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What Makes the Life of Stressed Plants a Little Easier?...
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What Makes the Life of Stressed Plants a Little Easier? Defense Mechanisms against Adverse Conditions

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2022) | Viewed by 66392

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A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ewa Muszyńska

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Guest Editor
Department of Botany, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, 159 Nowoursynowska St., 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
Interests: cell ultrastructure; plant anatomy and physiology; signaling molecules; abiotic stress mechanisms and adaptation; tissue culture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Kinga Dziurka

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
The Franciszek Górski Institute of Plant Physiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
Interests: biochemical and physiological markers of stress in plants especially hormonal regulation; polyamines; phenylpropanoids; carbohydrates; antioxidants; drought; alleviation of stress effects; in vitro cultures; seed dormancy; haploidization; embryogenesis; OMA (oat×maize addition); others related to the response of plants environmental stresses
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Mateusz Labudda

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
Interests: molecular, biochemical, and physiological mechanisms of plant responses to pathogens and pests especially reactive oxygen and nitrogen species; enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants; sugars as signaling molecules; regulation of proteolysis and nitrogen metabolism; additional research topics concern the plant abiotic stress especially metallic trace elements and mechanisms of combined stresses
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants experience a wide array of environmental stimuli, some of which, including a high concentration of heavy metals, salinity, extremes of temperature, water shortage, gradation of pathogens and pests, have a negative impact on their metabolism and growth. As generally motionless organisms, plants are unable to get away from such stressful conditions, and they, therefore, require various mechanisms to recognize and cope with the circumstances in which they find themselves. In the response to both biotic and abiotic stressors, fine adjustments in amino acids, proteins, and carbohydrate metabolism, the maintenance of redox balance as well as structural adaptation seem to be the basis of survival in harsh growing conditions. Furthermore, all defense responses require effective signaling involving different types of molecules. Among them, there is an urgent need for intensive research into transcription factors, important regulators of gene expression during plant growth and development under both optimal and stressful environmental conditions. An explanation of their roles in complex stress responses remains fragmentary. On the other hand, many different types of molecules, such as phytohormones or reactive oxygen–nitrogen–sulfur species, have the potential to act as priming agents or protectants, whose application constitutes a possible method against a range of stressors and provides intracellular acclimatization. Thus, considering the high interest in the multiple approaches to stress, the general concept of this Special Issue is to broaden and summarize the latest knowledge of the stress biology field. In particular, original and review papers related to structural, transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics, and other integrated stress aspects and its mitigation are welcome.

Dr. Ewa Muszyńska
Dr. Kinga Dziurka
Dr. Mateusz Labudda
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • Abiotic and biotic stress
  • Antioxidants
  • Cell and systemic adaptation
  • Multiple stressor effects
  • Structural, metabolic, and genetic regulation
  • ROS/RNS metabolism
  • Signaling
  • Transcription factors

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Published Papers (16 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

6 pages, 225 KiB  
Editorial
What Makes the Life of Stressed Plants a Little Easier? Defense Mechanisms against Adverse Conditions
by Ewa Muszyńska, Kinga Dziurka and Mateusz Labudda
Plants 2023, 12(5), 1040; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12051040 - 24 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1296
Abstract
Plants experience a wide array of external factors, some of which negatively affect their metabolism, growth, and development [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Makes the Life of Stressed Plants a Little Easier? Defense Mechanisms against Adverse Conditions)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

20 pages, 7044 KiB  
Article
Salinity Tolerance, Ion Accumulation Potential and Osmotic Adjustment In Vitro and In Planta of Different Armeria maritima Accessions from a Dry Coastal Meadow
by Līva Purmale, Astra Jēkabsone, Una Andersone-Ozola and Gederts Ievinsh
Plants 2022, 11(19), 2570; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11192570 - 29 Sep 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1617
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to compare tolerance to salinity and ion accumulation potential of Armeria maritima subsp. elongata. Three accessions (AM1 and AM2, both from Latvia, and AM3 from Sweden) from relatively dry sandy soil habitats in the Baltic [...] Read more.
