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Mechanisms of Plant Salt Resistance

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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 (31 October 2022) | Viewed by 25782

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Prof. Dr. Baoshan Wang

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Guest Editor

College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China
Interests: salinity; plants; salt reisistance; molecular and physiological mechanism

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Salinity is a worldwide threat that seriously affects the yield of crops. Plants have developed various mechanisims to cope with salt stress, including phsiological response, morphorlogical adaptation, and molecular regulation. The unravelling of salt resistance mechanism can help develop salt resistance crops in the further transforming saline soils. The purpose of this Special Issue is to report the recent progress achieved in mechanisms of plant salt resistance. This includes, but is not limited to, salt responses in plants, the salt resistance mechanism, halophytes, transformation of non-halophytes, the signal pathway of plant response to salinity, the role of key genes in salt resistance, the functions of specific genes, and the transformation of saline soils. Both research articles and review articles are welcomed.

Prof. Dr. Baoshan Wang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

salt stress
salt response
salt resistance
halophyte
genes
saline soils
phsiological response
molecular regulation

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 2034 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nitrogen Promotes the Salt-Gathering Capacity of Suaeda salsa and Alleviates Nutrient Competition in the Intercropping of Suaeda salsa/Zea mays L.

by Shoule Wang, Shaoqing Ge, Wenxuan Mai and Changyan Tian

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(24), 15495; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232415495 - 7 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1444

Abstract

Nitrogen accelerates salt accumulation in the root zone of an euhalophyte, which might be beneficial for inhibiting the salt damage and interspecific competition for nutrients of non-halophytes in intercropping. However, the variations in the effect of euhalophyte/non-halophyte intercropping with nitrogen supply are poorly understood. Here, we selected the euhalophyte Suaeda salsa (suaeda) and non-halophyte Zea mays L. (maize) as the research objects, setting up three cropping patterns in order to explore the influence of nitrogen application on the intercropping effect in the suaeda/maize intercropping. The results showed that the biomass of maize in the intercropping was significantly lower than that in the monoculture, while for suaeda, it was higher in the intercropping than that in the monoculture. The biomass of maize under NO₃⁻-N treatment performed significantly higher than that under no nitrogen treatment. Moreover, under suitable NO₃⁻-N treatment, more salt ions (Na⁺, K⁺) gathered around the roots of suaeda, which weakened the salt damage on maize growth. In the intercropping, the effect of NO₃⁻-N on the maize growth was enhanced when compared with the non-significant effect of NH₄⁺-N, but a positive effect of NH₄⁺-N on suaeda growth was found. Therefore, the disadvantage of maize growth in the intercropping suaeda/maize might be caused by interspecific competition to a certain extent, providing an effective means for the improvement of saline–alkali land by phytoremediation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of Plant Salt Resistance)

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24 pages, 2791 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Validation of a QTL on Chromosome 1DS Showing a Major Effect on Salt Tolerance in Winter Wheat

by Maisa Mohamed, Md Nurealam Siddiqui, Benedict Chijioke Oyiga, Jens Léon and Agim Ballvora

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(22), 13745; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232213745 - 8 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1703

Abstract

Salt stress is one the most destructive abiotic stressors, causing yield losses in wheat worldwide. A prerequisite for improving salt tolerance is the identification of traits for screening genotypes and uncovering causative genes. Two populations of F₃ lines developed from crosses between sensitive and tolerant parents were tested for salt tolerance at the seedling stage. Based on their response, the offspring were classified as salt sensitive and tolerant. Under saline conditions, tolerant genotypes showed lower Na⁺ and proline content but higher K⁺, higher chlorophyll content, higher K⁺/Na⁺ ratio, higher PSII activity levels, and higher photochemical efficiency, and were selected for further molecular analysis. Five stress responsive QTL identified in a previous study were validated in the populations. A QTL on the short arm of chromosome 1D showed large allelic effects in several salt tolerant related traits. An expression analysis of associated candidate genes showed that TraesCS1D02G052200 and TraesCS5B02G368800 had the highest expression in most tissues. Furthermore, qRT-PCR expression analysis revealed that ZIP-7 had higher differential expressions under saline conditions compared to KefC, AtABC8 and 6-SFT. This study provides information on the genetic and molecular basis of salt tolerance that could be useful in development of salt-tolerant wheat varieties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of Plant Salt Resistance)

