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Biological Response of Plants to Environmental Changes

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A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2024 | Viewed by 13903

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Stefano Loppi

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Guest Editor

Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
Interests: biological response of plants to environmental change; plant-soil relationships; use of bio-based products of plant origin

Dr. Luca Paoli

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Guest Editor

Department of Biology, University of Pisa, I-56126 Pisa, Italy
Interests: lichens; air pollution; biomonitoring; bioindicators; heavy metals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Global drivers of environmental change such as climate and pollution may have a remarkable effect on the biological response of plants. Plants (including lichens and bryophytes) show an integrated response to environmental factors and have been used for many years to evaluate the uptake and enrichment of air pollutants in biota, as well as injury, damage, and yield loss in crop plants. The biological monitoring of plants is of practical value in assessing exposure and risk caused by various pollutants, both outdoors and indoors. The use of sensitive indicator plants can lead to detailed statements on the overall biological effect of pollutants. The knowledge of pollutant uptake in plants relevant to human nutrition can give a hint to the potential exposure risk for humans.

Dr. Stefano Loppi
Dr. Luca Paoli
Guest Editors

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Keywords

air pollution
biological effects
biomonitoring
climate change
global change
plants

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

15 pages, 3720 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multiple Omics Analyses Reveal Activation of Nitrogen Metabolism and Flavonoid Glycosylation in Toxicodendron vernicifluum Under High Temperature

by Guoqing Bai, Ruiwen Ding, Qizhen Su, Xiaomin Ge, Shasha Li, Huiying Shang, Aiguo Zhao and Chen Chen

Biology 2024, 13(11), 876; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13110876 - 28 Oct 2024

Viewed by 510

Abstract

Lacquer trees (Toxicodendron vernicifluum), economically vital, face high-temperature stress in summer. Transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses were employed to investigate the mechanisms by which lacquer trees respond to high temperatures. High-temperature treatment led to notable metabolite changes with 224 upregulated and 69 downregulated. Indole-3-acetic acid remained stable while abscisic acid decreased, with increases in jasmonic acid and jasmonoyl-L-isoleucine indicating complex hormonal responses. JAR1 and ABA 8′-hydroxylase encoding genes were upregulated. The rise in JAs boosted the alkaloid content and activated nitrogen transport. High temperatures also increased specific amino acids and upregulated aminotransferase and protease-encoding genes. Metabolomic analysis showed elevated flavonoid glycosides and the upregulation of glycosyltransferase genes. WPCNA found 35 protein modules involved in secondary metabolite biosynthesis, protein phosphorylation, and signal transduction. Protein–protein interaction analysis revealed MYC6’s link with flavonoid biosynthesis, indicating its role in promoting flavonoids. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Response of Plants to Environmental Changes)

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20 pages, 5257 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Post-Flowering Photoperiod Sensitivity of Soybean in Pod-Setting Responses

by Zhihui Sun, Limei Yuan, Yulin Wang, Ran Fang, Xiaoya Lin, Haiyang Li, Liyu Chen, Yichun Wu, Xin Huang, Fanjiang Kong, Baohui Liu, Sijia Lu and Lingping Kong

Biology 2024, 13(11), 868; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13110868 - 25 Oct 2024

Viewed by 580

Abstract

The development of soybean (Glycine max) is regulated by the photoperiod, with genes related to photoperiod sensitivity primarily focused on the flowering time. However, their roles in post-flowering reproductive development and the mechanisms by which the photoperiod affects them are not yet determined. In this study, we found that pod formation is sensitive to the photoperiod. Long-day conditions tended to extend the time from flowering to pod formation, and the first wave of flowers tended to fall off. Additionally, the photoperiod affected the pistil morphology; under short-day conditions, the stigma had a curved hook-like structure that facilitated better interaction with the filaments when pollen was released, ultimately influencing the timing of pod formation. Photoperiod-insensitive mutants, lacking E1 family and Evening Complex (EC) genes, showed no difference in the pod formation time under long-day or short-day conditions. Hormone content analysis and transcriptome data analysis indicated that various hormones, reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst pathway signals, and the application of sucrose solution in vitro might influence floral organ abscission. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Response of Plants to Environmental Changes)

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19 pages, 3356 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genetic Adaptations of Soybean to Cold Stress Reveal Key Insights Through Transcriptomic Analysis

by Xiulin Liu, Chunlei Zhang, Sobhi F. Lamlom, Kezhen Zhao, Ahmed M. Abdelghany, Xueyang Wang, Fengyi Zhang, Rongqiang Yuan, Dezhi Han, Bire Zha, Wencheng Lu, Honglei Ren and Bixian Zhang

