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Salinity Tolerance in Plants
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Salinity Tolerance in Plants

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2019) | Viewed by 116793

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editor

Dr. José Antonio Hernández Cortés

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Group of Fruit Biotechnology, Department of Fruit Breeding, CEBAS-CSIC, P.O. Box 164, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Interests: antioxidant systems; ASC-GSH cycle; hormone profile; hydrogen peroxide; reactive oxygen species; redox signaling; proteomic; seed biology; seed dormancy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Salinity stress is one of the major abiotic stresses that results in significant losses in agricultural crop production, particularly in arid and semi-arid climates. Therefore, it is of vital importance to know the mechanisms of tolerance to salinity in order to obtain plants that are more tolerant to this abiotic stress, necessary for more sustainable and more productive agriculture under a scenario of climate change.

Salt stress is first perceived by the root system impairing plant growth in the short term by inducing osmotic stress. In the long term, salinity-induced ion toxicity due to a nutrient imbalance in the cytosol. In addition, salt stress is also manifested as an oxidative stress at the subcellular level, mediated by ROS. All these responses to salinity contribute to deleterious effects on plants. Plants tolerant to NaCl implement a series of adaptations to acclimate to salinity, including morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular changes.

The aim and scope of this Special Issue is to encourage the publication of review and/or experimental research dealing with physiological, biochemical and molecular aspects related to salt-tolerance mechanisms in plants, including in vitro culture conditions.

Dr. José Antonio Hernandez Cortes
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Adaptive mechanisms;
  • Biochemical adaptations;
  • Biostimulants and Salt-Stress Response;
  • Gas Exchange;
  • Gene expression;
  • Plant Hormones;
  • Proteomic;
  • Molecular responses to salinity
  • Nitro-oxidative stress;
  • Oxidative stress;
  • Osmotic regulation;
  • Physiological responses to salinity
  • Photosynthesis;
  • Water relations;
  • Salt tolerance mechanisms
  • Salt tolerance under in vitro conditions

Published Papers (23 papers)

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Editorial

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8 pages, 215 KiB  
Editorial
Salinity Tolerance in Plants: Trends and Perspectives
by Jose Antonio Hernández
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(10), 2408; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20102408 - 15 May 2019
Cited by 120 | Viewed by 8349
Abstract
Salinity stress is one of the more prevailing abiotic stresses which results in significant losses in agricultural crop production, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Salinity Tolerance in Plants)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

20 pages, 3229 KiB  
Article
Association Analysis of Salt Tolerance in Asiatic cotton (Gossypium arboretum) with SNP Markers
by Tussipkan Dilnur, Zhen Peng, Zhaoe Pan, Koffi Kibalou Palanga, Yinhua Jia, Wenfang Gong and Xiongming Du
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(9), 2168; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20092168 - 01 May 2019
Cited by 30 | Viewed by 4942
Abstract
Salinity is not only a major environmental factor which limits plant growth and productivity, but it has also become a worldwide problem. However, little is known about the genetic basis underlying salt tolerance in cotton. This study was carried out to identify marker-trait [...] Read more.
Salinity is not only a major environmental factor which limits plant growth and productivity, but it has also become a worldwide problem. However, little is known about the genetic basis underlying salt tolerance in cotton. This study was carried out to identify marker-trait association signals of seven salt-tolerance-related traits and one salt tolerance index using association analysis for 215 accessions of Asiatic cotton. According to a comprehensive index of salt tolerance (CIST), 215 accessions were mainly categorized into four groups, and 11 accessions with high salinity tolerance were selected for breeding. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) revealed nine SNP rich regions significantly associated with relative fresh weight (RFW), relative stem length (RSL), relative water content (RWC) and CIST. The nine SNP rich regions analysis revealed 143 polymorphisms that distributed 40 candidate genes and significantly associated with salt tolerance. Notably, two SNP rich regions on chromosome 7 were found to be significantly associated with two salinity related traits, RFW and RSL, by the threshold of −log10P ≥ 6.0, and two candidate genes (Cotton_A_37775 and Cotton_A_35901) related to two key SNPs (Ca7_33607751 and Ca7_77004962) were possibly associated with salt tolerance in G. arboreum. These can provide fundamental information which will be useful for future molecular breeding of cotton, in order to release novel salt tolerant cultivars. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Salinity Tolerance in Plants)
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16 pages, 3531 KiB  
Article
CaDHN5, a Dehydrin Gene from Pepper, Plays an Important Role in Salt and Osmotic Stress Responses
by Dan Luo, Xiaoming Hou, Yumeng Zhang, Yuancheng Meng, Huafeng Zhang, Suya Liu, Xinke Wang and Rugang Chen
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(8), 1989; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20081989 - 23 Apr 2019
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 3813
Abstract
Dehydrins (DHNs), as a sub-family of group two late embryogenesis-abundant (LEA) proteins, have attracted considerable interest owing to their functions in enhancing abiotic stress tolerance in plants. Our previous study showed that the expression of CaDHN5 (a dehydrin gene from pepper) [...] Read more.
