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16 pages, 2650 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genomic Variation and Host Interaction among Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae Strains in Actinidia chinensis ‘Hongyang’

by Yu Zhou, Shengxiong Huang, Wei Tang, Zhongqiu Wu, Siqi Sun, Yaqiong Qiu, Hongtao Wang, Xue Chen, Xiaofeng Tang, Fangming Xiao, Yongsheng Liu and Xiangli Niu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(17), 9743; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23179743 - 28 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1802

Abstract

Kiwifruit bacterial canker is a recent epidemic disease caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa), which has undergone worldwide expansion in a short time and resulted in significant economic losses. ‘Hongyang’ (Actinidia chinensis), a widely grown cultivar because of [...] Read more.

Kiwifruit bacterial canker is a recent epidemic disease caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa), which has undergone worldwide expansion in a short time and resulted in significant economic losses. ‘Hongyang’ (Actinidia chinensis), a widely grown cultivar because of its health-beneficial nutrients and appreciated red-centered inner pericarp, is highly sensitive to Psa. In this work, ten Psa strains were isolated from ‘Hongyang’ and sequenced for genome analysis. The results indicated divergences in pathogenicity and pathogenic-related genes among the Psa strains. Significantly, the interruption at the 596 bp of HrpR in two low-pathogenicity strains reemphasized this gene, expressing a transcriptional regulator for the effector secretion system, as an important pathogenicity-associated locus of Psa. The transcriptome analysis of ‘Hongyang’ infected with different Psa strains was performed by RNA-seq of stem tissues locally (at the inoculation site) and systemically. Psa infection re-programmed the host genes expression, and the susceptibility to Psa might be attributed to the down-regulation of several genes involved in plant-pathogen interactions, especially calcium signaling transduction, as well as fatty acid elongation. This suppression was found in both low- and high-pathogenicity Psa inoculated tissues, but the effect was stronger with more virulent strains. Taken together, the divergences of P. syringae pv. actinidiae in pathogenicity, genome, and resulting transcriptomic response of A. chinensis provide insights into unraveling the molecular mechanism of Psa-kiwifruit interactions and resistance improvement in the kiwifruit crop. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Biotic and Abiotic Stress Tolerance)

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20 pages, 32425 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Analysis of Type-III Polyketide Synthases in Wheat and Possible Roles in Wheat Sheath-Blight Resistance

by Xingxia Geng, Yihua Chen, Shufa Zhang, Zhen Gao, Shuhui Liu, Qunhui Yang, Jun Wu and Xinhong Chen

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(13), 7187; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23137187 - 28 Jun 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2453

Abstract

The enzymes in the chalcone synthase family, also known as type-III polyketide synthases (PKSs), play important roles in the biosynthesis of various plant secondary metabolites and plant adaptation to environmental stresses. There have been few detailed reports regarding the gene and tissue expression [...] Read more.

The enzymes in the chalcone synthase family, also known as type-III polyketide synthases (PKSs), play important roles in the biosynthesis of various plant secondary metabolites and plant adaptation to environmental stresses. There have been few detailed reports regarding the gene and tissue expression profiles of the PKS (TaPKS) family members in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In this study, 81 candidate TaPKS genes were identified in the wheat genome, which were designated as TaPKS1–81. Phylogenetic analysis divided the TaPKS genes into two groups. TaPKS gene family expansion mainly occurred via tandem duplication and fragment duplication. In addition, we analyzed the physical and chemical properties, gene structures, and cis-acting elements of TaPKS gene family members. RNA-seq analysis showed that the expression of TaPKS genes was tissue-specific, and their expression levels differed before and after infection with Rhizoctonia cerealis. The expression levels of four TaPKS genes were also analyzed via qRT-PCR after treatment with methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, abscisic acid, and ethylene. In the present study, we systematically identified and analyzed TaPKS gene family members in wheat, and our findings may facilitate the cloning of candidate genes associated with resistance to sheath blight in wheat. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Biotic and Abiotic Stress Tolerance)

