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Plants Reacts to the Changing Environment
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Plants Reacts to the Changing Environment

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 May 2019) | Viewed by 91569

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Fernando Henrique Reboredo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, New University of Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Interests: environmental impact assessment; environmental analysis; ecology; plant biology; food; forestry; agroforestry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Global climate change suggests that it’s going to get warmer thus plant´s response to a changing environment,” can be operated in three different directions: 1) adaptation to new conditions in current habitats 2) spatial migration to new habitats and 3) extinction. The extent to which populations will adapt will depend upon phenotypic variation, interspecific competition and biotic interactions, among other factors. The understanding of the mechanics of how plants might cope with a warmer trend, could allow breeding scientists to develop more resilient crop species, in parallel with an improvement of agricultural and management techniques, in order to maintain consistently high yields and feed an increasing population, where food security is already a current threat.

This Special Issue of Plants will highlight the genetic mechanisms of adaptation, the functional traits that might allow plants to persist, the prediction models of plant redistribution and observed cases of plant migration and/or extinction.

Prof. Fernando Henrique Reboredo
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • climate changes
  • crop improvement
  • genetic adaptation
  • physiological responses
  • prediction models

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 1045 KiB  
Article
Water Regime and Nitrogen Management to Cope with Wheat Yield Variability under the Mediterranean Conditions of Southern Portugal
by Manuel Patanita, Alexandra Tomaz, Tiago Ramos, Patrícia Oliveira, Luís Boteta and José Dôres
Plants 2019, 8(10), 429; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants8100429 - 19 Oct 2019
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3040
Abstract
Global climate change accentuates the seasonal and interannual irregularity of temperature and precipitation of the Mediterranean climate. The consequences of this variability on wheat production are felt on its development cycle and productivity, making the production chain of this crop vulnerable to the [...] Read more.
Global climate change accentuates the seasonal and interannual irregularity of temperature and precipitation of the Mediterranean climate. The consequences of this variability on wheat production are felt on its development cycle and productivity, making the production chain of this crop vulnerable to the occurrence of years with abnormal distributions of precipitation and with extreme temperatures. Adaptation strategies like irrigation or fertilization can help to cope with the negative impacts of climate uncertainty. This study evaluated the effects of water regime and nitrogen (N) fertilization techniques on wheat production in southern Portugal based on the results of three trials conducted in two agricultural years (2016/2017 and 2017/2018) with contrasting climate conditions. Phenology and yield were evaluated by comparing water regimes (R1, full irrigation; R2, supplemental irrigation at four stages: start of stem extension, booting, anthesis, grain filling; R0, rainfed (in 2017/2018)) and N fertilization splitting/timing and type (conventional and enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs): controlled-release N, stabilized with nitrification inhibitor, and stabilized with urease inhibitor). Significant effects of water regime on grain yield were obtained in 2016/2017, a year with extreme aridity and high water requirements felt from the tillering stage, in the trial with conventional fertilizers. In 2017/2018, when a beneficial seasonal rainfall distribution occurred, water regime did not influence grain yield, pointing to the feasibility of supplementary irrigation to maximize water productivity. Nitrogen fertilization influenced yield and its components, with the highest values of grain yield being obtained with conventional fertilizer. Regardless of the possible effects on grain quality, the use of EEF did not prove to have an indisputable effect on wheat yield in the conditions under which the trials were conducted. Comparison of the results in the two years accentuates the need to continue the evaluation of the influence of agronomic management in wheat production in the context of adaptation to the climatic uncertainty in Mediterranean regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants Reacts to the Changing Environment)
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15 pages, 1818 KiB  
Article
Roles of Hardened Husks and Membranes Surrounding Brachypodium hybridum Grains on Germination and Seedling Growth
by Ali El-Keblawy, Masarra Elgabra, Kareem A. Mosa, Amal Fakhry and Sameh Soliman
Plants 2019, 8(9), 322; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants8090322 - 03 Sep 2019
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3071
Abstract
Several studies have assessed the function and significance of the presence of dead, hardened husks on germination and seedling growth in several grass species and reached to inconsistent results. Here, we assess the roles of husks (dead lemma and palea) and an inner [...] Read more.
Several studies have assessed the function and significance of the presence of dead, hardened husks on germination and seedling growth in several grass species and reached to inconsistent results. Here, we assess the roles of husks (dead lemma and palea) and an inner membrane surrounding the grains on germination behaviour and seedling growth of Brachypodium hybridum, one of three species of the genetic model B. distachyon complex, in an arid mountain of Arabia. The interactive effects between temperature and the incubation light were assessed on germination of husked and dehusked-demembraned grains. Germination and seedling growth were assessed for different combinations of grain treatments (soaked and non-soaked husked, dehusked-membraned and dehusked-demembraned). Dehusked-demembraned grains were also germinated in different dormancy regulating compounds (DRCs) and light qualities (light, dark and different red: far red [R: FR] ratios). The results indicated an insignificant difference between husked and dehusked-membraned grains on final germination and the germination rate index (GRI), with the former producing significantly bigger seedlings. Removal of the inner-membrane resulted in a significant reduction in all traits. Soaking grains in water resulted in significant enhancements in germination and seedling growth of only husked grains. Husked-membraned and demembraned grains germinated more significantly and faster at lower rather than higher temperatures. None of different concentrations of several DRCs succeeded in enhancing final germination of dehusked-demembraned grains. Red-rich light significantly enhanced germination of dehusked-membraned grains in comparison to other light qualities. It could be concluded that the role of husks is to mainly enhance seedling growth, while the major role of the membrane is to increase final germination. The ability of red-rich light in enhancing the germination of dehusked-membraned but not dehusked-demembraned grains suggest a role for the inner membrane in regulating dormancy through differential filtering of light properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants Reacts to the Changing Environment)
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13 pages, 1542 KiB  
Article
Climate, Life Form and Family Jointly Control Variation of Leaf Traits
by Hao Zhang, Zhaoxia Zeng, Zhigang Zou and Fuping Zeng
Plants 2019, 8(8), 286; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants8080286 - 14 Aug 2019
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3157
Abstract
Variation in leaf traits may represent differences in physiological processes and environmental adaptative strategies. Using multivariate analyses, we investigated 13 leaf traits to quantify the trade-off in these traits and the trait–climate/biome relationships based on the China Plant Trait Database, which contains morphometric [...] Read more.