Dehydrins (DHNs), as a sub-family of group two late embryogenesis-abundant (LEA) proteins, have attracted considerable interest owing to their functions in enhancing abiotic stress tolerance in plants. Our previous study showed that the expression of CaDHN5 (a dehydrin gene from pepper) is strongly induced by salt and osmotic stresses, but its function was not clear. To understand the function of CaDHN5 in the abiotic stress responses, we produced pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants, in which CaDHN5 expression was down-regulated using VIGS (Virus-induced Gene Silencing), and transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing CaDHN5. We found that knock-down of CaDHN5 suppressed the expression of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and peroxidase (POD) genes. These changes caused more reactive oxygen species accumulation in the VIGS lines than control pepper plants under stress conditions. CaDHN5-overexpressing plants exhibited enhanced tolerance to salt and osmotic stresses as compared to the wild type and also showed increased expression of salt and osmotic stress-related genes. Interestingly, our results showed that many salt-related genes were upregulated in our transgenic Arabidopsis lines under salt or osmotic stress. Taken together, our results suggest that CaDHN5 functions as a positive regulator in the salt and osmotic stress signaling pathways. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Salinity Tolerance in Plants)
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17 pages, 2950 KiB  
Article
Overexpression of Transglutaminase from Cucumber in Tobacco Increases Salt Tolerance through Regulation of Photosynthesis
by Min Zhong, Yu Wang, Yuemei Zhang, Sheng Shu, Jin Sun and Shirong Guo
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(4), 894; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20040894 - 19 Feb 2019
Cited by 34 | Viewed by 3517
Abstract
Transglutaminase (TGase) is a regulator of posttranslational modification of protein that provides physiological protection against diverse environmental stresses in plants. Nonetheless, the mechanisms of TGase-mediated salt tolerance remain largely unknown. Here, we found that the transcription of cucumber TGase (CsTGase) was [...] Read more.
Transglutaminase (TGase) is a regulator of posttranslational modification of protein that provides physiological protection against diverse environmental stresses in plants. Nonetheless, the mechanisms of TGase-mediated salt tolerance remain largely unknown. Here, we found that the transcription of cucumber TGase (CsTGase) was induced in response to light and during leaf development, and the CsTGase protein was expressed in the chloroplast and the cell wall. The overexpression of the CsTGase gene effectively ameliorated salt-induced photoinhibition in tobacco plants, increased the levels of chloroplast polyamines (PAs) and enhanced the abundance of D1 and D2 proteins. TGase also induced the expression of photosynthesis related genes and remodeling of thylakoids under normal conditions. However, salt stress treatment reduced the photosynthesis rate, PSII and PSI related genes expression, D1 and D2 proteins in wild-type (WT) plants, while these effects were alleviated in CsTGase overexpression plants. Taken together, our results indicate that TGase-dependent PA signaling protects the proteins of thylakoids, which plays a critical role in plant response to salt stress. Thus, overexpression of TGase may be an effective strategy for enhancing resistance to salt stress of salt-sensitive crops in agricultural production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Salinity Tolerance in Plants)
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19 pages, 5604 KiB  
Article
Overexpression of the Stress-Inducible SsMAX2 Promotes Drought and Salt Resistance via the Regulation of Redox Homeostasis in Arabidopsis
by Qiaojian Wang, Jun Ni, Faheem Shah, Wenbo Liu, Dongdong Wang, Yuanyuan Yao, Hao Hu, Shengwei Huang, Jinyan Hou, Songling Fu and Lifang Wu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(4), 837; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20040837 - 15 Feb 2019
Cited by 43 | Viewed by 4438
Abstract
Recent studies have demonstrated that strigolactones (SLs) also participate in the regulation of stress adaptation; however, the regulatory mechanism remains elusive. In this study, the homolog of More Axillary Branches 2, which encodes a key component in SL signaling, in the perennial [...] Read more.
Recent studies have demonstrated that strigolactones (SLs) also participate in the regulation of stress adaptation; however, the regulatory mechanism remains elusive. In this study, the homolog of More Axillary Branches 2, which encodes a key component in SL signaling, in the perennial oil plant Sapium sebiferum was identified and functionally characterized in Arabidopsis. The results showed that the expression of SsMAX2 in S. sebiferum seedlings was stress-responsive, and SsMAX2 overexpression (OE) in Arabidopsis significantly promoted resistance to drought, osmotic, and salt stresses. Moreover, SsMAX2 OE lines exhibited decreased chlorophyll degradation, increased soluble sugar and proline accumulation, and lower water loss ratio in response to the stresses. Importantly, anthocyanin biosynthesis and the activities of several antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), were enhanced in the SsMAX2 OE lines, which further led to a significant reduction in hydrogen peroxide levels. Additionally, the SsMAX2 OE lines exhibited higher expression level of several abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis genes, suggesting potential interactions between SL and ABA in the regulation of stress adaptation. Overall, we provide physiological and biochemical evidence demonstrating the pivotal role of SsMAX2 in the regulation of osmotic, drought, and salt stress resistance and show that MAX2 can be a genetic target to improve stress tolerance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Salinity Tolerance in Plants)
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28 pages, 4262 KiB  
Article
iTRAQ-Based Protein Profiling and Biochemical Analysis of Two Contrasting Rice Genotypes Revealed Their Differential Responses to Salt Stress
by Sajid Hussain, Chunquan Zhu, Zhigang Bai, Jie Huang, Lianfeng Zhu, Xiaochuang Cao, Satyabrata Nanda, Saddam Hussain, Aamir Riaz, Qingduo Liang, Liping Wang, Yefeng Li, Qianyu Jin and Junhua Zhang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(3), 547; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20030547 - 28 Jan 2019
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3814
Abstract
Salt stress is one of the key abiotic stresses causing huge productivity losses in rice. In addition, the differential sensitivity to salinity of different rice genotypes during different growth stages is a major issue in mitigating salt stress in rice. Further, information on [...] Read more.
