Xinhong Wang

The hollowed root formation and 4′-deoxyflavone accumulation in Scutellaria baicalensis are associated with jasmonate (JAs) signaling, but the upstream regulators integrating these processes with drought tolerance remain unknown. This study investigated whether the 13-lipoxygenase gene SbLOX3 may act as a modulator. Transgenic plants overexpressing SbLOX3 or with RNAi suppression were exposed to polyethylene glycol-simulated and long-term soil drought stress. Metabolite profiling, gene expression analysis, root morphological measurements, and histological observations were conducted. Overexpression of SbLOX3 elevated JAs and 4′-deoxyflavone levels, enhanced root growth and drought tolerance, and induced precocious hollow development in roots under water deficit. In contrast, RNAi lines showed reduced JAs and flavonoid contents, impaired drought tolerance, and absence of hollow formation. SbLOX3 was strongly expressed in xylem, cambium, and phloem under drought. The results suggest that SbLOX3 is associated with a coordinated responseregulate to drought by promoting defensive flavonoid biosynthesis and morphological adaptation, thereby potentially contributing to the accumulation of measured flavonoids.

Background: Wild jujube (Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa) exhibits remarkable tolerance to saline-alkali stress, yet its molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. 3-ketoacyl-CoA synthase (KCS) is a key enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs), which constitute pivotal precursors for membrane lipids involved in stress adaptation. Methods: Through genome-wide analysis and molecular biology techniques, 20 ZjKCS genes were identified. Results: The ZjKCS genes were grouped into nine subfamilies, exhibiting highly conserved gene structures, motifs, and functional domains within each subfamily. Two pairs of collinear gene pairs were identified, with the ZjKCS12-ZjKCS18 pair retaining core conserved functions despite intense purifying selection. ZjKCS genes are rich in cis-acting elements associated with light transduction, phytohormone responses, and abiotic stress adaptation. Tissue-specific expression patterns of ZjKCS under light, ABA (abscisic acid), and MeJA (methyl jasmonate) treatments were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Under saline-alkali stress, ZjKCS genes were significantly upregulated, with most showing strong sustained induction during later treatment stages. Conclusions: These findings indicate that the ZjKCS family participates in saline-alkali stress and abiotic stress adaptation, potentially by enhancing VLCFA synthesis to reinforce and remodel membrane lipid structure. This study provides a foundation for elucidating lipid-mediated stress resistance mechanisms in stress-tolerant fruit trees.

Background/Objectives: Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa (sour jujube) is a traditional medicinal plant with remarkable tolerance to abiotic stresses, particularly salinity. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying its salt stress tolerance remain unclear. NHX genes play a crucial role in plant adaptation to salt stress by mediating Na⁺/K⁺ transport to maintain intracellular ion homeostasis and pH balance. Although the NHX gene family has been characterized in many plant species, its functional characteristics in sour jujube have not yet been systematically investigated. Methods: In this study, using Arabidopsis thaliana as a reference, we identified NHX genes in sour jujube through genome-wide analysis and molecular approaches, and systematically analyzed their phylogenetic relationships, chromosomal locations, conserved motifs, gene structures, cis-regulatory elements in promoter regions, and expression patterns under abiotic stresses, particularly salt stress. Results: The results revealed the presence of eight NHX genes distributed across six chromosomes in sour jujube, which were classified into three subfamilies: Vac-class, Endo-class, and PM-class. Members within the same evolutionary clade exhibited high structural conservation in motif composition and gene architecture. Except for the PM-class, all other clades contained amiloride-binding sites (FF(I/L)(Y/F)LFLLPPI). Analysis of cis-regulatory elements indicated that the promoter regions of these genes were enriched with elements related to defense responses, stress adaptation, and phytohormone signaling, further supporting their role in plant environmental adaptation. Additionally, the qRT-PCR analysis showed that most of the ZjNHX genes in both roots and leaves are up-regulated by salt. Notably, ZjNHX1 expression in roots increased approximately 40-fold within 3 h, whereas ZjNHX2 and ZjNHX3 were strongly induced in leaves under prolonged salt exposure. Conclusions: Taken together, this work gives a detailed overview of the ZjNHX genes and their important roles in response to salt stress in sour jujube. Our findings also provide a foundation for further functional characterization of this gene family.