International Journal of Molecular Sciences

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7 pages, 218 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Environmental Stress and Plants 2.0

by Luigi Parrotta, Lavinia Mareri and Giampiero Cai

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(15), 12413; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241512413 - 4 Aug 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1303

Abstract

Following the success of our previous edition [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Stress and Plants 2.0)

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19 pages, 3332 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pre-Treatment of Rice Plants with ABA Makes Them More Tolerant to Multiple Abiotic Stress

by Fatemeh Habibpourmehraban, Yunqi Wu, Farhad Masoomi-Aladizgeh, Ardeshir Amirkhani, Brian J. Atwell and Paul A. Haynes

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(11), 9628; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24119628 - 1 Jun 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1721

Abstract

Multiple abiotic stress is known as a type of environmental unfavourable condition maximizing the yield and growth gap of crops compared with the optimal condition in both natural and cultivated environments. Rice is the world’s most important staple food, and its production is [...] Read more.

Multiple abiotic stress is known as a type of environmental unfavourable condition maximizing the yield and growth gap of crops compared with the optimal condition in both natural and cultivated environments. Rice is the world’s most important staple food, and its production is limited the most by environmental unfavourable conditions. In this study, we investigated the pre-treatment of abscisic acid (ABA) on the tolerance of the IAC1131 rice genotype to multiple abiotic stress after a 4-day exposure to combined drought, salt and extreme temperature treatments. A total of 3285 proteins were identified and quantified across the four treatment groups, consisting of control and stressed plants with and without pre-treatment with ABA, with 1633 of those proteins found to be differentially abundant between groups. Compared with the control condition, pre-treatment with the ABA hormone significantly mitigated the leaf damage against combined abiotic stress at the proteome level. Furthermore, the application of exogenous ABA did not affect the proteome profile of the control plants remarkably, while the results were different in stress-exposed plants by a greater number of proteins changed in abundance, especially those which were increased. Taken together, these results suggest that exogenous ABA has a potential priming effect for enhancing the rice seedlings’ tolerance against combined abiotic stress, mainly by affecting stress-responsive mechanisms dependent on ABA signalling pathways in plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Stress and Plants 2.0)

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18 pages, 11761 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Molecular Evolution of Histone Methylation Modification Families in the Plant Kingdom and Their Genome-Wide Analysis in Barley

by Bingzhuang An, Haiya Cai, Bo Li, Shuo Zhang, Yonggang He, Rong Wang, Chunhai Jiao, Ying Guo, Le Xu and Yanhao Xu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(9), 8043; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24098043 - 28 Apr 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2030

Abstract

In this study, based on the OneKP database and through comparative genetic analysis, we found that HMT and HDM may originate from Chromista and are highly conserved in green plants, and that during the evolution from algae to land plants, histone methylation modifications [...] Read more.

In this study, based on the OneKP database and through comparative genetic analysis, we found that HMT and HDM may originate from Chromista and are highly conserved in green plants, and that during the evolution from algae to land plants, histone methylation modifications gradually became complex and diverse, which is more conducive to the adaptation of plants to complex and variable environments. We also characterized the number of members, genetic similarity, and phylogeny of HMT and HDM families in barley using the barley pangenome and the Tibetan Lasa Goumang genome. The results showed that HMT and HDM were highly conserved in the domestication of barley, but there were some differences in the Lasa Goumang SDG subfamily. Expression analysis showed that HvHMTs and HvHDMs were highly expressed in specific tissues and had complex expression patterns under multiple stress treatments. In summary, the amplification and variation of HMT and HDM facilitate plant adaptation to complex terrestrial environments, while they are highly conserved in barley and play an important role in barley growth and development with abiotic stresses. In brief, our findings provide a novel perspective on the origin and evolutionary history of plant HvHMTs and HvHDMs, and lay a foundation for further investigation of their functions in barley. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Stress and Plants 2.0)

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20 pages, 4572 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integration of mRNA and miRNA Analysis Reveals the Post-Transcriptional Regulation of Salt Stress Response in Hemerocallis fulva

by Bo Zhou, Xiang Gao and Fei Zhao

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(8), 7290; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24087290 - 14 Apr 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2071

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) belong to non-coding small RNAs which have been shown to take a regulatory function at the posttranscriptional level in plant growth development and response to abiotic stress. Hemerocallis fulva is an herbaceous perennial plant with fleshy roots, wide distribution, and strong [...] Read more.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) belong to non-coding small RNAs which have been shown to take a regulatory function at the posttranscriptional level in plant growth development and response to abiotic stress. Hemerocallis fulva is an herbaceous perennial plant with fleshy roots, wide distribution, and strong adaptability. However, salt stress is one of the most serious abiotic stresses to limit the growth and production of Hemerocallis fulva. To identify the miRNAs and their targets involved in the salt stress resistance, the salt-tolerant H. fulva with and without NaCl treatment were used as materials, and the expression differences of miRNAs–mRNAs related to salt-tolerance were explored and the cleavage sites between miRNAs and targets were also identified by using degradome sequencing technology. In this study, twenty and three significantly differential expression miRNAs (p-value < 0.05) were identified in the roots and leaves of H. fulva separately. Additionally, 12,691 and 1538 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were also obtained, respectively, in roots and leaves. Moreover, 222 target genes of 61 family miRNAs were validated by degradome sequencing. Among the DE miRNAs, 29 pairs of miRNA targets displayed negatively correlated expression profiles. The qRT-PCR results also showed that the trends of miRNA and DEG expression were consistent with those of RNA-seq. A gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of these targets revealed that the calcium ion pathway, oxidative defense response, microtubule cytoskeleton organization, and DNA binding transcription factor responded to NaCl stress. Five miRNAs, miR156, miR160, miR393, miR166, and miR396, and several hub genes, squamosa promoter-binding-like protein (SPL), auxin response factor 12 (ARF), transport inhibitor response 1-like protein (TIR1), calmodulin-like proteins (CML), and growth-regulating factor 4 (GRF4), might play central roles in the regulation of NaCl-responsive genes. These results indicate that non-coding small RNAs and their target genes that are related to phytohormone signaling, Ca²⁺ signaling, and oxidative defense signaling pathways are involved in H. fulva’s response to NaCl stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Stress and Plants 2.0)

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12 pages, 2566 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis Uncovers the Potential Role of JAZ and MYC Families in Potato under Abiotic Stress

by Shan Wang, Yongbin Wang, Rui Yang, Wanhua Cai, Yaning Liu, Duanrong Zhou, Li Meng, Ping Wang and Binquan Huang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(7), 6706; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24076706 - 4 Apr 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2449

Abstract

As key regulators of the Jasmonates (JAs) signal transduction pathway, JAZ protein, and MYC transcription factors are imperative for plant response to external environmental changes, growth, and development. In this study, 18 StJAZs and 12 StMYCs were identified in potatoes. Their chromosomal position, [...] Read more.

