biostudies-literatureUnknown17Wang H<h4>Introduction</h4><i>Inula salsoloides</i>, a psammophytic and salt-tolerant xerophyte is ecologically valuable for windbreaks, sand fixation, and the restoration of saline-alkali lands. However, the regulatory mechanisms through which exogenous glycine betaine (GB) alleviates combined salt-cadmium stress in this species remain unclear.<h4>Methods</h4>This study investigated the protective effects of foliar-applied GB on <i>Inula salsoloides</i> seedlings under individual salt, cadmium, and combined salt-cadmium stress through a systematic analysis of seed germination, seedling growth, key physiological and biochemical parameters, and transcriptome sequencing.<h4>Results</h4>The salt, cadmium, and combined salt-cadmium stress significantly suppressed seed germination and seedling growthFrontiers in plant science1760419https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12900682biostudies-literatureExogenous glycine betaine alleviates dynamic physiological and transcriptomic responses in &lt;i&gt;Inula salsoloides&lt;/i&gt; under combined salt-cadmium stress.PMC12900682Cao LHao QA RZhe ZZhang YZhang XWang GWang HRe ZYan XWang LfalseExogenous glycine betaine alleviates dynamic physiological and transcriptomic responses in &lt;i&gt;Inula salsoloides&lt;/i&gt; under combined salt-cadmium stress.<h4>Introduction</h4><i>Inula salsoloides</i>, a psammophytic and salt-tolerant xerophyte is ecologically valuable for windbreaks, sand fixation, and the restoration of saline-alkali lands. However, the regulatory mechanisms through which exogenous glycine betaine (GB) alleviates combined salt-cadmium stress in this species remain unclear.<h4>Methods</h4>This study investigated the protective effects of foliar-applied GB on <i>Inula salsoloides</i> seedlings under individual salt, cadmium, and combined salt-cadmium stress through a systematic analysis of seed germination, seedling growth, key physiological and biochemical parameters, and transcriptome sequencing.<h4>Results</h4>The salt, cadmium, and combined salt-cadmium stress significantly suppressed seed germination and seedling growth2026-01-01T00:00:00Z20262026-07-15T17:26:01.138Z2026-07-07T03:08:27.709ZS-EPMC129006824169616510.3389/fpls.2026.1760419