Integrative physiological and transcriptomic analyses reveal key metabolic pathway responses in wax gourd (Benincasa hispida) leaves under potassium deficiency and excess.

Potassium deficiency and excess reduce wax gourd yield by up to 25.22% and 10.38%, respectively, with K deficiency notably impairing photosynthesis and nutrient uptake.

• Why it matters: Understanding how wax gourd adapts to different potassium levels is crucial for optimizing yield and quality, yet the phenotypic, physiological, ecological, and molecular mechanisms remain poorly characterized.
• What they did: A field experiment with three K treatments (K0, K300, K500) was conducted, analyzing morphological, physiological, and transcriptomic responses, revealing downregulation of photosynthesis-related genes under K deficiency and excess.
• The result: K300 (300 kg K2O hm-2) showed the best overall performance, improving yield, quality, and fertilizer efficiency, and providing insights for K-fertilizer strategies in wax gourd cultivation.