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Tolerance of Horticultural Plants to Abiotic Stresses

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A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Biotic and Abiotic Stress".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 11758

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Dr. Toshik Iarley Da Silva

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Center for Agricultural, Environmental, and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Recôncavo of Bahia—UFRB, Campus Universitário, Cruz das Almas 44380-000, Brazil
Interests: plant physiology; abiotic stresses; salt and droght stress tolerance; phytohormones; antioxidant system enzymes; reactive oxygen species; biostimulants; horticulture; vegetables; edible flowers

Dr. Alexandre Maniçoba da Rosa Ferraz Jardim

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Department of Biodiversity, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University—UNESP, Rio Claro 13506-900, SP, Brazil
Interests: abiotic stresses; salinity; physiological and biochemical changes in plants; salt stress tolerance; reactive oxygen species (ROS); ion homeostasis; ion toxicity; agricultural challenges in arid and semi-arid regions
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Dear Colleagues,

The capacity of horticultural plants to endure abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, and heavy metal contamination, is vital for sustaining growth and optimizing productivity. These stressors trigger profound physiological and metabolic alterations that adversely affect plant development, yield, and quality. Central tolerance mechanisms, including osmoprotectant accumulation, heightened antioxidant enzyme activity, and ion transport regulation, serve to alleviate stress-induced damage. Moreover, plant hormones, fertilizers, and biostimulants are instrumental in enhancing stress resilience. Recent advances in genomics and metabolomics provide promising strategies for breeding and cultivating stress-tolerant horticultural crops. Investigating the physiological, molecular, and genetic responses of plants to abiotic stresses is imperative for fortifying their resilience and ensuring sustainable productivity. Given the increasing frequency of extreme conditions such as drought, heat, and salinity due to climate change, research in horticultural plant stress tolerance is indispensable for developing resilient crops, safeguarding food security, and advancing sustainable agricultural practices in an evolving environment.

Dr. Toshik Iarley Da Silva
Dr. Alexandre Maniçoba da Rosa Ferraz Jardim
Guest Editors

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Keywords

climate changes
physiological and biochemical changes in plants
stress signaling
plant hormones
biostimulants
breeding

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 4910 KB

Open AccessArticle

Proteomic Variation in Two Genotypes of Bitter Gourd During Cold Acclimation

by Kai Yan, Yu Ning, Lihong Su, Hai Xu, Zhenlu Lv, Yang Wang, Longzheng Chen and Huashan Lian

Horticulturae 2026, 12(1), 123; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12010123 - 22 Jan 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 306

Abstract

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) is widely consumed worldwide due to its unique flavor and medicinal value. In subtropical regions, low spring temperatures limit bitter gourd growth, leading to plant mortality and yield loss. Thus, elucidating the mechanisms of cold tolerance in bitter gourd could facilitate the development of cold-resistant cultivars via genetic engineering or molecular breeding. In this study, a cold-tolerant (CT) and a cold-sensitive (CS) inbred line of bitter gourd were used to investigate proteomic differences under cold stress. Before cold stress, 504 differentially accumulated proteins (DAPs) were identified, with 123 up-accumulated in CT plants compared to CS plants. Upon exposure to cold stress, these numbers changed to 388 DAPs (259 up-accumulated in CT) at 6 h and further to 649 DAPs (415 up-accumulated in CT) at 24 h. K-means cluster analysis identified 65 cold-stress response proteins that may contribute to cold tolerance in CT plants, including evm.TU.chr4.3733 (Proline dehydrogenase 1), evm.TU.chr10.115 (Delta(1)-pyrroline-2-carboxylate reductase), and evm.TU.chr10.815 (Calcium-dependent protein kinase 3). Glucose and starch levels remained stable in both CS and CT plants during cold stress, and the baseline concentration of glucose was consistently and significantly higher in CT plants than in CS plants. Before cold stress, proline content was similar in both CT and CS plants. Following 6 h of cold stress, CS plants accumulated significantly higher proline levels than CT plants. This trend, however, reversed after 24 h, with proline content becoming significantly lower in CS plants. Differential protein accumulation between CT and CS plants under cold stress reflects their distinct responses, with core DAPs serving as key functional determinants of enhanced cold tolerance in the CT genotype. This study revealed important proteomic data underlying the cold stress response in bitter gourd. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tolerance of Horticultural Plants to Abiotic Stresses)