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19 pages, 4778 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Overexpression of a Fragaria vesca MYB Transcription Factor Gene (FvMYB82) Increases Salt and Cold Tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana

by Wenhui Li, Jiliang Zhong, Lihua Zhang, Yu Wang, Penghui Song, Wanda Liu, Xingguo Li and Deguo Han

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(18), 10538; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms231810538 - 11 Sep 2022

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 2400

Abstract

The MYB transcription factor (TF) family is one of the largest transcription families in plants, which is widely involved in the responses to different abiotic stresses, such as salt, cold, and drought. In the present study, a new MYB TF gene was cloned from Fragaria vesca (a diploid strawberry) and named FvMYB82. The open reading frame (ORF) of FvMYB82 was found to be 960 bp, encoding 319 amino acids. Sequence alignment results and predictions of the protein structure indicated that the FvMYB82 contained the conserved R2R3-MYB domain. Subcellular localization analysis showed that FvMYB82 was localized onto the nucleus. Furthermore, the qPCR showed that the expression level of FvMYB82 was higher in new leaves and roots than in mature leaves and stems. When dealing with different stresses, the expression level of FvMYB82 in F. vesca seedlings changed markedly, especially for salt and cold stress. When FvMYB82 was introduced into Arabidopsis thaliana, the tolerances to salt and cold stress of FvMYB82-OE A. thaliana were greatly improved. When dealt with salt and cold treatments, compared with wild-type and unloaded line (UL) A. thaliana, the transgenic lines had higher contents of proline and chlorophyll, as well as higher activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT). However, the transgenic A. thaliana had lower level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and electrolytic leakage (EL) than wild-type and UL A. thaliana under salt and cold stress. Meanwhile, FvMYB82 can also regulate the expression of downstream genes associated with salt stress (AtSnRK2.4, AtSnRK2.6, AtKUP6, and AtNCED3) and cold stress (AtCBF1, AtCBF2, AtCOR15a, and AtCOR78). Therefore, these results indicated that FvMYB82 probably plays an important role in the response to salt and cold stresses in A. thaliana by regulating downstream related genes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of Plant Salt Resistance)

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18 pages, 3771 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Overexpression of MsRCI2D and MsRCI2E Enhances Salt Tolerance in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) by Stabilizing Antioxidant Activity and Regulating Ion Homeostasis

by Depeng Zhang, Zhenyue Zhang, Chunxin Li, Yimei Xing, Yaqin Luo, Xinsheng Wang, Donghuan Li, Zhiyun Ma and Hua Cai

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(17), 9810; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23179810 - 29 Aug 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1704

Abstract

Rare cold-inducible 2 (RCI2) genes from alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) are part of a multigene family whose members respond to a variety of abiotic stresses by regulating ion homeostasis and stabilizing membranes. In this study, salt, alkali, and ABA treatments were used to induce MsRCI2D and MsRCI2E expression in alfalfa, but the response time and the expression intensity of the MsRCI2D,-E genes were different under specific treatments. The expression intensity of the MsRCI2D gene was the highest in salt- and alkali-stressed leaves, while the MsRCI2E gene more rapidly responded to salt and ABA treatment. In addition to differences in gene expression, MsRCI2D and MsRCI2E differ in their subcellular localization. Akin to MtRCI2D from Medicago truncatula, MsRCI2D is also localized in the cell membrane, while MsRCI2E is different from MtRCI2E, localized in the cell membrane and the inner membrane. This difference might be related to an extra 20 amino acids in the C-terminal tail of MsRCI2E. We investigated the function of MsRCI2D and MsRCI2E proteins in alfalfa by generating transgenic alfalfa chimeras. Compared with the MsRCI2E-overexpressing chimera, under high-salinity stress (200 mmol·L⁻¹ NaCl), the MsRCI2D-overexpressing chimera exhibited a better phenotype, manifested as a higher chlorophyll content and a lower MDA content. After salt treatment, the enzyme activities of SOD, POD, CAT, and GR in MsRCI2D- and -E-overexpressing roots were significantly higher than those in the control. In addition, after salt stress, the Na⁺ content in MsRCI2D- and -E-transformed roots was lower than that in the control; K⁺ was higher than that in the control; and the Na⁺/K⁺ ratio was lower than that in the control. Correspondingly, H⁺-ATPase, SOS1, and NHX1 genes were significantly up-regulated, and the HKT gene was significantly down-regulated after 6 h of salt treatment. MsRCI2D was also found to regulate the expression of the MsRCI2B and MsRCI2E genes, and the MsRCI2E gene could alter the expression of the MsRCI2A, MsRCI2B, and MsRCI2D genes. MsRCI2D- and -E-overexpressing alfalfa was found to have higher salt tolerance, manifested as improved activity of antioxidant enzymes, reduced content of reactive oxygen species, and sustained Na⁺ and K⁺ ion balance by regulating the expression of the H⁺-ATPase, SOS1, NHX1, HKT, and MsRCI2 genes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of Plant Salt Resistance)