The aim of the present study was to compare tolerance to salinity and ion accumulation potential of Armeria maritima subsp. elongata. Three accessions (AM1 and AM2, both from Latvia, and AM3 from Sweden) from relatively dry sandy soil habitats in the Baltic Sea region were selected and compared using both in vitro cultivated shoot explants and long-term soil-cultivated plants at flowering stage. Growth of root non-forming explants treated with increasing concentrations of NaCl was significantly inhibited starting from 110 mmol L−1, and the rate of shoot formation was even more sensitive. Significant differences in morphology and responses to salinity were found between different accessions. For soil-grown plants, biomass accumulation in above-ground parts was relatively little affected by salinity in AM1 and AM2 in comparison to that in AM3. Differences in ion accumulation were evident between the accessions as well as in respect to cultivation system used. Maximum accumulation capacity for Na+ was up to 2.5 mol kg−1 both in shoot explant tissues and in old leaves of soil-grown plants treated with NaCl, but that for K+ reached 4.0 mol kg−1 in old leaves of soil-grown plants treated with KCl. Non-ionic component of osmotic value was relatively high in old leaves and significantly increased under NaCl treatment, especially for AM2 and AM3 plants at moderate salinity, but in AM1 only at high salinity. In contrast, it significantly decreased in old leaves of AM2 plants treated with increasing concentration of KCl. It can be concluded that a wide salinity tolerance exists within A. maritima accessions from dry sandy soil habitats, associated with the ability to accumulate surplus ions both in salt glands and old leaves. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Makes the Life of Stressed Plants a Little Easier? Defense Mechanisms against Adverse Conditions)
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18 pages, 2682 KiB  
Article
Bonactin and Feigrisolide C Inhibit Magnaporthe oryzae Triticum Fungus and Control Wheat Blast Disease
by S. M. Fajle Rabby, Moutoshi Chakraborty, Dipali Rani Gupta, Mahfuzur Rahman, Sanjoy Kumar Paul, Nur Uddin Mahmud, Abdullah Al Mahbub Rahat, Ljupcho Jankuloski and Tofazzal Islam
Plants 2022, 11(16), 2108; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11162108 - 12 Aug 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2861
Abstract
Wheat blast caused by the Magnaporthe oryzaeTriticum (MoT) pathotype is one of the most damaging fungal diseases of wheat. During the screening of novel bioactive secondary metabolites, we observed two marine secondary metabolites, bonactin and feigrisolide C, extracted from the marine bacteria [...] Read more.
Wheat blast caused by the Magnaporthe oryzaeTriticum (MoT) pathotype is one of the most damaging fungal diseases of wheat. During the screening of novel bioactive secondary metabolites, we observed two marine secondary metabolites, bonactin and feigrisolide C, extracted from the marine bacteria Streptomyces spp. (Act 8970 and ACT 7619), remarkably inhibited the hyphal growth of an MoT isolate BTJP 4 (5) in vitro. In a further study, we found that bonactin and feigrisolide C reduced the mycelial growth of this highly pathogenic isolate in a dose-dependent manner. Bonactin inhibited the mycelial development of BTJP 4 (5) more effectively than feigrisolide C, with minimal concentrations for inhibition being 0.005 and 0.025 µg/disk, respectively. In a potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium, these marine natural products greatly reduced conidia production in the mycelia. Further bioassays demonstrated that these secondary metabolites could inhibit the MoT conidia germination, triggered lysis, or conidia germinated with abnormally long branched germ tubes that formed atypical appressoria (low melanization) of BTJP 4 (5). Application of these natural products in a field experiment significantly protected wheat from blast disease and increased grain yield compared to the untreated control. As far as we are aware, this is the first report of bonactin and feigrisolide C that inhibited mycelial development, conidia production, conidial germination, and morphological modifications in the germinated conidia of an MoT isolate and suppressed wheat blast disease in vivo. To recommend these compounds as lead compounds or biopesticides for managing wheat blast, more research is needed with additional MoT isolates to identify their exact mode of action and efficacy of disease control in diverse field conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Makes the Life of Stressed Plants a Little Easier? Defense Mechanisms against Adverse Conditions)
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20 pages, 1344 KiB  
Article
Foliar Application of Nano-Silicon Improves the Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of ‘Kalamata’ Olive Subjected to Deficit Irrigation in a Semi-Arid Climate
by Islam F. Hassan, Rahaf Ajaj, Maybelle S. Gaballah, Chukwuma C. Ogbaga, Hazem M. Kalaji, Harlene M. Hatterman-Valenti and Shamel M. Alam-Eldein
Plants 2022, 11(12), 1561; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11121561 - 13 Jun 2022
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 4026
Abstract
In Egypt’s arid and semi-arid lands where the main olive production zone is located, evapotranspiration is higher than rainfall during winter. Limited research has used nanomaterials, especially nano-silicon (nSi) to improve the growth, development, and productivity of drought-stressed fruit trees, amid the global [...] Read more.
