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Plant Oxidative Stress: Biology, Physiology and Mitigation

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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: closed (30 November 2021) | Viewed by 56233

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Mirza Hasanuzzaman

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Guest Editor

Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh
Interests: antioxidants; abiotic stress tolerance; plant metabolites; ROS signaling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Masayuki Fujita

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Guest Editor

Laboratory of Plant Stress Responses, Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kita-gun, Kagawa 761-0795, Japan
Interests: plant stress physiology; plant biochemistry; abiotic stress
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

Due to climate change, plants are frequently exposed to abiotic and biotic stresses, and these stresses pose serious threats to plants. A key sign of such stresses at the molecular level is the accelerated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which cause oxidative stress. These ROS can induce cellular injuries by protein oxidation, lipid peroxidation, and DNA damage, which finally may result in plant cellular death. Recently, ROS have emerged as major regulatory molecules in plants, and their role in early signaling events initiated by normal cellular metabolic function and environmental stress are now well established. Under normal circumstances, there is a balance between the generation and the elimination of ROS. However, this balance can be hampered by different biotic and abiotic stresses, resulting in the generation of a large number of ROS that should be counteracted by the antioxidant machinery in cells. Finding ways to enhance the antioxidant defense system in plants is a very important task for plant biologists. Recent progress in plant molecular biology and biotechnology has been targeting the development of approaches to enhancing the antioxidant defense system in plants. New knowledge acquired through research on oxidative stress and abiotic and biotic stress tolerance in plants will help us to apply stress-responsive determinants and engineer plants with enhanced tolerance to stress.

This Special Issue welcomes original research articles, reviews, and mini-reviews on topics related to the following broad themes:

chemistry and biology of ROS;
generation and compartmentation of ROS;
oxidative stress due to various abiotic stresses (salt, drought, extreme temperatures, toxic metals/metalloids, flooding, etc.);
oxidative stress to due various biotic stress (pathogens, insects, weeds, etc.);
ROS signaling;
the dual role of ROS;
ROS as protective agents;
oxidative stress markers;
use of molecular biology to understand oxidative stress; and
antioxidant defense system in plants.

Prof. Dr. Mirza Hasanuzzaman
Prof. Dr. Masayuki Fujita
Guest Editors

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Keywords

abiotic stress
reactive oxygen species
stress signaling
lipid peroxidation
antioxidant defense
hydrogen peroxide
ascorbate–glutathione pathway

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Published Papers (13 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

4 pages, 225 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Plant Oxidative Stress: Biology, Physiology and Mitigation

by Mirza Hasanuzzaman and Masayuki Fujita

Plants 2022, 11(9), 1185; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11091185 - 28 Apr 2022

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 3513

Abstract

Due to climate change plants are frequently exposed to abiotic and biotic stresses, and these stresses pose serious threats to plant growth and productivity [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Oxidative Stress: Biology, Physiology and Mitigation)

Research

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21 pages, 5481 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Gibberellic Acid and Jasmonic Acid Improve Salt Tolerance in Summer Squash by Modulating Some Physiological Parameters Symptomatic for Oxidative Stress and Mineral Nutrition

by Mashael M. Al-harthi, Sameera O. Bafeel and Manal El-Zohri

Plants 2021, 10(12), 2768; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10122768 - 15 Dec 2021

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3167

Abstract

Gibberellic acid (GA) and jasmonic acid (JA) are considered to be endogenous regulators that play a vital role in regulating plant responses to stress conditions. This study investigated the ameliorative role of GA, JA, and the GA + JA mixture in mitigating the detrimental effect of salinity on the summer squash plant. In order to explore the physiological mechanisms of salt stress alleviation carried out by exogenous GA and JA, seed priming with 1.5 mM GA, 0.005 mM JA, and their mixture was performed; then the germinated summer squash seedlings were exposed to 50 mM NaCl. The results showed that a 50 mM NaCl treatment significantly reduced shoot and root fresh and dry weight, water content (%), the concentration of carotenoid (Car), nucleic acids, K⁺, and Mg⁺⁺, the K⁺/Na⁺ ratio, and the activity of catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), while it increased the concentration of proline, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), Na⁺, and Cl⁻ in summer squash plants, when compared with the control. However, seed priming with GA, JA and the GA + JA mixture significantly improved summer squash salt tolerance by reducing the concentration of Na⁺ and Cl⁻, TBARS, and the Chl a/b ratio and by increasing the activity of superoxide dismutase, CAT, and APX, the quantities of K⁺ and Mg⁺⁺, the K⁺/Na⁺ ratio, and the quantities of RNA, DNA, chlorophyll b, and Car, which, in turn, ameliorated the growth of salinized plants. These findings suggest that GA and JA are able to efficiently defend summer squash plants from salinity destruction by adjusting nutrient uptake and increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes in order to decrease reactive oxygen species accumulation due to salinity stress; these findings offer a practical intervention for summer squash cultivation in salt-affected soils. Synergistic effects of the GA and JA combination were not clearly observed, and JA alleviated most of the studied traits associated with salinity stress induced in summer squash more efficiently than GA or the GA + JA mixture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Oxidative Stress: Biology, Physiology and Mitigation)

