搜索结果：Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)

Ergothioneine (EGT) is a sulphur-containing histidine derivative and a potent antioxidant that exhibits beneficial effects on human health. Thus far, only fungi and certain bacteria have been reported to produce EGT, whereas plants are assumed to rely on an uptake of EGT. Here, the presence of EGT biosynthetic genes and their functionality were investigated in Viridiplantae. The biosynthetic genes EGT1 and EGT2 from yeast were used for transcriptome and genome analyses in evolutionarily informative species across Viridiplantae. Targeted metabolomics (HPLC-MRM/MS) was used to quantify EGT in selected algae and land plants grown under control conditions and exposed to abiotic stress. EGT1 and EGT2 genes were identified in streptophyte algae, bryophytes, lycophytes, monilophytes, and gymnosperms. Targeted metabolomic profiling demonstrated endogenous EGT production in diverse algae and land plants, refuting the long-standing view that plants cannot synthesize this antioxidant. Notably, EGT1 genes do not exist in angiosperms, which likely lost this gene and the capability to synthesize EGT. After high light and heat stress exposure, EGT synthesis increases significantly in the streptophyte algae Klebsormidium nitens and the moss Physcomitrium patens, suggesting that EGT also exerts an antioxidant function in plants. Contrary to previous assumptions, various plants possess EGT genes and are capable of synthesizing EGT. Abiotic stress experiments reveal a link between EGT and the plant stress response, opening new avenues for research in stress signalling and adaptation - areas that are also relevant for enhancing crop resilience and nutritional quality.

Fire can profoundly affect ecosystem dynamics, species distribution and plant traits, especially in open biomes. Post-fire strategies, namely, resprouters and reseeders, offer a useful framework to examine eco-evolutionary relationships between plants and fire. However, whether resprouter and reseeder plants are consistently formed by distinct trait coordination (syndromes) and responses to fire at the intraspecific level and when considering the role of ontogeny, remain underexplored. This is a relevant lack as, within-species, plants can adjust their functioning and trait coordination can vary considerably along ontogeny. To address this gap, we analysed intraspecific trait coordination and post-fire responses, accounting for the effect of ontogeny in three widely distributed and locally abundant Mediterranean woody species: two resprouters (Erica arborea, Quercus ilex) and one reseeder (Cistus salviifolius). We collected 12 plant functional and architectural traits, including intraspecific variability, well related to fire and drought from three sites in Italy. We ran pairwise correlation and multivariate analyses to explore trait syndromes. We conducted linear regressions to examine relationships between fire regime (time since last fire) and trait responses. We then inspected whether fire regime affects key bivariate trait coordination and if ontogeny influences some trait-fire links. Findings are highly species-specific and generally do not align with a priori classification into post-fire strategies. In most instances, we reveal how either one of the resprouter species exhibits trait patterns more similar to those of the reseeder than to the other resprouter species. Fire can strongly affect trait coordination shaping plant functioning, whereas ontogeny influences a few trait-fire links for the reseeder species while it has a weak effect on the two resprouter species. Our study, while limited to three species and three sites, emphasizes the importance of looking at plant life through a continuous and multidimensional lens which contemplates the inclusion of various sources of within-species variability. We acknowledge that a category-based or dichotomous view on plant functional strategies, including post-fire ones, remains valid and justified when working at coarse scales, whereas it can be much less so for trait-based analyses at fine scales.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) transplant recipients infected with SARS-CoV-2 are at high risk for hospitalization or death. We aimed to (1) assess whether time since solid organ transplantation impacts severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection and (2) to evaluate the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the slope of lung function trajectory. This is a retrospective international cohort study of individuals with CF post-solid organ transplant with a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between January 2020 and December 2021. The primary outcome was death or hospitalization. The secondary outcome was change in lung function trajectory following infection. To assess the impact of time from transplant on the primary outcome, logistic regression was performed while lung function trajectory was assessed using a linear mixed-effects model. A total of 526 SARS-CoV-2 infections from 19 countries were recorded. The median age at time of infection was 36 years (IQR 29-44). Median time since transplant was 5.8 years (IQR 3.3-10.8). The timing of transplant relative to infection was not significantly associated with hospitalization or death (OR 0.975 CI 0.928-1.025). A higher baseline ppFEV1 was associated with a decreased odds of death or hospitalization (OR 0.989, 95% CI 0.983, 0.995). In a subgroup of participants, lung function trajectory did not change significantly in the year following SARS-CoV-2 infection. In a diverse global post-transplant CF population, the timing of transplantation was not significantly associated with severe outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Those with more severe lung disease were at increased risk for worse outcomes and should be monitored closely.