As key regulators of the Jasmonates (JAs) signal transduction pathway, JAZ protein, and MYC transcription factors are imperative for plant response to external environmental changes, growth, and development. In this study, 18 StJAZs and 12 StMYCs were identified in potatoes. Their chromosomal position, phylogenetic development, gene structure, and promoter cis-acting parts of the StJAZ genes were analyzed. In addition, Protein–Protein Interaction (PPI) network analysis of StJAZ and StMYC gene families and yeast two-hybrid assay demonstrated that five StMYCs can interact with 16 StJAZs, which provides new insights into the operation mechanism of StJAZs and StMYCs in JA signal response. Moreover, we explored the expression profiles of StJAZs and StMYCs genes in different tissues and during abiotic stresses by RNA-seq data. Based on the PPI network and transcriptome data, the genes StJAZ11, StJAZ16, and StMYC6 were chosen for further qRT-PCR study under salt or mannitol treatment. Under mannitol-induced drought or salinity treatment, the expression patterns of StMYC6, StJAZ11, and StJAZ16 were different, indicating that the JAZ protein and MYC transcription factor may be engaged in the response of potatoes to abiotic stress, which opened up a new research direction for the genetic improvement of potatoes in response to environmental stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Stress and Plants 2.0)

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18 pages, 3544 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Establishment of an Efficient Agrobacterium-Mediated Genetic Transformation System to Enhance the Tolerance of the Paraquat Stress in Engineering Goosegrass (Eleusine Indica L.)

by Qiyu Luo, Shu Chen, Hai Nian, Qibing Ma, Yuyao Ding, Qinwen Hao, Jiping Wei, Jinesh D. Patel, Joseph Scott McElroy, Yaoguang Liu and Yong Chen

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(7), 6629; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24076629 - 1 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2172

Abstract

Eleusine indica (goosegrass) is a problematic weed worldwide known for its multi-herbicide tolerance/resistance biotype. However, a genetic transformation method in goosegrass has not been successfully established, making a bottleneck for functional genomics studies in this species. Here, we report a successful Agrobacterium-mediated [...] Read more.

Eleusine indica (goosegrass) is a problematic weed worldwide known for its multi-herbicide tolerance/resistance biotype. However, a genetic transformation method in goosegrass has not been successfully established, making a bottleneck for functional genomics studies in this species. Here, we report a successful Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method for goosegrass. Firstly, we optimized conditions for breaking seed dormancy and increasing seed germination rate. A higher callus induction rate from germinated seeds was obtained in N6 than in MS or B5 medium. Then the optimal transformation efficiency of the gus reporter gene was obtained by infection with Agrobacterium tumefaciens culture of OD₆₀₀ = 0.5 for 30 min, followed by 3 days of co-cultivation with 300 μmol/L acetosyringone. Concentrations of 20 mg L⁻¹ kanamycin and 100 mg L⁻¹ timentin were used to select the transformed calli. The optimal rate of regeneration of the calli was generated by using 0.50 mg L⁻¹ 6-BA and 0.50 mg L⁻¹ KT in the culture medium. Then, using this transformation method, we overexpressed the paraquat-resistant EiKCS gene into a paraquat-susceptible goosegrass biotype MZ04 and confirmed the stable inheritance of paraquat-resistance in the transgenic goosegrass lines. This approach may provide a potential mechanism for the evolution of paraquat-resistant goosegrass and a promising gene for the manipulation of paraquat-resistance plants. This study is novel and valuable in future research using similar methods for herbicide resistance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Stress and Plants 2.0)

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15 pages, 3052 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification and Analysis of the CBF Gene Family in Three Species of Acer under Cold Stress

by Qiushuang Zhao, Rui Han, Kewei Cai, Huiling Yan, Yan Li, Guanzheng Qu, Lin Liu and Xiyang Zhao

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(3), 2088; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24032088 - 20 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2384

Abstract

The C-Repeat Binding Factor (CBF) gene family has been identified and characterized in multiple plant species, and it plays a crucial role in responding to low temperatures. Presently, only a few studies on tree species demonstrate the mechanisms and potential functions [...] Read more.

The C-Repeat Binding Factor (CBF) gene family has been identified and characterized in multiple plant species, and it plays a crucial role in responding to low temperatures. Presently, only a few studies on tree species demonstrate the mechanisms and potential functions of CBFs associated with cold resistance, while our study is a novel report on the multi-aspect differences of CBFs among three tree species, compared to previous studies. In this study, genome-wide identification and analysis of the CBF gene family in Acer truncatum, Acer pseudosieboldianum, and Acer yangbiense were performed. The results revealed that 16 CBF genes (five ApseCBFs, four AcyanCBFs, and seven AtruCBFs) were unevenly distributed across the chromosomes, and most CBF genes were mapped on chromosome 2 (Chr2) and chromosome 11 (Chr11). The analysis of phylogenetic relationships, gene structure, and conserved motif showed that 16 CBF genes could be clustered into three subgroups; they all contained Motif 1 and Motif 5, and most of them only spanned one exon. The cis-acting elements analysis showed that some CBF genes might be involved in hormone and abiotic stress responsiveness. In addition, CBF genes exhibited tissue expression specificity. High expressions of ApseCBF1, ApseCBF3, AtruCBF1, AtruCBF4, AtruCBF6, AtruCBF7, and ApseCBF3, ApseCBF4, ApseCBF5 were detected on exposure to low temperature for 3 h and 24 h. Low expressions of AtruCBF2, AtruCBF6, AtruCBF7 were detected under cold stress for 24 h, and AtruCBF3 and AtruCBF5 were always down-regulated under cold conditions. Taken together, comprehensive analysis will enhance our understanding of the potential functions of the CBF genes on cold resistance, thereby providing a reference for the introduction of Acer species in our country. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Stress and Plants 2.0)

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15 pages, 995 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Changes in Growth, Ionic Status, Metabolites Content and Antioxidant Activity of Two Ferns Exposed to Shade, Full Sunlight, and Salinity

by Anna Pietrak, Piotr Salachna and Łukasz Łopusiewicz

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(1), 296; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24010296 - 24 Dec 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2248

Abstract

The interactions between ferns and the environment have been frequently researched. However, detailed data on how ferns respond to specific stresses and a combination of stress factors during cultivation are lacking. This study assessed the effects of salinity and full sunlight and the [...] Read more.

