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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 is published under a continuous publication model. More information is available on our Continuous Publication page.

Published online 07 August 2025

FP25034Expression level of NHX1 and SOS1 genes is key to high salt tolerance of ancient emmer wheat: implications to tackling salt stress penalties of wheat yield

Zahra Abdehpour, Parviz Ehsanzadeh 0000-0003-1754-6838 and Faezeh Ghanati 0000-0002-2901-0152
 

A series of experiments were conducted to compare ancient emmer and spelt wheats to modern durum and bread wheats. Emmer wheats lost less K+ and photosynthetic pigments in response to salinity, and demonstrated greater proline accumulation and more antioxidant enzyme activity, compared to modern wheats. Our novel results indicated that an enhanced salt tolerance stems from the enhanced expression of SOS1 and NHX1 transporter genes by the emmer wheat. This study showed that emmer wheat tolerates 150 mM water salinity.

FP25034 Abstract  | PDF (534 KB) - $35.00   | FP25034Supplementary Material (348 KB)
Published online 31 July 2025

FP23242HuGAI1: a key transcription factor upregulated by trypsin, regulating phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and enhancing fruit shelf life in Hylocereus undatus

Xinyue Pang, Xinxin Chen, Hemin Wang, Jiaju Sun, Enyan Chen, Fuxin Li, Jingyu Jia, Bairu Li and Xin Li 0000-0002-5976-2988
 

DELLA proteins can participate in the biosynthesis pathway of flavonoids. Trypsin can upregulate the expression of HuGAI1. And HuGAI1, by participating in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, regulates the biosynthesis of flavonoids and flavonols, leading to an increase in antioxidant flavonoid content and, consequently, enhancing fruit resistance. This research provides a reference for trypsin’s ability to enhance the preservation of H. undatus by influencing GRAS family genes.

FP23242 Abstract  |  FP23242 Full Text  | FP23242PDF (2 MB)  | FP23242Supplementary Material (1.9 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 25 July 2025

FP24266Phenotyping of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa) genotypes with different growth habits

Alison R. Gill 0000-0003-4366-6710, Beth R. Loveys, Christopher J. Brien 0000-0003-0581-1817, Nathaniel Jewell, Bettina Berger, Timothy R. Cavagnaro 0000-0002-9922-5677 and Rachel A. Burton 0000-0002-0638-4709
 

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa) growth habits vary from tall and thin to short and bushy. We compared the growth patterns and water deficit responses in genotypes with different growth habits using state-of-the-art automated imaging and watering platforms. Water deficit responses were consistent, but short, bushy genotypes show potential for the greatest water use efficiency, providing valuable insight to inform field-based agronomic decisions.

FP24266 Abstract  |  FP24266 Full Text  | FP24266PDF (3.1 MB)  | FP24266Supplementary Material (638 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 21 July 2025

FP24326Morphological and molecular identification of indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizosphere of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) and their role in nutrient uptake

Kamran Akbar, Tabassum Yaseen, Banzeer Ahsan Abbasi, Javed Iqbal, Badr Alharthi, Sajid Fiaz 0000-0001-9097-4359, Salma Noureen, Shumaila Ijaz, Ejaz Aziz and Rashid Iqbal
 

We assessed the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on growth, nutrient uptake, and productivity of chickpea (Cicer arietinum), and AMF diversity in two soils in Pakistan. Soil from Bhakkar had higher nitrogen content than Khushab. Root colonisation was greater in Khushab than Bhakkar, with colonisation influencing phosphorus uptake in both regions. Glomus and Acaulospora were the most dominant genera. Chickpeas from Bhakkar had higher protein content and nutrient concentrations than Khushab. AMF colonisation increased plant moisture, fats, and carbohydrates.

This article belongs to the collection: Soil Microbiome and Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Plants.

FP24326 Abstract  |  FP24326 Full Text  | FP24326PDF (4.4 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 17 July 2025

FP24345Genome-wide identification of bHLH gene family and screening of genes related to prickle development in Zanthoxylum armatum

Yuwei Yi, Hualin Zou, Nuo Wang, Yansheng Xue, Weiwei Zhang 0000-0003-0800-4797, Feng Xu, Jiabao Ye and Yongling Liao
 

Zanthoxylum armatum (pepper) has important edible and medicinal value, but the existence of prickles of Z. armatum makes the harvesting work complicated. One hundred and ninety-five ZabHLHs were identified in the genome of Z. armatum. We predict that ZabHLH110, ZabHLH161, and ZabHLH194 are most likely related to prickle development in Z. armatum. This study is helpful to further explore the potential role and mechanism of ZabHLHs in the formation of Z. armatum prickles.