Frost is a major stressor for alpine plants, and a species' ability to resist it can shape their distribution and diversity. While many studies explore how frost tolerance varies with elevation, research on how co-occurring species differ in their resistance strategies remains limited. We selected twenty-two co-occurring plant species from a single alpine community on the Tibetan Plateau and quantified their frost tolerance (LT50: the lethal temperature at which 50% of tissue died). We also measured six common functional traits (height, specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf nitrogen content (LNC), leaf phosphorus content (LPC), and the ratio of leaf nitrogen and phosphorus content (NP ratio)) of all species. Overall, we found there was a lot of interspecific variation in the LT50 of alpine plants within the same community. As expected, plant height was the most significant trait associated with LT50. However, unlike patterns observed along elevation gradients, in our study taller plants were more frost tolerant than shorter plants. Overall, short stature together with densely packed small leaves of alpine plants may explain why these species are aerodynamically decoupled from the cold air temperature (avoidance strategy) and do not have to rely as strongly on physiological tolerance to frost (tolerance strategy). Multiple strategies by different species in a single community could facilitate species co-existence under harsh conditions like the Tibetan Plateau. These results can help us to better understand the high diversity of alpine plant communities.

Biotic resistance, the reduction in invasion success caused by native communities, plays an important role in the long-term dynamics of biological invasions. A large body of empirical research on biotic resistance has accumulated since the last comprehensive review on the subject 20 years ago, enabling us to achieve a refined understanding of biotic resistance and its dynamics. Here, we aim to reshape research on biotic resistance to alien plant invasions by (i) synthesizing existing evidence on biotic resistance and (ii) exploring the so far rarely considered interplay between biotic resistance mechanisms (i.e. competition, aboveground and belowground antagonisms, and diversity-invasibility effects) and the potential eco-evolutionary changes in biotic resistance over time. To address the first aspect, we conducted a global meta-analysis of 240 experimental studies to assess the mechanisms by which and the extent to which biotic resistance of native communities affects the performance of alien plant species. We show that competition with native plant species, aboveground antagonism (e.g. herbivores) and diversity-invasibility effects significantly reduced alien plant performance, whereas there was no evidence for consistent effects of belowground antagonism (e.g. soil pathogens). Competition exerted the strongest biotic resistance, followed by aboveground antagonism. However, the strength of biotic resistance also depended on the alien plant performance measure considered (vegetative performance, survival, reproductive performance, or population growth). From the small set of studies that considered more than one biotic resistance mechanism, we did not detect an overall synergistic effect of combined mechanisms. The meta-analysis results also revealed that biotic resistance first decreased with the residence time of the alien plant species but increased again after approximately 200 years. In a subset of studies directly comparing species of different origin, we did not detect a difference in biotic resistance to alien versus native species. To address the second aspect, we expanded the limited empirical evidence on temporal dynamics by presenting a conceptual causal network and an accompanying mathematical model to explore the eco-evolutionary dynamics of biotic resistance mechanisms. Our conceptual and mathematical models highlight that biotic resistance is determined by both the attributes of the alien species (i.e. invasiveness) and of the recipient community (i.e. invasibility). Both factors can change over time as inter- and/or intraspecific selection cause changes in the composition and overall density of the native community and the alien species. As invaders evolve and the successful ones persist, biotic resistance initially decreases, then increases again due to intra- and interspecific adaptation of the native community. Using the findings from the comprehensive synthesis of empirical studies and our modelling approach, we highlight research avenues to better understand the temporal dynamics of biotic resistance to plant invasions, including how biotic resistance depends on multiple mechanisms and performance measures, how it may differently affect alien versus native species and crucially, how it changes over time.