In Egypt’s arid and semi-arid lands where the main olive production zone is located, evapotranspiration is higher than rainfall during winter. Limited research has used nanomaterials, especially nano-silicon (nSi) to improve the growth, development, and productivity of drought-stressed fruit trees, amid the global water scarcity problem. To assess the role of nSi on drought-sensitive ‘Kalamata’ olive tree growth, and biochemical and physiological changes under drought conditions, a split-plot experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design. The trees were foliar sprayed with nSi in the field using nine treatments (three replicates each) of 0, 150, and 200 mg·L−1 under different irrigation regimes (100, 90, and 80% irrigation water requirements ‘IWR’) during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Drought negatively affected the trees, but both concentrations of nSi alleviated drought effects at reduced irrigation levels, compared to the non-stressed trees. Foliar spray of both concentrations of nSi at a moderate level (90% IWR) of drought resulted in improved yield and fruit weight and reduced fruit drop percentage, compared to 80% IWR. In addition, there were reduced levels of osmoprotectants such as proline, soluble sugars, and abscisic acid (ABA) with less membrane damage expressed as reduced levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), H2O2 and electrolyte leakage at 90% compared to 80% IWR. These results suggest that ‘Kalamata’ olive trees were severely stressed at 80% compared to 90% IWR, which was not surprising as it is classified as drought sensitive. Overall, the application of 200 mg·L−1 nSi was beneficial for the improvement of the mechanical resistance, growth, and productivity of moderately-stressed (90% IWR) ‘Kalamata’ olive trees under the Egyptian semi-arid conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Makes the Life of Stressed Plants a Little Easier? Defense Mechanisms against Adverse Conditions)
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29 pages, 7711 KiB  
Article
Genome-Wide Analysis and Characterization of the Proline-Rich Extensin-like Receptor Kinases (PERKs) Gene Family Reveals Their Role in Different Developmental Stages and Stress Conditions in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
by Mahipal Singh Kesawat, Bhagwat Singh Kherawat, Anupama Singh, Prajjal Dey, Snehasish Routray, Chinmayee Mohapatra, Debanjana Saha, Chet Ram, Kadambot H. M. Siddique, Ajay Kumar, Ravi Gupta, Sang-Min Chung and Manu Kumar
Plants 2022, 11(4), 496; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11040496 - 11 Feb 2022
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 3715
Abstract
Proline-rich extensin-like receptor kinases (PERKs) are a class of receptor kinases implicated in multiple cellular processes in plants. However, there is a lack of information on the PERK gene family in wheat. Therefore, we identified 37 PERK genes in wheat to understand their [...] Read more.
Proline-rich extensin-like receptor kinases (PERKs) are a class of receptor kinases implicated in multiple cellular processes in plants. However, there is a lack of information on the PERK gene family in wheat. Therefore, we identified 37 PERK genes in wheat to understand their role in various developmental processes and stress conditions. Phylogenetic analysis of PERK genes from Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, Glycine max, and T. aestivum grouped them into eight well-defined classes. Furthermore, synteny analysis revealed 275 orthologous gene pairs in B. distachyon, Ae. tauschii, T. dicoccoides, O. sativa and A. thaliana. Ka/Ks values showed that most TaPERK genes, except TaPERK1, TaPERK2, TaPERK17, and TaPERK26, underwent strong purifying selection during evolutionary processes. Several cis-acting regulatory elements, essential for plant growth and development and the response to light, phytohormones, and diverse biotic and abiotic stresses, were predicted in the promoter regions of TaPERK genes. In addition, the expression profile of the TaPERK gene family revealed differential expression of TaPERK genes in various tissues and developmental stages. Furthermore, TaPERK gene expression was induced by various biotic and abiotic stresses. The RT-qPCR analysis also revealed similar results with slight variation. Therefore, this study’s outcome provides valuable information for elucidating the precise functions of TaPERK in developmental processes and diverse stress conditions in wheat. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Makes the Life of Stressed Plants a Little Easier? Defense Mechanisms against Adverse Conditions)
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12 pages, 2174 KiB  
Article
A Possible Mode of Action of Methyl Jasmonate to Induce the Secondary Abscission Zone in Stems of Bryophyllum calycinum: Relevance to Plant Hormone Dynamics
by Michał Dziurka, Justyna Góraj-Koniarska, Agnieszka Marasek-Ciolakowska, Urszula Kowalska, Marian Saniewski, Junichi Ueda and Kensuke Miyamoto
Plants 2022, 11(3), 360; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11030360 - 28 Jan 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2698
Abstract
Plants can react to environmental stresses through the abscission of infected, damaged, or senescent organs. A possible mode of action of methyl jasmonate (JA-Me) to induce the formation of the secondary abscission zone (SAZ) in the stems of Bryophyllum calycinum was investigated concerning [...] Read more.
