In Memory of Professor Javier Abadía, a World Leader in Plant Stress Physiology

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Physiology and Metabolism".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (18 December 2023) | Viewed by 6521

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Investigador Científico, Instituto de Agrobiotecnología, CSIC-Gobierno de Navarra, Mutilva, Spain
Interests: agronomy; elevated CO2; elevated temperature; grapevine biology; photosynthesis; plant adaptation to climate change; plant nutrition; plant physiology; plant stress physiology; water stress.
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Department of Botany, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: plant ecophysiology; photosynthesis; biotic stress; abiotic stress; antioxidative mechanisms; photoprotective mechanisms; reactive oxygen species
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Professor Javier Abadía, an internationally recognized researcher for his work on plant nutrition, passed away peacefully on November 18 2022 at the age of 68. Professor Javier Abadía led the CSIC research group “Plant Abiotic Stress Physiology” dedicated to the study of crop responses to stress caused by deficiencies, particularly iron deficiencies, and excess metals. His work is located in the elite category of world research, according to the Stanford University classification, published by the journal PLOS ONE. He devoted his entire career to the study of the physiological and biochemical mechanisms that higher plants, crops and natural vegetation develop in response to environmental stress situations, including both deficiencies and toxicities of metals (iron, zinc, etc.) and other abiotic stresses (salinity and water stress, among others). His invaluable contributions to plant nutrition and plant stress physiology have left an extraordinary mark on the field, and this Special Issue provides a timely opportunity to pay tribute to him. Over the years, he always remained at the technical forefront, initially using chlorophyll fluorescence, high-resolution liquid chromatography and spectrometry for elementary analysis, and later pioneering the application of mass spectrometry techniques in crop sciences, including studies of plant metabolomics and plant proteomics. His colleagues (many of them were also friends) highlight both his scientific and human facets. This Special Issue pays tribute to an excellent scientist, and an even more extraordinary person. Submissions of original research and review articles focused on, but not limited to, plant nutrition or plant stress physiology are highly encouraged and appreciated. Contributions in other close areas from researchers who would like to dedicate their article to the memory of Professor Javier Abadía are also welcome.

Dr. Fermin Morales
Prof. Dr. Michael Moustakas
Guest Editors

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 7261 KiB  
Article
Mechanistic Approach on Melatonin-Induced Hormesis of Photosystem II Function in the Medicinal Plant Mentha spicata 
by Michael Moustakas, Ilektra Sperdouli, Ioannis-Dimosthenis S. Adamakis, Begüm Şaş, Sumrunaz İşgören, Julietta Moustaka and Fermín Morales
Plants 2023, 12(23), 4025; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12234025 - 29 Nov 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1299
Abstract
Melatonin (MT) is considered a new plant hormone having a universal distribution from prokaryotic bacteria to higher plants. It has been characterized as an antistress molecule playing a positive role in the acclimation of plants to stress conditions, but its impact on plants [...] Read more.
Melatonin (MT) is considered a new plant hormone having a universal distribution from prokaryotic bacteria to higher plants. It has been characterized as an antistress molecule playing a positive role in the acclimation of plants to stress conditions, but its impact on plants under non-stressed conditions is not well understood. In the current research, we evaluated the impact of MT application (10 and 100 μM) on photosystem II (PSII) function, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and chlorophyll content on mint (Mentha spicata L.) plants in order to elucidate the molecular mechanism of MT action on the photosynthetic electron transport process that under non-stressed conditions is still unclear. Seventy-two hours after the foliar spray of mint plants with 100 μM MT, the improved chlorophyll content imported a higher amount of light energy capture, which caused a 6% increase in the quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (ΦPSII) and electron transport rate (ETR). Nevertheless, the spray with 100 μM MT reduced the efficiency of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC), causing donor-side photoinhibition, with a simultaneous slight increase in ROS. Even so, the application of 100 μM MT decreased the excess excitation energy at PSII implying superior PSII efficiency. The decreased excitation pressure at PSII, after 100 μM MT foliar spray, suggests that MT induced stomatal closure through ROS production. The response of ΦPSII to MT spray corresponds to a J-shaped hormetic curve, with ΦPSII enhancement by 100 μM MT. It is suggested that the hormetic stimulation of PSII functionality was triggered by the non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) mechanism that stimulated ROS production, which enhanced the photosynthetic function. It is concluded that MT molecules can be used under both stress and non-stressed conditions as photosynthetic biostimulants for enhancing crop yields. Full article
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16 pages, 1013 KiB  
Article
Nutritional Performance of Five Citrus Rootstocks under Different Fe Levels
by Maribela Pestana, Pedro García-Caparrós, Teresa Saavedra, Florinda Gama, Javier Abadía, Amarilis de Varennes and Pedro José Correia
Plants 2023, 12(18), 3252; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12183252 - 13 Sep 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1343
Abstract
Iron is an essential micronutrient for citrus, playing an important role in photosynthesis and yield. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the tolerance to Fe deficiency of five citrus rootstocks: sour orange (S), Carrizo citrange (C), Citrus macrophylla (M), Troyer citrange [...] Read more.
Iron is an essential micronutrient for citrus, playing an important role in photosynthesis and yield. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the tolerance to Fe deficiency of five citrus rootstocks: sour orange (S), Carrizo citrange (C), Citrus macrophylla (M), Troyer citrange (T), and Volkamer lemon (V). Plants were grown for 5 weeks in nutrient solution that contained the following Fe concentrations (in µM): 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20. At the end of the experiment, biomass (dry weight—DW), leaf area, total leaf chlorophyll (CHL), and the activity of root chelate reductase (FCR) were recorded. Additionally, the mineral composition of roots (R) and shoots (S) was evaluated. Principal component analysis was used to study the relationships between all parameters and, subsequently, the relations between rootstocks. In the first component, N-S, P-S, Ca-S, Cu-S, Zn-S, Mn-S, Zn-R, and Mn-R concentrations were related to leaf CHL and FCR. Increases in leaf CHL, Mg-R, and DW (shoots and roots) were inversely related to Cu-R, which was shown in the second component. The values obtained were consistent for V10, C15, and C20, but in contrast for S0 and S5. In conclusion, micronutrient homeostasis in roots and shoots of all rootstocks were affected by Fe stress conditions. The Fe/Cu ratio was significantly related to CHL, which may be used to assist rootstock performance. Full article
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Review