Biology 2024, 13(11), 856; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13110856 - 23 Oct 2024

Viewed by 712

Abstract

Low temperatures greatly restrict the development, growth, and productivity of soybeans, with their effects differing across various cultivars. The present work investigated the transcriptome and physiological reactions of two soybean cultivars, namely “KD52” exhibiting cold tolerance and “DS17” displaying cold sensitivity, to cold stress across a precisely defined period. The soybean plants were subjected to cold treatment at 6 °C for durations of 0, 2, 4, and 8 h. A comparative physiological marker study revealed distinct reactions to cold stress in the two cultivars. The findings showed that increased malondialdehyde levels provided evidence of DS17’s heightened vulnerability to lipid peroxidation and membrane degradation. In contrast, the KD52 cultivar exhibited increased activities of antioxidant enzymes, including peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, in response to cold exposure, suggesting a strong antioxidant defense system against oxidative stress. The transcriptomic analysis revealed dynamic responses, mapping 54,532 genes. Within this group, a total of 234 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found to be consistently changed at several time intervals, showing unique expression patterns across the two cultivars. Analysis of the association between these important DEGs and the physiological indicators revealed candidate genes that may be involved in controlling oxidative damage and antioxidant defenses. Some key genes showed a progressive rise in expression over time in both cultivars, with a more significant acceleration in KD52, and are probably involved in promoting adaptation processes during extended periods of cold exposure. The identification of improved defense mechanisms in KD52, together with the identification of crucial genes, offers great prospects for enhancing the cold stress resilience of soybean. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Response of Plants to Environmental Changes)

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21 pages, 4373 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Stomata Are Driving the Direction of CO₂-Induced Water-Use Efficiency Gain in Selected Tropical Trees in Fiji

by Wuu Kuang Soh, Charilaos Yiotis, Michelle Murray, Sarah Pene, Alivereti Naikatini, Johan A. Dornschneider-Elkink, Joseph D. White, Marika Tuiwawa and Jennifer C. McElwain

Biology 2024, 13(9), 733; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13090733 - 19 Sep 2024

Viewed by 810

Abstract

Understanding plant physiological response to a rising atmospheric CO₂ concentration (c_a) is key in predicting Earth system plant–climate feedbacks; however, the effects of long-term rising c_a on plant gas-exchange characteristics in the tropics are largely unknown. Studying this long-term trend using herbarium records is challenging due to specimen trait variation. We assessed the impact of a c_a rise of ~95 ppm (1927–2015) on the intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) and maximum stomatal conductance (g_smax) of five tropical tree species in Fiji using the isotopic composition and stomatal traits of herbarium leaves. Empirical results were compared with simulated values using models that uniquely incorporated the variation in the empirical g_smax responses and species-specific parameterisation. The magnitude of the empirical iWUE and g_smax response was species-specific, ranging from strong to negligible. Stomatal density was more influential than the pore size in determining the g_smax response to c_a. While our simulation results indicated that photosynthesis is the main factor contributing to the iWUE gain, stomata were driving the iWUE trend across the tree species. Generally, a stronger increase in the iWUE was accompanied by a stronger decline in stomatal response. This study demonstrates that the incorporation of variation in the g_smax in simulations is necessary for assessing an individual species’ iWUE response to changing c_a. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Response of Plants to Environmental Changes)

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14 pages, 2795 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transcriptomic Profiles of Long Noncoding RNAs and Their Target Protein-Coding Genes Reveals Speciation Adaptation on the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau in Orinus

by Qinyue Min, Kaifeng Zheng, Tao Liu, Zitao Wang, Xiuhua Xue, Wanjie Li, Yuping Liu, Yanfen Zhang, Feng Qiao, Jinyuan Chen, Xu Su and Shengcheng Han

Biology 2024, 13(5), 349; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13050349 - 16 May 2024