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16 pages, 8628 KB

Open AccessArticle

Variability and Permanency: Variation in the Density of Leaf Glandular Trichomes and Terpene Composition in Mentha spicata var. crispa (Benth.) Danert and M. × piperita var. citrata (Ehrh.) Briq.

by Anna Vladimirovna Shirokova, Maria Sergeevna Plykina, Alexander Olegovich Ruzhitskiy, Ludmila Alekseevna Limantceva, Sergey Leonidovich Belopukhov, Valeria Lvovna Dmitrieva, Raisa Musaevna Khatsaeva, Sofya Arsenovna Dzhatdoeva, Andrey Nikolaevich Tsitsilin and Natalia Nikolaevna Butorina

Horticulturae 2026, 12(1), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12010058 - 1 Jan 2026

Viewed by 602

Abstract

Essential oils (EOs) of Mentha spicata var. crispa (Benth.) Danert and M. × piperita var. citrata (Ehrh.) Briq. and EO components are widely used in medicine, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, hygiene products, the food industry, and other fields, and have a high commercial value. The variety Mentha spicata var. crispa is also used as an ornamental plant due to its distinctive curled leaves. Studying the influence of growing conditions and harvest timing on EO yield and the major compound concentrations is one of the key research directions for Mentha species, aimed at the ascertainment of the ways of increasing EO production and quality. Gas chromatography analysis of the component composition of EOs from leaves of Mentha spicata var. crispa “Kurchavaya” (MscK) showed that it remained stable both in July and September, with carvone predominating (81% and 85%, respectively). In contrast, the EO composition from M. × piperita var. citrata “Apelsinovaya” (MpcA) leaves changed in the course of the vegetation period. In July, menthofuran dominated (30%), while in September, linalool and its acetate were predominant (34% and 47%, respectively), which was typical for this chemotype. At the same time, the content of EOs and the density of glandular trichomes (GTs) (the OE storage sites) in MscK were higher in July and decreased by September, whereas in MpcA, both EO content and the number of GTs increased from July to September. These changes may have been caused by temperature fluctuations. Thus, MscK proved to be more resistant to environmental factors than MpcA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tolerance of Horticultural Plants to Abiotic Stresses)

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15 pages, 258 KB

Open AccessArticle

Acute and Delayed Effects of Melatonin Pretreatment Against Cold Stress in Leek (Allium ampeloprasum L. var. porrum)

by Fatih Hanci and Abbas Hussein Hasan Hasan

Horticulturae 2025, 11(10), 1208; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11101208 - 7 Oct 2025

Viewed by 1030

Abstract

Although known as a cool-season vegetable, leeks (Allium ampeloprasum L. var. porrum) are particularly susceptible to sudden temperature drops during the seedling stage. While melatonin’s mitigating effect on abiotic stresses has been observed in many plants, very few studies have investigated its effects on leek seedlings under cold stress. In this study, leek seedlings grown under ideal conditions were sprayed with melatonin at concentrations of 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 µM on the 45th and 60th days. Morphological data were recorded on the 74th day, and the following day, cold stress was applied at 0 °C for 0, 2, 4, 6, and 24 h. On the 76th day, the first biochemical analyses (antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and total soluble protein content) were performed. After a three-week growth period under ideal conditions, morphological measurements and biochemical analyses were repeated. According to the findings, treatments with 4 and 8 μM melatonin prevented cold-induced changes in the plants’ morphological data. It was determined that concentrations of 1 and 2 µM melatonin were more effective on biochemical contents. According to the study’s findings, melatonin treatment mitigated the harmful effects of cold stress on leeks. The results obtained indicate that melatonin is a promising tool for increasing plants’ resistance to cold stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tolerance of Horticultural Plants to Abiotic Stresses)

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14 pages, 1174 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Growth and Biochemical Activity of Passion Fruit Seedlings in Scion/Rootstock Combinations Under Salt Stress

by Alex Alvares da Silva, Jose Francismar de Medeiros, Carlos Guillermo Bartoli, Charlotte Steelheart, Marlon de Morais Dantas, Rodrigo Rafael da Silva, Wedson Aleff Oliveira da Silva and Francisco Vanies da Silva Sa

Horticulturae 2025, 11(9), 1130; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11091130 - 17 Sep 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1200

