FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) is a signaling protein synthesized in leaves and transported to the shoot apical meristem, where it functions as florigen, a key inducer of flowering and developmental transitions. Substantial progress has been made in elucidating the mechanisms underlying FT synthesis, transport, and the assembly and regulation of the florigen activation complex (FAC), providing a solid foundation for understanding plant developmental regulatory networks. Recently, a study integrated multiple regulatory layers, including protein-DNA interactions, liquid-liquid phase separation, and spatiotemporal expression patterns, thereby extending the traditional static FAC model into a dynamic and multilayered assembly framework. This work offers new molecular insights into how plants integrate environmental cues to regulate reproductive development. In this review, we summarize recent advances in FT and FAC research, highlight key outstanding questions, and discuss future directions, aiming to provide fresh perspectives for elucidating plant developmental regulation and for potential applications in crop improvement.

Somatic embryogenesis in plants is a classic example of cell fate reprogramming, in which somatic cells reverse their developmental trajectory to regain totipotency, thereby serving as a valuable tool in plant biotechnology for the propagation of endangered species and the production of transgenic crops with improved traits. However, the precise cellular origins and the molecular mechanisms driving somatic cell reprogramming remain incompletely understood. A recent study revealed that the LEC2-SPCH module can synergistically activate local auxin biosynthesis, guiding stomatal-lineage precursor cells in the cotyledon epidermis to undergo cell fate transition and develop into somatic embryos. This study not only captured the entire process of a single plant somatic cell developing into a somatic embryo for the first time but also provided critical evidence for deciphering somatic reprogramming. Capitalizing on these findings, this review summarizes the regulatory mechanisms underlying cell fate reprogramming during somatic embryogenesis, with a particular focus on the synergistic interplay between auxin signaling and epigenetic reprogramming. We further discuss the potential of leveraging core reprogramming factors to enhance crop regeneration systems and outline promising future research directions.

Compared to animal cells, the cell wall is a unique structure in plants. Enclosing the plant cell membrane, it not only provides rigid support to protect plant cells but also participates in various biological processes such as intercellular communication and material transport. In recent years, increasing evidence on how the cell wall regulates plant growth and development has garnered widespread attention. Existing studies have demonstrated its involvement in biological processes like meristem regulation and the establishment of organ anisotropy. This review summarizes recent advances in the regulation of plant life course by the cell wall, particularly during plant development, while also discussing unresolved key biological questions and potential future research directions in this field.

INTRODUCTION: The TCP protein family is a plant-specific group of transcription factors known to regulate key biological processes, including growth, development, and stress responses. Despite their critical roles, the TCP gene family in Bergenia purpurascens remains uncharacterized. This study aims to systematically identify and analyze the BpTCP gene family in B. purpurascens using transcriptome-based bioinformatics approaches, providing insights into their potential functions in cold adaptation and secondary metabolism.

RATIONALE: B. purpurascens exhibits remarkable resilience to abiotic stresses, particularly cold, and contains abundant secondary metabolites. Given the documented roles of TCP genes in stress responses and metabolic regulation in other plants, we hypothesized that BpTCP genes may contribute to these traits. A comprehensive analysis of this gene family could reveal novel mechanisms underlying stress adaptation and metabolite synthesis, supporting future genetic improvement or biotechnological applications.

RESULTS: Through transcriptome-based bioinformatics analysis, we identified 16 BpTCP genes in B. purpurascens, which were phylogenetically classified into two major groups, with all members containing conserved TCP domains and closely related proteins sharing similar motif patterns. Tissue-specific expression profiling revealed distinct spatial expression patterns across different tissues, suggesting functional diversification among family members. Notably, partial genes, including BpTCP10, BpTCP1 and BpTCP12, exhibited significant expression changes under cold stress, implying their potential cold-responsive roles. Furthermore, expression levels of specific BpTCP genes correlated significantly with accumulation of various secondary metabolites, particularly flavonoids and phenolics, suggesting their regulatory involvement in metabolic pathways.

CONCLUSION: This study provides the first genome-wide characterization of the BpTCP gene family in B. purpurascens, demonstrating its potential roles in growth, cold stress response, and secondary metabolism. The differential expression of BpTCP genes under stress and their correlation with metabolite levels lay a foundation for future functional studies.