FP24345 Abstract  | PDF (2 MB) - $35.00   | FP24345Supplementary Material (1.1 MB)
Published online 15 July 2025

FP25085Effects of shading on physiological characteristics of Bletilla striata

Hanyue Xue, Xiaoxuan Zeng, Liu Yang, Miao Xiong, Xiaoyu Ming, Xiantong Wang, Xuan Yang, Xiaoyu Wang, Fuwen Luo, Chao Zhang and Xiaofang Yu 0000-0002-1933-636X
 

Moderate shading promotes the growth of Bletilla striata by enhancing chlorophyll content, photosynthetic efficiency, and antioxidant defence mechanisms. Seasonal water stress further modulated oxidative responses. These findings provide new insights into the adaptive strategies of B. striata to light and water availability, informing improved cultivation in horticultural and ecological applications.

FP25085 Abstract  | PDF (1.5 MB) - $35.00 
Published online 14 July 2025

FP25049Discovery of protein interactors of SUGARWINs in Saccharum officinarum using cDNA library screening

Aqsa Parvaiz 0000-0001-8180-2168, Muhammad Mubashar Zafar 0000-0002-5664-138X, Faiz Ahmad Joyia, Sultana Anwar, Andrei Smertenko, Hira Kamal 0000-0001-6503-2167, Saba Zafar 0000-0001-7317-0084, Mishal Subhan 0000-0002-6797-9175, Muhammad Sarwar Khan, Mahmoud F. Seleiman, Majed A. Alotaibi 0009-0000-3402-2476, Sezai Ercisli, Ghulam Mustafa and Xuefei Jiang
 

Sugarcane yield is threatened by fungal pathogens, prompting plants to activate defense proteins such as SUGARWINs. This study identified two SUGARWIN interactors – oxygen evolving enhancer protein 1 and synaptotagmin 1 – through cDNA library screening, with interactions confirmed by biomolecular fluorescence complementation assay. These proteins may contribute to fungal resistance, offering insights into sugarcane’s defense mechanisms and potential strategies for enhancing crop protection.

This article belongs to the collection: Functional Genomics for Developing Climate Resilient Crops - Volume II.

FP25049 Abstract  | PDF (2.2 MB) - $35.00 
Published online 10 July 2025

FP25092Nitric oxide regulates water status, antioxidant enzymes, nutritional balance, and growth of gazania (Gazania rigens) under drought stress

Muhammad Ahsan 0000-0002-7656-1547, Aasma Tufail, Aftab Jamal 0000-0001-8518-3130, Hatim M. Al-Yasi, Emanuele Radicetti, Muhammad Ammar Raza, Ali Bakhsh, Mateen Sajid, Zaibun-Nisa Memon and Mohammad Valipour
 

Drought exposure can lead to substantial agricultural yield losses, causing agriculture to collapse in many developing countries. This study aimed to examine the beneficial effects of nitric oxide spray on Gazania regens under drought conditions and the results showed that nitric oxide application helped reduce the negative effects of drought on gazania. It is suggested that supplementing with nitric oxide could be a practical and environmentally friendly approach to enhance drought resilience in Gazania regens.

FP25092 Abstract  | PDF (1.4 MB) - $35.00 
Published online 01 July 2025

FP24183Trehalose application mitigates drought stress in by enhancing photosynthesis, antioxidant activity, and osmolyte production in sugar beet (Betus vulgaris)

Yuyu Hao, Yuning Zhai, Piergiorgio Stevanato, Ruixing Li, Lihua Yu, Gui Geng, Lihua Wang, Yao Xu, Jiahui Liu 0009-0000-5516-1782 and Yuguang Wang
 

Trehalose is a disaccharide that can alleviate abiotic stress. In our study, different concentrations of Tre (5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 mM) were applied foliarly to sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) seedlings during drought stress. Compared with drought stress, 20 mM trehalose treatment enhanced the net photosynthetic rate, antioxidant enzyme activity, and altered the content of osmotic substances in sugar beet seedlings.

