolic processes and stress adaptation.

Mechanisms of calcium-induced protection against lead toxicity in Ulmus umbraculifera L.: a physiological and biochemical perspective

Lead (Pb) is a toxic stressor in the soil, which affects plant morphological and physiological events differently. A pot study was initiated to characterize the effect of calcium (Ca) application (20 and 40 mM) on Ulmus umbraculifera L. under Pb treatment (200 and 400 µM). The results revealed that higher levels of Pb significantly reduced plant height (48.3%), total dry weight (44.7%), leaf area index (45%), chlorophyll a (53.7%), chlorophyll b (51.4%), carotenoids (37.8%), and Fv/Fm ratio (20.4%) compared to untreated plants. However, the Ca application improved the aforementioned physiological features. Additionally, Pb toxicity disrupted oxidative status in the plants by increasing malondialdehyde (MDA), methylglyoxal, superoxide anion, and H₂O₂, which also induced the activities of SOD, GR, APX, and CAT. In contrast, Ca decreased MDA, methylglyoxal, superoxide anion, and H₂O₂ by enhancing SOD, CAT, GR, and APX activities compared to the control. Notably, ascorbate (AsA), dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG) levels, and AsA-DHA and GSH-GSSG ratios changed significantly with Pb and Pb + Ca treatments. According to our findings, monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), glyoxalase (Gly) I, and Gly II activities increased with Pb treatment; however, Ca application further promoted their activities. Furthermore, Pb treatment significantly suppressed the uptake of mineral nutrients and increased Pb accumulation, whereas Ca application improved the uptake of these elements and lowered Pb content. These observations confirmed that the positive effects of Ca application on photosynthetic efficiency, nutrient absorption, and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants enhanced plant tolerance under Pb toxicity.

A comprehensive review of integrated management strategies for damping-off disease in chili

Damping-off disease in chili (Capsicum annum L.) cultivation is a significant global issue, severely affecting seeds, seedlings, and young plants, regardless of the location of cultivation, whether in greenhouses or open fields. Despite chili being a widely popular vegetable used in various cuisines globally, farmers face challenges in meeting the growing demand due to the extensive damage caused by this disease, ranging from 20 to 85%. The shelf life and quality of mature pods are also severely affected. Damping-off disease is mainly caused by soil-borne fungus from the Pythium species, with additional contributions from Phytophthora, Fusarium, and Rhizoctonia species. These pathogens' adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and resistance to synthetic fungicides make controlling damping-off on a commercial scale challenging. However, integrated disease management has shown promising results as a remedial approach. In this review, we discuss the current state of chili diseases, the nature of the pathogens causing damping-off, the epidemiology of the disease, and various control mechanisms. In this review, we broadly discuss the current state of chili diseases, the nature of the pathogens causing damping-off, the epidemiology of the disease, and various control mechanisms. Furthermore, we highlight the importance and efficacy of integrated disease management techniques, along with future prospects in unexplored areas, such as host-pathogen interaction and sustainable disease control measures. The information in this review aims to assist chili growers in understanding the epidemiology and management of damping-off in chili cultivation.

Genome-Wide Characterization of Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Genes and Their Expression Profile under Drought Stress in Quercus rubra

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) is crucial in plant metabolism and responses to various abiotic stresses. In the glycolysis pathway, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P) is oxidized to 1,3-bisphosphate glycerate (1,3-BPG) through the catalytic action of GAPDH. However, the GAPDH gene family in Quercus rubra has been minimally researched. In this study, we identified 13 GAPDH-encoding genes in Q. rubra through a bioinformatics analysis of genomic data. Evolutionary studies suggest that these QrGAPDH genes are closely related to those in Glycine max and Triticum aestivum. We conducted a comprehensive whole-genome study, which included predictions of subcellular localization, gene structure analysis, protein motif identification, chromosomal placement, and analysis of cis-acting regions. We also examined the expression of GAPDH proteins and genes in various tissues of Q. rubra and under drought stress. The results indicated diverse expression patterns across different tissues and differential expression under drought conditions. Notably, the expression of Qurub.02G290300.1, Qurub.10G209800.1, and Qrub.M241600.1 significantly increased in the leaf, stem, and root tissues under drought stress. This study provides a systematic analysis of QrGAPDH genes, suggesting their pivotal roles in the drought stress response of trees.

The ameliorating effects of cinnamic acid-based nanocomposite against salt stress in peppermint

Nanoparticles (NPs) are important in regulating plant tolerance to salt stress. Peppermint is one of the most widely used aromatic plants, with a high sensitivity to salt stress. The present study investigated physiological and biochemical factors to understand better the behavior of cinnamic acid (CA) and cinnamic acid nanocomposite in salinity control in peppermint plants. The first factor was salt stress with different salt concentrations, including 0, 50, 100, and 150 mg/L, the second factor was 50 μM CA, and the third factor was 50 μM CA nanocomposite based on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-CA NC). Results showed that stress markers increased with increasing salinity levels. On the contrary, plants treated with salinity showed a decrease in physiological and photosynthetic parameters, while the application of CA and CMC CA NC increased these critical parameters. Under salinity, compared to the control, malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide contents decreased by 11.3% and 70.4%, respectively. Furthermore, CA and CMC-CA NC enhanced peppermint tolerance to salinity by increasing compatible solute content such as proline, free amino acids, protein content, and soluble carbohydrates, increasing antioxidant enzymes, and decreasing stress markers in plant tissues. Compared to the control, chlorophyll fluorescence and proline content increased by 1.1% and 172.1%, respectively. Salinity stress negatively affected all physiological and biochemical parameters, but CA and CMC-CA NC treatments improved them. We concluded that the nanocomposite, a biostimulant, significantly enhances mint tolerance under salinity conditions.

