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Abiotic Stress in Plants and Resilience: Recent Advances
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Abiotic Stress in Plants and Resilience: Recent Advances

A topical collection in Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This collection belongs to the section "Plant Science".

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Editors

Dr. Chengliang Sun

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
MOE Key Laboratory of Environment Remediation and Ecological Health, College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Interests: abiotic stress; signaling transduction; antioxidant responses; stress tolerance
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Weiwei Zhou

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
College of Resource and Environment, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266000, China
Interests: plant physiology; abiotic stress; oxidative damage; vegetable crops; vegetable quality

Topical Collection Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants live in ever-changing environments that are often unfavorable for growth and development. Abiotic stresses such as salinity, drought, extreme temperature, metal stress and nutrient deficiency severely inhibit plant production, hindering agricultural production and threatening food security globally. Moreover, climate change and poor management options have further worsened the situation. Plants can sense stress signals and respond quickly to these adverse conditions through regulating their molecular, physiological, metabolic and developmental responses. A large number of signaling molecules participate in these processes, exhibiting intricate interactions. Understanding the possible mechanisms and signaling transduction underlying this process, combined with the advancement of genome-editing technologies, can help translate these findings into commercial outputs.

Dr. Chengliang Sun
Dr. Weiwei Zhou
Collection Editors

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Keywords

  • toxicity
  • tolerance
  • signaling transduction
  • molecular mechanisms
  • “omics” approaches

Published Papers (16 papers)

