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The Impacts of Anthropogenic Environmental Changes on the Antioxidative Systems in Crops

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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 (31 August 2021) | Viewed by 34143

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Brigitta Tóth

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Guest Editor

Institute of Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Interests: abiotic stress; antioxidative enzymes; biofertilizers/biostimulants; biotic stress; free radicals; plant nutrients
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Dr. Makoena Joyce Moloi

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Institute of Plant Science, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
Interests: abiotic stress; antioxidative enzymes; biofertilizers/biostimulants; osmolytes; non-destructive stress detection measurements; drought stress; heat stress; free radicals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants are affected by several kinds of stressors. The two main sources are human activity-induced environmental changes and natural environmental changes. Because of human population growth, agricultural and industrial production is extensively increasing.

Climate change is attributed to increased human activity, namely enhanced fossil burning, deforestation, and greenhouse gas emission. These factors contribute to elevated carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere, thereby increasing annual average temperatures, extreme weather conditions (water imbalance, drought, and inland water), changing soil pH (acidic and alkali soil conditions), and nutrient availability in the soil. These changing environmental conditions act as stressors for crop plants. Plants respond to these factors in various ways, including accelerated production of the toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, this means that changes in the plants’ antioxidant defense system are more important than ever, because humans have an impact on the effectiveness of agricultural production. Furthermore, some agricultural practices such as the over-application of nitrogen fertilizers, unsuitable pest management, and monoculture also contribute to the change of the antioxidant systems of crops. The aim of this Special Issue of Plants is to summarize the responses of plants to changing anthropogenic environments, mainly focusing on antioxidant systems. Guest editors kindly ask scientists to submit their original research or review articles related to following topics:

Influence of heavy metal and aluminum toxicity on antioxidant enzymes
Influence of water imbalance and drought stress on oxidative damage
Stress response of plants, changes in antioxidant metabolism, and plant tolerance to adverse environmental conditions
Unsustainable water management in crops and its effect on the changes of the antioxidative enzymes’ activity
Effects of water and/or soil salinity on crops
Effects of high temperature on antioxidant systems of crops
Effects of biostimulants/biofertilizers on the antioxidative system of abiotic stressed crop plants

Dr. Brigitta Tóth
Dr. Makoena Joyce Moloi
Guest Editors

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Keywords

abiotic stressors
antioxidant system
free radicals
oxidative damage
stress response

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 2145 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterisation and Effects of Different Levels of Water Stress at Different Growth Stages in Malt Barley under Water-Limited Conditions

by Zaid Adekunle Bello, Leon D. van Rensburg, Phesheya Dlamini, Cinisani M. Tfwala and Weldemichael Tesfuhuney

Plants 2022, 11(5), 578; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11050578 - 22 Feb 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2285

Abstract

Malt barley is typically grown in dryland conditions in South Africa. It is an important grain after wheat, but little is known about its water requirements and, most importantly, how it responds to water stress. Determining when water stress sets in and how malt barley responds to water deficit during its growing season is crucial for improved management of crop water requirements. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the response of transpiration (T), stomatal conductance (SC), and leaf water potential (LWP) to water stress for different growth stages of malt barley and to characterise water stress to different levels (mild, moderate, and severe). This was achieved by monitoring the water stress indicators (soil- and plant based) under greenhouse conditions in well-watered and water-stressed lysimeters over two seasons. Water stress was characterised into different levels with the aid of soil water content ‘breaking points’ procedure. During the first season, at the end of tillering, flag leaf, and milk/dough growth stages, which represent severe water stress, plant available water (PAW) was below 35%, 56%, 14%, and 36%, respectively. LWP responded in accordance to depletion of soil water during the growing season, with the lowest recorded value to −5.5 MPa at the end of the milk/dough growth stage in the first season. Results also show that inducing water stress resulted in high variability of T and SC for both seasons. In the second season, plants severely stressed during the anthesis growth stage recorded the least total grains per pot (TGPP), with 29.86 g of grains. The study suggests that malt barley should be prevented from experiencing severe water stress during the anthesis and milk/dough stages for optimum malt barley production. Quantification of stress into different levels will enable the evaluation of the impact of different levels of stress on the development, growth, and yield of barley. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impacts of Anthropogenic Environmental Changes on the Antioxidative Systems in Crops)