      

Expression pattern and metabolic correlation analysis of TCP gene family in Bergenia purpurascens.  A total of 16 BpTCP genes were identified in Bergenia purpurascens and classified into two major phylogenetic groups. All BpTCP genes contain conserved TCP domains, and proteins from the same evolutionary branch share similar motif compositions. Different BpTCP genes exhibit distinct tissue-specific expression patterns and display distinctive responses to cold stress. Furthermore, certain BpTCP genes demonstrate significant correlations with the accumulation of diverse metabolites.

INTRODUCTION: Flower color is one of the important traits to evaluate the ornamental value of tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa). Anthocyanin plays a major role in the color of tree peony petals. The biosynthesis of anthocyanin is mainly controlled by two types of genes which are directly involved in pigment metabolism and transcription factors which play a regulatory role. TCP transcription factors are involved in the regulation of secondary metabolism, flavonoid and chlorophyll synthesis in plants. Therefore, it is of great value for further analysis of anthocyanin biosynthesis and regulation mechanism to explore the gene function of TCP family in tree peony and clarify the regulation mechanism of TCP in tree peony petal coloration.

RATIONALE: In order to study the role of TCP transcription factor family in the process of tree peony petal coloration and provide candidate genes for tree peony flower color improvement and molecular breeding, the TCP family of tree peony was identified and analyzed by bioinformatics, and the function of genes TCP13 and TCP15a that may be involved in flower color regulation was analyzed.

RESULTS: Twenty-six TCP gene family members were identified from three tree peony genomes and divided into two subtribes and three subclasses, which were irregularly distributed on 5 chromosomes. The physicochemical properties and gene structure of different members were different, but all members contained TCP conserved domains. The transient expression of TCP13 and TCP15a, which may be involved in petal coloration, showed that TCP13 had no obvious effect on the purple phenotype induced by MYB57, while TCP15a could significantly inhibit it.Fluorescence quantitative PCR analysis showed that TCP15a could significantly inhibit the expression of anthocyanin synthase genes CHSa, DFR and ANS in the tissue of disseminated petals. The interaction between TCP15a and MBW protein complex members WD40-1 and WD40-2 was identified by protein interaction identification.

CONCLUSION: In this study, twenty-six TCP gene family members were screened and identified by mining the tree peony genome database, and the characteristics of TCP encoded amino acids, evolutionary relationship and gene structure were analyzed by bioinformatics.It was found that TCP15a may inhibit the biosynthesis of anthocyanins by competing with MYB57 and interacting with WD40, regulating the expression of enzyme genes CHSa, DFR and ANS, etc. The results provided a theoretical basis for exploring the molecular mechanism of tree peony petal coloration.

Identification of TCP gene family and functional analysis of TCP13 and TCP15a of tree peony. In this study, twenty-six TCP gene family members were screened and identified, and the characteristics of TCP encoded amino acids, evolutionary relationship and gene structure were analyzed by bioinformatics. And.TCP15a was found to inhibit anthocyanin biosynthesis by competing with MYB57 and interacting with WD40.

INTRODUCTION: The glycoside hydrolase (GH) gene family plays a crucial role in regulating plant grain size.

 RATIONALE: To elucidate its biological role during grain filling, we cloning and functionally characterized LOC110717159, a GH gene in quinoa, through bioinformatics analysis, spatiotemporal expression profiling, and heterologous expression experiments in Arabidopsis.

 

RESULTS: LOC110717159 has a 1 023 bp coding sequence (encoding 339 amino acids) in both germplasms, differing by a single nucleotide. Analysis of the ~ 2 000 bp LOC110717159 promoter identified 119 cis-elements, including three hormone-responsive elements (MeJA, SA, and GA). Phylogenetically, it is closely related to Beta vulgaris, Spinacia oleracea and Amaranthus tricolor. qRT-PCR revealed high expression of LOC110717159 in large-grained quinoa at 21 days after anthesis (21 DAA). Arabidopsis overexpression lines showed significantly reduced 1 000-grain weight (P < 0.05) but no change in grain length and width. Haplotype analysis of 17 quinoa germplasms indicated that 62.5% of large germplasms (≥ 4.0 g/1 000 grains) carried the large-grained haplotype, while 77.8% of small germplasms (≤ 3.0 g) shared the small-grained haplotype.

 CONCLUSION: In conclusion, LOC110717159 likely functions as a negative regulator in quinoa grain filling.

 

 

 

T3-generation transgenic Arabidopsis lines and seed morphological characteristics. (A)–(C) Wild-type plants; (D)–(F) AtOE1、AtOE2、AtOE3; ns: No significant difference; *P ≤ 0.05

 

INTRODUCTION: Anthracnose, primarily caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is a main diseaseaffecting mangoes, leading to significant postharvest losses by deteriorating fruit quality and reducing shelf life. 