Salt stress is one of the key abiotic stresses causing huge productivity losses in rice. In addition, the differential sensitivity to salinity of different rice genotypes during different growth stages is a major issue in mitigating salt stress in rice. Further, information on quantitative proteomics in rice addressing such an issue is scarce. In the present study, an isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based comparative protein quantification was carried out to investigate the salinity-responsive proteins and related biochemical features of two contrasting rice genotypes—Nipponbare (NPBA, japonica) and Liangyoupeijiu (LYP9, indica), at the maximum tillering stage. The rice genotypes were exposed to four levels of salinity: 0 (control; CK), 1.5 (low salt stress; LS), 4.5 (moderate salt stress; MS), and 7.5 g of NaCl/kg dry soil (high salt stress, HS). The iTRAQ protein profiling under different salinity conditions identified a total of 5340 proteins with 1% FDR in both rice genotypes. In LYP9, comparisons of LS, MS, and HS compared with CK revealed the up-regulation of 28, 368, and 491 proteins, respectively. On the other hand, in NPBA, 239 and 337 proteins were differentially upregulated in LS and MS compared with CK, respectively. Functional characterization by KEGG and COG, along with the GO enrichment results, suggests that the differentially expressed proteins are mainly involved in regulation of salt stress responses, oxidation-reduction responses, photosynthesis, and carbohydrate metabolism. Biochemical analysis of the rice genotypes revealed that the Na+ and Cl− uptake from soil to the leaves via the roots was increased with increasing salt stress levels in both rice genotypes. Further, increasing the salinity levels resulted in increased cell membrane injury in both rice cultivars, however more severely in NPBA. Moreover, the rice root activity was found to be higher in LYP9 roots compared with NPBA under salt stress conditions, suggesting the positive role of rice root activity in mitigating salinity. Overall, the results from the study add further insights into the differential proteome dynamics in two contrasting rice genotypes with respect to salt tolerance, and imply the candidature of LYP9 to be a greater salt tolerant genotype over NPBA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Salinity Tolerance in Plants)
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14 pages, 11225 KiB  
Article
Comprehensive Analysis of Differentially Expressed Unigenes under NaCl Stress in Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) Using RNA-Seq
by Jianzhong Wu, Qian Zhao, Guangwen Wu, Hongmei Yuan, Yanhua Ma, Hong Lin, Liyan Pan, Suiyan Li and Dequan Sun
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(2), 369; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20020369 - 16 Jan 2019
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 3909
Abstract
Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is an important industrial crop that is often cultivated on marginal lands, where salt stress negatively affects yield and quality. High-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) using the powerful Illumina platform was employed for transcript analysis and gene discovery to [...] Read more.
Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is an important industrial crop that is often cultivated on marginal lands, where salt stress negatively affects yield and quality. High-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) using the powerful Illumina platform was employed for transcript analysis and gene discovery to reveal flax response mechanisms to salt stress. After cDNA libraries were constructed from flax exposed to water (negative control) or salt (100 mM NaCl) for 12 h, 24 h or 48 h, transcription expression profiles and cDNA sequences representing expressed mRNA were obtained. A total of 431,808,502 clean reads were assembled to form 75,961 unigenes. After ruling out short-length and low-quality sequences, 33,774 differentially expressed unigenes (DEUs) were identified between salt-stressed and unstressed control (C) flax. Of these DEUs, 3669, 8882 and 21,223 unigenes were obtained from flax exposed to salt for 12 h (N1), 24 h (N2) and 48 h (N4), respectively. Gene function classification and pathway assignments of 2842 DEUs were obtained by comparing unigene sequences to information within public data repositories. qRT-PCR of selected DEUs was used to validate flax cDNA libraries generated for various durations of salt exposure. Based on transcriptome sequences, 1777 EST-SSRs were identified of which trinucleotide and dinucleotide repeat microsatellite motifs were most abundant. The flax DEUs and EST-SSRs identified here will serve as a powerful resource to better understand flax response mechanisms to salt exposure for development of more salt-tolerant varieties of flax. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Salinity Tolerance in Plants)
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24 pages, 3164 KiB  
Article
SNF1-Related Protein Kinases SnRK2.4 and SnRK2.10 Modulate ROS Homeostasis in Plant Response to Salt Stress
by Katarzyna Patrycja Szymańska, Lidia Polkowska-Kowalczyk, Małgorzata Lichocka, Justyna Maszkowska and Grażyna Dobrowolska
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(1), 143; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20010143 - 02 Jan 2019
Cited by 57 | Viewed by 6607
Abstract
In response to salinity and various other environmental stresses, plants accumulate reactive oxygen species (ROS). The ROS produced at very early stages of the stress response act as signaling molecules activating defense mechanisms, whereas those produced at later stages in an uncontrolled way [...] Read more.
In response to salinity and various other environmental stresses, plants accumulate reactive oxygen species (ROS). The ROS produced at very early stages of the stress response act as signaling molecules activating defense mechanisms, whereas those produced at later stages in an uncontrolled way are detrimental to plant cells by damaging lipids, DNA, and proteins. Multiple systems are involved in ROS generation and also in ROS scavenging. Their level and activity are tightly controlled to ensure ROS homeostasis and protect the plant against the negative effects of the environment. The signaling pathways responsible for maintaining ROS homeostasis in abiotic stress conditions remain largely unknown. Here, we show that in Arabidopsis thaliana, two abscisic acid- (ABA)-non-activated SNF1-releted protein kinases 2 (SnRK2) kinases, SnRK2.4 and SnRK2.10, are involved in the regulation of ROS homeostasis in response to salinity. They regulate the expression of several genes responsible for ROS generation at early stages of the stress response as well as those responsible for their removal. Moreover, the SnRK2.4 regulate catalase levels and its activity and the level of ascorbate in seedlings exposed to salt stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Salinity Tolerance in Plants)
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17 pages, 6567 KiB  
Article
The Arabidopsis Ca2+-Dependent Protein Kinase CPK12 Is Involved in Plant Response to Salt Stress
by Huilong Zhang, Yinan Zhang, Chen Deng, Shurong Deng, Nianfei Li, Chenjing Zhao, Rui Zhao, Shan Liang and Shaoliang Chen
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(12), 4062; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19124062 - 14 Dec 2018
Cited by 30 | Viewed by 4908
Abstract
CDPKs (Ca2+-Dependent Protein Kinases) are very important regulators in plant response to abiotic stress. The molecular regulatory mechanism of CDPKs involved in salt stress tolerance remains unclear, although some CDPKs have been identified in salt-stress signaling. Here, we investigated the function [...] Read more.
CDPKs (Ca2+-Dependent Protein Kinases) are very important regulators in plant response to abiotic stress. The molecular regulatory mechanism of CDPKs involved in salt stress tolerance remains unclear, although some CDPKs have been identified in salt-stress signaling. Here, we investigated the function of an Arabidopsis CDPK, CPK12, in salt-stress signaling. The CPK12-RNA interference (RNAi) mutant was much more sensitive to salt stress than the wild-type plant GL1 in terms of seedling growth. Under NaCl treatment, Na+ levels in the roots of CPK12-RNAi plants increased and were higher than levels in GL1 plants. In addition, the level of salt-elicited H2O2 production was higher in CPK12-RNAi mutants than in wild-type GL1 plants after NaCl treatment. Collectively, our results suggest that CPK12 is required for plant adaptation to salt stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Salinity Tolerance in Plants)
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23 pages, 4674 KiB  
Article
Transcriptome Sequence Analysis Elaborates a Complex Defensive Mechanism of Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) in Response to Salt Stress
by Le Guan, Muhammad Salman Haider, Nadeem Khan, Maazullah Nasim, Songtao Jiu, Muhammad Fiaz, Xudong Zhu, Kekun Zhang and Jinggui Fang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(12), 4019; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19124019 - 12 Dec 2018
Cited by 46 | Viewed by 5782
Abstract
Salinity is ubiquitous abiotic stress factor limiting viticulture productivity worldwide. However, the grapevine is vulnerable to salt stress, which severely affects growth and development of the vine. Hence, it is crucial to delve into the salt resistance mechanism and screen out salt-resistance prediction [...] Read more.
Salinity is ubiquitous abiotic stress factor limiting viticulture productivity worldwide. However, the grapevine is vulnerable to salt stress, which severely affects growth and development of the vine. Hence, it is crucial to delve into the salt resistance mechanism and screen out salt-resistance prediction marker genes; we implicated RNA-sequence (RNA-seq) technology to compare the grapevine transcriptome profile to salt stress. Results showed 2472 differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) in total in salt-responsive grapevine leaves, including 1067 up-regulated and 1405 down-regulated DEGs. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) annotations suggested that many DEGs were involved in various defense-related biological pathways, including ROS scavenging, ion transportation, heat shock proteins (HSPs), pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs) and hormone signaling. Furthermore, many DEGs were encoded transcription factors (TFs) and essential regulatory proteins involved in signal transduction by regulating the salt resistance-related genes in grapevine. The antioxidant enzyme analysis showed that salt stress significantly affected the superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities in grapevine leaves. Moreover, the uptake and distribution of sodium (Na+), potassium (K+) and chlorine (Cl−) in source and sink tissues of grapevine was significantly affected by salt stress. Finally, the qRT-PCR analysis of DE validated the data and findings were significantly consistent with RNA-seq data, which further assisted in the selection of salt stress-responsive candidate genes in grapevine. This study contributes in new perspicacity into the underlying molecular mechanism of grapevine salt stress-tolerance at the transcriptome level and explore new approaches to applying the gene information in genetic engineering and breeding purposes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Salinity Tolerance in Plants)
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16 pages, 6288 KiB  
Article
Rice Overexpressing OsNUC1-S Reveals Differential Gene Expression Leading to Yield Loss Reduction after Salt Stress at the Booting Stage
by Chuthamas Boonchai, Thanikarn Udomchalothorn, Siriporn Sripinyowanich, Luca Comai, Teerapong Buaboocha and Supachitra Chadchawan
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(12), 3936; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19123936 - 07 Dec 2018
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3804
Abstract
Rice nucleolin (OsNUC1), consisting of two isoforms, OsNUC1-L and OsNUC1-S, is a multifunctional protein involved in salt-stress tolerance. Here, OsNUC1-S’s function was investigated using transgenic rice lines overexpressing OsNUC1-S. Under non-stress conditions, the transgenic lines showed a lower yield, but higher [...] Read more.
Rice nucleolin (OsNUC1), consisting of two isoforms, OsNUC1-L and OsNUC1-S, is a multifunctional protein involved in salt-stress tolerance. Here, OsNUC1-S’s function was investigated using transgenic rice lines overexpressing OsNUC1-S. Under non-stress conditions, the transgenic lines showed a lower yield, but higher net photosynthesis rates, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rates than wild type only in the second leaves, while in the flag leaves, these parameters were similar among the lines. However, under salt-stress conditions at the booting stage, the higher yields in transgenic lines were detected. Moreover, the gas exchange parameters of the transgenic lines were higher in both flag and second leaves, suggesting a role for OsNUC1-S overexpression in photosynthesis adaptation under salt-stress conditions. Moreover, the overexpression lines could maintain light-saturation points under salt-stress conditions, while a decrease in the light-saturation point owing to salt stress was found in wild type. Based on a transcriptome comparison between wild type and a transgenic line, after 3 and 9 days of salt stress, the significantly differentially expressed genes were enriched in the metabolic process of nucleic acid and macromolecule, photosynthesis, water transport, and cellular homeostasis processes, leading to the better performance of photosynthetic processes under salt-stress conditions at the booting stage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Salinity Tolerance in Plants)
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12 pages, 1540 KiB  
Article
Root Abscisic Acid Contributes to Defending Photoinibition in Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) under Salt Stress
by Kun Yan, Tiantian Bian, Wenjun He, Guangxuan Han, Mengxue Lv, Mingzhu Guo and Ming Lu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(12), 3934; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19123934 - 07 Dec 2018
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3146
Abstract
The aim of the study was to examine the role of root abscisic acid (ABA) in protecting photosystems and photosynthesis in Jerusalem artichoke against salt stress. Potted plants were pretreated by a specific ABA synthesis inhibitor sodium tungstate and then subjected to salt [...] Read more.
The aim of the study was to examine the role of root abscisic acid (ABA) in protecting photosystems and photosynthesis in Jerusalem artichoke against salt stress. Potted plants were pretreated by a specific ABA synthesis inhibitor sodium tungstate and then subjected to salt stress (150 mM NaCl). Tungstate did not directly affect root ABA content and photosynthetic parameters, whereas it inhibited root ABA accumulation and induced a greater decrease in photosynthetic rate under salt stress. The maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) significantly declined in tungstate-pretreated plants under salt stress, suggesting photosystem II (PSII) photoinhibition appeared. PSII photoinhibition did not prevent PSI photoinhibition by restricting electron donation, as the maximal photochemical efficiency of PSI (ΔMR/MR0) was lowered. In line with photoinhibition, elevated H2O2 concentration and lipid peroxidation corroborated salt-induced oxidative stress in tungstate-pretreated plants. Less decrease in ΔMR/MR0 and Fv/Fm indicated that PSII and PSI in non-pretreated plants could maintain better performance than tungstate-pretreated plants under salt stress. Consistently, greater reduction in PSII and PSI reaction center protein abundance confirmed the elevated vulnerability of photosystems to salt stress in tungstate-pretreated plants. Overall, the root ABA signal participated in defending the photosystem’s photoinhibition and protecting photosynthesis in Jerusalem artichoke under salt stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Salinity Tolerance in Plants)
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20 pages, 3311 KiB  
Article
Vascular Plant One-Zinc-Finger (VOZ) Transcription Factors Are Positive Regulators of Salt Tolerance in Arabidopsis
by Kasavajhala V. S. K. Prasad, Denghui Xing and Anireddy S. N. Reddy
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(12), 3731; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19123731 - 23 Nov 2018
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 5010
Abstract
Soil salinity, a significant problem in agriculture, severely limits the productivity of crop plants. Plants respond to and cope with salt stress by reprogramming gene expression via multiple signaling pathways that converge on transcription factors. To develop strategies to generate salt-tolerant crops, it [...] Read more.
Soil salinity, a significant problem in agriculture, severely limits the productivity of crop plants. Plants respond to and cope with salt stress by reprogramming gene expression via multiple signaling pathways that converge on transcription factors. To develop strategies to generate salt-tolerant crops, it is necessary to identify transcription factors that modulate salt stress responses in plants. In this study, we investigated the role of VOZ (VASCULAR PLANT ONE-ZINC FINGER PROTEIN) transcription factors (VOZs) in salt stress response. Transcriptome analysis in WT (wild-type), voz1-1, voz2-1 double mutant and a VOZ2 complemented line revealed that many stress-responsive genes are regulated by VOZs. Enrichment analysis for gene ontology terms in misregulated genes in voz double mutant confirmed previously identified roles of VOZs and suggested a new role for them in salt stress. To confirm VOZs role in salt stress, we analyzed seed germination and seedling growth of WT, voz1, voz2-1, voz2-2 single mutants, voz1-1 voz2-1 double mutant and a complemented line under different concentrations of NaCl. Only the double mutant exhibited hypersensitivity to salt stress as compared to WT, single mutants, and a complemented line. Expression analysis showed that hypersensitivity of the double mutant was accompanied by reduced expression of salt-inducible genes. These results suggest that VOZ transcription factors act as positive regulators of several salt-responsive genes and that the two VOZs are functionally redundant in salt stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Salinity Tolerance in Plants)
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19 pages, 4443 KiB  
Article
The Salt-Stress Response of the Transgenic Plum Line J8-1 and Its Interaction with the Salicylic Acid Biosynthetic Pathway from Mandelonitrile
by Agustina Bernal-Vicente, Daniel Cantabella, Cesar Petri, José Antonio Hernández and Pedro Diaz-Vivancos
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(11), 3519; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19113519 - 08 Nov 2018
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3651
Abstract
Salinity is considered as one of the most important abiotic challenges that affect crop productivity. Plant hormones, including salicylic acid (SA), are key factors in the defence signalling output triggered during plant responses against environmental stresses. We have previously reported in peach a [...] Read more.
