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Molecular Plant Nutrition: From Elements Uptake to Signaling and Crop Improvement

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Zhong Tang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Interests: molecular plant nutrition; highly efficient nutrition; nutrition signal; toxic metals in plants; metal detoxification; phytoremediation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants require various essential elements for their growth and development, and understanding the molecular mechanisms of element uptake, transport, and signaling is crucial for improving crop productivity and quality. In addition to essential elements, plants can also take up toxic metals such as cadmium, arsenic, and lead, which can have harmful effects on human health through the food chain. Molecular plant nutrition research aims to elucidate the element uptake, transport, and signaling pathways that regulate their utilization and distribution within the plants at the molecular level.

This Special Issue on “Molecular Plant Nutrition: From Element Uptake to Signaling and Crop Improvement” aims to provide an overview of the latest advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying plant nutrition, with a particular emphasis on the uptake and signaling of essential and toxic elements. We will also explore the ways in which this knowledge can be applied to the development of crop improvement strategies for sustainable agriculture.

Topics covered in this Special Issue include the molecular mechanisms of element uptake and transport, the regulation of element signaling pathways, the role of nutrient interactions in plant growth and development, the effects of environmental stresses on nutrient uptake and utilization, and the development of crops with enhanced nutrient use efficiency and tolerance to toxic metals. Overall, this Special Issue will highlight the importance of molecular plant nutrition research in addressing the challenges of the global food security and environmental sustainability.

Dr. Zhong Tang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

molecular plant nutrition
essential elements
toxic metals
uptake
transport
signaling
crop improvement
sustainable agriculture
nutrient interactions
environmental stresses

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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34 pages, 7764 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Metabolic and Molecular Rearrangements of Sauvignon Blanc (Vitis vinifera L.) Berries in Response to Foliar Applications of Specific Dry Yeast

by Marta Rodrigues, Cristian Forestan, Laura Ravazzolo, Philippe Hugueney, Raymonde Baltenweck, Angela Rasori, Valerio Cardillo, Pietro Carraro, Mario Malagoli, Stefano Brizzolara, Silvia Quaggiotti, Duilio Porro, Franco Meggio, Claudio Bonghi, Fabrizio Battista and Benedetto Ruperti

Plants 2023, 12(19), 3423; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12193423 - 28 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1072

Abstract

Dry yeast extracts (DYE) are applied to vineyards to improve aromatic and secondary metabolic compound content and wine quality; however, systematic information on the underpinning molecular mechanisms is lacking. This work aimed to unravel, through a systematic approach, the metabolic and molecular responses of Sauvignon Blanc berries to DYE treatments. To accomplish this, DYE spraying was performed in a commercial vineyard for two consecutive years. Berries were sampled at several time points after the treatment, and grapes were analyzed for sugars, acidity, free and bound aroma precursors, amino acids, and targeted and untargeted RNA-Seq transcriptional profiles. The results obtained indicated that the DYE treatment did not interfere with the technological ripening parameters of sugars and acidity. Some aroma precursors, including cys-3MH and GSH-3MH, responsible for the typical aromatic nuances of Sauvignon Blanc, were stimulated by the treatment during both vintages. The levels of amino acids and the global RNA-seq transcriptional profiles indicated that DYE spraying upregulated ROS homeostatic and thermotolerance genes, as well as ethylene and jasmonic acid biosynthetic genes, and activated abiotic and biotic stress responses. Overall, the data suggested that the DYE reduced berry oxidative stress through the regulation of specific subsets of metabolic and hormonal pathways. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Plant Nutrition: From Elements Uptake to Signaling and Crop Improvement)

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Review

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26 pages, 796 KiB

Open AccessReview

Advances in the Involvement of Metals and Metalloids in Plant Defense Response to External Stress

by Lingxiao Zhang, Zhengyan Liu, Yun Song, Junkang Sui and Xuewen Hua

Plants 2024, 13(2), 313; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13020313 - 20 Jan 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1163

Abstract

Plants, as sessile organisms, uptake nutrients from the soil. Throughout their whole life cycle, they confront various external biotic and abiotic threats, encompassing harmful element toxicity, pathogen infection, and herbivore attack, posing risks to plant growth and production. Plants have evolved multifaceted mechanisms to cope with exogenous stress. The element defense hypothesis (EDH) theory elucidates that plants employ elements within their tissues to withstand various natural enemies. Notably, essential and non-essential trace metals and metalloids have been identified as active participants in plant defense mechanisms, especially in nanoparticle form. In this review, we compiled and synthetized recent advancements and robust evidence regarding the involvement of trace metals and metalloids in plant element defense against external stresses that include biotic stressors (such as drought, salinity, and heavy metal toxicity) and abiotic environmental stressors (such as pathogen invasion and herbivore attack). We discuss the mechanisms underlying the metals and metalloids involved in plant defense enhancement from physiological, biochemical, and molecular perspectives. By consolidating this information, this review enhances our understanding of how metals and metalloids contribute to plant element defense. Drawing on the current advances in plant elemental defense, we propose an application prospect of metals and metalloids in agricultural products to solve current issues, including soil pollution and production, for the sustainable development of agriculture. Although the studies focused on plant elemental defense have advanced, the precise mechanism under the plant defense response still needs further investigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Plant Nutrition: From Elements Uptake to Signaling and Crop Improvement)

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