RATIONALE: Addressing postharvest anthracnose is a critical challenge in the mango industry. Biological control methods, such as utilizing antagonistic bacteria, offer sus-tainable alternatives to chemical treatments. This study investigates the efficacy of Ba-cillus velezensis in inhibiting C. gloeosporioides and its potential in preserving mango fruit quality. 

RESULTS: The application of B. velezensis culture filtrate (CF) effectively inhibited spore germination and mycelial growth of C. gloeosporioides. At CF concentrations of 2% and 4%, mycelial inhibition rates were 75.18% and 80.96%, respectively. In vivo experiments demonstrated that both bacterial suspension (CB) and CF treatments significantly re-duced lesion expansion on mangoes, with inhibition rates of 44.33% and 65.00%, respectively. Treated fruits exhibited a slower decrease in titratable acids and maintained higher levels of total phenols and flavonoids, indicating delayed ripening and extended shelf life. 

 CONCLUSION: Bacillus velezensis exhibits strong antagonistic activity against C. gloeosporioides, effectively controlling mango anthracnose and preserving fruit quality. Its application as a biocontrol agent holds promise for sustainable postharvest management in mango production.

INTRODUCTION: Light intensity is an important environmental factor affecting plant photosynthesis. High-density planting, an important crop cultivation practice for high yields, can reduce canopy light intensity. Under field conditions, canopy light intensity can affect yield formation by influencing the rate of photosynthesis and the number of plant tillers. Given the large size of sweet sorghum plants and the tendency of the canopy to be depressed, we hypothesized that mowing could help to improve photosynthetic rate and tillering, and thus population biomass formation, by improving the light environment within the canopy in high-density planted sweet sorghum. RATIONALE: There is currently a serious shortage of high-quality forage in China. Sweet sorghum, a high quality forage crop ideal for silage, has attracted considerable attention due to its high biomass production and excellent palatability. This study aims to elucidate the patterns and physiological-ecological mechanisms by which mowing increases the population biomass of sweet sorghum, thus providing a theoretical basis for high-yield sweet sorghum cultivation. RESULTS: With increasing planting density, the main stem height of sweet sorghum increases, while stem diameter and leaf area decrease, accompanied by a reduction in the number of tillers. At the same time, higher planting density reduces canopy light intensity, leaf photosynthetic performance and fresh weight per plant, although fresh forage yield increases significantly. Mowing significantly increases the number of tillers in all density treatments and reduces tiller mortality. In addition, mowing significantly improves canopy light conditions, leaf photosynthetic efficiency and plant fresh weight in densely planted sweet sorghum, further increasing fresh grass yield. Analysis shows that average canopy light intensity and net photosynthetic rate of functional leaves on the main stem are the main factors influencing actual tiller number and main stem fresh weight, respectively. CONCLUSION: High density planting is an important cultivation measure for high yields of sweet sorghum. Mowing can improve the light environment within the canopy of densely planted sweet sorghum, thereby increasing the photosynthetic rate and the number of tillers per plant, and further increasing the population biomass.

INTRODUCTION: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are important secondary metabolites in plants, with significant physiological, ecological, economic, and ornamental value. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is a classical method for detecting and analyzing plant volatile aromas and is often regarded as the gold standard. However, its sample preparation is laborious and time-consuming, and real-time detection is difficult to achieve, which limits its application in large-scale sample analyses. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a method capable of accurate, real-time, and rapid detection of specific plant VOCs.

 

RATIONALE: Proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS) enables real-time quantitative analysis of complex VOC mixtures due to its high sensitivity, rapid response, and non-destructive soft ionization mechanism. Nevertheless, its inability to effectively distinguish between volatile isomers and the tendency for compound fragmentation prevent it from fully replacing the powerful qualitative capabilities of GC-MS. Integrating the strengths of both techniques could lead to an efficient and accurate VOC detection system. Using Hedychium plants as an example, this study systematically combines GC-MS and PTR-ToF-MS to establish a technical workflow aiming to identify marker ions that can rapidly predict the emission of specific VOCs, thereby improving the efficiency of aroma compound detection.

 

RESULTS: Using Hedychium plants as the study subject, this method details a technical framework that integrates GC-MS and PTR-ToF-MS to establish a rapid detection system for specific aromatic compounds. Key steps—including sample collection, parameter optimization, and data acquisition—are outlined. Additionally, a cross-platform data integration method based on partial least squares regression (PLSR) is introduced, along with detailed code execution steps. By constructing a robust and optimized prediction model, the PTR-ToF-MS spectral peak at m/z 155.144 was identified as a stable marker for predicting linalool emissions. This result was validated in two independent aroma datasets, demonstrating the successful application of PTR-ToF-MS for rapid quantification of target aromatic components.

