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Heavy metal contamination commonly occurs as a mixture of multiple toxic metals, and plant reactions to mixed metal stress are still not completely understood. This study evaluated the heavy metal and phytoextraction efficiency of potential hyperaccumulator Alternanthera ficoidea put in mixed chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and cadmium (Cd) under controlled polyhouse conditions. The experiment lasted 60 days, and plants were exposed to different Cr-Ni-Cd combinations during the process, growth, biomass, metal accumulation, primary metabolites, non-enzymatic antioxidants and antioxidant enzyme activities were all quantified. The strong influence on the growth at high doses was clearly indicated by the significant reduction of both shoot and root lengths and the decrease of the fresh and dry biomass as the concentrations of the ternary metals increased. On the other hand, A. ficoidea did accumulate metals to a large extent, with bioaccumulation and translocation factors being > 1, which proved that A. ficoidea was quite effective in taking up metals from the growth medium and in transporting them to the above-ground parts. Marked increases in proline, total phenolics and flavonoids, together with enhanced DPPH radical scavenging, metal chelating capacity and reducing power, were all consequences of metal stress, while the contents of protein, carbohydrate and chlorophyll diminished. The superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were very much increased, indicating that the metal-induced oxidative stress had been met by an even stronger antioxidant defence; thus, there was an activation of the antioxidant defence. The enhanced antioxidant defence system and efficient metal accumulation indicate that A. ficoidea mitigates metal-induced oxidative stress through coordinated physiological and biochemical adaptations. Therefore, the study has come to the conclusion that A. ficoidea is a plant that embodies the combination of high multi-metal accumulation together with robust physiological and biochemical tolerance; therefore, its potential use as a candidate species for the reclamation of Cr-Ni-Cd co-contaminated environments is firmly supported.

Elevated CO2 (eCO2) frequently stimulates plant growth and is widely assumed to enhance productivity in multispecies communities1,2, yet species responses to eCO2 vary widely with biotic and abiotic context1,3,4. Whether eCO2 relaxes competition or amplifies existing competitive hierarchies, shaping how growth benefits are distributed among species, remains poorly resolved. Here we synthesize data from 19 CO2 enrichment experiments (glasshouse, chamber and field studies), encompassing 97 plant species from grass-dominated ecosystems to quantify how competitive context alters species- and mixture-level responses. Although most species respond positively to eCO2 without neighbours, over half show neutral or negative responses in mixtures. Despite this, dominant species often drive modest increases in total mixture biomass under eCO2. Trait analyses indicate that acquisitive strategies, rather than intrinsic CO2 sensitivity alone, predict success under competition. Together, our results indicate that under competition, eCO2 redistributes growth benefits unevenly among species, favouring dominant species while many subdominants experience neutral or negative responses.

Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)], released from tanning, electroplating, and metallurgical industries, is a Group 1 human carcinogen that induces severe oxidative stress in plants through excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, disrupting antioxidant defence and causing damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA, ultimately reducing growth and productivity. This review synthesizes evidence from Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, and ScienceDirect, emphasizing publications from 2020 onwards, covering Cr(VI)-induced oxidative stress, molecular alterations, PGPR mechanisms, phytohormone cross-talk, and multi-omics and synthetic biology approaches. Three core conclusions emerge: the ACC deaminase AP2/ERF pathway is the best-characterized PGPR-mediated Cr(VI) tolerance route, linking bacterial enzyme activity to plant transcriptional reprogramming and physiological recovery. No single phytohormone addresses all stress dimensions simultaneously, making complementary combinations like GA3 with IAA-producing PGPR, ABA with cytokinin, and JA with ACC deaminase strains more effective than single-hormone strategies. Finally, Cr(VI) molecular responses are governed by a four-module gene network coordinating uptake restriction, antioxidant defence, vacuolar sequestration, and transcriptional regulation. Two critical unresolved issues remain: the phytoextraction-food safety conflict, where PGPR traits enhancing soil Cr removal also increase shoot Cr translocation in food crops. Secondly, the absence of field-scale validation makes all current effectiveness metrics laboratory estimates, requiring multi-season agronomic confirmation. Cr(VI) causes oxidative stress in plants, thus leading to a reduction in growth, productivity, and ultimately death. Most of the studies are focused on the remediation of Cr(VI) contaminated environments through various approaches. The current study lays emphasis on improving plant resilience to Cr(VI) stress by understanding the complex interactions of phytohormones produced by rhizospheric microbes and their role in alleviating stress. The work also highlights the need for modern techniques like multi-omics approaches and synthetic biology to improve plant resilience.

