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

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2026) | Viewed by 14543

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Editors

Dr. Hsin-Hung Lin

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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

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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

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Keywords

abiotic and biotic stress
defense mechanisms
crop genetics
phytohormone

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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29 pages, 3094 KB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Saline Irrigation and Genotype on Yield, Grain Quality and Physiological Ideotypic Indicators of Bread Wheat in Hot Arid Zones

by Ayesha Rukhsar, Osama Kanbar, Henda Mahmoudi, Salima Yousfi, Maria Dolors Serret and José Luis Araus

Agronomy 2026, 16(2), 270; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16020270 - 22 Jan 2026

Viewed by 803

Abstract

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a strategic food crop for arid, hot regions such as the Arabian Peninsula, the Middle East, and North Africa. In these areas, production is limited by extreme environmental and agronomic conditions, leading to heavy dependence on imported wheat. Irrigation is often essential for successful cultivation, but available water sources are frequently saline. This study evaluated the comparative effects of irrigation salinity and genotype on agronomic performance, physiological responses, and grain quality. Nine Syrian wheat genotypes and one French bread-making cultivar, Florence Aurora, were grown in sandy soil under three irrigation salinity levels (2.6, 10, and 15 dS m⁻¹) across two seasons at the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (Dubai, UAE). Salinity strongly negatively impacted yield, which decreased by 61% from the control to 15 dS m⁻¹, along with key yield components such as thousand grain weight and total biomass. Physiological traits, including carbon isotope composition (δ¹³C) and Na concentrations in roots, shoots and grains, increased significantly with salinity, while chlorophyll content showed a modest decline. Effects on grain quality were relatively minor: total nitrogen concentration and most mineral levels increased slightly, mainly due to a passive concentration effect associated with reduced TGW. Genotypes varied significantly in yield, biomass, TGW, physiological traits, and grain quality. The highest-yielding genotypes under control conditions (ACSAD 981 and ACSAD 1147) also performed best under saline conditions, and no trade-off was observed between yield and grain quality parameters (TGW, nitrogen, zinc, and iron concentrations). Separate analyses conducted for control and saline treatments identified different drivers of genotypic variability. Under control conditions, chlorophyll content, closely linked with δ¹³C, was the best predictor of genotypic differences and was positively correlated with yield across genotypes. Under salinity stress, grain magnesium (Mg) concentration was the strongest predictor, followed by grain δ¹³C, with both traits positively correlated with yield. These findings highlight key physiological traits linked to salinity tolerance and offer insights into the mechanisms underlying genotypic variability under both optimal and saline irrigation conditions. 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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23 pages, 1287 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Antimicrobial Activity and Activation of Defense Genes in Plants by Natural Extracts: Toward Sustainable Plant Health Management

by Christine Bilen, Sebastiano Laera, Palma R. Rotondo, Matteo Dimaglie, Lorenza Vaccaro, Michela Marashi, Tiziana Mascia, Angela A. Lopedota, Roberta Spanò, Stefania Pollastro, Francesco Faretra, Daniel El Chami and Rita M. De Miccolis Angelini

Agronomy 2025, 15(10), 2342; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15102342 - 5 Oct 2025

Viewed by 2304

Abstract

The increasing demand for sustainable agriculture has accelerated research into eco-friendly plant health management, particularly through natural substances rich in bioactive compounds. In this study, various substances, including essential oils, extracts from Aloe vera, artichoke and ornamental plants, by-products from beer and coffee processing, and selected commercial formulations including biostimulants and a plant strengthener, were evaluated for their antimicrobial properties and ability to trigger plant defenses. Notably, Agapanthus spp. exhibited strong antifungal activity against the fungus Botrytis cinerea (Bc), while thyme, tea tree, and lavender essential oils were effective against both Bc and the bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst). Greenhouse trials on tomato plants demonstrated the protective effects of A. vera gel and ornamental plant extracts against Bc and Potato virus Y (PVY), while coffee and artichoke extracts were effective against Pst. An alginate-based formulation containing thyme oil showed enhanced in planta efficacy against the three pathogens. Gene expression analyses revealed early upregulation of PR-1 and PR-4, especially with alginate treatments and A. vera gel at 12 h post-treatment (hpt) while coffee extract triggered the strongest late response at 72 hpt. These findings highlight the potential of plant-derived substances in promoting sustainable plant disease management through both direct antimicrobial action and immune system activation. 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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15 pages, 1691 KB

Open AccessArticle

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

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1318

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 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 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

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

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2801

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 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 (g_s), leaf water potential (Ψw), intrinsic water use efficiency (WUE_i), endogenous proline content (Pro), malondialdehyde content (MDA), and maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (F_v/F_m) 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 g_s 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 KB

Open AccessArticle

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

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1912

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 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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Review

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32 pages, 2353 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

The Effect of Polyploidisation on the Physiological Parameters, Biochemical Profile, and Tolerance to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses of Plants

by Marta Koziara-Ciupa and Anna Trojak-Goluch

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 1918; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15081918 - 8 Aug 2025

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4359

Abstract

Polyploidisation is a very common phenomenon in the plant kingdom and plays a key role in plant evolution and breeding. It promotes speciation and the extension of biodiversity. It is estimated that approximately 47% of flowering plant species are polyploids, derived from two or more diploid ancestral species. In natural populations, the predominant methods of whole-genome multiplication are somatic cell polyploidisation, meiotic cell polyploidisation, or endoreduplication. The formation and maintenance of polyploidy is accompanied by a series of epigenetic and gene expression changes, leading to alterations in the structural, physiological, and biochemical characteristics of polyploids relative to diploids. This article provides information on the mechanisms of formation of natural and synthetic polyploids. It presents a number of examples of the effects of polyploidisation on the composition and content of secondary metabolites of polyploids, providing evidence of the importance of the phenomenon in plant adaptation to the environment, improvement of wild species, and crops. It aims to gather and systematise knowledge on the effects of polyploidisation on plant physiological traits, including stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (Tr), light saturation point (LSP), as well as the most important photosynthetic parameters determining biomass accumulation. The text also presents the latest findings on the adaptation of polyploids to biotic and abiotic stresses and explains the basic mechanisms of epigenetic changes determining resistance to selected stress factors. 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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