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Functional Plant Biology Functional Plant Biology Society
Plant function and evolutionary biology

Functional Plant Biology

Functional Plant Biology

Functional Plant Biology publishes new and significant information on the functional biology of plants at all scales from the molecular through whole plant to community. Read more about the journalMore

Editor-in-Chief: Sergey Shabala

Publishing Model: Hybrid. Open Access options available.

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Latest

These articles are the latest published in the journal. Functional Plant Biology has moved to a continuous publication model. More information is available on our Continuous Publication page.

Published online 18 March 2024

FP23252Physiological and biochemical assortment in different wheat genotypes (Triticum aestivum L.) under rain fed conditions

Syeda Okasha Javed, Shahid Iqbal Awan, Sania Shouket, Kotb A. Attia 0000-0002-2992-1765, Zhu Xi, Arif Ahmed Mohammed, Sher Aslam Khan, Sayeda Tanavish Javed and Yasir Majeed 0009-0000-2141-2010
 

Wheat, a staple cereal crop, faces various challenges when grown under diverse agro-climatic conditions. This study delves into the physio-chemical diversity of different wheat genotypes under rain-fed conditions, uncovering key traits like peduncle length, flag leaf area and more. The findings highlight highly diverse genotypes suitable for rain-fed cultivation, shedding new light on wheat diversity and potential for future breeding programs.

This article belongs to the Collection Functional Genomics for Developing Climate Resilient Crops.

Published online 14 March 2024

FP23102Open field hardening improves leaf physiological drought tolerance in young plants of Sindora siamensis

Warunya Paethaisong, Preeyanuch Lakhunthod, Supranee Santanoo, Natthamon Chandarak, Sujittra Onwan, Naruemol Kaewjampa and Anoma Dongsansuk 0000-0002-0414-092X
 

Sindora siamensis is a tree with medicinal and commerical value. However, it is sensitive to drought. Open field hardening may be an important role for seedlings grown in the nursery before transplanting to the field. Our study showed that open field hardening enabled mitigation of leaf drought injury resulting in slight wilting at leaf margin, and its leaf stayed green after rewatering. Acclimatising young trees to the outside environemnt before transplanting to the field improve plant survival and growth.

Pugionium cornutum is drought tolerant with sand fixation properties, but the metabolomics analysis in P. cornutum were still unclear. In this study, the morphological index and metabolites of root were significantly changed and upregulated metabolites, such as L-arginosuccinate, L-tyrosine, p-coumarate, caffeate, ferulate, etc., may be the main reason for promoting root growth and increasing drought resistance of P. cornutum seedlings. Our results lay the foundation for further study of drought resistance mechanism in this species.

Published online 14 March 2024

FP23231Root anatomical plasticity contributes to the different adaptive responses of two Phragmites species to water-deficit and low-oxygen conditions

Takaki Yamauchi 0000-0002-6772-6506, Kurumi Sumi, Hiromitsu Morishita and Yasuyuki Nomura
 

Soil moisture levels fluctuate with rainfall, and thus plants should have plasticity to adapt to the varying soil moisture levels in natural fields. Root anatomy is determined by the balance of tissue areas and chemical compositions of some specialised cells and varies among plant species and growth conditions. We identified key root anatomical features that contribute to the adaptive responses of two Phragmites species and proposed a model to adapt to drought and/or flooding stresses caused by ongoing climate change.

This article belongs to the Collection Flooding Stress and Hypoxic Responses in Plants.

Published online 12 March 2024

FP23280Investigating the effect of drought stress and methanol spraying on the influential genes in the Calvin cycle and photorespiration of rapeseed (Brassica napus)

Parisa Taghvimi, Mohammad Mohsenzadeh Golfazani 0000-0003-4364-8264, Mohammad Mahdi Taghvaei 0000-0002-0934-813X and Habibollah Samizadeh Lahiji 0000-0002-2278-9079
 

Bioinformatics analysis showed associations between Calvin cycle and photorespiration pathways’ key genes. Some microRNAs were identified as post-transcriptional regulators in rapeseed (Brassica napus). The methanol foliar application enhanced plant tolerance under drought stress.