Abstract

The yellow passion fruit is a key crop in irrigated areas of Northeast Brazil, but production is challenged by limited water availability and high salinity in groundwater used for irrigation. This study evaluated the effects of grafting Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa Degener (E) onto P. foetida L. (F) rootstock to reduce the impact of saline stress. Conducted in a greenhouse using a 3 × 2 factorial design with four replications, the experiment tested three grafting combinations (F + F, E + E and E + F) under two salinity levels (0.5 and 6.0 dS m⁻¹). Key parameters measured included SPAD index, soluble protein content, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) levels, catalase enzyme activity, plant height, and leaf number. Salinity significantly reduced plant height, especially at 6.0 dS m⁻¹. The E + E combination had the highest protein content in roots (23.8%). However, grafting P. edulis onto P. foetida (E + F) enhanced catalase activity and reduced H₂O₂ accumulation, indicating improved tolerance to salt stress. The findings suggest that using P. foetida as a rootstock may help mitigate oxidative damage and promote better physiological performance of yellow passion fruit under saline conditions, offering a strategy to sustain cultivation in stress-prone environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tolerance of Horticultural Plants to Abiotic Stresses)

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16 pages, 17592 KB

Open AccessArticle

Functional Identification of Acetyl-CoA C-Acetyltransferase Gene from Fritillaria unibracteata

by Zichun Ma, Qiuju An, Xue Huang, Hongting Liu, Feiying Guo, Han Yan, Jiayu Zhou and Hai Liao

Horticulturae 2025, 11(8), 913; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11080913 - 4 Aug 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1151

Abstract

Fritillaria unibracteata is a rare and endangered medicinal plant in the Liliaceae family, whose bulbs have been used in traditional Chinese traditional medicine for over 2000 years. The mevalonate (MVA) pathway is involved in the growth, development, response to environmental stress, and active ingredient production of plants; however, the functional characterization of MVA-pathway genes in the Liliaceae family remains poorly documented. In this study, an Acetyl-CoA C-acetyltransferase gene (FuAACT) was first cloned from F. unibracteata. It exhibited structural features of the thiolase family and showed the highest sequence identity with the Dioscorea cayenensis homolog. The K_m, V_max, and K_cat of the recombinant FuAACT were determined to be 3.035 ± 0.215 μM, 0.128 ± 0.0058 μmol/(min·mg), and 1.275 ± 0.0575 min⁻¹, respectively. The optimal catalytic conditions for FuAACT were ascertained to be 30 °C and pH 8.9. It was stable below 50 °C. His361 was confirmed to be a key amino acid residue to enzymatic catalysis by site-directed mutagenesis. Subsequent subcellular localization experiments demonstrated that FuAACT was localized in chloroplasts and cytoplasm. FuAACT-overexpressing transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants showed higher drought tolerance than wild-type plants. This phenotypic difference was corroborated by significant differences in seed germination rate, lateral root number, plant height, and leaf number (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the FuAACT transgenic plants resulted in the formation of a more developed fibrous root system. These results indicated that the FuAACT gene revealed substantial biological activity in vitro and in vivo, hopefully providing the basis for its further research and application in liliaceous ornamental and medicinal plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tolerance of Horticultural Plants to Abiotic Stresses)

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14 pages, 1692 KB

Open AccessArticle

Seed Priming with PEG 6000 and Silicic Acid Enhances Drought Tolerance in Cowpea by Modulating Physiological Responses

by Guilherme Félix Dias, Rayanne Silva de Alencar, Priscylla Marques de Oliveira Viana, Igor Eneas Cavalcante, Emmanuelly Silva Dias de Farias, Semako Ibrahim Bonou, Jonnathan Richeds da Silva Sales, Hermes Alves de Almeida, Rener Luciano de Souza Ferraz, Claudivan Feitosa de Lacerda, Sérgio de Faria Lopes and Alberto Soares de Melo

Horticulturae 2025, 11(4), 438; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11040438 - 19 Apr 2025

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2486

Abstract

Cowpea is a nutritionally and economically valuable legume, known for its adaptability to adverse conditions. However, water stress negatively affects its development, requiring technologies to enhance resilience. This study aimed to induce tolerance to water deficit in cowpea through seed priming with polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG 6000) and silicic acid. A completely randomized experiment was conducted in a phytotron chamber with two water regimes (W50 and W100) and six seed priming treatments, with four replications. Priming consisted of three water potentials induced by PEG 6000 (0 MPa, −0.4 MPa, and −0.8 MPa) and two silicon concentrations (0 and 200 mg L⁻¹). Gas exchange parameters, including photosynthetic rate (A), transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (gs), intercellular CO₂ concentration (Ci), instantaneous water use efficiency (WUEi), and instantaneous carboxylation efficiency (iCE), were evaluated. Seed priming with PEG 6000 and silicon improved A, WUEi, and iCE under water deficit. Treatments 2 (0 MPa + 200 mg L⁻¹ Si), 3 (−0.4 MPa + 0 mg L⁻¹ Si), and 4 (−0.4 MPa + 200 mg L⁻¹ Si) enhanced gas exchange, suggesting an effective strategy for improving drought tolerance in cowpea and ensuring food security. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tolerance of Horticultural Plants to Abiotic Stresses)