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2024

Jump to: 2023, 2022

16 pages, 9114 KiB  
Article
Ploidy’s Role in Daylily Plant Resilience to Drought Stress Challenges
by Edvinas Misiukevičius, Ingrida Mažeikienė and Vidmantas Stanys
Biology 2024, 13(5), 289; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13050289 - 24 Apr 2024
Viewed by 472
Abstract
This study aimed to understand the differences in the performance of diploid and tetraploid daylily cultivars under water deficit conditions, which are essential indicators of drought tolerance. This research revealed that tetraploid daylilies performed better than diploid varieties in arid conditions due to [...] Read more.
This study aimed to understand the differences in the performance of diploid and tetraploid daylily cultivars under water deficit conditions, which are essential indicators of drought tolerance. This research revealed that tetraploid daylilies performed better than diploid varieties in arid conditions due to their enhanced adaptability and resilience to water deficit conditions. The analysis of the results highlighted the need to clarify the specific physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying the enhanced drought tolerance observed in tetraploid plants compared to diploids. This research offers valuable knowledge for improving crop resilience and sustainable floricultural practices in changing environmental conditions. The morphological and physiological parameters were analyzed in 19 diploid and 21 tetraploid daylily cultivars under controlled water deficit conditions, and three drought resistance groups were formed based on the clustering of these parameters. In a high drought resistance cluster, 93.3% tetraploid cultivars were exhibited. This study demonstrates the significance of ploidy in shaping plant responses to drought stress. It emphasizes the importance of studying plant responses to water deficit in landscape horticulture to develop drought-tolerant plants and ensure aspects of climate change. Full article
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24 pages, 6244 KiB  
Article
Comparative Metabolomics and Transcriptome Studies of Two Forms of Rhododendron chrysanthum Pall. under UV-B Stress
by Wang Yu, Fushuai Gong, Xiangru Zhou, Hongwei Xu, Jie Lyu and Xiaofu Zhou
Biology 2024, 13(4), 211; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13040211 - 24 Mar 2024
Viewed by 746
Abstract
Rhododendron chrysanthum Pall. (R. chrysanthum), a plant with UV-B resistance mechanisms that can adapt to alpine environments, has gained attention as an important plant resource with the ability to cope with UV-B stress. In this experiment, R. chrysanthums derived from the [...] Read more.
Rhododendron chrysanthum Pall. (R. chrysanthum), a plant with UV-B resistance mechanisms that can adapt to alpine environments, has gained attention as an important plant resource with the ability to cope with UV-B stress. In this experiment, R. chrysanthums derived from the same origin were migrated to different culture environments (artificial climate chamber and intelligent artificial incubator) to obtain two forms of R. chrysanthum. After UV-B irradiation, 404 metabolites and 93,034 unigenes were detected. Twenty-six of these different metabolites were classified as UV-B-responsive metabolites. Glyceric acid is used as a potential UV-B stress biomarker. The domesticated Rhododendron chrysanthum Pall. had high amino acid and SOD contents. The study shows that the domesticated Rhododendron chrysanthum Pall. has significant UV-B resistance. The transcriptomics results show that the trends of DEGs after UV-B radiation were similar for both forms of R. chrysanthum: cellular process and metabolic process accounted for a higher proportion in biological processes, cellular anatomical entity accounted for the highest proportion in the cellular component, and catalytic activity and binding accounted for the highest proportion in the molecular function category. Through comparative study, the forms of metabolites resistant to UV-B stress in plants can be reflected, and UV-B radiation absorption complexes can be screened for application in future specific practices. Moreover, by comparing the differences in response to UV-B stress between the two forms of R. chrysanthum, references can be provided for cultivating domesticated plants with UV-B stress resistance characteristics. Research on the complex mechanism of plant adaptation to UV-B will be aided by these results. Full article
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16 pages, 2508 KiB  
Article
The Response of Endogenous ABA and Soluble Sugars of Platycladus orientalis to Drought and Post-Drought Rehydration
by Na Zhao, Jiahui Zhao, Shaoning Li, Bin Li, Jiankui Lv, Xin Gao, Xiaotian Xu and Shaowei Lu
Biology 2024, 13(3), 194; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13030194 - 19 Mar 2024
Viewed by 698
Abstract
To uncover the internal mechanisms of various drought stress intensities affecting the soluble sugar content in organs and its regulation by endogenous abscisic acid (ABA), we selected the saplings of Platycladus orientalis, a typical tree species in the Beijing area, as our [...] Read more.
To uncover the internal mechanisms of various drought stress intensities affecting the soluble sugar content in organs and its regulation by endogenous abscisic acid (ABA), we selected the saplings of Platycladus orientalis, a typical tree species in the Beijing area, as our research subject. We investigated the correlation between tree soluble sugars and endogenous ABA in the organs (comprised of leaf, branch, stem, coarse root, and fine root) under two water treatments. One water treatment was defined as T1, which stopped watering until the potted soil volumetric water content (SWC) reached the wilting coefficient and then rewatered the sapling. The other water treatment, named T2, replenished 95% of the total water loss of one potted sapling every day and irrigated the above-mentioned sapling after its SWC reached the wilt coefficients. The results revealed that (1) the photosynthetic physiological parameters of P. orientalis were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) under fast and slow drought processes. The photosynthetic physiological parameters of P. orientalis in the fast drought–rehydration treatment group recovered faster relative to the slow drought–rehydration treatment group. (2) The fast and slow drought treatments significantly (p < 0.05) increased the ABA and soluble sugar contents in all organs. The roots of the P. orientalis exhibited higher sensitivity in ABA and soluble sugar content to changes in soil moisture dynamics compared to other organs. (3) ABA and soluble sugar content of P. orientalis showed a significant positive correlation (p < 0.05) under fast and slow drought conditions. During the rehydration stage, the two were significantly correlated in the T2 treatment (p < 0.05). In summary, soil drought rhythms significantly affected the photosynthetic parameters, organ ABA, and soluble sugar content of P. orientalis. This study elucidates the adaptive mechanisms of P. orientalis plants to drought and rehydration under the above-mentioned two water drought treatments, offering theoretical insights for selecting and cultivating drought-tolerant tree species. Full article
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2023

