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Plant Abiotic Stress: Mechanisms, Tolerance and Sustainable Management
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Plant Abiotic Stress: Mechanisms, Tolerance and Sustainable Management

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Response to Abiotic Stress and Climate Change".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 18328

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Mohamed El Yamani

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Natural Resources and Environment, Polydisciplinary Faculty of Taza, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Taza, Morocco
Interests: environmental science; agricultural plant science; plant physiology; environmental stresses; food science
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. James A. Bunce

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Adaptive Cropping Systems Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
Interests: photosynthesis; plant–water relations; climate change; elevated CO2; water stress; high-temperature stress; plant adaptation to environment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants face increasingly frequent and severe abiotic stresses in their environments, most notably drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, nutrient deficiencies, and heavy metal toxicity. All of these stresses could have serious adverse effects on plant growth, development, and productivity, thus posing serious challenges to food security and the sustainability of agriculture.

In this Special Issue, we explore recent advances and discoveries on the following topics:

  • Mechanisms of plant response to abiotic stresses;
  • Signal pathways and regulatory networks involved in stress perception and adaptation;
  • Biotechnological approaches and breeding strategies for engineering and developing abiotic stress resilient cultivars;
  • Agronomic and management practices for sustainable cultivation under abiotic stress conditions;
  • Applications of omics technologies to unravel the complexities of plant stress biology;
  • Field evaluation of abiotic stress management methods.

Prof. Dr. Mohamed El Yamani
Dr. James A. Bunce
Guest Editors

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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

  • plant abiotic stress
  • drought
  • salinity
  • nutrient deficiency
  • stress tolerance
  • stress management
  • sustainable agriculture
  • omics technologies
  • biotechnological approaches
  • breeding strategies

