Plants continuously face fluctuating environmental conditions, requiring tightly coordinated regulatory systems to balance growth and stress responses. This review synthesizes current knowledge on phytohormones as central integrators of plant-microbiome interactions, highlighting their dual role as internal regulators and ecological gatekeepers that shape microbiome assembly and function. Phytohormones, such as auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, abscisic acid, ethylene, salicylic acid, and jasmonates, dynamically regulate plant development, immunity, and rhizosphere chemistry, thereby influencing microbial recruitment and activity. In turn, plant-associated microbes actively modulate hormonal pathways through biosynthesis, degradation, and interference with signaling and transport processes, thereby reconfiguring plant physiological responses. Emerging evidence demonstrates that these interactions underpin microbial priming, enabling enhanced responsiveness to subsequent stresses without constitutive defense costs. Such primed states are frequently associated with epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation and histone modifications, which contribute to stress memory and may persist across generations. We propose that microbiome-driven hormonal regulation represents a key mechanism for plant adaptation to environmental stress and that its integration can offer promising opportunities to enhance resilience, reduce agrochemical dependence, and improve agricultural sustainability under climate change.

Plant-associated microbiomes play a pivotal role in host health and disease resistance. However, resistant plants can recruit distinct and more interactive bacterial communities, and these genotype-driven microbiome changes can enhance resistance to plant pathogens. In this study, we assessed the bacterial communities in the rhizosphere and phyllosphere of two lima bean genotypes contrasting in resistance to anthracnose, under inoculated and non-inoculated conditions with Colletotrichum truncatum. The V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified for rhizosphere communities, while the V5-V7 region was amplified for endophytic phyllosphere communities. Bacterial community structure varied significantly among genotypes and C. truncatum inoculation within each compartment. Principal coordinate analysis showed significant shifts in the resistant genotype after inoculation within both rhizosphere and phyllosphere communities. In the rhizosphere, the susceptible genotype showed higher bacterial diversity than the resistant genotype when inoculated. Genus-level composition formed distinct clusters, with resistant genotypes showing greater exclusivity of taxa between C. truncatum-inoculated and non-inoculated plants. Network analysis revealed compartment-specific responses, with the phyllosphere of inoculated resistant plants showing higher connectivity and predominantly positive interactions, indicating a more cooperative and structured bacterial community under pathogen infection. Overall, our findings demonstrate that resistant genotypes restructure their microbiomes in response to pathogen infection, enriching beneficial taxa and forming more interconnected, cooperative bacterial networks across compartments.

We characterized 12 Solanum species using CMA/DAPI banding and/or genome size estimation (1C value) within a phylogenetic perspective. Here, we reported new Constitutive Heterochromatic (CH) data for S. andreanum, S. peruvianum and S. paludosum and new 1C value for S. corneliomulleri and S. andreanum. CH ranged from two (S. viarum) to 42 bands (S. paludosum). Potato species exhibited a higher number of CH blocks, whereas Leptostemonum species generally had fewer blocks, except for S. paludosum. However, no relationship between heterochromatin and evolutive diversification within the genus could be inferred. Mean 1C value varied from 1.0 pg in S. melongena (diploid) to 1.80 pg in S. laciniatum (octaploid), with moderate correlation (r = 0.69) with the ploidy level of the species. Our data contribute to understanding genetic and cytogenetic diversification within Solanum in a phylogenetic context and are relevant to species characterization, supporting future genetic breeding programs of the genus.

Colletotrichum truncatum is the causative agent of anthracnose in lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus L). This fungus induces symptoms of spots on leaves and pods. Despite its importance, the interaction between C. truncatum and lima beans is unknown. This study aimed to analyse the events of penetration, colonisation and sporulation of C. truncatum on leaves and pods of resistant and susceptible genotypes of P. lunatus. Two genotypes of P. lunatus were selected for the study: a genotype with a source of resistance (BGP-UFPI 832) and a susceptible genotype (BGP-UFPI 860). Conidia began to germinate on the abaxial leaf surface 6 h after inoculation, with the formation of appressoria. Penetration occurred directly through the cell wall, with no penetration through stomata observed. During the colonisation process, the fungus produced secondary hyphae in the internal parenchymatic leaf tissues 30 h after inoculation in the susceptible genotype and only 42 h after inoculation in the resistant genotype. Symptoms of leaf spots were observed in susceptible genotypes 66 hai (hours after inoculation), while in resistant accessions, at the same incubation time, the symptoms were yellowing of the leaves. Sixty-six hours after inoculation (hai), necrotic spots were observed in plants of the susceptible genotype, while in plants of the resistant genotype, only leaf yellowing was observed. One hundred and forty-four hours after inoculation, acervulus and spores were observed, confirming the biological cycle of the fungus.