Jump to: 2024, 2022

14 pages, 2184 KiB  
Article
Management of Antracnosis with Electrochemically Activated Salt Solutions (EASSs) on Bean Culture
by María Guadalupe Marquez-Blanco, Yunny Meas-Vong, Brenda Z. Guerrero-Aguilar, Samantha de J. Rivero-Montejo, Luis Miguel Contreras-Medina, Irineo Torres-Pacheco, Ramón Gerardo Guevara-González, Mario Martin González-Chavira and Adrian Esteban Ortega-Torres
Biology 2023, 12(7), 964; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12070964 - 06 Jul 2023
Viewed by 938
Abstract
Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an important crop for food security and for national economics for several countries worldwide. One of the most important factors of risk in common bean production is the fungal disease anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, [...] Read more.
Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an important crop for food security and for national economics for several countries worldwide. One of the most important factors of risk in common bean production is the fungal disease anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, which, in some cases, causes complete yield losses; this kind of plant disease is usually managed through the application of chemical products such as fungicides that are commonly not accepted by society. This rejection is based on the relationship of pesticides with health damage and environmental contamination. In order to help in solving these drawbacks, the present work proposes the use of electrochemically activated salt solutions (EASSs) as a safer pathogen control agent in crops, due to it having shown an elicitor and biostimulant effect on plants. With this background, this manuscript presents in vitro results of the evaluation of the inhibitory effect for multiple bean pathogens and in vivo results of EASS in the common bean–Colletotrichum pathosystem by evaluation of the infection severity and defense activation, such as secondary metabolite production and antioxidant activity. EASS presence in growth media had a strong inhibitory effect at the beginning of experiments for some of the evaluated fungi. EASSs showed an effect against the development of the disease when applied in specific doses to prevent distress in plants. Full article
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10 pages, 3097 KiB  
Communication
Overexpression of the Brassica rapa bZIP Transcription Factor, BrbZIP-S, Increases the Stress Tolerance in Nicotiana benthamiana
by Seung Hee Eom, Heung Bin Lim and Tae Kyung Hyun
Biology 2023, 12(4), 517; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12040517 - 29 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1300
Abstract
In higher plants, S1-basic region-leucine zipper (S1-bZIP) transcription factors fulfill crucial roles in the physiological homeostasis of carbon and amino acid metabolisms and stress responses. However, very little is known about the physiological role of S1-bZIP in [...] Read more.
In higher plants, S1-basic region-leucine zipper (S1-bZIP) transcription factors fulfill crucial roles in the physiological homeostasis of carbon and amino acid metabolisms and stress responses. However, very little is known about the physiological role of S1-bZIP in cruciferous vegetables. Here, we analyzed the physiological function of S1-bZIP from Brassica rapa (BrbZIP-S) in modulating proline and sugar metabolism. Overexpression of BrbZIP-S in Nicotiana benthamiana resulted in delayed chlorophyll degradation during the response to dark conditions. Under heat stress or recovery conditions, the transgenic lines exhibited a lower accumulation of H2O2, malondialdehyde, and protein carbonyls compared to the levels in transgenic control plants. These results strongly indicate that BrbZIP-S regulates plant tolerance against dark and heat stress. We propose that BrbZIP-S is a modulator of proline and sugar metabolism, which are required for energy homeostasis in response to environmental stress conditions. Full article
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19 pages, 4555 KiB  
Article
CiXTH29 and CiLEA4 Role in Water Stress Tolerance in Cichorium intybus Varieties
by Monica De Caroli, Patrizia Rampino, Lorenzo M. Curci, Gabriele Pecatelli, Sara Carrozzo and Gabriella Piro
Biology 2023, 12(3), 444; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12030444 - 13 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1227
Abstract
Drought causes massive crop quality and yield losses. Limiting the adverse effects of water deficits on crop yield is an urgent goal for a more sustainable agriculture. With this aim, six chicory varieties were subjected to drought conditions during seed germination and at [...] Read more.