FP24183 Abstract  | PDF (2.7 MB) - $35.00 
Published online 26 June 2025

FP25020Impact of Helicoverpa armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) infestation and wounding on gene expression of defense-related genes and chlorophyll fluorescence in common bean

Abdurrahman Sami Koca 0000-0002-7657-5615, Vahdettin Çiftçi and Mehmet Zahit Yeken 0000-0003-0490-371X
 

We examined the expression of four defense-related genes, PvPAL, PvLOX, PvGST, and PvPOD, in common bean under Helicoverpa armigera infestation and wounding. We found that all genes were significantly upregulated in response to H. armigera, with distinct expression profiles compared to wounding. Marked reductions in chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (Fv/Fm, PIABS, ETo/RC) were determined under both H. armigera infestation and wounding. In particular, findings highlight potential roles of PvLOX and PvGST genes in common bean’s defense against herbivory and wounding.

This article belongs to the collection: Functional Genomics for Developing Climate Resilient Crops - Volume II.

FP25020 Abstract  | PDF (2.3 MB) - $35.00 
Published online 24 June 2025

FP24297Enriched enzymes and crosstalking KEGG pathways in the rhizospheric soil fungiome of the wild plant Moringa oleifera

Rewaa S. Jalal 0000-0002-8372-9117, Abeer S. Aloufi, Abeer Al-Andal 0000-0003-3957-2391, Nahaa M. Alotaibi, Haneen W. Abuauf, Fatimah M. Alshehrei, Mohammed Y. Refai, Sahar A. Alshareef, Alaa A. Alnahari, Fatmah O. Sefrji, Abeer M. Almutrafy and Aala A. Abulfaraj 0000-0001-5833-2495
 

We investigate the rhizospheric mycobiome of Moringa oleifera, identifying pivotal genes encoding enzymes integral to metabolic pathways, as per KEGG. Fungal taxa from Mucoromycota and Zoopagomycota, including Rhizophagus and Mucor ambiguus, harbour enzymes crucial for metabolic, genetic and environmental processes. These enzymes facilitate the biosynthesis of metabolites such as acetyl-CoA and isoleucine essential for DNA repair, energy metabolism and membrane integrity. We underscore the symbiotic relationship between fungal enzymes and Moringa roots, optimising nutrient acquisition and energy provisioning.

This article belongs to the collection: Soil Microbiome and Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Plants.

FP24297 Abstract  |  FP24297 Full Text  | FP24297PDF (501 KB)  | FP24297Corrigendum (138 KB)  | FP24297Supplementary Material (50.1 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 20 June 2025

FP25045The gibberellic acid responsive GmbHLHm1 transcription factor influences nodule development, nitrogen fixation activity and shoot nitrogen content in soybean (Glycine max)

Die Hu, Zhengyu Wen, Nijat Imin, Kanwarpal S. Dhugga and Brent N. Kaiser 0000-0001-6167-2423
 

The genetic regulation of soybean nitrogen fixation is poorly understood. Here, we describe evidence for a membrane bound basic helix loop helix transcription factor (GmbHLHm1) influencing nodule development and nitrogen fixation when either silenced (negative) or overexpressed (positive). We also demonstrate a preliminary link with gibberellic acid in the control of GmbHLHm1 expression in soybean (Glycine max) nodules.

FP25045 Abstract  |  FP25045 Full Text  | FP25045PDF (1.3 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 13 June 2025

FP24226Spermidine synthase genes from mulberry play an important role in drought stress tolerance by altering antioxidant enzymes and osmotic regulation

Dan Liu 0000-0002-5868-9459, Qiang Lin, Changyu Qiu, Xiaomei Lu and Ningjia He
 

Drought stress is one of the main abiotic stresses that cause plant yield reduction, and research on improving plant drought tolerance has attracted widespread attention. Our previous experiments confirmed that two mulberry spermidine synthase genes (MnSPDS1 and MnSPDS2) encode for functional proteins and were expressed highly under drought stress. Overexpression of MnSPDS1/MnSPDS2 at the physiological level alleviated membrane damage caused by drought and improved osmotic regulation and antioxidant capacity. These results suggest that a high level of accumulation of spermidine in the mulberry conferred a high tolerance to drought stress.