Metal hyperaccumulator plants play a key role in understanding plant adaptation to metal-rich soils and offer potential for phytoremediation and phytomining. Angola hosts highly weathered tropical soils, yet its flora remains unexplored, mainly with respect to metal accumulation traits. This study presents the first broad, herbarium-based screening of Angolan plant specimens to identify potential hyperaccumulator taxa and evaluate taxonomic and spatial patterns of metal accumulation. A total of 234 samples from 132 species were analyzed for aluminum, manganese, nickel, copper, iron, cobalt, chromium, cadmium, lead, and zinc using microwave digestion followed by optical emission spectrometry. We identified numerous aluminum hyperaccumulators, particularly within the genus Landolphia, with contents in leaves up to 4.5% of dry mass, and detected extreme manganese accumulation in Landolphia congolensis, exceeding 2% of dry mass. These metal contents markedly exceed previously reported values for most Angolan species and reveal metal accumulation in taxa not previously recognized as hyperaccumulators. We also show strong site dependence of accumulation and consistent differences between plant organs, with leaves generally containing higher metal contents than fruits and inflorescences. Our findings significantly expand the known diversity of African metal hyperaccumulators, demonstrate the high value of herbarium collections for environmental monitoring, and provide a foundation for future work on phytoremediation potential, plant-soil interactions, and implications for human and ecosystem health in Angola.

Genuine accumulation of metals/metalloids in bryophytes is limited and highly susceptible to surficial contamination with soil particles. Washing with an apolar solvent removes most surficial contamination prior to elemental analysis. Bryophytes are often the first colonisers of soils toxic from metals/metalloids derived from natural mineralisation or mining wastes. They are ostensibly highly tolerant to the prevailing high concentrations of metals and metalloids in the substrate, but little is known about their ability to (hyper)accumulate these metals/metalloids. Terrestrially growing bryophytes were collected from arsenic-thallium mineralised soils at the Allchar site in North Macedonia. Samples were analysed for elemental concentrations using monochromatic X-ray fluorescence analysis (MXRF) after stringent washing with an apolar solvent and subjected to synchrotron micro-X-ray fluorescence (µXRF) elemental imaging. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were additionally used to assess extraneous contamination and test the efficiency of the washing procedure. The results show that surficial contamination with soil particles is a major challenge for assessing metal and metalloid concentrations in (terrestrial) bryophytes from metalliferous soils. Washing with an apolar solvent (hexane) removes most surficial contamination prior to elemental analysis, indicating some potential for elemental accumulation, as found in Rhynchostegium megapolitanum for thallium. Genuine accumulation of arsenic and thallium is relatively low despite the ability to grow on extremely arsenic-thallium enriched soils. Measured elemental concentrations in bryophyte samples are strongly affected by the washing procedure, highlighting the importance of appropiate sample preparation.

