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Agronomy
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Stress Responses and Resistance Mechanisms in Plants: Physiology, Genetics, and...
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Stress Responses and Resistance Mechanisms in Plants: Physiology, Genetics, and Molecular Pathways

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant-Crop Biology and Biochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 1013

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Hsin-Hung Lin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agronomy, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
Interests: rice; crop stress physiology; crop molecular biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Shi-Peng Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Horticulture, National Chiayi University, Chiayi, Taiwan
Interests: plant stress physiology; transcriptional regulation; plant–microorganism interactions

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Climate change poses serious threats to agriculture and food security, endangering crop yields and long-term sustainability. To maintain stable crop production in the face of these challenges, it is essential to understand the physiological and molecular mechanisms that enable crops to adapt, tolerate, and resist environmental stresses. This Special Issue aims to cover a wide range of research areas, including plant physiological responses, the identification of stress-related resistance genes, signal transduction pathways, omics technologies, and the role of phytohormones, offering new insights into how crops respond to both abiotic and biotic stresses. By integrating these advanced research areas, this Issue highlights innovative strategies to enhance stress tolerance and resilience in crop plants, ultimately contributing to global food security.

Dr. Hsin-Hung Lin
Dr. Shi-Peng Chen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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.

Keywords

  • abiotic and biotic stress
  • defense mechanisms
  • crop genetics
  • phytohormone

