Submit to Agronomy Review for Agronomy Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Crop Physiological Responses to Abiotic Stress Factors

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Water Use and Irrigation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2021) | Viewed by 27838

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mura Jyostna Devi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Agriculture Research Service
Interests: to assess and understand the responses of crops to changes in carbon dioxide, temperature, light, and water; to improve nutrient use efficiency and food safety; to develop safe and beneficial uses for agricultural and industrial by products.

Dr. Leela Saisree Uppala

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Cranberry Station, Amherst Center, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
Interests: PCR; gel electrophoresis; DNA extraction; DNA electrophoresis; DNA amplification; DNA isolation; pathogens; agronomy; aflatoxin

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Abiotic environmental stress factors are major constraints to global food security. Plant environmental stresses such as water stress, salinity, cold/hot temperatures, tropospheric ozone, and excess UV radiation might become prevalent in the coming decades due to climate change. Exposure to environmental stress induces altered physiological responses leading to adverse effects on crop growth, development, and productivity. It is essential to understand the physiological mechanisms to environmental stress factors to improve crop productivity and quality under climate change conditions.

This Special Issue invites original research articles, opinion papers, and short communications on the following topics: Crop physiological responses to different environmental factors; crop responses to abiotic stresses; stress tolerance mechanisms; crop breeding under stress conditions; improving tolerance; and beneficial aspects of stressors.

Dr. Mura Jyostna Devi
Dr. Leela Saisree Uppala
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 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. Agronomy 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

Abiotic Stresses
Climate Change
Crop Physiology
Cold/Heat stress
Drought
Environmental factors
Food Security
Physiological traits
Yield

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 polices can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

20 pages, 41538 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biochemical and Physiological Responses of Thermostable Wheat Genotypes for Agronomic Yield under Heat Stress during Reproductive Stages

by Fahad Alghabari, Zahid Hussain Shah, Abdalla Ahmed Elfeel and Jaber Hussain Alyami

Agronomy 2021, 11(10), 2080; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11102080 - 18 Oct 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2835

Abstract

Wheat is a globally important crop used as a main staple food in various countries of the world. The current study was conducted with the objective to evaluate the effect of a high temperature (HT) on osmolytes (starch, sucrose, total soluble sugars, total soluble proteins and proline), physiological parameters (Chl-a, Chl-b, photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance), antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase) and agronomic traits (flag leaf area, spike length, and thousand grain weight) during the grain filling and anthesis stages of wheat cultivars (Fakhr-e-Bhakar, Raj-3765, Jimai-22 and Bayraktar-2000) collected from different regions of the world. Separate experiments for both stages were conducted in a glasshouse and treated with two different temperature regimes, i.e., optimum (OT) (24 °C day; 14 °C night) and high temperature (HT) (32 °C day; 22 °C night) in RCBD for two weeks. The data for osmolytes, antioxidant enzymes and physiological contents were collected at days 3, 5, 7, 9 and 13 after the start of plant stress, while the agronomic traits were collected at maturity. The data obtained were subjected to a statistical analysis using the statistix8.1 and R-program. HT stress significantly reduced all the traits except for the membrane damage, transpiration rate, proline and total soluble sugars, whose values increased considerably in the genotype Bayraktar-2000. However, under both regimes of temperature Fakhr-e-Bhakkar showed a high tolerance against HT stress, as revealed by physiological, biochemical and agronomic evaluations. Moreover, correlation, PCA and heat map analyses indicated that all types of traits are significantly interconnected in determining the crop potential to sustain its growth under HT stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Physiological Responses to Abiotic Stress Factors)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 4042 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of the Physiological Condition of Spring Barley Plants in Conditions of Increased Soil Salinity

by Renata Tobiasz-Salach, Barbara Stadnik and Dagmara Migut

Agronomy 2021, 11(10), 1928; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11101928 - 26 Sep 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2304

Abstract

Soil salinity is one of the most important environmental factors threatening agriculture on a global level. Plants show differences in resistance to salt stress, both in terms of species and variety. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of salt stress on photosynthetic efficiency and the activity of plants of two barley varietie—KWS Irina and RGT Planet. Plants grown in a pot experiment were subjected to soil treatment with sodium chloride (NaCl) at concentrations of 0, 50, 100, and 150 mmol∙(dm³)⁻¹. Measurements were made four times at intervals of 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after the application of NaCl. The relative chlorophyll content in leaves (CCl) and selected chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (F_v/F_m, F_v/F₀, and PI) and gas exchange parameters (P_N, E, g_s, and C_i) were assessed. In the final stage of the experiment, a visual assessment of the plants’ condition was carried out and the amount of fresh mass (FM) of the above-ground part was determined. The content of sodium and potassium in the vegetative parts of plants was also analysed. Salinity significantly influenced the values of the measured parameters in both of the tested barley genotypes. High salt concentrations in the soil at levels of 100 and 150 mmol NaCl (dm³)⁻¹ negatively affected the growth and development of plants by disturbing the process of photosynthesis and other plant gas exchange parameters. The antagonistic effect of sodium in relation to potassium resulted in a decrease in the K⁺ content in the plants, along with an increase in the salinity level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Physiological Responses to Abiotic Stress Factors)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 2504 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Halotolerant-Koccuria rhizophila (14asp)-Induced Amendment of Salt Stress in Pea Plants by Limiting Na⁺ Uptake and Elevating Production of Antioxidants

by Amir Abdullah Khan, Tongtong Wang, Tayyaba Hussain, Amna, Fayaz Ali, Fuchen Shi, Arafat Abdel Hamed Abdel Latef, Omar M. Ali, Kashif Hayat, Shehzad Mehmood, Nida Zainab, Muhammad Atif Muneer, Muhammad Farooq Hussain Munis, Mona H. Soliman and Hassan Javed Chaudhary

