Due to their environmental persistence, widespread application, and toxicity to living organisms, contamination by PFAS has become a significant global concern. The ability of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) to accumulate PFAS in its aerial tissues makes it a candidate for PFAS phytoremediation, as well as a suitable biological model for assessing the toxicological effects of PFAS in higher eukaryotes. After in vitro culturing of industrial hemp for 14 days in the presence of 1 mg L^-1 PFOA or 1 mg L^-1 PFOS, no visible damage or macroscopic morphological alterations were evident, and a significant increase in shoot biomass and chlorophyll content following PFOA exposure was observed. Despite the higher accumulation of PFOS compared to PFOA both inhibited antioxidant enzymes activity, specifically catalase and ascorbate peroxidase, respectively. Alkaline Comet Assay showed nuclear damage in hemp leaves following both PFOA and PFOS accumulation, with the former significantly increasing 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine formation. Comparative proteomics analyses showed that PFOA and PFOS disrupt specific biological processes, with the former promoting the synthesis of proteins involved in the chlorophyll biosynthetic pathway. Both PFOA and PFOS altered the abundance of chloroplastic proteins, suggesting that this cellular compartment could be involved in the phytotoxicity mechanisms triggered by PFAAs.

Given the widespread distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment and their tendency to bioaccumulate in living organisms, it is crucial to understand PFAS-plant interactions. However, the literature is still highly fragmented. In this meta-analysis, we compiled a dataset comprising 776 observations from 68 studies, covering 12 perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and 45 plant species. Biomass was selected as a widely used and informative endpoint for assessing plant responses to PFAAs exposure, stratified into whole-plant (WB), aboveground (AB), and belowground (BB) biomass. PFAAs' phytotoxicity generally manifested as a reduction in WB and AB. However, the observed phenotype was heavily influenced by experimental conditions, particularly exposure concentration. Conversely, BB tended to increase in aquatic species, particularly E. crassipes and B. articulata, following exposure to PFAAs. The information provided in this meta-analysis can inform the development and optimisation of phytoremediation strategies for PFAS removal or sequestration, and, on the other hand, help identify more sensitive species for ecotoxicology studies addressing the negative effects of PFAS on plants.

Quantum dots such as CdS QDs have been extensively studied using human cells, plants, and unicellular eukaryotes such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, whereas ZnS QDs—considered low-toxicity alternatives to cadmium-based nanomaterials—remain comparatively underexplored. Following preliminary analyses of ZnS QDs’ effects on wild-type S. cerevisiae BY4742 growth, the Yeast Knock-Out collection, comprising ~4600 haploid mutants deleted in non-essential genes, was screened in the presence of ZnS QDs. Sensitive mutants were predominantly associated with mitochondrial functions, prompting further characterization of sod1Δ, glr1Δ, and of the hypersensitive mutant pos5Δ. This last mutant, which lacks a mitochondrial NADH kinase, showed hypersensitivity specific to ZnS QDs but not to CdS QDs or zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄). Flow cytometry analysis of the wild-type strain and the pos5Δ mutant detected no significant increase in reactive oxygen species after ZnS QD treatment. RNA-sequencing analyses of the wild-type strain and the pos5Δ mutant exposed to ZnS QDs (or ZnSO₄) revealed that ZnS QD exposure selectively modulated genes encoding mitochondrial proteins, metal-binding factors, and intracellular trafficking components. Comparison with published data on CdS QDs identified specific mechanisms involving protein synthesis and degradation. Saccharomyces cerevisiae once again proved its versatility for studying engineered nanomaterial interactions with biological systems.

Flowers are key reproductive structures for many plant species. They are essential for seed and fruit production, and their development is tightly regulated by hormonal and genetic networks. The homeodomain transcription factors HAT3 and ATHB4 are known regulators of adaxial identity and hormone response. We demonstrate that flowers of the hat3 athb4 double mutant emerge at wider divergence angles relative to the wild type, a phenotype reflecting modified phyllotaxy and regulated by low auxin conditions. In addition, hat3 athb4 flowers exhibit aberrant trichome patterning on their sepals associated with enhanced sensitivity to cytokinin (CK). Through RNA-seq analysis of hat3 athb4 inflorescences, we identify the misregulation of genes involved in auxin biosynthesis (YUCCAs), auxin transport (PID), and CK metabolism (CKXs) and transport (PUPs). These findings suggest that HAT3 and ATHB4 fine-tune the auxin/CK balance and coordinate critical pattern events during reproductive development, offering new insight into hormone-mediated regulation of floral patterning.