Viewed by 1284

Abstract

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are RNA molecules longer than 200 nt, which lack the ability to encode proteins and are involved in multifarious growth, development, and regulatory processes in plants and mammals. However, the environmental-regulated expression profiles of lncRNAs in Orinus that may associated with their adaptation on the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau (QTP) have never been characterized. Here, we utilized transcriptomic sequencing data of two Orinus species (O. thoroldii and O. kokonoricus) to identify 1624 lncRNAs, including 1119 intergenic lncRNAs, 200 antisense lncRNAs, five intronic lncRNAs, and 300 sense lncRNAs. In addition, the evolutionary relationships of Orinus lncRNAs showed limited sequence conservation among 39 species, which implied that Orinus-specific lncRNAs contribute to speciation adaptation evolution. Furthermore, considering the cis-regulation mechanism, from 286 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) and their nearby protein coding genes (PCGs) between O. thoroldii and O. kokonoricus, 128 lncRNA-PCG pairs were obtained in O. thoroldii, whereas 92 lncRNA-PCG pairs were obtained in O. kokonoricus. In addition, a total of 19 lncRNA-PCG pairs in O. thoroldii and 14 lncRNA-PCG pairs in O. kokonoricus were found to participate in different biological processes, indicating that the different expression profiles of DElncRNAs between O. thoroldii and O. kokonoricus were associated with their adaptation at different elevations on the QTP. We also found several pairs of DElncRNA nearby transcription factors (TFs), indicating that these DElncRNAs regulate the expression of TFs to aid O. thoroldii in adapting to the environment. Therefore, this work systematically identified a series of lncRNAs in Orinus, laying the groundwork for further exploration into the biological function of Orinus in environmental adaptation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Response of Plants to Environmental Changes)

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20 pages, 3329 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Effects during Early Life-History Stages and Seed Development on Seed Functional Traits of an Australian Native Legume Species

by Fernanda C. Beveridge, Alwyn Williams, Robyn Cave, Sundaravelpandian Kalaipandian, Mirza M. Haque and Steve W. Adkins

Biology 2024, 13(3), 148; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13030148 - 27 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1801

Abstract

Understanding how seed functional traits interact with environmental factors to determine seedling recruitment is critical to assess the impact of climate change on ecosystem restoration. This study focused on the effects of environmental factors on the mother plant during early plant life history stages and during seed development. Desmodium brachypodum A. Gray (large tick trefoil, Fabaceae) was used as a model species. Firstly, this study analyzed seed germination traits in response to temperature and moisture stress. Secondly, it investigated how seed burial depth interacts with temperature and soil moisture to influence seedling emergence traits. Finally, it determined if contrasting levels of post-anthesis soil moisture could result in changes in D. brachypodum reproductive biology and seed and seedling functional traits. The results showed that elevated temperature and moisture stress interacted to significantly reduce the seed germination and seedling emergence (each by >50%), while the seed burial improved the seedling emergence. Post-anthesis soil moisture stress negatively impacted the plant traits, reducing the duration of the reproductive phenology stage (by 9 days) and seed production (by almost 50%). Unexpectedly, soil moisture stress did not affect most seed or seedling traits. In conclusion, elevated temperatures combined with low soil moisture caused significant declines in seed germination and seedling emergence. On the other hand, the reproductive output of D. brachypodum had low seed variability under soil moisture stress, which might be useful when sourcing seeds from climates with high variability. Even so, a reduction in seed quantity under maternal moisture stress can impact the long-term survival of restored plant populations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Response of Plants to Environmental Changes)

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14 pages, 2065 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Endogenic Phenolic Compounds of Barley as Potential Biomarkers Related to Grain Mycotoxin Production and Cultivar Selection

by Ana Badea, James R. Tucker, Ali Sabra, Thomas Netticadan, Barbara Blackwell, Liping Yu, Chamali Kodikara and Champa Wijekoon

Biology 2023, 12(10), 1306; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12101306 - 3 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1728

Abstract

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is the fourth largest cereal crop in the world. One of the most devastating diseases in barley worldwide is Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by Fusarium graminearum Schwabe. Several mycotoxins are produced by FHB infection, and deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of them responsible for the deterioration of grain quality. The current limited number of reliable molecular markers makes the development of FHB-resistant cultivars rather difficult and laborious. Moreover, there is a limited number of designed specific biomarkers that could distinguish the FHB resistance and mycotoxin accumulation in barley cultivars. This study investigated the phenolic compounds of ten different Canadian barley cultivars, grown in artificially FHB-infected and non-infected field trials. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to assess the presence of DON in the harvested infected grains of each tested variety. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was performed using both infected and non-infected samples. We identified differences among cultivars tested in non-infected samples through quantitative analysis of free and bound phenolic compounds. The resistant cultivars showed higher amounts of major bound phenolic compounds compared to the susceptible check CDC Bold. Additionally, the FHB-infected cultivars produced significantly higher amounts of sinapic acid (SIN) () and catechin (CAT) in the soluble free form of phenolics in barley compared to the non-infected subjects. This study suggests that phenolic compounds in barley could allow barley breeders to precisely identify and develop FHB-resistant barley germplasm and cultivars. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Response of Plants to Environmental Changes)