In heterotrophic plants, the loss of photosynthesis is often associated with plastid genome (ptDNA) reduction, although the extent of genome decay varies widely among lineages and may culminate in complete genome loss. Of the multiple transitions to heterotrophy among angiosperms, the ptDNA status remains poorly defined in lineages such as the endoparasitic Mitrastemonaceae (Ericales). Adopting a panplastome perspective, we characterized genomic variation across Mitrastemon yamamotoi individuals, assembling two complete circular ptDNAs and re-evaluating all available genomic resources for the species. Our results reveal a highly minimized ptDNA (18-26 kb) with elevated AT content (>77%) and loss of the typical quadripartite architecture. The M. yamamotoi panplastome exhibits remarkable structural stability and collinearity among individuals. The reduced plastid gene set comprises 26 genes, including accD, infA, clpP, ycf1, ycf2, and the essential tetrapyrrole precursor trnE-UUC. Root-to-tip substitution-rate analyses of 13 conserved protein-coding genes revealed elevated synonymous and nonsynonymous substitution rates in M. yamamotoi relative to photosynthetic angiosperms. However, dN/dS analyses showed that the retained protein-coding genes evolve under purifying selection (&#x3c9; < 1), indicating persistent functional constraint. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis identified a nearly complete set of nuclear-encoded plastid-targeted DNA-RRR factors, with the notable exception of the MUTS2 surveillance system and two photolyases. The convergent loss of MUTS2 homologs in M. yamamotoi and holoparasitic Balanophoraceae may be linked to shared plastome features (genome compaction, accelerated substitution rates, and severe AT bias). In contrast, the shared loss of the photolyases CRY3 and UVR3 likely results from relaxed selection pressure associated with an underground lifestyle. Deciphering the M. yamamotoi panplastome provides a definitive genomic framework for understanding plastid evolution within the endoparasitic Mitrastemonaceae.

Surface-layer (S-layer) proteins, forming the outermost envelope of many bacteria and archaea, exhibit extraordinary structural precision and self-assemble into two-dimensional crystalline lattices with square, hexagonal, or oblique symmetry. These monomolecular arrays, typically 5 to 25&#x202f;nm in periodicity (varying by species), offer defined porosity and serve as robust biological nanoplatforms. Their innate capacity for self-assembly and molecular ordering has attracted significant attention in nanobiotechnology, vaccine development, biosensing, drug delivery, and ultrafiltration. S-layers are especially valued for their ability to mimic viral capsids, enhance antigen presentation, stabilize lipid bilayers, and provide highly organized scaffolds for enzyme immobilization and nanopatterning. Recent experimental achievements include the use of S-layer fusion proteins for mucosal vaccine delivery and the development of recombinant S-layer-based electrochemical biosensors. However, transitioning these advances to commercial-scale applications remains challenging. Limitations include the scalability of high-purity protein production, cost-effective recombinant expression, stability under harsh industrial conditions, and unresolved regulatory pathways for biologically derived nanomaterials. Additionally, synthetic alternatives present practical and economic competition. Nonetheless, interdisciplinary efforts in synthetic biology, materials science, and computational modeling are addressing these bottlenecks. Innovations such as cross-linkable domains, fusion with polymers or lipids, and predictive structure-function modeling are improving the robustness and adaptability of S-layer systems. As current research advances from theoretical potential to functional prototypes, S-layer proteins offer transformative prospects across medical, industrial, and environmental domains. This review uniquely integrates mechanistic S-layer biology with engineering-for-manufacture, protein-design workflows, and commercialization roadmaps - offering actionable protocols and benchmarks not covered in prior syntheses.

Phylogenomic discordance is widespread across plants, but its evolutionary significance is often obscured when conflict is treated primarily as analytical noise rather than as evidence of underlying processes. In woody lineages in particular, incomplete lineage sorting, introgression, and genome duplication can interact over long timescales to produce complex genomic histories that are not adequately summarized by a strictly bifurcating tree. Here, we use Malus as a model woody genus to investigate how these processes structure conflict across a genus-scale, accession-based phylogenomic framework. Using broad taxon sampling, hundreds of nuclear loci, plastid genomes, and genome-wide SNP summaries, we reconstruct a robust nuclear backbone for sampled Malus lineages and evaluate where discordance is concentrated and which processes best explain it. Nuclear analyses resolve eight major clades, whereas conflict is non-random and localized to recurrent hotspots rather than evenly distributed across the tree. Cytonuclear discordance is similarly concentrated, especially around Clade H, represented by sampled accessions of M. tschonoskii, where localized plastid-nuclear disagreement is consistent with candidate plastid capture or organellar introgression. Multiple complementary analyses further indicate that the strongest conflict is not explained by ILS alone, but instead reflects lineage-structured introgression, while polyploid complexes represent additional localized sources of evolutionary complexity. Together, these results provide evidence for a reticulate genomic backbone in Malus and show how integrating nuclear, plastid, and genome-wide conflict analyses can help distinguish background discordance from process-specific signals in woody plant radiations. Several lineage-level reticulation hypotheses identified here should now be tested with broader population-level sampling and curated reference accessions.