Agronomy 2021, 11(10), 1907; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11101907 - 23 Sep 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3219

Abstract

Endophytic bacteria are useful for their safe services in plant growth improvement and for ameliorating abiotic and biotic stresses. Salt-tolerant plant-growth-promoting Kocuria rhizophila 14asp (accession number KF 875448) was investigated for its role in pea plants under a saline environment. Salt stress (75 mM and 150 mM NaCl) was subjected to two pea varieties, peas2009 and 9800-10, in a greenhouse under a complete randomized design. Different parameters such as plant growth promotion, relative water content, chlorophyll, antioxidants, and mineral contents were analyzed to elucidate the extent of tolerance persuaded by PGPB (plant-growth-promoting bacteria). Exhibition of adverse effects was noticed in uninoculated varieties. However, inoculation of K. rhizophila improved the morphological parameters, antioxidant enzymes, and minimized the uptake of Na⁺ in plants under various saline regimes. Pea variety 9800-10 exhibited more tolerance than peas2009 in all traits, such as root and shoot length, fresh and dry biomass, chlorophyll contents, and antioxidant enzymes. Our results showed that halotolerant K. rhizophila inoculation plays a vital role in enhancing plant growth by interacting ingeniously with plants through antioxidant systems, enduring saline conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Physiological Responses to Abiotic Stress Factors)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 2929 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

PGPR-Mediated Plant Growth Attributes and Metal Extraction Ability of Sesbania sesban L. in Industrially Contaminated Soils

by Nida Zainab, Amna, Amir Abdullah Khan, Muhammad Atif Azeem, Baber Ali, Tongtong Wang, Fuchen Shi, Suliman Mohammed Alghanem, Muhammad Farooq Hussain Munis, Mohamed Hashem, Saad Alamri, Arafat Abdel Hamed Abdel Latef, Omar M. Ali, Mona H. Soliman and Hassan Javed Chaudhary

Agronomy 2021, 11(9), 1820; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11091820 - 10 Sep 2021

Cited by 101 | Viewed by 6614

Abstract

The release of harmful wastes via different industrial activities is the main cause of heavy metal toxicity. The present study was conducted to assess the effects of heavy metal stress on the plant growth traits, antioxidant enzyme activities, chlorophyll content and proline content of Sesbania sesban with/without the inoculation of heavy-metal-tolerant Bacillus gibsonii and B. xiamenensis. Both PGP strains showed prominent ACC-deaminase, indole acetic acid, exopolysaccharides production and tolerance at different heavy metal concentrations (50–1000 mg/L). Further, in a pot experiment, S. sesban seeds were grown in contaminated and noncontaminated soils. After harvesting, plants were used for the further analysis of growth parameters. The experiment comprised of six different treatments. The effects of heavy metal stress and bacterial inoculation on the plant root length; shoot length; fresh and dry weight; photosynthetic pigments; proline content; antioxidant activity; and absorption of metals were observed at the end of the experiment. The results revealed that industrially contaminated soils distinctly reduced the growth of plants. However, both PGPR strains enhanced the root length up to 105% and 80%. The shoot length was increased by 133% and 75%, and the fresh weight was increased by 121% and 129%. The proline content and antioxidant enzymes posed dual effects on the plants growing in industrially contaminated soil, allowing them to cope with the metal stress, which enhanced the plant growth. The proline content was increased up to 190% and 179% by the inoculation of bacterial strains. Antioxidant enzymes, such as SOD, increased to about 216% and 245%, while POD increased up to 48% and 49%, respectively. The results clearly show that the utilized PGPR strains might be strong candidates to assist S. sesban growth under heavy metal stress conditions. We highly suggest these PGPR strains for further implementation in field experiments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Physiological Responses to Abiotic Stress Factors)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 2469 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Differential Morphophysiological, Biochemical, and Molecular Responses of Maize Hybrids to Salinity and Alkalinity Stresses

by Arooj Fatima, Saddam Hussain, Sadam Hussain, Basharat Ali, Umair Ashraf, Usman Zulfiqar, Zubair Aslam, Sami Asir Al-Robai, Fatima Omari Alzahrani, Christophe Hano and Mohamed A. El-Esawi

Agronomy 2021, 11(6), 1150; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11061150 - 4 Jun 2021

