Journal of Plant Growth Regulation

Mostafavizadeh Ardestani, Seyed Mohammad; Karimmojeni, Hassan; Ghafori, Abbas; Sabzalian, Mohammad R.; Baldwin, Timothy C.; Razmjoo, Jamshid

doi: 10.1007/s00344-025-11825-1pmid: N/A

Exposure to different light spectra results in a variety of physiological responses. The present study focused on the responses of three species of Mentha (Mentha piperita, Mentha spicata and Mentha longifolia) to artificial light of selected wavelengths (including red, blue, red + blue, and white LED light and natural light). The study was performed as a factorial (Mentha species and light spectra) pot experiment in the form of a randomized complete block design with four replications. The results demonstrated that the quality of light had a statistically significant effect upon all the measured traits. Blue light was shown to produce the highest number of shoots in Mentha longifolia, and the longest shoots were also observed under blue light conditions in Mentha longifolia. A combination of red + blue light produced the highest shoot weight in Mentha piperita, which was significantly different from other treatments. The highest amount of rosmaric acid was found in Mentha spicata grown under red + blue light conditions which was approximately 425% more than in plants grown under natural light. In Mentha piperita, cultivation under blue light produced the highest concentration of luteolin (37 times compared to natural light) and red light produced the highest concentration of ellagic acid (3 times compared to natural light). This study deals with how differences in light quality affected the growth traits and phenolic compound accumulation of Mentha species, under controlled environmental conditions. The results obtained, are of application for the commercial production of these agronomically important mint species..

hazrati, Saeid; Hassanpour, Masoud; Mohammadi, Hamid; Aghaee, Ahmad; Nicola, Silvana

doi: 10.1007/s00344-025-11798-1pmid: N/A

Increased drought and reduced rainfall due to global warming has increased water deficit stress in crops, particularly under high light conditions, and rising global temperatures are exacerbating these challenges to agricultural productivity. These environmental stresses often occur together, posing significant challenges to crop production. Despite their importance, the combined effects of water deficit and high light intensity on peppermint remain understudied. This 2-year field study (2020–2021) examined the effects of light intensity and water availability on the growth, yield, and phytochemical composition of peppermint. The experiment used a split-plot randomized complete block design with two factor combinations of three light intensities (full sunlight, 75%, and 50% sunlight) and three water availability levels (25%, 50%, and 75% of field capacity (FC) during plant growth) with three replications. In the first year, the highest fresh weight (14,888 kg ha−1) was recorded under 50% light intensity combined without water deficit stress, in the second year, the maximum fresh and dry yields were obtained under full sunlight without water deficit stress. Severe shading and water deficit stress significantly reduced fresh and dry yields by 68.26% and 71.08%, respectively, in the second year. Full sunlight exposure combined with water deficit stress increased the accumulation of total phenols and flavonoids in peppermint, probably as a protective response to oxidative stress, which may influence its characteristic organoleptic properties and flavor. In contrast, under reduced light intensity (50% sunlight) and moderate water stress conditions, plants exhibited increased chlorophyll content, suggesting an adaptive mechanism to maximize light capture efficiency in shaded environments. In the first year, shading mitigated the negative impacts of water deficit stress, improving plant yield and essential oil (EO) content while reducing extract content. Key EO components, including menthol, menthone, 1,8-cineole, and menthyl acetate, were abundant across all treatments. Notably, water deficit stress enhanced the levels of industrially important EO constituents such as menthol and menthone, while shading increased menthone content but reduced overall yield. These findings highlight the complex interactions between light intensity and water availability in shaping the growth, yield, physiological and phytochemical composition of peppermint. They provide valuable insights for optimizing cultivation practices to enhance its economic value.Graphical Abstract[graphic not available: see fulltext]

Das, Abir; Adak, Malay Kumar

doi: 10.1007/s00344-025-11791-8pmid: N/A

The escalating threat of drought stress (DS) on plant ecosystems necessitates innovative strategies to strengthen plant resilience and ensure agricultural sustainability. Minerals, as vital nutrients for plants, not only support growth and yield but also serve as stress alleviators, playing a crucial role in plant sustainability. The cellular mechanisms that facilitate mineral function involve secondary messengers (SMs), which mediate environmental DS responses and cellular signaling. These processes regulate mineral ion acquisition within plant tissues, influencing their dynamics across growth stages and enhancing DS tolerance. Beyond their general physiological roles, minerals contribute to redox biology, molecular interactions, and crosstalk with phytohormones, all of which are critical under DS conditions. At the nuclear level, stress tolerance is governed by transcription factors (TFs), microRNAs, and epigenetic modifications of nucleic acids, offering potential avenues for tailoring plant genomes in response to drought stress. This review explores the mechanisms by which secondary messengers, such as calcium ions and reactive oxygen species, connect environmental cues with cellular signaling to regulate mineral ion dynamics. Additionally, under DS conditions, biofortification plays an equally significant role in nutrient enrichment across diverse crops, addressing multiple environmental stressors. The research highlights the importance of epigenetic regulation of mineral transporters and their functional modulation in mitigating the effects of DS, suggesting a promising avenue for further investigation. Furthermore, this review underscores imperative strategies for sustainable breeding programs aimed at enhancing drought tolerance.