FP24226 Abstract  | PDF (2.3 MB) - $35.00   | FP24226Supplementary Material (721 KB)

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Collections

Collections are a curation of articles relevant to a topical research area

Soil Microbiome and Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Plants

This Collection of Functional Plant Biology papers will focus on the intricate interactions between soil microbes and abiotic stress factors such as drought, salinity, and heavy metals, and their collective impact on plant root physiology, growth, and hormonal dynamics. Emphasising the role of microbial communities in enhancing plant resilience, this collection will explore mechanisms that mitigate stress responses and improve crop performance. By integrating current research on microbial-plant interactions and abiotic stress, the collection aims to advance our understanding of sustainable agricultural practices and provide insights into strategies for improving plant productivity under environmental constraints.

Collection Editors
Dr Muhammad Saqlain Zaheer (Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology)
Dr Hafiz Haider Ali (Government College University Lahore (GCUL))
Dr Clarisse Brígido (Universidade de Évora)
Dr Debadatta Sethi (Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology)

Last Updated: 21 Jul 2025

Functional Genomics for Developing Climate Resilient Crops - Volume II

This Collection of Functional Plant Biology papers summarises the technological and conceptual advances in genetics and functional genomics that have the potential to achieve the 2nd sustainable development goal of zero hunger under challenging climatic conditions. This collection represents Vol. II of this series.

Collection Editors
Sajid Fiaz (Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, The University of Haripur, Pakistan)
Muhammad Azhar Nadeem (Sivas University of Science and Technology, Turkey)
Inzamam Ul Haq (Gansu Agricultural University, China)

Last Updated: 14 Jul 2025

Functional Genomics for Developing Climate Resilient Crops

This Collection of Functional Plant Biology includes articles summarising the technological and conceptual advancement in genetics and functional genomics with the potential for achieving the United Nations' second sustainable development goal of zero hunger under challenging climatic conditions. These articles illustrate the development of cutting-edge technologies helping researchers to develop germplasm with better resistance/tolerance for emerging food security threats.

Collection Editors
Sajid Fiaz (Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, The University of Haripur, Pakistan)
Muhammad Azhar Nadeem (Sivas University of Science and Technology, Turkey)
Inzamam Ul Haq (Gansu Agricultural University, China)

Last Updated: 22 Apr 2025

Machine Learning for Plant Stress Phenotyping

This Collection of Functional Plant Biology explores cutting-edge phenotyping applications of machine learning approaches for stress detection and plant phenotyping at the different scales of their structural organisation.

Collection Editors
Jungpil Shin (University of Aizu, Japan)
Md. Al Mehedi Hasan (Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh)
Yong Seok Hwang (Kwangwoon University, Korea)

Last Updated: 20 Sep 2024

Flooding Stress and Responses to Hypoxia in Plants

This Collection of Functional Plant Biology focuses on ‘Flooding stress and responses to hypoxia in plants’ and includes papers demonstrating various plant responses to low-O2 conditions, flooding stress and a combination of stresses commonly found in flooded areas. This compilation significantly advances our understanding of flooding stress and responses to low-O2 levels in plants.

Collection Editors
Romy Schmidt-Schippers (University of Bielefeld, Germany)
Ole Pedersen (University of Copenhagen, Denmark)
Angelika Mustroph (University of Bayreuth, Germany)
Daan Weits (Utrecht University, Netherlands)
Juan Jiménez (University of Copenhagen, Denmark)

Last Updated: 15 Mar 2024

Understanding Mechanistic Basis of Plant Adaptation to Salinity and Drought

Drought and salinity are two major constraints in agriculture, restricting plant growth and yield in many parts of the world, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, and in the majority of plants, growth ceases under extreme exposure to drought and salt stress. This collection of Functional Plant Biology papers focuses on the advances and progress in studying the underlying mechanisms of salinity and drought tolerance in plants, particularly those that are considered agriculturally important.

Collection Editors
Muhammad Waseem (Hainan University, Sanya, China)
Mehtab Muhammad Aslam (The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, China)
Sunil Kumar Sahu (Beijing Genomics Institute, Shenzhen, China)

Last Updated: 15 Feb 2024

Editor’s Choice – ‘Abiotic stress signalling and adaptation’

Agricultural crop production has to be increased by 70% by 2050 to ensure food security and meet the challenge of feeding a population of 9.3 billion. The only way to meet this challenge is by identifying key genes and mechanisms mediating plant sensing, signalling and adaptation to adverse environmental conditions, and then using modern genetic tools to modify them, to enable better plant performance. The papers selected for this Functional Plant Biology Collection contribute to this task and, therefore, may be of substantial interest to readers.

Collection Editor
Professor Sergey Shabala, Editor-in-Chief

Last Updated: 02 Oct 2017

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