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12 pages, 2419 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tree Physiological Variables as a Proxy of Heavy Metal and Platinum Group Elements Pollution in Urban Areas

by Zulema Varela, Javier Martínez-Abaigar, Rafael Tomás-Las-Heras, José Ángel Fernández, María-Ángeles Del-Castillo-Alonso and Encarnación Núñez-Olivera

Biology 2023, 12(9), 1180; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12091180 - 29 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1264

Abstract

Physiological variables (the content of chlorophyll, flavonoids and nitrogen, together with F_v/F_m) and the content of ten heavy metals (As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, V and Zn) and two platinum group elements (PGEs: Pd and Rh) were measured in the leaves of 50 individuals of Ligustrum lucidum trees regularly distributed in the city of Logroño (Northern Spain). Three of these variables increased with increasing physiological vitality (chlorophyll, nitrogen and F_v/F_m), whereas flavonoids increased in response to different abiotic stresses, including pollution. Our aim was to test their adequacy as proxies for the pollution due to heavy metals and PGEs. The three vitality indicators generally showed high values typical of healthy plants, and they did not seem to be consistently affected by the different pollutants. In fact, the three vitality variables were positively correlated with the first factor of a PCA that was dominated by heavy metals (mainly Pb, but also Sb, V and Ni). In addition, F_v/F_m was negatively correlated with the second factor of the PCA, which was dominated by PGEs, but the trees showing F_v/F_m values below the damage threshold did not coincide with those showing high PGE content. Regarding flavonoid content, it was negatively correlated with PCA factors dominated by heavy metals, which did not confirm its role as a protectant against metal stress. The relatively low levels of pollution usually found in the city of Logroño, together with the influence of other environmental factors and the relative tolerance of Ligustrum lucidum to modest atmospheric pollution, probably determined the only slight response of the physiological variables to heavy metals and PGEs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Response of Plants to Environmental Changes)

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10 pages, 282 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Essential Mineral Elements and Potentially Toxic Elements in Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato Cultivated in Northern Ethiopia

by Gloria Peace Lamaro, Yemane Tsehaye, Atkilt Girma, Andrea Vannini, Riccardo Fedeli and Stefano Loppi

Biology 2023, 12(2), 266; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12020266 - 7 Feb 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2059

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of the agro-climatic environment of Northern Ethiopia on the content of essential mineral elements of selected orange-fleshed sweetpotato genotypes, the potential contribution of each genotype’s essential mineral elements to the recommended dietary allowance, and the potential risk to human health from the accumulation of potentially toxic elements in the tuberous roots of the studied genotypes. The results showed consistent interspecific variations in the content of essential mineral elements among the studied orange-fleshed sweetpotato genotypes, as well as important intraspecific differences, which could depend on the variations in soil mineral and organic matter content, rainfall, temperature, as well as interactions between genotype and environment. The investigated genotypes, especially Kulfo, Ininda, Gloria, and Amelia, can provide an amount of several essential mineral elements high enough to meet 100% of the recommended dietary allowance for all age groups ≤8 years. The mean content of potentially toxic elements in tuberous roots and their daily intake values were within the recommended permissible levels; likewise, no health risk was associated with the consumption of these genotypes for Cr, As, and Pb. However, Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Ni is > 1, consumption imposes health risks based on daily accumulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Response of Plants to Environmental Changes)

Review

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20 pages, 382 KiB

Open AccessReview

Lichens and Mosses as Biomonitors of Indoor Pollution

by Luca Paoli, Elena Bandoni and Luigi Sanità di Toppi

Biology 2023, 12(9), 1248; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12091248 - 18 Sep 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1935

Abstract

Biomonitoring in indoor environments is a recent application, and so far, indoor air quality (IAQ) has been investigated only in a few cases using photosynthesising biomonitors. On the whole, 22 studies have been selected and reviewed, being specifically focused on the assessment of IAQ using biomonitors, such as lichens (9 papers), mosses (10), or their combination (3). In general, indoor samples face an altered light regime, ventilation, and a reduced hydration, which should be taken into consideration during the design and implementation of indoor monitoring. This review highlights critical issues (and some solutions) related to sample devitalisation (moss), hydration during exposure, preparation of the exposure device (mostly lichen and moss bags), duration of the exposure, post-exposure treatments, assessment of the vitality of the samples, as well as data elaboration and interpretation. This review evidences the feasibility and usefulness of lichen/moss monitoring in indoor environments and the need to develop standardised protocols. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Response of Plants to Environmental Changes)

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