The interactions between ferns and the environment have been frequently researched. However, detailed data on how ferns respond to specific stresses and a combination of stress factors during cultivation are lacking. This study assessed the effects of salinity and full sunlight and the combination of both stresses on the growth and selected metabolic parameters of two hardy ferns (Athyrium nipponicum cv. Red Beauty and Dryopteris erythrosora) under production conditions. Hardy ferns are highly interesting ornamental plants that can serve as a potential source of antioxidants for the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. The results showed that in both ferns, salinity and salinity combined with full sunlight lowered the dry weight of the aerial part and potassium/sodium and calcium/potassium ratio compared with control plants. Salinity, full sunlight, and multi-stress did not affect the total polyphenol content in both ferns but increased the total free amino acids and flavonoids in D. erythrosora. In A. nipponicum cv. Red Beauty, all stressors decreased the total free amino acids content and the antioxidant activities determined by ABTS, DPPH, FRAP, and reducing power assays. By contrast, plants of D. erythrosora grown under full sunlight are characterized by higher antioxidant activities determined by DPPH, FRAP, and reducing power assays. Overall, a greater adaptive potential to abiotic stresses was found in D. erythrosora than in A. nipponicum cv. Red Beauty. Our findings shed some light on the physiological mechanisms responsible for sensitivity/tolerance to salinity, full sunlight, and combined stresses in hardy ferns. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Stress and Plants 2.0)

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17 pages, 5097 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Identification of SnRK1 Catalytic α Subunit and FLZ Proteins in Glycyrrhiza inflata Bat. Highlights Their Potential Roles in Licorice Growth and Abiotic Stress Responses

by Chao Yang, Guangyu Shi, Yuping Li, Ming Luo, Hongxia Wang, Jihua Wang, Ling Yuan, Ying Wang and Yongqing Li

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(1), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24010121 - 21 Dec 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2187

Abstract

Sucrose non-fermenting-1-related protein kinase-1 (SnRK1) and its scaffolding proteins, FCS-like zinc finger proteins (FLZs), are well conserved in land plants and involved in various processes of plant growth and stress responses. Glycyrrhiza inflata Bat. is a widely used licorice species with strong abiotic [...] Read more.

Sucrose non-fermenting-1-related protein kinase-1 (SnRK1) and its scaffolding proteins, FCS-like zinc finger proteins (FLZs), are well conserved in land plants and involved in various processes of plant growth and stress responses. Glycyrrhiza inflata Bat. is a widely used licorice species with strong abiotic stress resistance, in which terpenoids and flavonoids are the major bioactive components. Here, we identified 2 SnRK1 catalytic α subunit encoding genes (GiSnRK1α1 and GiSnRK1α2) and 21 FLZ genes in G. inflata. Polygenetic analysis showed that the 21 GiFLZs could be divided into three groups. A total of 10 representative GiFLZ proteins interact with GiSnRK1α1, and they display overlapped subcellular localization (mainly in the nucleus and the cytoplasm) when transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana leaf cells. Coinciding with the existence of various phytohormone-responsive and stress-responsive cis-regulatory elements in the GiSnRK1α and GiFLZ gene promoters, GiFLZs are actively responsive to methyl jasmonic acid (MeJA) and abscisic acid (ABA) treatments, and several GiFLZs and GiSnRK1α1 are regulated by drought and saline-alkaline stresses. Interestingly, GiSnRK1α and 20 of 21 GiFLZs (except for GiFLZ2) show higher expression in the roots than in the leaves. These data provide comprehensive information on the SnRK1 catalytic α subunit and the FLZ proteins in licorice for future functional characterization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Stress and Plants 2.0)

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21 pages, 5969 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Analysis of Wheat GATA Transcription Factor Genes Reveals Their Molecular Evolutionary Characteristics and Involvement in Salt and Drought Tolerance

by Xuan Du, Yuxia Lu, Haocheng Sun, Wenjing Duan, Yingkao Hu and Yueming Yan

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(1), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24010027 - 20 Dec 2022

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2786

Abstract

GATA transcription factor genes participate in plant growth, development, morphogenesis, and stress response. In this study, we carried out a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of wheat GATA transcription factor genes to reveal their molecular evolutionary characteristics and involvement in salt and drought tolerance. In [...] Read more.

GATA transcription factor genes participate in plant growth, development, morphogenesis, and stress response. In this study, we carried out a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of wheat GATA transcription factor genes to reveal their molecular evolutionary characteristics and involvement in salt and drought tolerance. In total, 79 TaGATA genes containing a conserved GATA domain were identified in the wheat genome, which were classified into four subfamilies. Collinear analysis indicated that fragment duplication plays an important role in the amplification of the wheat GATA gene family. Functional disproportionation analysis between subfamilies found that both type I and type II functional divergence simultaneously occurs in wheat GATA genes, which might result in functional differentiation of the TaGATA gene family. Transcriptional expression analysis showed that TaGATA genes generally have a high expression level in leaves and in response to drought and salt stresses. Overexpression of TaGATA62 and TaGATA73 genes significantly enhanced the drought and salt tolerance of yeast and Arabidopsis. Protein–protein docking indicated that TaGATAs can enhance drought and salt tolerance by interacting between the DNA-binding motif of GATA transcription factors and photomorphogenesis-related protein TaCOP9-5A. Our results provided a base for further understanding the molecular evolution and functional characterization of the plant GATA gene family in response to abiotic stresses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Stress and Plants 2.0)

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19 pages, 4591 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Identification of AP2/ERF Superfamily Genes in Juglans mandshurica and Expression Analysis under Cold Stress

by Minghui Zhao, Yan Li, Xinxin Zhang, Xiangling You, Haiyang Yu, Ruixue Guo and Xiyang Zhao

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(23), 15225; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232315225 - 3 Dec 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2034

Abstract

Juglans mandshurica has strong freezing resistance, surviving temperatures as low as −40 °C, making it an important freeze tolerant germplasm resource of the genus Juglans. APETALA2/ethylene responsive factor (AP2/ERF) is a plant-specific superfamily of transcription factors that regulates plant development, growth, and [...] Read more.

