Mineral Nutrition and Plant Responses to Environmental Changes

Dear Colleagues,

Environmental stresses that undermine the manageability of agriculture are apparently heightening. In the last couple of decades, abiotic stresses have become a significant subject of worry for plant biologists. To adapt all of these environmental stresses, plants have evolved sophisticated signaling and protective mechanisms to escape and tolerate at morphological, physiological, biochemical, molecular, and anatomical levels. Their proper plant functioning, adaptation, and tolerance against different environmental stresses depend on the adequate supply of macro‐ and micronutrients, nutrient use efficiency, and nutrient homeostasis. In addition, signaling of gasotransmitters such as nitric oxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), accumulation of plant growth regulators and regulation of gene expression are also well associated with the tolerance of plants to abiotic stress.

Usually, nutrient imbalances affect signaling by modifying the synthesis or degradation of these signaling molecules that further accelerate the intensity of abiotic stresses. Mineral nutrients not only provide nourishment to the plants but also play crucial roles in the regulation of gene expression, enzyme activity, and biosynthesis of plant hormones and macromolecules under normal and abiotic stress conditions. However, nutrient deficiency alters physiological, biochemical, and molecular functions and makes plants more vulnerable and weaker to fight against abiotic stresses. Therefore, we can consider several roles of mineral nutrients in various aspects of plant science.

However, vague information is available on the mechanism(s) by which nutrients provide protection to plants against adverse environmental conditions. In view of this, it is critical to understand the role of essential and beneficial nutrients in minimizing the harmful effects of abiotic stresses and their mode of action in physiological and molecular processes by which these nutrients affect tolerance of plants against different environmental stresses.

This Special Issue invites plant biologists working in the field of plant physiology, molecular biology, agronomy, and genetic engineering to contribute their novel research findings in the form of full-length research articles, short communications, reviews, mini-reviews, and opinion articles.

Prof. Dr. Hazem M. Kalaji
Prof. Dr. Francisco J. Corpas
Dr. Manzer Hussain Siddiqui
Dr. M. Nasir Khan
Guest Editors

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