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19 pages, 1622 KiB  
Review
A Critical Review of Methodologies for Evaluating Iron Fertilizers Based on Iron Reduction and Uptake by Strategy I Plants
by Alejandra Arcas, Sandra López-Rayo, Agustín Gárate and Juan J. Lucena
Plants 2024, 13(6), 819; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13060819 - 13 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1674
Abstract
Under iron (Fe)-limited conditions, plants have developed strategies for acquiring this essential micronutrient. Several Fe sources have been studied as potential fertilizers, with Fe synthetic chelates being the most used to prevent and correct Fe chlorosis in crops. The determination of the activity [...] Read more.
Under iron (Fe)-limited conditions, plants have developed strategies for acquiring this essential micronutrient. Several Fe sources have been studied as potential fertilizers, with Fe synthetic chelates being the most used to prevent and correct Fe chlorosis in crops. The determination of the activity of the Fe chelate reductase (FCR) enzyme has long been described in the literature to understand the efficiency of Strategy I plants in acquiring Fe from fertilizers under deficient conditions. Other experiments have focused on the translocation of Fe to the plant to define the effectiveness of Fe fertilizers. Yet, both assays are relevant in knowing the capacity of a novel Fe source and other compounds alleviating Fe chlorosis in Strategy I plants. This work reviews the methodologies that are used in FCR assays to evaluate novel Fe fertilizers, including the factors modulating the results obtained for FCR assay activity, such as the Fe substrate, the Fe level during the growing period and during the FCR assay, the pH, the choice of an in vivo or in vitro method, and the plant species. A discussion of the benefits of the concurrence of FCR and Fe uptake assays is then presented alongside a proposed methodology for assessing the effectiveness of Fe fertilizers, emphasizing the importance of understanding chemical and physiological plant interactions. This methodology unifies key factors that modify FCR activity and combines these with the use of the 57Fe tracer to enhance our comprehension of the efficacy of Fe-based fertilizers’ effectiveness in alleviating Fe chlorosis. This comprehensive approach not only contributes to the fundamental understanding of Fe-deficient Strategy I plants but also establishes a robust method for determining the efficiency of novel sources for correcting Fe deficiency in plants. Full article
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Other

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5 pages, 618 KiB  
Obituary
Obituary: Professor Dr Javier Abadía, 1954–2022
by Jorge Rodríguez-Celma and Ana Álvarez-Fernández
Plants 2023, 12(18), 3245; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12183245 - 13 Sep 2023
Viewed by 988
Abstract
The unexpected death of Javier Abadía, Research Professor of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), deeply shocked all who knew him [...] Full article
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