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19 pages, 2068 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Examination of the Productivity and Physiological Responses of Maize (Zea mays L.) to Nitrapyrin and Foliar Fertilizer Treatments

by Dalma Rácz, Lóránt Szőke, Brigitta Tóth, Béla Kovács, Éva Horváth, Péter Zagyi, László Duzs and Adrienn Széles

Plants 2021, 10(11), 2426; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10112426 - 10 Nov 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2808

Abstract

Nutrient stress has been known as the main limiting factor for maize growth and yield. Nitrapyrin, as a nitrification inhibitor—which reduces nitrogen loss—and foliar fertilizer treatments have been successfully used to enhance the efficiency of nutrient utilization, however, the impacts of these two technologies on physiological development, enzymatic responses, and productivity of maize are poorly studied. In this paper, the concentration of each stress indicator, such as contents of proline, malondialdehyde (MDA), relative chlorophyll, photosynthetic pigments, and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured in maize leaf tissues. In addition, biomass growth, as well as quantitative and qualitative parameters of yield production were examined. Results confirm the enhancing impact of nitrapyrin on the nitrogen use of maize. Furthermore, lower activity of proline, MDA, SOD, as well as higher photosynthetic activity were shown in maize with a more favorable nutrient supply due to nitrapyrin and foliar fertilizer treatments. The obtained findings draw attention to the future practical relevance of these technologies that can be implemented to enhance the physiological development and productivity of maize. However, this paper also highlights the importance of irrigation, as nutrient uptake from soil by the crops decreases during periods of drought. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impacts of Anthropogenic Environmental Changes on the Antioxidative Systems in Crops)

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14 pages, 2081 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Physiological and Biochemical Responses of European Chestnut (Castanea sativa L.) to Blight Fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica (Murill) Barr)

by Gabriella Enikő Kovács, Lóránt Szőke, Brigitta Tóth, Béla Kovács, Csaba Bojtor, Árpád Illés, László Radócz, Jr., Makoena Joyce Moloi and László Radócz

Plants 2021, 10(10), 2136; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10102136 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2383

Abstract

The most important disease of European chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) is chestnut blight caused by the fungus Cryphonectria parasitica (Murrill) Barr which induces yield reduction in Europe and North America. This study aimed to investigate the impacts of C. parasitica infection on the physiological and biochemical characteristics of European chestnut at two different growth stages, 3 and 6 weeks after the infection. The amount of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, and carotenoids), the relative chlorophyll content, and the photochemical efficiency of the photosystem II (PSII) were measured in the leaves above and below the virulent and hypovirulent C. parasitica infections. The highest values were measured in the control leaves, the lowest values were in the leaves of the upper part of virulent necrosis. Antioxidant enzyme activities such as ascorbate peroxidase (APX), guaiacol peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), proline, and malondialdehyde concentrations were also investigated. In each of these measured values, the lowest level was measured in the control leaves, while the highest was in leaves infected with the virulent fungal strain. By measuring all of these stress indicator parameters the responses of chestnut to C. parasitica infection can be monitored and determined. The results of this study showed that the virulent strain caused more pronounced defense responses of chestnut’s defense system. The measured parameter above the infection was more exposed to the blight fungus disease relative to the leaves below the infection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impacts of Anthropogenic Environmental Changes on the Antioxidative Systems in Crops)

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19 pages, 2232 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Salinity Effects on Gene Expression, Morphological, and Physio-Biochemical Responses of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni In Vitro

by Clara R. Azzam, Sudad K. Al-Taweel, Ranya M. Abdel-Aziz, Karim M. Rabea, Alaa I. B. Abou-Sreea, Mostafa M. Rady and Esmat F. Ali