Drought causes massive crop quality and yield losses. Limiting the adverse effects of water deficits on crop yield is an urgent goal for a more sustainable agriculture. With this aim, six chicory varieties were subjected to drought conditions during seed germination and at the six week-old plant growth stage, in order to identify some morphological and/or molecular markers of drought resistance. Selvatica, Zuccherina di Trieste and Galatina varieties, with a high vegetative development, showed a major germination index, greater seedling development (6 days of growth) and a greater dehydration resistance (6 weeks of growth plus 10 days without water) than the other ones (Brindisina, Esportazione and Rossa Italiana). Due to the reported involvement, in the abiotic stress response, of xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolases (XTHs) and late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) multigene families, XTH29 and LEA4 expression profiles were investigated under stress conditions for all analyzed chicory varieties. We showed evidence that chicory varieties with high CiXTH29 and CiLEA4 basal expression and vegetative development levels better tolerate drought stress conditions than varieties that show overexpression of the two genes only in response to drought. Other specific morphological traits characterized almost all chicory varieties during dehydration, i.e., the appearance of lysigen cavities and a general increase of the amount of xyloglucans in the cell walls of bundle xylem vessels. Our results highlighted that high CiXTH29 and CiLEA4 basal expression, associated with a high level of vegetative growth, is a potential marker for drought stress tolerance. Full article
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1 pages, 188 KiB  
Correction
Correction: Youssef et al. Foliar Spray or Soil Drench: Microalgae Application Impacts on Soil Microbiology, Morpho-Physiological and Biochemical Responses, Oil and Fatty Acid Profiles of Chia Plants under Alkaline Stress. Biology 2022, 11, 1844
by Samah M. Youssef, Rasha S. El-Serafy, Kholoud Z. Ghanem, Abeer Elhakem and Azza A. Abdel Aal
Biology 2023, 12(2), 224; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12020224 - 31 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 811
Abstract
There were three errors in the original publication [...] Full article
29 pages, 1232 KiB  
Review
The Course of Mechanical Stress: Types, Perception, and Plant Response
by Mohamed Kouhen, Anastazija Dimitrova, Gabriella Stefania Scippa and Dalila Trupiano
Biology 2023, 12(2), 217; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12020217 - 30 Jan 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5346
Abstract
Mechanical stimuli, together with the corresponding plant perception mechanisms and the finely tuned thigmomorphogenetic response, has been of scientific and practical interest since the mid-17th century. As an emerging field, there are many challenges in the research of mechanical stress. Indeed, studies on [...] Read more.
Mechanical stimuli, together with the corresponding plant perception mechanisms and the finely tuned thigmomorphogenetic response, has been of scientific and practical interest since the mid-17th century. As an emerging field, there are many challenges in the research of mechanical stress. Indeed, studies on different plant species (annual/perennial) and plant organs (stem/root) using different approaches (field, wet lab, and in silico/computational) have delivered insufficient findings that frequently impede the practical application of the acquired knowledge. Accordingly, the current work distils existing mechanical stress knowledge by bringing in side-by-side the research conducted on both stem and roots. First, the various types of mechanical stress encountered by plants are defined. Second, plant perception mechanisms are outlined. Finally, the different strategies employed by the plant stem and roots to counteract the perceived mechanical stresses are summarized, depicting the corresponding morphological, phytohormonal, and molecular characteristics. The comprehensive literature on both perennial (woody) and annual plants was reviewed, considering the potential benefits and drawbacks of the two plant types, which allowed us to highlight current gaps in knowledge as areas of interest for future research. Full article
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13 pages, 3482 KiB  
Article
GT Transcription Factors of Rosa rugosa Thunb. Involved in Salt Stress Response
by Jianwen Wang, Yufei Cheng, Xinwei Shi and Liguo Feng
Biology 2023, 12(2), 176; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12020176 - 22 Jan 2023
Viewed by 1284
Abstract
Rosa rugosa was a famous aromatic plant while poor salt tolerance of commercial cultivars has hindered its culture in saline-alkali soil. In many plants, the roles of GT (or trihelix) genes in salt stresses responses have been emerging. In the wild R. [...] Read more.
Rosa rugosa was a famous aromatic plant while poor salt tolerance of commercial cultivars has hindered its culture in saline-alkali soil. In many plants, the roles of GT (or trihelix) genes in salt stresses responses have been emerging. In the wild R. rugosa, a total of 37 GTs (RrGTs) were grouped into GT-1, GT-2, GTγ, SH4, and SIP1 lineages. SIP1 lineage expanded by transposition. The motifs involved in the binding of GT cis-elements were conserved. Four RrGTs (RrGT11/14/16/18) significantly differentially expressed in roots or leaves under salt stress. The responsive patterns within 8 h NaCl treatment indicated that RrGTγ-4 (RrGT18) and RrGT-1 (RrGT16) were significantly induced by salt in roots of R. rugosa. Subcellular localizations of RrSIP1 (RrGT11) and RrGTγ-4 were on chloroplasts while RrGT-1 and RrSIP2 (RrGT14) located on cell nucleus. Regulation of ion transport could be the most important role of RrSIPs and RrGTγ-4. And RrGT-1 could be a halophytic gene with higher transcription abundance than glycophytic GT-1. These results provide key clue for further investigations of roles of RrGTs in salt stress response and would be helpful in the understanding the salt tolerance regulation mechanism of R. rugosa. Full article
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2022

