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Background To our knowledge, the role of exogenous fluoride (F – ) on aluminum (Al)-stress mitigation in plants has not been investigated yet. In this experiment, barley ( Hordeum vulgaris ) seedlings were exposed to excessive Al 3+ concentrations (aluminum chloride, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 mM) with and without fluoride (0.025% sodium fluoride) to explore the possible roles of fluoride on the alleviation of Al-toxicity. Results Overall, Al-stress caused inhibition of growth and the production of photosynthetic pigments. Principal component analysis showed that the growth inhibitory effects were driven by increased oxidative stress and the interruption of water balance in barley under Al-stress. Fluoride priming, on the other hand, enhanced growth traits, chlorophyll a and b content, as well as invigorated the protection against oxidative damage by enhancing overall antioxidant capacity. Fluoride also improved osmotic balance by protecting the plasma membrane. Fluoride reduced endogenous Al 3+ content, restored Al-induced inhibition of glutathione-S-transferase, and increased  the contents of phytochelatins and metallothioneins, suggesting that fluoride reduced Al 3+ uptake and improved chelation of Al 3+ . Conclusions Aluminum chloride-induced harmful effects are abridged by sodium fluoride on barely via enhancing antioxidative responses, the chelation mechanism causing reduction of Al uptake and accumulation of barely tissues. Advanced investigations are necessary to uncover the putative mechanisms underpinning fluoride-induced Al-stress tolerance in barley and other economically significant crops, where our results might serve as a solid reference.

Ralstonia solanacearum is a threatening pathogen that causes tomato wilt, which affects growing plants and reduces tomato yield. This study investigated the potential biocontrol of lactic acid bacteria cell-free culture supernatants (LAB-CFCS) against R. solanacearum . Four LAB, B. longum , L. plantarum , L. salivarius , and L. rhamnosus were examined as potential biological agents against R. solanacearum. The in vitro studies demonstrated the antibacterial activity of LAB-CFCS against R. solanacearum which suppressed bacterial growth and impeded biofilm formation. Organic acids (lactic and acetic) were detected in all LAB-CFCS. The highest lactic and acetic acid values (4.4 and 3.9 g/L) were observed in the CFCS of L. plantarum and L. rhamnosus , respectively. The application of LAB-CFCS on infected tomato plants reduced wilt incidence and severity. Treatment with CFCS of L. salivarius markedly reduced wilt incidence and severity in R. solanacearum –infected seedlings to 19.0% and 5.0%, respectively, compared with 100% and 80% in untreated infected controls. Infection by R. solanacearum elevates oxidative damage. Application of LAB-CFCS, particularly L. rhamnosus attenuates reactive oxygen species accumulation and lipid peroxidation while stimulating chlorophyll, carotenoids, antioxidant enzymes and salicylic acid-mediated defense signaling. In addition, LAB-CFCS significantly improved the contents of phenolics, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, and anthocyanins as a defense mechanism against R. solanacearum infection and modulated the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase. All LAB-CFCS treatments showed promising in vitro and in vivo efficacy against R. solanacearum . The ability of LAB-CFCS to stimulate key physiological processes points to their dual role in promoting growth and mitigating biotic stress.

Despite the widespread use of bioinoculants to improve crop productivity, their combined influence on seed metabolic composition and nutritional quality, especially through coordinated changes in primary and secondary metabolism, remains poorly understood. In this work, we investigated the individual and synergistic effects of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the metabolic profile, antioxidants, and ionic composition of soybean seeds. Results revealed significant increases in essential amino acids, especially with PGPR + AMF treatment, indicating improved nitrogen assimilation. The contents of cystine, phenylalanine, and tyrosine was also significantly elevated, with AMF and the combined treatment (PGPR + AMF) showing the highest levels. Primary metabolites like amino acids and organic acids (e.g., succinic acid) accumulated significantly, serving as precursors and signaling molecules that stimulate secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Consequently, phenolics, flavonoids, and isoflavones increased markedly following microbial inoculation. These secondary metabolites enhanced antioxidant capacity and plant defense, shown by higher total phenol and tocopherol levels, particularly under combined PGPR + AMF treatment. Improvements in saturated and unsaturated fatty acid profiles further indicate that bioinoculants can elevate the nutritional and industrial quality of soybean seeds. Overall, the buildup of primary metabolites supports the synthesis of antioxidant-rich secondary metabolites, highlighting bioinoculants’ role in enriching seed composition, boosting crop health and resilience, and agro-nutritional value.

In this study, canola (Brassica napus L.) seedlings were treated with individual and combined salinity and lithium (Li) stress, with and without acetic acid (AA) or nitric acid (NO), to investigate their possible roles against these stresses. Salinity intensified Li-induced damage, and the principal component analysis revealed that this was primarily driven by increased oxidative stress, deregulation of sodium and potassium accumulation, and an imbalance in tissue water content. However, pretreatment with AA and NO prompted growth, re-established sodium and potassium homeostasis, and enhanced the defense system against oxidative and nitrosative damage by triggering the antioxidant capacity. Combined stress negatively impacted phenylalanine ammonia lyase activity, affecting flavonoids, carotenoids, and anthocyanin levels, which were then restored in canola plants primed with AA and NO. Additionally, AA and NO helped to maintain osmotic balance by increasing trehalose and proline levels and upregulating signaling molecules such as hydrogen sulfide, γ-aminobutyric acid, and salicylic acid. Both AA and NO improved Li detoxification by increasing phytochelatins and metallothioneins, and reducing glutathione contents. Comparatively, AA exerted more effective protection against the detrimental effects of combined stress than NO. Our findings offer novel perspectives on the impacts of combining salt and Li stress.