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 1691 KiB  
Article
Different Heat Tolerance of Two Creeping Bentgrass Cultivars Related to Altered Accumulation of Organic Metabolites
by Yong Du, Yue Zhao and Zhou Li
Agronomy 2025, 15(7), 1544; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15071544 - 25 Jun 2025
Abstract
High-temperature stress is one of the main limiting factors for the cultivation and management of cool-season creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera). The objectives of the current study were to compare physiological changes in heat-tolerant PROVIDENCE and heat-sensitive PENNEAGLE and further identify differential [...] Read more.
High-temperature stress is one of the main limiting factors for the cultivation and management of cool-season creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera). The objectives of the current study were to compare physiological changes in heat-tolerant PROVIDENCE and heat-sensitive PENNEAGLE and further identify differential organic metabolites associated with thermotolerance in leaves. Two cultivars were cultivated under optimal conditions (23/19 °C) and high-temperature stress (38/33 °C) for 15 days. Heat stress significantly reduced leaf relative water content, chlorophyll content, and photochemical efficiency, and also resulted in severe oxidative damage to PROVIDENCE and PENNEAGLE. Heat-tolerant PROVIDENCE exhibited 10% less water deficit, 11% lower chlorophyll loss, and significantly lower oxidative damage as well as better cell membrane stability compared with PENNEAGLE under heat stress. Metabolomic analysis further found that PROVIDENCE accumulated more sugars (fructose, tagatose, lyxose, ribose, and 6-deoxy-D-glucose), amino acids (norleucine, allothreonine, and glycine), and other metabolites (lactic acid, ribitol, arabitol, and arbutin) than PENNEAGLE. These metabolites play positive roles in energy supply, osmotic adjustment, antioxidant, and membrane stability. Heat stress significantly decreased the accumulation of tricarboxylic acid cycle-related organic acids in two cultivars, resulting in a metabolic deficit for energy production. However, both PROVIDENCE and PENNEAGLE significantly up-regulated the accumulation of stigmasterol related to the stability of cell membrane systems under heat stress. The current findings provide a better understanding of differential thermotolerance in cool-season turfgrass species. In addition, the data can also be utilized in breeding programs to improve the heat tolerance of other grass species. However, the current study only focused on physiological and metabolic responses to heat stress between two genotypes. It would be better to utilize molecular techniques in future studies to better understand and validate differential heat tolerance in creeping bentgrass species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress Responses and Resistance Mechanisms in Plants: Physiology, Genetics, and Molecular Pathways)
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18 pages, 1304 KiB  
Article
Exogenous Proline Modulates Physiological Responses and Induces Stress Memory in Wheat Under Repeated and Delayed Drought Stress
by Jan Pecka, Kamil Kraus, Martin Zelený and Helena Hniličková
Agronomy 2025, 15(6), 1370; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15061370 - 3 Jun 2025
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Abstract
Drought stress negatively affects plant metabolism and growth, triggering complex defence mechanisms to limit damage. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a single foliar application of 1 mM L-proline (Pro) in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Bohemie) in two separate experiments [...] Read more.
Drought stress negatively affects plant metabolism and growth, triggering complex defence mechanisms to limit damage. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a single foliar application of 1 mM L-proline (Pro) in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Bohemie) in two separate experiments differing in the time interval between application and drought—7 days (experiment 1) and 35 days (experiment 2). Net photosynthetic rate (A), transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (gs), leaf water potential (Ψw), intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi), endogenous proline content (Pro), malondialdehyde content (MDA), and maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) were measured. In experiment 1, drought markedly reduced net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and leaf water potential in both drought-stressed treatments, namely, without priming plants (S) and with Pro priming plants (SPro). Pro and MDA content increased under stress. Higher E and gs in the SPro treatment indicated more effective stomatal regulation and a distinct water use strategy. Pro content was significantly lower in SPro compared to S, whereas differences in MDA levels between these treatments were not statistically significant. The second drought period (D2) led to more pronounced limitations in gas exchange in both S and SPro. Enhanced osmoregulation was reflected by lower Ψw (S < SPro) and higher Pro accumulation in S (S > SPro). The effect of exogenous Pro persisted in the form of reduced endogenous Pro synthesis and improved photosystem II protection. Rehydration of stressed plants restored all monitored physiological parameters, and Pro-treated plants exhibited a more efficient recovery of gas exchange. Experiment 2 demonstrated a long-lasting priming effect that improved the preparedness of plants for future drought events. In the SPro treatment, this stress memory supported more efficient osmoregulation, reduced lipid peroxidation, improved protection of photosystem II integrity, and a more effective restart of gas exchange following rehydration. Our findings highlight the potential of exogenous proline as a practical tool for enhancing crop resilience to climate-induced drought stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress Responses and Resistance Mechanisms in Plants: Physiology, Genetics, and Molecular Pathways)
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19 pages, 1768 KiB  
Article
Verification of Seed-Priming-Induced Stress Memory by Genome-Wide Transcriptomic Analysis in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
by Kincső Decsi, Mostafa Ahmed, Donia Abdul-Hamid, Roquia Rizk and Zoltán Tóth
Agronomy 2025, 15(6), 1365; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15061365 - 2 Jun 2025
Viewed by 354
Abstract
In line with the latest challenges, agriculture has many options to protect against stress conditions. Seed-priming treatment was applied to winter wheat genotype AG Hurrem with Dr. Green seed-priming fertilizer, which is a commonly used seed fertilizer containing macro- and microelements. Genome-wide transcriptomic [...] Read more.
In line with the latest challenges, agriculture has many options to protect against stress conditions. Seed-priming treatment was applied to winter wheat genotype AG Hurrem with Dr. Green seed-priming fertilizer, which is a commonly used seed fertilizer containing macro- and microelements. Genome-wide transcriptomic analysis was performed to examine the effects of treatments. In seed-primed plants, defense response pathways such as purine and thiamine metabolism, glutathione pathway, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis were activated. At the same time, photosynthesis and some cellular respiration processes were downregulated and suppressed. Furthermore, in samples of plants previously exposed to priming and subsequently to drought stress, biochemical pathways activated during seed priming showed positive modulation, thus confirming the long-term traces of the priming effects of previous treatments and their repeated inducibility in the genome, i.e., the presumed existence of stress memory. The in silico analyses were also supported by laboratory antioxidant enzyme activity measurements. The priming technique and the preventive approach that can be offered with it may be a promising option for developing sustainable agricultural production in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress Responses and Resistance Mechanisms in Plants: Physiology, Genetics, and Molecular Pathways)
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