Through data mining of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas for acne, high-frequency herbs were identified, including Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (gancao, GC), Scutellariae Radix (huangqin, HQ), Lonicerae Japonicae Flos (jinyinhua, JYH), Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (danshen, DS), and Paeoniae Radix Rubra (chishao, CS). These herbs collectively exhibit cold, warm, and neutral properties; bitter, sweet, and pungent tastes; and tropism to the liver, lung, and stomach meridians, reflecting a therapeutic strategy that clears heat, resolves dampness, and promotes blood circulation. The core triad Eriobotryae Folium (pipaye, PPY), Mori Cortex (sangbaipi, SBP), and Scutellariae Radix and formulas like Erzhi Pills, Sanhuang Lotion, and Xiaoyao Powder suggest key clinical combinations. Network pharmacology revealed that several biological pathways may play important roles in acne treatment, including pathways in cancer, lipid and atherosclerosis, fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, and chemical carcinogenesis-receptor activation. These pathways are closely linked to inflammation, sebum metabolism, and oxidative stress-core pathological processes in acne vulgaris. Finally, docking showed quercetin, kaempferol, luteolin, and wogonin had strong affinities with AKT1, TNF, IL-6, and TP53 (energies&#x2009;<&#x2009;-5.0&#xa0;kcal/mol). These findings provide a pharmacological basis for the clinical efficacy of the identified herbs and offer directions for further experimental validation. Crucially, atomistic molecular dynamics simulations and free energy landscape analysis validated the dynamic and thermodynamic stability of these four lowest-energy complexes, confirming that these flavonoids lock the target proteins into deeply stabilized, inactive conformations. Overall, this study bridges clinical experience with dynamic structural biology, providing a high-resolution molecular rationale for anti-acne therapeutics.

The genus Lycium is of considerable medicinal and economic importance and has a discontinuous intercontinental distribution. However, its evolutionary history remains obscured by morphological convergence, hybridization, and incomplete lineage sorting (ILS). Here, we conducted the first phylogenomic study of Lycium, integrating three independent genomic compartments, single-copy nuclear genes, mitochondrial genomes, and published plastid data to reconstruct its history and dissect the roles of incomplete lineage sorting, hybridization, and long-distance dispersal in its evolution. Both concatenation and coalescence methods based on nuclear genes yielded a congruent, well-resolved phylogeny, strongly supporting the monophyly of Lycium and recovering five major clades with a North American lineage as sisters to all the others. This phylogeny reveals significant conflicts with the traditional morphology. Our analyses clarify the primary cause of two distinct types of conflict. First, the pervasive tripartite (nuclear-plastid-mitochondrial) topological discordance is primarily linked to historical hybridization and introgression events, as demonstrated by strong gene-flow signals and detailed network models. In contrast, the discordance observed among gene trees appears to be predominantly influenced by incomplete lineage sorting, with some nodes exhibiting peaks exceeding 60%, indicative of rapid radiation during the Miocene epoch. Divergence dating and ancestral area reconstruction support a North American origin in the early Miocene (&#x223c;21.84 Ma), followed by sequential long-distance dispersal to South America across the Pacific, Africa, and Eurasia. Collectively, our results establish a process-based framework for Lycium's complex evolutionary history, highlighting the interplay of rapid radiation, quantified ILS, modeled hybridization, and bird-mediated dispersal in shaping its intercontinental distribution.

In North America, Phragmites australis (common reed) has drawn a great deal of research attention. Non-native P. australis subsp. australis is a noxious weed that has locally displaced native P. australis subsp. americanus in some areas. Although morphological features can distinguish the two subspecies, molecular tools often are required to confirm identifications. Additionally, the existence of natural intrasubspecific hybrids presents novel management challenges. Hybrid Phragmites is difficult to detect, and it has become standard practice to apply molecular tools to survey for hybrids. We applied several molecular techniques-microsatellite, DArTseq (a type of genotyping-by-sequencing), restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), and next-generation sequencing-to characterize P. australis at the landscape scale in Minnesota and Wisconsin and to search for hybrids. We obtained molecular data for Phragmites plants sampled from 341 stands, ultimately characterizing 98 stands as native and 236 as non-native. Plants from two adjacent stands in Washington County, Minnesota, were confirmed to be hybrids. These are the first confirmed hybrids from the Upper Midwest/western Great Lakes region. We also discuss the relative cost and effectiveness of the various molecular methods and offer recommendations for future studies.