Under the present era of changing climate, plants face simultaneous abiotic pressures rather than single stress. Under these unprecedented and joint environmental pressures, thorough research efforts toward controlling such major stresses should be done. A pot experiment was, therefore, conducted to unravel the salicylic acid (SA) mediated underlying defense mechanisms under concurrent stress (drought and salt) conditions in two varieties of Vicia faba L. (Assiut wardy and Assiut 84). The results revealed that separate and combined drought and salt stress decreased growth kinetic traits, photosynthetic pigments, water relations and mineral contents but increased oxidative stress biomarkers, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant gadgets, osmolytes and secondary metabolites. Application of SA to drought- and/or salt-stressed plants reduced oxidative damage by triggering the modulation of the activities of antioxidants and maintaining an enhanced pool of reducing agents under drought and/or salt stress conditions differentially in two varieties of faba bean. Thus, the application of SA to drought- and/or salt-stressed faba bean varieties could be used as a potential tool to induce resistance for increasing growth and crop yield under today’s era of climate change.

Unlike other growth stages of wheat, very few studies on drought tolerance have been done at the seedling stage, and this is due to the complexity and sensitivity of this stage to drought stress resulting from climate change. As a result, the drought tolerance of wheat seedlings is poorly understood and very few genes associated with drought tolerance at this stage were identified. To address this challenge, a set of 172 spring wheat genotypes representing 20 different countries was evaluated under drought stress at the seedling stage. Drought stress was applied on all tested genotypes by water withholding for 13 days. Two types of traits, namely morphological and physiological traits were scored on the leaves of all tested genotypes. Genome‐wide association study (GWAS) is one of the effective genetic analysis methods that was used to identify target single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and candidate genes for later use in marker‐assisted selection. The tested plant materials were genotyped using 25k Infinium iSelect array (25K) (herein after it will be identified as 25K) (for 172 genotypes) and genotyping‐by‐sequencing (GBS) (for 103 genotypes), respectively. The results of genotyping revealed 21,093 25K and 11,362 GBS‐SNPs, which were used to perform GWAS analysis for all scored traits. The results of GWAS revealed that 131 and 55 significant SNPs were controlling morphological and physiological traits, respectively. Moreover, a total of eight and seven SNP markers were found to be associated with more than one morphological and physiological trait under drought stress, respectively. Remarkably, 10 significant SNPs found in this study were previously reported for their association with drought tolerance in wheat. Out of the 10 validated SNP markers, four SNPs were associated with drought at the seedling stage, while the remaining six SNPs were associated with drought stress at the reproductive stage. Moreover, the results of gene enrichment revealed 18 and six pathways as highly significant biological and molecular pathways, respectively. The selection based on drought‐tolerant alleles revealed 15 genotypes with the highest number of different drought‐tolerant alleles. These genotypes can be used as candidate parents in future breeding programs to produce highly drought‐tolerant genotypes with high genetic diversity. Our findings in this study provide novel markers and useful information on the genetic basis of drought tolerance at early growth stages. Core Ideas New and novel QTLs (quantitatve trait loci) associated with physiological parameters under drought stress were reported. A validated QTL (S2B_24899507) for leaf wilting was found in winter and spring wheat panels. Promising wheat genotypes were genetically selected based on the number of genes and markers. Plain Language Summary The drought tolerance of wheat seedlings is poorly understood, and very few genes associated with drought tolerance at this stage were reported. A set of 172 spring wheat genotypes was evaluated under drought stress at the seedling stage. Morphological and physiological traits were evaluated in all genotypes. A set of 131 and 55 significant SNPs was found to be controlling morphological and physiological traits, respectively. The selection based on drought‐tolerant alleles revealed 15 genotypes with the highest number of different drought‐tolerant alleles.

Anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) seeds have various nutritional and therapeutic benefits and are thus considered a valuable addition to animal and human health. Hence, in this study, we aimed to induce the nutritive and biological value of anise seeds. To this end, the potential biofortification effect of the endophytic Actinomycetota sp. JW0824 strain, isolated during the fall of 2023 from the medicinal plant Achyranthes aspera, exhibiting natural distribution in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia, was investigated in four varieties of anise seeds from Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, and Morocco. Results revealed significant increments (p < 0.05) in the seed dry weight percentage (DW%) and oil yields. In line with increased biomass accumulation, the metabolism of the primary and secondary metabolites was increased. There were differential increases in proteins, sugars, flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols, vitamins (e.g., β-carotene, ascorbic acid), and essential oil components (e.g., phenylpropanoids and monoterpenes), along with their precursor phenylalanine. Consistently, the activity of L-phenylalanine aminolyase (PAL) was increased in the Egyptian and Tunisian varieties at 83.88% and 77.19%, respectively, while 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate synthase (DAHPS) activity increased in all varieties, with a significant 179.31% rise in the Egyptian variety. These findings highlight the beneficial effects of Actinomycetota sp. JW0824 as a bioinoculant for anise seeds, suggesting its potential application in agricultural practices to improve seed yield and quality. Further field trials are recommended to assess the commercial viability of this endophyte for enhancing anise seed production and potentially benefiting other plant species.