Plants can react to environmental stresses through the abscission of infected, damaged, or senescent organs. A possible mode of action of methyl jasmonate (JA-Me) to induce the formation of the secondary abscission zone (SAZ) in the stems of Bryophyllum calycinum was investigated concerning plant hormone dynamics. Internode segments were prepared mainly from the second or third internode from the top of plants with active elongation. JA-Me applied to the middle of internode segments induced the SAZ formation above and below the treatment after 5–7 days. At 6 to 7 days after JA-Me treatment, the above and below internode pieces adjacent to the SAZ were excised and subjected to comprehensive analyses of plant hormones. The endogenous levels of auxin-related compounds between both sides adjacent to the SAZ were quite different. No differences were observed in the level of jasmonic acid (JA), but the contents of 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA), a precursor of JA, and N-jasmonyl-leucine (JA-Leu) substantially decreased on the JA-Me side. Almost no effects of JA-Me on the dynamics of other plant hormones (cytokinins, abscisic acid, and gibberellins) were observed. Similar JA-Me effects on plant hormones and morphology were observed in the last internode of the decapitated growing plants. These suggest that the application of JA-Me induces the SAZ in the internode of B. calycinum by affecting endogenous levels of auxin- and jasmonate-related compounds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Makes the Life of Stressed Plants a Little Easier? Defense Mechanisms against Adverse Conditions)
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17 pages, 1035 KiB  
Article
Aluminum Stress Induces Irreversible Proteomic Changes in the Roots of the Sensitive but Not the Tolerant Genotype of Triticale Seedlings
by Agnieszka Niedziela, Lucyna Domżalska, Wioletta M. Dynkowska, Markéta Pernisová and Krystyna Rybka
Plants 2022, 11(2), 165; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11020165 - 8 Jan 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2721
Abstract
Triticale is a wheat–rye hybrid with a higher abiotic stress tolerance than wheat and is better adapted for cultivation in light-type soils, where aluminum ions are present as Al-complexes that are harmful to plants. The roots are the first plant organs to contact [...] Read more.
Triticale is a wheat–rye hybrid with a higher abiotic stress tolerance than wheat and is better adapted for cultivation in light-type soils, where aluminum ions are present as Al-complexes that are harmful to plants. The roots are the first plant organs to contact these ions and the inhibition of root growth is one of the first plant reactions. The proteomes of the root apices in Al-tolerant and -sensitive plants were investigated to compare their regeneration effects following stress. The materials used in this study consisted of seedlings of three triticale lines differing in Al3+ tolerance, first subjected to aluminum ion stress and then recovered. Two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) was used for seedling root protein separation followed by differential spot analysis using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS/MS). The plants’ tolerance to the stress was evaluated based on biometric screening of seedling root regrowth upon regeneration. Our results suggest that the Al-tolerant genotype can recover, without differentiation of proteome profiles, after stress relief, contrary to Al-sensitive genotypes that maintain the proteome modifications caused by unfavorable environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Makes the Life of Stressed Plants a Little Easier? Defense Mechanisms against Adverse Conditions)
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18 pages, 2853 KiB  
Article
Cold Acclimation in Brachypodium Is Accompanied by Changes in Above-Ground Bacterial and Fungal Communities
by Collin L. Juurakko, George C. diCenzo and Virginia K. Walker
Plants 2021, 10(12), 2824; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10122824 - 20 Dec 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4363
Abstract
Shifts in microbiota undoubtedly support host plants faced with abiotic stress, including low temperatures. Cold-resistant perennials prepare for freeze stress during a period of cold acclimation that can be mimicked by transfer from growing conditions to a reduced photoperiod and a temperature of [...] Read more.