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 3562

Abstract

Salinity and alkalinity stresses are common in arid and semiarid climates. Both these stresses not only retard crop growth but also cause a severe reduction in yields. The present experiment was performed to investigate the morphological, physiological, biochemical, and genetic responses of two maize hybrids (FH-1231 and DK-6714) to salinity and alkalinity stresses. The treatments were comprised of salt stress (NaCl:Na₂SO₄ at a 9:1 ratio), alkaline stress (NaHCO₃:Na₂CO₃ at a 9:1 ratio), and an unstressed control. The results indicated that salinity and alkalinity significantly reduced shoot fresh weight by 50% and 70%, root fresh weight by 38% and 50%, root dry weight by 69% and 93%, seedling length by 18% and 30%, number of leaves by 27% and 39%, and maximum leaf width by 17% and 24%, respectively, across the two hybrids compared with control, indicating that alkalinity had a greater effect than salinity. Likewise, both the stresses, particularly alkalinity, significantly decreased K⁺ ion accumulation and chlorophyll content and increased the lipid peroxidation rate, sodium (Na⁺) concentration, the hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) level, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Salinity and alkalinity stresses also induced the expression levels of antioxidant genes (SOD, CAT, POD, APX); however, salinity showed less effect than alkalinity stress. Similarly, hybrid DK-6714 performed comparatively better than FH-1231 with regard to seedling growth, antioxidant activities, and biochemical attributes under stress conditions. Thus, DK-6714 is recommended as a suitable hybrid for soils affected with salt-alkalization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Physiological Responses to Abiotic Stress Factors)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 1960 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Physiological and Biochemical Mechanisms of Exogenously Applied Selenium for Alleviating Destructive Impacts Induced by Salinity Stress in Bread Wheat

by El-Sayed M. Desoky, Abdel-Rahman M. A. Merwad, Mohamed F. Abo El-Maati, Elsayed Mansour, Safaa M. A. I. Arnaout, Mohamed F. Awad, Mohamed F. Ramadan and Seham A. Ibrahim

Agronomy 2021, 11(5), 926; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11050926 - 8 May 2021

Cited by 50 | Viewed by 4161

Abstract

Salinity is a major abiotic stress that poses great obstacles to wheat production, especially in arid regions. The application of exogenous substances can enhance plant salt tolerance and increase its productivity under salinity stress. This work aimed to assess the mechanisms of selenium (Se) at different concentrations (2, 4 and 8 μM SeCl₂) to mitigate hazardous impacts of salt toxicity at physiological, biochemical and agronomic levels in bread wheat. The results displayed that Se foliar application increased chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, relative water content, membrane stability index, excised leaf water retention, proline, total soluble sugars, Ca content, K content, antioxidant enzyme activities and non-enzymatic antioxidant compounds compared to untreated plants. On the other hand, Se application decreased the content of Na, hydrogen peroxide and superoxide contents. Accordingly, our findings recommend exogenous Se application (in particular 8 μM) to alleviate the deleterious effects induced by salinity stress and improve wheat yield attributes through enhancing antioxidant defense systems and photosynthetic capacity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Physiological Responses to Abiotic Stress Factors)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 5400 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Exogenous Application of Nitric Oxide Mitigates Water Stress and Reduces Natural Viral Disease Incidence of Tomato Plants Subjected to Deficit Irrigation

by Amr Elkelish, Mohamed F. M. Ibrahim, Hatem Ashour, Ahmed Bondok, Soumya Mukherjee, Tariq Aftab, Mohamed Hikal, Ahmed Abou El-Yazied, Ehab Azab, Adil A. Gobouri, Mohamed Moustafa-Farag, Amr A. Metwally and Hany G. Abd El-Gawad

Agronomy 2021, 11(1), 87; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11010087 - 5 Jan 2021

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 3593

Abstract

The present work reveals the beneficial role of sodium nitroprusside (SNP; NO donor concentration: 50 and 100 µM) in mitigation of water stress accompanied by a reduction in viral disease incidence in tomato plants subjected to deficit irrigation. The plants were grown under two irrigation regimes: well-watered (WW; irrigated after the depletion of 55–60% of available soil water) and water deficit (WD; irrigated after the depletion of 85–90% of available soil water) in two seasons of 2018 and 2019. The results indicated that under water stress conditions, plant growth, chlorophyll, relative water content (RWC), and fruit yield were decreased. Conversely, water stress significantly increased the MDA, proline, soluble sugars, and antioxidant enzymes’ activities. Moreover, it was obvious a negligible increase in the fruit content from NO₂ and NO₃. Water-deficit stress, however, had a positive impact on reducing the percentage of viral disease (TMV and TYLCV) incidence on tomato plants. Similarly, SNP application in the form of foliar spray significantly reduced the disease incidence, the severity, and the relative concentrations of TMV and TYLCV in tomato plants raised under both WW and WD conditions. The treatment of SNP at 100 µM achieved better results and could be recommended to induce tomato plant tolerance to water stress. Thus, the present work highlights the role of NO (SNP) in the alleviation of water stress in tomato plants and subsequent reduction in viral disease incidence during deficit irrigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Physiological Responses to Abiotic Stress Factors)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Crop Physiological Responses to Abiotic Stress Factors

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (7 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI