Novel Approaches and Strategies in Improving Crop Adaptability against Environmental Stress

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 September 2024) | Viewed by 9882

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Biology, University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Interests: barley; maize; abiotic stress; plant stress tolerance; antioxidant capacity; gene expression; lignification; cell wall

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Co-Guest Editor
Department of Biology, University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Interests: plant antioxidative status; abiotic stress; heavy metals; metalloids; biofortification
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Co-Guest Editor
Department of Biology, University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Interests: photosynthesis; chlorophyll fluorescence; abiotic stress; plant physiology; microgreens

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Due to the challenging climate conditions in recent decades, agricultural crops are exposed to various abiotic and biotic stress affecting their performance and yield. Nowadays, it is imperative to utilize cutting-edge technology for the efficient improvement of crops, hence, gaining the next generation of crops. In this Special Issue, we aim to provide insights into the latest research on stress tolerance in crops and the opportunity for researchers to present their results obtained by the application of various strategies and techniques. Interdisciplinary studies are welcome within the context of specific topics. Original research manuscripts, as well as reviews, are accepted.

This Special Issue welcomes papers dealing with the following specific topics:

  • Genetic engineering for stress tolerance in plant production
  • Genome editing strategies (CRISPR/Cas9, RNA-based technology…)
  • Agro-Nanotechnology
  • Using biostimulants in agricultural production
  • Molecular priming pretreatments and techniques
  • Molecular and physiological mechanisms of plant stress tolerance and adaptation.

Dr. Lidija Begović
Dr. Ivna Štolfa Čamagajevac
Dr. Selma Mlinarić
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • genetic engineering
  • stress tolerance
  • genome editing
  • CRISPR/Cas9
  • agro- nanotechnology
  • biostimulants
  • molecular priming