Salinity is considered as one of the most important abiotic challenges that affect crop productivity. Plant hormones, including salicylic acid (SA), are key factors in the defence signalling output triggered during plant responses against environmental stresses. We have previously reported in peach a new SA biosynthetic pathway from mandelonitrile (MD), the molecule at the hub of the cyanogenic glucoside turnover in Prunus sp. In this work, we have studied whether this new SA biosynthetic pathway is also present in plum and the possible role this pathway plays in plant plasticity under salinity, focusing on the transgenic plum line J8-1, which displays stress tolerance via an enhanced antioxidant capacity. The SA biosynthesis from MD in non-transgenic and J8-1 micropropagated plum shoots was studied by metabolomics. Then the response of J8-1 to salt stress in presence of MD or Phe (MD precursor) was assayed by measuring: chlorophyll content and fluorescence parameters, stress related hormones, levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants, the expression of two genes coding redox-related proteins, and the content of soluble nutrients. The results from in vitro assays suggest that the SA synthesis from the MD pathway demonstrated in peach is not clearly present in plum, at least under the tested conditions. Nevertheless, in J8-1 NaCl-stressed seedlings, an increase in SA was recorded as a result of the MD treatment, suggesting that MD could be involved in the SA biosynthesis under NaCl stress conditions in plum plants. We have also shown that the plum line J8-1 was tolerant to NaCl under greenhouse conditions, and this response was quite similar in MD-treated plants. Nevertheless, the MD treatment produced an increase in SA, jasmonic acid (JA) and reduced ascorbate (ASC) contents, as well as in the coefficient of non-photochemical quenching (qN) and the gene expression of Non-Expressor of Pathogenesis-Related 1 (NPR1) and thioredoxin H (TrxH) under salinity conditions. This response suggested a crosstalk between different signalling pathways (NPR1/Trx and SA/JA) leading to salinity tolerance in the transgenic plum line J8-1. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Salinity Tolerance in Plants)
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16 pages, 1410 KiB  
Article
Identification of Salt Stress Responding Genes Using Transcriptome Analysis in Green Alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
by Ning Wang, Zhixin Qian, Manwei Luo, Shoujin Fan, Xuejie Zhang and Luoyan Zhang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(11), 3359; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19113359 - 26 Oct 2018
Cited by 81 | Viewed by 6168
Abstract
Salinity is one of the most important abiotic stresses threatening plant growth and agricultural productivity worldwide. In green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, physiological evidence indicates that saline stress increases intracellular peroxide levels and inhibits photosynthetic-electron flow. However, understanding the genetic underpinnings of salt-responding [...] Read more.
Salinity is one of the most important abiotic stresses threatening plant growth and agricultural productivity worldwide. In green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, physiological evidence indicates that saline stress increases intracellular peroxide levels and inhibits photosynthetic-electron flow. However, understanding the genetic underpinnings of salt-responding traits in plantae remains a daunting challenge. In this study, the transcriptome analysis of short-term acclimation to salt stress (200 mM NaCl for 24 h) was performed in C. reinhardtii. A total of 10,635 unigenes were identified as being differently expressed by RNA-seq, including 5920 up- and 4715 down-regulated unigenes. A series of molecular cues were screened for salt stress response, including maintaining the lipid homeostasis by regulating phosphatidic acid, acetate being used as an alternative source of energy for solving impairment of photosynthesis, and enhancement of glycolysis metabolism to decrease the carbohydrate accumulation in cells. Our results may help understand the molecular and genetic underpinnings of salt stress responses in green alga C. reinhardtii. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Salinity Tolerance in Plants)
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17 pages, 1675 KiB  
Article
A Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Candidate Genes Related to Salt Tolerance in Rice (Oryza sativa) at the Germination Stage
by Jie Yu, Weiguo Zhao, Wei Tong, Qiang He, Min-Young Yoon, Feng-Peng Li, Buung Choi, Eun-Beom Heo, Kyu-Won Kim and Yong-Jin Park
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(10), 3145; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19103145 - 12 Oct 2018
Cited by 44 | Viewed by 5736
Abstract
Salt toxicity is the major factor limiting crop productivity in saline soils. In this paper, 295 accessions including a heuristic core set (137 accessions) and 158 bred varieties were re-sequenced and ~1.65 million SNPs/indels were used to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) [...] Read more.
Salt toxicity is the major factor limiting crop productivity in saline soils. In this paper, 295 accessions including a heuristic core set (137 accessions) and 158 bred varieties were re-sequenced and ~1.65 million SNPs/indels were used to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of salt-tolerance-related phenotypes in rice during the germination stage. A total of 12 associated peaks distributed on seven chromosomes using a compressed mixed linear model were detected. Determined by linkage disequilibrium (LD) blocks analysis, we finally obtained a total of 79 candidate genes. By detecting the highly associated variations located inside the genic region that overlapped with the results of LD block analysis, we characterized 17 genes that may contribute to salt tolerance during the seed germination stage. At the same time, we conducted a haplotype analysis of the genes with functional variations together with phenotypic correlation and orthologous sequence analyses. Among these genes, OsMADS31, which is a MADS-box family transcription factor, had a down-regulated expression under the salt condition and it was predicted to be involved in the salt tolerance at the rice germination stage. Our study revealed some novel candidate genes and their substantial natural variations in the rice genome at the germination stage. The GWAS in rice at the germination stage would provide important resources for molecular breeding and functional analysis of the salt tolerance during rice germination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Salinity Tolerance in Plants)
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19 pages, 2318 KiB  
Article
Overexpression of a Novel ROP Gene from the Banana (MaROP5g) Confers Increased Salt Stress Tolerance
by Hongxia Miao, Peiguang Sun, Juhua Liu, Jingyi Wang, Biyu Xu and Zhiqiang Jin
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(10), 3108; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19103108 - 11 Oct 2018
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 4111
Abstract
Rho-like GTPases from plants (ROPs) are plant-specific molecular switches that are crucial for plant survival when subjected to abiotic stress. We identified and characterized 17 novel ROP proteins from Musa acuminata (MaROPs) using genomic techniques. The identified MaROPs fell into three of the [...] Read more.