Juglans mandshurica has strong freezing resistance, surviving temperatures as low as −40 °C, making it an important freeze tolerant germplasm resource of the genus Juglans. APETALA2/ethylene responsive factor (AP2/ERF) is a plant-specific superfamily of transcription factors that regulates plant development, growth, and the response to biotic and abiotic stress. In this study, phylogenetic analysis was used to identify 184 AP2/ERF genes in the J. mandshurica genome, which were classified into five subfamilies (JmAP2, JmRAV, JmSoloist, JmDREB, and JmERF). A significant amount of discordance was observed in the 184 AP2/ERF genes distribution of J. mandshurica throughout its 16 chromosomes. Duplication was found in 14 tandem and 122 segmental gene pairs, which indicated that duplications may be the main reason for JmAP2/ERF family expansion. Gene structural analysis revealed that 64 JmAP2/ERF genes contained introns. Gene evolution analysis among Juglandaceae revealed that J. mandshurica is separated by 14.23 and 15 Mya from Juglans regia and Carya cathayensis, respectively. Based on promoter analysis in J. mandshurica, many cis-acting elements were discovered that are related to light, hormones, tissues, and stress response processes. Proteins that may contribute to cold resistance were selected for further analysis and were used to construct a cold regulatory network based on GO annotation and JmAP2/ERF protein interaction network analysis. Expression profiling using qRT-PCR showed that 14 JmAP2/ERF genes were involved in cold resistance, and that seven and five genes were significantly upregulated under cold stress in female flower buds and phloem tissues, respectively. This study provides new light on the role of the JmAP2/ERF gene in cold stress response, paving the way for further functional validation of JmAP2/ERF TFs and their application in the genetic improvement of Juglans and other tree species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Stress and Plants 2.0)

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16 pages, 2370 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Relationship between Key Environmental Factors and the Architecture of Fruit Shape and Size in Near-Isogenic Lines of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

by Tingting Zhang, Yuanyuan Hong, Xuan Zhang, Xin Yuan and Shuxia Chen

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(22), 14033; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232214033 - 14 Nov 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1825

Abstract

Fruit shape and size are complex traits influenced by numerous factors, especially genetics and environment factors. To explore the mechanism of fruit shape and size development in cucumber, a pair of near-isogenic lines (NIL) Ln35 and Ln37 were used. The fruit length and [...] Read more.

Fruit shape and size are complex traits influenced by numerous factors, especially genetics and environment factors. To explore the mechanism of fruit shape and size development in cucumber, a pair of near-isogenic lines (NIL) Ln35 and Ln37 were used. The fruit length and diameter, cell length and diameter, and related gene expression were measured. Both the fruit length, diameter, and cell length and diameter showed sigmate curves in the two lines. The cell length and diameter were significantly positively correlated with fruit length and diameter both in two lines. The expression of CsACS2 and CsLNG showed significant positive correlations with fruit length and diameter increment in Ln35, and there was no correlation in Ln37. Furthermore, there were significant positive correlations between fruit size and thermal effectiveness (TE), as well as between fruit size and photosynthetic active radiation (PAR), both in two lines. Two models using logistic regression were formulated to assess the relationships among fruit length and diameter in Ln35 and Ln37, respectively, based on thermal effectiveness and photosynthetic active radiation (TEP). The coefficient R² values of the models were 0.977 and 0.976 in Ln35, and 0.987 and 0.981 in Ln37, respectively. The root mean square error (RMSE) was 12.012 mm and 4.338 mm in Ln35, and 5.17 mm and 7.082 mm in Ln37, respectively, which illustrated the accurate and efficient of these models. These biologically interpreted parameters will provide precision management for monitoring fruit growth and forecasting the time of harvesting under different temperatures and light conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Stress and Plants 2.0)

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18 pages, 4636 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dominant and Priming Role of Waterlogging in Tomato at e[CO₂] by Multivariate Analysis

by Rong Zhou, Fangling Jiang, Xiaqing Yu, Lamis Abdelhakim, Xiangnan Li, Eva Rosenqvist, Carl-Otto Ottosen and Zhen Wu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(20), 12121; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232012121 - 11 Oct 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1870

Abstract

The frequency of waterlogging episodes has increased due to unpredictable and intense rainfalls. However, less is known about waterlogging memory and its interaction with other climate change events, such as elevated CO₂ concentration (e[CO₂]). This study investigated the combined effects [...] Read more.

The frequency of waterlogging episodes has increased due to unpredictable and intense rainfalls. However, less is known about waterlogging memory and its interaction with other climate change events, such as elevated CO₂ concentration (e[CO₂]). This study investigated the combined effects of e[CO₂] and two rounds of waterlogging stress on the growth of cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and wild tomato (S. pimpinellifolium). The aim is to elucidate the interaction between genotypes and environmental factors and thereby to improve crop resilience to climate change. We found that two rounds of treatments appeared to induce different acclimation strategies of the two tomato genotypes. S. pimpinellifolium responded more negatively to the first-time waterlogging than S. lycopersicum, as indicated by decreased photosynthesis and biomass loss. Nevertheless, the two genotypes respond similarly when waterlogging stress recurred, showing that they could maintain a higher leaf photosynthesis compared to single stress, especially for the wild genotype. This showed that waterlogging priming played a positive role in stress memory in both tomato genotypes. Multivariate analysis showed that waterlogging played a dominant role when combined with [CO₂] for both the cultivated and wild tomato genotypes. This work will benefit agricultural production strategies by pinpointing the positive effects of e[CO₂] and waterlogging memory. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Stress and Plants 2.0)

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13 pages, 2706 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Validation of Appropriate Reference Genes for qRT–PCR Normalization in Oat (Avena sativa L.) under UV-B and High-Light Stresses

by Hang Yin, Danni Yin, Mingzhi Zhang, Zhiqiang Gao, Muzhapaer Tuluhong, Xiaoming Li, Jikai Li, Bing Li and Guowen Cui

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(19), 11187; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms231911187 - 23 Sep 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2099

Abstract

Oat is a food and forage crop species widely cultivated worldwide, and it is also an important forage grass in plateau regions of China, where there is a high level of ultraviolet radiation and sunlight. Screening suitable reference genes for oat under UV-B [...] Read more.