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

19 pages, 2488 KB  
Article
LED Light Treatments Enhance the Synthesis of Bioactive Compounds in Salvia lavandulifolia Vahl.
by Gustavo J. Cáceres-Cevallos, Almudena Bayo-Canha, María Quílez and María J. Jordán
Plants 2026, 15(5), 763; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15050763 - 1 Mar 2026
Viewed by 356
Abstract
Salvia lavandulifolia Vahl., a species native to the Western Mediterranean, is valued for its bioactive compounds and beneficial biological properties. Commonly propagated in greenhouses, it may benefit from exposure to tailored light-emitting diode (LED) light to enhance antioxidant defense and metabolite production. This [...] Read more.
Salvia lavandulifolia Vahl., a species native to the Western Mediterranean, is valued for its bioactive compounds and beneficial biological properties. Commonly propagated in greenhouses, it may benefit from exposure to tailored light-emitting diode (LED) light to enhance antioxidant defense and metabolite production. This study examined the effects of various spectra on two S. lavandulifolia ecotypes from southeastern Spain. Plants were propagated in vitro and grown for 30 days under white, red, blue, red/blue (70:30), white/blue, or white/red LED light, under a 16/8 h light/dark photoperiod (light intensity of 115 µmol m−2 s−1). Photosynthetic pigments, enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase and catalase), non-enzymatic antioxidants (tocopherols and polyphenols), antioxidant capacity (FRAP and DPPH•), and lipid peroxidation (MDA) were assessed. In ecotype 1, red LED light significantly increased the content of photosynthetic pigments and non-enzymatic antioxidants while reducing enzymatic antioxidant activity. In contrast, ecotype 2 showed higher catalase and non-enzymatic antioxidant activity under white/blue light, without changes in pigment content. In both ecotypes, these treatments increased α-tocopherol and hydroxycinnamic acid derivative content, strengthening antioxidant defenses without inducing oxidative damage. Overall, the results highlight the need to customize LED light spectra for each ecotype, as genetic background may significantly influence plant responses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Abiotic Stress: Mechanisms, Tolerance and Sustainable Management)
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26 pages, 3219 KB  
Article
Physiological, Productive, and Soil Rhizospheric Microbiota Responses of ‘Santina’ Cherry Trees to Regulated Deficit Irrigation Applied After Harvest
by Tamara Alvear, Macarena Gerding, Richard M. Bastías, Carolina Contreras, Silvia Antileo-Mellado, Andrés Olivos, Mauricio Calderón-Orellana and Arturo Calderón-Orellana
Plants 2025, 14(23), 3611; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14233611 - 26 Nov 2025
Viewed by 735
Abstract
Chile, the leading exporter of cherries (Prunus avium L.) in the southern hemisphere, faces sustained variations in precipitation patterns and high evaporative demand in its productive areas. The low availability of water during the period of highest environmental demand makes it essential [...] Read more.
Chile, the leading exporter of cherries (Prunus avium L.) in the southern hemisphere, faces sustained variations in precipitation patterns and high evaporative demand in its productive areas. The low availability of water during the period of highest environmental demand makes it essential to reduce or suspend irrigation applications. In this scenario, regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) after harvest is an efficient strategy for optimizing water use without compromising orchard yields. This study was conducted over three consecutive seasons in a traditional commercial orchard of ‘Santina’ cherry trees grafted onto Colt rootstock, evaluating the effect of two levels of RDI, moderate (MDI) and severe (SDI), on productive and ecophysiological parameters. Both treatments resulted in water savings of between 10% and 28%, without negatively affecting yield or fruit quality. The SDI treatment, despite reaching higher levels of cumulative water stress, improved intrinsic water use efficiency while maintaining stable photosynthetic efficiency. In addition, an increase in the abundance of fine roots and beneficial rhizosphere bacteria populations, such as Azospirillum and Bacillus, was observed, suggesting the activation of water resilience mechanisms mediated by plant–microbiota interaction, possibly associated with stress-induced ecological memory and microbial legacy effects. These results position after-harvest RDI as a sustainable tool for coping with climate variability and water scarcity in commercial cherry orchards. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Abiotic Stress: Mechanisms, Tolerance and Sustainable Management)
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16 pages, 740 KB  
Article
Yield Performance and Phytochemical Stability of ‘Comet’ Hop Under Contrasting Light Supplementation Regimes in Subtropical Conditions