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17 pages, 4227 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Discovery of Genomic Regions and Candidate Genes Controlling Root Development Using a Recombinant Inbred Line Population in Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)

by Lieqiong Kuang, Nazir Ahmad, Bin Su, Lintao Huang, Keqi Li, Hanzhong Wang, Xinfa Wang and Xiaoling Dun

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(9), 4781; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23094781 - 26 Apr 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2379

Abstract

Marker-assisted selection enables breeders to quickly select excellent root architectural variations, which play an essential role in plant productivity. Here, ten root-related and shoot biomass traits of a new F₆ recombinant inbred line (RIL) population were investigated under hydroponics and resulted in [...] Read more.

Marker-assisted selection enables breeders to quickly select excellent root architectural variations, which play an essential role in plant productivity. Here, ten root-related and shoot biomass traits of a new F₆ recombinant inbred line (RIL) population were investigated under hydroponics and resulted in high heritabilities from 0.61 to 0.83. A high-density linkage map of the RIL population was constructed using a Brassica napus 50k Illumina single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. A total of 86 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) explaining 4.16–14.1% of the phenotypic variances were detected and integrated into eight stable QTL clusters, which were repeatedly detected in different experiments. The codominant markers were developed to be tightly linked with three major QTL clusters, qcA09-2, qcC08-2, and qcC08-3, which controlled both root-related and shoot biomass traits and had phenotypic contributions greater than 10%. Among these, qcA09-2, renamed RT.A09, was further fine-mapped to a 129-kb interval with 19 annotated genes in the B. napus reference genome. By integrating the results of real-time PCR and comparative sequencing, five genes with expression differences and/or amino acid differences were identified as important candidate genes for RT.A09. Our findings laid the foundation for revealing the molecular mechanism of root development and developed valuable markers for root genetic improvement in rapeseed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Biotic and Abiotic Stress Tolerance)

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8 pages, 2072 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Overexpression of Rice BSR2 Confers Disease Resistance and Induces Enlarged Flowers in Torenia fournieri Lind

by Satoru Maeda, Katsutomo Sasaki, Hisatoshi Kaku, Yasukazu Kanda, Norihiro Ohtsubo and Masaki Mori

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(9), 4735; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23094735 - 25 Apr 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2007

Abstract

Plant pathogens evade basal defense systems and attack different organs and tissues of plants. Genetic engineering of plants with genes that confer resistance against pathogens is very effective in pathogen control. Conventional breeding for disease resistance in ornamental crops is difficult and lagging [...] Read more.

Plant pathogens evade basal defense systems and attack different organs and tissues of plants. Genetic engineering of plants with genes that confer resistance against pathogens is very effective in pathogen control. Conventional breeding for disease resistance in ornamental crops is difficult and lagging relative to that in non-ornamental crops due to an inadequate number of disease-resistant genes. Therefore, genetic engineering of these plants with defense-conferring genes is a practical approach. We used rice BSR2 encoding CYP78A15 for developing transgenic Torenia fournieri Lind. lines. The overexpression of BSR2 conferred resistance against two devastating fungal pathogens, Rhizoctonia solani and Botrytis cinerea. In addition, BSR2 overexpression resulted in enlarged flowers with enlarged floral organs. Histological observation of the petal cells suggested that the enlargement in the floral organs could be due to the elongation and expansion of the cells. Therefore, the overexpression of BSR2 confers broad-spectrum disease resistance and induces the production of enlarged flowers simultaneously. Therefore, this could be an effective strategy for developing ornamental crops that are disease-resistant and economically more valuable. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Biotic and Abiotic Stress Tolerance)

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20 pages, 4061 KiB

Open AccessArticle

CabZIP23 Integrates in CabZIP63–CaWRKY40 Cascade and Turns CabZIP63 on Mounting Pepper Immunity against Ralstonia solanacearum via Physical Interaction

by Qiaoling Lu, Yu Huang, Hui Wang, Meiyun Wan, Jingang Lv, Xingge Cheng, Yuanhui Chen, Weiwei Cai, Sheng Yang, Lei Shen, Deyi Guan and Shuilin He