Oat is a food and forage crop species widely cultivated worldwide, and it is also an important forage grass in plateau regions of China, where there is a high level of ultraviolet radiation and sunlight. Screening suitable reference genes for oat under UV-B and high-light stresses is a prerequisite for ensuring the accuracy of real-time quantitative PCR (qRT–PCR) data used in plant adaptation research. In this study, eight candidate reference genes (sulfite oxidase, SUOX; victorin binding protein, VBP; actin-encoding, Actin1; protein PSK SIMULATOR 1-like, PSKS1; TATA-binding protein 2-like, TBP2; ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2, UBC2; elongation factor 1-alpha, EF1-α; glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase 1, GAPDH1;) were selected based on previous studies and our oat transcriptome data. The expression stability of these reference genes in oat roots, stems, and leaves under UV-B and high-light stresses was first calculated using three frequently used statistical software (geNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper), and then the comprehensive stability of these genes was evaluated using RefFinder. The results showed that the most stably expressed reference genes in the roots, stems, and leaves of oat under UV-B stress were EF1-α, TBP2, and PSKS1, respectively; the most stably expressed reference genes in the roots, stems, and leaves under high-light stress were PSKS1, UBC2, and PSKS1, respectively. PSKS1 was the most stably expressed reference gene in all the samples. The reliability of the selected reference genes was further validated by analysis of the expression of the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) gene. This study highlights reference genes for accurate quantitative analysis of gene expression in different tissues of oat under UV-B and high-light stresses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Stress and Plants 2.0)

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19 pages, 6621 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Characterization of PIN Auxin Efflux Carrier Gene Family in Mikania micrantha

by Lihua Chen, Minling Cai, Minghao Chen, Weiqian Ke, Yanru Pan, Jundong Huang, Junjie Zhang and Changlian Peng

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(17), 10183; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms231710183 - 5 Sep 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2193

Abstract

Mikania micrantha, recognized as one of the world’s top 10 pernicious weeds, is a rapidly spreading tropical vine that has invaded the coastal areas of South China, causing serious economic losses and environmental damage. Rapid stem growth is an important feature of [...] Read more.

Mikania micrantha, recognized as one of the world’s top 10 pernicious weeds, is a rapidly spreading tropical vine that has invaded the coastal areas of South China, causing serious economic losses and environmental damage. Rapid stem growth is an important feature of M. micrantha which may be related to its greater number of genes involved in auxin signaling and transport pathways and its ability to synthesize more auxin under adverse conditions to promote or maintain stem growth. Plant growth and development is closely connected to the regulation of endogenous hormones, especially the polar transport and asymmetric distribution of auxin. The PIN-FORMED (PIN) auxin efflux carrier gene family plays a key role in the polar transport of auxin and then regulates the growth of different plant tissues, which could indicate that the rapid growth of M. micrantha is closely related to this PIN-dependent auxin regulation. In this study, 11 PIN genes were identified and the phylogenetic relationship and structural compositions of the gene family in M. micrantha were analyzed by employing multiple bioinformatic methods. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that the PIN proteins could be divided into five distinct clades. The structural analysis revealed that three putative types of PIN (canonical, noncanonical and semi-canonical) exist among the proteins according to the length and the composition of the hydrophilic domain. The majority of the PINs were involved in the process of axillary bud differentiation and stem response under abiotic stress, indicating that M. micrantha may regulate its growth, development and stress response by regulating PIN expression in the axillary bud and stem, which may help explain its strong growth ability and environmental adaptability. Our study emphasized the structural features and stress response patterns of the PIN gene family and provided useful insights for further study into the molecular mechanism of auxin-regulated growth and control in M. micrantha. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Stress and Plants 2.0)

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17 pages, 3015 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Leaf Trichome, Venation, and Mesophyll Structural Traits Play Important Roles in the Physiological Responses of Oak Seedlings to Water-Deficit Stress

by Jonathan O. Hernandez and Byung Bae Park

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(15), 8640; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23158640 - 3 Aug 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2775

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the effects of water-deficit stress on the leaf anatomical traits, physiological traits, and stem starch content in Quercus acutissima Carruth and Quercus serrata Murray by subjecting their seedlings to well-watered (WW) and water-deficit stress (WS) treatments. The water [...] Read more.

In this study, we investigated the effects of water-deficit stress on the leaf anatomical traits, physiological traits, and stem starch content in Quercus acutissima Carruth and Quercus serrata Murray by subjecting their seedlings to well-watered (WW) and water-deficit stress (WS) treatments. The water stress-induced changes in trichome density, trichome-to-stomata ratio, mesophyll thickness, vein density, vein distance, vein loopiness, vessel diameter, transpiration (E), stomatal conductance (g_s), water use efficiency (WUE), and starch content were analyzed between two time points. While trichome density did not vary between treatments in Q. acutissima, it dramatically increased in Q. serrata (62.63–98.96 trichomes mm⁻²) at the final week. The WS-treated seedlings had a thicker palisade mesophyll (162.85–169.56 µm) than the WW-treated samples (118.56–132.25 µm) in both species. The vein density and loopiness increased significantly in the WS-treated Q. serrata seedlings. Small-sized vessels (10–50 µm) were more frequent in the WS than the WW in Q. serrata. The E, g_s, WUE, and starch content declined significantly in the WS-treated seedlings compared with WW-treated samples in both species. Further, principal component analysis revealed significant relationships between anatomical and physiological traits, particularly in the WS-treated seedlings of Q. serrata. The coordinated changes in leaf anatomical traits, physiological traits, and stem starch content indicate an important role in the survival of Q. acutissima and Q. serrata seedlings in water-deficit stress environments, although Q. serrata may show higher survivability under prolonged water stress than Q. acutissima. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Stress and Plants 2.0)

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17 pages, 6137 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Wheat Elongator Subunit 4 Negatively Regulates Freezing Tolerance by Regulating Ethylene Accumulation

by Kai Wang, Mingjuan Zhai, Ran Han, Xiaolu Wang, Wenjing Xu, Xiaoxue Zeng, Guang Qi, Takao Komatsuda and Cheng Liu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(14), 7634; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23147634 - 11 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2143

Abstract

Freezing stress is a major factor limiting production and geographical distribution of temperate crops. Elongator is a six subunit complex with histone acetyl-transferase activity and is involved in plant development and defense responses in Arabidopsis thaliana. However, it is unknown whether and [...] Read more.