by Caio Scardini Neves, Filipe Pereira Giardini Bonfim, Olivia Pak Campos, Viviany Viriato, Gustavo do Carmo Fernandes, Mariana Nunes Ferreira Cabral, Gabriel Cássia Fortuna, Sthefani Gonçalves de Oliveira, Adam N. Rabinowitz, Valéria Cristina Rodrigues Sarnighausen, Elizabeth Orika Ono, Júlio César Rodrigues Lopes Silva and Marcia Ortiz Mayo Marques
Plants 2025, 14(22), 3516; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14223516 - 18 Nov 2025
Viewed by 683
Abstract
This study evaluated the agronomic performance and phytochemical stability of the ‘Comet’ hop (Humulus lupulus L.) under contrasting photoperiod management regimes (with and without supplemental lighting) in subtropical conditions over two consecutive crop cycles (2024–2025). The experiment, conducted at the School of [...] Read more.
This study evaluated the agronomic performance and phytochemical stability of the ‘Comet’ hop (Humulus lupulus L.) under contrasting photoperiod management regimes (with and without supplemental lighting) in subtropical conditions over two consecutive crop cycles (2024–2025). The experiment, conducted at the School of Agricultural Sciences (FCA/UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil), followed a split-plot factorial design with ten replications. Supplemental lighting (50 W, 6500 K LED floodlights) extended the photoperiod to 17 h during the vegetative stage. Morphometric, phenological, and phytochemical parameters were analyzed, including α- and β-acid contents and essential oil composition by GC–MS and GC-FID. Supplemental lighting significantly increased plant height (590.9 cm), number of lateral branches (70.1), cone length (3.49 cm), and dry cone mass (374.6 g plant−1) while reducing the insertion height of the first cone (99.0 cm). α-Acid content increased from 9.35% to 11.92%, and essential oil content from 1.34% to 1.90%, while β-acid levels showed no significant variation. Chemical analysis identified 31 compounds, predominantly β-myrcene (65–74%) and sesquiterpenes such as (E)-caryophyllene, α-selinene, and β-selinene, exhibiting remarkable compositional stability across years and treatments. Photoperiod extension delayed floral induction, promoted biomass accumulation, and increased cone yield without altering the characteristic herbaceous–resinous aromatic profile. These findings validate supplemental lighting as a decisive strategy to optimize hop production in subtropical regions, ensuring phenological regularity, higher yield, and consistent chemical quality, thereby strengthening the viability of domestic hop cultivation in Brazil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Abiotic Stress: Mechanisms, Tolerance and Sustainable Management)
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18 pages, 7427 KB  
Article
Genome-Wide Analysis of Soybean Polyamine Oxidase Genes Reveals Their Roles in Flower Development and Response to Abiotic Stress
by Yang Yu, Bohuai Jin, Meina Gao, Ke Zhang, Zhouli Liu and Xiangbo Duan
Plants 2025, 14(12), 1867; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14121867 - 18 Jun 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1030
Abstract
Polyamine oxidase (PAO) is an important enzyme that functions in the catabolism of polyamines. While plant PAOs have been studied in several species, there is a lack of research on this gene family in soybean (Glycine max L.), one of the major [...] Read more.
Polyamine oxidase (PAO) is an important enzyme that functions in the catabolism of polyamines. While plant PAOs have been studied in several species, there is a lack of research on this gene family in soybean (Glycine max L.), one of the major food crops worldwide. Here, a genome-wide analysis identified 16 GmPAOs from the soybean genome, which were unevenly distributed in nine soybean chromosomes and were then phylogenetically classified into three groups. Collinearity analysis identified 17 duplicated gene pairs from the GmPAO family, and their Ka/Ks values were all less than one, indicating that the GmPAO family has undergone purifying selection during evolution. Analyses of the conserved motif and gene structure revealed the sequence differences among the GmPAOs of the three groups, suggestive of their functional differentiation. Additionally, the prediction of the secondary and tertiary structure of the GmPAOs provided a further basis for revealing their biological functions. A number of cis-acting elements relevant to development, phytohormone, and stress response were discovered in the promoter regions of the GmPAOs, which might be responsible for their functional diversities. Expression pattern analysis indicated that more than half of the GmPAOs showed preference in flower, two showed specificity in stem and shoot apical meristem, whereas four were barely expressed in all samples. Expression profiling of the GmPAOs also revealed that they were involved in the response to abiotic stresses, including cold, drought, and especially submergence stress. All these results lay an important foundation for further characterizing the functional roles of GmPAOs in soybean development and response to abiotic stresses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Abiotic Stress: Mechanisms, Tolerance and Sustainable Management)
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Review