Variation in leaf traits may represent differences in physiological processes and environmental adaptative strategies. Using multivariate analyses, we investigated 13 leaf traits to quantify the trade-off in these traits and the trait–climate/biome relationships based on the China Plant Trait Database, which contains morphometric and physiological character information on 1215 species for 122 sites, ranging from the north to the tropics, and from deserts and grasslands to woodlands and forests. Leaf traits across the dataset of Chinese plants showed different spatial patterns along longitudinal and latitudinal gradients and high variation. There were significant positive or negative correlations among traits; however, with the exception of the leaf 13C:12C stable isotope ratio, there were no significant correlations between leaf area and other traits. Climate, life form, and family jointly accounted for 68.4% to 95.7% of trait variance. Amongst these forms of variation partitioning, the most important partitioning feature was the family independence of climate and life form (35.6% to 57.2%), while the joint effect of family and climate was 4.5% to 26.2%, and the joint effect of family and life form was 2.4% to 21.6%. The findings of this study will enhance our understanding of the variation in leaf traits in Chinese flora and the environmental adaptative strategies of plants against a background of global climate change, and also may enrich and improve the leaf economics spectrum of China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants Reacts to the Changing Environment)
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15 pages, 6832 KiB  
Article
Influence of Climate on Radial Growth of Black Pine on the Mountain Regions of Southwestern Turkey
by Mehmet Doğan and Nesibe Köse
Plants 2019, 8(8), 276; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants8080276 - 09 Aug 2019
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4040
Abstract
In this study, we identified the most important climate factors affecting the radial growth of black pine at different elevations of the mountain regions of Southwestern Turkey (Sandıras Mountain, Muğla/Turkey). We used four black pine tree-ring chronologies, which represent upper and lower distribution [...] Read more.
In this study, we identified the most important climate factors affecting the radial growth of black pine at different elevations of the mountain regions of Southwestern Turkey (Sandıras Mountain, Muğla/Turkey). We used four black pine tree-ring chronologies, which represent upper and lower distribution limits of black pine forest on the South and North slopes of Sandıras Mountain. The relationships between tree-ring width and climate were identified using response function analysis. We performed hierarchical cluster analysis to classify the response functions into meaningful groups. Black pine trees in the mountain regions of Southwestern Turkey responded positively to a warmer temperature and high precipitation at the beginning of the growing season. As high summer temperatures exacerbated drought, radial growth was affected negatively. Hierarchical cluster analysis made clear that elevation differences, rather than aspect, was the main factor responsible for the formation of the clusters. Due to the mountainous terrain of the study area, the changing climatic conditions (air temperature and precipitation) affected the tree-ring widths differently depending on elevation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants Reacts to the Changing Environment)
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14 pages, 1438 KiB  
Article
Leaf Anatomy, Morphology and Photosynthesis of Three Tundra Shrubs after 7-Year Experimental Warming on Changbai Mountain
by Yumei Zhou, Jifeng Deng, Zhijuan Tai, Lifen Jiang, Jianqiu Han, Gelei Meng and Mai-He Li
Plants 2019, 8(8), 271; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants8080271 - 07 Aug 2019
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4548
Abstract
Tundra is one of the most sensitive biomes to climate warming. Understanding plant eco-physiological responses to warming is critical because these traits can give feedback on the effects of climate-warming on tundra ecosystem. We used open-top chambers following the criteria of the International [...] Read more.
Tundra is one of the most sensitive biomes to climate warming. Understanding plant eco-physiological responses to warming is critical because these traits can give feedback on the effects of climate-warming on tundra ecosystem. We used open-top chambers following the criteria of the International Tundra Experiment to passively warm air and soil temperatures year round in alpine tundra. Leaf size, photosynthesis and anatomy of three dominant species were investigated during the growing seasons after 7 years of continuous warming. Warming increased the maximal light-saturated photosynthetic rate (Pmax) by 43.6% for Dryas. octopetala var. asiatica and by 26.7% for Rhododendron confertissimum across the whole growing season, while warming did not significantly affect the Pmax of V. uliginosum. The leaf size of Dr. octopetala var. asiatica and Rh. confertissimum was increased by warming. No marked effects of warming on anatomical traits of Dr. octopetala var. asiatica were observed. Warming decreased the leaf thickness of Rh. confertissimum and Vaccinium uliginosum. This study highlights the species-specific responses to climate warming. Our results imply that Dr. octopetala var. asiatica could be more dominant because it, mainly in terms of leaf photosynthetic capacity and size, seems to have advantages over the other two species in a warming world. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants Reacts to the Changing Environment)
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22 pages, 15345 KiB  
Article
Proteomic Analysis of Rapeseed Root Response to Waterlogging Stress
by Jinsong Xu, Xing Qiao, Zhitao Tian, Xuekun Zhang, Xiling Zou, Yong Cheng, Guangyuan Lu, Liu Zeng, Guiping Fu, Xiaoyu Ding and Yan Lv
Plants 2018, 7(3), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants7030071 - 07 Sep 2018
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 4673
Abstract
The overall health of a plant is constantly affected by the changing and hostile environment. Due to climate change and the farming pattern of rice (Oryza sativa) and rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), stress from waterlogging poses a serious threat to [...] Read more.
The overall health of a plant is constantly affected by the changing and hostile environment. Due to climate change and the farming pattern of rice (Oryza sativa) and rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), stress from waterlogging poses a serious threat to productivity assurance and the yield of rapeseed in China’s Yangtze River basin. In order to improve our understanding of the complex mechanisms behind waterlogging stress and identify waterlogging-responsive proteins, we firstly conducted iTRAQ (isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification)-based quantitative proteomic analysis of rapeseed roots under waterlogging treatments, for both a tolerant cultivar ZS9 and sensitive cultivar GH01. A total of 7736 proteins were identified by iTRAQ, of which several hundred showed different expression levels, including 233, 365, and 326 after waterlogging stress for 4H, 8H, and 12H in ZS9, respectively, and 143, 175, and 374 after waterlogging stress for 4H, 8H, and 12H in GH01, respectively. For proteins repeatedly identified at different time points, gene ontology (GO) cluster analysis suggested that the responsive proteins of the two cultivars were both enriched in the biological process of DNA-dependent transcription and the oxidation–reduction process, and response to various stress and hormone stimulus, while different distribution frequencies in the two cultivars was investigated. Moreover, overlap proteins with similar or opposite tendencies of fold change between ZS9 and GH01 were observed and clustered based on the different expression ratios, suggesting the two genotype cultivars exhibited diversiform molecular mechanisms or regulation pathways in their waterlogging stress response. The following qRT-PCR (quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction) results verified the candidate proteins at transcription levels, which were prepared for further research. In conclusion, proteins detected in this study might perform different functions in waterlogging responses and would provide information conducive to better understanding adaptive mechanisms under environmental stresses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants Reacts to the Changing Environment)
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Review