Jump to: 2024, 2023

23 pages, 1880 KiB  
Article
Foliar Spray or Soil Drench: Microalgae Application Impacts on Soil Microbiology, Morpho-Physiological and Biochemical Responses, Oil and Fatty Acid Profiles of Chia Plants under Alkaline Stress
by Samah M. Youssef, Rasha S. El-Serafy, Kholoud Z. Ghanem, Abeer Elhakem and Azza A. Abdel Aal
Biology 2022, 11(12), 1844; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11121844 - 17 Dec 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4475 | Correction
Abstract
Alkaline soil inhibits the growth and productivity of chia plants (Salvia hispanica L.). Microalgae as biofertilizers have been reported to induce alkalinity tolerance and enhance yield and quality. However, limited information is known concerning the influence of microalgae application on medical plants, [...] Read more.
Alkaline soil inhibits the growth and productivity of chia plants (Salvia hispanica L.). Microalgae as biofertilizers have been reported to induce alkalinity tolerance and enhance yield and quality. However, limited information is known concerning the influence of microalgae application on medical plants, including chia. Our experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of microalgae strains of Arthrospira platensis, Chlorella vulgaris, Nostoc muscorum, and Anabaena azollae with two application methods, foliar spray and soil drench, on morpho-physiological and biochemical parameters, yield, seed and oil quality, and fatty acid profiles of chia plants cultivated under alkaline soil conditions, as well as the on soil microbial activity. The results obtained reveal that both application methods positively influenced the growth and productivity of chia plants. However, the foliar application showed significant differences in the herb’s fresh and dry weights and leaf pigments, whereas the drenching application caused more effect than the foliar spray application at the reproductive stage. Untreated chia plants showed a slight decline in the growth, productivity, and antioxidant level with an increase in Na content. However, microalgae applications significantly ameliorated these impacts as they induced an enhancement in the growth, leaf pigments, total protein and carbohydrate contents, nutrient content, seed and oil yields, as well as an increase in linolenic and linoleic fatty acids, with a reduction in saturated fatty acids, namely, palmitic and lauric acid. Soil drenching generated an improvement in the soil microbial activity and caused a reduction in the pH. The treatment of A. platensis with drenching application resulted in higher seed and oil yield, with an increase of 124 and 263.3% in seed and oil yield, respectively. Full article
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11 pages, 17362 KiB  
Article
Seed Germination Ecology of Chenopodium album and Chenopodium murale
by Ram Swaroop Bana, Vipin Kumar, Seema Sangwan, Teekam Singh, Annu Kumari, Sachin Dhanda, Rakesh Dawar, Samarth Godara and Vijay Singh
Biology 2022, 11(11), 1599; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11111599 - 01 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2035
Abstract
Chenopodium album L. and Chenopodium murale L. are two principal weed species, causing substantial damage to numerous winter crops across the globe. For sustainable and resource-efficient management strategies, it is important to understand weeds’ germination behaviour under diverse conditions. For the germination investigations, [...] Read more.
Chenopodium album L. and Chenopodium murale L. are two principal weed species, causing substantial damage to numerous winter crops across the globe. For sustainable and resource-efficient management strategies, it is important to understand weeds’ germination behaviour under diverse conditions. For the germination investigations, seeds of both species were incubated for 15 days under different temperatures (10–30 °C), salinity (0–260 mM NaCl), osmotic stress (0–1 MPa), pH (4–10), and heating magnitudes (50–200 °C). The results indicate that the germination rates of C. album and C. murale were 54–95% and 63–97%, respectively, under a temperature range of 10 to 30 °C. The salinity