Zeitschrift: Plant Biology

Since plants rarely face single stressors in isolation but often encounter multifactorial constraints such as drought x salinity, heat x nutrient limitation or sequential flooding and drought, authors Saini, Nanda, Sachan and Kumar summarize methodological advances that enable the study of root responses beyond reductionist paradigms. The combinations of multiple stressors often produce synergistic, antagonistic or neutral interactions that cannot be inferred from single-stress studies. They analyse growth and performance assays, targeted molecular assays and high-resolution omics technologies and imaging methodologies. The authors also propose integrative frameworks that merge phenotyping, omics and imaging with computational modelling to disentangle the logic of root acclimation under multifactorial conditions. By bridging methodological layers, this review provides a roadmap for advancing plant stress biology toward predictive and translational frameworks, with direct implications for breeding resilient crops in the context of climate change.

Read whole paper in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2026) 

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Nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) is a crucial RNA surveillance mechanism that not only prevents synthesis of harmful truncated proteins but also keeps an eye on the quality and quantity check of mRNA in an efficient manner for effective gene expression. Since virusses and their hosts are in a continuous arms race to establish establish infection, several families of plant RNA viruses were documented to have NMD substrate features as a by-product. By targeting the NMD pathway, it is possible to reduce the stability of pathogenic RNAs, leading to decreased pathogen viability and resistance. The review by the authors Rana, Luha and Kumar explores the mechanisms of NMD, its role in RNA quality control and the potential applications of manipulating NMD to combat pathogen resistance in agricultural and natural ecosystems. It also discusses the viral system circumventing the host NMD for their successful replication in plants. Moreover, an increased number of studies on the evasion mechanism of RNA viruses from host NMD provide insight into the molecular means of the NMD mechanism and may be linked to device defence strategies in agro-economic plants, which is an interesting future research possibility.

Read whole paper in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2026) 

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Recalcitrant seeds are highly sensitive to drying and chilling, which limits their storage using conventional seed banking methods. In the viewpoint article "Exploring novel and innovative storage strategies for recalcitrant seeds", author K.G. Jaganathan suggests a technique that may be a solution to store these seeds. In recalcitrant seeds with epicotyl dormancy, the epicotyl elongates, sometimes forming a swollen tuber-like structure, then pauses growth while functioning independently of the seed, at which point it can be excised, dried and stored at about −20 °C or under cryogenic conditions. Integrating physiological, molecular and ecological knowledge is essential for developing innovative, tissue-specific protocols to improve seed longevity and conservation outcomes, thereby enhancing biodiversity preservation and agricultural resilience under rapidly changing environmental conditions.

Read whole paper in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2026) 

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How benzamides could be used to inhibit plant stress, promote growth, and to manage crop resilience is summarized by authors Koetle, Motaung, and Amoo. In their review they delve into the mechanisms of action, applications, and potential benefits of benzamides, especially focusing on their role as poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors. They also describe, how benzamides modulate stress responses by inhibiting PARP activity, which is crucial for DNA repair and maintaining genomic stability. The review also highlights antimicrobial, herbicidal, and insecticidal properties of benzamides, which enhance plant defence mechanisms against various pests and diseases. In summary, benzamides offer multiple approaches to enhancing crop resilience and stress management, with significant implications for sustainable agriculture.

Read whole paper open access in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025)

In their review authors Annapoorneshwari, Sharma, and Hegde highlight the need for increased research on pteridophyte chitinases to harness their potential as valuable resources for cutting-edge biopesticides and other biotechnological applications, since chitinases catalyse the degradation of chitin, a major component of fungal cell walls and arthropod exoskeletons. They therefore summarize current research results on fern chitinases, particularly in Pteris ryukyuensis and Equisetum arvense, that revealed distinct features, such as LysM domains, which enhance chitin-binding and antifungal activity. They also describe results on thermal stability, specific binding to chitin oligosaccharides, and the behaviour of engineered multimeric LysM domains fused with catalytic domains. These findings highlight the potential of pteridophyte chitinases in developing improved biopesticides against fungal pathogens. The unique
evolutionary position of the over 450 million years old pteridophytes,  including ferns and lycophytes, among non-vascular and seed plants suggests they may harbour additional novel chitinase variants with diverse biochemical properties.

Read whole paper in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025) 

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The versatility of the tasiR-ARF pathway in land plants according to known developmental and environmental responses where the phytohormone auxin plays an essential role, is discussed in this review by authors López-Ruiz, Juárez González, Jiménez-Ortega, Reyes, and Dinkova. The biogenesis of Trans-acting small interfering RNA (tasiRNAs), only found in plants, requires an initial miRNA-mediated cleavage of RNA precursors transcribed from TAS genes. TasiRNAs act in trans to silence gene expression by cleaving mRNAs with sequences partially complementary to their own. The miR390-TAS3-ARF pathway is highly conserved among land plant lineages and exerts its function by silencing a subgroup of Auxin Response Factor (ARF) genes; these tasiRNAs are termed tasiR-ARFs. Many downstream auxin signals are mediated by ARFs. These pathway functions are critical for plant growth, developmental timing, and correct organ patterning, such as leaf morphology and polarity, lateral root architecture, and flowering, as well as coping with stress. The phenotypes caused by mutations affecting tasiR-ARF production vary across plant species. One way to unify the diverse roles of this pathway would be through auxin response integration, possibly by exploring the evolution of ARF3 transcription factors and downstream genes.