Telling species apart using DNA sequence data plays a key role in understanding, monitoring, and managing biodiversity. However, plant species discrimination is often difficult due to the complex nature of plant species boundaries. To inform future strategies for DNA-based identification of plants using the nuclear genome and to gain fundamental insights into the genomic nature of differences between plant species, we conducted a large-scale analysis mining data from 151 studies. Of the 1713 multiple-sampled species evaluated, 1202 resolved as monophyletic (70.2%). We then assessed the density of species-specific SNPs (SSSNPs) in the DNA sequence data - of the 462 species from 27 genera assessed in detail, there was a median density of 193 SSSNPs per Mb and 412 species (89.2%) had at least one SSSNP. Randomly sub-sampling the SNP data showed an asymptote in species discrimination with around 3000 randomly selected SNPs. Finally, we undertook a resampling of 6 target-capture datasets and showed that 1-9 pre-selected loci provided equivalent levels of species discrimination compared to hundreds of nuclear loci. These findings provide an important quantitative assessment of the genomic nature of differences between plant species and provide foundations for the development of enhanced approaches for high-resolution DNA-based plant species discrimination.

Bees are one of the most important pollinators in terrestrial ecosystems, supporting biodiversity and food production. However, global knowledge of their interactions with host plants remains limited. To address this, we describe and refine a subset of the Global Biotic Interactions (GloBI) database focused on bee-plant interactions. We updated taxonomy using current checklists and enhanced the dataset with metadata on geography, endemism, and human uses of plants. The resulting dataset includes 981,982 unique interaction records between 5,537 bee species and 12,699 plant taxa. Despite its scale, the dataset is affected by strong taxonomic and geographic biases. It covers only 26% of described bee species and 4% of flowering plant taxa-primarily those used by humans-and is heavily skewed toward North America and Western Europe. Nevertheless, GloBI represents a valuable resource for incorporating bee-plant interactions into biodiversity and conservation-oriented research and represents a considerable advance in our current knowledge.

Plants possess sophisticated systems to regulate gene expression, which plant synthetic biology seeks to leverage to engineer new-to-nature functions. Chemical induction systems offer a valuable tool for such efforts by enabling precise temporal, spatial, and quantitative control of gene expression. However, existing plant chemical induction systems often face challenges, such as high basal activity in the absence of the inducer, unintended activation in uncontrolled environments, or off-target effects within the plant, caused either by the system itself or its inducer. Here, a rapamycin-inducible FKBP-FRB split transcription factor system was developed for use in plants. This system employs the human FRB (hFRB) domain (amino acids 2025 to 2115 of human mTOR) fused to a DNA-binding domain and the full-length human FKBP12 (hFKBP12) protein fused to a transcriptional activation domain. Upon application of rapamycin, hFRB and hFKBP12 dimerize, forming a functional transcription factor that binds to a synthetic promoter, thereby activating the target gene. The system was systematically optimized by extensive characterization of designs with different DNA-binding domains, FRB repeats, and promoter architectures. These efforts reduced basal activity and enhanced induced activity, resulting in an 87-fold increase in target gene expression from the uninduced to the induced state, and surpassing constitutive expression under the 2×CaMV35S promoter. Simple rapamycin application methods, such as spraying onto the leaf surface or soil application, combined with the system's sensitivity to nanomolar concentrations of inducer, further highlight its practicality. This system provides a robust and precise tool for regulating gene expression in plants and offers potential for expansion with orthogonal ligands targeting FRB or FKBP mutants.

