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Agronomy
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Resistance-Related Gene Mining and Genetic Improvement in Crops—2nd Edition
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Resistance-Related Gene Mining and Genetic Improvement in Crops—2nd Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 July 2026 | Viewed by 3651

Editors

Dr. Panfeng Yao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Interests: potato; drought; ABA; cadmium stress
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Chen Lin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Interests: germplasm conservation; genetics and molecular biology; gene function; gene family; alfalfa; maize
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Research on crop stress resistance is a crucial topic in the field of agriculture. With climate change and environmental degradation, crops are facing increasingly severe non-biological stressors such as drought and salinity. Scientists are exploring drought-resistant genes through genetic improvement to enhance crop adaptability and yield stability. In recent years, utilizing molecular biology and genomics technologies has led to the successful discovery of multiple key drought-resistant genes, which have been introduced into crops through transgenic or hybrid breeding methods, achieving some breakthroughs. However, challenges remain, including insufficient depth in gene exploration, incomplete understanding of gene functions, and concerns about the safety of transgenic crops, thus impeding the progress of stress-resistance research. Future efforts should focus on strengthening fundamental research, delving deeper into drought-resistance mechanisms, exploring new genetic improvement approaches, and prioritizing ecological risk assessments to propel greater advancements in crop stress-resistance research.

In this Special Issue, we are soliciting research articles on novel and underexplored crop stress-resistance-related genes, as well as comprehensive reviews offering unique insights into resistance against non-biological stressors in major crops.

Dr. Panfeng Yao
Dr. Chen Lin
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized 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 semimonthly 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

  • agriculture
  • plant science
  • staple crops
  • abiotic stress
  • plant breeding
  • genetic improvement

