Plant Ecophysiology Under Anthropogenic and Natural Stresses
A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant-Crop Biology and Biochemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 February 2025 | Viewed by 846
Special Issue Editor
Interests: abiotic stress; antioxidative enzymes; biofertilizers/biostimulants; biotic stress; free radicals; plant nutrients
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Stress in plants refers to any environmental condition or factor that adversely affects their growth, development, or productivity. Just like animals, plants can experience stress from various sources, which can be broadly categorized into abiotic (extreme temperatures, water imbalance, light stress, nutrient stress, salinity stress, pollution stress) and biotic stresses (from pathogens and herbivores). In addition, stresses can occur by human activity-induced environmental changes and natural environmental changes. Anthropogenic stress (pollution, habitat destruction and fragmentation, climate change, introduction of invasive species, agricultural practices, overexploitation, and harvesting) refers to environmental stresses or pressures on ecosystems and organisms that arise directly or indirectly from human activities. These stresses can have significant impacts on both natural and managed environments, including plants. On the other hand, natural stresses (climate extremes, water availability, edaphic factors, biological interactions, and natural disturbances) on plants refer to environmental factors and conditions that occur without direct human intervention or influence. These stresses are inherent parts of natural ecosystems and can significantly impact plant growth, development, and survival. Understanding how plants respond and adapt to these natural stresses is crucial for ecological research, conservation efforts, and sustainable land management practices. Plants have evolved various physiological, morphological, and biochemical strategies to cope with natural stresses, ensuring their survival and persistence in diverse ecosystems.
When plants experience stress, they initiate various morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses to cope with and adapt to adverse conditions. These responses can include changes in gene expression, production of stress-related proteins, accumulation of protective compounds like antioxidants, and alterations in metabolism to conserve resources.
Furthermore, plants can exhibit varying degrees of tolerance or sensitivity to different types of stress based on their genetic makeup, developmental stage, and environmental history. Agricultural practices often aim to mitigate stress through techniques such as irrigation, fertilization, crop rotation, pest management, and breeding for stress-resistant varieties.
Understanding plant stress is crucial for sustainable agriculture, as it enables farmers and researchers to develop strategies to enhance crop productivity and resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions.
Manuscripts submitted to this Special Issue can include original research data, reviews, and short communications related to plant responses to stressors. This Special Issue mainly focuses on crops, but other kinds of test plants are also welcome. In addition, multidisciplinary studies, including systems biology, molecular biology, genetic, physiological, and biochemical approaches, are also appreciated.
Dr. Brigitta Tóth
Guest Editor
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 stress
- allelopathy
- antioxidant system
- biostimulants
- biotic stress
- climate change
- ecophysiology
- free radicals
- heavy metals
- metabolites
- oxidative stress
- photosynthesis
- plant stress responses
- micromorphological changes in plants
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.
