High salinity is a major environmental stressor for crops. To understand the regulatory mechanisms underlying salt tolerance, we conducted a comparative transcriptome analysis between salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive jute (Corchorus spp.) genotypes in leaf and root tissues under salt stress and control conditions. In total, 68,961 unigenes were identified. Additionally, 11,100 unigenes (including 385 transcription factors (TFs)) exhibited significant differential expression in salt-tolerant or salt-sensitive genotypes. Numerous common and unique differentially expressed unigenes (DEGs) between the two genotypes were discovered. Fewer DEGs were observed in salt-tolerant jute genotypes whether in root or leaf tissues. These DEGs were involved in various pathways, such as ABA signaling, amino acid metabolism, etc. Among the enriched pathways, plant hormone signal transduction (ko04075) and cysteine/methionine metabolism (ko00270) were the most notable. Eight common DEGs across both tissues and genotypes with similar expression profiles were part of the PYL-ABA-PP2C (pyrabactin resistant-like/regulatory components of ABA receptors-abscisic acid-protein phosphatase 2C). The methionine metabolism pathway was only enriched in salt-tolerant jute root tissue. Twenty-three DEGs were involved in methionine metabolism. Overall, numerous common and unique salt-stress response DEGs and pathways between salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive jute have been discovered, which will provide valuable information regarding salt-stress response mechanisms and help improve salt-resistance molecular breeding in jute.

Graphene oxide (GO) is widely used in various scientific fields, including biochemistry and environmental and plant science, because of its unique physicochemical properties. However, there is limited knowledge about the influence of GO on the growth and cadmium (Cd) tolerance of plants used for environmental remediation. The regulation of GO nanosheets on Cd tolerance in jute ( Corchorus olitorius L.) and the toxicity responses of the plant were investigated. Jute seedlings were cultivated in a Cd-contaminated aquatic system in the presence of GO at different concentrations (5, 10, and 20 mg/L). Several parameters, including dry biomass, chlorophyll contents, reactive oxygen species level, and antioxidant enzyme activities, were evaluated in this work. The results suggest that the effects of GO exposure on plant Cd tolerance are concentration dependent; at low concentrations, GO could promote the growth of jute and stimulate the activities of antioxidant enzymes and reduce oxidative stress to facilitate Cd uptake in jute seedlings and improve Cd tolerance. However, GO at high concentrations could inhibit plant growth, decrease Cd uptake, and increase oxidative stress. This study develops a possible application of GO nanosheets for Cd remediation at low concentrations; however, it is still in the early phases of exploration. Furthermore, the potential risks of releasing high concentrations of GO require further research.

Cannabis sativa L., a dioecious plant, exhibits sex-specific medicinal active ingredients. However, their causes remain unexplored. In this study, C. sativa flowers exhibited significant intersexual morphological differences, particularly in glandular trichomes. 1676 DEGs and 700 DAMs were identified. Among 149 genes related to sexual differentiation, 77 encode hormone-related products presumably involved in dioecy. Female flowers had cannabinoid levels 16.88 times those of males. Metabolomic sequencing identified 28 distinct terpenoids. We identified CsDXPS1, CsLOX2, CsLOX1.5, CsAAE18, CsAAE6-1, CsAAE6-2, CsGGR, and the metabolite mevalonate-5P; all except AAE6 were highly expressed in female flowers, regulating terpene and cannabinoid production. Seven glandular-trichome-related DEGs showed significant positive correlation with cannabinoid and terpene abundance; female-enriched CsMYC4 (TPS activator) and CsMYB49 (secretion enhancer) emerged as pivotal transcriptional regulators. These results provide a theoretical basis for the directional selection of female and male strains with high production and cultivation value.