Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.3
3.2
Journals
Life
Special Issues
Unravelling the Molecular Mechanisms of Different Stress Responses in Plants
share announcement

Unravelling the Molecular Mechanisms of Different Stress Responses in Plants

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 9 May 2025 | Viewed by 684

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Hakim Manghwar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Lushan Botanical Garden, Jiangxi Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jiujiang 332000, China
Interests: plant molecular biology; plant stress physiology; plant resistance to different stresses; plant genome editing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants exist in dynamic environments that frequently present conditions that are unfavorable to their growth and development. Different plant stresses significantly impair plant productivity, thereby constraining agricultural output and posing a serious threat to global food security. Plant stress responses are intricate and involve a network of molecular mechanisms to ensure survival and adaptation to various environmental challenges. These stresses trigger a cascade of signaling pathways and gene expression changes. Plants have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to perceive stress signals and mount rapid responses to these stresses by regulating molecular, physiological, metabolic, and developmental pathways. Many signaling molecules are involved in these processes, engaging in complex and highly coordinated interactions. It is crucial to understand the regulatory mechanisms that are implicated in plant stress responses in order to develop strategies that could enhance the resilience of crops to these challenges. Advances in genomic and biotechnological tools have allowed researchers to identify key regulatory genes and pathways, offering new opportunities for breeding or engineering stress-tolerant plants. This understanding holds significant potential for translating these insights into practical agricultural applications.

This Special Issue features articles that explore the response of crops to various stresses and their molecular mechanisms. Original research and review articles on response of plants to different stresses are welcome.

Dr. Hakim Manghwar
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. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2600 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

  • biotic stresses
  • abiotic stresses
  • plant growth and development
  • crop productivity
  • molecular mechanisms

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

20 pages, 3088 KiB  
Article
Comparative Analysis of Physiological Parameters, Antioxidant Defense, Ion Regulation, and Gene Expression in Two Distinct Maize Hybrids Under Salt Stress at Seedling Stage
by Medhat Rehan, Mohamed M. Kamara and Hassan Barakat
Life 2025, 15(4), 591; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15040591 - 3 Apr 2025
Viewed by 91
Abstract
Salinity significantly impacts maize production globally, requiring a deeper understanding of maize response mechanisms to salt stress. This study assessed the response of two Egyptian maize hybrids, SC-10 and TWC-321, under salt stress (200 mM NaCl) and non-stressed conditions to identify traits and [...] Read more.
Salinity significantly impacts maize production globally, requiring a deeper understanding of maize response mechanisms to salt stress. This study assessed the response of two Egyptian maize hybrids, SC-10 and TWC-321, under salt stress (200 mM NaCl) and non-stressed conditions to identify traits and mechanisms linked to enhanced salinity tolerance. Both hybrids accumulated similar Na+ levels in leaves, but TWC-321 exhibited better ion regulation, with lower Na+ concentrations and Na+ to K+ ratio in roots. While SC-10 showed a reduction in leaf K+ levels, TWC-321 maintained stable K+ levels, highlighting its superior salinity tolerance. TWC-321 also demonstrated better oxidative stress management, as evidenced by lower malondialdehyde levels and significantly higher total chlorophyll content, relative water content, and stomatal conductance. Proline accumulation was more pronounced in TWC-321, and it showed higher antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, and POD) compared to SC-10, which exhibited lower SOD and POD activities. Gene expression analysis demonstrated distinct responses to salt stress between the hybrids. Although zmHKT1;5 was similarly induced in both hybrids, TWC-321 exhibited higher expression levels of zmHKT2 (1.96-fold compared to 1.42-fold in SC-10) and upregulated zmNHX1 (1.92-fold), whereas zmNHX1 expression was slightly reduced in SC-10 (0.8-fold). Additionally, TWC-321 achieved a greater total dry weight than SC-10 under salinity stress, highlighting its superior performance and resilience. These findings indicate that enhanced Na+ exclusion and sequestration mechanisms mediate the salinity tolerance of TWC-321. Correlation analysis under salinity stress identified key indicators of salinity tolerance, including increased activity of CAT and SOD, elevated proline accumulation, and higher K+ content. Consequently, the salinity tolerance of TWC-321 can be attributed to its effective ion regulation, stable photosynthetic pigment levels, improved osmotic adjustment, enhanced water retention, and potent antioxidant defense system. These insights are highly valuable for breeding programs focused on developing salt-tolerant maize hybrids. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Unravelling the Molecular Mechanisms of Different Stress Responses in Plants)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-1
Back to TopTop