Shifts in microbiota undoubtedly support host plants faced with abiotic stress, including low temperatures. Cold-resistant perennials prepare for freeze stress during a period of cold acclimation that can be mimicked by transfer from growing conditions to a reduced photoperiod and a temperature of 4 °C for 2–6 days. After cold acclimation, the model cereal, Brachypodium distachyon, was characterized using metagenomics supplemented with amplicon sequencing (16S ribosomal RNA gene fragments and an internal transcribed spacer region). The bacterial and fungal rhizosphere remained largely unchanged from that of non-acclimated plants. However, leaf samples representing bacterial and fungal communities of the endo- and phyllospheres significantly changed. For example, a plant-beneficial bacterium, Streptomyces sp. M2, increased more than 200-fold in relative abundance in cold-acclimated leaves, and this increase correlated with a striking decrease in the abundance of Pseudomonas syringae (from 8% to zero). This change is of consequence to the host, since P. syringae is a ubiquitous ice-nucleating phytopathogen responsible for devastating frost events in crops. We posit that a responsive above-ground bacterial and fungal community interacts with Brachypodium’s low temperature and anti-pathogen signalling networks to help ensure survival in subsequent freeze events, underscoring the importance of inter-kingdom partnerships in the response to cold stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Makes the Life of Stressed Plants a Little Easier? Defense Mechanisms against Adverse Conditions)
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13 pages, 921 KiB  
Article
The Variability for the Biochemical Indicators at the Winter Wheat Assortment and Identifying the Sources with a High Antioxidant Activity
by Ramona Aida Paunescu, Elena Bonciu, Elena Rosculete, Gabriela Paunescu, Catalin Aurelian Rosculete and Cristina Babeanu
Plants 2021, 10(11), 2443; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10112443 - 12 Nov 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1716
Abstract
This study presents the variability of some biochemical indicators in the winter wheat assortments tested in south-western Oltenia (Romania) and identification of the sources showing a high antioxidant activity. The peroxidase activity has intensified as the stress induced by treatment with PEG of [...] Read more.
This study presents the variability of some biochemical indicators in the winter wheat assortments tested in south-western Oltenia (Romania) and identification of the sources showing a high antioxidant activity. The peroxidase activity has intensified as the stress induced by treatment with PEG of different concentrations and in different doses increased. Regarding the peroxidase content, among the varieties treated with PEG 10,000 25%, the majority of the Romanian varieties tested showed higher values of the PEG/control treatment ratio, which suggests tolerance to drought. In reverse, the activity of ascorbate peroxidase is lower in tolerant varieties. The varieties with a subunit report have been noted. Among them are the Izvor variety, known as the drought-tolerant variety, as well as other Romanian varieties: Alex, Delabrad, Lovrin 34, etc. An increased activity of catalase was present in most varieties, so there is the possibility of drought tolerance. Among the varieties highlighted are Romanian varieties (Dropia, Trivale, Nikifor, etc.) but also foreign varieties (Kristina, GH Hattyu, Karlygash, etc.). However, the correlation between yield index in the limited assortment and the antioxidant enzyme content ratios between PEG and control treatments does not exist, suggesting that none of these biochemical indicators are a selective indicator for drought tolerance under the experimental condition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Makes the Life of Stressed Plants a Little Easier? Defense Mechanisms against Adverse Conditions)
13 pages, 2082 KiB  
Article
Unique N-Terminal Interactions Connect F-BOX STRESS INDUCED (FBS) Proteins to a WD40 Repeat-like Protein Pathway in Arabidopsis
by Edgar Sepulveda-Garcia, Elena C. Fulton, Emily V. Parlan, Lily E. O’Connor, Anneke A. Fleming, Amy J. Replogle, Mario Rocha-Sosa, Joshua M. Gendron and Bryan Thines
Plants 2021, 10(10), 2228; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10102228 - 19 Oct 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3490
Abstract
SCF-type E3 ubiquitin ligases provide specificity to numerous selective protein degradation events in plants, including those that enable survival under environmental stress. SCF complexes use F-box (FBX) proteins as interchangeable substrate adaptors to recruit protein targets for ubiquitylation. FBX proteins almost universally have [...] Read more.
