Vegetos
(An International Journal of Plant Research & Biotechnology)
Abiotic stress-driven morpho-physiological adaptations in Taxus Wallichiana Zucc. (Himalayan Yew): insights from an endangered Eastern Himalayan plant species
*Article not assigned to an issue yet
Research Articles | Published: 16 February, 2026
First Page: 0
Last Page: 0
Views: 141
Keywords: Taxus wallichiana, Abiotic stresses, Histochemical assays, Cell membrane integrity, ROS
Abstract
This study investigated the morphological, physiological, and histochemical responses of Taxus wallichiana Zucc., to various abiotic stresses, including heat, drought, combined heat and drought, alkaline soil, acidic soil, and waterlogging. Each stress elicited distinct morphological alterations, such as leaf scorching, curling, chlorosis, and root degradation, depending on the intensity and duration of exposure. Combined heat and drought stress caused the most severe above- and below-ground damage, while acidic and alkaline stresses led to significant discoloration and cellular degeneration. Fresh and dry biomass of leaves and roots declined markedly under stress, with the most pronounced reduction in leaf fresh weight (up to 60%) under combined heat and drought conditions. Relative water content and membrane stability index also decreased significantly, particularly under combined heat and drought (61.9%) and alkaline stress (56.2%), indicating impaired water balance and membrane integrity. Chlorophyll content and photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm, Y(II), ETR) declined sharply under heat stress, followed by combined stress, demonstrating strong inhibition of photosystem II. Histochemical staining revealed extensive cell membrane damage and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (superoxide radicals and hydrogen peroxide) in stressed leaves. Overall, T. wallichiana exhibited stress-specific morphological and physiological responses, with combined heat and drought stress being the most detrimental. These findings highlight the species’ sensitivity to multiple abiotic stress factors and provide a physiological basis for future conservation and stress-mitigation strategies.
References
Alhaithloul HAS (2019) Impact of combined heat and drought stress on the potential growth responses of the desert grass Artemisia sieberi alba: relation to biochemical and molecular adaptation. Plants 8(10):416–429. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants8100416
Amnan MAM, Pua TL, Lau SE, Tan BC, Yamaguchi H, Hitachi K, Tsuchida K, Komatsu S (2021) Osmotic stress in banana is relieved by exogenous nitric oxide. Peer J 9:e10879. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.10879
Baruah PM, Agarwala N, Bordoloi KS, Regon P, Tanti B (2025) Long Non-Coding RNAs responsive to temperature stress conditions in tea plants. J Plant Growth Regul 44(4):1728–1752. https://doi.org/10.1134/S106235902560028X
Chutia J, Borah SP, Tanti B (2012) Effect of drought stress on protein and proline metabolism in seven traditional rice (Oryza sativa Linn.) genotypes of Assam, India. J Res Biol 2(3):206–214
Devi SS, Saha B, Awasthi JP, Regon P, Panda SK (2020) Redox status and oxalate exudation determines the differential tolerance of two contrasting varieties of ‘Assam tea’ [Camelia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntz] in response to aluminum toxicity. Hort Environ Biotechnol 61:485–499. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13580-020-00241-x
Eckardt NA, Cutler S, Juenger TE, Marshall-Colon A, Udvardi M, Verslues PE (2023) Focus on climate change and plant abiotic stress biology. Plant Cell 35(1):1–3. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koac329
El Habti A, Fleury D, Jewell N, Garnett T, Tricker PJ (2020) Tolerance of combined drought and heat stress is associated with transpiration maintenance and water soluble carbohydrates in wheat grains. Front Plant Sci 11:568693. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.568693
Geng W, Qiu Y, Peng Y, Zhang Y, Li Z (2021) Water and oxidative homeostasis, Na+/K+ transport, and stress-defensive proteins associated with spermine-induced salt tolerance in creeping bentgrass. Environ Exp Bot 192:104659. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2021.104659
Guidi L, Lo Piccolo E, Landi M (2019) Chlorophyll fluorescence, photoinhibition and abiotic stress: does it make any difference the fact to be a C3 or C4 species? Front Plant Sci 10:174. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.00174
Hannachi S, Signore A, Adnan M, Mechi L (2022) Single and associated effects of drought and heat stresses on physiological, biochemical and antioxidant machinery of four eggplant cultivars. Plants (Basel Switzerland) 11(18):2404. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11182404
