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A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Physiology and Crop Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 May 2023) | Viewed by 38006

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Adalberto Benavides-Mendoza

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Departamento de Horticultura, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Saltillo 25315, Mexico
Interests: plant biostimulation; plant nutrition; stress tolerance induction; seed priming using nanometric or bulk species of essential and beneficial nutrients; biopolymers; UV radiation; relationships between plant biostimulation, plant nutrition, tolerance to stress, and the nutritional quality and biofortification of vegetables and fruits
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Prof. Dr. Antonio Juárez-Maldonado

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Departamento de Botánica, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Saltillo COAH 25315, México
Interests: plant ecophysiology; inducing tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress in crops; greenhouse crop production; crop biostimulation with nanomaterials and other technologies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Susana González-Morales

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Guest Editor

CONAHCYT-Departamento de Horticultura, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Saltillo COAH 25315, México
Interests: search for strategies to protect crops from different types of stress using biostimulants such as botanical and seaweed extracts, chitosan, and inorganic compounds; study of the mechanism of action of biostimulants in tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress using the gene expression analysis, and the quantification of phytohormones, secondary metabolites and enzymes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biostimulation is a biological phenomenon that consists of the perception and response to external and internal environmental signals. Biostimulation is closely related to phenotypic plasticity. Therefore, it is probable that one is a consequence of the other. Biostimulation, in a more restricted sense oriented to its practical application, occurs when one or more physical (e.g., UV radiation), chemical (e.g., humic substances), or biological (e.g., PGPR) stimuli trigger responses in the form of changes in metabolism, physiology, or gene expression that improve the ability of plants to acclimatize to their environment. The result of biostimulation is a phenotypic change that, depending on its magnitude, can be reversible or irreversible and increases tolerance to stress, metabolic or growth capacity, or the nutritional quality of food.

Biostimulation constitutes the basis for applying agricultural or forestry biostimulation products, which currently make up a relevant part of the pharmacopeia of agricultural production and promise to be a relevant part of the effort to increase the sustainability of food and fiber production.

This Special Issue about Plant Biostimulation offers a publication space for those interested in the mechanisms involved in the responses of plants to physical, chemical, and biological stimuli that improve their physiological performance, productivity, or quality.

Prof. Dr. Adalberto Benavides-Mendoza
Prof. Dr. Susana González-Morales
Dr. Antonio Juárez Maldonado
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

biostimulants
biotic stress
abiotic stress
priming
seed priming
biopriming
stress tolerance
tolerance induction
elicitors

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Plant Biostimulation 2nd Edition in Plants (4 articles)

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19 pages, 2822 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Supplementation of the Plant Conditioner ELICE Vakcina^® Product with β-Aminobutyric Acid and Salicylic Acid May Lead to Trans-Priming Signaling in Barley (Hordeum vulgare)

by Eszter Virág, Márta Kiniczky, Barbara Kutasy, Ágnes Nagy, József Péter Pallos, Levente Laczkó, Csongor Freytag and Géza Hegedűs

Plants 2023, 12(12), 2308; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12122308 - 14 Jun 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1403

Abstract

Plant immunological memory, priming, is a defense mechanism that can be triggered by external stimuli, leading to the activation of biochemical pathways and preparing plants for disease resistance. Plant conditioners improve yield and crop quality through nutrient efficiency and abiotic stress tolerance, which is enhanced by the addition of resistance- and priming-induced compounds. Based on this hypothesis, this study aimed to investigate plant responses to priming actives of different natures, including salicylic acid and beta-aminobutyric acid, in combination with the plant conditioning agent ELICE Vakcina^®. Phytotron experiments and RNA-Seq analyses of differentially expressed genes using the combinations of these three investigated compounds were performed in a barley culture to investigate possible synergistic relationships in the genetic regulatory network. The results indicated a strong regulation of defense responses, which was enhanced by supplemental treatments; however, both synergistic and antagonistic effects were enhanced with one or two components, depending on the supplementation. The overexpressed transcripts were functionally annotated to assess their involvement in jasmonic acid and salicylic acid signaling; however, their determinant genes were highly dependent on the supplemental treatments. Although the effects overlapped, the potential effects of trans-priming the two supplements tested could be largely separated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biostimulation)