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10 pages, 1462 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Persistence of the Effects of Se-Fertilization in Olive Trees over Time, Monitored with the Cytosolic Ca²⁺ and with the Germination of Pollen

by Alberto Marco Del Pino, Luca Regni, Roberto D’Amato, Alessandro Di Michele, Primo Proietti and Carlo Alberto Palmerini

Plants 2021, 10(11), 2290; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10112290 - 25 Oct 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1945

Abstract

Selenium (Se) is an important micronutrient for living organisms, since it is involved in several physiological and metabolic processes. Biofortification with Se increases the nutritional and qualitative values of foods in Se-deficient regions and increases tolerance to oxidative stress in olive trees. Many studies have shown that Se, in addition to improving the qualitative and nutritional properties of EVO oil, also improves the plant’s response to abiotic stress. This study addressed this issue by monitoring the effects of Se on cytosolic Ca²⁺ and on the germination of olive pollen grains in oxidative stress. The olive trees subjected to treatment with Na-selenate in the field produced pollen with a Se content 6–8 times higher than the controls, even after 20 months from the treatment. Moreover, part of the micronutrient was organic in selenium methionine. The higher selenium content did not produce toxic effects in the pollen, rather it antagonized the undesirable effects of oxidative stress in the parameters under study. The persistence of the beneficial effects of selenium observed over time in pollens, in addition to bringing out an undisputed adaptability of olive trees to the micronutrient, suggested the opportunity to reduce the number of treatments in the field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Oxidative Stress: Biology, Physiology and Mitigation)

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16 pages, 16206 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Supplemental Selenium and Boron Mitigate Salt-Induced Oxidative Damages in Glycine max L.

by Mira Rahman, Khussboo Rahman, Khadeja Sultana Sathi, Md. Mahabub Alam, Kamrun Nahar, Masayuki Fujita and Mirza Hasanuzzaman

Plants 2021, 10(10), 2224; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10102224 - 19 Oct 2021

Cited by 40 | Viewed by 3180

Abstract

The present investigation was executed with an aim to evaluate the role of exogenous selenium (Se) and boron (B) in mitigating different levels of salt stress by enhancing the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, antioxidant defense and glyoxalase systems in soybean. Plants were treated with 0, 150, 300 and 450 mM NaCl at 20 days after sowing (DAS). Foliar application of Se (50 µM Na₂SeO₄) and B (1 mM H₃BO₃) was accomplished individually and in combined (Se+B) at three-day intervals, at 16, 20, 24 and 28 DAS under non-saline and saline conditions. Salt stress adversely affected the growth parameters. In salt-treated plants, proline content and oxidative stress indicators such as malondialdehyde (MDA) content and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) content were increased with the increment of salt concentration but the relative water content decreased. Due to salt stress catalase (CAT), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), glyoxalase I (Gly I) and glyoxalase II (Gly II) activity decreased. However, the activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and peroxidase (POD) increased under salt stress. On the contrary, supplementation of Se, B and Se+B enhanced the activities of APX, MDHAR, DHAR, GR, CAT, GPX, GST, POD, Gly I and Gly II which consequently diminished the H₂O₂ content and MDA content under salt stress, and also improved the growth parameters. The results reflected that exogenous Se, B and Se+B enhanced the enzymatic activity of the antioxidant defense system as well as the glyoxalase systems under different levels of salt stress, ultimately alleviated the salt-induced oxidative stress, among them Se+B was more effective than a single treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Oxidative Stress: Biology, Physiology and Mitigation)