Plants 2021, 10(4), 820; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10040820 - 20 Apr 2021

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 4365

Abstract

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a little bush, which is cultivated on a large scale in many countries for medicinal purposes and used as a natural sweetener in food products. The present work aims to conduct a protocol for stevia propagation in vitro to produce and introduce Stevia rebaudiana plants as a new sweetener crop to Egyptian agriculture. To efficiently maximize its propagation, it is important to study the influence of stress factors on the growth and development of Stevia rebaudiana grown in vitro. Two stevia varieties were investigated (Sugar High A3 and Spanti) against salt stress. Leaves were used as the source of explants for callus initiation, regeneration, multiplication and rooting. Some stress-related traits, i.e., photosynthetic pigments, proline contents, and enzyme activity for peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) were studied. Murashig and Skoog (MS) medium was supplemented with four NaCl concentrations: 500, 1000, 2000, and 3000 mgL⁻¹, while a salt-free medium was used as the control. The data revealed that salinity negatively affected all studied characters: the number of surviving calli, regeneration%, shoot length, the number of multiple shoots, number of leaf plantlets⁻¹, number of root plantlets⁻¹, and root length. The data also revealed that Sugar High A3 is more tolerant than Spanti. The total chlorophyll content decreased gradually with increasing NaCl concentration. However, the opposite was true for proline content. Isozyme’s fractionation exhibited high levels of variability among the two varieties. Various biochemical parameters associated with salt tolerance were detected in POD. Namely, POD4, POD6, POD 9 at an Rf of 0.34, 0.57, and 0.91 in the Sugar High A3 variety under high salt concentration conditions, as well as POD 10 at an Rf of 0.98 in both varieties under high salt concentrations. In addition, the overexpression of POD 5 and POD 10 at Rf 0.52 and 0.83 was found in both varieties at high NaCl concentrations. Biochemical parameters associated with salt tolerance were detected in PPO (PPO1, PPO2 and PPO4 at an Rf of 0.38, 0.42 and 0.62 in the Sugar High A3 variety under high salt concentrations) and MDH (MDH 3 at an Rf of 0.40 in both varieties at high salt concentrations). Therefore, these could be considered as important biochemical markers associated with salt tolerance and could be applied in stevia breeding programs (marker-assisted selection). This investigation recommends stevia variety Sugar High A3 to be cultivated under salt conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impacts of Anthropogenic Environmental Changes on the Antioxidative Systems in Crops)

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13 pages, 322 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antioxidant Enzymatic Activities and Growth Response of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) to Exogenous Selenium Application

by Ahlam Khalofah, Hussein Migdadi and Ehab El-Harty

Plants 2021, 10(4), 719; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10040719 - 7 Apr 2021

Cited by 40 | Viewed by 4328

Abstract

Selenium is a trace element essential to many organisms, including higher plants. At low concentrations, it enhances growth and development; however, it is toxic at high concentrations. The development of crops with proper levels of selenium will be worth for both nutrition and Se-based therapeutics. This study aimed to investigate the morphological, physiological, and biochemical responses of the quinoa plant to 0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 mg/L of Na₂SeO₃·5H₂O. Selenium at low concentrations (2.5 and 5 mg/L), quinoa plant showed a significant increase of growth parameters, relative water content, photosynthetic pigments, proline, total soluble sugars, and antioxidant enzymes activities as (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD, ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR)), and contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and H₂O₂ were reduced. However, high concentrations (10 and 20) mg/L caused a decrease in plant growth parameters, relative water content, and photosynthetic pigments. In contrast, excess selenium increased the oxidative stress monitored by hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation levels. The enzymatic antioxidant system responded to the selenium supply significantly increased. Osmolytes compounds, such as total sugars and proline, increased in selenium-treated plants. The increase in these osmolytes compounds may show a defense mechanism for the osmotic readjustment of quinoa plants to mitigate the toxicity caused by selenium. This study shows the morphological and physiological responses that must be considered for success in the sustainable cultivation of quinoa plants in environments containing excess selenium. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impacts of Anthropogenic Environmental Changes on the Antioxidative Systems in Crops)