Hao DC, Huang B, Yang L (2008) Phylogenetic relationships of the genus Taxus inferred from Chloroplast intergenic spacer and nuclear coding DNA. Biol Pharm Bul 31(2):260–265. https://doi.org/10.1248/bpb.31.260
Havaux M, Tardy F (1999) Loss of chlorophyll with limited reduction of photosynthesis as an adaptive response of Syrian barley landraces to high-light and heat stress. Funct Plant Biol 26(6):569–578. https://doi.org/10.1071/PP99046
He X, Ding Q, Sun B, Fei Y, Hu D (2021) Comparison of morphological and anatomical characteristics of Taxus chinensis var. Mairei seedlings root under waterlogging stress in different substrates. Phyton-Int J Exp Bot 90(6):1673–1684. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2021.015617
Hedhly A, Hormaza JI, Herrero M (2009) Global warming and sexual plant reproduction. Trend Plant Sci 14(1):30–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2008.11.001
Hsieh EJ, Waters BM (2016) Alkaline stress and iron deficiency regulate iron uptake and riboflavin synthesis gene expression differently in root and leaf tissue: implications for iron deficiency chlorosis. J Exp Bot 67(19):5671–5685. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erw328
Jaghdani SJ, Jahns P, Tränkner M (2021) The impact of magnesium deficiency on photosynthesis and photoprotection in Spinacia Oleracea. Plant Stress 2:100040. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stress.2021.100040
Jarambasa T, Regon P, Jyoti SY, Gupta D, Panda SK, Tanti B (2023) Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the Pisum sativum (L.) APETALA2/ethylene-responsive factor (AP2/ERF) gene family reveals functions in drought and cold stresses. Genetica 151:225–239. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10709-023-00190-0
Juyal D, Thawani V, Thaledi S, Joshi M (2014) Ethnomedical properties of Taxus Wallichiana zucc. (Himalayan yew). J Trad Compl Med 4(3):159–161. https://doi.org/10.4103/2225-4110.136544
Jyoti SY, Kalita I, Tanti B (2024a) Phytochemical screening, proximate composition and antioxidant activities of Citrus germplasm of Assam, India. Vegetos 37(3):1153–1165. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42535-023-00666-6
Jyoti SY, Tanti B (2024b) Low pH and water stress induced morpho-physiological response in some traditional Citrus species of Assam, India. Biol Bull 51(3):625–643. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062359023604111
Kalita J, Pradhan AK, Shandilya ZM, Tanti B (2018) Arsenic stress responses and tolerance in rice: physiological, cellular and molecular approaches. Rice Sci 25(5):235–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsci.2018.06.007
Kalita B, Sarma K, Bawri A, Tanti B (2024) Assessing population density and regeneration potential of Paris polyphylla Sm. in the Arunachal Himalaya, india: implications for conservation. Vegetos. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42535-024-01087-9
Kalita I, Tanti B (2025) Impact of abiotic stress on biochemical profiles and antioxidant defense mechanisms in Gymnocladus Assamicus ex P.C. Kanjilal: insights into the survival strategies of a critically endangered Himalayan plant. Biol Bull 52:203. https://doi.org/10.1134/S106235902560028X
Kamaluddin M, Zwiazek JJ (2004) Effects of root medium pH on water transport in paper Birch (Betula papyrifera) seedlings in relation to root temperature and abscisic acid treatments. Tree Physiol 24(10):1173–1180. https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/24.10.1173
Kapoor N, Pande V (2015) Effect of salt stress on growth parameters, moisture content, relative water content and photosynthetic pigments of Fenugreek variety RMt-1. J Plant Sci 10(6):210–221. https://doi.org/10.3923/jps.2015.210.221
Kundu BK, Regon P, Phukan SG, Borgohain P, Agarwala N, Tanti B (2025) Responses of aromatic Keteki Joha rice to varying nitrogen levels: impacts on grain yield, antioxidant defense mechanisms, and stress resilience. Plant Sci 359:112626. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112626
Lahkar L, Tanti B (2018) Morpho-physicochemical and cooking characteristics of traditional aromatic Joha rice (Oryza sativa L.) of Assam, India. Biocat Agri Biotechnol 16:644–654. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2018.10.001
Manai J, Gouia H, Corpas FJ (2014) Redox and nitric oxide homeostasis are affected in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) roots under salinity-induced oxidative stress. J Plant Physiol 171(12):1028–1035. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jplph.2014.03.012
Meng D, Yu X, Ma L, Hu J, Liang Y, Liu X, Yin H, Liu H, He X, Li D (2017) Transcriptomic response of Chinese Yew (Taxus chinensis) to cold stress. Front Plant Sci 8:468. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.00468