SCF-type E3 ubiquitin ligases provide specificity to numerous selective protein degradation events in plants, including those that enable survival under environmental stress. SCF complexes use F-box (FBX) proteins as interchangeable substrate adaptors to recruit protein targets for ubiquitylation. FBX proteins almost universally have structure with two domains: A conserved N-terminal F-box domain interacts with a SKP protein and connects the FBX protein to the core SCF complex, while a C-terminal domain interacts with the protein target and facilitates recruitment. The F-BOX STRESS INDUCED (FBS) subfamily of plant FBX proteins has an atypical structure, however, with a centrally located F-box domain and additional conserved regions at both the N- and C-termini. FBS proteins have been linked to environmental stress networks, but no ubiquitylation target(s) or biological function has been established for this subfamily. We have identified two WD40 repeat-like proteins in Arabidopsis that are highly conserved in plants and interact with FBS proteins, which we have named FBS INTERACTING PROTEINs (FBIPs). FBIPs interact exclusively with the N-terminus of FBS proteins, and this interaction occurs in the nucleus. FBS1 destabilizes FBIP1, consistent with FBIPs being ubiquitylation targets SCFFBS1 complexes. This work indicates that FBS proteins may function in stress-responsive nuclear events, and it identifies two WD40 repeat-like proteins as new tools with which to probe how an atypical SCF complex, SCFFBS, functions via FBX protein N-terminal interaction events. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Makes the Life of Stressed Plants a Little Easier? Defense Mechanisms against Adverse Conditions)
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20 pages, 2323 KiB  
Article
Copper Tolerance and Accumulation on Pelargonium graveolens L’Hér. Grown in Hydroponic Culture
by Antonios Chrysargyris, Rita Maggini, Luca Incrocci, Alberto Pardossi and Nikolaos Tzortzakis
Plants 2021, 10(8), 1663; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081663 - 12 Aug 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2778
Abstract
Heavy metal contamination is a major health issue concerning the commercial production of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) that are used for the extraction of bioactive molecules. Copper (Cu) is an anthropogenic contaminant that, at toxic levels, can accumulate in plant tissues, affecting [...] Read more.
Heavy metal contamination is a major health issue concerning the commercial production of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) that are used for the extraction of bioactive molecules. Copper (Cu) is an anthropogenic contaminant that, at toxic levels, can accumulate in plant tissues, affecting plant growth and development. On the other hand, plant response to metal-induced stress may involve the synthesis and accumulation of beneficial secondary metabolites. In this study, hydroponically grown Pelargonium graveolens plants were exposed to different Cu concentrations in a nutrient solution (4, 25, 50, 100 μM) to evaluate the effects Cu toxicity on plant growth, mineral uptake and distribution in plants, some stress indicators, and the accumulation of bioactive secondary metabolites in leaf tissues. P. graveolens resulted in moderately tolerant Cu toxicity. At Cu concentrations up to 100 μM, biomass production was preserved and was accompanied by an increase in phenolics and antioxidant capacity. The metal contaminant was accumulated mainly in the roots. The leaf tissues of Cu-treated P. graveolens may be safely used for the extraction of bioactive molecules. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Makes the Life of Stressed Plants a Little Easier? Defense Mechanisms against Adverse Conditions)
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20 pages, 42218 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Abiotic Stress Factors on the Morphophysiological and Phytochemical Aspects of the Acclimation of the Plant Rhodiola semenowii Boriss
by Nina V. Terletskaya, Nazym K. Korbozova, Nataliya O. Kudrina, Tatyana N. Kobylina, Meruert S. Kurmanbayeva, Nataliya D. Meduntseva and Tatyana G. Tolstikova
Plants 2021, 10(6), 1196; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10061196 - 11 Jun 2021
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 3674
Abstract
Plants of the Crassulaceae family are natural accumulators of many medicinal secondary metabolites (SM). This article describes the study of morphophysiological, anatomic and phytochemical responses of immature plants of Rhodiolla semenovii under water deficit and (or) cold-stress conditions. Changes in biomass production due [...] Read more.