Freezing stress is a major factor limiting production and geographical distribution of temperate crops. Elongator is a six subunit complex with histone acetyl-transferase activity and is involved in plant development and defense responses in Arabidopsis thaliana. However, it is unknown whether and how an elongator responds to freezing stress in plants. In this study, we found that wheat elongator subunit 4 (TaELP4) negatively regulates freezing tolerance through ethylene signaling. TaELP4 promoter contained cold response elements and was up-regulated in freezing stress. Subcellular localization showed that TaELP4 and AtELP4 localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus. Silencing of TaELP4 in wheat with BSMV-mediated VIGS approach significantly elevated tiller survival rate compared to control under freezing stress, but ectopic expression of TaELP4 in Arabidopsis increased leaf damage and survival rate compared with Col-0. Further results showed that TaELP4 positively regulated ACS2 and ACS6 transcripts, two main limiting enzymes in ethylene biosynthesis. The determination of ethylene content showed that TaELP4 overexpression resulted in more ethylene accumulated than Col-0 under freezing stress. Epigenetic research showed that histone H3K9/14ac levels significantly increased in coding/promoter regions of AtACS2 and AtACS6 in Arabidopsis. RT-qPCR assays showed that the EIN2/EIN3/EIL1-CBFs-COR pathway was regulated by TaELP4 under freezing stress. Taken together, our results suggest that TaELP4 negatively regulated plant responses to freezing stress via heightening histone acetylation levels of ACS2 and ACS6 and increasing their transcription and ethylene accumulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Stress and Plants 2.0)

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28 pages, 5615 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification of Candidate Genes Regulating Drought Tolerance in Pearl Millet

by Animikha Chakraborty, Aswini Viswanath, Renuka Malipatil, Janani Semalaiyappan, Priya Shah, Swarna Ronanki, Abhishek Rathore, Sumer Pal Singh, Mahalingam Govindaraj, Vilas A. Tonapi and Nepolean Thirunavukkarasu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(13), 6907; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23136907 - 21 Jun 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4114

Abstract

Pearl millet is an important crop of the arid and semi-arid ecologies to sustain food and fodder production. The greater tolerance to drought stress attracts us to examine its cellular and molecular mechanisms via functional genomics approaches to augment the grain yield. Here, [...] Read more.

Pearl millet is an important crop of the arid and semi-arid ecologies to sustain food and fodder production. The greater tolerance to drought stress attracts us to examine its cellular and molecular mechanisms via functional genomics approaches to augment the grain yield. Here, we studied the drought response of 48 inbreds representing four different maturity groups at the flowering stage. A set of 74 drought-responsive genes were separated into five major phylogenic groups belonging to eight functional groups, namely ABA signaling, hormone signaling, ion and osmotic homeostasis, TF-mediated regulation, molecular adaptation, signal transduction, physiological adaptation, detoxification, which were comprehensively studied. Among the conserved motifs of the drought-responsive genes, the protein kinases and MYB domain proteins were the most conserved ones. Comparative in-silico analysis of the drought genes across millet crops showed foxtail millet had most orthologs with pearl millet. Of 698 haplotypes identified across millet crops, MyC2 and Myb4 had maximum haplotypes. The protein–protein interaction network identified ABI2, P5CS, CDPK, DREB, MYB, and CYP707A3 as major hub genes. The expression assay showed the presence of common as well as unique drought-responsive genes across maturity groups. Drought tolerant genotypes in respective maturity groups were identified from the expression pattern of genes. Among several gene families, ABA signaling, TFs, and signaling proteins were the prospective contributors to drought tolerance across maturity groups. The functionally validated genes could be used as promising candidates in backcross breeding, genomic selection, and gene-editing schemes in pearl millet and other millet crops to increase the yield in drought-prone arid and semi-arid ecologies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Stress and Plants 2.0)

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16 pages, 2186 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Drought and Methyl Jasmonate Treatment on Primary and Secondary Isoprenoid Metabolites Derived from the MEP Pathway in the White Spruce Picea glauca

by Erica Perreca, Franziska Eberl, Maricel Valeria Santoro, Louwrance Peter Wright, Axel Schmidt and Jonathan Gershenzon

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(7), 3838; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23073838 - 30 Mar 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2806

Abstract

White spruce (Picea glauca) emits monoterpenes that function as defensive signals and weapons after herbivore attack. We assessed the effects of drought and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment, used as a proxy for herbivory, on monoterpenes and other isoprenoids in P. glauca [...] Read more.

White spruce (Picea glauca) emits monoterpenes that function as defensive signals and weapons after herbivore attack. We assessed the effects of drought and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment, used as a proxy for herbivory, on monoterpenes and other isoprenoids in P. glauca. The emission of monoterpenes was significantly increased after MeJA treatment compared to the control, but drought suppressed the MeJA-induced increase. The composition of the emitted blend was altered strongly by stress, with drought increasing the proportion of oxygenated compounds and MeJA increasing the proportion of induced compounds such as linalool and (E)-β-ocimene. In contrast, no treatment had any significant effect on the levels of stored monoterpenes and diterpenes. Among other MEP pathway-derived isoprenoids, MeJA treatment decreased chlorophyll levels by 40%, but had no effect on carotenoids, while drought stress had no impact on either of these pigment classes. Of the three described spruce genes encoding 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase (DXS) catalyzing the first step of the MEP pathway, the expression of only one, DXS2B, was affected by our treatments, being increased by MeJA and decreased by drought. These findings show the sensitivity of monoterpene emission to biotic and abiotic stress regimes, and the mediation of the response by DXS genes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Stress and Plants 2.0)

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20 pages, 2199 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of the Photosynthetic Apparatus Functions by Chlorophyll Fluorescence and P₇₀₀ Absorbance in C3 and C4 Plants under Physiological Conditions and under Salt Stress

by Martin A. Stefanov, Georgi D. Rashkov and Emilia L. Apostolova

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(7), 3768; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23073768 - 29 Mar 2022

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 4339

Abstract

Functions of the photosynthetic apparatus of C3 (Pisum sativum L.) and C4 (Zea mays L.) plants under physiological conditions and after treatment with different NaCl concentrations (0–200 mM) were investigated using chlorophyll a fluorescence (pulse-amplitude-modulated (PAM) and JIP test) and P [...] Read more.

Functions of the photosynthetic apparatus of C3 (Pisum sativum L.) and C4 (Zea mays L.) plants under physiological conditions and after treatment with different NaCl concentrations (0–200 mM) were investigated using chlorophyll a fluorescence (pulse-amplitude-modulated (PAM) and JIP test) and P₇₀₀ photooxidation measurement. Data revealed lower density of the photosynthetic structures (RC/CSo), larger relative size of the plastoquinone (PQ) pool (N) and higher electron transport capacity and photosynthetic rate (parameter R_Fd) in C4 than in C3 plants. Furthermore, the differences were observed between the two studied species in the parameters characterizing the possibility of reduction in the photosystem (PSI) end acceptors (REo/RC, REo/CSo and δRo). Data revealed that NaCl treatment caused a decrease in the density of the photosynthetic structures and relative size of the PQ pool as well as decrease in the electron transport to the PSI end electron acceptors and the probability of their reduction as well as an increase in the thermal dissipation. The effects were stronger in pea than in maize. The enhanced energy losses after high salt treatment in maize were mainly from the increase in the regulated energy losses (Φ_NPQ), while in pea from the increase in non-regulated energy losses (Φ_NO). The reduction in the electron transport from Q_A to the PSI end electron acceptors influenced PSI activity. Analysis of the P₇₀₀ photooxidation and its decay kinetics revealed an influence of two PSI populations in pea after treatment with 150 mM and 200 mM NaCl, while in maize the negligible changes were registered only at 200 mM NaCl. The experimental results clearly show less salt tolerance of pea than maize. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Stress and Plants 2.0)