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23 pages, 15009 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Graphene–Cu Nanocomposites Induce Tolerance against Fusarium oxysporum, Increase Antioxidant Activity, and Decrease Stress in Tomato Plants

by Diana Cota-Ungson, Yolanda González-García, Gregorio Cadenas-Pliego, Ángel Gabriel Alpuche-Solís, Adalberto Benavides-Mendoza and Antonio Juárez-Maldonado

Plants 2023, 12(12), 2270; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12122270 - 11 Jun 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2669

Abstract

The tomato crop is susceptible to various types of stress, both biotic and abiotic, which affect the morphology, physiology, biochemistry, and genetic regulation of plants. Among the biotic factors, is the phytopathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol), which can cause losses of up to 100%. Graphene–Cu nanocomposites have emerged as a potential alternative for pathogen control, thanks to their antimicrobial activity and their ability to induce the activation of the antioxidant defense system in plants. In the present study, the effect of the Graphene–Cu nanocomposites and the functionalization of graphene in the tomato crop inoculated with Fol was evaluated, analyzing their impacts on the antioxidant defense system, the foliar water potential (Ψ_h), and the efficiency of photosystem II (PSII). The results demonstrated multiple positive effects; in particular, the Graphene–Cu nanocomposite managed to delay the incidence of the “vascular wilt” disease and reduce the severity by 29.0%. This translated into an increase in the content of photosynthetic pigments and an increase in fruit production compared with Fol. In addition, the antioxidant system of the plants was improved, increasing the content of glutathione, flavonoids, and anthocyanins, and the activity of the GPX, PAL, and CAT enzymes. Regarding the impact on the water potential and the efficiency of the PSII, the plants inoculated with Fol and treated with the Graphene–Cu nanocomposite responded better to biotic stress compared with Fol, reducing water potential by up to 31.7% and Fv/Fm levels by 32.0%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biostimulation)

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20 pages, 2677 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Hormetic Effect of Glyphosate on the Morphology, Physiology and Metabolism of Coffee Plants

by Renato Nunes Costa, Natalia da Cunha Bevilaqua, Fábio Henrique Krenchinski, Bruno Flaibam Giovanelli, Vinicius Gabriel Caneppele Pereira, Edivaldo Domingues Velini and Caio Antonio Carbonari

Plants 2023, 12(12), 2249; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12122249 - 8 Jun 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1875

Abstract

Glyphosate is a nonselective herbicide of systemic action that inhibits the enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase, thus compromising amino acid production and consequently the growth and development of susceptible plants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the hormetic effect of glyphosate on the morphology, physiology, and biochemistry of coffee plants. Coffee seedlings (Coffea arabica cv Catuaí Vermelho IAC-144) were transplanted into pots filled with a mixture of soil and substrate and subjected to ten doses of glyphosate: 0, 11.25, 22.5, 45, 90, 180, 360, 720, 1440, and 2880 g acid equivalent (ae) ha⁻¹. Evaluations were performed using the morphological, physiological, and biochemical variables. Data analysis for the confirmation of hormesis occurred with the application of mathematical models. The hormetic effect of glyphosate on coffee plant morphology was determined by the variables plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, and leaf, stem, and total dry mass. Doses from 14.5 to 30 g ae ha⁻¹ caused the highest stimulation. In the physiological analyses, the highest stimulation was observed upon CO₂ assimilation, transpiration, stomatal conductance, carboxylation efficiency, intrinsic water use efficiency, electron transport rate, and photochemical efficiency of photosystem II at doses ranging from 4.4 to 55 g ae ha⁻¹. The biochemical analyses revealed significant increases in the concentrations of quinic acid, salicylic acid, caffeic acid, and coumaric acid, with maximum stimulation at doses between 3 and 140 g ae ha⁻¹. Thus, the application of low doses of glyphosate has positive effects on the morphology, physiology, and biochemistry of coffee plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biostimulation)

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17 pages, 1456 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Allelopathic Activity of Aqueous Extracts of Helianthus annuus L., Grown in Boreal Conditions, on Germination, Development, and Physiological Indices of Pisum sativum L.

by Daiva Janusauskaite

Plants 2023, 12(9), 1920; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091920 - 8 May 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2614

