Ecophysiology and Molecular Biology of Saline Plants

Dear Colleagues,

Soil salinization is a growing concern exacerbated by climate change and human activities. Changing rainfall patterns and rising temperatures increase evaporation and salt accumulation in soils. Improper irrigation practices and excessive fertilizer use further contribute to salt buildup, posing severe consequences for the ecosystems and agriculture. In contrast, halophytes, or saline plants, possess distinct mechanisms for salt tolerance and water balance regulation, and have pivotal roles in stabilizing ecosystems, restoring areas affected by salt, and offering potential agricultural and phytoremediation solutions. Studying the ecological physiology and molecular biology of saline plants offers insights regarding the adaptation to global soil salinization, identifying traits and genetic markers for breeding salt-tolerant crops, supporting ecosystem restoration, fostering biodiversity, and addressing challenges of soil salinization for food security and environmental sustainability in high-salinity regions.

The Special Issue of Agronomy will focus on comprehensive studies illuminating plant salt tolerance mechanisms, including epigenetic and non-coding RNA regulation. We also welcome reviews offering original perspectives to expand our understanding of halophytes' unique adaptations. Furthermore, we encourage research into the ecological impact of halophytes and their interactions with other organisms, alongside innovative applications like sustainable agriculture, soil remediation, and the optimization of saltwater resources.

Dr. Chenggang Ren
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2600 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.

• saline plants
• salt tolerance mechanisms
• water homeostasis
• non-coding RNA
• molecular breeding
• interaction between species
• sustainable agriculture
• phytoremediation
• biodiversity