Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
8.1
4.9
Journals
IJMS
Special Issues
Plant Responses to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses
ijms-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for IJMS Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Plant Responses to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 February 2025 | Viewed by 4499

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Longxing Tao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research and Development Center of Rice Cropping Technology, China National Rice Research Institute (CNRRI), Hangzhou 310006, China
Interests: high yield; nitrogen apply; heat stress; hormone spray; physiological mechanisms
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Tingting Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 310006, China
Interests: rice; grain yield; drought stress; water management; chemical regulation; physiological mechanism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Meteorological records have shown that mean annual temperatures have increased by approximately 1 °C over the past century, and this trend is expected to continue in the future. Meanwhile, droughts and floods are occurring more frequently than before. The increasing frequency of extreme weather events poses a serious threat to global food security. As a result, improving plant, particularly crop, resistance to abiotic stresses has become increasingly important. It is therefore crucial to understand how plants effectively cope with high-intensity extreme weather conditions, and to elucidate the underlying molecular as well as physiological mechanisms of plant responses to abiotic stresses. This knowledge can aid in the development of technologies to help plants withstand abiotic stresses and mitigate the impacts of extreme climate change on crop security.

We welcome submissions of original research and review articles. Topics for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Molecular mechanisms of plant responses to abiotic stresses;
  2. Physiological responses of plants under abiotic stresses;
  3. Plant hormone signals in enhancing plant responses to abiotic stresses;
  4. Pathways of plant resistance to abiotic stress conditions;
  5. Methods to reduce the inhibitory effects of abiotic stresses on plant growth, development, and yield formation.

Dr. Longxing Tao
Dr. Tingting Chen
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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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

  • climate change and crop production
  • abiotic stress
  • biotic stress
  • plant resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses
  • molecular mechanism
  • physiological responses
  • plant hormones
  • carbohydrate metabolism and transport
  • molecular signaling
  • reactive oxygen species (ROS)
  • calcium ions
  • photosynthesis
  • respiration
  • energy metabolism

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 (6 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

14 pages, 1848 KiB  
Article
Effect of Temperature on Polyamine Oxidase Genes in Skeletonema dohrnii
by Wei Teng and Jun Sun
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(3), 1048; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26031048 - 26 Jan 2025
Viewed by 428
Abstract
In our experiments, we investigated the effect of temperature on diatom polyamine metabolism using Skeletonema dohrnii as an experimental algal species. We set three different temperature conditions for incubation and selected Skeletonema dohrnii in the exponential growth period, and analyzed basic physiological parameters, [...] Read more.
In our experiments, we investigated the effect of temperature on diatom polyamine metabolism using Skeletonema dohrnii as an experimental algal species. We set three different temperature conditions for incubation and selected Skeletonema dohrnii in the exponential growth period, and analyzed basic physiological parameters, polyamine composition and content, and polyamine oxidase (PAO) gene expression at different temperatures. The results showed that low temperatures led to a decrease in growth rate, an increase in biogenic silica content, an increase in the content of putrescine and spermine, a decrease in the concentration of spermidine, and a down-regulation of PAO gene expression. In addition, high temperature led to an increase in growth rate, a significant change in the concentration of putrescine and spermine, and an increase in spermidine. These findings suggest that changes in temperature affect the growth rate of algae, low temperature increases the biogenic silica content of diatoms, different temperature stresses lead to different kinds of polyamine changes in diatoms, and the PAO gene may play a role in regulating the response of algae to temperature changes. This study lays a foundation for further exploration of the function of the PAO gene in Skeletonema dohrnii. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Responses to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

27 pages, 5694 KiB  
Article
Unraveling Effects of miRNAs Associated with APR Leaf Rust Resistance Genes in Hybrid Forms of Common Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
by Julia Spychała, Aleksandra Noweiska, Agnieszka Tomkowiak, Roksana Bobrowska, Katarzyna Szewczyk and Michał Tomasz Kwiatek
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(2), 665; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26020665 - 14 Jan 2025
Viewed by 547
Abstract
The fungus Puccinia triticina Eriks (Pt) is the cause of leaf rust, one of the most damaging diseases, which significantly reduces common wheat yields. In Pt-resistant adult plants, an APR-type resistance is observed, which protects the plant against multiple pathogen [...] Read more.
The fungus Puccinia triticina Eriks (Pt) is the cause of leaf rust, one of the most damaging diseases, which significantly reduces common wheat yields. In Pt-resistant adult plants, an APR-type resistance is observed, which protects the plant against multiple pathogen races and is distinguished by its persistence under production conditions. With a more complete understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the function of APR genes, it will be possible to develop new strategies for resistance breeding in wheat. Currently, mainly APR genes, such as Lr34, Lr46, and Lr67, are principally involved in resistance breeding as they confer durable resistance to multiple fungal races occurring under different climatic and environmental conditions. However, the mechanisms underlying the defence against pathogens mediated by APR genes remain largely unknown. Our research aimed to shed light on the molecular mechanisms related to resistance genes and miRNAs expression, underlying APR resistance to leaf rust caused by Pt. Furthermore, the present study aimed to identify and functionally characterize the investigated miRNAs and their target genes in wheat in response to leaf rust inoculation. The plant material included hybrid forms of wheat from the F2 and BC1F1 generations, obtained by crossing the resistance cultivar Glenlea (CItr 17272) with agriculturally important Polish wheat cultivars. Biotic stress was induced in adult plants via inoculation with Pt fungal spores under controlled conditions. The RT-qPCR method was used to analyze the expression profiles of selected APR genes at five time points (0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hpi). The results presented here demonstrate the differential expression of APR genes and miRNAs at stages of leaf rust development at selected timepoints after inoculation. We analyzed the expression of three leaf rust resistance genes, using different genetic backgrounds in F2 and BC1F1 segregation materials, in leaf tissues after Pt infection. Our goal was to investigate potential differences resulting from the genetic background found in different generations of hybrid forms of the same parental forms. Gene ontology analysis predicted 190 target genes for tae-miR5384-3p and 167 target genes for tae-miR9653b. Our findings revealed distinct expression profiles for genes, with the highest expression levels observed mainly at 6, 24, and 48 hpi. The candidate gene Lr46-Glu2 displayed an upregulation, suggesting its potential involvement in the immune response against Pt infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Responses to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