Compared to annual crops, the domestication of perennial fruit trees remains poorly understood, and tracing the maternal origins and dispersal history significantly advances our understanding of the domestication process. Peach (Prunus persica) is a vital economic fruit crop with a long and intricate history of human domestication, resulting in diverse varieties and wide dispersal, making it an excellent model for tracing the maternal origin and domestication history. Here, we aim to investigate the peach's maternal origins and elucidate its domestication history in China. We investigated peach phylogeography by analyzing 714 peach individuals representing diverse germplasm types across its distribution range, using the whole chloroplast genome and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences to further infer its maternal origin and domestication history. Genetic structure analyses of both datasets revealed two distinct clades within peach populations (Clade I and Clade II), each associated with similar geographic distributions and containing various germplasm types with diverse fruit phenotypes, suggesting that peach is derived from two distinct maternal ancestors (dual maternal origin). Notably, genetic diversity and private haplotype analysis identified multiple regions with high diversity (the Yellow River, the middle and Yangtze River, and the Pearl River basin) where the oldest fossil records are concentrated, suggesting that peach might exist in multiple domestication regions (diffuse origins). Peach populations experienced two major bottlenecks and sequential founder events during the domestication process, likely shaped by human-driven selection and dispersal: the first occurred around 6,000 years ago, and the second approximately 2,000 years ago. This study highlights a dual maternal origin and multiple domestication regions of peach within China, resolving a key issue in the history of peach domestication. Our integration of chloroplast and nuclear data, along with other lines of evidence, establishes a clear framework for inferring complex lineages, refining our understanding of the peach demographic history, and offering valuable insights for breeding strategies and conservation efforts.

Although the phylogenetic backbone of Moraceae, an ecologically important angiosperm family in tropical rainforests, has been significantly improved, phylogenetic discordance among nuclear genes and between nuclear and plastid genomes remains common at various phylogenetic depths. However, the patterns and causes of this discordance across the entire family have not been systematically investigated. Here, we reconstructed a comprehensive phylogeny of 319 species of Moraceae using sequences from nuclear and plastid gene datasets to investigate family-wide phylogenetic conflict, identify the evolutionary drivers of conflict, and inform taxonomic revision. Phylogenetic analyses showed general congruence at the section level and above in nuclear datasets, but notable conflicts occurred at several nodes (e.g., Chlorophoreae, Bagassa, and Sloetiopsis). Discordance between nuclear and plastid trees was widespread, especially within the tribes Antiarideae, Artocarpeae, Dorstenieae, and Ficeae. Coalescent simulations and phylogenetic network analyses suggest that the observed discordance arises from a combination of incomplete lineage sorting and ancient hybridization. Based on integrated phylogenetic and morphological evidence, we propose several taxonomic revisions for the family. Overall, this work elucidates the evolutionary history of Moraceae, emphasizing the role of hybridization in its diversification, and provides a robust phylogenetic framework for future research on its classification, biogeography, and diversification.