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(5), 2656; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23052656 - 28 Feb 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2128

Abstract

CabZIP63 and CaWRKY40 were previously found to be shared in the pepper defense response to high temperature stress (HTS) and to Ralstonia solanacearum inoculation (RSI), forming a transcriptional cascade. However, how they activate the two distinct defense responses is not fully understood. Herein, [...] Read more.

CabZIP63 and CaWRKY40 were previously found to be shared in the pepper defense response to high temperature stress (HTS) and to Ralstonia solanacearum inoculation (RSI), forming a transcriptional cascade. However, how they activate the two distinct defense responses is not fully understood. Herein, using a revised genetic approach, we functionally characterized CabZIP23 in the CabZIP63–CaWRKY40 cascade and its context specific pepper immunity activation against RSI by interaction with CabZIP63. CabZIP23 was originally found by immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry to be an interacting protein of CabZIP63-GFP; it was upregulated by RSI and acted positively in pepper immunity against RSI by virus induced gene silencing in pepper plants, and transient overexpression in Nicotiana benthamiana plants. By chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-qPCR and electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA), CabZIP23 was found to be directly regulated by CaWRKY40, and CabZIP63 was directly regulated by CabZIP23, forming a positive feedback loop. CabZIP23–CabZIP63 interaction was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation (CoIP) and bimolecular fluorescent complimentary (BiFC) assays, which promoted CabZIP63 binding immunity related target genes, including CaPR1, CaNPR1 and CaWRKY40, thereby enhancing pepper immunity against RSI, but not affecting the expression of thermotolerance related CaHSP24. All these data appear to show that CabZIP23 integrates in the CabZIP63–CaWRKY40 cascade and the context specifically turns it on mounting pepper immunity against RSI. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Biotic and Abiotic Stress Tolerance)

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21 pages, 17282 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Functional Characterization of Tomato Phytochrome A and B1B2 Mutants in Response to Heat Stress

by Islam M. Y. Abdellatif, Shaoze Yuan, Renhu Na, Shizue Yoshihara, Haruyasu Hamada, Takuya Suzaki, Hiroshi Ezura and Kenji Miura

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(3), 1681; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23031681 - 31 Jan 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4988

Abstract

Heat stress (HS) is a prevalent negative factor affecting plant growth and development, as it is predominant worldwide and threatens agriculture on a large scale. PHYTOCHROMES (PHYs) are photoreceptors that control plant growth and development, and the stress signaling response partially interferes with [...] Read more.

Heat stress (HS) is a prevalent negative factor affecting plant growth and development, as it is predominant worldwide and threatens agriculture on a large scale. PHYTOCHROMES (PHYs) are photoreceptors that control plant growth and development, and the stress signaling response partially interferes with their activity. PHYA, B1, and B2 are the most well-known PHY types in tomatoes. Our study aimed to identify the role of tomato ‘Money Maker’ phyA and phyB1B2 mutants in stable and fluctuating high temperatures at different growth stages. In the seed germination and vegetative growth stages, the phy mutants were HS tolerant, while during the flowering stage the phy mutants revealed two opposing roles depending on the HS exposure period. The response of the phy mutants to HS during the fruiting stage showed similarity to WT. The most obvious stage that demonstrated phy mutants’ tolerance was the vegetative growth stage, in which a high degree of membrane stability and enhanced water preservation were achieved by the regulation of stomatal closure. In addition, both mutants upregulated the expression of heat-responsive genes related to heat tolerance. In addition to lower malondialdehyde accumulation, the phyA mutant enhanced proline levels. These results clarified the response of tomato phyA and phyB1B2 mutants to HS. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Biotic and Abiotic Stress Tolerance)

