In this study, an innovative and cost-effective ionic polymer for CO2 capture and utilization for the first time, using abundant and nonfood-based biomass lignin is reported. The modified ionic polymer synthesizes through the reaction of glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride with lignin under alkaline conditions to yield quaternary ammonium ionic functionality. Subsequently, the hydroxide-based pure ionic lignin polymer is employed for CO2 capture from both direct air and concentrated CO2 sources at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Structural characterization of the polymers is accomplished through 1H, 13C, and 2D-heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) NMR, and FT-IR spectroscopy. The CO2 capture process is established through the formation of bicarbonate ions alongside the presence of CO2. The captured CO2 is precisely quantified by using inverse-gated proton decoupled 13C NMR with an internal standard (trioxane). Remarkably, the captured-CO2 amounts of ionic lignin polymer are 1.06 mmol g-1 (47 mg g-1) from concentrated-CO2 source and 0.60 mmol g-1 (26 mg g-1) from direct-air. The captured-CO2 in ionic lignin polymer is released in controlled manner and utilized in the synthesis of cyclic carbonate, showcasing the productive application of the captured carbon. Moreover, the fully controlled recovering of ionic lignin polymer achieves via repeated CO2 release ↔ CO2 capture.

The importance of environmental issues and the existence of humans have led to the recognition of environmental concerns as the main risk to modern life. Notably, one major concern for protecting and managing the environment and human health is the presence of dyes in wastewater. Therefore, before discharging wastewater into mainstream water, it is crucial to remove dyes. Among all lignocellulosic materials, lignin is a highly fragrant biopolymer. Its abundant availability, complex structure, and numerous functional moieties, including hydroxyl, carboxyl, and phenolic, are used in different chemicals and applications. Based on this, lignin is a very useful green material for adsorption, specifically in removing both heavy metals and organic pollutants from wastewater. This article describes the use of lignin-based adsorbents as a recent breakthrough in the removal of dye from aqueous solutions. On the other hand, the review intends to encourage readers to study both established and novel avenues in lignin-based dye removal materials.

Xylose plants (produce xylose from corncob through dilute acid treatment) generate a large amount of corncob residue (CCR), most of which are burned and lacked of valorization. Herein, to address this issue, CCR was directly used as starting material for high-solid loading enzymatic hydrolysis via a simple strategy by combining PFI homogenization (for sufficient mixing) with batch-feeding. A maximum glucose concentration of 187.1 g/L was achieved after the saccharification with a solid loading of 25 wt% and enzyme dosage of 10 FPU/g-CCR. Furthermore, the residue of enzymatic hydrolysis (REH) was directly used as a bio-adhesive for plywood production with both high dry (1.7 MPa) and wet (1.1 MPa) surface bonding strength (higher than the standard (0.7 MPa)), and the excellent adhesion was due to the interfacial crosslinking between the REH adhesive (containing lignin, free glucose, and nanosized fibers) and cell wall of woods. Compared with traditional reported adhesives, the REH bio-adhesive has advantages of formaldehyde-free, good moisture resistance, green process, relatively low cost and easy realization. This study presents a simple and effective strategy for better utilization of CCR, which also provides beneficial reference for the valorization of other kinds of lignocellulosic biomass.

In recent years, concerns about the harmful effects of synthetic UV filters on the environment have highlighted the need for natural sun blockers. Lignin, the most abundant aromatic renewable biopolymer on Earth, is a promising candidate for next-generation sunscreen due to its inherent UV absorbance and its green, biodegradable, and biocompatible properties. Lignin\'s limitations, such as its dark color and poor dispersity, can be overcome by reducing particle size to the nanoscale, enhancing UV protection and formulation. In this study, 100-200 nm lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) were prepared from various biomass by-products (hardwood, softwood, and herbaceous material) using an eco-friendly anti-solvent precipitation method. Pure lignin macroparticles (LMPs) were extracted from beech, spruce, and wheat straw using an ethanol-organosolv treatment and compared with sulfur-rich kraft lignin (KL). Sunscreen lotions made from these LMPs and LNPs at various concentrations demonstrated novel UV-shielding properties based on biomass source and particle size. The results showed that transitioning from the macro- to nanoscale increased the sun protection factor (SPF) by at least 2.5 times, with the best results improving the SPF from 7.5 to 42 for wheat straw LMPs and LNPs at 5 wt%. This study underscores lignin\'s potential in developing high-quality green sunscreens, aligning with green chemistry principles.

Sand pear is the main cultivated pear species in China, and brown peel is a unique feature of sand pear. The formation of brown peel is related to the activity of the cork layer, of which lignin is an important component. The formation of brown peel is intimately associated with the biosynthesis and accumulation of lignin; however, the regulatory mechanism of lignin biosynthesis in pear peel remains unclear. In this study, we used a newly bred sand pear cultivar \'Xinyu\' as the material to investigate the biosynthesis and accumulation of lignin at nine developmental stages using metabolomic and transcriptomic methods. Our results showed that the 30 days after flowering (DAF) to 50DAF were the key periods of lignin accumulation according to data analysis from the assays of lignin measurement, scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation, metabolomics, and transcriptomics. Through weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), positively correlated modules with lignin were identified. A total of nine difference lignin components were identified and 148 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 10 structural genes (PAL1, C4H, two 4CL genes, HCT, CSE, two COMT genes, and two CCR genes) and MYB, NAC, ERF, and TCP transcription factor genes were involved in lignin metabolism. An analysis of RT-qPCR confirmed that these DEGs were involved in the biosynthesis and regulation of lignin. These findings further help us understand the mechanisms of lignin biosynthesis and provide a theoretical basis for peel color control and quality improvement in pear breeding and cultivation.