Morphological variation provides plants the potential to respond to heterogeneous environmental pressures. Species with restricted distributions in dry habitats are particularly interesting because small-scale environmental gradients may influence trait variation. We evaluated morphological variation in two rosette-forming Hesperoyucca species, H. whipplei and H. peninsularis, across a latitudinal gradient in the Baja California Peninsula (BCP) and identified the environmental variables most strongly associated with morphological traits. We measured 15 morphological traits in 181 adult plants from 22 sites along the BCP. Multivariate analyses (PCA, MANOVA, linear mixed models and ANCOVA) were used to assess variation within and between species and to test associations with latitude and environmental variables. Morphological variation showed clear species-level differentiation, with significant differences in tepal size, overall plant size and architectural traits. At the regional scale, morphological variation was significantly associated with latitude. Tepal size and plant architecture covaried with solar radiation and precipitation, respectively, indicating that morphological traits covary with environmental heterogeneity across the BCP. Morphological variation in Hesperoyucca varies along the latitudinal gradient of the BCP and differs between species. Despite their restricted distributions, both species exhibit geographical trait variation associated with local environmental conditions. These findings highlight the role of environmental heterogeneity in shaping morphological patterns at regional scales and provide a baseline for future genetic and experimental studies.

Plants are exposed to various environmental challenges. Especially with ongoing climate change, droughts and insect outbreaks are expected to become more frequent. Plant responses to these challenges are mediated by interacting phytohormonal pathways that influence plant growth, but little is known how these responses to single and combined challenges vary across different scales, within and between species. Thus, we investigated species- and accession-specific responses to two environmental challenges in three perennial plant species and compared the responses between species. Clones of several accessions of the herbaceous species Tanacetum vulgare, the woody vine Solanum dulcamara, and the tree Populus nigra were subjected to similar control, herbivory, drought, and combined (drought and herbivory) treatments. After the exposure, foliar phytohormones and various morphological traits were quantified. Plants of T. vulgare did not respond in jasmonic acid (JA) levels, but showed an increase in abscisic acid (ABA) and a reduced aboveground biomass, particularly under the combined challenges. Plants of S. dulcamara exhibited similar responses, but JA levels were enhanced by all treatments. In contrast, P. nigra uniquely induced salicylic acid under the combined treatment, but showed no impacts on growth. Phenotypic plasticity reflected these species-specific patterns, with none of the phytohormones or morphological traits exhibiting uniform plasticity across species, but with substantial accession-specific pattern. Structural equation models further revealed distinct phytohormone-mediated pathways underlying morphological traits, potentially linking environmental challenges and accessions to specific plant responses within each species. Besides these species-specific differences, several traits responded consistently in all three species to the environmental challenges. Jasmonoyl-isoleucine was induced by herbivory and the combined treatment, ABA by drought and the combined treatment, and indole acetic acid by the combined treatment in all species. Root mass remained unchanged in all species. Our results indicate that plant responses to similar challenges include both species-specific and conserved components. The combined treatment elicited the strongest responses, suggesting that simultaneous challenges under climate change may have complex effects on plant performance. The intra- and interspecific differences revealed here highlight the need to further explore the mechanisms underlying this specificity and understand patterns of plant resilience.

As a major component of air pollution in urban environments, dust particles are similar in size to pollen grains. When deposited on the stigma, dust may occupy the space for pollen deposition and reduce the adhesion of pollen, potentially leading to a decrease in plant female fitness. Unfortunately, to date, the relevant evidence remains scarce. A dust simulation experiment was conducted on 29 plant species at the Yan'an Botanical Garden. The effects of dust deposition on the stigmatic surfaces were examined using microscopy, and female fitness was compared between experimental (dust) and control (non-dust) groups. We demonstrated that dust significantly occupied stigma surfaces and absorbed stigma secretions. The dust simulation treatment significantly decreased the fruit and seed set but did not influence the fruit length or weight. Moreover, plants with wet or more exposed stigmas showed greater susceptibility to dust, evidenced by relatively lower fruit and seed set in both the non-dust and dust treatments. Dust significantly reduces the reproduction of plants by altering the microenvironment of the flower stigma, including absorbed stigma secretions and occupied stigma surfaces, and its principal effect is observed during the critical pre-fertilization phase. Although our study significantly advances the understanding of the harmful effects of pollutants on plant reproduction, much remains to be learned and the underlying mechanisms need to be investigated in the future.