Plants of the Crassulaceae family are natural accumulators of many medicinal secondary metabolites (SM). This article describes the study of morphophysiological, anatomic and phytochemical responses of immature plants of Rhodiolla semenovii under water deficit and (or) cold-stress conditions. Changes in biomass production due to water content in plant tissues such as a decrease in water deficit and an increase in cold stress were revealed. A significant decrease in the efficiency of the photosynthetic apparatus under stress conditions was noted, based on the parameters quantum efficiency of Photosystem II and electron transport rate and energy dissipated in Photosystem II. The greatest decrease in efficiency was pointed out in conditions of water shortage. The anatomical modulations of root and shoot of R. semenovii under stress conditions were found. For the first time, a detailed study of the chemical composition of the ethanol extract of root and shoot of R. semenovii under stress was carried out using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The qualitative and quantitative composition of SM associated with acclimation to the effects of abiotic stresses was determined. Both nonspecific and specific phytochemical changes caused by the action of water deficiency and cold treatment were identified. It has been shown that the antioxidant system in plant tissues is complex, multicomponent, depending on a number of natural and climatic factors. Further research should be focused on the use of abiotic stressors for the targeted synthesis of bioactive SMs valuable for pharmaceutical use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Makes the Life of Stressed Plants a Little Easier? Defense Mechanisms against Adverse Conditions)
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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

24 pages, 1117 KiB  
Review
The Alleviation of Metal Stress Nuisance for Plants—A Review of Promising Solutions in the Face of Environmental Challenges
by Mateusz Labudda, Kinga Dziurka, Justyna Fidler, Marta Gietler, Anna Rybarczyk-Płońska, Małgorzata Nykiel, Beata Prabucka, Iwona Morkunas and Ewa Muszyńska
Plants 2022, 11(19), 2544; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11192544 - 28 Sep 2022
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2517
Abstract
Environmental changes are inevitable with time, but their intensification and diversification, occurring in the last several decades due to the combination of both natural and human-made causes, are really a matter of great apprehension. As a consequence, plants are exposed to a variety [...] Read more.
Environmental changes are inevitable with time, but their intensification and diversification, occurring in the last several decades due to the combination of both natural and human-made causes, are really a matter of great apprehension. As a consequence, plants are exposed to a variety of abiotic stressors that contribute to their morpho-physiological, biochemical, and molecular alterations, which affects plant growth and development as well as the quality and productivity of crops. Thus, novel strategies are still being developed to meet the challenges of the modern world related to climate changes and natural ecosystem degradation. Innovative methods that have recently received special attention include eco-friendly, easily available, inexpensive, and, very often, plant-based methods. However, such approaches require better cognition and understanding of plant adaptations and acclimation mechanisms in response to adverse conditions. In this succinct review, we have highlighted defense mechanisms against external stimuli (mainly exposure to elevated levels of metal elements) which can be activated through permanent microevolutionary changes in metal-tolerant species or through exogenously applied priming agents that may ensure plant acclimation and thereby elevated stress resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Makes the Life of Stressed Plants a Little Easier? Defense Mechanisms against Adverse Conditions)
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27 pages, 3300 KiB  
Review
Plants’ Physio-Biochemical and Phyto-Hormonal Responses to Alleviate the Adverse Effects of Drought Stress: A Comprehensive Review
by Abdul Wahab, Gholamreza Abdi, Muhammad Hamzah Saleem, Baber Ali, Saqib Ullah, Wadood Shah, Sahar Mumtaz, Ghulam Yasin, Crina Carmen Muresan and Romina Alina Marc
Plants 2022, 11(13), 1620; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11131620 - 21 Jun 2022
Cited by 223 | Viewed by 17005
Abstract
Water, a necessary component of cell protoplasm, plays an essential role in supporting life on Earth; nevertheless, extreme changes in climatic conditions limit water availability, causing numerous issues, such as the current water-scarce regimes in many regions of the biome. This review aims [...] Read more.