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 2096 KiB  
Article
Sulfate Nutrition Modulates the Oxidative Response against Short-Term Al3+-Toxicity Stress in Lolium perenne cv. Jumbo Shoot Tissues
by Hernan Vera-Villalobos, Lizzeth Lunario-Delgado, Anita S. Gálvez, Domingo Román-Silva, Ana Mercado-Seguel and Cristián Wulff-Zottele
Agriculture 2024, 14(9), 1506; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14091506 - 2 Sep 2024
Viewed by 704
Abstract
Al3+-toxicity in acidic soils is among the main abiotic stress factors that generate adverse effects in plant growth; in leaves, it affects several physiological parameters such as photosynthesis and ROS balance, leading to limited crop production. On the other hand, sulfur [...] Read more.
Al3+-toxicity in acidic soils is among the main abiotic stress factors that generate adverse effects in plant growth; in leaves, it affects several physiological parameters such as photosynthesis and ROS balance, leading to limited crop production. On the other hand, sulfur is a macronutrient that has a key role against oxidative stress and improves plant growth in acidic soils; however, the implication of sulfate nutritional status in the modulation of short-term Al3+-toxicity tolerance mechanisms in plant leaves are barely reported. This study is focused on the role of sulfate on the leaf response of an Al3-sensitive perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne cv. Jumbo) after 48 h of exposure. Lolium perenne cv. Jumbo seeds were cultivated in hydroponic conditions with modified Taylor Foy solutions supplemented with 120, 240, and 360 μM sulfate in the presence or absence of Al3+-toxicity. The L. perenne cv. Jumbo leaves were collected after 48 h of Al3+-toxicity exposure and processed to evaluate the effects of sulfate on Al3+ toxicity, measuring total proteins, mineral uptake, photosynthesis modulation, and ROS defense mechanism activation. The plants exposed to Al3+-toxicity and cultivated with a 240 µM sulfate amendment showed a recovery of total proteins and Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentration levels and a reduction in TBARS, along with no changes in the chlorophyll A/B ratio, gene expression of proteins related to photosynthesis (Rubisco, ChlAbp, and Fered), or ROS defense mechanism (SOD, APX, GR, and CAT) as compared with their respective controls and the other sulfate conditions (120 and 360 µM). The present study demonstrates that adequate sulfate amendments have a key role in regulating the physiological response against the stress caused by Al3+ toxicity. Full article
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14 pages, 2074 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Biostimulatory Activity of Commercial Formulations on Three Varieties of Chickpea
by Regina Gabilondo, Jorge Sánchez, Pedro Muñoz, Iris Montero-Muñoz, Pedro V. Mauri, José Marín and David Mostaza-Colado
Agriculture 2023, 13(2), 474; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13020474 - 16 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2055
Abstract
Biostimulants are studied as a possible agricultural practice that anticipates the reproductive stages of chickpeas to avoid their coincidence with high temperatures and hydric stress periods. The effect of several types of biostimulants on different chickpea varieties was analyzed. The Blanco Sinaloa chickpea [...] Read more.
Biostimulants are studied as a possible agricultural practice that anticipates the reproductive stages of chickpeas to avoid their coincidence with high temperatures and hydric stress periods. The effect of several types of biostimulants on different chickpea varieties was analyzed. The Blanco Sinaloa chickpea variety showed opposite patterns with respect to biostimulant effect on germination success and vegetative and radicular development when compared with two other chickpea varieties, namely Amelia, a well-known variety, and IMIDRA10, a recently developed variety. Blanco Sinaloa is cultured under water irrigation conditions, while Amelia and IMIDRA10 are used under rainfed conditions. Blanco Sinaloa and IMIDRA10 are Kabuli-type varieties, while Amelia is Desi-type. All varieties emerged 9 days after the sowing, but Amelia nascence was more abundant at the beginning, on day 9. On day 32, the picture was quite different, since Blanco Sinaloa had germinated 100% in practically all treatments, followed by Amelia and IMIDRA10. There were significant differences between plant lengths among the three varieties, since Blanco Sinaloa is much larger than Amelia and IMIDRA10. Blanco Sinaloa was the only variety in which the plant lengths of biostimulant-impregnated seeds were superior to those of untreated plants; that is, it was the only one that was positively affected by biostimulants. Chickpea seeds should be treated with biostimulants such that they are dry for sowing, because the mechanic seeder only works with dry seeds. Full article
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12 pages, 1802 KiB  
Article
The Exogenous Application of Brassinosteroids Confers Tolerance to Heat Stress by Increasing Antioxidant Capacity in Soybeans
by Weiling Wang, Yuncan Xie, Chang Liu and Haidong Jiang
Agriculture 2022, 12(8), 1095; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12081095 - 26 Jul 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2096
Abstract
Heat stress is an important factor affecting soybean yield. Brassinosteroids (BRs) play a crucial role in plant growth, development, and defense. In the present study, the regulatory effects of 24-epibrassinolide (EBR, one of the bioactive BRs) on heat tolerance in soybeans, and its [...] Read more.
Heat stress is an important factor affecting soybean yield. Brassinosteroids (BRs) play a crucial role in plant growth, development, and defense. In the present study, the regulatory effects of 24-epibrassinolide (EBR, one of the bioactive BRs) on heat tolerance in soybeans, and its underlying physiological mechanisms were investigated. The results show that foliar spraying with EBR significantly alleviate heat stress-induced water loss and oxidative damage in soybean leaves. The activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase) and the contents of antioxidant substances (ascorbic acid and reduced glutathione) were markedly increased in EBR-treated leaves compared with water-treated leaves, which contributed to maintaining reactive oxygen species homeostasis and relieving oxidative injury under heat stress. However, EBR-treated leaves showed a significant decrease in free proline and total soluble sugar content under heat stress compared to water-treated leaves. In addition, EBR treatment showed obviously higher photosystem II activity under heat stress, and higher net photosynthetic rate and biomass accumulation after recovery from heat stress compared to water treatment. Collectively, these results indicated that EBR could significantly improve the capacity of antioxidant defense systems to protect photosynthetic apparatus under heat stress, thereby effectively alleviating heat stress-induced growth inhibition in soybean plants. Full article
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16 pages, 3182 KiB  
Article
Differential Occurrence of Cuticular Wax and Its Role in Leaf Physiological Mechanisms of Three Edible Aroids of Northeast India
by Facundo Pieniazek, Madhumita Dasgupta, Valeria Messina, Mayengbam Premi Devi, Yumnam Indrani Devi, Sansuta Mohanty, Satyapriya Singh, Bibhuti Bhusan Sahoo, Potshangbam Nongdam, Gobinda Chandra Acharya and Manas Ranjan Sahoo
Agriculture 2022, 12(5), 724; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12050724 - 21 May 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3997
Abstract
The localization of cuticular wax (CW) on the leaf epidermis and its interaction with the physiological mechanisms of three edible aroids, Alocasia, Colocasia, and Xanthosoma, were assessed. CW in the leaf tissues was visualized using scanning electron microscopy, which was [...] Read more.
The localization of cuticular wax (CW) on the leaf epidermis and its interaction with the physiological mechanisms of three edible aroids, Alocasia, Colocasia, and Xanthosoma, were assessed. CW in the leaf tissues was visualized using scanning electron microscopy, which was higher in Colocasia (10.61 mg·dm−2) and Xanthosoma (11.36 mg·dm−2) than in Alocasia (1.36 mg·dm−2). Colocasia CW exhibited superhydrophobic properties with a higher static contact angle (CA) (>150°) than Xanthosoma (99.0°) and Alocasia (128.7°). The higher CW in Colocasia and Xanthosoma resulted in better leaf chlorophyll stability, moisture retention ability, and cellular membrane integrity compared to Alocasia. CW acted as a protecting barrier against deleterious solar radiation in terms of sun protection factor (SPF). The glossy appearance of wax crystals in the Alocasia leaf cuticles resulted in higher SPF. Overall, Colocasia CW highly influenced the qualitative and protective mechanisms of the leaf. Our study sheds light on the pivotal role of CW in the physiological properties of aroid leaves, which would be useful for the selection of wax-rich plants for augmenting future breeding strategies. The information would also be useful for further exploration of the industrial potential of superhydrophobic wax crystals obtained from edible aroids. Full article
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