17 pages, 2128 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Foliar Application of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Promotes Drought Stress Tolerance in Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

by Wael M. Semida, Abdelsattar Abdelkhalik, Gamal. F. Mohamed, Taia A. Abd El-Mageed, Shimaa A. Abd El-Mageed, Mostafa M. Rady and Esmat F. Ali

Plants 2021, 10(2), 421; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020421 - 23 Feb 2021

Cited by 197 | Viewed by 10898

Abstract

Water shortage and salinity are major challenges for sustaining global food security. Using nutrients in the nano-scale formulation including zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NP) is a novel fertilization strategy for crops. In this study, two field-based trials were conducted during 2018 and 2019 to examine the influence of three ZnO NP concentrations (0, 50, and 100 ppm) in eggplant grown under full irrigation (100 of crop evapotranspiration; ETc) and drought stress (60% of ETc). Plant growth, yield, water productivity (WP), physiology, biochemistry, and anatomy responses were evaluated. Drought stress significantly decreased membrane stability index (MSI), relative water content (RWC), and photosynthetic efficiency, thus hampered eggplant growth and yield. In contrast, exogenous ZnO NP to water-stressed eggplant resulted in increased RWC and MSI associated with improved stem and leaf anatomical structures and enhanced photosynthetic efficiency. Under drought stress, supplementation of 50 and 100 ppm ZnO NP improved growth characteristics and increased fruit yield by 12.2% and 22.6%, respectively, compared with fully irrigated plants and nonapplied ZnO NP. The highest water productivity (WP) was obtained when eggplant was irrigated with 60% ETc and foliarly treated with 50 or 100 ppm of ZnO NP, which led to 50.8–66.1% increases in WP when compared with nontreated fully irrigated plants. Collectively, these findings demonstrated that foliar spraying ZnO NP gives the utility for alleviating drought stress effects on eggplant cultivated in saline soil. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impacts of Anthropogenic Environmental Changes on the Antioxidative Systems in Crops)

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28 pages, 1141 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exogenously Used 24-Epibrassinolide Promotes Drought Tolerance in Maize Hybrids by Improving Plant and Water Productivity in an Arid Environment

by El-Sayed M. Desoky, Elsayed Mansour, Mohamed M. A. Ali, Mohamed A. T. Yasin, Mohamed I. E. Abdul-Hamid, Mostafa M. Rady and Esmat F. Ali

Plants 2021, 10(2), 354; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020354 - 12 Feb 2021

Cited by 65 | Viewed by 3862

Abstract

The influence of 24-epibrassinolide (EBR₂₄), applied to leaves at a concentration of 5 μM, on plant physio-biochemistry and its reflection on crop water productivity (CWP) and other agronomic traits of six maize hybrids was field-evaluated under semi-arid conditions. Two levels of irrigation water deficiency (IWD) (moderate and severe droughts; 6000 and 3000 m³ water ha⁻¹, respectively) were applied versus a control (well-watering; 9000 m³ water ha⁻¹). IWD reduced the relative water content, membrane stability index, photosynthetic efficiency, stomatal conductance, and rates of transpiration and net photosynthesis. Conversely, antioxidant enzyme activities and osmolyte contents were significantly increased as a result of the increased malondialdehyde content and electrolyte leakage compared to the control. These negative influences of IWD led to a reduction in CWP and grain yield-related traits. However, EBR₂₄ detoxified the IWD stress effects and enhanced all the above-mentioned parameters. The evaluated hybrids varied in drought tolerance; Giza-168 was the best under moderate drought, while Fine-276 was the best under severe drought. Under IWD, certain physiological traits exhibited a highly positive association with yield and yield-contributing traits or CWP. Thus, exogenously using EBR₂₄ for these hybrids could be an effective approach to improve plant and water productivity under reduced available water in semi-arid environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impacts of Anthropogenic Environmental Changes on the Antioxidative Systems in Crops)

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