Symbiotic nitrogen fixation by vascular plants represents a major pathway for nitrogen input in terrestrial ecosystems, fundamentally altering nutrient cycles and plant community dynamics. Nitrogen-fixing plants comprise phylogenetically and physiologically distinct lineages whose ecological niches and responses to environmental gradients remain poorly resolved at continental scales. We investigated the geographic distribution and ecological responses of major nitrogen-fixing lineages across Europe, focusing on legumes (inverted repeat lacking clade [IRLC], characterised by high symbiont regulation ability, and non-IRLC) and actinorhizal genera. We analysed 707,673 vegetation plots (1970-2021) from the European Vegetation Archive to map lineage density at 30-km resolution, assess habitat associations, model climatic drivers and evaluate distributions along environmental gradients using ecological indicator values. Non-IRLC legumes predominated in Mediterranean scrublands and dry grasslands, whereas IRLC legumes extended into northern regions and mesic grasslands. Legumes were associated with high diurnal temperature range, high summer temperatures, low summer rainfall and low soil nitrogen and water availability-patterns pronounced in non-IRLC legumes, but less distinct or even absent in IRLC legumes. Actinorhizal lineages showed disparate habitat associations and contrasting climatic responses, with temperature seasonality as the strongest predictor-positive for Alnus and Elaeagnaceae and negative for the other lineages. Our findings demonstrate fundamentally divergent ecological niches among European nitrogen-fixing lineages, reflecting distinct evolutionary histories and physiological strategies. Enhanced symbiont regulation in IRLC legumes likely facilitates persistence where the benefits of nitrogen fixation are limited. Despite sharing a common adaptive trait, nitrogen-fixing lineages have evolved different strategies to colonise various environments under diverse climatic conditions.

Biological invasions can disrupt plant-pollinator interactions by altering pollinator behaviour and pollen transfer dynamics, yet the mechanisms and timing of these effects remain poorly understood. Most studies rely on observational comparisons or removal experiments in long-established invasions, but little is known about changes in pollination function at the onset of invasion. We investigated the pollination of Stachys sylvatica by combining field comparisons between pristine and invaded sites with an experimental introduction of Impatiens glandulifera into a previously uninvaded site. We quantified pollinator visitation, pollen loads carried by bumblebees, and conspecific and invasive pollen deposition on S. sylvatica stigmas. Across multiple field sites, stigmas of S. sylvatica in pristine habitats received approximately three times more conspecific pollen than those in invaded sites. Bumblebees dominated the pollinator assemblage across all sites, and in invaded habitats, they carried pollen loads strongly dominated by I. glandulifera. During the experimental introduction, bumblebees rapidly incorporated I. glandulifera into their foraging, while conspecific pollen deposition on S. sylvatica stigmas declined sharply, with 81.5% reduction within 4 days. Our results demonstrate that invasion by I. glandulifera can rapidly impair pollination function of a co-flowering native species through changes in pollen transport and transfer efficiency, even before strong shifts in visitation patterns become apparent. By capturing early invasion dynamics through experimental introduction, this study highlights the importance of direct pollen-based metrics for understanding how plant invasions disrupt pollination processes.