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19 pages, 4989 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Mechanisms Underlying Salt Resistance Mediated by Exogenous Application of 24-Epibrassinolide in Peanut

by Wenjiao Li, Jie Sun, Xiaoqian Zhang, Naveed Ahmad, Lei Hou, Chuanzhi Zhao, Jiaowen Pan, Ruizheng Tian, Xingjun Wang and Shuzhen Zhao

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(12), 6376; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23126376 - 7 Jun 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 1905

Abstract

Peanut is one of the most important oil crops in the world, the growth and productivity of which are severely affected by salt stress. 24-epibrassinolide (EBL) plays an important role in stress resistances. However, the roles of exogenous EBL on the salt tolerance of peanut remain unclear. In this study, peanut seedlings treated with 150 mM NaCl and with or without EBL spray were performed to investigate the roles of EBL on salt resistance. Under 150 mM NaCl conditions, foliar application of 0.1 µM EBL increased the activity of catalase and thereby could eliminate reactive oxygen species (ROS). Similarly, EBL application promoted the accumulation of proline and soluble sugar, thus maintaining osmotic balance. Furthermore, foliar EBL spray enhanced the total chlorophyll content and high photosynthesis capacity. Transcriptome analysis showed that under NaCl stress, EBL treatment up-regulated expression levels of genes encoding peroxisomal nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide carrier (PMP34), probable sucrose-phosphate synthase 2 (SPS2) beta-fructofuranosidase (BFRUCT1) and Na⁺/H⁺ antiporters (NHX7 and NHX8), while down-regulated proline dehydrogenase 2 (PRODH). These findings provide valuable resources for salt resistance study in peanut and lay the foundation for using BR to enhance salt tolerance during peanut production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of Plant Salt Resistance)

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22 pages, 2763 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dissecting the Molecular Regulation of Natural Variation in Growth and Senescence of Two Eutrema salsugineum Ecotypes

by Fanhua Wang, Zhibin Sun, Min Zhu, Qikun Zhang, Yufei Sun, Wei Sun, Chunxia Wu, Tongtong Li, Yiwu Zhao, Changle Ma, Hui Zhang, Yanxiu Zhao and Zenglan Wang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(11), 6124; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23116124 - 30 May 2022

Viewed by 1627

Abstract

Salt cress (Eutrema salsugineum, aka Thellungiella salsuginea) is an extremophile and a close relative of Arabidopsis thaliana. To understand the mechanism of selection of complex traits under natural variation, we analyzed the physiological and proteomic differences between Shandong (SD) and Xinjiang (XJ) ecotypes. The SD ecotype has dark green leaves, short and flat leaves, and more conspicuous taproots, and the XJ ecotype had greater biomass and showed clear signs of senescence or leaf shedding with age. After 2-DE separation and ESI-MS/MS identification, between 25 and 28 differentially expressed protein spots were identified in shoots and roots, respectively. The proteins identified in shoots are mainly involved in cellular metabolic processes, stress responses, responses to abiotic stimuli, and aging responses, while those identified in roots are mainly involved in small-molecule metabolic processes, oxidation-reduction processes, and responses to abiotic stimuli. Our data revealed the evolutionary differences at the protein level between these two ecotypes. Namely, in the evolution of salt tolerance, the SD ecotype highly expressed some stress-related proteins to structurally adapt to the high salt environment in the Yellow River Delta, whereas the XJ ecotype utilizes the specialized energy metabolism to support this evolution of the short-lived xerophytes in the Xinjiang region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of Plant Salt Resistance)

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16 pages, 5246 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Lb1G04202, an Uncharacterized Protein from Recretohalophyte Limonium bicolor, Is Important in Salt Tolerance

by Xi Wang, Baoshan Wang and Fang Yuan

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(10), 5401; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23105401 - 12 May 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1506