levels for a 50% reduction in the maximum germination (GR50) for C. album and C. murale were 139.9 and 146.3 mM NaCl, respectively. Regarding osmotic stress levels, the GR50 values for C. album and C. murale were 0.44 and 0.43 MPa, respectively. The two species showed >95% germination with exposure to an initial temperature of 75 °C for 5 min; however, seeds exposed to 100 °C and higher temperatures did not show any germination. Furthermore, a drastic reduction in germination was observed when the pH was less than 6.0 and greater than 8.0. The study generated information on the germination biology of two major weed species under diverse ecological scenarios, which may be useful in developing efficient weed management tactics for similar species in future agri-food systems. Full article
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17 pages, 1981 KiB  
Review
Lipid-Derived Aldehydes: New Key Mediators of Plant Growth and Stress Responses
by Xin Liang, Ruyi Qian, Dan Wang, Lijuan Liu, Chengliang Sun and Xianyong Lin
Biology 2022, 11(11), 1590; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11111590 - 29 Oct 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2055
Abstract
Aldehydes, derivatives of lipids, are ubiquitously produced through non-enzymatic and enzymatic pathways in higher plants and participate in many physiological and biological processes. Increasing evidence demonstrates that aldehydes are involved in plants response to many abiotic stresses, such as light, drought, heat and [...] Read more.
Aldehydes, derivatives of lipids, are ubiquitously produced through non-enzymatic and enzymatic pathways in higher plants and participate in many physiological and biological processes. Increasing evidence demonstrates that aldehydes are involved in plants response to many abiotic stresses, such as light, drought, heat and nutrient deficiency. In plant cells, endogenously triggered or exogenously applied high concentrations of aldehydes can damage proteins and nucleic acid, disturb redox homeostasis, and consequently inhibit plant growth; therefore, they are considered cytotoxins. Aldehyde levels are also used as biomarkers to evaluate the health status of plants. Further genetic research shows that several enzymes have strong capacities to detoxify these electrophilic aldehydes. Small molecules, such as carnosine and glutathione, also exhibit the ability to scavenge aldehydes, effectively promoting plant growth. Recently, increasing evidence has shown that certain aldehydes at certain concentrations can upregulate survival genes, activate antioxidant responses, increase defense against pathogens and stimulate plant growth. This review summarizes recent studies of lipid-derived aldehydes in higher plants, mainly focusing on the generation pathway, toxic effects, and detoxification strategies. In addition, the signaling effects of aldehydes in plants are also discussed. Full article
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16 pages, 1589 KiB  
Review
Research Advances on Molecular Mechanism of Salt Tolerance in Suaeda
by Wancong Yu, Wenwen Wu, Nan Zhang, Luping Wang, Yiheng Wang, Bo Wang, Qingkuo Lan and Yong Wang
Biology 2022, 11(9), 1273; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11091273 - 26 Aug 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2047
Abstract
Plant growth and development are inevitably affected by various environmental factors. High salinity is the main factor leading to the reduction of cultivated land area, which seriously affects the growth and yield of plants. The genus Suaeda is a kind of euhalophyte herb, [...] Read more.
