biostudies-literatureLuo DGuangxi Natural Science FoundationNational Natural Science Foundation of China113671https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12554150biostudies-literatureUnknown28(11)Manganese (Mn) is an essential plant micronutrient but toxic at supra-optimal concentrations. Although nicotianamine (NA) biosynthesis is metal inducible, its specific role in Mn detoxification in wheat remains poorly characterized. Integrated transcriptomic and physiological analyses of Mn-tolerant (ET8, Carazinho) and Mn-sensitive (ES8, Egret) wheat near-isogenic lines and their parental cultivars under excess Mn revealed pronounced upregulation of genes encoding nicotianamine synthase (<i>TaNAS</i>), nicotianamine aminotransferase (<i>TaNAAT</i>), and putative Mn-NA transporters (<i>TaYSL2</i>, <i>TaYSL6</i>) in tolerant genotypes. This transcriptional response correlated with elevated NA accumulation in roots under Mn stress. Exogenous NA application enhanced Mn tolerance in hydroponiciScienceTranscriptomic and physiological analyses revealed nicotianamine enhances wheat tolerance to excess manganese.PMC125541502023GXNSFAA02644532460463Zhang WDong DLi YUsman MXing YLi QPang FLuo DfalseTranscriptomic and physiological analyses revealed nicotianamine enhances wheat tolerance to excess manganese.Manganese (Mn) is an essential plant micronutrient but toxic at supra-optimal concentrations. Although nicotianamine (NA) biosynthesis is metal inducible, its specific role in Mn detoxification in wheat remains poorly characterized. Integrated transcriptomic and physiological analyses of Mn-tolerant (ET8, Carazinho) and Mn-sensitive (ES8, Egret) wheat near-isogenic lines and their parental cultivars under excess Mn revealed pronounced upregulation of genes encoding nicotianamine synthase (<i>TaNAS</i>), nicotianamine aminotransferase (<i>TaNAAT</i>), and putative Mn-NA transporters (<i>TaYSL2</i>, <i>TaYSL6</i>) in tolerant genotypes. This transcriptional response correlated with elevated NA accumulation in roots under Mn stress. Exogenous NA application enhanced Mn tolerance in hydroponic2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Nov2026-06-05T05:14:51.659Z2026-06-04T03:06:22.271ZS-EPMC125541504114671510.1016/j.isci.2025.113671