Abstract

Evaluation of the allelopathy relationship between different crops is a sensible strategy fallowing the correct use of positive effects and to avoid the disadvantageous effects among plants. This study aimed to detect the allelopathic effect of aqueous extracts of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), grown in a boreal climatic zone, on the growth, subsequent development, and physiological traits of pea (Pisum sativum L.). Three factors have been studied: donor plant fertilization (unfertilized and fertilized), aqueous extracts from donor plant organs (leaves and stems (L+S), heads (H) and roots (R)); four concentrations of extracts (0%, 25%, 50% and 75%). The aqueous extracts from fertilized sunflower donor plant at 25% and 50% concentration acted as potential biostimulants that stimulated pea seed germination (SG), whereas L+S and R extracts at 75% concentration from unfertilized donor plant inhibited SG, at 4 days after sowing. The aqueous extracts demonstrated a stimulating effect on above-ground and root dry mass, compared to the control. The concentration of extracts demonstrated a significant inhibitory effect on SPAD. R extract revealed the strongest allelopathic effect on physiological traits of pea. L+S and H extracts at 25% concentration had stimulating effects, while 50% and 75% concentrations showed inhibiting effects on the photosynthetic rate. The water use efficiency, stomatal conductance, and stomatal limitation were inhibited, whereas, the transpiration rate, photosynthetic water use efficiency and intercellular CO₂ concentration were stimulated, with an increasing of extract concentrations, comparatively to the control. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biostimulation)

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16 pages, 968 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Organic Amendments Improved the Productivity and Bio-Fortification of Fine Rice by Improving Physiological Responses and Nutrient Homeostasis under Salinity Stress

by Imran Khan, Sikandar Mahmood, Muhammad Umer Chattha, Muhammad Bilal Chattha, Shahbaz Ahmad, Masood Iqbal Awan, Fatmah M. Alqahtani, Mohamed Hashem, Haifa Abdulaziz Sakit Alhaithloul, Sameer H. Qari, Faisal Mahmood and Muhammad Umair Hassan

Plants 2023, 12(8), 1644; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12081644 - 13 Apr 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2105

Abstract

Salinity stress (SS) is major abiotic stress that is seriously limiting crop production across the globe. The application of organic amendments (OA) mitigate the effects of salinity and improves soil health and crop production on a sustainable basis. However, limited studies are conducted to determine the impact of farmyard manure (FYM) and press mud (PM) on the performance of rice crop. Therefore, we performed this study to determine the impacts of FYM and PM on the growth, physiological and biochemical attributes, yield, and grain bio-fortification of rice crop under SS. The experiment was comprised of SS levels; control, 6 and 12 dS m⁻¹ SS and OA; control, FYM: 5%, press mud 5% and combination of FYM (5%) + PM (5%). Soil salinity imposed deleterious impacts on the growth, yield, and grain quality of rice, however, OA appreciably offset the deleterious impacts of SS and improved the growth, yield, and grain bio-fortification of rice crop. The combined application of FYM + PM improved the growth and yield of rice through an increase in chlorophyll contents, leaf water contents, anti-oxidant activities (ascorbate peroxidise: APX; catalase: CAT, peroxidise: POD and ascorbic acid: AsA), K⁺ accumulation and decrease in Na⁺/K⁺ ratio, electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), Na⁺ accumulation. Moreover, the combined application of FYM + PM significantly improved the grain protein (5.84% and 12.90%), grain iron (40.95% and 42.37%), and grain zinc contents (36.81% and 50.93%) at 6 and 12 dS m⁻¹ SS. Therefore, this study suggested that the application of FYM and PM augmented the growth, yield, physiology, biochemistry, and grain bio-fortification of rice and proved to be a good practice for better rice production in salt-affected soils. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biostimulation)

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23 pages, 3160 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of Seaweed Generates Changes in the Substrate and Stimulates the Growth of Tomato Plants

by Adrian Alejandro Espinosa-Antón, Juan Francisco Zamora-Natera, Patricia Zarazúa-Villaseñor, Fernando Santacruz-Ruvalcaba, Carla Vanessa Sánchez-Hernández, Edith Águila Alcántara, Martha Isabel Torres-Morán, Ana Paulina Velasco-Ramírez and Rosalba Mireya Hernández-Herrera

Plants 2023, 12(7), 1520; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12071520 - 31 Mar 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4138