Schima superba, commonly known as the Chinese guger tree, is highly adaptable and tolerant of poor soil conditions. It is one of the primary species forming the evergreen broad-leaved forests in southern China. Dirigent proteins (DIRs) play crucial roles in the synthesis of plant lignin and lignans, secondary metabolism, and response to adversity stress. However, research on the DIR gene family in S. superba is currently limited. This study identified 24 SsDIR genes, categorizing them into three subfamilies. These genes are unevenly distributed across 13 chromosomes, with 83% being intronless. Collinearity analysis indicated that tandem duplication played a more significant role in the expansion of the gene family compared to segmental duplication. Additionally, we analyzed the expression patterns of SsDIRs in different tissues of S. superba. The SsDIR genes exhibited distinct expression patterns across various tissues, with most being specifically expressed in the roots. Further screening identified SsDIR genes that may regulate drought stress, with many showing differential expression under drought stress conditions. In the promoter regions of SsDIRs, various cis-regulatory elements involved in developmental regulation, hormone response, and stress response were identified, which may be closely related to their diverse regulatory functions. This study will contribute to the further functional identification of SsDIR genes, providing insights into the biosynthetic pathways of lignin and lignans and the mechanisms of plant stress resistance.

A novel MADS-box transcription factor from Pinus radiata D. Don was characterized. PrMADS11 encodes a protein of 165 amino acids for a MADS-box transcription factor belonging to group II, related to the MIKC protein structure. PrMADS11 was differentially expressed in the stems of pine trees in response to 45° inclination at early times (1 h). Arabidopsis thaliana was stably transformed with a 35S::PrMADS11 construct in an effort to identify the putative targets of PrMADS11. A massive transcriptome analysis revealed 947 differentially expressed genes: 498 genes were up-regulated, and 449 genes were down-regulated due to the over-expression of PrMADS11. The gene ontology analysis highlighted a cell wall remodeling function among the differentially expressed genes, suggesting the active participation of cell wall modification required during the response to vertical stem loss. In addition, the phenylpropanoid pathway was also indicated as a PrMADS11 target, displaying a marked increment in the expression of the genes driven to the biosynthesis of monolignols. The EMSA assays confirmed that PrMADS11 interacts with CArG-box sequences. This TF modulates the gene expression of several molecular pathways, including other TFs, as well as the genes involved in cell wall remodeling. The increment in the lignin content and the genes involved in cell wall dynamics could be an indication of the key role of PrMADS11 in the response to trunk inclination.

Agriculture has a significant environmental impact and is simultaneously called to major challenges, such as responding to the need to develop more sustainable cropping systems with higher productivity. In this context, the present study aimed to obtain lignin nanoparticles (LNs) from pomace, a waste product of the olive oil chain, to be used as a nanobiostimulant in tomato plants. The biostimulant effect of this biopolymer is known, but its reduction to nanometer size can emphasize this property. Tomato plants were subjected to different LN dosages (25, 50, and 100 mg L-1) by foliar application, and inductive effects on photosynthetic machinery, aerial and root biomass production, and root morphology were observed. The treated plants showed increased efficiency in catching and using light, while they reduced the fraction dissipated as heat or potentially toxic to cells for the possibility of creating reactive oxygen species (ROS). Finally, this benefit was matched by increased pigment content and a stimulatory action on the content of nitrogen (NBI) and antioxidant substances such as flavonoids. In conclusion, the present study broadens the horizon of substances with biostimulant action by demonstrating the validity and efficacy of nanobiostimulants obtained from biological residues from the olive oil production chain.

This study systematically investigated the physiological and molecular responses of the wheat mutant \'XC-MU201\' under high-temperature stress through comprehensive transcriptome analysis and physiological measurements. RNA sequencing of 21 samples across seven different treatment groups revealed, through Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA), 13 modules among 9071 genes closely related to high-temperature treatments. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses showed significant enrichment of lignin biosynthesis-related modules under high-temperature conditions, especially at the H-10DAT, H-20DAT, and H-30DAT time points. Experimental results demonstrated a significant increase in lignin content in high-temperature-treated samples, confirmed by tissue staining methods, indicating wheat\'s adaptation to heat damage through lignin accumulation. The phenylalanine ammonia-lyase gene (TaPAL33) was significantly upregulated under high-temperature stress, peaking at H-30DAT, suggesting its critical role in cellular defense mechanisms. Overexpression of TaPAL33 in the wheat variety \'Xinchun 11\' enhanced lignin synthesis but inhibited growth. Subcellular localization of GFP-labeled TaPAL33 in tobacco cells showed its distribution mainly in the cytoplasm and cell membrane. Transgenic wheat exhibited higher PAL enzyme activity, enhanced antioxidant defense, and reduced oxidative damage under high-temperature stress, outperforming wild-type wheat. These results highlight TaPAL33\'s key role in improving wheat heat tolerance and provide a genetic foundation for future research and applications.

As one of the most important food crops in the world, rice yield is directly related to national food security. Lodging is one of the most important factors restricting rice production, and the cultivation of rice varieties with lodging resistance is of great significance in rice breeding. The lodging resistance of rice is directly related to the mechanical strength of the stalks. In this paper, we reviewed the cell wall structure, its components, and its genetic regulatory mechanism, which improved the regulatory network of rice stalk mechanical strength. Meanwhile, we analyzed the new progress in genetic breeding and put forward some scientific problems that need to be solved in this field in order to provide theoretical support for the improvement and application of rice breeding.