Nutrient resorption from senescing leaves (before abscission) prolongs nutrient residence time within plants and enhances nutrient recycling, playing a crucial role in plant survival and growth. While several studies have documented nutrient resorption responses to nitrogen or phosphorus fertilization, the combined nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization was limited, particularly in dioecious plants. This study investigated the effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization, as well as combined nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization, on biomass accumulation and allocation, nutrient resorption, photosynthetic nitrogen and phosphorus use efficiencies, and leaf ecological traits in female and male Populus cathayana. Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization enhanced biomass accumulation and photosynthetic capacity in both sexes, while reducing the root to shoot ratio and nitrogen (NRE) and phosphorus (PRE) resorption efficiencies. Furthermore, NRE of both sexes exhibited a negative correlation with total biomass but a positive correlation with root to shoot ratio. NRE in males was positively associated with leaf thickness, leaf mass per area, and leaf vein density, while PRE in female plants exhibited a positive correlation only with leaf vein density. Additionally, photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency in female plants decreased with increasing leaf thickness, leaf mass per area, and leaf vein density. Whereas, photosynthetic phosphorus use efficiency in both sexes showed positive correlations with these leaf traits. These findings found that nutrient resorption may be regulated by biomass accumulation and allocation, leaf ecological traits, and photosynthetic nitrogen and phosphorus use, enhancing our understanding of the plant nutrient acquisition and utilization mechanism.

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Glycosylation plays a crucial role in modulating auxin homeostasis through the formation of auxin glycoside conjugates. However, the involved mechanisms and relevant physiological significances are largely unknown or poorly understood. PgUGT84K2 enzyme was purified and the enzyme activity was identified by HPLC and LC/MS analyses. We heterologously overexpressed PgUGT84K2 in Arabidopsis thaliana and analysed glycosyltransferase activity and glycosylated metabolites IBA-Glc in transgenic plants. Drought and salt stress assays of the transgenic plants were conducted and the expression of related genes was analysed by quantitative RT-PCR. Panax ginseng glycosyltransferase PgUGT84K2 was at the first time identified to be an IBA glycosyltransferase. Assessment of enzyme activity and IBA conjugates in transgenic plants ectopically expressing PgUGT84K2 indicated that the PgUGT84K2 catalytic specificity was maintained in planta. Heterologous overexpression of PgUGT84K2 in Arabidopsis thaliana led to significantly enhanced tolerance to drought and salt stresses, with improved germination rates, seedling greening rates and seedling survival rates than the wild type. Overexpression of PgUGT84K2 enhanced ROS scavenging in transgenic plants and quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed the up-regulation of key antioxidant enzyme genes SOD1, SOD3, CAT2, CAT3 and ABA biosynthesis genes AAO1, AAO3, along with down-regulation of ABA signalling repressors EM1 and EM6. Our results suggest that PgUGT84K2, an IBA glycosyltransferase, might enhance stress tolerance through modulating ABA signalling and enhancing ROS scavenging via the enzymatic antioxidant system, and provide a potential strategy to breed drought and salt resistant P. ginseng.

Pollination by beetles has evolved multiple times in flowering plants but with relatively few plant species adapted specifically to pollination by scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). However, some plant species may produce floral scents and offer floral rewards that attract scarabs alongside other pollinator functional groups. In Banksia attenuata (Proteaceae), nocturnal observations led to the discovery of extensive floral visitation by beetles, alongside birds, mammals and diurnal insects. Given the distinctive melon-like floral scent of B. attenuata, we predicted long-distance attraction of beetles by chemical cues. We undertook floral visitor surveys aided by camera traps and video recordings, and quantified insect pollen loads. We used GC-MS to identify candidate beetle-attracting compounds, which we then synthesised and tested in field bioassays. Honeyeaters, Honey possums and diurnal insects visited the flowers of B. attenuata. However, the most frequent visitors were nocturnal scarab beetles: Pachytricha minor and Phyllotocus occidentalis (Scarabeidae: Melolonthinae). Both beetle species fed on nectar and pollen and mated on the flowers. Beetles caught in the bioassays carried pure B. attenuata pollen. Floral volatiles of B. attenuata were dominated by two unusual compounds: 3,6-nondien-1-yl acetate and 3,6-nondien-1-ol that were not detected in 22 congeners. A synthetic mixture of these compounds proved strongly attractive to Phyllotocus occidentalis in the field. Nocturnal scarab beetles are a prominent component of the functionally diverse pollinators of B. attenuata. The attraction of Phyllotocus occidentalis by unusual floral volatiles suggests a case of adaptation to pollination by beetles among Australian Proteaceae, with remarkable parallels to some other plants pollinated by scarabs.