Plants harbor diverse microbial communities in the phyllosphere and rhizosphere that influence host physiology and disease responses. Although increasing evidence indicates that plant-associated microbiomes contribute to pathogen resistance, studies on aboveground and belowground microbiomes has largely progressed independently, limiting understanding of the ecological processes operating across plant compartments. Rather than providing a comprehensive review of microbiome-based disease management strategies, this review focuses on the ecological and functional mechanisms through which naturally assembled phyllosphere and rhizosphere microbiomes influence plant resistance and susceptibility. We synthesize current evidence on microbiome assembly, ecological interactions, functional traits, and microbiome restructuring during pathogen invasion. The phyllosphere and rhizosphere are shaped by distinct environmental and biological filters, yet both harbor microbial communities that contribute to pathogen suppression through competition, antibiosis, immune modulation, and induced systemic resistance. While resistant and susceptible plants often differ in microbiome composition, accumulating evidence suggests that community-level properties, including functional specialization, ecological stability, and microbial interactions, may contribute to disease responses. However, causal relationships between these ecological properties and pathogen resistance remain incompletely resolved. We further discuss how pathogen invasion reshapes plant-associated microbiomes and the implications of these changes for disease progression and host defense. Finally, we identify key knowledge gaps related to microbiome assembly, cross-compartment interactions, and causal mechanisms underlying microbiome-mediated resistance. By integrating ecological and molecular perspectives, this review provides a perspective for understanding how naturally assembled plant microbiomes influence pathogen resistance and highlights priorities for future research.

Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) is a crop of substantial social and economic importance, particularly in Brazilian smallholder agriculture. However, key knowledge gaps remain regarding the genomic diversity and population structure of the germplasm cultivated in Brazil. Here, we characterised 46 representative Brazilian accessions using single nucleotide polymorphism markers generated by genotyping-by-sequencing. The results revealed moderate genomic diversity, relatively high inbreeding and a clear pattern of regional population structure. The Southeast and Northeast populations exhibited the greatest allelic richness, while the South region contained the highest number of private alleles, highlighting distinct genetic resources. Population structure and clustering analyses identified well-defined regional subgroups, consistent with historical dispersal routes. Regional differentiation shows that the genomic diversity of lima bean in Brazil is both heterogeneous and moderately structured. From an applied perspective, these findings support breeding strategies that combine Northeastern accessions with the unique alleles identified in the South. More broadly, this study highlights the value of expanded genomic analyses to clarify the species' evolutionary history and to guide the sustainable use of Brazilian germplasm.

The lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) is a legume of high agronomic and nutritional importance, particularly for smallholder farming in northeastern Brazil. The breeding program at the Federal University of Piauí (UFPI, Brazil) developed lines from biparental crosses, selecting traits of agronomic relevance for crop improvement, such as determinate growth habit, earliness, and yield. This study evaluated the genetic diversity and population structure of 34 ninth-generation lines using 3002 single-nucleotide polymorphism markers generated using genotyping-by-sequencing. Observed heterozygosity (HO) was lower than the expected heterozygosity (HE), with mean values of 0.01 and 0.19, respectively. Line H25-66 exhibited the highest number of private alleles and marked genetic divergence, whereas the lines from population H46 were highly homogeneous, with intermediate differentiation observed in the remaining populations. Multivariate analyses, including principal component analysis, Neighbor-joining clustering, heatmaps, and sparse non-negative matrix factorization ancestry plots, consistently revealed well-defined genetic groups. The consistent identification of highly homogeneous groups, such as population H46, together with strongly divergent materials, particularly line H25-66, demonstrates that the program harbored both stabilized genetic backgrounds suitable for cultivar development and contrasting sources of variation that can be strategically exploited in parental selection, enabling crosses between divergent genotypes to generate novel allele combinations. These findings provide valuable insights for guiding strategic breeding decisions and accelerating the development of improved lima bean cultivars adapted to Brazilian production systems.