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16 pages, 5061 KB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Identification of the CIPK Gene Family in Jasmine and Expression Analysis Under Salt Stress

by Shuang Zhang, Xin Huang, Lili Yin, Jiawei Li, Jiacan Xu and Ruigang Wu

Horticulturae 2025, 11(1), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11010040 - 4 Jan 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1698

Abstract

Various CBL-interacting protein kinases (CIPKs) are involved in abiotic stress responses in plants. Despite the economic importance of jasmine (Jasminum sambac L. Aiton) and the availability of genome data, there are few reports analyzing the CIPK gene family. In this study, genome-wide identification of the CIPK gene family in jasmine was conducted, which would provide valuable information for the function analysis of JsCIPKs regarding participation in growth and development and response to salt stress. In the present study, a total of 17 CIPKs were identified, which were unevenly distributed on eight chromosomes. The JsCIPK protein sequences contained 311–781 amino acids, with a molecular weight of 35.05–87.58 kDa. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the 17 JsCIPKs could be divided into five classical branches. JsCIPK genes with higher homology showed greater similarity between conserved protein motifs. Collinearity analysis demonstrated that 13 gene pairs in Arabidopsis were collinear with the jasmine sequences. Various hormone-related response- and stress-induced elements were observed in the promoter region of JsCIPK genes, such as TC-rich repeats, CARE, etc. Furthermore, the expression of JsCIPK genes varied in different organs. Finally, the expression analyses of eight JsCIPKs under salt stress were performed. A systematic analysis of the CIPK gene family and the effect of salt stress on the expression of eight JsCIPK genes in leaves of jasmine was carried out. The expression of JsCIPK6 and JsCIPK8 was significantly down-regulated and up-regulated by salt treatment, respectively. These findings would lay a foundation for future functional studies of these two genes in jasmine related to salt stress and provide useful resistance genes for the molecular breeding of new varieties of salt-tolerant jasmine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tolerance of Horticultural Plants to Abiotic Stresses)

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17 pages, 2332 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Brassinosteroids and Nano-Encapsulated Brassinosteroids in Capsicum Pepper Growth and Physiological Adaptations to High-Temperature Stress

by Behnaz Halaji, Maryam Haghighi, Gergő Péter Kovács, Iman Mirmazloum and Anita Szegő

Horticulturae 2024, 10(10), 1062; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10101062 - 4 Oct 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2258

Abstract

Much is unknown about the positive effect of plant growth regulators, such as brassinosteroids, on high-temperature stress tolerance in pepper plants. This study aimed to reveal the effect of exogenous brassinosteroids (BRs) on high-temperature-stressed bell peppers by foliar application. BR treatments (1 µM), in both bulk (Br) and nano-encapsulated (N-Br) forms, were applied to pepper plants subjected to high-temperature stress (35 °C). The results indicated an increase in plant biomass, number of fruits, and relative water content and a significantly lower flower abscission in response to Br and N-Br under high temperatures. Br and N-Br applications at high temperatures resulted in the lowest leaf water potential. Br and N-Br, especially N-Br, were more effective than Br in the upregulation of the antioxidant enzyme activity, such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and the overall antioxidant capacity of heat-stressed plants. MDA and electrolyte leakage significantly declined as a result of BR application and the proline content of the leaves was significantly higher in Br and N-Br treatments at high temperatures. Further analysis of the data pointed to SOD, DPPH, proline, RWC, and leaf water potential in pepper leaves as the most affected traits in response to brassinosteroid application under high temperature. Glucose and fructose levels also increased under high temperature, and only N-Br administration showed a significant effect on reducing the sugar levels. At high temperatures, the ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids was greatest when neither Br nor N-Br was present. N-Br could reduce this ratio effectively. Conclusively, the overall performance of bell pepper improved in response to both types of BR application with no significant discrimination being found to prioritize the encapsulated form of BR application. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tolerance of Horticultural Plants to Abiotic Stresses)

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