Plant growth and development are inevitably affected by various environmental factors. High salinity is the main factor leading to the reduction of cultivated land area, which seriously affects the growth and yield of plants. The genus Suaeda is a kind of euhalophyte herb, with seedlings that grow rapidly in moderately saline environments and can even survive in conditions of extreme salinity. Its fresh branches can be used as vegetables and the seed oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, which has important economic value and usually grows in a saline environment. This paper reviews the progress of research in recent years into the salt tolerance of several Suaeda species (for example, S. salsa, S. japonica, S. glauca, S. corniculata), focusing on ion regulation and compartmentation, osmotic regulation of organic solutes, antioxidant regulation, plant hormones, photosynthetic systems, and omics (transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics). It helps us to understand the salt tolerance mechanism of the genus Suaeda, and provides a theoretical foundation for effectively improving crop resistance to salt stress environments. Full article
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13 pages, 2645 KiB  
Article
Identification and Expression Profile Analysis of the OSCA Gene Family Related to Abiotic and Biotic Stress Response in Cucumber
by Shuting Yang, Chuxia Zhu, Jingju Chen, Jindong Zhao, Zhaoyang Hu, Shiqiang Liu and Yong Zhou
Biology 2022, 11(8), 1134; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11081134 - 28 Jul 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1831
Abstract
Calcium ions are important second messengers, playing an important role in the signal transduction pathways. Hyperosmolality gated calcium-permeable channels (OSCA) gene family members play critical modulating roles in response to osmotic-related abiotic stress as well as other abiotic and biotic stresses, [...] Read more.
Calcium ions are important second messengers, playing an important role in the signal transduction pathways. Hyperosmolality gated calcium-permeable channels (OSCA) gene family members play critical modulating roles in response to osmotic-related abiotic stress as well as other abiotic and biotic stresses, which has been reported in many plant species such as Arabidopsis, rice, maize, and wheat. However, there has been no report about the identification and expression profile of the OSCA genes in cucumber. In this study, a total of nine OSCA genes were identified, which are unevenly distributed on the six chromosomes of cucumber. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the OSCAs of cucumber, Arabidopsis, rice and maize were clustered into four clades. The motif arrangement of CsOSCAs was strongly conserved, and the CsOSCA genes in each group had similar genetic structure. A total of 11 and 10 types of cis-elements related to hormone and stress, respectively, were identified in the promoter regions of CsOSCA genes. Gene expression analysis indicated that the CsOSCA genes have different expression patterns in various tissues, and some of them were regulated by three osmotic-related abiotic stresses (salt, drought and ABA) and three biotic stresses (powdery mildew, downy mildew, and root-knot nematode). As the first genome-wide identification and characterization of the OSCA gene family in cucumber, this study lays a foundation for research on the biological function and evolutionary process of this gene family, which is of great significance for exploiting stress resistant cucumber varieties. Full article
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14 pages, 1800 KiB  
Article
Intercropping of Euonymus japonicus with Photinia × fraseri Improves Phytoremediation Efficiency in Cd/Cu/Zn Contaminated Field
by Junli Liu, Gaoyang Qiu, Chen Liu, Yicheng Lin, Xiaodong Chen, Hua Li, Qinglin Fu and Bin Guo
Biology 2022, 11(8), 1133; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11081133 - 28 Jul 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1383
Abstract
Intercropping plants for phytoremediation is a promising strategy in heavy metal-polluted soils. In this study, two typical greening plant species, Euonymus japonicus (E. japonicus) and Photinia × fraseri (P. × fraseri), were intercropped in a Cd/Cu/Zn-contaminated field. The phytoremediation [...] Read more.