30 pages, 4704 KiB  
Article
Mitigation Effect of Exogenous Nano-Silicon on Salt Stress Damage of Rice Seedlings
by Jian Xiong, Xiaohui Yang, Minmin Sun, Jianqin Zhang, Linchong Ding, Zhiyuan Sun, Naijie Feng, Dianfeng Zheng, Liming Zhao and Xuefeng Shen
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(1), 85; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26010085 - 25 Dec 2024
Viewed by 465
Abstract
Salt stress represents a significant abiotic stress factor that impedes the growth of rice. Nano-silicon has the potential to enhance rice growth and salt tolerance. In this experiment, the rice variety 9311 was employed as the test material to simulate salt stress via [...] Read more.
Salt stress represents a significant abiotic stress factor that impedes the growth of rice. Nano-silicon has the potential to enhance rice growth and salt tolerance. In this experiment, the rice variety 9311 was employed as the test material to simulate salt stress via hydroponics, with the objective of investigating the mitigation effect of foliar application of nano-silicon on rice seedlings. The results demonstrated that NaCl stress markedly impeded the growth of rice seedlings after seven days of NaCl treatment. The foliar application of nano-silicon followed by NaCl stress alleviated the growth of rice seedlings, markedly improved the spatial conformation of the root system, and enhanced photosynthesis compared with that of NaCl stress alone. The activities of antioxidant enzymes were improved. The contents of antioxidants were increased, and the over-accumulation of ROS was reduced. Furthermore, the foliar application of nano-silicon was found to enhance the uptake of Si4+, K+, and Ca2+ in plants, while simultaneously reducing Na+ and Cl− accumulation. Additionally, the content of IAA, CTK, GA, JA, and SA was increased, and ABA was decreased. In conclusion, the foliar application of nano-silicon has been demonstrated to alleviate salt stress injury and improve the growth of rice seedlings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Responses to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 11208 KiB  
Article
Genome-Wide Identification, Functional Characterization, and Stress-Responsive Expression Profiling of Subtilase (SBT) Gene Family in Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)
by Shipeng Li, Huiwen Fu, Yasir Sharif, Sheidu Abdullaziz, Lihui Wang, Yongli Zhang and Yuhui Zhuang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(24), 13361; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252413361 - 13 Dec 2024
Viewed by 896
Abstract
Subtilases (SBTs), known as serine proteases or phytoproteases in plants, are crucial enzymes involved in plant development, growth, and signaling pathways. Despite their recognized importance in other plant species, information regarding their functional roles in cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogea L.) remains sparse. [...] Read more.
Subtilases (SBTs), known as serine proteases or phytoproteases in plants, are crucial enzymes involved in plant development, growth, and signaling pathways. Despite their recognized importance in other plant species, information regarding their functional roles in cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogea L.) remains sparse. We identified 122 AhSBT genes in the STQ peanut genome, classifying them into six subgroups based on phylogenetic analysis. Detailed structural and motif analyses revealed the presence of conserved domains, highlighting the evolutionary conservation of AhSBTs. The collinearity results indicate that the A. hypogea SBT gene family has 17, 5, and 1 homologous gene pairs with Glycine max, Arabidopsis thaliana, and Zea mays, respectively. Furthermore, the prediction of cis-elements in promoters indicates that they are mainly associated with hormones and abiotic stress. GO and KEGG analyses showed that many AhSBTs are important in stress response. Based on transcriptome datasets, some genes, such as AhSBT2, AhSBT18, AhSBT19, AhSBT60, AhSBT102, AhSBT5, AhSBT111, and AhSBT113, showed remarkably higher expression in diverse tissues/organs, i.e., embryo, root, and leaf, potentially implicating them in seed development. Likewise, only a few genes, including AhSBT1, AhSBT39, AhSBT53, AhSBT92, and AhSBT115, were upregulated under abiotic stress (drought and cold) and phytohormone (ethylene, abscisic acid, paclobutrazol, brassinolide, and salicylic acid) treatments. Upon inoculation with Ralstonia solanacearum, the expression levels of AhSBT39, AhSBT50, AhSBT92, and AhSBT115 were upregulated in disease-resistant and downregulated in disease-susceptible varieties. qRT-PCR-based expression profiling presented the parallel expression trends as generated from transcriptome datasets. The comprehensive dataset generated in the study provides valuable insights into understanding the functional roles of AhSBTs, paving the way for potential applications in crop improvement. These findings deepen our understanding of peanut molecular biology and offer new strategies for enhancing stress tolerance and other agronomically important traits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Responses to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 1633 KiB  