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17 pages, 5142 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exogenous Application of Methyl Jasmonate and Salicylic Acid Mitigates Drought-Induced Oxidative Damages in French Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

by Mohammed Mohi-Ud-Din, Dipa Talukder, Motiar Rohman, Jalal Uddin Ahmed, S. V. Krishna Jagadish, Tofazzal Islam and Mirza Hasanuzzaman

Plants 2021, 10(10), 2066; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10102066 - 30 Sep 2021

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 4103

Abstract

Drought stress impairs the normal growth and development of plants through various mechanisms including the induction of cellular oxidative stresses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the exogenous application of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and salicylic acid (SA) on the growth, physiology, and antioxidant defense system of drought-stressed French bean plants. Application of MeJA (20 μM) or SA (2 mM) alone caused modest reductions in the harmful effects of drought. However, combined application substantially enhanced drought tolerance by improving the physiological activities and antioxidant defense system. The drought-induced generation of O₂^●− and H₂O₂, the MDA content, and the LOX activity were significantly lower in leaves when seeds or leaves were pre-treated with a combination of MeJA (10 μM) and SA (1 mM) than with either hormone alone. The combined application of MeJA and SA to drought-stressed plants also significantly increased the activities of the major antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione-S-transferase as well as the enzymes of the ascorbate–glutathione cycle. Taken together, our results suggest that seed or foliar application of a combination of MeJA and SA restore growth and normal physiological processes by triggering the antioxidant defense system in drought-stressed plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Oxidative Stress: Biology, Physiology and Mitigation)

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15 pages, 1672 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Foliar Spray of Alpha-Tocopherol Modulates Antioxidant Potential of Okra Fruit under Salt Stress

by Maria Naqve, Xiukang Wang, Muhammad Shahbaz, Sajid Fiaz, Wardah Naqvi, Mehwish Naseer, Athar Mahmood and Habib Ali

Plants 2021, 10(7), 1382; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10071382 - 6 Jul 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3057

Abstract

As an antioxidant, alpha-tocopherol (α-Toc) protects plants from salinity-induced oxidative bursts. This study was conducted twice to determine the effect of α-Toc as a foliar spray (at 0 (no spray), 100, 200, and 300 mg L⁻¹) to improve the yield and biochemical constituents of fresh green capsules of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) under salt stress (0 and 100 mM). Salt stress significantly reduced K⁺ and Ca²⁺ ion concentration and yield, whereas it increased H₂O₂, malondialdehyde (MDA), Na⁺, glycine betaine (GB), total free proline, total phenolics, and the activities of catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), and protease in both okra varieties (Noori and Sabzpari). Foliar application of α-Toc significantly improved the yield in tested okra varieties by increasing the activity of antioxidants (CAT, GPX, SOD, and ascorbic acid), accumulation of GB, and total free proline in fruit tissues under saline and non-saline conditions. Moreover, α-Toc application as a foliar spray alleviated the adverse effects of salt stress by reducing Na⁺ concentration, MDA, and H₂O₂ levels and improving the uptake of K⁺ and Ca²⁺. Among the tested okra varieties, Noori performed better than Sabzpari across all physio-biochemical attributes. Of all the foliar-applied α-Toc levels, 200 mg L⁻¹ and 300 mg L⁻¹ were more effective in the amelioration of salinity-induced adverse effects in okra. Thus, we concluded that higher levels of α-Toc (200 mg L⁻¹ and 300 mg L⁻¹) combat salinity stress more effectively by boosting the antioxidant potential of okra plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Oxidative Stress: Biology, Physiology and Mitigation)

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16 pages, 2065 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Peptone-Induced Physio-Biochemical Modulations Reduce Cadmium Toxicity and Accumulation in Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.)

by Naila Emanuil, Muhammad Sohail Akram, Shafaqat Ali, Mohamed A. El-Esawi, Muhammad Iqbal and Mohammed Nasser Alyemeni

Plants 2020, 9(12), 1806; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9121806 - 19 Dec 2020