Read whole paper open access in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025)

As authors Cheesman and Cernusak lay out in their article "Susceptibility of tropical trees to drought: Context across scales" that the variability in their responses should be understood in the context of interacting legacies across scales. They describe

• continental scales, where evolutionary history and past climatic filters have left distinct imprints on forest composition, and 
• landscape scales, where edaphic and hydrological heterogeneity constrain species distributions and
  functional strategies. 

They finally highlight the importance of integrating historical and environmental filters into predictive models of tropical forest futures. 

Read whole paper in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025) 

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In the article “Bud to bloom”—hormonal coordination in floral initiation” the authors Baral, Vainer, Melzer, Hause, and Panda delve into current knowledge and address lingering questions regarding hormone-mediated flower development. They summarize current knowledge of this complex network of multiple plant hormones that orchestrate plant reproduction and address the significant gaps in our understanding of hormonal regulation and the intricate crosstalk between hormones. This opens a way for innovative strategies in effective fruit set management and crop improvement.

Read whole paper open access in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025) 

The authors Klein, Appenroth and Sree summarize the knowledge on the very productive monocot Duckweed and its possible role as a powerful model to address key questions and problems in plant physiology, with a strong focus on sterol and steroid biology. Especially since Lemnaceae are a promising vegan protein source useful as animal feed and in human nutrition. The authors provide details on biosynthesis and function of phytosterols, sterol conjugates, brassinosteroids, and specialized steroidal metabolites, such as cardenolides. And they also discuss how current knowledge can be translated to solve agricultural and industrial problems.

Read whole paper open access in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025) 

The authors Musso, Ganthaler, and Mayr not only summarize a literature review on a total of 104 publications on the water use strategies of mountain shrubs in which they focus on main hydraulic traits, water uptake, transport and release, as well as hydraulic limitations in summer and winter. In the review "Global variability in hydraulic traits and water use strategies of mountain shrubs and dwarf shrubs" they also measured leaf cuticular conductance in selected Alpine species. The dataset revealed a wide range of specific hydraulic conductivity (k_s; 0.8–25.8 × 10^-4 m²s^-1 MPa^-1), with highest values in tundra shrubs, and of the water potential at 50% conductivity loss (Ψ50; -11.8 to -0.29 MPa), with lowest values in steppe and temperate dry summer species. Deep-rooted shrubs from arid environments had access to more reliable water sources, while others relied on shallow but nutrient-rich soil water. No clear trend was observed along elevation or precipitation gradients, suggesting a wide range of hydraulic strategies to achieve a balanced water status. The authors also address the gaps in the geographic distribution of available studies.

Read whole paper open access in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025)

In the article "Impact of emerging compound droughts on forests: A water supply and demand perspective" the authors C. Werner,  M. Bahn,  T. E. E. Grams,  C. Grossiord,  S. Haberstroh,  G. Lenczner,  D. Tuia,  H. Vallicrosa not only summarize physiological and ecological responses of trees to emerging compound droughts, but also explain the role of acclimation and consequences for ecosystem-level functions. They explore the physiological and ecological mechanisms underlying tree water and carbon regulation during these extreme conditions, focusing on the balance between water demand and supply, the role of acclimation, and its consequences for ecosystem-level functions. By examining the mechanisms at play from the organ to the ecosystem-scale, they provide a comprehensive understanding of how trees and forests are likely to respond to an increasingly unpredictable climate with a higher likelihood of compound
droughts.

Read whole paper open access in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025) 

In their review "Drought-induced aesthetic decline and ecological impacts on ornamentals: mechanisms of damage and innovative strategies for mitigation" the authors S. Chachar, N. Ahmed, and X. Hu summarize drought responses in ornamental plants by emphasizing hormone regulation, antioxidant defence, and gene expression changes. They focus on the dual challenge of ensuring drought tolerance while preserving aesthetic traits, which sets ornamentals apart from other plant types. The authors present innovative management strategies, such as genetic engineering (e.g., CRISPR-Cas9), transcription factor manipulation, and exogenous applications of hormones and biostimulants to enhance resilience, as well as solutions to mitigate drought-induced damage. This review underscores the urgent need for integrated molecular, physiological, and horticultural strategies to balance these demands, offering a roadmap to sustain the aesthetic and ecological contributions of ornamentals in an era of increasing climate variability. 

Read whole paper in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025) 

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In their review "Genome blaze: engineering chilli pepper chloroplasts for sustainable production of capsaicinoids through organellar genome editing" the authors M. Bulle,  S. Abbagani,  A. Raza summarize recent advances for genetic improvement of Chilli peppers, enriched with heightened levels of phytochemicals, such as capsinoids (CATs) and capsaicinoids (CAPs) with potential health benefits. The expression of specific genes is crucial to stimulate the CAT and CAP levels in response to environmental conditions. The authors also highlight recent advancements in CRISPR/Cas and plastid engineering within Capsicum, coupled with application of base editing approaches for editing plant organelle DNA. The review also assesses the challenges and opportunities in the pursuit of commercial and sustainable production of bioactive compounds specific to Capsicum species.

Read whole paper in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025)  

(DBG's members are able to access all Plant Biology papers via our intranet).