Müller M, Dembélé S, Zougmoré RB, Gaiser T, Partey ST (2020) Performance of three sorghum cultivars under excessive rainfall and waterlogged conditions in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of West africa: a case study at the climate-smart village of Cinzana in Mali. Water 12(10):2655. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12102655
Nahar S, Vemireddy LR, Sahoo L, Tanti B (2018a) Antioxidant protection mechanisms reveal significant response in drought-induced oxidative stress in some traditional rice of Assam, India. Rice Sci 25(4):185–196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsci.2018.06.002
Nahar S, Sahoo L, Tanti B (2018b) Screening of drought tolerant rice through morpho-physiological and biochemical approaches. Biocat Agri Biotechnol 15:150–159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2018.06.002
Nahar S, Lahkar L, Islam MA, Saikia D, Shandilya ZM, Vemireddy LR, Tanti B (2020) Genetic diversity based on osmotic stress tolerance-related morpho-physiological traits and molecular markers in traditional rice cultivars. Biologia 75:669–679. https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-020-004
Nahar S, Kalita J, Sahoo L, Tanti B (2016) Morphophysiological and molecular effects of drought stress in rice. Ann Plant Sci 5(9):1409–1416. https://doi.org/10.21746/aps.2016.09.001
Nishiyama Y, Murata N (2014) Revised scheme for the mechanism of photoinhibition and its application to enhance the abiotic stress tolerance of the photosynthetic machinery. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 98:8777–8796. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-014-6020-0
Ommen OE, Donnelly A, Vanhoutvin SVAN, Van Oijen M, Manderscheid R (1999) Chlorophyll content of spring wheat flag leaves grown under elevated CO2 concentrations and other environmental stresses within the ‘ESPACE-wheat’project. Euro J Agron 10(3–4):197–203. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1161-0301(99)00011-8
Pieczynski M, Marczewski W, Hennig J, Dolata J, Bielewicz D, Piontek P, Szweykowska-Kulinska Z (2013) Down-regulation of CBP 80 gene expression as a strategy to engineer a drought-tolerant potato. Plant Biotechnol J 11(4):459–469. https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.12032
Pradhan AK, Jyoti SY, Shandilya ZM, Rehman M, Saikia D, Poudel J, Kalita J, Borborah K, Chowra UK, Chutia J, Vemireddy LR, Tanti B (2021) Dissecting the molecular basis of drought-induced oxidative stress tolerance in rice. Molecular Breeding for Rice Abiotic Stress Tolerance and Nutritional Quality. John Wiley and Sons, Ltd, pp 249–273
Pradhan AK, Shandilya ZM, Sarma P, Bora RK, Regon P, Vemireddy VLN, Tanti B (2023) Concurrent effect of aluminum toxicity and phosphorus deficiency in the root growth of aluminum tolerant and sensitive rice cultivars. Physiol Plant 45:33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-022-03509-0
Premachandra G, Saneoka H, Ogata S (1990) Cell membrane stability, an indicator of drought tolerance, as affected by applied nitrogen in Soyabean. J Agri Sci 115(1):63–66. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021859600073925
Rasheed R, Ashraf MA, Ahmad SJN, Parveen N, Hussain I, Bashir R (2022) Taurine regulates ROS metabolism, osmotic adjustment, and nutrient uptake to lessen the effects of alkaline stress on Trifolium Alexandrinum L. plants. South Afri J Bot 148:482–498. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2022.05.023
Regon P, Dey S, Chowardhara B, Saha B, Kar S, Tanti B, Panda SK (2021) Physio-biochemical and molecular assessment of iron (Fe. India Protoplasma 258(2):289–299. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-020-01574-1
Regon P, Dey S, Rehman M, Pradhan AK, Chowra U, Tanti B, Talukdar AD, Panda SK (2022) Transcriptomic analysis revealed reactive oxygen species scavenging mechanisms associated with ferrous iron toxicity in aromatic Keteki Joha rice. Front Plant Sci 13:798580. doi.10.3389/fpls.2022.798580
Regon P, Saha B, Jyoti SY, Gupta D, Kundu B, Tanti B, Panda SK (2024) Transcriptional networks revealed late embryogenesis abundant genes regulating drought mitigation in aromatic Keteki Joha rice. Physiol Plant 176(3):e14348. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.14348
Rehman M, Tanti B (2021) Screening of Boro rice varieties of Assam, India to estimate their potential resistance to cold and heat stresses. Vegetos 34:540–554. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42535-021-00235-9
Rehman M, Tanti B (2022) Morpho-physiological responses in rice and cold stress induced acclimation involving biochemical and signaling pathways in Boro rice. Vegetos 35(4):859–868. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42535-022-00402-6