Abstract

With global increases in saline soil, it has become increasingly important to decipher salt-tolerance mechanisms and identify strategies to improve salt tolerance in crops. Halophytes complete their life cycles in environments containing ≥200 mM NaCl; these remarkable plants provide a potential source of genes for improving crop salt tolerance. Recretohalophytes such as Limonium bicolor have salt glands that secrete Na⁺ on their leaf epidermis. Here, we identified Lb1G04202, an uncharacterized gene with no conserved domains, from L. bicolor, which was highly expressed after NaCl treatment. We confirmed its expression in the salt gland by in situ hybridization, and then heterologously expressed Lb1G04202 in Arabidopsis thaliana. The transgenic lines had a higher germination rate, greater cotyledon growth percentage, and longer roots than the wild type (WT) under NaCl treatments (50, 100 and 150 mM). At the seedling stage, the transgenic lines grew better than the WT and had lower Na⁺ and malonyldialdehyde accumulation, and higher K⁺ and proline contents. This corresponded with the high expression of the key proline biosynthesis genes AtP5CS1 and AtP5CS2 under NaCl treatment. Isotonic mannitol treatment showed that Lb1G04202 overexpression significantly relieved osmotic stress. Therefore, this novel gene provides a potential target for improving salt tolerance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of Plant Salt Resistance)

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18 pages, 4127 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification and Expression Analysis of R2R3-MYB Family Genes Associated with Salt Tolerance in Cyclocarya paliurus

by Zijie Zhang, Lei Zhang, Yang Liu, Xulan Shang and Shengzuo Fang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(7), 3429; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23073429 - 22 Mar 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2317

Abstract

R2R3-MYB transcription factors are most abundant in the MYB superfamily, while the R2R3-MYB genes play an important role in plant growth and development, especially in response to environmental stress. Cyclocarya paliurus is a multifunction tree species, and the existing resources cannot meet the requirement for its leaf production and medical use. Therefore, lands with some environmental stresses would be potential sites for developing C. paliurus plantations. However, the function of R2R3-MYB genes in C.paliurus in response to environmental stress remains unknown. In this study, to identify the roles of R2R3-MYB genes associated with salt stress response, 153 CpaMYB genes and their corresponding protein sequences were identified from the full-length transcriptome. Based on the comparison with MYB protein sequences of Arabidopsis thaliana, 69 R2R3-MYB proteins in C. paliurus were extracted for further screening combined with conserved functional domains. Furthermore, the MYB family members were analyzed from the aspects of protein sequences alignment, evolution, motif prediction, promoter cis-acting element analysis, and gene differential expression under different salt treatments using both a pot experiment and hydroponic experiment. The results showed that the R2R3-MYB genes of C.paliurus conserved functional domains, whereas four R2R3-MYB genes that might respond to salt stress via regulating plant hormone signals were identified in this study. This work provides a basis for further functional characterization of R2R3-MYB TFs in C. paliurus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of Plant Salt Resistance)

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Review

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19 pages, 1457 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Role of Transmembrane Proteins in Plant Growth, Development, and Stress Responses

by Yingli Zhou, Baoshan Wang and Fang Yuan

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(21), 13627; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232113627 - 7 Nov 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 6283

Abstract

Transmembrane proteins participate in various physiological activities in plants, including signal transduction, substance transport, and energy conversion. Although more than 20% of gene products are predicted to be transmembrane proteins in the genome era, due to the complexity of transmembrane domains they are difficult to reliably identify in the predicted protein, and they may have different overall three-dimensional structures. Therefore, it is challenging to study their biological function. In this review, we describe the typical structures of transmembrane proteins and their roles in plant growth, development, and stress responses. We propose a model illustrating the roles of transmembrane proteins during plant growth and response to various stresses, which will provide important references for crop breeding. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of Plant Salt Resistance)

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13 pages, 1470 KiB

Open AccessReview

Recent Progress on the Salt Tolerance Mechanisms and Application of Tamarisk

by Qixin Duan, Zhihui Zhu, Baoshan Wang and Min Chen

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(6), 3325; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23063325 - 19 Mar 2022

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4066

Abstract

Salinized soil is a major environmental stress affecting plant growth and development. Excessive salt in the soil inhibits the growth of most plants and even threatens their survival. Halophytes are plants that can grow and develop normally on saline-alkali soil due to salt tolerance mechanisms that emerged during evolution. For this reason, halophytes are used as pioneer plants for improving and utilizing saline land. Tamarisk, a family of woody halophytes, is highly salt tolerant and has high economic value. Understanding the mechanisms of salt tolerance in tamarisk and identifying the key genes involved are important for improving saline land and increasing the salt tolerance of crops. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of the salt tolerance mechanisms of tamarisk and the economic and medicinal value of this halophyte. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of Plant Salt Resistance)

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