Environmental stresses including salinity, drought, cold, warmer temperatures, alterations in precipitation patterns, fluctuations of weather events, and increasing insect and disease infestations negatively affect crop production and nutritional values. This situation becomes further complicated due to the changing climatic conditions, thus raising concern about food security worldwide. Some worst‐case projections indicated that by 2100, CO2 concentrations will reach 950 parts per million, temperatures will climb by 3.5 to more than 8°C, sea level will rise by more than 2.4 meters, and the average farmland drought risk index will increase from 52.45 to 129. In addition, average precipitation will increase by 1%–3% in some areas and atmospheric water vapor will increase by 6%–7% for every degree of temperature rise. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a staple crop in many parts of the world. The main objective of this review is to highlight the prospects of rice for future climatic conditions. The present review depicts the advantages and prospects of rice and addresses why rice is a better option as a cereal crop for the future situations for food and nutritional sustainability. The impact of climate change on food and nutritional security can be mitigated by developing biotic and abiotic stress‐tolerant and biofortified rice varieties. These rice cultivars can withstand the negative effects of climate change while also meeting the nutritional needs of future generations. Furthermore, this review underlines the forthcoming issues and measures that should be addressed to assure a sustainable food and nutritional supply in the era of global climate change. Rice is a staple crop in many parts of the world and in this review, we highlighted the prospects of rice for future climatic conditions. In this review, we describe how rice could be a better option for future food and nutritional sustainability. This review describes the advantages and prospects of rice, to address why it is the best for the future situation and future questions and actions that are needed to develop a sustainable future food supply in light of global climate change.

Increasing ultraviolet (UV) radiation is causing oxidative stress that accounts for growth and yield losses in the present era of climate change. Plant hormones are useful tools for minimizing UV-induced oxidative stress in plants, but their putative roles in protecting tomato development under UVC remain unknown. Therefore, we investigated the underlying mechanism of pre-and post-kinetin (Kn) treatments on tomato plants under UVC stress. The best dose of Kn was screened in the preliminary experiments, and this dose was tested in further experiments. UVC significantly decreases growth traits, photosynthetic pigments, protein content, and primary metabolites (proteins, carbohydrates, amino acids) but increases oxidative stress biomarkers (lipid peroxidation, lipoxygenase activity, superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical, and hydrogen peroxide) and proline content. Treatment of pre-and post-kinetin spraying to tomato plants decreases UVC-induced oxidative stress by restoring the primary and secondary metabolites’ (phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and anthocyanins) status and upregulating the antioxidant defense systems (non-enzymatic antioxidants as ascorbate, reduced glutathione, α-tocopherol as well as enzymatic antioxidants as superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase). Thus, the application of Kn in optimum doses and through different modes can be used to alleviate UVC-induced negative impacts in tomato plants. Graphical abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) is a well-accepted signaling molecule that has regulatory effects on plants under various stresses. Salinity is a major issue that adversely affects plant growth and productivity. The current study was carried out to investigate changes in the growth, biochemical parameters, and yield of wheat plants in response to NO donors, namely sodium nitroprusside (SNP) (2.5 and 5.0 mM) and arginine (10 and 20 mM), under two salinity levels (1.2 mM and 85.5 mM NaCl). Salinity stress significantly decreased the lengths and weights of plant parts (shoot, tiller, and root) and reduced the flag leaf area, photosynthetic pigments, indole acetic acid (IAA), and yield and its components. Moreover, salt stress induced a significant accumulation of some osmoprotectants (total soluble sugars (TSS) and amino acids, especially proline) and triggered the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and lipid peroxidation in wheat leaves. In contrast, arginine and SNP treatments significantly mitigated the negative impacts of salinity on growth and productivity via enhancing photosynthetic pigments, nitrate reductase, phenolic compounds, IAA, TSS, free amino acids, and proline. In addition, SNP and arginine potentially reduced oxidative damage by decreasing H2O2 and lipid peroxidation through the induction of antioxidant enzymes. The individual amino acid composition of wheat grains under the interactive effect of salinity and NO sources has been scarcely documented until now. In this study, the NO sources restrained the reduction in essential amino acids (isoleucine and lysine) of wheat grains under salinity stress and further stimulated the contents of non-essential and total aromatic amino acids. Interestingly, the applied protectants recovered the decrease in arginine and serine induced by salinity stress. Thus, SNP or arginine at the levels of 5.0 and 20 mM, respectively, had a profound effect on modulating the salt stress of wheat throughout the life cycle.