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18 pages, 4260 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification and Fine Mapping of the Recessive Gene BK-5, Which Affects Cell Wall Biosynthesis and Plant Brittleness in Maize

by Qigui Li, Shujun Nie, Gaoke Li, Jiyuan Du, Ruchang Ren, Xiu Yang, Boyan Liu, Xiaolong Gao, Tianjian Liu, Zhiming Zhang, Xiangyu Zhao, Xinzheng Li, Yongxin Nie, Baichen Wang, Haijian Lin, Haiping Ding and Guangtang Pan

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(2), 814; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23020814 - 12 Jan 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2572

Abstract

The cellulose of the plant cell wall indirectly affects the cell shape and straw stiffness of the plant. Here, the novel brittleness mutant brittle stalk-5 (bk-5) of the maize inbred line RP125 was characterized. We found that the mutant displayed brittleness [...] Read more.

The cellulose of the plant cell wall indirectly affects the cell shape and straw stiffness of the plant. Here, the novel brittleness mutant brittle stalk-5 (bk-5) of the maize inbred line RP125 was characterized. We found that the mutant displayed brittleness of the stalk and even the whole plant, and that the brittleness phenotype existed during the whole growth period from germination to senescence. The compressive strength was reduced, the cell wall was thinner, and the cellulose content was decreased compared to that of the wild type. Genetic analysis and map-based cloning indicated that bk-5 was controlled by a single recessive nuclear gene and that it was located in a 90.2-Kb region on chromosome 3 that covers three open reading frames (ORFs). Sequence analysis revealed a single non-synonymous missense mutation, T-to-A, in the last exon of Zm00001d043477 (B73: version 4, named BK-5) that caused the 951th amino acid to go from leucine to histidine. BK-5 encodes a cellulose synthase catalytic subunit (CesA), which is involved with cellulose synthesis. We found that BK-5 was constitutively expressed in all tissues of the germinating stage and silking stage, and highly expressed in the leaf, auricula, and root of the silking stage and the 2-cm root and bud of the germinating stage. We found that BK-5 mainly localized to the Golgi apparatus, suggesting that the protein might move to the plasma membrane with the aid of Golgi in maize. According to RNA-seq data, bk-5 had more downregulated genes than upregulated genes, and many of the downregulated genes were enzymes and transcription factors related to cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin biosynthesis of the secondary cell wall. The other differentially expressed genes were related to metabolic and cellular processes, and were significantly enriched in hormone signal transduction, starch and sucrose metabolism, and the plant–pathogen interaction pathway. Taken together, we propose that the mutation of gene BK-5 causes the brittle stalk phenotype and provides important insights into the regulatory mechanism of cellulose biosynthesis and cell wall development in maize. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Biotic and Abiotic Stress Tolerance)

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22 pages, 5118 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Olive Varieties under UV-B Stress Show Distinct Responses in Terms of Antioxidant Machinery and Isoform/Activity of RubisCO

by Chiara Piccini, Giampiero Cai, Maria Celeste Dias, Márcia Araújo, Sara Parri, Marco Romi, Claudia Faleri and Claudio Cantini

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(20), 11214; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222011214 - 18 Oct 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2077

Abstract

In recent decades, atmospheric pollution led to a progressive reduction of the ozone layer with a consequent increase in UV-B radiation. Despite the high adaptation of olive trees to the Mediterranean environment, the progressive increase of UV-B radiation is a risk factor for [...] Read more.