ABSTRACT Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) is an important socioeconomic legume in northeastern Brazil, particularly among small- and medium-scale farmers. Despite its nutritional value and role in food security, crop yield is often compromised by diseases such as anthracnose. This study aimed to evaluate six groups of lima bean populations at the fifth generation (F5), derived from crosses between genotypes conserved in the P. lunatus Active Germplasm Bank at the Universidade Federal do Piauí, which differed in morphological traits and levels of anthracnose resistance. Populations were grown under field conditions and evaluated for agromorphological and phytopathological traits, including yield, seed morphology, and disease resistance. Statistical analyses were performed using restricted maximum likelihood/best linear unbiased prediction and likelihood ratio test methods with the aid of SELEGEN, R, and Genes software. Among the populations, significant phenotypic variability was observed. Population P6 was notable for its earliness, a desirable trait that contributes to disease escape; P2 and P4 showed white seed coats and commercially attractive seeds, whereas P4, P5, and P6 exhibited superior performance in pod, seed, and anthracnose resistance traits. The presence of BGP-UFPI 832 genotype in the most promising crosses suggests its potential to transmit favorable alleles. These results indicate that populations P4, P5, and P6 are potential candidates for breeding programs focused on developing higher-yielding, locally adapted, and anthracnose-resistant cultivars.

Climate change poses a significant threat to human life, food security, and biodiversity, with direct effects on agricultural systems. In the present study, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of research on the tolerance of Capsicum pepper plants to high temperatures using the Bibliometrix package in R. A total of 85 documents published between 1989 and 2024 were analyzed. We found that the topic has gained relevance in recent years, particularly in 2013, when it received the highest number of citations. Notably, China and the United States have conducted the most research on the thermal stress in pepper plants. The most cited studies have addressed the biochemical, physiological, and molecular mechanisms of thermal stress tolerance and resistance to pathogens. Despite the relevance of the topic, only three of the 81 documents focused on the tolerance of ornamental pepper plants, and these included no Brazilian studies. These findings highlight the lack of studies in Brazil, emphasizing the need for studies to develop cultivars that are more resilient to climate change. Our findings can guide future investigations, including the selection of thermotolerant materials, and promote more sustainable agriculture adapted to climate challenges.

Plant breeding has advanced through genomics and predictive models, yet the plant-associated microbiome remains largely excluded from plant breeding trials. Microbial communities strongly influence nutrient acquisition, stress tolerance, and disease resistance, shaping key agronomic traits. We argue that neglecting microbiome variation biases heritability and G×E estimates, constraining genetic gains. Integrating microbiome information into breeding trials offers a feasible, scalable path toward more predictive, resilient, and sustainable crop improvement.

The lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) is a nutritionally important legume with significant cultural and socioeconomic value in Brazil, particularly for smallholder farmers in the northeastern region. Despite its potential, it remains underutilized. In this study, participatory plant breeding (PPB) to identify and select lima bean landraces with high adaptability and market potential in the Várzea Grande and Tianguá municipalities of Brazil. Thirty farmers participated in field trials and participatory selection workshops in which landraces were evaluated for agronomic traits, seed quality, and market-relevant characteristics. Semi-structured interviews provided insights into traditional knowledge, cultivation practices, and the criteria used for cultivar selection. Farmers cultivated small plots, often under one hectare, maintaining up to three landraces for over 10 years, with Boca de Moça predominating in Várzea Grande and white-seeded cultivars in Tianguá. Prioritized traits included pest and disease resistance, productivity, and market acceptance. Analysis of the ranking matrix identified nine landraces as the most suitable, with BGP-UFPI 797, 1331, and 1242 performing the best across multiple traits. These results highlighted the role of farmers, especially women, in conserving genetic diversity and integrating traditional knowledge into breeding. PPB facilitates the selection of genotypes that combine productivity, resilience, and market appeal, supporting the conservation of agrobiodiversity and the sustainability of family farming. These findings demonstrate the potential of participatory approaches in enhancing underutilized crops, strengthening rural livelihoods, and promoting food security.