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3064

Abstract

The accumulation of cadmium (Cd) in edible plant parts and fertile lands is a worldwide problem. It negatively influences the growth and productivity of leafy vegetables (e.g., spinach, Spinacia oleracea L.), which have a high tendency to radially accumulate Cd. The present study investigated the influences of peptone application on the growth, biomass, chlorophyll content, gas exchange parameters, antioxidant enzymes activity, and Cd content of spinach plants grown under Cd stress. Cd toxicity negatively affected spinach growth, biomass, chlorophyll content, and gas exchange attributes. However, it increased malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), electrolyte leakage (EL), proline accumulation, ascorbic acid content, Cd content, and activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) in spinach plants. The exogenous foliar application of peptone increased the growth, biomass, chlorophyll content, proline accumulation, and gas exchange attributes of spinach plants. Furthermore, the application of peptone decreased Cd uptake and levels of MDA, H₂O₂, and EL in spinach by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes. This enhancement in plant growth and photosynthesis might be due to the lower level of Cd accumulation, which in turn decreased the negative impacts of oxidative stress in plant tissues. Taken together, the findings of the study revealed that peptone is a promising plant growth regulator that represents an efficient approach for the phytoremediation of Cd-polluted soils and enhancement of spinach growth, yield, and tolerance under a Cd-dominant environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Oxidative Stress: Biology, Physiology and Mitigation)

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15 pages, 994 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sequential Application of Antioxidants Rectifies Ion Imbalance and Strengthens Antioxidant Systems in Salt-Stressed Cucumber

by Mahmoud F. Seleiman, Wael M. Semida, Mostafa M. Rady, Gamal F. Mohamed, Khaulood A. Hemida, Bushra Ahmed Alhammad, Mohamed M. Hassan and Ashwag Shami

Plants 2020, 9(12), 1783; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9121783 - 16 Dec 2020

Cited by 72 | Viewed by 3336

Abstract

Exogenous antioxidant applications enable salt-stressed plants to successfully cope with different environmental stresses. The objectives of this investigation were to study the effects of sequential treatments of proline (Pro), ascorbic acid (AsA), and/or glutathione (GSH) on 100 mM NaCl-stressed cucumber transplant’s physio-biochemical and growth traits as well as systems of antioxidant defense. Under salinity stress, different treatment of AsA, Pro, or/and GSH improved growth characteristics, stomatal conductance (gs), enhanced the activities of glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and catalase (CAT) as well as increased contents of AsA, Pro, and GSH. However, sequential application of antioxidants (GSH-Pro- AsA) significantly exceeded all individual applications, reducing leaf and root Cd²⁺ and Na⁺ contents in comparison to the control. In plants grown under NaCl-salt stress, growth characteristics, photosynthetic efficiency, membrane stability index (MSI), relative water content (RWC), contents of root and leaf K⁺ and Ca²⁺, and ratios of K⁺/Na⁺ and Ca²⁺/Na⁺ were notably reduced, while leaf contents of non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants, as well as root and leaf Cd²⁺ and Na⁺ concentrations were remarkably increased. However, AsA, Pro, or/and GSH treatments significantly improved all investigated growth characteristics, photosynthetic efficiency, RWC and MSI, as well as AsA, Pro, and GSH, and enzymatic activity, leaf and root K⁺ and Ca²⁺ contents and their ratios to Na⁺, while significantly reduced leaf and root Cd²⁺ and Na⁺ contents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Oxidative Stress: Biology, Physiology and Mitigation)

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23 pages, 6832 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Oxidative Stress Responses of Some Endemic Plants to High Altitudes by Intensifying Antioxidants and Secondary Metabolites Content

by Ahmed M. Hashim, Basmah M. Alharbi, Awatif M. Abdulmajeed, Amr Elkelish, Wael N. Hozzein and Heba M. Hassan

Plants 2020, 9(7), 869; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9070869 - 9 Jul 2020

