Sorbitol mediates age-dependent changes in apple plant growth strategy through gibberellin signaling.

Plants experience various age-dependent changes during juvenile to adult vegetative phase. However, the regulatory mechanisms orchestrating the changes remain largely unknown in apple (). This study showed that tissue-cultured apple plants at juvenile, transition, and adult phase exhibit age-dependent changes in their plant growth, photosynthetic performance, hormone levels, and carbon distribution.

Age-dependent changes in leaf size in apple are governed by a cytokinin-integrated module.

Plants undergo various age-dependent changes in leaf morphology during juvenile to adult vegetative stage. However, the precise molecular mechanisms governing these changes in apple (Malus domestica) remain unknown. Here, we showed that CYTOKININ OXIDASE/DEHYDROGENASE5 (MdCKX5), an age-dependent gene, encodes a functional CKX enzyme and serves as the common downstream target of SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE (SPL) transcription factor MdSPL14 and WRKY transcription factor MdWRKY24 to control the degradation of cytokinin (CK).

MdASMT9-mediated melatonin biosynthesis enhances basal thermotolerance in apple plants.

High temperatures negatively impact the yield and quality of fruit crops. Exogenous melatonin (MT) application has been shown to enhance heat tolerance, but the response of endogenous MT to heat stress, particularly in perennial fruit trees, remains unclear. The present study investigated the effects of high temperatures on transgenic apple plants overexpressing the MT biosynthesis gene N-acetylserotonin methyltransferase 9 (MdASMT9).

Melatonin confers tolerance to nitrogen deficiency through regulating MdHY5 in apple plants.

Nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient for crop growth and development, significantly influencing both yield and quality. Melatonin (MT), a known enhancer of abiotic stress tolerance, has been extensively studied. However, its relationship with nutrient stress, particularly N deficiency, and the underlying regulatory mechanisms of MT on N absorption remain unclear.

A new strategy to improve Ganoderma polysaccharides production by symbiotic fungi elicitors through activating the biosynthetic pathway.

Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLP) attract growing attention due to their remarkable bioactivities, but the low content in raw materials remains a bottleneck severely restricting their application. We previously found a higher polysaccharides accumulation in Ganoderma lucidum cultured in continuous cropping soil, and soil symbiotic fungi are presumed as the key among many factors. Herein, 33 symbiotic fungi were isolated from the soil, and fungal elicitors were prepared to investigate their biotic eliciting effect on GLP biosynthesis.

Regulates Water Use Efficiency in Transgenic Apple () Under Long-Term Moderate Water Deficit.

Improved water use efficiency (WUE) promotes plant survival and crop yield under water deficit conditions. Although the plant-specific HD-Zip I transcription factors have important roles in plant adaptation to various abiotic stresses, including water deficit, their functions in regulating WUE of apple () are poorly understood. We characterized the role of in WUE regulation by subjecting transgenic plants to long-term moderate soil water deficit.

MdATG5a induces drought tolerance by improving the antioxidant defenses and promoting starch degradation in apple.

Drought occurrence seriously affects the productivity and quality of apple crop worldwide. Autophagy, a conserved process for the degradation and recycling of unwanted cellular components, is considered to positively regulate the tolerance of various abiotic stresses in plants. In the current study, we isolated two ATG5 homologs genes, namely, MdATG5a and MdATG5b, from apple, demonstrating their responsiveness to drought and oxidative stresses.

Overexpression of Enhances Drought Tolerance by Alleviating Oxidative Damage and Promoting Water Uptake in Transgenic Apple.

Water deficit adversely affects apple () productivity on the Loess Plateau. Autophagy plays a key role in plant responses to unfavorable environmental conditions. Previously, we demonstrated that a core apple autophagy-related protein, , was responsive to various stresses at the transcript level.

Overexpression of MdATG8i improves water use efficiency in transgenic apple by modulating photosynthesis, osmotic balance, and autophagic activity under moderate water deficit.

Water deficit is one of the major limiting factors for apple (Malus domestica) production on the Loess Plateau, a major apple cultivation area in China. The identification of genes related to the regulation of water use efficiency (WUE) is a crucial aspect of crop breeding programs. As a conserved degradation and recycling mechanism in eukaryotes, autophagy has been reported to participate in various stress responses.

The HD-Zip I transcription factor MdHB7-like confers tolerance to salinity in transgenic apple (Malus domestica).

Salinity is a major environmental constraint that substantially limits global agricultural productivity. HD-Zip I transcription factors are involved in plant responses to salt stress, but little is known about the HD-Zip I genes in apple (Malus domestica). Here, we characterized the function of an apple HD-Zip I gene (MdHB7-like) and report that its expression is induced by salt stress.

Ionomic and metabolomic analyses reveal the resistance response mechanism to saline-alkali stress in Malus halliana seedlings.

Saline-alkali stress is a major abiotic stress limiting plant growth. The selection of saline-alkali-tolerant rootstock is an effective strategy to reduce salinization-alkalization influence in apple production. M.

Integrated physiologic, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses of adaptation to saline-alkali stress.

Saline-alkali stress is a severely adverse abiotic stress limiting plant growth. Koehne is an apple rootstock that is tolerant to saline-alkali stress. To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the tolerance of to saline-alkali stress, an integrated metabolomic and proteomic approach was used to analyze the plant pathways involved in the stress response of the plant and its regulatory mechanisms.

Transcriptome analysis in Malus halliana roots in response to iron deficiency reveals insight into sugar regulation.

Iron (Fe) deficiency is a frequent nutritional problem limiting apple production in calcareous soils. The utilization of rootstock that is resistant to Fe deficiency is an effective way to solve this problem. Malus halliana is an Fe deficiency-tolerant rootstock; however, few molecular studies have been conducted on M.

Transcriptional and physiological analyses of short-term Iron deficiency response in apple seedlings provide insight into the regulation involved in photosynthesis.

Background: Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient for plants. Utilization of Fe deficiency-tolerant rootstock is an effective strategy to prevent Fe deficiency problems in fruit trees production. Malus halliana is an apple rootstock that is resistant to Fe deficiency; however, few molecular studies have been conducted on M.