In recent decades, atmospheric pollution led to a progressive reduction of the ozone layer with a consequent increase in UV-B radiation. Despite the high adaptation of olive trees to the Mediterranean environment, the progressive increase of UV-B radiation is a risk factor for olive tree cultivation. It is therefore necessary to understand how high levels of UV-B radiation affect olive plants and to identify olive varieties which are better adapted. In this study we analyzed two Italian olive varieties subjected to chronic UV-B stress. We focused on the effects of UV-B radiation on RubisCO, in terms of quantity, enzymatic activity and isoform composition. In addition, we also analyzed changes in the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPox) to get a comprehensive picture of the antioxidant system. We also evaluated the effects of UV-B on the enzyme sucrose synthase. The overall damage at biochemical level was also assessed by analyzing changes in Hsp70, a protein triggered under stress conditions. The results of this work indicate that the varieties (Giarraffa and Olivastra Seggianese) differ significantly in the use of specific antioxidant defense systems, as well as in the activity and isoform composition of RubisCO. Combined with a different use of sucrose synthase, the overall picture shows that Giarraffa optimized the use of GPox and opted for a targeted choice of RubisCO isoforms, in addition to managing the content of sucrose synthase, thereby saving energy during critical stress points. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Biotic and Abiotic Stress Tolerance)

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25 pages, 2925 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mining Fiskeby III and Mandarin (Ottawa) Expression Profiles to Understand Iron Stress Tolerant Responses in Soybean

by Jamie A. O’Rourke, Michael J. Morrisey, Ryan Merry, Mary Jane Espina, Aaron J. Lorenz, Robert M. Stupar and Michelle A. Graham

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(20), 11032; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222011032 - 13 Oct 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2551

Abstract

The soybean (Glycine max L. merr) genotype Fiskeby III is highly resistant to a multitude of abiotic stresses, including iron deficiency, incurring only mild yield loss during stress conditions. Conversely, Mandarin (Ottawa) is highly susceptible to disease and suffers severe phenotypic damage [...] Read more.

The soybean (Glycine max L. merr) genotype Fiskeby III is highly resistant to a multitude of abiotic stresses, including iron deficiency, incurring only mild yield loss during stress conditions. Conversely, Mandarin (Ottawa) is highly susceptible to disease and suffers severe phenotypic damage and yield loss when exposed to abiotic stresses such as iron deficiency, a major challenge to soybean production in the northern Midwestern United States. Using RNA-seq, we characterize the transcriptional response to iron deficiency in both Fiskeby III and Mandarin (Ottawa) to better understand abiotic stress tolerance. Previous work by our group identified a quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 5 associated with Fiskeby III iron efficiency, indicating Fiskeby III utilizes iron deficiency stress mechanisms not previously characterized in soybean. We targeted 10 of the potential candidate genes in the Williams 82 genome sequence associated with the QTL using virus-induced gene silencing. Coupling virus-induced gene silencing with RNA-seq, we identified a single high priority candidate gene with a significant impact on iron deficiency response pathways. Characterization of the Fiskeby III responses to iron stress and the genes underlying the chromosome 5 QTL provides novel targets for improved abiotic stress tolerance in soybean. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Biotic and Abiotic Stress Tolerance)

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Review

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22 pages, 3844 KiB

Open AccessReview

Molecular Evolution of Calcium Signaling and Transport in Plant Adaptation to Abiotic Stress

by Tao Tong, Qi Li, Wei Jiang, Guang Chen, Dawei Xue, Fenglin Deng, Fanrong Zeng and Zhong-Hua Chen

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(22), 12308; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222212308 - 15 Nov 2021

Cited by 46 | Viewed by 5151

Abstract

Adaptation to unfavorable abiotic stresses is one of the key processes in the evolution of plants. Calcium (Ca²⁺) signaling is characterized by the spatiotemporal pattern of Ca²⁺ distribution and the activities of multi-domain proteins in integrating environmental stimuli and cellular [...] Read more.