Cited by 69 | Viewed by 5916

Abstract

Most endemic plant species have limited altitudinal ranges. At higher altitudes, they are subjected to various environmental stresses. However, these plants use unique defense mechanisms at high altitudes as a convenient survival strategy. The changes in antioxidant defense system and accumulation of different secondary metabolites (SMs) were investigated as depending on altitude in five endemic endangered species (Nepeta septemcrenata, Origanum syriacum subsp. Sinaicum, Phlomis aurea, Rosa arabica, and Silene schimperiana) naturally growing in Saint Katherine protectorate (SKP). Leaves were collected from different sites between 1600 and 2200 m above sea level to assess the biochemical and physiological variations in response to high altitudes. At higher altitudes, the soil pH and micronutrient soil content decreased, which can be attributed to lower mineralization processes at lower pH. Total phenols, ascorbic acid, proline, flavonoids, and tannins increased in response to different altitudes. SMs progressively increased in the studied species, associated with a significant decrease in the levels of antioxidant enzyme activity. R. arabica, as the most threatened plant, showed the maximum response compared with other species. There was an increase in photosynthetic pigments, which was attained via the increase in chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoid contents. There was a significant increase in total soluble sugars and total soluble protein content in response to different altitudes. SDS-PAGE of leaf proteins showed alteration in the protein profile between different species and the same species grown at a different altitude. These five species can adapt to high-altitude habitats by various physiological mechanisms, which can provide a theoretical basis for the future conservation of these endangered endemic species in SKP. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Oxidative Stress: Biology, Physiology and Mitigation)

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18 pages, 3233 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Application Alleviates Arsenic (As) Toxicity in Soybean Plants by Restricting the Uptake of as and Modulating Key Biochemical Attributes, Antioxidant Enzymes, Ascorbate-Glutathione Cycle and Glyoxalase System

by Parvaiz Ahmad, Mohammed Nasser Alyemeni, Asma A. Al-Huqail, Moneerah A. Alqahtani, Leonard Wijaya, Muhammad Ashraf, Cengiz Kaya and Andrzej Bajguz

Plants 2020, 9(7), 825; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9070825 - 30 Jun 2020

Cited by 205 | Viewed by 6564

Abstract

Accumulation of arsenic (As) in soils is increasing consistently day-by-day, which has resulted in increased toxicity of this element in various crop plants. Arsenic interferes with several plant metabolic processes at molecular, biochemical and physiological levels, which result in reduced plant productivity. Hence, the introduction of novel ameliorating agents to combat this situation is the need of the hour. The present study was designed to examine the effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO–NPs) in As-stressed soybean plants. Various plant growth factors and enzymes were studied at varying concentrations of As and ZnO–NPs. Our results showed that with the application of ZnO–NPs, As concentration declined in both root and shoot of soybean plants. The lengths of shoot and root, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration, stomatal conductance, photochemical yield and other factors declined with an increase in external As level. However, the application of ZnO–NPs to the As-stressed soybean plants resulted in a considerable increase in these factors. Moreover, the enzymes involved in the ascorbate–glutathione cycle including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR) showed a significant increase in their activity with the application of ZnO–NPs to the As-stressed plants. Hence, our study confirms the significance of ZnO–NPs in alleviating the toxicity of As in soybean plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Oxidative Stress: Biology, Physiology and Mitigation)

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18 pages, 1731 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Salicylic Acid Stimulates Antioxidant Defense and Osmolyte Metabolism to Alleviate Oxidative Stress in Watermelons under Excess Boron

by Mohamed Moustafa-Farag, Heba I. Mohamed, Ahmed Mahmoud, Amr Elkelish, Amarendra N. Misra, Kateta Malangisha Guy, Muhammad Kamran, Shaoying Ai and Mingfang Zhang

Plants 2020, 9(6), 724; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9060724 - 8 Jun 2020

Cited by 94 | Viewed by 5995

Abstract

Boron (B) is a microelement required in vascular plants at a high concentration that produces excess boron and toxicity in many crops. B stress occurs widely and limits plant growth and crop productivity worldwide. Salicylic acid (SA) is an essential hormone in plants and is a phenolic compound. The goal of this work is to explore the role of SA in the alleviation of excess B (10 mg L⁻¹) in watermelon plants at a morphological and biochemical level. Excess boron altered the nutrient concentrations and caused a significant reduction in morphological criteria; chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids; net photosynthetic rate; and the stomatal conductance and transpiration rate of watermelon seedlings, while intercellular carbon dioxide (CO₂) was significantly increased compared to the control plants (0.5 mg L⁻¹ B). Furthermore, excess boron accelerated the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and induced cellular oxidative injury. The application of exogenous SA significantly increased chlorophyll and carotenoid contents in plants exposed to excess B (10 mg L⁻¹), in line with the role of SA in alleviating chlorosis caused by B stress. Exogenously applied SA promoted photosynthesis and, consequently, biomass production in watermelon seedlings treated with a high level of B (10 mg L⁻¹) by reducing B accumulation, lipid peroxidation, and the generation of H₂O₂, while significantly increasing levels of the most reactive ROS, OH⁻. SA also activated antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and protected the seedlings from an ROS induced cellular burst. In conclusion, SA can be used to alleviate the adverse effects of excess boron. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Oxidative Stress: Biology, Physiology and Mitigation)