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 6934 KB  
Article
Genome-Wide Characterization of the PLATZ Gene Family in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and Expression Profiling Under Abiotic Stress
by Yang Liu, Jinyong Zhu, Zhitao Li, Xiaoqiang Qiu, Minmin Bao, Zhenzhen Bi, Chao Sun, Yuanming Li, Zhen Liu and Yuhui Liu
Agronomy 2026, 16(13), 1224; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16131224 - 24 Jun 2026
Viewed by 162
Abstract
Plant AT-rich sequence and zinc-binding proteins (PLATZs) act as critical modulators of plant growth, development, and responses to environmental stressors. Nevertheless, the PLATZ gene family (StPLATZs) has not yet been systematically characterized in potato, and this study seeks to identify members and prioritize [...] Read more.
Plant AT-rich sequence and zinc-binding proteins (PLATZs) act as critical modulators of plant growth, development, and responses to environmental stressors. Nevertheless, the PLATZ gene family (StPLATZs) has not yet been systematically characterized in potato, and this study seeks to identify members and prioritize genes associated with abiotic stress. A total of 13 StPLATZ genes were identified in the potato genome and classified into three distinct subfamilies based on phylogenetic analysis. Expression profiling and qRT-PCR analysis indicated that several StPLATZ genes responded to abiotic stress treatments. Yeast-based functional analysis suggested that Soltu06G018660 improved tolerance to PEG-induced osmotic stress, indicating its potential involvement in osmotic stress responses. These results provide candidate genes and hypotheses for future functional validation in potato. Further in-depth research on StPLATZs may contribute to potato stress-tolerance breeding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Resistance-Related Gene Mining and Genetic Improvement in Crops—2nd Edition)
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21 pages, 4897 KB  
Article
Integrated In Silico Characterization of Quinoa Hsp20 Genes Reveals Preferential Responsiveness to Drought and Salinity over Heat Stress
by Sabrina María Costa-Tártara, Débora Pamela Arce, Gabriel Tolosa and Guillermo Raúl Pratta
Agronomy 2026, 16(12), 1148; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16121148 - 11 Jun 2026
Viewed by 265
Abstract
The Hsp20 protein family, essential in heat stress responses across all organisms, is part of the heat shock protein (Hsp) superfamily, recognized for its conserved alpha-crystallin domain (ACD). Hsp20s are the smallest proteins in the superfamily and primarily assist in protein refolding during [...] Read more.
The Hsp20 protein family, essential in heat stress responses across all organisms, is part of the heat shock protein (Hsp) superfamily, recognized for its conserved alpha-crystallin domain (ACD). Hsp20s are the smallest proteins in the superfamily and primarily assist in protein refolding during stress and developmental processes. We present an in silico characterization of the Hsp20 gene family in Chenopodium quinoa (2n = 4x = 36) using an integrative approach. Quinoa is well known for its global contributions to food production and tolerance to various abiotic stresses. We identified 69 CqHsp20 genes that exhibit a well-conserved evolutionary pattern, characterized by a balanced copy number distributed symmetrically across 19 homeologous pairs in both subgenomes (A and B), with localized expansions driven by tandem duplications on eight chromosomes. High sequence identity in contiguous gene pairs and Ka/Ks ratios consistently below 1 (0.14–0.84) mathematically demonstrate that strict purifying selection has maintained the structural and sequence integrity of these genes since the ancestral polyploidization event. The phylogenetic analysis grouped CqHsp20 into two main clusters, splitted into four sub-clusters based on peptides’ cellular localization, consistent with a characteristic gene structure and conserved motif analysis, which may reflect the evolutionary trajectory and functional specialization of the Hsp20 family in plants. The integration of transcriptomic data from published experiments enabled us to detect a cluster of putatively ubiquitously expressed CqHsp20, as well as other groups that showed differential responses across abiotic stress conditions. The pattern shows that more genes exhibit higher transcription abundance under drought and salinity than under heat, key adaptive traits underlying quinoa’s known ecological versatility. Some of these genes, which are undetectable or have low abundance under heat stress, encode organelle-targeting peptides, a phenomenon not reported in other model plant studies. Differential expression analysis revealed a highly transcribed sub-cluster where six out of seven of nuclear CqHsp20 genes were active in aerial tissue during initial heat stress, with a specific cohort of four genes (CQ025082, CQ031384, CQ041158, and CQ055373) maintaining significant upregulation (|log2FoldChange|≥1.0, padj<0.05) under prolonged and simultaneous shoot/root exposure. Varying expression within CqHsp20 homologous and paralogs supports the idea that gene duplication creates genomic diversity, facilitating adaptation to variable extreme environments. However, while theoretical and in silico analysis provide valuable insight into quinoa Hsp20 response, empirical data are essential to unequivocally understand how these gene expression variations affect quinoa response to abiotic stressors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Resistance-Related Gene Mining and Genetic Improvement in Crops—2nd Edition)
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17 pages, 3517 KB  
Article
The StSDD1 Positively Regulates Drought Tolerance by Altering Stomatal Density in Solanum tuberosum L.
by Jiangwei Yang, Yating Gong, Xiaoqin Duan, Run Qiao, Mei Liu, Haixia Liu, Ting Ma, Xinhong Jiao and Xun Tang
Agronomy 2026, 16(11), 1044; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16111044 - 25 May 2026
Viewed by 328
Abstract
Drought stress severely impairs crop growth and agricultural productivity. Stomata, specialized structures in the leaf epidermis, play a critical role in gas exchange and transpiration. Therefore, reducing stomatal density to minimize water loss is an effective strategy for enhancing crop drought tolerance. The [...] Read more.
