Biology subjects

Moglia, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Moglia, A..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Progressive drought transcriptomics and co-expression framework in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

Drought is a major constraint for eggplant productivity in Mediterranean and semi-arid environments, yet stage-specific molecular features that distinguish tolerant and sensitive genotypes under progressive water deficit remain limited. Here, we profiled drought responses in two contrasting eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) genotypes from the G2P-SOL core collection, integrating physiology and transcriptomics to resolve genotype-dependent programs at moderate and severe stress. Physiological measurements confirmed divergent drought performance, with the tolerant genotype Berenjena de rabo largo (GPE020510) maintaining water status and stomatal function longer than the sensitive genotype Qianzi (GPE008940). RNA-seq revealed strong transcriptional reprogramming in both genotypes, but with distinct timing and functional priorities across stress transitions. At moderate stress, tolerance was associated with early ABA-centred regulatory control and dehydration protection (including ABI5, TAS14 and LEA/dehydrin-related loci), coupled to transport and redox homeostasis and repression of growth-associated outputs. In contrast, the sensitive genotype showed prominent early regulatory and RNA/protein-turnover signatures alongside weaker representation of cuticle/barrier and chloroplast/light-management functions. Under severe stress, the sensitive genotype shifted toward a broad high-maintenance state enriched in remodeling, detoxification and transporter activity, whereas the tolerant genotype displayed a more targeted adjustment featuring plastid photoprotection, proteostasis and selective metabolic reconfiguration. Co-expression network analysis supported this stage-resolved model by identifying modules and hub genes with contrasting temporal trajectories between genotypes, linking earlier coordinated regulatory/membrane-trafficking and plastid/redox tuning to drought tolerance. Overall, these results indicate that eggplant drought resilience is associated with genotype-specific coordination and timing of protective programs superimposed on a shared basal stress response, and they provide prioritized candidate pathways and genes for functional validation and breeding.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2026

Long-term salinity reveals genotype-specific transcriptional reprogramming in eggplant

Salinity severely limits eggplant productivity, yet the transcriptional bases of tolerance to prolonged salt exposure remain incompletely understood. Here, we analyzed long-term salinity responses in two contrasting eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) genotypes from the G2P-SOL core collection, focusing on genotype-dependent transcriptional regulation under chronic stress. Plants were exposed to 200 mM NaCl for 23 days at the reproductive stage, and transcriptome profiling was performed at the end of the stress period. Physiological assessment and high-throughput phenotyping confirmed a strong divergence in water status and plant architecture between genotypes under salinity, providing a reference framework for transcriptomic interpretation. RNA-seq analysis revealed marked genotype-specific differences in transcriptional responses. While both genotypes activated a conserved salt-stress program involving redox homeostasis, proteostasis and growth repression, the tolerant genotype displayed a substantially broader and more coordinated transcriptional reprogramming. This response involved large-scale modulation of pathways related to translation and RNA metabolism, hormone signaling crosstalk, membrane transport, cell wall remodeling and oxidative stress management, together with the selective repression of growth- and signaling-related functions. In contrast, the sensitive genotype showed a more limited response dominated by defense- and damage-associated transcripts. Overall, these results indicate that long-term salt tolerance in eggplant is associated with genotype-specific transcriptional reprogramming superimposed on a shared basal stress response. This work highlights regulatory pathways and candidate genes potentially relevant for breeding strategies targeting salt resilience.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2023

New insights on the role of SlDMR6-1 in drought avoidance in tomato

The DOWNY MILDEW RESISTANCE 6 (DMR6) protein is a 2-oxoglutarate (2OG) and Fe(II)-dependent oxygenase, involved in salicylic acid (SA) metabolism, and its inactivation in tomato was found to increase SA levels and to confer disease-resistance against several pathogens. SA is also recognized as an abiotic stress-tolerance enhancer, and we tested the resistance to drought stress in Sldmr6-1 tomato mutants generated by the CRISPR/Cas9 technique. Wild-type (WT) tomato cultivar San Marzano and its Sldmr6-1 mutants were subjected to water deprivation for 7 days. At the end of the period, while WT plants exhibited severe wilting, the T2 Sldmr6-1 mutant plants showed turgid leaves and maintained higher Soil Relative Water Content (SRWC). Sldmr6-1 mutants adopted a water saving behaviour reducing transpiration rate (E) by decreasing stomatal conductance (Gs). Assimilation rate (A) decreased in parallel to E under drought stress, resulting in no alteration of the CO2 concentration in the sub-stomatal chamber (Ci) and increasing the Water Use Efficiency (WUE, A/E). Defence mechanisms of the photosynthetic machinery triggered in Sldmr6-1 mutants, that under drought stress showed up-regulation of the genes SlAPX and SlGST (anti-oxidant related) as well as down-regulation of SlCYP707A2 gene, which is involved in ABA catabolism. Our results suggest that the disabling of SlDMR6-1 in tomato plants leads to a drought-avoidance strategy through tight control of stomatal closure controlling water loss. In addition, it was highlighted, for the first time in tomato, that Sldmr6-1 mutants showed reduced susceptibility to Phytophthora infestans, the causal agent of Late Blight.

plant biology↗