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21 pages, 653 KB  
Review
Nitric Oxide-Based Signaling During Abiotic Stress Responses in Plants: Mechanisms of Tolerance and Applicability in Sustainable Horticultural Crop Management
by Tiba Nazar Ibrahim Al Azzawi, Murtaza Khan and Yong Ha Rhie
Plants 2026, 15(5), 825; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15050825 - 7 Mar 2026
Viewed by 461
Abstract
Abiotic stresses severely constrain the growth, yield, and quality of horticultural plants, collectively posing major challenges to sustainable production under changing climatic conditions. Nitric oxide (NO) is a key signaling molecule that modulates plant responses to abiotic stress by integrating with redox regulation [...] Read more.
Abiotic stresses severely constrain the growth, yield, and quality of horticultural plants, collectively posing major challenges to sustainable production under changing climatic conditions. Nitric oxide (NO) is a key signaling molecule that modulates plant responses to abiotic stress by integrating with redox regulation systems, hormonal crosstalk pathways, ion homeostasis mechanisms, and transcriptional control networks. Rather than functioning as an isolated regulator, NO participates in dynamic signaling frameworks whose outcomes depend on concentration, timing, cellular redox status, and interaction with other signaling molecules. This review synthesizes current knowledge on NO-mediated mechanisms contributing to abiotic stress tolerance and examines their relevance to sustainable horticultural crop management. After outlining the historical recognition of NO as a plant signaling molecule, we discuss stress-responsive NO-dependent processes, including S-nitrosylation-based post-translational modification, NO–reactive oxygen species (ROS) interactions, and the modulation of stress-responsive transcriptional programs. The roles of NO in tolerance to drought, salinity, extreme temperature, and heavy metal stress are analyzed with emphasis on experimentally supported physiological and molecular responses. We further evaluate evidence from fruit, vegetable, ornamental, and medicinal crops, highlighting how NO-associated signaling correlates with yield stability, quality-related traits, and post-harvest performance under stress conditions. Finally, NO-based strategies such as priming, donor application, and integration with biostimulants are critically assessed in the context of climate-resilient and sustainable horticulture, with attention to translational constraints and field-level feasibility. By connecting mechanistic insights with applied considerations, this review provides a structured framework for evaluating the potential and limitations of NO-based approaches in abiotic stress management of horticultural crops. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Abiotic Stress: Mechanisms, Tolerance and Sustainable Management)
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30 pages, 1477 KB  
Review
Application of Beneficial Bacteria to Enhance Plant Drought Resilience
by Yryszhan Zhakypbek, Bekzhan D. Kossalbayev, Serik Tursbekov, Galiya Tursbekova, Zhansulu Berdaliyeva and Ayaz M. Belkozhayev
Plants 2026, 15(5), 753; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15050753 - 28 Feb 2026
Viewed by 853
Abstract
Drought stress is one of the most severe abiotic constraints limiting crop productivity worldwide, a challenge that is intensifying under ongoing climate change. In recent years, beneficial microorganisms have emerged as sustainable, nature-based tools to enhance plant drought tolerance and stabilize agricultural production [...] Read more.
Drought stress is one of the most severe abiotic constraints limiting crop productivity worldwide, a challenge that is intensifying under ongoing climate change. In recent years, beneficial microorganisms have emerged as sustainable, nature-based tools to enhance plant drought tolerance and stabilize agricultural production under water-limited conditions. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the major groups of beneficial bacteria involved in drought stress mitigation, including plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), a functional subgroup of rhizosphere-associated microbes, endophytic bacteria, rhizosphere-associated microbes, and cyanobacteria, highlighting their primary physiological, biochemical, and soil-mediated mechanisms. These microorganisms enhance drought resilience through multiple complementary pathways, such as modulation of abscisic acid (ABA) and auxin (IAA) signaling, ACC deaminase activity, osmotic adjustment, antioxidant defense, improved nutrient acquisition, and enhancement of soil structure and water retention. The review further discusses practical application strategies, including seed inoculation, soil and root application, foliar spraying, the use of single strains versus microbial consortia, and advances in bioformulations and carrier materials that improve microbial survival and field efficacy. Emphasis is placed on recent experimental and field studies demonstrating the effectiveness of microbial inoculants under drought conditions. Collectively, the evidence highlights the potential of beneficial bacteria as key components of climate-resilient agriculture and underscores the need for integrated, formulation-driven approaches to translate laboratory success into consistent field performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Abiotic Stress: Mechanisms, Tolerance and Sustainable Management)
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21 pages, 848 KB  
Review
Drought-Induced Changes in Morphology and Phenology of Olive Trees (Olea europaea L.)
by María del Pilar Cordovilla, Yahia Rharrabti and Mohamed El Yamani
Plants 2025, 14(23), 3624; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14233624 - 28 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1378
Abstract
The olive tree (Olea europaea L.), a cornerstone of Mediterranean agriculture, is widely recognized for its inherent drought tolerance. However, the increasing frequency and intensity of water deficit events driven by climate change are challenging its growth, productivity, and long-term sustainability. This [...] Read more.