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15 pages, 2888 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia L.) Rootstock Improves the Heat Tolerance of Cucumber by Regulating Photosynthetic and Antioxidant Defense Pathways

by Mei-Qi Tao, Mohammad Shah Jahan, Kun Hou, Sheng Shu, Yu Wang, Jin Sun and Shi-Rong Guo

Plants 2020, 9(6), 692; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9060692 - 29 May 2020

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 5259

Abstract

High temperature is considered a critical abiotic stressor that is increasing continuously, which is severely affecting plant growth and development. The use of heat-resistant rootstock grafting is a viable technique that is practiced globally to improve plant resistance towards abiotic stresses. In this experiment, we explored the efficacy of bitter melon rootstock and how it regulates photosynthesis and the antioxidant defense system to alleviate heat stress (42 °C/32 °C) in cucumber. Our results revealed that bitter-melon-grafted seedlings significantly relieved heat-induced growth inhibition and photoinhibition, maintained better photosynthesis activity, and accumulated a greater biomass than self-grafted seedlings. We measured the endogenous polyamine and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) contents to determine the inherent mechanism responsible for these effects, and the results showed that heat stress induced a transient increase in polyamines and H₂O₂ in the inner courtyard of grafted seedlings. This increment was greater and more robust in bitter-melon-grafted seedlings. In addition, the use of polyamine synthesis inhibitors MGBG (methylglyoxal bis-guanylhydrazone) and D-Arg (D-arginine), further confirmed that the production of H₂O₂ under heat stress is mediated by the accumulation of endogenous polyamines. Moreover, compared with other treatments, the bitter-melon-grafted seedlings maintained high levels of antioxidant enzyme activity under high temperature conditions. However, these activities were significantly inhibited by polyamine synthesis inhibitors and H₂O₂ scavengers (dimethylthiourea, DMTU), indicating that bitter melon rootstock not only maintained better photosynthetic activity under conditions of high temperature stress but also mediated the production of H₂O₂ through the regulation of the high level of endogenous polyamines, thereby boosting the antioxidant defense system and comprehensively improving the heat tolerance of cucumber seedlings. Taken together, these results indicate that grafting with a resistant cultivar is a promising alternative tool for reducing stress-induced damage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Oxidative Stress: Biology, Physiology and Mitigation)

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Review

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34 pages, 2067 KiB

Open AccessReview

Progressive Genomic Approaches to Explore Drought- and Salt-Induced Oxidative Stress Responses in Plants under Changing Climate

by Masum Billah, Shirin Aktar, Marian Brestic, Marek Zivcak, Abul Bashar Mohammad Khaldun, Md. Shalim Uddin, Shamim Ara Bagum, Xinghong Yang, Milan Skalicky, Teame Gereziher Mehari, Sagar Maitra and Akbar Hossain

Plants 2021, 10(9), 1910; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10091910 - 14 Sep 2021

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 4961

Abstract

Drought and salinity are the major environmental abiotic stresses that negatively impact crop development and yield. To improve yields under abiotic stress conditions, drought- and salinity-tolerant crops are key to support world crop production and mitigate the demand of the growing world population. Nevertheless, plant responses to abiotic stresses are highly complex and controlled by networks of genetic and ecological factors that are the main targets of crop breeding programs. Several genomics strategies are employed to improve crop productivity under abiotic stress conditions, but traditional techniques are not sufficient to prevent stress-related losses in productivity. Within the last decade, modern genomics studies have advanced our capabilities of improving crop genetics, especially those traits relevant to abiotic stress management. This review provided updated and comprehensive knowledge concerning all possible combinations of advanced genomics tools and the gene regulatory network of reactive oxygen species homeostasis for the appropriate planning of future breeding programs, which will assist sustainable crop production under salinity and drought conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Oxidative Stress: Biology, Physiology and Mitigation)

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