Drought stress severely impairs crop growth and agricultural productivity. Stomata, specialized structures in the leaf epidermis, play a critical role in gas exchange and transpiration. Therefore, reducing stomatal density to minimize water loss is an effective strategy for enhancing crop drought tolerance. The SDD1 gene was characterized as a negative regulator of stomatal density, and its function has been well characterized in model plants. However, its role in potato remains largely unknown. In this study, we identified a potato SDD1-like gene, StSDD1, which is predominantly expressed in young leaves and induced by drought stress and various hormones. Subcellular localization revealed that the StSDD1 fusion protein localizes to the plasma membrane and cytoplasm. Overexpression of StSDD1 decreased stomatal density and improved water use efficiency, leading to enhanced drought tolerance, whereas knockdown transgenic lines exhibited the opposite phenotype. Additionally, altering StSDD1 expression affected the expression of key stomatal development genes and several physiological and photosynthetic drought-related parameters. Taken together, our results suggest that StSDD1 enhances drought tolerance, potentially by reducing stomatal density. These findings indicate a role for StSDD1 in this process and provide a valuable genetic resource for molecular breeding of drought-resistant crops. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Resistance-Related Gene Mining and Genetic Improvement in Crops—2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 2594 KB  
Article
Microtubule Dynamics Modulate Cold-Responsive Gene Expression in Brassica rapa
by Xinyi Zhang, Xiaoyun Dong, Guoqiang Zheng, Qian Luo, Zefeng Wu, Jinxiong Wang, Junmei Cui, Yan Fang, Zigang Liu and Jiaping Wei
Agronomy 2026, 16(7), 698; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16070698 - 26 Mar 2026
Viewed by 553
Abstract
Winter rapeseed (Brassica rapa L.) is an important crop for vegetable oil production in China. However, its productivity is frequently threatened by severe cold waves during winter. To investigate the role of the microtubule cytoskeleton in cold adaptation of winter rapeseed, a [...] Read more.
Winter rapeseed (Brassica rapa L.) is an important crop for vegetable oil production in China. However, its productivity is frequently threatened by severe cold waves during winter. To investigate the role of the microtubule cytoskeleton in cold adaptation of winter rapeseed, a microtubule stabilizer paclitaxel (Tax) and a microtubule depolymerizer colchicine (Col) were sprayed on winter rapeseed and transgenic proBrAFP1 Arabidopsis, respectively. The mRNA levels of cold-induced genes, along with cell membrane stability, antioxidant enzyme activities, and hormone levels were assessed under cold stresses of 4 °C and −4 °C. The results showed that low temperature significantly activated the proBrAFP1 promoter activity and increased the mRNA levels of core cold signaling pathway genes, such as C-REPEAT BINDING FACTORS (CBFs), Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channel (CNGC), OPEN STOMATA 1 (OST1) and Inducer of CBF EXPRESSION 1 (ICE1). Notably, under low-temperature stress, exogenous application of the microtubule stabilizer Tax markedly suppressed proBrAFP1-driven reporter activity in transgenic Arabidopsis, with consistent inhibition observed across both stem and leaf tissues; meanwhile, the Tax application alleviated reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and mitigated membrane damage. In contrast, under the same low-temperature stress, the Col treatment exacerbated oxidative stress, enhanced lipid peroxidation, and elevated membrane damage. Collectively, these findings establish that microtubule regulators play indispensable roles in the cold stress response of winter rapeseed. It provides new insights into the mechanism by which plant microtubule cytoskeleton regulators mediate the cold response. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Resistance-Related Gene Mining and Genetic Improvement in Crops—2nd Edition)
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20 pages, 7805 KB  
Article
Heterologous Expression of Potato StCML19 Enhances Drought Tolerance in Transgenic Arabidopsis
by Jia Wei, Xinglong Su, Junmei Cui, Xianglin Sun, Jinjuan Ma, Zhenzhen Bi, Yuhui Liu, Zhen Liu, Yongwei Zhao, Yajie Li, Feng Zhao, Jiangping Bai, Panfeng Yao and Chao Sun
Agronomy 2026, 16(6), 674; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16060674 - 23 Mar 2026
Viewed by 579
Abstract
Calmodulin-like proteins (CMLs) serve as core components in plant calcium signal transduction pathways, and they extensively modulate plant growth, development, and adaptive responses to various abiotic stresses. In this study, we cloned the StCML19 gene from potato and generated stable transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana [...] Read more.
Calmodulin-like proteins (CMLs) serve as core components in plant calcium signal transduction pathways, and they extensively modulate plant growth, development, and adaptive responses to various abiotic stresses. In this study, we cloned the StCML19 gene from potato and generated stable transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana lines constitutively expressing this gene to investigate its functional role under drought stress. Transcriptome analysis revealed that StCML19 was up-regulated under drought conditions. Phenotypic assays showed that overexpressing StCML19 notably increased the seed germination rate and root length of transgenic Arabidopsis under mannitol-induced osmotic stress, and greatly improved the plant survival rate under severe soil drought stress. Physiological analysis showed that when put under drought stress, transgenic plants had higher proline content, better SOD, CAT, and POD activities, and significantly less malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation than wild-type plants. In addition, overexpression of StCML19 led to greater plant sensitivity to exogenous ABA, with inhibited root growth and delayed seed germination as indicators. Conclusively, this study is the first to make sense of the biological function of potato StCML19 in the drought stress response and views StCML19 as a promising candidate gene for the genetic improvement of drought-tolerant potato varieties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Resistance-Related Gene Mining and Genetic Improvement in Crops—2nd Edition)
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