 

CONCLUSION: This study addresses the limitations of GC-MS in large-scale sample applications by incorporating PTR–MS and integrating the advantages of both techniques. Using Hedychium as a model, a rapid detection system for specific aroma compounds was established, with detailed descriptions of the technical workflow and a cross-platform data integration method, including code implementation. A predictive model identified a robust marker for linalool emissions, validated across independent datasets, enabling rapid quantification of target aroma components via PTR-ToF-MS. These findings provide a new strategy for plant VOC detection, with potential to advance detection technologies and improve efficiency and accuracy. The approach shows broad application prospects in plant physiology and ecology research, quality evaluation of economic crops, and aroma regulation in ornamental plants.

INTRODUCTION: Melilotus albus (M. albus) is an excellent forage crop, suitable for crop rotation and soil and water conservation. However, the stable genetic transformation system and gene editing system of M. albus have not been reported, which limits its application in gene function analysis and the creation of new germplasm resources.

RATIONALE: The plant can produce hairy roots after infection by Agrobacterium rhizogenes harboring Ri plasmids. MtLAP1 expression can activate the anthocyanin synthesis process and then produce purple/red anthocyanin accumulation in the transgenic hairy roots.

RESULTS: This study verified that the 35S::MtLAP1 expression cassette can induce the accumulation of anthocyanins in regenerants, resulting in red color visible to the naked eye. When using the hypocotyls of Melilotus albus as explants, the induction efficiency of hairy root was as high as 62%, and the positive rate was as high as 30.8%. In addition, the research results showed that the gene editing vector, which carried the 35S::MtLAP1 expression cassette and co-expressed the Cas9 and sgRNA modules driven by the constitutive strong promoter of Arabidopsis Ubiquitin-10, could achieve an editing efficiency of 42.5% targeted to Phytoene Desaturase gene in M. albus.

CONCLUSION: This study successfully established a rapid inducing and screening system for positive hairy roots and developed an efficient genome-editing tool for M. albus, laying a foundation for functional gene studies and the development of high-quality new germplasm resources in this species.

Hairy root induction, the-naked-eye screening system and MaPDS gene editing in Melilotus albus.

INTRODUCTION: Parrotia subaequalis, is a critically endangered wild plant species listed in the National Key Protected Wild Plants List of China and classified as Critically Endangered (CR) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). As a relic species from the Tertiary period, it holds significant scientific value for studying the early origin and differentiation of the Hamamelidaceae family in China. Despite its ecological and ornamental importance, P. subaequalis faces numerous threats to its survival, including low natural survival rates due to limited light adaptation, difficulties in pollination and seed set, and challenges in vegetative propagation methods such as cutting and seed sowing. Tissue culture technology offers a promising approach to rapidly propagate this endangered species, overcoming the limitations of traditional propagation methods. 

 RATIONALE: This study aimed to establish an efficient tissue culture and rapid propagation system for P. subaequalis by investigating the effects of different disinfection methods, basic media, and combinations of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on lateral bud germination, proliferation, and adventitious root formation. By optimizing these factors, we sought to increase the survival rate and proliferation coefficient of P. subaequalis in vitro, thereby providing a reliable source of plant material for conservation and production purposes. 

RESULTS: Disinfection effects: The optimal disinfection method involved treating the shoot segments with 75% ethanol for 30 seconds followed by 0.52% NaClO for 5 minutes, resulting in an 83.33% survival rate. Lateral Bud Germination: The WPM basic medium showed the highest germination rate (72%) among the tested media (MS, 1/2MS, WPM). The addition of 1.0 mg∙L–1 KT significantly increased the germination rate to 91%, but without inducing multiple shoots. The combination of 1.5 mg∙L–1 6-BA and 0.003 mg∙L–1 TDZ yielded the best proliferation results, with a proliferation coefficient of 4.17. Adventitious root formation: Inducing adventitious roots in P. subaequalis was challenging, with high concentrations of auxins causing browning and death of shoots. The addition of 0.2 mg∙L–1 NAA to 1/2MS medium resulted in a 60% rooting rate. Acclimatization and transplantation: Rooted plantlets were successfully acclimatized and transplanted into a mixed substrate of peat moss and perlite (3:1, v/v) with a survival rate exceeding 90% after 30 days. 