Published online 12 March 2024

FP23210Overexpression of the alfalfa (Medicago sativa) gene, MsKMS1, negatively regulates seed germination in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum)

Yiqi Wan, Yuman Cao, Zhiqiang Zhang, Bo Han, Maojin Lu, Zijie Zhuo, Xinyi Gao, Peizhi Yang 0000-0002-5937-837X and Yafang Wang 0000-0002-8104-0375
 

Plants, as sessile, have developed a series of mechanisms to adapt the environmental stresses, which was regulated by a cascade of genes and transcriptional factors. Here, we analysed the gene function of MsKMS1 in seed germination of transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) under abiotic stress conditions and found that MsKMS1 negatively affected seed germination by increasing ABA and salicylic acid contents, regulating the expression of genes related to ABA and GA biosynthesis.

Published online 06 March 2024

FP23227Root photosynthesis prevents hypoxia in the epiphytic orchid Phalaenopsis

Luca Brunello 0000-0002-0284-3541, Ester Polverini, Giulia Lauria, Marco Landi, Lucia Guidi, Elena Loreti 0000-0002-5255-4983 and Pierdomenico Perata 0000-0001-9444-0610
 

Orchid (Phalaenopsis spp.) is a most popular flowering potted plant. However, it has been poorly studied at the physiological and molecular level. The bulky aerial roots of Phalaenopsis have a large diameter and are possibly photosynthetically active. Here, we present evidence demonstrating that root photosynthesis prevents hypoxia in the root tissue. Our results support the existence of hypoxic niches in plant roots and highlight the existence of mechanisms to modulate the intensity of hypoxia.

This article belongs to the Collection Flooding Stress and Hypoxic Responses in Plants.

Published online 29 February 2024

FP23261Genome-wide identification, phylogeny and expression analysis of the R2R3-MYB gene family in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) under abiotic stress

Pengcheng Ding, Peng Tang, Xiaofen Li, Adeela Haroon, Saima Nasreen, Hafeez Noor 0000-0003-3758-0857, Kotb A. Attia 0000-0002-2992-1765, Asmaa M. Abushady, Rongzhen Wang, Kaiyuan Cui, Xiangyun Wu, Min Sun and Zhiqiang Gao
 

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) produces nutritious and gluten-free grains with a fine balance between carbohydrates, essential amino acids, oils, minerals, vitamins, and dietary fibres. The transcription factors (TFs) are the proteins regulating rate of transcription of genetic information from DNA to messenger RNA. The R2R3-MYB transcription factors are the largest subfamily of the MYB family in plants, whereas the numbers of 4R-MYB and 3R-MYB genes are relatively small. In this study, we identified 103 poplar R2R3-MYB transcription factor genes.

This article belongs to the Collection Functional Genomics for Developing Climate Resilient Crops.

Published online 29 February 2024

FP23193The mechanisms behind the contrasting responses to waterlogging in black-grass (Alopecurus myosuroides) and wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Christian Harrison 0009-0004-3701-7372, Clarice Noleto-Dias 0000-0003-0241-2888, Gianluca Ruvo 0009-0001-1177-754X, David J. Hughes 0000-0003-1439-5421, Daniel P. Smith 0000-0003-3158-3969, Andrew Mead 0000-0002-4909-8235, Jane L. Ward 0000-0002-4376-8955, Sigrid Heuer 0000-0001-8273-4515 and Dana R. MacGregor 0000-0003-0543-0408
 

Black-grass is a problematic weed of winter wheat. To better understand if waterlogging tolerance increases its weediness, we conducted controlled waterlogging studies comparing the physiology and molecular responses of black-grass and wheat. These revealed differences in roots and aerial tissues within and between species. Molecular analyses showed that wheat mounts a significant molecular response, altering gene expression and metabolites with waterlogging, whereas black-grass showed minimal responses to waterlogging despite its apparent tolerance.

This article belongs to the Collection Flooding Stress and Hypoxic Responses in Plants.

Published online 23 February 2024

FP23228Introducing the halophyte Salicornia europaea to investigate combined impact of salt and tidal submergence conditions

Angelina Jordine 0009-0001-2121-2454, Julia Retzlaff 0009-0000-2773-0773, Lina Gens, Brigitta Ehrt, Lisa Fürtauer 0000-0001-5248-4105 and Joost T. van Dongen 0000-0001-7944-9289
 

The extremophile Salicornia europaea is characterised for its tolerance to high salt and flooding conditions. Here, we studied the effect of multiple and simultaneous environmental perturbations of salinity and waterlogging on its growth. Responses to salt and hypoxia reciprocally affected each other when applied simultaneously, demonstrating the significance to investigate signalling-crosstalk between environmental stress reactions in tolerant species.

This article belongs to the Collection Flooding Stress and Hypoxic Responses in Plants.

