Molecular Mechanisms in Plant Senescence and Death

Dear Colleagues,

Plant senescence processes have been studied for a long time, and there is some understanding of the mechanisms of this process, which are multitude and influenced by several hormonal, stress, and environmental factors. Delineating these mechanisms is also important, in terms of economic and food security, as delaying the senescence process has the potential of preventing untimely losses in fruits and vegetables, which is a major issue in developing countries. There have been several advances in our understanding of the mechanism of ethylene action, the primary hormone that initiates senescence. However, a large number of these studies are more akin to repetitions of existing studies, and, hence, novel concepts have not been brought forth in this area. The senescence process is initiated in the membrane and the molecular and biochemical processes following ethylene receptor activation are presently being unraveled. The role of enzymes, such as phospholipase D and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and their interplay during senescence, has not been fully unraveled. In addition, the relationship of the ethylene signal transduction pathway and its interaction with abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, and the modulation of these processes by transcription factors (ethylene response factors), are also important areas that are relevant to biotic and abiotic stresses. Understanding the molecular aspects of plant–pathogen interactions will help in developing new breeds of plants that are resistant to pathogens. Overall, these are all topics of overarching importance, and a Special Issue of IJMS, focusing on various aspects of plant senescence will be a novel and useful contribution. Original papers and reviews addressing the various aspects of senescence are sought.

Prof. Dr. Gopinadhan Paliyath
Guest Editor

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• Hormones
• Ethylene
• Membrane biology
• Enzymes
• Signal transduction
• Calcium
• Ion transport
• Ion channels
• Protein Phosphorylation
• Gene Regulation
• Transcription factors
• Plant structure, biotic and abiotic stress, environmental regulation