Rho-like GTPases from plants (ROPs) are plant-specific molecular switches that are crucial for plant survival when subjected to abiotic stress. We identified and characterized 17 novel ROP proteins from Musa acuminata (MaROPs) using genomic techniques. The identified MaROPs fell into three of the four previously described ROP groups (Groups II–IV), with MaROPs in each group having similar genetic structures and conserved motifs. Our transcriptomic analysis showed that the two banana genotypes tested, Fen Jiao and BaXi Jiao, had similar responses to abiotic stress: Six genes (MaROP-3b, -5a, -5c, -5f, -5g, and -6) were highly expressed in response to cold, salt, and drought stress conditions in both genotypes. Of these, MaROP5g was most highly expressed in response to salt stress. Co-localization experiments showed that the MaROP5g protein was localized at the plasma membrane. When subjected to salt stress, transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana overexpressing MaROP5g had longer primary roots and increased survival rates compared to wild-type A. thaliana. The increased salt tolerance conferred by MaROP5g might be related to reduced membrane injury and the increased cytosolic K+/Na+ ratio and Ca2+ concentration in the transgenic plants as compared to wild-type. The increased expression of salt overly sensitive (SOS)-pathway genes and calcium-signaling pathway genes in MaROP5g-overexpressing A. thaliana reflected the enhanced tolerance to salt stress by the transgenic lines in comparison to wild-type. Collectively, our results suggested that abiotic stress tolerance in banana plants might be regulated by multiple MaROPs, and that MaROP5g might enhance salt tolerance by increasing root length, improving membrane injury and ion distribution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Salinity Tolerance in Plants)
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16 pages, 2075 KiB  
Article
Variations in Physiology and Multiple Bioactive Constituents under Salt Stress Provide Insight into the Quality Evaluation of Apocyni Veneti Folium
by Cuihua Chen, Chengcheng Wang, Zixiu Liu, Xunhong Liu, Lisi Zou, Jingjing Shi, Shuyu Chen, Jiali Chen and Mengxia Tan
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(10), 3042; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19103042 - 05 Oct 2018
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 3445
Abstract
As one of the major abiotic stresses, salinity stress may affect the physiology and biochemical components of Apocynum venetum L. To systematically evaluate the quality of Apocyni Veneti Folium (AVF) from the perspective of physiological and the wide variety of bioactive components response [...] Read more.
As one of the major abiotic stresses, salinity stress may affect the physiology and biochemical components of Apocynum venetum L. To systematically evaluate the quality of Apocyni Veneti Folium (AVF) from the perspective of physiological and the wide variety of bioactive components response to various concentrations of salt stress, this experiment was arranged on the basis of ultra-fast liquid chromatography tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UFLC-QTRAP-MS/MS) technology and multivariate statistical analysis. Physiological characteristics of photosynthetic pigments, osmotic homeostasis, lipid peroxidation product, and antioxidative enzymes were introduced to investigate the salt tolerance mechanism of AVF under salinity treatments of four concentrations (0, 100, 200, and 300 mM NaCl, respectively). Furthermore, a total of 43 bioactive constituents, including 14 amino acids, nine nucleosides, six organic acids, and 14 flavonoids were quantified in AVF under salt stress. In addition, multivariate statistical analysis, including hierarchical clustering analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and gray relational analysis (GRA) was employed to systematically cluster, distinguish, and evaluate the samples, respectively. Compared with the control, the results demonstrated that 200 mM and 100 mM salt stress contributed to maintain high quality of photosynthesis, osmotic balance, antioxidant enzyme activity, and the accumulation of metabolites, except for total organic acids, and the quality of AVF obtained by these two groups was better than others; however, under severe stress, the accumulation of the oxidative damage and the reduction of metabolite caused by inefficiently scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) lead to lower quality. In summary, the proposed method may provide integrated information for the quality evaluation of AVF and other salt-tolerant Chinese medicines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Salinity Tolerance in Plants)
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19 pages, 3946 KiB  
Article
Analysis of bZIP Transcription Factor Family and Their Expressions under Salt Stress in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
by Chunli Ji, Xue Mao, Jingyun Hao, Xiaodan Wang, Jinai Xue, Hongli Cui and Runzhi Li
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(9), 2800; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19092800 - 17 Sep 2018
Cited by 30 | Viewed by 4411
Abstract
The basic leucine-region zipper (bZIP) transcription factors (TFs) act as crucial regulators in various biological processes and stress responses in plants. Currently, bZIP family members and their functions remain elusive in the green unicellular algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, an important model organism for [...] Read more.
The basic leucine-region zipper (bZIP) transcription factors (TFs) act as crucial regulators in various biological processes and stress responses in plants. Currently, bZIP family members and their functions remain elusive in the green unicellular algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, an important model organism for molecular investigation with genetic engineering aimed at increasing lipid yields for better biodiesel production. In this study, a total of 17 C. reinhardtii bZIP (CrebZIP) TFs containing typical bZIP structure were identified by a genome-wide analysis. Analysis of the CrebZIP protein physicochemical properties, phylogenetic tree, conserved domain, and secondary structure were conducted. CrebZIP gene structures and their chromosomal assignment were also analyzed. Physiological and photosynthetic characteristics of C. reinhardtii under salt stress were exhibited as lower cell growth and weaker photosynthesis, but increased lipid accumulation. Meanwhile, the expression profiles of six CrebZIP genes were induced to change significantly during salt stress, indicating that certain CrebZIPs may play important roles in mediating photosynthesis and lipid accumulation of microalgae in response to stresses. The present work provided a valuable foundation for functional dissection of CrebZIPs, benefiting the development of better strategies to engineer the regulatory network in microalgae for enhancing biofuel and biomass production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Salinity Tolerance in Plants)
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22 pages, 5661 KiB  
Article
Nitric Oxide Is Required for Melatonin-Enhanced Tolerance against Salinity Stress in Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) Seedlings
by Gan Zhao, Yingying Zhao, Xiuli Yu, Felix Kiprotich, Han Han, Rongzhan Guan, Ren Wang and Wenbiao Shen
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(7), 1912; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19071912 - 29 Jun 2018
Cited by 130 | Viewed by 7502
Abstract
Although melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) could alleviate salinity stress in plants, the downstream signaling pathway is still not fully characterized. Here, we report that endogenous melatonin and thereafter nitric oxide (NO) accumulation was successively increased in NaCl-stressed rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) seedling [...] Read more.