Mimosa L. comprises approximately 620 species of socioeconomic and environmental importance, with about half occurring in the Brazilian Cerrado. Despite this diversity, cytogenetic studies in the genus remain limited, with most restricted to chromosome counts. We investigated 11 populations of seven Mimosa species, focusing on the heterochromatin distribution (CMA+ bands), and nuclear DNA content. Polysomaty was observed in root meristem cells of six species, absent only in M. verrucosa, in which only diploid cells were detected. Variation in the number, position, and intensity of CMA+ bands was detected both within and among populations. The number of CMA+ bands ranged from four in M. caesalpiniifolia (diploid cells) to 104 in M. candollei (octaploid cells), with no apparent phylogenetic pattern. Polysomatic cells generally showed a proportional increase in CMA+ bands with ploidy level. Nuclear DNA content varied from 1C = 0.64 pg (M. sensitiva) to 1C = 1.55 pg (M. arenosa), with no correlation (r = 0.1417) between ploidy and DNA content. Our results, together with previous reports, indicate that polysomaty is a frequent genomic feature in Mimosa, likely associated with environmental adaptation, growth and development. This study represents the first intra- and interpopulation assessment of heterochromatin variation and nuclear DNA content across multiple Mimosa species, providing novel insights into heterochromatin dynamics and genome organization in this diverse cytogenetically understudied legume genus. This article aligns with SDG 15 (Life on Land) of the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Plant breeding can influence the bacterial community in the rhizosphere. However, the effect of plant breeding on plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the PGPR community in the rhizosphere of parental and segregating generations during lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) breeding. Four lima bean genotypes were evaluated: P1 (UFPI 628; originating from Brazil), P2 (G25276; originating from Argentina), F2 (a more segregating generation), and F7 (a less segregating generation). The PGPR community in the rhizosphere was analyzed using 16 S rRNA sequencing. The PGPR community in the rhizosphere of P2 differed from those of P1, F2, and F7. The community in P1 was similar to that of F2, while F7 clustered separately. Enrichment of PGPR taxa showed Cupriavidus and Actinoplanes in P1, whereas P2 was enriched with Pausteria and Microbacterium. The rhizosphere of F2 showed enrichment of Rhodopseudomonas and Dactylosporangium, while F7 was enriched with Paenibacillus and Azospirillum. As breeding progressed, the complexity of PGPR interactions changed, with F7 showing the lowest complexity but the highest number of positive interactions. The proportion of specialist PGPR increased in F7 compared to P1 but decreased compared to P2. This study demonstrates that lima bean breeding significantly affects the PGPR community, with segregating generations showing reduced complexity but increased positive interactions, suggesting enhanced beneficial cooperation.

Effects of abiotic stresses, such as high temperature, on plants are exacerbated by climate change. Lima beans exhibit higher tolerance to high temperatures than the common beans. Understanding the tolerance of lima bean landrace germplasm to high temperatures is important to improve their breeding. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to examine the high temperature responses of lima bean landrace varieties obtained from the Phaseolus Germplasm Bank at Universidade Federal do Piaui (BGP-UFPI, Brazil) in two environments. Five landraces showing the best performance in emission of flowers and number of pods formed (UFPI-945, UFPI1037, UFPI-876, UFPI-1036, and UFPI-1064) were evaluated in two cultivation environments, natural (29 degrees C) and controlled (37 degrees C), using a completely randomized design with four replications, with each plot consisting of a single plant. Analysis of variance and Tukey's test (P < 0.05) were performed for 12 quantitative traits, followed by Pearson's correlation analysis. Lima beans exhibited genetic variability in high temperature tolerance in both natural and controlled environments. Specifically, UFPI-1064 exhibited superior performance with higher pod thickness and width and number of flowers and lower flower and pod abortion than the other varieties in both natural and controlled environments. Pearson's correlation analysis revealed positive and strong correlations between the number of flowers and flower abortion in the natural environment and number of pods and seeds per pod in the controlled environment.

The Brazilian ornamental market has experienced significant growth, driven by a rich yet underexplored native flora. The genus Allamanda L. stands out among the species with high ornamental potential, known for its showy flowers and adaptability to warm climates. This study aimed to morpho-agronomically characterize native species of the genus Allamanda L., collected in Northeastern Brazil, to identify genotypes with superior attributes for ornamental use. A total of 16 quantitative and eight qualitative descriptors were evaluated in a completely randomized design, with seven replications per species. Analyses of variance, cluster analysis, and and Principal Component Analysis revealed significant variability among the genotypes. A. blanchetii stood out for its magenta floral coloration, higher number of flowers per inflorescence, longer branch length, and high foliage density desirable attributes for landscaping and ornamental purposes. The absence of pests or diseases during the evaluation period suggests natural resistance of the species, which, combined with their native origin, reinforces their feasibility as alternatives to widely used exotic species. The results indicate that the evaluated species have the potential to be included in sustainable landscaping projects, contributing to biodiversity conservation and a reduction in environmental impacts. The unprecedented characterization carried out in this study provides essential support for breeding programs and regional germplasm conservation strategies, in addition to expanding the possibilities for the use of native plants in national floriculture.