Intercropping plants for phytoremediation is a promising strategy in heavy metal-polluted soils. In this study, two typical greening plant species, Euonymus japonicus (E. japonicus) and Photinia × fraseri (P. × fraseri), were intercropped in a Cd/Cu/Zn-contaminated field. The phytoremediation efficiency was investigated by measuring the plant biomass, metal concentration, and mycorrhizal colonisation, as well as the effects on soil properties, including soil pH; soil total N; and available N, P, K, Cd, Cu, and Zn. The results showed that, compared with the monoculture system, intercropping significantly lowered the available Cd, Cu, and Zn contents, significantly improved the total and available N contents in rhizosphere soils of both plant species, and increased the hyphae colonisation rate of P. × fraseri. In both plants, intercropping significantly improved the total plant biomass. Furthermore, the concentrations Zn and Cd in the root of E. japonicus and Cu concentration in the root of P. × fraseri were enhanced by 58.16%, 107.74%, and 20.57%, respectively. Intercropping resulted in plants accumulating higher amounts of Cd, Cu, and Zn. This was particularly evident in the total amount of Cd in E. japonicus, which was 2.2 times greater than that in the monoculture system. Therefore, this study provides a feasible technique for improving phytoremediation efficiency using greening plants. Full article
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21 pages, 3508 KiB  
Article
Nutrient Homeostasis of Aegilops Accessions Differing in B Tolerance Level under Boron Toxic Growth Conditions
by Mohd. Kamran Khan, Anamika Pandey, Mehmet Hamurcu, Mateja Germ, Fatma Gokmen Yilmaz, Merve Ozbek, Zuhal Zeynep Avsaroglu, Ali Topal and Sait Gezgin
Biology 2022, 11(8), 1094; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11081094 - 22 Jul 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1465
Abstract
Boron (B) is a crucial microelement for several biological processes in plants; however, it becomes hazardous when present in excess in the soil. B toxicity adversely affects the wheat yield all around the world, particularly in the arid and semiarid regions. Aegilops, the [...] Read more.
Boron (B) is a crucial microelement for several biological processes in plants; however, it becomes hazardous when present in excess in the soil. B toxicity adversely affects the wheat yield all around the world, particularly in the arid and semiarid regions. Aegilops, the nearest wild wheat relatives, could be an efficient source to develop B toxicity tolerance in modern cultivars. However, to potentially utilize these species, it is necessary to understand the underlying mechanisms that are involved in providing them tolerance. Other than hampering cellular and physiological activities, high B inhibits the uptake of nutrients in wheat plants that lead to nutrients deficiency causing a hindered growth. Thus, it is crucial to determine the effect of B toxicity on nutrient uptake and finally, to understand the role of nutrient homeostasis in developing the adaptive mechanism in tolerant species. Unfortunately, none of the studies to date has explored the effect of high B supply on the nutrient uptake in B toxicity tolerant wild wheat species. In this study, we explored the effect of 1 mM B (toxic B), and 10 mM B (very toxic B) B on the nutrient uptake in 19 Aegilops genotypes differing in B tolerance in contrast to Bolal 2973, the familiar B tolerant genotype. The obtained outcomes suggested a significant association between the B toxicity tolerance and the level of nutrient uptake in different genotypes. The B toxicity tolerant genotypes, Ab2 (TGB 026219, A. biuncialis genotype) and Ac4 (TGB 000107, A. columnaris genotype) were clustered together in the nutrient homeostasis-based heat map. Though B toxicity mostly had an inhibitory effect on the uptake of nutrients in root-shoot tissues, the tolerant genotypes revealed an increase in nutrient uptake under B toxicity in contrast with Control. The study directs towards future research where the role of external supply of few nutrients in enhancing the B toxicity tolerance of susceptible genotypes can be studied. Moreover, the genotype-dependent variation in the nutrient profile of the studied Aegilops genotypes under high B suggested that increasing number of Aegilops germplasm should be screened for B toxicity tolerance for their successful inclusion in the pre-breeding programs focusing on this issue. Full article
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