Published online 23 February 2024

FP23255Differential effects of elevated CO2 on awn and glume metabolism in durum wheat (Triticum durum)

Guillaume Tcherkez 0000-0002-3339-956X, Sinda Ben Mariem, Iván Jauregui, Luis Larraya, Jose M. García-Mina, Angel M. Zamarreño, Andreas Fangmeier and Iker Aranjuelo 0000-0002-8231-5043
 

The specific impact of elevated CO2 on metabolic pathways in wheat (Triticum spp.) organs other than leaves is poorly documented. We addressed this aspect by taking advantage of a free-air CO2 enrichment experiment in durum wheat (Triticum durum). We found changes in polyamine and cytokinin metabolism under elevated CO2 in glumes and awns but no modifications in final composition at maturity. Elevated CO2 mostly impacts on leaf metabolism but has little effect on glumes and awns.

Published online 23 February 2024

FP23002Meta-analysis of transcriptomic profiles in Dunaliella tertiolecta reveals molecular pathway responses to different abiotic stresses

Bahman Panahi 0000-0001-8523-994X, Mohammad Farhadian, Nahid Hosseinzadeh Gharajeh, Seyyed Abolghasem Mohammadi and Mohammad Amin Hejazi
 

Cross-talk between photosynthesis, fatty acids, starch and sucrose metabolism under multiple stress conditions were highlighted by network analysis of meta genes in Dunaliella tertiolecta. Coordinated expression of the tetrapyrrole intermediated were observed. Vitamin B6 metabolism, ribosome biogenesis and folate biosynthesis specifically responded to different stress conditions.

Published online 15 February 2024

FP23199Melatonin modulates the tolerance of plants to water stress: morphological response of the molecular mechanism

Minmin He 0009-0006-6023-9285, Gui Geng 0000-0002-2520-7185, Shuyang Mei, Gang Wang, Lihua Yu, Yao Xu and Yuguang Wang 0000-0003-2260-5652
 

Melatonin, as an exogenous hormone, has been widely used in improving plant stress resistance. This paper systematically describes how melatonin improves the ability of plants to resist water stress (drought and waterlogging) in the processes of photosynthesis, antioxidation and osmosis at the physiological and genetic levels. Melatonin can also improve plant stress resistance with other hormone crosstalk, which has high application value.

Published online 15 February 2024

FP23237Identification and expression analysis of SBP-Box-like (SPL) gene family disclose their contribution to abiotic stress and flower budding in pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan)

Tayyaba Shaheen, Abdul Rehman 0000-0002-2408-0725, Amany H. A. Abeed, Muhammad Waqas, Asad Aslam, Farrukh Azeem 0000-0002-2702-0330, Muhammad Qasim, Muhammad Afzal, Muhammad Farooq Azhar, Kotb A. Attia 0000-0002-2992-1765, Asmaa M. Abushady, Sezai Ercisli and Nazia Nahid 0000-0002-2075-3902
 

The pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) is a diploid legume, grown in humid and subtropic regions around the world. The gene family of Squamosa Promoter-binding like Proteins has been studied in different plant species, but is not yet fully explored in pigeon pea. The identified genes were classified into nine groups based on a phylogenetic analysis. Gene expression analysis using RNA sequencing revealed that CcSPL2.1, 3 and 13A were significantly upregulated in salt-tolerant cultivars, which could be further explored.

This article belongs to the Collection Functional Genomics for Developing Climate Resilient Crops.

Published online 13 February 2024

FP23216Understanding the mechanistic basis of plant adaptation to salinity and drought

Muhammad Waseem 0000-0001-7947-7722, Mehtab Muhammad Aslam 0000-0002-0890-4819 and Sunil Kumar Sahu
 

Environmental constraints like salinity and drought hinder plant growth by affecting plant morphology, physiology, biochemistry, and molecular processes, final crop productivity and threat to global food security. Researches on plant responses to salinity and drought stress is ongoing worldwide. Novel breeding strategies are being adopted due to their short-term impact on agriculture. Given agriculture’s current challenges, we must consider how to effectively transfer laboratory knowledge to the field to mitigate these challenges. This collection discusses plant responses to drought and salinity.

This article belongs to the Collection Understanding the Mechanistic Basis of Plant Adaptation to Salinity and Drought.

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These articles have been peer reviewed and accepted for publication. They are still in production and have not been edited, so may differ from the final published form.

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Best Paper Award

Akitomo Kawasaki has been awarded the ASPS-FPB Best Paper Award for 2021.

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