Water, a necessary component of cell protoplasm, plays an essential role in supporting life on Earth; nevertheless, extreme changes in climatic conditions limit water availability, causing numerous issues, such as the current water-scarce regimes in many regions of the biome. This review aims to collect data from various published studies in the literature to understand and critically analyze plants’ morphological, growth, yield, and physio-biochemical responses to drought stress and their potential to modulate and nullify the damaging effects of drought stress via activating natural physiological and biochemical mechanisms. In addition, the review described current breakthroughs in understanding how plant hormones influence drought stress responses and phytohormonal interaction through signaling under water stress regimes. The information for this review was systematically gathered from different global search engines and the scientific literature databases Science Direct, including Google Scholar, Web of Science, related studies, published books, and articles. Drought stress is a significant obstacle to meeting food demand for the world’s constantly growing population. Plants cope with stress regimes through changes to cellular osmotic potential, water potential, and activation of natural defense systems in the form of antioxidant enzymes and accumulation of osmolytes including proteins, proline, glycine betaine, phenolic compounds, and soluble sugars. Phytohormones modulate developmental processes and signaling networks, which aid in acclimating plants to biotic and abiotic challenges and, consequently, their survival. Significant progress has been made for jasmonates, salicylic acid, and ethylene in identifying important components and understanding their roles in plant responses to abiotic stress. Other plant hormones, such as abscisic acid, auxin, gibberellic acid, brassinosteroids, and peptide hormones, have been linked to plant defense signaling pathways in various ways. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Makes the Life of Stressed Plants a Little Easier? Defense Mechanisms against Adverse Conditions)
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19 pages, 1764 KiB  
Review
Crosstalk between Ca2+ and Other Regulators Assists Plants in Responding to Abiotic Stress
by Yaoqi Li, Yinai Liu, Libo Jin and Renyi Peng
Plants 2022, 11(10), 1351; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11101351 - 19 May 2022
Cited by 45 | Viewed by 4193
Abstract
Plants have evolved many strategies for adaptation to extreme environments. Ca2+, acting as an important secondary messenger in plant cells, is a signaling molecule involved in plants’ response and adaptation to external stress. In plant cells, almost all kinds of abiotic [...] Read more.
Plants have evolved many strategies for adaptation to extreme environments. Ca2+, acting as an important secondary messenger in plant cells, is a signaling molecule involved in plants’ response and adaptation to external stress. In plant cells, almost all kinds of abiotic stresses are able to raise cytosolic Ca2+ levels, and the spatiotemporal distribution of this molecule in distant cells suggests that Ca2+ may be a universal signal regulating different kinds of abiotic stress. Ca2+ is used to sense and transduce various stress signals through its downstream calcium-binding proteins, thereby inducing a series of biochemical reactions to adapt to or resist various stresses. This review summarizes the roles and molecular mechanisms of cytosolic Ca2+ in response to abiotic stresses such as drought, high salinity, ultraviolet light, heavy metals, waterlogging, extreme temperature and wounding. Furthermore, we focused on the crosstalk between Ca2+ and other signaling molecules in plants suffering from extreme environmental stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Makes the Life of Stressed Plants a Little Easier? Defense Mechanisms against Adverse Conditions)
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22 pages, 1233 KiB  
Review
An Insight into the Abiotic Stress Responses of Cultivated Beets (Beta vulgaris L.)
by Seher Yolcu, Hemasundar Alavilli, Pushpalatha Ganesh, Muhammad Asif, Manu Kumar and Kihwan Song
Plants 2022, 11(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11010012 - 23 Dec 2021
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 5078
Abstract
Cultivated beets (sugar beets, fodder beets, leaf beets, and garden beets) belonging to the species Beta vulgaris L. are important sources for many products such as sugar, bioethanol, animal feed, human nutrition, pulp residue, pectin extract, and molasses. Beta maritima L. (sea beet [...] Read more.
Cultivated beets (sugar beets, fodder beets, leaf beets, and garden beets) belonging to the species Beta vulgaris L. are important sources for many products such as sugar, bioethanol, animal feed, human nutrition, pulp residue, pectin extract, and molasses. Beta maritima L. (sea beet or wild beet) is a halophytic wild ancestor of all cultivated beets. With a requirement of less water and having shorter growth period than sugarcane, cultivated beets are preferentially spreading from temperate regions to subtropical countries. The beet cultivars display tolerance to several abiotic stresses such as salt, drought, cold, heat, and heavy metals. However, many environmental factors adversely influence growth, yield, and quality of beets. Hence, selection of stress-tolerant beet varieties and knowledge on the response mechanisms of beet cultivars to different abiotic stress factors are most required. The present review discusses morpho-physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses of cultivated beets (B. vulgaris L.) to different abiotic stresses including alkaline, cold, heat, heavy metals, and UV radiation. Additionally, we describe the beet genes reported for their involvement in response to these stress conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Makes the Life of Stressed Plants a Little Easier? Defense Mechanisms against Adverse Conditions)
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