Article
Foliar Application of Silicon Influences the Physiological and Epigenetic Responses of Wheat Grown Under Salt Stress
by Renata Tobiasz-Salach, Barbara Stadnik, Marzena Mazurek, Jan Buczek and Danuta Leszczyńska
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(24), 13297; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252413297 - 11 Dec 2024
Viewed by 680
Abstract
Soil salinity is considered a serious problem that limits agricultural productivity. Currently, solutions are being sought to mitigate the negative impact of salt on economically important crops. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of foliar application of silicon (Si) [...] Read more.
Soil salinity is considered a serious problem that limits agricultural productivity. Currently, solutions are being sought to mitigate the negative impact of salt on economically important crops. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of foliar application of silicon (Si) on the physiological and epigenetic responses of wheat grown under salt stress conditions. The experiment with wheat seedlings was established in pots with 200 mM NaCl added. After 7 days, foliar fertilizer (200 g L−1 SiO2) was used at concentrations of 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2%. Physiological parameters were measured three times. The addition of salt caused a significant decrease in the values of the measured parameters in plants of all variants. In plants sprayed with Si fertilizer under salinity conditions, a significant increase in CCI and selected gas exchange parameters (PN, Ci, E, gs) and chlorophyll fluorescence (PI, RC/ABS, FV/Fm, Fv/F0) was observed. Si doses of 0.1 and 0.2% showed a better mitigating effect compared to the dose of 0.05%. The observed effect was maintained over time. The results obtained indicate a positive role for foliar silicon fertilization in mitigating salinity stress in wheat. Epigenetic mechanisms play an important role in regulating gene expression in response to stress. Changes in the status of methylation of the 5′CCGG3′ sequence of the nuclear genome of wheat plants exposed to salinity and treated with Si at different doses were determined by the MSAP approach. The obtained results showed a clear alteration of DNA methylation in plants as a response to experimental factors. The methylation changes were silicon dose-dependent. These modifications may suggest a mechanism for plant adaptation under salt stress after silicon application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Responses to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 5697 KiB  
Article
Energy Deficiency and Misdistribution Leads to Disrupted Formation in Grain Yield and Rice Quality
by Yiding Wang, Guangyan Li, Jiaying Ma, Haoran Su, Wenfei Hu, Junjiang Lin, Weimeng Fu, Yvxiang Zeng, Longxing Tao, Guanfu Fu, Jie Xiong and Tingting Chen
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(23), 12751; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252312751 - 27 Nov 2024
Viewed by 502
Abstract
With the progress of society and the improvement of agricultural scientific technology, the single focus on high yield for rice production has gradually shifted to high quality. Coordinated development of grain yield and rice quality has become a core issue for researchers, and [...] Read more.
With the progress of society and the improvement of agricultural scientific technology, the single focus on high yield for rice production has gradually shifted to high quality. Coordinated development of grain yield and rice quality has become a core issue for researchers, and the underlying mechanisms remain to be solved. Two varieties, Zhongzheyou1 (ZZY1) and Zhongzheyou8 (ZZY8), were used as study materials under field conditions. The yield of ZZY1 was higher than that of ZZY8, which was mainly characterized by a higher seed-setting rate and grain weight. The rice quality of ZZY8 was better than that of ZZY1, primarily due to lower chalkiness and a higher head rice rate. The total dry matter weight of ZZY1 was lower than that of ZZY8, but the proportion of panicle dry matter weight or nonstructural carbohydrate to the total in the former was higher than that of the latter. The maximum grain-filling rate, average grain-filling rate, and key enzyme activities of ZZY1 were significantly higher than those of ZZY8, while the active grain-filling period was shorter than that of ZZY8. Furthermore, the ATP/ATPase content and energy charge values in the grains of ZZY1 were higher than those of ZZY8 at the early grain-filling stage. Transcriptome analysis showed that carbohydrate and energy metabolism were the main ways affecting the yield and quality of the two varieties. The energy production of ZZY1 was insufficient to simultaneously supply the needs thus leading to the discordant formation in its grain yield and rice quality formation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Responses to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-6
Back to TopTop