Cold stress significantly challenges agricultural productivity, particularly in regions susceptible to low temperatures. In response to this challenge, the current study investigates the effects of over-expressing the ICE1 gene in rice plants on cold tolerance. Through constructing the pCAMBIA3301-ICE1 vector, transgenic rice lines with increased ICE1 expression were generated and investigated for their response to chilling stress. Upon subjecting the transgenic rice plants to chilling stress conditions, notable improvements were observed compared to wild-type (WT) plants. Specifically, the transgenic lines exhibited a substantial 62% reduction in visual damage severity, highlighting their enhanced resilience to cold-induced damage. Additionally, the transgenic lines showed a significant 30% increase in proline concentrations, indicative of enhanced stress tolerance mechanisms. Further analyses revealed a 50% reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and a 38% increase in peroxidase (POX) activity in the transgenic rice plants compared to the WT plants. These findings suggest improved antioxidant defense mechanisms and reduced oxidative damage, contributing to the overall cold stress tolerance of the transgenic lines. Interestingly, differential expression patterns of the ICE1 gene were observed between the leaves and roots of the transgenic plants under cold stress. Roots consistently exhibited higher levels of ICE1 expression, highlighting potential organ-specific responses to cold stress. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that over-expression of the ICE1 gene significantly enhances cold stress tolerance in rice plants; offering promising avenues for developing stress-resistant crop varieties that can better withstand the adverse effects of chilling stress on agricultural production.

Low-intensity light (LL; 100 µmol m–2 s–1PPFD) effects on growth and biochemical parameters indicative of acclimation were investigated on 21-day-old broccoli seedlings. LL stress reduces the biomass and thickness of the leaf. However, the leaf area was considerably increased. Nevertheless, LL stress noticeably increased the quantity of chloroplast. However, the length and width of stomata were reduced markedly. LL stress led to an increase in the chlorophyll level and reduced the content of anthocyanin and flavonoids. The composition of carotenoids and chloroplast membrane lipids of leaves was significantly altered by LL stress. LL stress-induced responses were closely associated with the generation of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide. Concomitantly, lipoxygenase activity was significantly elevated in the leaf tissue, leading to the accumulation of malondialdehyde, indicating oxidation of membrane lipids. The activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase were prominently reduced by ca. 2.11- and 1.6-fold, respectively, by LL stress. However, there was a remarkable induction in the activities of peroxidase and glutathione reductase by ca. 31.5 and 40.8%, respectively, which was influenced by LL stress. Although, no manifest effect in the activities of monodehydroascorbate reductase and dehydroascorbate reductase was noticed in LL stress and control grown leaves. Furthermore, LL stress distinctly decreases the level of ascorbate and dehydroascorbate, whereas the level of the glutathione pool (glutathione and oxidized glutathione) is markedly increased. Our results concluded that the elevated level of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative stress was responsible for the inhibition of growth under LL stress. The stimulated antioxidants did not effectively reverse the LL stress-induced ROS generationin leaves. The changes that occurred in the membrane lipids are possibly the consequence of modifications in the physiology of plants to endure function of the thylakoid membrane to keep physiological functions dynamic to tolerate LL stress environments. The results hypothesize that broccoli growing under shady conditions might not provide a better adaptation for plants.

More than five thousand plant species thrive in various zones across Kazakhstan, representing a rich botanical diversity. Unfortunately, numerous plant species are becoming increasingly rare, and some are even threatened with extinction. The significance of utilizing medicinal plants has increased immeasurably in recent decades. The rational combination of medicinal plants holds the potential to expand therapeutic possibilities. However, the future use of medicinal plants may face significant limitations due to the overarching issue of diminishing biodiversity. While efforts to address biodiversity conservation predominantly focus on safeguarding species richness, the intraspecific variability of plants, crucial for population-level adaptation in transforming environments, remains inadequately explored. Particularly, the use of informative methods to study this variability has not received sufficient attention. Theoretical exploration of the population approach to conserving medicinal plant resources is lacking, exacerbated by a scarcity of experimental data in this domain, underscoring the relevance of this research. In light of the aforementioned challenges, it becomes evident that studying red-listed plants is pertinent not only in the context of Kazakhstan but also on a global scale. In this context, our research allowed investigate Arum Korolkov (Arum korolkowii Regel), a red-listed medicinal plant species found in the territories of Kazakhstan.

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is an economically significant fruit crop, but its genetic improvement through conventional breeding is limited due to high heterozygosity and long generation periods. Genetic engineering offers a promising alternative for enhancing grapevine traits without altering key varietal characteristics. This study reports the successful Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of Muscat Ottonel grape plants, focusing on an efficient protocol using leaf explants and optimized culture conditions. Transgenic Muscat Ottonel grape plants were generated through an optimized protocol involving pre-cultured leaf explants on regeneration medium with 100 µM acetosyringone, followed by co-cultivation with A. tumefaciens strain LBA4404 containing the pCAMBIA2301 vector with gus and nptII genes. The transformed explants were selected on media with 30 mg/L kanamycin and 200 mg/L cefotaxime. Shoot organogenesis was enhanced by 4 g/L phytoagar and 1.5 g/L gelrite, resulting in a transformation efficiency of 66.66%. Histochemical GUS assays, PCR, Southern blot, and Northern blot analyses confirmed stable gene integration and expression in four out of six transgenic lines. Notably, transgenic plants displayed stable gus expression without phenotypic deviations. This study establishes a reliable protocol for the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Muscat Ottonel grape, demonstrating high efficiency and stable gene expression. The absence of a hypersensitive response in Muscat Ottonel during transformation contributed to the efficiency. This protocol is valuable for future grapevine genetic studies and breeding programs to introduce beneficial traits, like disease resistance, into elite cultivars.