Fusarium wilt is a major problem in agriculture. It significantly affects the growth and development of chickpea and its management mainly relies on heavy use of chemical fertilizers. The negative impacts posed by the excessive use of chemical pesticides necessitate the investigation into microbial antagonism. Currently, root-associated single microorganisms form the basis for microbe-based biological control. Recent studies have highlighted the synergistic interaction among microbes for management of biotic stresses. The present study focussed on the development of an effective microbial consortium for enhanced plant growth and health. The biocontrol agents, Paenibacillus lentimorbus (NBRI-CHM12), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (NBRI-SN13) and Trichoderma harzianum (NBRI-Fx), were combined with P solubilizer Pseudomonas putida (NBRI-RA) based on their compatibility, plant growth-promoting traits (PGP) and antagonism against Fusarium oxysporum. The best selected consortium of NBRI-CHM12 and RA was inspected for disease management against F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceris on sensitive (JG-62) and resistant (K-850) chickpea cultivars. The NBRI-CHM12+RA consortium led to increased productivity (dry weight) in both JG-62 (81.48%) and K-850 (20.5%) cultivars. Modulation in pectin- and cellulose-degrading enzymes (PCDEs), reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidants and phenylpropanoid activity in plant justifies enhanced induced systemic resistance in the presence of consortium. The consortium also showed a reduction in Fusarium population compared to individual treatments, positively correlating with enhanced soil microbial enzymatic activities. The use of microbial consortia is best suited to fulfil the dual purpose of plant growth promotion and disease suppression.

Arabidopsis wildtype plants suffer symptoms of stress at a sudden increase in CO2 concentration, resulting from perturbation of photosynthetic electron transport. Defense-related gene induction includes increased methionine cycle and glucosinolates metabolism. Elevated CO2 (eCO2) increases photosynthetic performance of plants, but also leads to decreased nitrogen-to-carbon ratio and a long-term decline in photosynthetic activity, known as photosynthetic acclimation. It is unclear whether initially increased CO2 assimilation or perturbation of the physiological homeostasis triggers acclimation. Here, we used a combination of omics analysis to investigate immediate (1 day) and delayed (7 days) responses of plants to rising atmospheric CO2, thus allowing us to discriminate regulatory from metabolic effects. Responses of wildtype Arabidopsis plants, Columbia-0, were compared to those of the hpr1-1 mutant of peroxisomal hydroxy-pyruvate reductase that has reduced photorespiratory turnover at ambient CO2. Comparisons enabled separating the impact of eCO2 (1000 ppm) on increased carbon assimilation from that of reduced photorespiration. While both genotypes had elevated sugar levels at eCO2, the wildtype displayed symptoms of stress that were accompanied by perturbation of the photosynthetic electron transport chain. These were consistent with physiological parameters, including non-photochemical quenching and chlorophyll fluorescence. The induction of defense-related mechanisms was tightly associated with increased sulfate assimilation, methionine cycle activity and glucosinolates metabolism, all being early responses of the wildtype to eCO2. Transcriptome data pointed to hexokinase1 as a central regulatory hub in orchestrating these responses. In contrast, eCO2 enabled the hpr1-1 mutant to metabolically align with the wildtype. Results offer new interpretations of how the impairment of carbon and nitrogen recycling is compensated in the hpr1-1 mutant.