Global agricultural challenges necessitate sustainable strategies to enhance crop productivity and resilience under environmental stress. This study investigated the synergistic effects of a novel bio-stimulant formulation consisting of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) leaf extract, chitosan, and sodium alginate on the growth, physiological performance, molecular variation, and heat stress tolerance of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Compared with the individual treatments, the combined formulation produced the greatest improvements in plant performance, increasing seed germination from 60% in the untreated control to 80% under normal conditions and maintaining up to 90% germination under moderate heat stress (35-40 &#xb0;C). The combined treatment also significantly enhanced vegetative growth and improved key physiological attributes, including chlorophyll index (12.83 to 28.17 SPAD units), total protein (0.536 to 0.725 mg g&#x207b;1), proline (0.329 to 1.167 &#xb5;g g&#x207b;1 FW), nitrogen content (3.93% to 8.67%), soluble sugars (1.354 to 1.812 mg g&#x207b;1), total phenolics (0.259 to 0.392 mg GAE g&#x207b;1), and antioxidant capacity, with the DPPH IC&#x2085;&#x2080; decreasing from 0.307 to 0.106 mg mL&#x207b;1. Start codon targeted (SCoT) marker analysis generated 26 amplification products, of which 29.17% were polymorphic, indicating detectable molecular variation while preserving overall genomic stability. GC-MS profiling identified 19 phytochemical constituents, dominated by linoleic acid and its derivatives, which were supported by molecular docking analyses showing strong binding affinities toward microbial targets (SecY2, OmpF, CYP51) and the plant auxin receptor TIR1, providing mechanistic insights into both antimicrobial and growth-promoting activities. The ethanolic extract exhibited potent antimicrobial activity, producing inhibition zones of up to 22.5 mm against Candida albicans, 20.0 mm against Escherichia coli, and 18.5 mm against Staphylococcus aureus, with additional support from the chitosan-alginate matrix. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that integrating biodegradable biopolymers with pomegranate leaf phytochemicals provides a multifunctional, eco-friendly bio-stimulant capable of enhancing barley growth, physiological performance, antimicrobial activity, and tolerance to heat stress, highlighting its potential for sustainable climate-resilient agriculture.

Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), a recently classified persistent organic pollutant, is being increasingly detected in agricultural soils, yet its phytotoxicity, uptake and trophic transfer remain poorly understood. We investigated the effects of PFHxS on the growth, antioxidant regulation, uptake, and ultrastructure of the legume Lupinus polyphyllus grown in PFHxS-spiked soil (5, 25, and 125 mg/kg) after 90 days. High PFHxS concentrations (125 mg/kg) inhibited germination, whereas 5 mg/kg produced a hormetic stimulation of seedling viability and post-germinative biomass. Inhibitory effects emerged from 25 mg/kg onwards. Antioxidant enzyme activity was associated with reduced lipid peroxidation malondialdehyde (MDA), suppression of catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and compensatory induction of peroxidase activity (POD). Photosynthetic pigments decreased at &#x2265;25 mg/kg, indicating impaired light-harvesting capacity. Root uptake reduced PFHxS concentrations in the rhizosphere (1.78-32.96 mg/kg) relative to those in the bulk soil (2.82-105.95 mg/kg), corresponding to an elevated rhizosphere-referenced bioaccumulation factor (BAF). The root BAF increased from 0.63-0.92 (bulk) to 0.89-4.17 (rhizosphere), whereas the shoot BAF increased from 1.29-2.69 to 3.29-5.75. Increased PFHxS exposure induced a shift from efficient translocation of PFHxS to transport-limited accumulation, characterized by strong rhizosphere depletion. Transmission electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (TEM-EDS) revealed enrichment of membrane and vascular-associated transport with phloem parenchyma. Overall, PFHxS accumulation in L. polyphyllus appears to be controlled by tissue partitioning and vascular transport, with uptake largely influenced by rhizosphere bioavailability rather than total PFHxS soil concentration.

The increasing significance of non-Saccharomyces strains in fermented beverages comes from their ability to modulate sensory properties and produce diverse metabolites. This study evaluated the oenological potential and fermentation capacity of five Schizosaccharomyces species (S. pombe var. pombe, S. pombe var. malidevorans, S. japonicus, S. octosporus, and S. cryophilus). While all strains assimilate and ferment glucose, fructose, and sucrose, they show no utilization of sweeteners such as xylitol, erythritol, or stevia. Notably, the strains exhibited tolerance to 15-30% glucose, and most of them could grow at 15&#xa0;&#xb0;C. Fermentation trials revealed that all species successfully produced 4-6% (v/v) ethanol in apple juice, characterized by high glycerol production and efficient malic acid degradation, while maintaining acetic acid levels comparable to the Saccharomyces bayanus control. Volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis identified ester-rich aroma profiles-featuring fruity, banana-like, and pineapple-like notes-comprising both common and species-specific components. These findings demonstrate that Schizosaccharomyces species are viable candidates for cider production, offering a unique combination of deacidification, glycerol enrichment, and novel aromatic complexity, particularly for use in mixed-culture fermentation strategies.