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17 pages, 1592 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Climate Change Impact on Wheat Performance—Effects on Vigour, Plant Traits and Yield from Early and Late Drought Stress in Diverse Lines

by Yuzhou Lan, Aakash Chawade, Ramune Kuktaite and Eva Johansson

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(6), 3333; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23063333 - 19 Mar 2022

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 3860

Abstract

Global climate change is threatening wheat productivity; improved yield under drought conditions is urgent. Here, diverse spring-wheat lines (modern, old and wheat-rye introgressions) were examined in an image-based early-vigour assay and a controlled-conditions (Biotron) trial that evaluated 13 traits until maturity. Early root [...] Read more.

Global climate change is threatening wheat productivity; improved yield under drought conditions is urgent. Here, diverse spring-wheat lines (modern, old and wheat-rye introgressions) were examined in an image-based early-vigour assay and a controlled-conditions (Biotron) trial that evaluated 13 traits until maturity. Early root vigour was significantly higher in the old Swedish lines (root length 8.50 cm) and introgressed lines with 1R (11.78 cm) and 1RS (9.91 cm) than in the modern (4.20 cm) and 2R (4.67 cm) lines. No significant correlation was noted between early root and shoot vigour. A higher yield was obtained under early drought stress in the 3R genotypes than in the other genotype groups, while no clear patterns were noted under late drought. Evaluating the top 10% of genotypes in terms of the stress-tolerance index for yield showed that root biomass, grains and spikes per plant were accountable for tolerance to early drought, while 1000-grain weight and flag-leaf area were accountable for tolerance to late drought. Early root vigour was determined as an important focus trait of wheat breeding for tolerance to climate-change-induced drought. The responsible genes for the trait should be searched for in these diverse lines. Additional drought-tolerance traits determined here need further elaboration to identify the responsible genes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Stress and Plants 2.0)

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16 pages, 15223 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Changes in Metabolic Profiles of Pea (Pisum sativum L.) as a Result of Repeated Short-Term Soil Drought and Subsequent Re-Watering

by Lesław Bernard Lahuta, Joanna Szablińska-Piernik and Marcin Horbowicz

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(3), 1704; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23031704 - 1 Feb 2022

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3417

Abstract

The metabolic re-arrangements of peas (Pisum sativum L.) under soil drought and re-watering are still not fully explained. The search for metabolic markers of the stress response is important in breeding programs, to allow for the selection drought-resistant cultivars. During the present [...] Read more.

The metabolic re-arrangements of peas (Pisum sativum L.) under soil drought and re-watering are still not fully explained. The search for metabolic markers of the stress response is important in breeding programs, to allow for the selection drought-resistant cultivars. During the present study, changes in the polar metabolite content in pea plant shoots were measured under repeated short-term soil drought and subsequent re-watering. A gas chromatograph, equipped with a mass spectrometer (GC-MS), was used for the metabolite profiling of pea plants during their middle stage of vegetation (14–34 days after sowing, DAS). The major changes occurred in the concentration of amino acids and some soluble carbohydrates. Among them, proline, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), branched-chain amino acids, hydroxyproline, serine, myo-inositol, and raffinose were accumulated under each soil drought and decreased after re-watering. Besides, the obtained results show that the first drought/re-watering cycle increased the ability of pea plants to restore a metabolic profile similar to the control after the second similar stress. The accumulation of proline seems to be an important part of drought memory in pea plants. However, confirmation of this suggestion requires metabolite profiling studies on a broader spectrum of pea cultivars. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Stress and Plants 2.0)

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22 pages, 3748 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Omics Analysis of Brassica napus Roots Subjected to Six Individual Macronutrient Deprivations Reveals Deficiency-Specific Genes and Metabolomic Profiles

by Galatéa Courbet, Aurélien D’Oria, Anne Maillard, Lun Jing, Sylvain Pluchon, Mustapha Arkoun, Stéphanie Pateyron, Christine Paysant Le Roux, Sylvain Diquélou, Alain Ourry, Jacques Trouverie and Philippe Etienne

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(21), 11679; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222111679 - 28 Oct 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2725

Abstract

The early and specific diagnosis of a macronutrient deficiency is challenging when seeking to better manage fertilizer inputs in the context of sustainable agriculture. Consequently, this study explored the potential for transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of Brassica napus roots to characterize the effects [...] Read more.

The early and specific diagnosis of a macronutrient deficiency is challenging when seeking to better manage fertilizer inputs in the context of sustainable agriculture. Consequently, this study explored the potential for transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of Brassica napus roots to characterize the effects of six individual macronutrient deprivations (N, Mg, P, S, K, and Ca). Our results showed that before any visual phenotypic response, all macronutrient deprivations led to a large modulation of the transcriptome and metabolome involved in various metabolic pathways, and some were common to all macronutrient deprivations. Significantly, comparative transcriptomic analysis allowed the definition of a subset of 3282, 2011, 6325, 1384, 439, and 5157 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) specific to N, Mg, P, S, K, and Ca deprivations, respectively. Surprisingly, gene ontology term enrichment analysis performed on this subset of specific DEGs highlighted biological processes that are common to a number of these macronutrient deprivations, illustrating the complexity of nutrient interactions. In addition, a set of 38 biochemical compounds that discriminated the macronutrient deprivations was identified using a metabolic approach. The opportunity to use these specific DEGs and/or biochemical compounds as potential molecular indicators to diagnose macronutrient deficiency is discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Stress and Plants 2.0)

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18 pages, 3711 KiB

Open AccessArticle

SUMO Modification of OsFKBP20-1b Is Integral to Proper Pre-mRNA Splicing upon Heat Stress in Rice

by Hyun-Ji Park, Hae-Myeong Jung, Areum Lee, Seung-Hee Jo, Hyo-Jun Lee, Hyun-Soon Kim, Choon-Kyun Jung, Sung-Ran Min and Hye-Sun Cho

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(16), 9049; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22169049 - 22 Aug 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2755

Abstract

OsFKBP20-1b, a plant-specific cyclophilin protein, has been implicated to regulate pre-mRNA splicing under stress conditions in rice. Here, we demonstrated that OsFKBP20-1b is SUMOylated in a reconstituted SUMOylation system in E.coli and in planta, and that the SUMOylation-coupled regulation was associated with enhanced [...] Read more.

