Multiple Response Mechanisms of Plants to Drought Stress
A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Response to Abiotic Stress and Climate Change".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2024) | Viewed by 15233
Special Issue Editors
Interests: plant morphology and function; leaf traits; climate change; plant growth
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: forest disturbance; global climate change; remote sensing; GIS
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: botany; scaling; geometry; applied spatial statistics; forest ecology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Drought stress poses a significant threat to plant growth, development, and agricultural productivity on a global scale. As climate change intensifies, the frequency and severity of drought events are expected to increase, making it imperative to unravel the complex mechanisms underlying plant responses to drought stress. Understanding how plants adapt and cope with limited water availability is vital for the development of effective strategies to enhance their resilience and ensure sustainable food production.
This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive exploration of the diverse facets of plant response to drought stress. One crucial aspect is the morphological adaptations exhibited by plants in response to water scarcity. These adaptations encompass structural modifications such as alterations in leaf morphology, root architecture, and stomatal behavior, as well as the optimization of water-use efficiency. Investigating these morphological changes will shed light on how plants dynamically adjust their physical characteristics to survive and thrive under drought conditions.
Another significant area of interest is the role of secondary metabolites in plant drought tolerance. Secondary metabolites, including phytochemicals and specialized metabolites, play vital roles in mediating plant responses to environmental stresses. Understanding the biosynthesis pathways, physiological functions, and regulatory mechanisms of these metabolites under drought stress can provide valuable insights into their potential as targets for enhancing drought tolerance in crop plants.
Furthermore, unraveling the physiological and biochemical changes that occur in plants under drought stress is essential. Osmotic adjustment, antioxidant defense systems, photosynthetic efficiency, hormone regulation, and signal transduction pathways are among the physiological and biochemical processes that undergo modifications in response to limited water availability. Exploring these changes will provide a comprehensive understanding of the biochemical and physiological strategies employed by plants to maintain their cellular homeostasis and mitigate the detrimental effects of drought.
At the molecular level, uncovering the underlying mechanisms of plant drought tolerance is crucial. This includes studying gene expression patterns, transcriptional regulation, post-transcriptional modifications, protein signaling networks, and epigenetic modifications involved in drought stress responses. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms will contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex genetic networks that regulate plant responses to drought stress and pave the way for innovative approaches to enhance drought tolerance in crops.
Finally, this Special Issue acknowledges the broader implications of global change on plant responses to drought stress. Factors such as elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, rising temperatures, and altered precipitation patterns interact with drought stress, influencing plant growth, ecosystem dynamics, and the future of agriculture. Investigating these interactions will provide insights into the multifaceted nature of plant responses to drought stress in the context of global change.
By encompassing these various aspects of plant response to drought stress, this Special Issue aims to advance our knowledge and understanding of plant resilience in the face of drought and global climate change. The findings and strategies discussed in this issue will contribute to the development of innovative approaches and sustainable practices for ensuring food security and ecosystem stability in water-limited environments.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Morphological adaptations of plants under drought stress: structural modifications, leaf morphology, root architecture, stomatal behavior, and water-use efficiency.
- Secondary metabolites and their role in plant drought tolerance: biosynthesis pathways, physiological functions, and their impact on plant survival and stress resistance.
- Physiological and biochemical responses of plants to drought stress: osmotic adjustment, antioxidant defense systems, photosynthetic efficiency, hormone regulation, and signal transduction pathways.
- Molecular mechanisms underlying plant drought tolerance: gene expression, transcriptional regulation, post-transcriptional modifications, protein signaling networks, and epigenetic modifications.
- Interactions between drought stress and global change: effects of elevated CO2, temperature, and altered precipitation patterns on plant response to drought stress, ecosystem dynamics, and future climate scenarios.
- Novel approaches and technologies for improving plant drought tolerance: genetic engineering, molecular breeding, omics technologies, and precision agriculture strategies.
Dr. Jie Gao
Dr. Jie Zhao
Dr. Peijian Shi
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- plant morphology
- secondary metabolites
- physiological and biochemical responses
- molecular mechanisms
- global change
- drought stress
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