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29 pages, 3741 KiB  
Review
Impact of Climate Change on Crops Adaptation and Strategies to Tackle Its Outcome: A Review
by Ali Raza, Ali Razzaq, Sundas Saher Mehmood, Xiling Zou, Xuekun Zhang, Yan Lv and Jinsong Xu
Plants 2019, 8(2), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants8020034 - 30 Jan 2019
Cited by 899 | Viewed by 67998
Abstract
Agriculture and climate change are internally correlated with each other in various aspects, as climate change is the main cause of biotic and abiotic stresses, which have adverse effects on the agriculture of a region. The land and its agriculture are being affected [...] Read more.
Agriculture and climate change are internally correlated with each other in various aspects, as climate change is the main cause of biotic and abiotic stresses, which have adverse effects on the agriculture of a region. The land and its agriculture are being affected by climate changes in different ways, e.g., variations in annual rainfall, average temperature, heat waves, modifications in weeds, pests or microbes, global change of atmospheric CO2 or ozone level, and fluctuations in sea level. The threat of varying global climate has greatly driven the attention of scientists, as these variations are imparting negative impact on global crop production and compromising food security worldwide. According to some predicted reports, agriculture is considered the most endangered activity adversely affected by climate changes. To date, food security and ecosystem resilience are the most concerning subjects worldwide. Climate-smart agriculture is the only way to lower the negative impact of climate variations on crop adaptation, before it might affect global crop production drastically. In this review paper, we summarize the causes of climate change, stresses produced due to climate change, impacts on crops, modern breeding technologies, and biotechnological strategies to cope with climate change, in order to develop climate resilient crops. Revolutions in genetic engineering techniques can also aid in overcoming food security issues against extreme environmental conditions, by producing transgenic plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants Reacts to the Changing Environment)
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