Jiang Dong, Yang Guoqun, Huang Li-Jun, Peng Xia, Cui Chuantong, Kuzyakov Yakov, Li Ning
Key Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-Wood Forest Trees, Ministry of Education, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, China.
Key Laboratory of Forest Bio-resources and Integrated Pest Management for Higher Education in Hunan Province, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, China.
Plant Biotechnol J. 2025 Feb;23(2):644-659. doi: 10.1111/pbi.14526. Epub 2025 Jan 11.
Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs), the integral components in the manufacture of digital displays, have engendered environmental concerns due to extensive utilization and intensive emission. Despite their prevalence and ecotoxicity, the LCM impacts on plant growth and agricultural yield remain inadequately understood. In this study, we investigated the specific response mechanisms of tobacco, a pivotal agricultural crop and model plant, to four representative LCMs (2OdF3B, 5CB, 4PiMeOP, 2BzoCP) through integrative molecular and physiological approaches. The findings reveal specific impacts, with 4PiMeOP exerting the most pronounced effects, followed by 2BzoCP, 5CB, and 2OdF3B. LCM exposure disrupts the photosynthetic apparatus, exacerbating reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in leaves, which in turn triggers the upregulation of antioxidative enzymes and the synthesis of antioxidant substances. Additionally, LCMs strongly stimulate the expression of genes involved in abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis and signalling pathways. The AI-assisted meta-analysis implicates ABA as a critical regulator in the tobacco response to LCMs. Notably, exogenous application of ABA alleviates LCM-induced toxicities, highlighting the pivotal role of ABA in stress amelioration. Our study provides novel insights into the toxicity and tolerance mechanisms of LCMs in plants, shedding light on both their harmful effects on the ecosystems and potential adaptation responses. This is crucial to develop sustainable agricultural systems by reducing the negative environmental impacts caused by emerging organic pollutants.
液晶单体（LCMs）是数字显示器制造中的重要组成部分，因其广泛使用和大量排放而引发了环境问题。尽管LCMs普遍存在且具有生态毒性，但人们对其对植物生长和农业产量的影响仍了解不足。在本研究中，我们通过综合分子和生理方法，研究了一种重要的农作物和模式植物烟草对四种代表性LCMs（2OdF3B、5CB、4PiMeOP、2BzoCP）的具体反应机制。研究结果揭示了特定的影响，其中4PiMeOP的影响最为显著，其次是2BzoCP、5CB和2OdF3B。LCMs暴露会破坏光合装置，加剧叶片中的活性氧（ROS）水平，进而触发抗氧化酶的上调和抗氧化物质的合成。此外，LCMs强烈刺激参与脱落酸（ABA）生物合成和信号通路的基因表达。人工智能辅助的荟萃分析表明ABA是烟草对LCMs反应的关键调节因子。值得注意的是，外源施用ABA可减轻LCMs诱导的毒性，突出了ABA在缓解胁迫中的关键作用。我们的研究为LCMs在植物中的毒性和耐受机制提供了新的见解，揭示了它们对生态系统的有害影响以及潜在的适应反应。这对于通过减少新兴有机污染物对环境的负面影响来发展可持续农业系统至关重要。
