Nano-Fe₃O₄ enhances salt-alkali tolerance of melon seedlings via inhibition of CmBHLH93 and activation of ABA/JA signaling, antioxidant defense, and maintenance of Na⁺/K⁺ homeostasis.
4 affiliations
- 1National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops/College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
- 2Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps Key Laboratory of Facility Agriculture/College of Horticulture and Forestry, Tarim University, Alar 843300, China.
- 3Hubei Key Laboratory of Spices & Horticultural Plant Germplasm Innovation & Utilization/College of Horticulture and Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434022, China.
- 4Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China.
Abstract
Soil salinization and alkalinization threaten plant growth worldwide. In response, plants deploy various physiological and molecular defense mechanisms. Nanobiotechnology offers a potential strategy to enhance crop stress tolerance. Here, we found that nano-Fe₃O₄ increased salt-alkali tolerance in melon seedlings by suppressing the expression of the transcription factor CmBHLH93. Transcriptomic analysis revealed strong downregulation of CmBHLH93 upon nano-Fe₃O₄ application under salt-alkali stress. Functional assays showed that CmBHLH93 acted as a negative regulator of salt tolerance. It directly bound the promoters of key defense-related genes involved in abscisic acid (ABA) synthesis (CmNCED3), jasmonic acid (JA) synthesis (CmAOS), antioxidant activity (CmPOD-1), and Na⁺ transport (CmSOS1), thereby repressing their transcription. Taken together, nano-Fe₃O₄ enhanced melon salt tolerance by downregulating CmBHLH93 transcription and activating downstream responses associated with ABA/JA signaling, antioxidant capacity, and Na⁺/K⁺ homeostasis. These results define a regulatory mechanism through which nanomaterials modulate plant tolerance to salt-alkali stress and provide a conceptual basis for improving crop stress tolerance using nanotechnology.
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BibTeX
@article{tan2026nanofe₃o₄,
title = {{Nano-Fe₃O₄ enhances salt-alkali tolerance of melon seedlings via inhibition of CmBHLH93 and activation of ABA/JA signaling, antioxidant defense, and maintenance of Na⁺/K⁺ homeostasis.}},
author = {Zhanming Tan and Lvjun Cui and Yuquan Peng and Qi Li and Zhilong Bie},
journal = {Horticulture research},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.1093/hr/uhag229},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42948850},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Nano-Fe₃O₄ enhances salt-alkali tolerance of melon seedlings via inhibition of CmBHLH93 and activation of ABA/JA signaling, antioxidant defense, and maintenance of Na⁺/K⁺ homeostasis.
AU - Zhanming Tan
AU - Lvjun Cui
AU - Yuquan Peng
AU - Qi Li
AU - Zhilong Bie
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/05
JO - Horticulture research
DO - 10.1093/hr/uhag229
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42948850
AB - Soil salinization and alkalinization threaten plant growth worldwide. In response, plants deploy various physiological and molecular defense mechanisms. Nanobiotechnology offers a potential strategy to enhance crop stress tolerance. Here, we found that nano-Fe₃O₄ increased salt-alkali tolerance in melon seedlings by suppressing the expression of the transcription factor CmBHLH93. Transcriptomic analysis revealed strong downregulation of CmBHLH93 upon nano-Fe₃O₄ application under salt-alkali stress. Functional assays showed that CmBHLH93 acted as a negative regulator of salt tolerance. It directly bound the promoters of key defense-related genes involved in abscisic acid (ABA) synthesis (CmNCED3), jasmonic acid (JA) synthesis (CmAOS), antioxidant activity (CmPOD-1), and Na⁺ transport (CmSOS1), thereby repressing their transcription. Taken together, nano-Fe₃O₄ enhanced melon salt tolerance by downregulating CmBHLH93 transcription and activating downstream responses associated with ABA/JA signaling, antioxidant capacity, and Na⁺/K⁺ homeostasis. These results define a regulatory mechanism through which nanomaterials modulate plant tolerance to salt-alkali stress and provide a conceptual basis for improving crop stress tolerance using nanotechnology.
SN - 2662-6810
SN - 2052-7276
ER -