The transmission of bacterial community from seeds and rhizosphere to progeny may have significant implications to next plant generations. Therefore, we evaluated the potential for transmission of bacterial taxa from seeds and rhizosphere to progeny and assessed the composition of the bacterial community in the soil, rhizosphere, and various plant compartments, including roots, leaves, and seeds. Seeds of lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus) were sown and during the flowering period, the soil, rhizosphere, roots, leaves, and seeds (progeny) were sampled. The V4 and V57 regions of 16S rRNA gene with region-specific primers were sequenced to soil/rhizosphere and plant, respectively. The composition of bacterial communities varied across soil and plant compartments at both the phylum and genus levels. Actinobacteria was abundant in soil and rhizosphere, while Proteobacteria was abundant in seeds and plant tissues. Genus-level differences included Bacillus in soil, rhizosphere, and roots, Pseudomonas in leaves, and Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas in seeds. Shared and exclusive taxa highlighted compartmental specificity in seeds and progeny. Thus, seeds and progeny exhibited 9 and 6 exclusive bacterial taxa, respectively, with Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, and Acidibacter shared between them. This study identified distinct bacterial taxa across plant compartments and shows thar bacterial transmission to progeny highlights potential for next generations.

Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) breeding aims to select more productive and uniform plant varieties, impacting various plant traits, including root characters. Changes in root traits have repercussions on the rhizosphere, thereby influencing the composition of rhizospheric microbial communities. In this study, we assessed the structure and composition of the microbial community through 16S rRNA sequencing to compare the rhizosphere of different genotypes during lima bean breeding. Specifically, we compared the rhizospheric microbial communities of two parents (P1 - UFPI 628 and P2 - G25276, from Brazil and Argentina, respectively) and their segregation generations (F2 and F7). The microbial richness and diversity remained consistent across all genotypes, while the structure of the microbial community differed between parents (P1 and P2) and the advanced lineage (F7). We observed genotype-specific enrichment of bacterial groups, indicating a nuanced interaction between lima bean genotypes and microbial communities. Moreover, segregating generations exhibited unique enrichment of bacterial families associated with plant growth promotion, such as Pedosphaeraceae (F2) and Xanthobacteraceae (F7). Analysis of microbial interactions revealed an alteration in network complexity, with advanced lineages, particularly F7, displaying a higher number of interactions. Despite taxonomic differences across generations, functional traits remained consistent between parents and advanced lineages. These findings offer valuable insights into optimizing plant-microbe interactions to enhance lima bean yield in breeding programs. By understanding the dynamics of rhizospheric microbial communities in response to breeding efforts, we can harness beneficial interactions to improve plant performance and sustainability in agricultural systems.

Seeds serve as both carriers of plant genetic material and reservoirs of vertically transmitted microbiota. Understanding how seed‐associated microbial communities change during the advances in generations is essential for developing microbiome‐informed strategies to enhance crop performance. In this study, we investigated the composition of seed‐associated endophytic bacterial communities across successive generations in lima bean ( Phaseolus lunatus L.) from parents (P 1 and P 2 ) to F 2 , F 3 , F 6 , F 8 , and F 9 generations. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we found that the seed bacteriome underwent progressive restructuring with certain taxa recurrently increasing or decreasing across generations, rather than maintaining a stable core microbiome. Statistical analyses revealed a clear separation between early (parental, F 2 ) and advanced generations (F 6 –F 9 ), with F 9 seeds showing the highest richness and divergence. While overall bacterial diversity remained stable, specific phyla were differentially enriched across generations: Firmicutes predominated in F 2 , while Proteobacteria became dominant in F 9 . At the amplicon sequence variant (ASV) level, advanced generations were enriched in genera such as Pseudomonas , Burkholderia , and Lysinibacillus , whereas parental and early lines were associated with Methylobacterium and Anaerobacillus . Complementary analyses confirmed that F 9 seeds harboured the highest number of exclusive and discriminant ASVs, highlighting directional microbial reshaping across generations. These findings suggest that host genotype plays a key role in shaping the seed microbiome and that the advance of generations can unintentionally select for beneficial microbial traits.

ABSTRACT Lima bean ( Phaseolus lunatus L.) is a crop of notable agricultural importance. However, its production is severely affected by anthracnose, a disease caused by the fungus Colletotrichum truncatum . This study aimed to investigate the genetic inheritance of anthracnose resistance in lima beans to support breeding efforts. Segregating populations (F 1 and F 2 ) derived from crosses between resistant and susceptible genotypes were used. All plants with their first pair of developed leaves were inoculated with a conidia suspension of the CT4 isolate of C. truncatum (10 6 conidia/mL) to study their inheritance. Phenotypic data were collected and analysed to identify inheritance patterns and resistance loci. According to the chi‐square (χ 2 ) test, the segregating ratio of 1:0 (resistant:susceptible) was accepted for the F 1 generation, and the ratio of 3:1 (resistant:susceptible) was accepted in the F 2 generation. These results indicate that resistance to C. truncatum in lima beans is conditioned by a single gene, showing evidence of dominant monogenic inheritance. The results offer pathways to develop resistant cultivars, improving crop productivity and sustainability.