WD40 repeat proteins are evolutionarily conserved molecular scaffolding that function as key regulators of plant growth, development, and stress resilience. These proteins, highlighted by tandem WD (Trp-Asp) motifs forming a stable &#x3b2;-propeller structure, serve as versatile platforms for protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions, facilitating the assembly of multiprotein complexes and the integration of environmental and hormonal signals into specific physiological responses. In plants, WD40 proteins orchestrate essential functions such as anthocyanin biosynthesis, blooming timing, embryogenesis, gametogenesis, and fruit development, often through regulatory modules like the MYB-bHLH-WD40 (MBW) complex. In addition to development, they serve as crucial centers for adaptation to abiotic and biotic stress by regulating phytohormonal interactions, maintaining reactive oxygen species balance, and facilitating ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation, especially via SCF E3 ligase complexes. These roles relate significant hormone pathways, such as abscisic acid, auxin, gibberellin, ethylene, and brassinosteroids, to environmental interactions. Recent progress in CRISPR-based functional genomics, interactome mapping, and high-resolution structural modeling is revealing the plasticity and evolutionary conservation of WD40 scaffolds. This review strengthens current findings relating their structural properties, molecular mechanisms, and functional diversity, underscoring their potential as targets for developing stress-resilient, high-yield crops in a changing climate.

Reproductive assurance represents a key adaptive strategy in flowering plants, and many floral traits have evolved or been modified to ensure successful reproduction under environmental uncertainty. In Passiflora foetida L., styles exhibit varying degrees of curvature, giving rise to three distinct (fully curved, semi-curved, and erect) flower types during anthesis, each characterized by a different potential to ensure reproductive success. In this study, for the first time, the relationships among stylar curvature, pollen deposition, pollinator visitation, fruit set, and seed set were quantified under natural and controlled pollination treatments. The results showed that fully curved styles received the highest stigmatic pollen loads and exhibited the greatest fruit and seed set. Semi-curved flowers displayed intermediate reproductive success, whereas erect flowers recorded the lowest values across all reproductive parameters. The major pollinators, carpenter bees (Xylocopa spp.) and the giant honey bee (Apis dorsata), differed in visitation rates and single-visit effectiveness. However, pollination success depended strongly on stylar position. Stylar position played a decisive role in determining whether these visits resulted in successful fertilization. Notably, only fully curved flowers were capable of setting fruit through autonomous self-pollination, highlighting that stylar curvature serves as a mechanism of reproductive assurance under conditions of pollinator scarcity or unreliability.

This study investigated the chemical composition, safety profile, and pharmacological activities of a decocted extract from the aerial parts of Mentha aquatica (MA-DE). High-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) identified several phenolic constituents, mainly hydroxycinnamic and hydroxybenzoic acids. Safety was evaluated through acute and subacute toxicity studies in albino mice. Acute toxicity testing involved oral and intraperitoneal administration of MA-DE at doses up to 8&#x2009;g/kg body weight (BW). Oral administration produced no mortality or observable toxic effects, whereas intraperitoneal administration induced dose-dependent toxicity, with an LD50 of 5.975&#x2009;g/kg BW; the NOAEL and LOAEL were determined as 0.5 and 1&#x2009;g/kg BW, respectively. In the subacute study, mice received daily oral doses of 0.1, 0.5, or 1&#x2009;g/kg BW for 28&#x2009;days, with no significant changes observed in hematological, biochemical, or histopathological parameters compared with controls. The anti-inflammatory activity of MA-DE was assessed using the carrageenan-induced paw edema model in Wistar rats, while analgesic activity was evaluated using the writhing test. MA-DE exhibited significant, dose-dependent anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects at 200 and 400&#x2009;mg/kg BW. Overall, MA-DE appears safe when administered orally and demonstrates promising pharmacological properties, supporting its traditional use and potential phytotherapeutic application.