Interaction of melatonin and H2S mitigates NaCl toxicity summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.) through Modulation of biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and physio-biochemical attributes

As versatile signaling molecules, melatonin (ML) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) are well-known for their roles in response to abiotic stresses. However, their cross-talk to the regulation of biochemical defence responses and secondary metabolite synthesis during salinity has received less attention. Here, the role of ML-H2S interplay in inducing defensive responses and the biosynthesis of essential oil compounds in summer savoury plants under NaCl treatment was investigated. NaCl treatment, by increasing Na accumulation, disrupting nitrogen metabolism, and inducing oxidative stress, lowered photosynthetic pigments and savoury growth. NaCl treatment also resulted in a decrease in γ-terpinene (10.3%), α-terpinene (21.9%), and p-cymene (15.3%), while an increase in carvacrol (9.1%) was observed over the control. ML and ML + H2S increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the level of total phenols and flavonoids, resulting in decreased levels of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion and alleviation of oxidative damage under salinity. ML and ML + H2S increased K uptake and restored K/Na homeostasis, thus protecting the photosynthetic apparatus against NaCl-induced toxicity. ML and ML + H2S treatments also improved nitrate/ammonium homeostasis and stimulated nitrogen metabolism, leading to improved summer savoury adaptation to NaCl stress. ML and ML + H2S changed the composition of essential oils, leading to an increase in the monoterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated monoterpenes in plants stressed with NaCl. However, the addition of an H2S scavenger, hypotaurine, inhibited the protective effects of the ML and ML + H2S treatments under NaCl stress, which could confirm the function of H2S as a signaling molecule in the downstream defence pathway induced by ML.

Foliar applied potassium nanoparticles (K-NPs) and potassium sulfate on growth, physiological, and phytochemical parameters in Melissa officinalis L. under salt stress

Salinity stress significantly constrains agricultural productivity and vegetation decline worldwide, particularly in Iran. Potassium, the second most prevalent nutrient in plants, is well known to be essential for cell metabolism. Here, the effects of potassium fertilizer in two biogenic nanoparticles (K-NPs) and conventional (potassium sulfate) forms (0.1 mg/ml) on Melissa officinalis L. under salinity (0, 50, 100, and 150 mM) were investigated. The results demonstrated that stress markers (electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde, and hydrogen peroxide) increased as salinity levels increased. Plant growth parameters (shoot and root length, fresh and dry weight of shoot and root) and physiological and photosynthetic parameters (stomatal conductance, relative water content, chlorophyll fluorescence, and photosynthetic pigments) were reduced in salinized plants. The highest reduction in fresh weight root, dry weight root, fresh weight shoot, dry weight shoot, root length, and shoot length was recorded under 150 mM NaCl by 30.2%, 51.6%, 30.5%, 24.7%, 26.4%, and 21%, respectively. In contrast, bulk potassium sulfate and K-NPs increased these parameters. Furthermore, K-NPs improved M. officinalis tolerance to NaCl toxicity by enhancing the content of osmolytes such as proline, soluble sugars, and antioxidant enzymes, improving antioxidant contents such as phenols, tannins, anthocyanins, and flavonoids; increasing total protein; and lowering stress markers in plant tissues. Given the results of the physiological, biochemical, and phytochemical parameters obtained from this study, it can be stated that K-NPs, in comparison to the conventional form of potassium fertilizer, exhibit a greater potential to mitigate damages caused by salinity stress in M. officinalis plants.

Effect of naringenin based nanocomposites and pure naringenin on cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) under drought stress

Key message

Naringenin based nanocomposite alleviate the harmful effects of drought stress in Cuminum cyminum and enhance carefully the plant tolerance against drought condition with different mechanisms.

Abstract

In the recent years, drought stress is considered as one of the most important stressful conditions for agricultural plants. Reducing the effects of drought on plants is a crucial need nowadays, which calls for innovative methods. Naringenin is one of the most known plant flavonoids with antioxidant properties. In the present work, a naringenin based nanocomposite containing carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) as carrier (CMC-Nar) with an average size of 65 nm were synthesized by coacervation method. In order to investigate the effect of CMC nanocomposites containing naringenin (CMC-Nar) and pure naringenin in modulating the effects of drought stress, cultivation of Cuminum cyminum (varieties: Isfahan and Kashan) was carried out in greenhouse conditions. Drought stress was imposed as 30% of the field capacity. Various physiological, biochemical, and phytochemical assays were performed after treating the plants in drought conditions (30%). The results indicated that treatment of nanocomposites (CMC-Nar) and pure naringenin at drought conditions increased growth and photosynthetic parameters such as germination, shoot and root fresh weight, shoot dry weight, and chlorophyll content of the Cumin. Stress markers such as malondialdehyde, H2O2, and electrolyte leakage decreased under the treatment of narinjenin and especially nanocomposites (CMC-Nar) under drought conditions. Moreover, under same condition and treatments, some biochemical parameters including soluble sugar and total protein increased but the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the level of free amino acids has gone down. Compatible Solutes (Proline and glycine betaine) also increased. There was an increase in phytochemical parameters such as total phenols, flavonoids, anthocyanin, and tannins under naringenin and nanocomposites (CMC-Nar) treatment in drought conditions. In general, nanocomposites and pure naringenin reduced the harmful effects of drought stress, and the ameliorating impacts of nanocomposites (CMC-Nar) are more than pure naringenin. According to the results: In most cases, the impact of drought stress was modulated to a greater extent by (CMC-Nar) nanocomposites in the Isfahan variety compared to the Kashan variety. This research tries to propose a new method to reduce the effects of drought stress on Cuminum cyminum.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-024-01460-7.