Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) is an economically valuable plant with certain salt alkali adaptability. Here, we aim to understand how salt stress affects both the structure and diversity of the soil microbial community and how root exudates may mediate this response. The results showed that high salt stress treatment reduced the overall diversity and abundance of both bacteria and fungi but did not alter the presence or abundance of dominant phyla, including Proteobacteria, Acidobacteriota, and Ascomycota. Several microbial species belonging to Geminicoccaceae, Rokubacteriaces, and Funneliformis-sp were found to be highly resistant to salt stress, while others were found to be highly sensitive, including Xanthobacteraceae, JG30-KF-AS9-sp, and Asperellum. Redundancy analysis results showed that bacteria tended to be more sensitive to the presence of salt ions in the soil, including SO₄²⁻, Ca²⁺, and Na⁺, while fungi were more sensitive to the presence of certain root exudates, including methyl 4-methylbenzoate, δ-selinene. It suggested that the presence of a relatively stable set of dominant phyla and the increased abundance of salt-tolerant species and their ecological functions may be related to the tolerance of chamomile to salt stress. The results will underpin future improvement in chamomile to coastal salinity soil tolerance through altering the soil microbial community.

Origanum vulgare L. (oregano) is an aromatic plant with wide applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Cronobacter sakazakii, which has a high detection rate in powdered infant formula, adversely impacts susceptible individuals. Oregano essential oil (OEO) is a natural antibacterial agent that can be used to fight bacterial contamination. Here, OEO chemical compounds from eight oregano varieties were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and their antibacterial properties were assessed. The eight OEOs were clustered into two groups and were more diverse in group 2 than in group 1. Six compounds, including p-cymene, 3-thujene, γ-terpinene, thymol, carvacrol, and caryophyllene, were shared by eight OEOs. Among the eight oregano varieties, OEOs from O. vulgare sc2 had the strongest antibacterial activity against C. sakazaki, with the inhibition zone of 18.22mm. OEOs from O. vulgare jx, O. ‘Nvying’, O. vulgare ‘Ehuang’, and O. vulgare ssp. virens were also potent. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of OEOs was positively correlated with the relative content of thymol. As the main OEO antibacterial compound, thymol affected the normal growth and metabolism of C. sakazakii cells by destroying the bacterial membrane and decreasing the intracellular ATP concentration. Thus, in light of the antibacterial activity detected in the OEOs from the eight oregano varieties, this study provides a theoretical foundation for oregano cultivar management and development.

The use of antibiotics in the food industry is highly regulated owing to the potential harmful effects of antibiotics on human health. Therefore, it is crucial to seek alternatives for ensuring food safety. Essential oils (EOs) extracted from plants of the genus Origanum exhibit a wide range of chemical and antibacterial activities. Species and tissue factors shape the production and accumulation processes of EOs in Origanum plants, thereby affecting their bactericidal activity. In this study, the morphologies and EO yields from the inflorescences, leaves, and stems of three oregano cultivars were evaluated. In addition, the chemical compositions and antibacterial abilities of oregano EOs (OEOs) were assessed. The results showed that OEOs from the different parts of the plant displayed only minor differences in chemical composition, whereas the yield of EOs varied considerably. Additionally, the chemical profiles of OEOs differed significantly among cultivars. The carvacrol content in the OEOs was closely related to its activity against Staphylococcus aureus; the antibacterial properties of the OEOs were further verified using carvacrol. These findings suggested that OEOs possessing high antibacterial activity may have the potential to be developed as bactericides in the food industry.

Rapid climate shifts in high-latitude regions profoundly impact the geographical distribution boundaries and molecular adaptive strategies of cold-tolerant plants. Lonicera caerulea, known for its excellent cold tolerance, provides an ideal model for exploring the molecular mechanisms of climate adaptation and trait formation. To elucidate the ecological and molecular mechanisms of climate adaptation in L. caerulea, we integrated species distribution modeling with multi-tissue transcriptome profiling. Distribution modeling identified temperature and precipitation as primary constraints on its current range, with projections suggesting a significant poleward expansion under future warming scenarios. At the molecular level, we identified 19 LcSWEET genes exhibiting functional differentiation. Rather than listing specific candidates, our findings highlight that certain LcSWEET members are transcriptionally activated during fruit maturation, while others are significantly upregulated in response to cold stress, underscoring their dual roles in plant reproduction and ecological adaptation. This study revealed that the LcSWEET gene family exhibits functional diversification in tissue-specific expression and low-temperature stress response. It provides molecular candidates that may inform future studies on plant adaptive response under climate change and lays a theoretical foundation for germplasm conservation and high-quality breeding of L. caerulea.