Photosynthesis is the fundamental biochemical process driving Earth's biogeochemical cycles. The traditional theory holds that water is the sole source of photosynthetic oxygen and atmospheric CO$_2$ the only inorganic carbon substrate. However, electrophysiological, isotopic, and physiological evidence from our systematic research prompts a re-examination of this paradigm, revealing an unrecognized coupling between plant inorganic carbon assimilation and intracellular water utilization. Our key findings are: (i) Intracellular water utilization rate is decoupled from atmospheric CO$_2$ assimilation, suggesting that terrestrial plants assimilate inorganic carbon from atmospheric CO$_2$, soil... More >

The integration of physical and chemical processes underpins life. Plant cells function as bioelectrical units, storing and converting energy through capacitive, inductive, and resistive properties. This study elucidates the electrophysiological and molecular mechanisms governing salt transport and energy allocation in Aegiceras corniculatum leaves under combined salinity-waterlogging stress (T1: 0.1 M NaCl + 2 h; T2: 0.2 M NaCl + 4 h; T3: 0.4 M NaCl + 6 h). Results demonstrate that leaf intracellular water-salt transport dynamics, coupled with salt-transport gene expression, coordinately regulate active/passive transport, vacuolar compartmentalization, cytoplasmic Na+ levels, and excretion.... More >