Journal of Applied Plant Biology

Evaluation of physiological responses and yield stability during long-term water deficiency memory of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0330

Crops are often exposed to simultaneous abiotic stresses affect plant health and yield. With respect to the plant life cycle, memorial ability helps to remember stress position and stimulate tolerant physiological, biochemical and morphological mechanism to compensate reducing yield. As a result of climate changing and reducing water resources, cotton cultivation is expanding on rainfed area, that is changing the production of cotton seed yield and fiber. This experiment was done to evaluate drought stress memory effects on yield and fiber in cotton. In this experiment seeds of cotton, Golestan genotype, affect for second and third times in drought stress exposure (rain-fed, 33%, 66%, and 100% FC) in split-plot factorial design. Results indicated that activation memorial drought stress equip plants against water deficiency. It is noticeable that epicuticular wax accumulation on cotton seed coat, total phenol, secondary metabolites such as Glycine betaine and protein content of seed were influenced. On the other side, Kiel percentage, 30-boll weight and total yield in S 33 in the water-stress exposure were significant. It can be concluded that not only does cotton-seed reproduction against 33% FC irrigation reduces water need, but also it improves seed tolerance for planting in the following crop season. So, memory stress as an important tolerant mechanism lead to enhance some physiological equipment in seed when seeds encounter with water shortage exposure in following years.

Plant Microbiome as the Golden Key to Sustainable Agriculture: From Interaction Mechanisms to Technological Applications and Future Challenges

Azam Taheri Shahrestani, Somayeh Sefidgar Shakolaie — Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0330

Introduction: The plant microbiome, comprising dynamic and complex communities of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and archaea, plays a fundamental role in plant health, growth, productivity, and the sustainability of agroecosystems.

Materials & Methods: This comprehensive review is based on a systematic search of peer-reviewed literature published between 2012 and 2026 using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. A total of 53 relevant articles were selected for inclusion.

Results: Microbial communities inhabit various plant compartments including the rhizosphere, phyllosphere, endosphere, and spermosphere. They enhance plant growth through direct mechanisms such as nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, siderophore and phytohormone production, as well as indirect mechanisms including induced systemic resistance (ISR) and biological control. Beyond direct effects, microbiomes are the primary drivers of biogeochemical cycles of nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon, and sulfur in soil, improving soil fertility and carbon sequestration. From an ecological and evolutionary perspective, the plant microbiome acts as a "hologenome," providing phenotypic plasticity and rapid adaptation to environmental changes. Synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) designed based on ecological principles represent one of the most promising approaches for disease management, nutrient acquisition, and stress tolerance enhancement.

Conclusion: Despite significant challenges in commercialization and field application, the transition from chemistry-based to biology-based agriculture, with microbiomes at its core, is imperative. Realizing this vision requires synergy among scientists, farmers, industry, and policymakers to adopt microbiome-aware management strategies.

Editorial: From Tobacco Leaves to Global Pharmacies How Molecular Pharming Is Reshaping the Biopharmaceutical Landscape

Seyed Javad Davarpanah — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0330

Over the past four decades, plant biology has undergone a quiet yet profound paradigm shift. Plants are no longer merely vehicles for photosynthesis or the base of the food chain; they are becoming “green factories” for precise biological manufacturing. As the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Applied Plant Biology, I have chosen to dedicate my first editorial to this topic because I firmly believe that molecular pharming stands at a critical inflection point between proof of concept and commercialization, and this transition will have a structural impact on the accessibility and sustainability of global biopharmaceuticals.

The Green Synthesized Co3O4 Nanostructures: Dual-Functional Materials for Nano-Agricultural Applications (Growth Promotion and Disease Control)

Ramin Karimian — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0330

Cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄) nanoparticles have shown significant potential in the field of nanoagriculture due to their unique catalytic, magnetic and antimicrobial properties. This study deals with the green synthesis of Co₃O₄ nanostructures using a simple reverse micelle-based method and evaluates their dual function as a plant growth promoter and bacterial disease control agent. Co₃O₄ nanotubes were synthesized using cobalt(II) chloride as a precursor, purified soybean oil as the organic phase and Tween 80 as a surfactant. The characterization of the nanostructures was carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

The agricultural performance evaluation of these nanostructures in research showed that their application leads to significant improvement in growth parameters including shoot length, root length and dry weight of plants and reduction in the percentage of infected leaf area. The antibacterial mechanism was through cell membrane destruction and apoptosis induction. These results indicate that greenly synthesized Co₃O₄ nanotubes can be used as a dual-purpose agent in sustainable agricultural management to promote plant growth and control bacterial diseases.