OsFKBP20-1b, a plant-specific cyclophilin protein, has been implicated to regulate pre-mRNA splicing under stress conditions in rice. Here, we demonstrated that OsFKBP20-1b is SUMOylated in a reconstituted SUMOylation system in E.coli and in planta, and that the SUMOylation-coupled regulation was associated with enhanced protein stability using a less SUMOylated OsFKBP20-1b mutant (5KR_OsFKBP20-1b). Furthermore, OsFKBP20-1b directly interacted with OsSUMO1 and OsSUMO2 in the nucleus and cytoplasm, whereas the less SUMOylated 5KR_OsFKBP20-1b mutant had an impaired interaction with OsSUMO1 and 2 in the cytoplasm but not in the nucleus. Under heat stress, the abundance of an OsFKBP20-1b-GFP fusion protein was substantially increased in the nuclear speckles and cytoplasmic foci, whereas the heat-responsiveness was remarkably diminished in the presence of the less SUMOylated 5KR_OsFKBP20-1b-GFP mutant. The accumulation of endogenous SUMOylated OsFKBP20-1b was enhanced by heat stress in planta. Moreover, 5KR_OsFKBP20-1b was not sufficiently associated with the U snRNAs in the nucleus as a spliceosome component. A protoplast transfection assay indicated that the low SUMOylation level of 5KR_OsFKBP20-1b led to inaccurate alternative splicing and transcription under heat stress. Thus, our results suggest that OsFKBP20-1b is post-translationally regulated by SUMOylation, and the modification is crucial for proper RNA processing in response to heat stress in rice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Stress and Plants 2.0)

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21 pages, 14331 KiB

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Tomato Biodiversity and Drought Tolerance: A Multilevel Review

by Veronica Conti, Luigi Parrotta, Marco Romi, Stefano Del Duca and Giampiero Cai

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(12), 10044; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241210044 - 12 Jun 2023

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5706

Abstract

Ongoing global climate change suggests that crops will be exposed to environmental stresses that may affect their productivity, leading to possible global food shortages. Among these stresses, drought is the most important contributor to yield loss in global agriculture. Drought stress negatively affects [...] Read more.

Ongoing global climate change suggests that crops will be exposed to environmental stresses that may affect their productivity, leading to possible global food shortages. Among these stresses, drought is the most important contributor to yield loss in global agriculture. Drought stress negatively affects various physiological, genetic, biochemical, and morphological characteristics of plants. Drought also causes pollen sterility and affects flower development, resulting in reduced seed production and fruit quality. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most economically important crops in different parts of the world, including the Mediterranean region, and it is known that drought limits crop productivity, with economic consequences. Many different tomato cultivars are currently cultivated, and they differ in terms of genetic, biochemical, and physiological traits; as such, they represent a reservoir of potential candidates for coping with drought stress. This review aims to summarize the contribution of specific physio-molecular traits to drought tolerance and how they vary among tomato cultivars. At the genetic and proteomic level, genes encoding osmotins, dehydrins, aquaporins, and MAP kinases seem to improve the drought tolerance of tomato varieties. Genes encoding ROS-scavenging enzymes and chaperone proteins are also critical. In addition, proteins involved in sucrose and CO₂ metabolism may increase tolerance. At the physiological level, plants improve drought tolerance by adjusting photosynthesis, modulating ABA, and pigment levels, and altering sugar metabolism. As a result, we underline that drought tolerance depends on the interaction of several mechanisms operating at different levels. Therefore, the selection of drought-tolerant cultivars must consider all these characteristics. In addition, we underline that cultivars may exhibit distinct, albeit overlapping, multilevel responses that allow differentiation of individual cultivars. Consequently, this review highlights the importance of tomato biodiversity for an efficient response to drought and for preserving fruit quality levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Stress and Plants 2.0)

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16 pages, 6186 KiB

Open AccessReview

Genetic Research Progress: Heat Tolerance in Rice

by Huaqing Liu, Bohong Zeng, Jialiang Zhao, Song Yan, Jianlin Wan and Zhibin Cao

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(8), 7140; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24087140 - 12 Apr 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4477

Abstract

Heat stress (HS) caused by high-temperature weather seriously threatens international food security. Indeed, as an important food crop in the world, the yield and quality of rice are frequently affected by HS. Therefore, clarifying the molecular mechanism of heat tolerance and cultivating heat-tolerant [...] Read more.

Heat stress (HS) caused by high-temperature weather seriously threatens international food security. Indeed, as an important food crop in the world, the yield and quality of rice are frequently affected by HS. Therefore, clarifying the molecular mechanism of heat tolerance and cultivating heat-tolerant rice varieties is urgent. Here, we summarized the identified quantitative trait loci (Quantitative Trait Loci, QTL) and cloned rice heat tolerance genes in recent years. We described the plasma membrane (PM) response mechanisms, protein homeostasis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and photosynthesis under HS in rice. We also explained some regulatory mechanisms related to heat tolerance genes. Taken together, we put forward ways to improve heat tolerance in rice, thereby providing new ideas and insights for future research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Stress and Plants 2.0)

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13 pages, 1452 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Role of Plant Progesterone in Regulating Growth, Development, and Biotic/Abiotic Stress Responses

by Hua Li, Lulu Chen, Hongyu Chen, Ruili Xue, Yuexia Wang and Jianbo Song

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(18), 10945; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms231810945 - 19 Sep 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3033

Abstract

Progesterone is a steroid hormone that performs important functions in mammals. However, studies on its physiological functions in plants have gradually increased in recent years. Therefore, this review summarizes the regulatory functions of progesterone on plant growth and development, as well as its [...] Read more.

Progesterone is a steroid hormone that performs important functions in mammals. However, studies on its physiological functions in plants have gradually increased in recent years. Therefore, this review summarizes the regulatory functions of progesterone on plant growth and development, as well as its response to stress. Moreover, the plant metabolic processes of progesterone are also discussed. Overall, progesterone is ubiquitous in plants and can regulate numerous plant physiological processes at low concentrations. Since progesterone shares similar characteristics with plant hormones, it is expected to become a candidate for plant hormone. However, most of the current research on progesterone in plants is limited to the physiological level, and more molecular level research is needed to clarify progesterone signaling pathways. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Stress and Plants 2.0)

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