Abstract

Ulva ohnoi is a cosmopolitan green seaweed with commercial potential given the biomass that may be generated. We evaluated the effects of substrate changes induced by U. ohnoi application on the vegetative response of tomato plants under greenhouse conditions. First, the decomposition dynamics and N release of the dry seaweed biomass were studied using the litterbag method. Subsequently, we evaluated the effect of seaweed powder (SP) or seaweed extract (SE) applications on substrate and plant growth. Additionally, the growth parameters responses evaluated were related to the changes in substrate properties associated with each treatment. The results showed that the dry seaweed biomass has a rapid rate of degradation (k = 0.07 day⁻¹) and N release (k = 0.024 day⁻¹). The SP application improved the physicochemical and biological characteristics of the substrate by increasing the availability of minerals, the fungi:bacteria ratio, and the growth morphophysiological parameters (length, area, dry and fresh weight), chlorophyll and mineral content. In contrast, SE treatment showed a positive effect on the root, mineral content, and soil microbes. This study highlights the agricultural potential of U. ohnoi powder as an alternative supplement that supports nutrition and promotes the vegetative growth of plants cultivated in soilless horticultural systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biostimulation)

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17 pages, 1192 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Willow (Salix babylonica) Extracts Can Act as Biostimulants for Enhancing Salinity Tolerance of Maize Grown in Soilless Culture

by Hande Mutlu-Durak, Yagmur Arikan and Bahar Yildiz Kutman

Plants 2023, 12(4), 856; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12040856 - 14 Feb 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2836

Abstract

Salinity negatively affects agricultural production by reducing crop growth and yield. Botanical biostimulants can be used as innovative and sustainable tools to cope with abiotic stress. In this study, salicylic acid (SA) (25 µM) and willow leaf (WL) (0.1 and 0.2%) and bark (WB) (0.1 and 0.2%) extracts were applied as plant-based biostimulants to hydroponically grown maize in the absence and presence of salinity stress (60 mM NaCl). The hormone-like activity and mineral composition of willow extracts were analyzed, and the effects of willow extracts on growth parameters, chlorophyll content, antioxidative enzyme activities, protein levels and mineral nutrient concentrations of maize plants were measured. Within the tested biostimulant applications, 0.2% WB, 0.1% WL and 0.2% WL gave the most promising results, considering the stress alleviating effects. The shoot biomass was increased up to 50% with 0.1% WL treatment and Na⁺ uptake was reduced with biostimulant applications under saline conditions. Under stress, the protein concentrations of maize leaves were enhanced by 50% and 80% with high doses of WB and WL applications, respectively. Results indicate that willow tree prunings can be valuable bio-economy resources, and aqueous extracts prepared from their leaves and barks can be used as effective and eco-friendly biostimulants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biostimulation)

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18 pages, 3281 KiB

Open AccessArticle

‘Garlic-lipo’4Plants: Liposome-Encapsulated Garlic Extract Stimulates ABA Pathway and PR Genes in Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

by Barbara Kutasy, Márta Kiniczky, Kincső Decsi, Nikoletta Kálmán, Géza Hegedűs, Zoltán Péter Alföldi and Eszter Virág

Plants 2023, 12(4), 743; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12040743 - 7 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2205

Abstract

Recently, environmentally friendly crop improvements using next-generation plant biostimulants (PBs) come to the forefront in agriculture, regardless of whether they are used by scientists, farmers, or industries. Various organic and inorganic solutions have been investigated by researchers and producers, focusing on tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses, crop quality, or nutritional deficiency. Garlic has been considered a universal remedy ever since antiquity. A supercritical carbon dioxide garlic extract encapsulated in nanoscale liposomes composed of plant-derived lipids was examined as a possible PB agent. The present study focused on the characterization of the genes associated with the pathways involved in defense response triggered by the liposome nanoparticles that were loaded with supercritical garlic extracts. This material was applied to Triticum aestivum in greenhouse experiments using foliar spraying. The effects were examined in a large-scale genome-wide transcriptional profiling experiment by collecting the samples four times (0 min, used as a control, and 15 min, 24 h, and 48 h after spraying). Based on a time-course expression analysis, the dynamics of the cellular response were determined by examining differentially expressed genes and applying a cluster analysis. The results suggested an enhanced expression of abscisic acid (ABA) pathway and pathogenesis-related (PR) genes, of which positive regulation was found for the AP2-, C2H2-, HD-ZIP-, and MYB-related transcription factor families. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biostimulation)

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18 pages, 2170 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Various Binders on the Properties of Microalgae-Enriched Urea Granules

by Austėja Mikolaitienė and Rasa Šlinkšienė

Plants 2022, 11(23), 3362; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11233362 - 3 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2285

Abstract

As the human population grows and the demand for food grows with it, the recycling, or containment of materials is important for resource consumption. Nitrogen is one of the main plant nutrients, most commonly used as the chemical substance urea. Because urea is very soluble and at a relatively low temperature (50–60 °C) it hydrolyses easily (releases N₂ and CO₂) in soil solutions; this is why very large amounts of nitrogen are lost and greenhouse gases are released and this causes serious environmental problems. Therefore, the aim of this study was to create microalgae-enriched nitrogen fertilizers with different binders that inhibit nitrogen leaching from the soil. Binders such as water (W), polyvinyl acetate dispersion (PVAD), molasses (M), potato starch (S), and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) were used in this study and their influence on leaching was analysed. Granular fertilizers were produced in a drum granulator and dryer under equal conditions: granulation time was 7 min, granulation took place at a temperature of 50–60 °C, at a drum rotation speed of 26 rpm, with a 5° inclination angle of the drum. The results show that the highest quantity of the marketable fraction was 43.01 (±3.068%) and it was obtained using urea, with 10% (w/w) microalgae additive, and 11.4% (w/w) of 5% concentration molasses solution. The granules of the fertilizer marketable fraction are similar in size because the size guide number (SGN) of the granules vary in a narrow range and fall within the interval of 287 to 304; this means that the average particle size is ~3 mm. When different binders were used, the average static crushing strength of the granulated fertilizers was lower (approximately 6–12 MPa) than using water alone (approximately 12–16 MPa), but the lower values still fell into the required range. Additives of PVAD solutions and molasses solutions have been found to retain nitrogen in sand. The method of one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to evaluate the results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biostimulation)

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24 pages, 4152 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

The Biostimulant Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extracts of Sargassum spp. in Tomato Seedlings under Salt Stress

by Oscar Sariñana-Aldaco, Adalberto Benavides-Mendoza, Armando Robledo-Olivo and Susana González-Morales

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3180; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223180 - 21 Nov 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2743

Abstract

Currently, the use of biostimulants in agriculture is a tool for mitigating certain environmental stresses. Brown algae extracts have become one of the most important categories of biostimulants in agriculture, and are derived from the different uses and positive results obtained under optimal and stressful conditions. This study aimed to examine the efficacy of a foliar application of a hydroalcoholic extract of Sargassum spp. and two controls (a commercial product based on Ascophyllum nodosum and distilled water) with regard to growth, the antioxidant system, and the expression of defense genes in tomato seedlings grown in nonsaline (0 mM NaCl) and saline (100 mM NaCl) conditions. In general, the results show that the Sargassum extract increased the growth of the seedlings at the end of the experiment (7.80%) compared to the control; however, under saline conditions, it did not modify the growth. The Sargassum extract increased the diameter of the stem at the end of the experiment in unstressed conditions by 14.85% compared to its control and in stressful conditions by 16.04% compared to its control. Regarding the accumulation of total fresh biomass under unstressed conditions, the Sargassum extract increased it by 19.25% compared to its control, and the accumulation of total dry biomass increased it by 18.11% compared to its control. Under saline conditions, the total of fresh and dry biomass did not change. Enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants increased with NaCl stress and the application of algal products (Sargassum and A. nodosum), which was positively related to the expression of the defense genes evaluated. Our results indicate that the use of the hydroalcoholic extract of Sargassum spp. modulated different physiological, metabolic, and molecular processes in tomato seedlings, with possible synergistic effects that increased tolerance to salinity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biostimulation)

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16 pages, 2161 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bio-Stimulating Effect of Natural Polysaccharides from Lobularia maritima on Durum Wheat Seedlings: Improved Plant Growth, Salt Stress Tolerance by Modulating Biochemical Responses and Ion Homeostasis

by Mohamed Taieb Bouteraa, Avinash Mishra, Walid Ben Romdhane, Anis Ben Hsouna, Kadambot H. M. Siddique and Rania Ben Saad

Plants 2022, 11(15), 1991; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11151991 - 30 Jul 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2906

Abstract

Bioactivities of polysaccharides derived from halophyte plants have gained attention in recent years. The use of biostimulants in agriculture is an innovative method of dealing with environmental stressors affecting plant growth and development. Here, we investigated the use of natural polysaccharides derived from the halophyte plant Lobularia maritima (PSLm) as a biostimulant in durum wheat seedlings under salt stress. Treatment with polysaccharide extract (0.5, 1, and 2 mg/mL PSLm) stimulated in vitro wheat growth, including germination, shoot length, root length, and fresh weight. PSLm at 2 mg/mL provided tolerance to plants against NaCl stress with improved membrane stability and low electrolyte leakage, increased antioxidant activities (catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)), enhanced leaf chlorophyll fluorescence, proline, and total sugar contents, decreased lipid peroxidation (MDA), and reactive oxygen species (H₂O₂) levels, and coordinated the efflux and compartmentation of intracellular ions. The expression profile analyses of ten stress-related genes (NHX1, HKT1.4, SOS1, SOD, CAT, GA20-ox1, GA3-ox1, NRT1.1, NRT2.1, and GS) using RT-qPCR revealed the induction of several key genes in durum wheat growing in media supplemented with PSLm extract, even in unstressed conditions that could be related to the observed tolerance. This study revealed that PSLm extract contributes to salt tolerance in durum wheat seedlings, thereby enhancing their reactive oxygen species scavenging ability, and provided evidence for exploring PSLm as a plant biostimulant for sustainable and organic agriculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biostimulation)

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34 pages, 1469 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Strawberry Biostimulation: From Mechanisms of Action to Plant Growth and Fruit Quality

by Carlos Alberto Garza-Alonso, Emilio Olivares-Sáenz, Susana González-Morales, Marcelino Cabrera-De la Fuente, Antonio Juárez-Maldonado, José Antonio González-Fuentes, Gonzalo Tortella, Marin Virgilio Valdés-Caballero and Adalberto Benavides-Mendoza

Plants 2022, 11(24), 3463; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11243463 - 10 Dec 2022

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4342

Abstract

The objective of this review is to present a compilation of the application of various biostimulants in strawberry plants. Strawberry cultivation is of great importance worldwide, and, there is currently no review on this topic in the literature. Plant biostimulation consists of using or applying physical, chemical, or biological stimuli that trigger a response—called induction or elicitation—with a positive effect on crop growth, development, and quality. Biostimulation provides tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress, and more absorption and accumulation of nutrients, favoring the metabolism of the plants. The strawberry is a highly appreciated fruit for its high organoleptic and nutraceutical qualities since it is rich in phenolic compounds, vitamins, and minerals, in addition to being a product with high commercial value. This review aims to present an overview of the information on using different biostimulation techniques in strawberries. The information obtained from publications from 2000–2022 is organized according to the biostimulant’s physical, chemical, or biological nature. The biochemical or physiological impact on plant productivity, yield, fruit quality, and postharvest life is described for each class of biostimulant. Information gaps are also pointed out, highlighting the topics in which more significant research effort is necessary. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biostimulation)

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27 pages, 2602 KiB

Open AccessReview

Reactive Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Sulfur Species (RONSS) as a Metabolic Cluster for Signaling and Biostimulation of Plants: An Overview

by Julia Medrano-Macías, Adriana Carolina Flores-Gallegos, Erika Nava-Reyna, Isidro Morales, Gonzalo Tortella, Susana Solís-Gaona and Adalberto Benavides-Mendoza

Plants 2022, 11(23), 3203; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11233203 - 23 Nov 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3953

Abstract

This review highlights the relationship between the metabolism of reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and H₂S-reactive sulfur species (RSS). These three metabolic pathways, collectively termed reactive oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur species (RONSS), constitute a conglomerate of reactions that function as an energy dissipation mechanism, in addition to allowing environmental signals to be transduced into cellular information. This information, in the form of proteins with posttranslational modifications or signaling metabolites derived from RONSS, serves as an inducer of many processes for redoxtasis and metabolic adjustment to the changing environmental conditions to which plants are subjected. Although it is thought that the role of reactive chemical species was originally energy dissipation, during evolution they seem to form a cluster of RONSS that, in addition to dissipating excess excitation potential or reducing potential, also fulfils essential signaling functions that play a vital role in the stress acclimation of plants. Signaling occurs by synthesizing many biomolecules that modify the activity of transcription factors and through modifications in thiol groups of enzymes. The result is a series of adjustments in plants’ gene expression, biochemistry, and physiology. Therefore, we present an overview of the synthesis and functions of the RONSS, considering the importance and implications in agronomic management, particularly on the biostimulation of crops. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biostimulation)

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