 CONCLUSION: This study successfully established a tissue culture and rapid propagation system for P. subaequalis, significantly improving its survival rate and proliferation coefficient. The optimized protocols, including the use of WPM medium for lateral bud germination, a combination of 1.5 mg∙L–1 6-BA and 0.003 mg∙L–1 TDZ for proliferation, and 0.2 mg∙L–1 NAA for root induction, provide a reliable method for the large-scale propagation of this endangered species. This system not only contributes to the conservation of P. subaequalis but also facilitates its utilization in landscaping and timber production. Future research could focus on exploring the regeneration capacity of different color morphs and geographical populations of P. subaequalis to further enhance its conservation and sustainable use.

INTRODUCTION: To establish an efficient Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation system for peanuts and lay a foundation for the study of peanut gene functions and variety breeding.

RATIONALE: In this study, 11 peanut varieties were selected, and the cotyledonary leaflets from the variety with the highest bud cluster induction rate were screened out as experimental materials. By screening and optimizing influencing factors such as Agrobacterium strains, the optical density (OD) value of the bacterial suspension, the concentration of acetosyringone (AS), the concentration of surfactants, the infection method and duration, and the co-culture time, transgenic plants of peanut cotyledonary leaflets were obtained.

RESULTS: The results showed that using the embryo leaflet of Huayu 9133 as the receptor, the recombinant Agrobacterium containing eGFP (green fluorescent protein) and GUS (β-glucosidase) protein was used to infect and transform. It was found that when the infection solution was MS liquid+LBA4404 strain+100 μmol∙L^-1 AS+150 mg∙L^-1 surfactant Silwet-77 + bacterial solution OD600 was 0.7, the infection method was vacuuming for 15 min + soaking for 20 min + co-culture for 4 d, the peanut conversion rate was the highest. The positive rates of CaMV 35S:eGFP and AhUBQ4:GUS were 52.67% and 57.67%, respectively.The transgenic plants were induced by tissue culture method. The transgenic plants containing eGFP protein were identified as transgenic positive plants by eGFP green fluorescence and PCR detection, and the transgenic plants containing GUS protein were identified as transgenic positive plants by GUS staining and PCR detection.

CONCLUSION: This experiment successfully established and optimized the peanut genetic transformation system, which provided a reference for the study of peanut gene function, the cultivation of resistant varieties, quality improvement and biotechnology research.

CaMV 35S:eGFP侵染材料荧光示意图(a: 再生芽丛明场, b: 再生芽丛荧光, c: 再生苗明场, d: 再生苗荧光)

INTRODUCTION: Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus L.) is an important economic crop whose fruits are not only rich in fiber, vitamins, and phenolic metabolites but also possess significant health benefits. Traditional blackberry propagation methods, including seed propagation, layering, cutting, and suckering, have various limitations. For instance, seed propagation has a long cycle, low germination rate, and variable offspring traits. In contrast, tissue culture-based rapid propagation technology offers distinct advantages such as season-independent operation, high multiplication coefficient, and preservation of maternal superior traits, making it an effective solution for blackberry seedling propagation. Therefore, it is necessary to establish an efficient blackberry rapid propagation system, which would lay the foundation for large-scale production of high-quality virus-free seedlings and germplasm innovation. 

RATIONALE: The establishment of an in vitro regeneration system for blackberry stem segments is based on the theory of plant cell totipotency and hormonal regulation mechanisms, under which the meristematic cells of stem segments can regenerate into complete plants under suitable culture conditions. To establish a stable regeneration system for blackberry 'APF-190T', we investigated the effects of sterilization conditions, medium types, and the types and concentrations of plant growth regulators on primary culture, proliferation culture, and rooting culture. Additionally, the influence of different substrates on the growth of tissue-cultured seedlings was further analyzed. 

RESULTS: Comparative experiments on disinfection durations revealed that a 7-minute treatment yielded optimal results for blackberry explants, demonstrating the lowest contamination rate of 20.00%, a relatively low browning rate of 6.67%, and the highest survival rate of 73.33%. In MS medium, these conditions produced the best stem segment growth with a maximum bud induction rate of 63.33%, characterized by abundant germinated buds reaching an average length of 1.41 cm. For primary culture, the combination of 1.0 mg·L⁻¹ 6-BA + 0.2 mg·L⁻¹ NAA proved most effective, achieving 100% bud induction rate and producing robust seedlings with dark green leaves. Subsequent proliferation culture demonstrated superior results using a combination of 0.8 mg·L⁻¹ 6-BA and 0.1 mg·L⁻¹ NAA, achieving the highest adventitious bud proliferation coefficient of 12.51 and the tallest average bud height of 3.83 cm, along with vigorous growth. Rooting efficiency peaked in 1/2 MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg·L⁻¹ NAA, attaining a 97.78% rooting rate with an average of 5.11 thick roots per plant, featuring well-developed lateral roots and abundant fine roots. Finally, transplantation success was maximized using a 2:1 peat-vermiculite substrate, achieving 95.56% survival rate with robust plant growth, expanded leaves, and continuous root development. 