Adaptation to unfavorable abiotic stresses is one of the key processes in the evolution of plants. Calcium (Ca²⁺) signaling is characterized by the spatiotemporal pattern of Ca²⁺ distribution and the activities of multi-domain proteins in integrating environmental stimuli and cellular responses, which are crucial early events in abiotic stress responses in plants. However, a comprehensive summary and explanation for evolutionary and functional synergies in Ca²⁺ signaling remains elusive in green plants. We review mechanisms of Ca²⁺ membrane transporters and intracellular Ca²⁺ sensors with evolutionary imprinting and structural clues. These may provide molecular and bioinformatics insights for the functional analysis of some non-model species in the evolutionarily important green plant lineages. We summarize the chronological order, spatial location, and characteristics of Ca²⁺ functional proteins. Furthermore, we highlight the integral functions of calcium-signaling components in various nodes of the Ca²⁺ signaling pathway through conserved or variant evolutionary processes. These ultimately bridge the Ca²⁺ cascade reactions into regulatory networks, particularly in the hormonal signaling pathways. In summary, this review provides new perspectives towards a better understanding of the evolution, interaction and integration of Ca²⁺ signaling components in green plants, which is likely to benefit future research in agriculture, evolutionary biology, ecology and the environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Biotic and Abiotic Stress Tolerance)

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11 pages, 7133 KiB

Open AccessReview

Plant Gravitropism and Signal Conversion under a Stress Environment of Altered Gravity

by Dan Qiu, Yongfei Jian, Yuanxun Zhang and Gengxin Xie

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(21), 11723; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222111723 - 29 Oct 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2898

Abstract

Humans have been committed to space exploration and to find the next planet suitable for human survival. The construction of an ecosystem that adapts to the long-term survival of human beings in space stations or other planets would be the first step. The [...] Read more.

Humans have been committed to space exploration and to find the next planet suitable for human survival. The construction of an ecosystem that adapts to the long-term survival of human beings in space stations or other planets would be the first step. The space plant cultivation system is the key component of an ecosystem, which will produce food, fiber, edible oil and oxygen for future space inhabitants. Many plant experiments have been carried out under a stimulated or real environment of altered gravity, including at microgravity (0 g), Moon gravity (0.17 g) and Mars gravity (0.38 g). How plants sense gravity and change under stress environment of altered gravity were summarized in this review. However, many challenges remain regarding human missions to the Moon or Mars. Our group conducted the first plant experiment under real Moon gravity (0.17 g) in 2019. One of the cotton seeds successfully germinated and produced a green seedling, which represents the first green leaf produced by mankind on the Moon. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Biotic and Abiotic Stress Tolerance)

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34 pages, 18216 KiB

Open AccessReview

Ionomic Approaches for Discovery of Novel Stress-Resilient Genes in Plants

by Sajad Ali, Anshika Tyagi and Hanhong Bae

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(13), 7182; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22137182 - 2 Jul 2021

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 5339

Abstract

Plants, being sessile, face an array of biotic and abiotic stresses in their lifespan that endanger their survival. Hence, optimized uptake of mineral nutrients creates potential new routes for enhancing plant health and stress resilience. Recently, minerals (both essential and non-essential) have been [...] Read more.

Plants, being sessile, face an array of biotic and abiotic stresses in their lifespan that endanger their survival. Hence, optimized uptake of mineral nutrients creates potential new routes for enhancing plant health and stress resilience. Recently, minerals (both essential and non-essential) have been identified as key players in plant stress biology, owing to their multifaceted functions. However, a realistic understanding of the relationship between different ions and stresses is lacking. In this context, ionomics will provide new platforms for not only understanding the function of the plant ionome during stresses but also identifying the genes and regulatory pathways related to mineral accumulation, transportation, and involvement in different molecular mechanisms under normal or stress conditions. This article provides a general overview of ionomics and the integration of high-throughput ionomic approaches with other “omics” tools. Integrated omics analysis is highly suitable for identification of the genes for various traits that confer biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. Moreover, ionomics advances being used to identify loci using qualitative trait loci and genome-wide association analysis of element uptake and transport within plant tissues, as well as genetic variation within species, are discussed. Furthermore, recent developments in ionomics for the discovery of stress-tolerant genes in plants have also been addressed; these can be used to produce more robust crops with a high nutritional value for sustainable agriculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Biotic and Abiotic Stress Tolerance)

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