The olive tree (Olea europaea L.), a cornerstone of Mediterranean agriculture, is widely recognized for its inherent drought tolerance. However, the increasing frequency and intensity of water deficit events driven by climate change are challenging its growth, productivity, and long-term sustainability. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the morphological and phenological adaptations of olive trees to water stress. In fact, under drought conditions, olive trees develop a suite of structural and anatomical adjustments that collectively enhance water-use efficiency and help maintain plant water status. These adjustments include reduced leaf area, thickened cuticles, mesophyll rearrangements, remodeling of xylem vessel architecture, and reinforced root systems. These morpho-anatomical responses influence phenology, through changes in the timing and duration of key phenological stages, leading to reduced flower induction, lower flowering intensity, decreased fruit set, and overall lower yields, while the most pronounced effects are observed in sensitive cultivars. Among all stages, flowering is the most vulnerable to water deficit, while pit hardening and fruit development show comparatively more tolerance. The combination of morphological, anatomical, and phenological responses could provide a mechanistic elucidation of drought tolerance variability within olive cultivars. Understanding this interplay is likely to offer valuable criteria in selecting and breeding resistant varieties, thus ensuring productive and sustainable olive cultivation under increasingly severe climatic conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Abiotic Stress: Mechanisms, Tolerance and Sustainable Management)
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20 pages, 4773 KB  
Review
Structure-Based Function of Humic Acid in Abiotic Stress Alleviation in Plants: A Review
by Farhan Nabi, Ahmed Sarfaraz, Rakhwe Kama, Razia Kanwal and Huashou Li
Plants 2025, 14(13), 1916; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14131916 - 22 Jun 2025
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 7156
Abstract
Humic acid (HA), a major component of soil organic matter, is a naturally occurring macromolecule formed through the decomposition of plant and microbial residues. Its molecular structure comprises functional groups such as carboxyl, phenolic, hydroxyl, and carbonyl functional groups, which enable HA to [...] Read more.
Humic acid (HA), a major component of soil organic matter, is a naturally occurring macromolecule formed through the decomposition of plant and microbial residues. Its molecular structure comprises functional groups such as carboxyl, phenolic, hydroxyl, and carbonyl functional groups, which enable HA to interact with soil particles, nutrients, and biological systems. These interactions significantly contribute to soil fertility and overall plant productivity. Functionally, HA enhances soil health by increasing cation exchange capacity, improving water retention, and promoting the formation and stabilization of soil aggregates. In addition to its role in soil conditioning, HA is essential in mitigating plant stress. It achieves this by modulating antioxidant enzyme activity, stabilizing cellular membranes, and alleviating the adverse effects of abiotic stressors such as salinity, drought, and heavy metal toxicity. This review highlights the structural characteristics of HA, its structure-based functions, and the mechanisms involved in plant stress alleviation. Additionally, we explore how HA can be modified through physical, chemical, and biological approaches to enhance its agronomic performance. These modifications are designed to improve HA agronomic efficiency by increasing nutrient bioavailability, reducing environmental losses through minimized leaching and volatilization, and supporting sustainable agricultural practices. Overall, this review underscores the multifaceted roles of HA in promoting plant resilience to environmental stress, highlighting its potential as a key agent in the development of sustainable and eco-friendly crop production systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Abiotic Stress: Mechanisms, Tolerance and Sustainable Management)
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25 pages, 2837 KB  
Review
Oxidative Stress in Rice (Oryza sativa): Mechanisms, Impact, and Adaptive Strategies
by Lady Edlenill J. Tavu and Mark Christian Felipe R. Redillas
Plants 2025, 14(10), 1463; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14101463 - 14 May 2025
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3770
Abstract
Oxidative stress, arising from environmental challenges such as drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, and pathogen attack, significantly impairs rice (Oryza sativa) growth, yield, and grain quality. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the mechanisms underlying oxidative stress in rice, with a [...] Read more.
Oxidative stress, arising from environmental challenges such as drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, and pathogen attack, significantly impairs rice (Oryza sativa) growth, yield, and grain quality. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the mechanisms underlying oxidative stress in rice, with a focus on the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), their physiological and molecular impacts, and the antioxidant defense systems employed for mitigation. The roles of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, along with key transcription factors, signaling pathways, and stress-responsive genes, are explored in detail. This study further highlights varietal differences in oxidative stress tolerance, emphasizing traditional, modern, and genetically engineered rice cultivars. Recent advances in breeding strategies, gene editing technologies, and multi-omics integration are discussed as promising approaches for enhancing stress resilience. The regulatory influence of epigenetic modifications and small RNAs in modulating oxidative stress responses is also examined. Finally, this paper identifies critical research gaps—including the need for multi-stress tolerance, long-term field validation, and deeper insights into non-coding RNA functions—and offers recommendations to inform the development of climate-resilient rice varieties through integrative, sustainable strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Abiotic Stress: Mechanisms, Tolerance and Sustainable Management)
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