CONCLUSION: For in vitro propagation of blackberry stem explants, the optimal sterilization protocol was achieved using 75% ethanol for 30 seconds followed by 2% sodium hypochlorite for 7 minutes.In primary culture, the most suitable medium was MS + 1.0 mg·L⁻¹ 6-BA + 0.2 mg·L⁻¹ NAA.For shoot proliferation, the best results were obtained with MS + 0.8 mg·L⁻¹ 6-BA + 0.1 mg·L⁻¹ NAA, promoting optimal shoot multiplication. In the rooting stage, the highest rooting efficiency was observed in 1/2MS + 1.0 mg·L⁻¹ NAA. For ex vitro acclimatization, a peat (2:1) mixture proved most effective for seedling survival and growth under controlled greenhouse conditions, and this technique can be potentially applied for commercialization of the plant.

DA1 peptidase is a key plant protease that is widely present in various plants and plays crucial roles in plant growth, development, and environmental adaptation. In recent years, with the improvement of gene editing technology, the mechanism of function of DA1 peptidase have gradually been elucidated. Considerable effort has been devoted to showing that DA1 peptidase is regulated at the transcriptional and post-translational modification levels. Although there are plenty of studies on specific biological functions of DA1 peptidase, there still lacks systematic and comprehensive summaries of the progress of DA1. This review briefly introduces the molecular structure of DA1 peptidase, summarizes the regulatory mechanisms of DA1 peptidase, and focuses on its biological functions in regulating organ size, participating in salt stress, drought adaptation, and activating immune responses in stress responses. In addition, we have summarized the role of DA1 peptidase in the regulation of vascular cambium activity and auxin signal transduction. This review aims to deepen the understanding of the complex functions and regulatory networks of DA1 peptidase.

Maize is one of the most main cereal crops, the production increasing of which has always been a focus of agricultural research. The number of tassel branches is not only the important constituent in the structure of tassel, but has a significant impact on the dense-tolerant plant architecture, which is the key way to increase yield. Therefore, research on the genetic regulation of tassel branch number is of great significance for guiding plant architecture breeding to improve yield. Currently, numerous studies have cloned and identified genes related to the tassel branch number, many of which are closely associated with pathways of plant hormones. This review outlines the basic process of maize tassel branch development, systematically summarizes the roles and signaling pathways of auxin, strigolactone, cytokinin, abscisic acid and gibberellin in regulating maize tassel branch number, further organizes phytohormone signaling network, and finally provides several suggestions. Additionally, this review makes prospects to promote the direction that the interaction of hormones and environmental factors regulates the tassel branch number, which is aimed to provide a reference for revealing the molecular mechanisms of phytohormone regulation of maize tassel branch number, besides, to lay a theoretical foundation for the new cultivars of maize ideotype through plant hormones.

Leguminous plants in arid regions are crucial for maintaining ecological balance and promoting sustainable agricultural development. Clarifying the characteristics and application potential of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) associated with these legumes is of great value for enhancing plant stress resistance and facilitating ecological restoration in arid areas. By exploring the functional diversity of PGPR in the rhizosphere of arid-region legumes and constructing synthetic microbial communities, it is possible to help plants resist abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity, as well as restore degraded soil ecosystems in arid regions. However, systematic research on PGPR of leguminous plants in arid zones remains insufficient. This review focuses on leguminous plants in arid regions of China, clarifies their geographical distribution and ecological advantages in arid environments, and elucidates the stress resistance and growth-promoting mechanisms of legume PGPR, along with their application prospects in enhancing plant stress tolerance. Furthermore, it suggests that future research should focus on in-depth exploration of microbial resources, clarifying the adaptability of legumes to different soil types in arid regions, and promoting the application of PGPR for legumes in arid areas. This study has significant theoretical and practical value for the precise construction and application of synthetic microbial communities to enhance plant stress resistance and ensure ecological and agricultural sustainability in arid regions.