Roy SJ, Regon P, Tanti B (2024) Morpho-physiochemical responses of Capsicum Chinense Jacq. (Bhut Jolokia) under different abiotic stresses. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42535-024-00825-3. Vegetos
Ru C, Hu X, Chen D, Wang W, Zhen J, Song T (2023) Individual and combined effects of heat and drought and subsequent recovery on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) photosynthesis, nitrogen metabolism, cell osmoregulation, and yield formation. Plant Physiol Biochem 196:222–235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.01.038
Sachdev S, Ansari SA, Ansari MI, Fujita M, Hasanuzzaman M (2021) Abiotic stress and reactive oxygen species: generation, signaling, and defense mechanisms. Antioxidants 10(2):277. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10020277
Saikia D, Kalita J, Chutia J, Vemireddy LNR, Tanti B (2021) Dissecting the morpho-physiological and biochemical responses in some traditional rice cultivars under submergence stress. Vegetos 34(1):191–204. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42535-020-00183-w
Saikia D, Tanti B (2024) Assessment of defense-associated antioxidant mechanism in banana under different abiotic stresses. Vegetos 37(4):1346–1356. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42535-023-00685-3
Sarma K, Roy SJ, Kalita B, Regon P, Bawri A, Borah S, Nath MJ, Baruah UD, Sahariah D, Saikia A, Tanti B (2024) Distribution mapping of five threatened medicinally important plant species of Arunachal himalaya. Vegetos 37(3):844–858. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42535-023-00619-z
Sarma K, Kalita B, Bawri A, Tanti B (2025) Climate-smart move: an optimistic climate adaptation by threatened plants of Arunachal Himalaya, India. In. Forests for Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth, Edited by Saikia P, Kumar A, Khan ML, Lei X (Elsevier) pp. 403–420. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-31406-3.00029-1
Sarma B, Basumatary NR, Nahar S, Tanti B (2016) Effect of drought stress on morpho-physiological traits in some traditional rice cultivars of Kokrajhar district, Assam, India. Ann Plant Sci 5(8):1402–1408. https://doi.org/10.21746/aps.2016.08.003
Sarmadi M, Karimi N, Palazón J, Ghassempour A, Mirjalili MH (2020) Physiological, biochemical, and metabolic responses of a Taxus baccata L. callus culture under drought stress. Vitro Cell Develop Biol-Plant 56:703–717. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11627-020-10128-2
Sathi KS, Masud AAC, Falguni MR, Ahmed N, Rahman K, Hasanuzzaman M (2022) Screening of soybean genotypes for waterlogging stress tolerance and Understanding the physiological mechanisms. Adv Agri 2:5544665. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/5544665
Shahmohammadi F, Jahromi MG, Farhadpour M, Jari SK, Torkashvand AM (2024) Foliar-applied melatonin modulated drought stress through modifying some important physiological and phytochemical characteristics in Taxus baccata L. Plant Soil 495:551–566. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06343-6
Shandilya ZM, Tanti B (2019) Hydroponic screening of traditional rice varieties in Assam, India to estimate their potential resistance to al toxicity under P deficiency. Acta Agrobot 72(4). https://doi.org/10.5586/aa.1793
Thounaojam TC, Meetei TT, Devi YB, Tanti B, Panda SK, Upadhyaya H (2024) Arsenic stress responses in sensitive and tolerant rice of North-East, India. Cereal Res Comm. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42976-023-00488-x
Wang GP, Hui Z, Li F, Zhao MR, Zhang J, Wang W (2010) Improvement of heat and drought photosynthetic tolerance in wheat by over accumulation of Glycinebetaine. Plant Biotechnol Rep 4:213–222. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11816-010-0139-y
Wu L, Song L, Cao L, Meng L (2023) Alleviation of shade stress in Chinese Yew (Taxus chinensis) seedlings with 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA). Plants (Basel Switzerland) 12(12):2333. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12122333
Zafar SA, Hameed A, Khan AS, Ashraf M (2017) Heat shock induced morpho-physiological response in indica rice (Oryza sativa L.) at early seedling stage. Pak J Bot 49(2):453–463
Zandalinas SI, Mittler R, Balfagón D, Arbona V, Gómez-Cadenas A (2018) Plant adaptations to the combination of drought and high temperatures. Physiol Plant 162(1):2–12. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.12540
Zhang YK, Zhu DF, Zhang YP, Chen HZ, Xiang J, Lin XQ (2015) Low pH-induced changes of antioxidant enzyme and ATPase activities in the roots of rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings. PLoS ONE 10(2):e0116971. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0116971
Author Information
Department of Botany, Gauhati University, Guwahati, India