Although melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) could alleviate salinity stress in plants, the downstream signaling pathway is still not fully characterized. Here, we report that endogenous melatonin and thereafter nitric oxide (NO) accumulation was successively increased in NaCl-stressed rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) seedling roots. Application of melatonin and NO-releasing compound not only counteracted NaCl-induced seedling growth inhibition, but also reestablished redox and ion homeostasis, the latter of which are confirmed by the alleviation of reactive oxygen species overproduction, the decreases in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances production, and Na+/K+ ratio. Consistently, the related antioxidant defense genes, sodium hydrogen exchanger (NHX1), and salt overly sensitive 2 (SOS2) transcripts are modulated. The involvement S-nitrosylation, a redox-based posttranslational modification triggered by NO, is suggested. Further results show that in response to NaCl stress, the increased NO levels are strengthened by the addition of melatonin in seedling roots. Above responses are abolished by the removal of NO by NO scavenger. We further discover that the removal of NO does not alter endogenous melatonin content in roots supplemented with NaCl alone or together with melatonin, thus excluding the possibility of NO-triggered melatonin production. Genetic evidence reveals that, compared with wild-type Arabidopsis, the hypersensitivity to NaCl in nia1/2 and noa1 mutants (exhibiting null nitrate reductase activity and indirectly reduced endogenous NO level, respectively) cannot be rescued by melatonin supplementation. The reestablishment of redox homeostasis and induction of SOS signaling are not observed. In summary, above pharmacological, molecular, and genetic data conclude that NO operates downstream of melatonin promoting salinity tolerance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Salinity Tolerance in Plants)
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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

17 pages, 428 KiB  
Review
Progress in Understanding the Physiological and Molecular Responses of Populus to Salt Stress
by Xiaoning Zhang, Lijun Liu, Bowen Chen, Zihai Qin, Yufei Xiao, Ye Zhang, Ruiling Yao, Hailong Liu and Hong Yang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(6), 1312; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20061312 - 15 Mar 2019
Cited by 36 | Viewed by 4275
Abstract
Salt stress (SS) has become an important factor limiting afforestation programs. Because of their salt tolerance and fully sequenced genomes, poplars (Populus spp.) are used as model species to study SS mechanisms in trees. Here, we review recent insights into the physiological [...] Read more.
Salt stress (SS) has become an important factor limiting afforestation programs. Because of their salt tolerance and fully sequenced genomes, poplars (Populus spp.) are used as model species to study SS mechanisms in trees. Here, we review recent insights into the physiological and molecular responses of Populus to SS, including ion homeostasis and signaling pathways, such as the salt overly sensitive (SOS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) pathways. We summarize the genes that can be targeted for the genetic improvement of salt tolerance and propose future research areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Salinity Tolerance in Plants)
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12 pages, 2189 KiB  
Review
Role and Functional Differences of HKT1-Type Transporters in Plants under Salt Stress
by Akhtar Ali, Albino Maggio, Ray A. Bressan and Dae-Jin Yun
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(5), 1059; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20051059 - 01 Mar 2019
Cited by 71 | Viewed by 5899
Abstract
Abiotic stresses generally cause a series of morphological, biochemical and molecular changes that unfavorably affect plant growth and productivity. Among these stresses, soil salinity is a major threat that can seriously impair crop yield. To cope with the effects of high salinity on [...] Read more.
Abiotic stresses generally cause a series of morphological, biochemical and molecular changes that unfavorably affect plant growth and productivity. Among these stresses, soil salinity is a major threat that can seriously impair crop yield. To cope with the effects of high salinity on plants, it is important to understand the mechanisms that plants use to deal with it, including those activated in response to disturbed Na+ and K+ homeostasis at cellular and molecular levels. HKT1-type transporters are key determinants of Na+ and K+ homeostasis under salt stress and they contribute to reduce Na+-specific toxicity in plants. In this review, we provide a brief overview of the function of HKT1-type transporters and their importance in different plant species under salt stress. Comparison between HKT1 homologs in different plant species will shed light on different approaches plants may use to cope with salinity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Salinity Tolerance in Plants)
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18 pages, 2003 KiB  
Review
Melatonin: A Small Molecule but Important for Salt Stress Tolerance in Plants
by Haoshuang Zhan, Xiaojun Nie, Ting Zhang, Shuang Li, Xiaoyu Wang, Xianghong Du, Wei Tong and Weining Song
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(3), 709; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20030709 - 07 Feb 2019
Cited by 129 | Viewed by 7947
Abstract
Salt stress is one of the most serious limiting factors in worldwide agricultural production, resulting in huge annual yield loss. Since 1995, melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine)—an ancient multi-functional molecule in eukaryotes and prokaryotes—has been extensively validated as a regulator of plant growth and [...] Read more.
Salt stress is one of the most serious limiting factors in worldwide agricultural production, resulting in huge annual yield loss. Since 1995, melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine)—an ancient multi-functional molecule in eukaryotes and prokaryotes—has been extensively validated as a regulator of plant growth and development, as well as various stress responses, especially its crucial role in plant salt tolerance. Salt stress and exogenous melatonin lead to an increase in endogenous melatonin levels, partly via the phyto-melatonin receptor CAND2/PMTR1. Melatonin plays important roles, as a free radical scavenger and antioxidant, in the improvement of antioxidant systems under salt stress. These functions improve photosynthesis, ion homeostasis, and activate a series of downstream signals, such as hormones, nitric oxide (NO) and polyamine metabolism. Melatonin also regulates gene expression responses to salt stress. In this study, we review recent literature and summarize the regulatory roles and signaling networks involving melatonin in response to salt stress in plants. We also discuss genes and gene families involved in the melatonin-mediated salt stress tolerance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Salinity Tolerance in Plants)
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