Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.7
3.4
Journals
Agronomy
Special Issues
Regulatory Network of Crop to Environmental Stress: Genetic and Biochemical...
share announcement

Regulatory Network of Crop to Environmental Stress: Genetic and Biochemical Characterization

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 4039

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Fangbin Cao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Agriculture & Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China
Interests: crop abiotic stress response; genome-wide association mapping; molecular biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Abiotic stresses, including heavy metals, salinity, aluminum, drought, waterlogging, and extreme temperature, constitute significant limiting factors for both crop productivity and quality. Enhancing crop tolerance to abiotic stress is of great significance in ensuring global food security. Consequently, strategies are needed for crops to improve their adaption to these environmental pressures. Therefore, this Special Issue entitled “Regulatory Network of Crop to Environmental Stress: Genetic and Biochemical Characterization” aims to highlight a range of reviews, perspectives, and research articles on the following:

  • The elucidation of genetic architecture and the identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with abiotic stress tolerance;
  • The exploration of mechanisms through which crops effectively balance resistance, yield, and quality under abiotic stress conditions;
  • The identification of key genes conferring abiotic stress tolerance and the elucidation of their regulatory mechanisms;
  • The identification of critical physiological processes and metabolites essential for enhancing abiotic stress tolerance;
  • The application of big data analytics to gain deeper insights into plant–environment interactions and stress management strategies.

Considering your expertise in the field, we would like to invite you to submit related papers to the above topics. 

Dr. Fangbin Cao
Guest Editor

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-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 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

  • crop
  • abiotic stress
  • yield
  • quality
  • key genes
  • molecular methods
  • QTL

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

16 pages, 16919 KB  
Article
Genome-Wide Identification, Characterization, and Expression Profiling of the HvLEA Family Genes Under Salt Stress, and Prediction of Their Protein–Protein Interaction Networks in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)
by Yiru Mao, Nan Li, Duo Zhao, Lufei Li, Ye Yang, Ao Qian, Jiaying Wang, Xuqi Zheng, Yi Hong, Chao Lv, Baojian Guo, Feifei Wang, Rugen Xu and Juan Zhu
Agronomy 2026, 16(8), 836; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16080836 - 21 Apr 2026
Viewed by 334
Abstract
Salt stress is a major abiotic factor that significantly limits crop yields worldwide. Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins, which are widely present across diverse organisms, play critical and multifaceted roles in plant responses to abiotic stress. However, only a few salt tolerance-related HvLEA [...] Read more.
Salt stress is a major abiotic factor that significantly limits crop yields worldwide. Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins, which are widely present across diverse organisms, play critical and multifaceted roles in plant responses to abiotic stress. However, only a few salt tolerance-related HvLEA genes have been identified in barley. In this study, we characterized 107 HvLEA proteins in barley, which were classified into eight groups and found to be distributed across all seven chromosomes. RNA-Seq analysis of root and leaf tissues from the cultivar “Golden Promise” at 12, 48, and 120 h after salt stress treatment identified 69 differentially expressed HvLEA genes across both tissues. Among these, 41 HvLEA genes were commonly differentially expressed in leaves and roots. Six genes (HvDHN2, HvDHN5, HvDHN10, HvLEA1.1, HvLEA1.6, and HvSMP2) were extremely up-regulated after salt stress in both roots and leaves, with log2FC values exceeding 10, indicating their potential key roles in salt stress response. qPCR validation of selected genes confirmed expression trends consistent with the RNA-Seq data. Database predictions and co-expression network analysis suggested that, in addition to potential protein interactions within the same family, these genes may interact with partners such as cysteine-rich receptor kinases, zinc finger proteins, calcium-binding EF-hand family proteins, NAC domain-containing proteins, and glycosyltransferases. This study identified key HvLEA genes involved in salt stress response and provided valuable genetic resources for improving barley tolerance through molecular breeding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regulatory Network of Crop to Environmental Stress: Genetic and Biochemical Characterization)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 5496 KB  
Article
Integrative Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analyses Reveal Mechanisms of Hexavalent Chromium Toxicity in Contrasting Rapeseed Cultivars
by Wan Xu, Ahsan Ayyaz, Fakhir Hannan, Mujeeb Ur Rehman Khan, Tongjun Qin, Wenjian Song, Muhammad Shahbaz Naeem, Ling Xu, Weijun Zhou and Iram Batool
Agronomy 2025, 15(12), 2892; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15122892 - 16 Dec 2025
Viewed by 766
Abstract
Brassica napus is a key oilseed crop with potential for cultivation in contaminated soils. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying chromium (Cr) toxicity and tolerance are not well-defined. This study aimed to elucidate these mechanisms by analyzing two contrasting cultivars, ZS758 and ZD622, under [...] Read more.
Brassica napus is a key oilseed crop with potential for cultivation in contaminated soils. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying chromium (Cr) toxicity and tolerance are not well-defined. This study aimed to elucidate these mechanisms by analyzing two contrasting cultivars, ZS758 and ZD622, under 50 μM Cr stress using a hydroponic experiment for physiological assessments, transcriptomics, and metabolomics. Cr exposure significantly increased tissue Cr content and severely inhibited plant growth, photosynthesis, and mineral nutrient uptake. Multi-omics analysis revealed extensive transcriptional and metabolic reprogramming. Specifically, we identified 15,882 and 13,371 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 256 and 136 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) identified in ZS758 and ZD622, respectively. These changes were primarily enriched in carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism pathways. The tolerant cultivar ZS758 exhibited more robust activation of defense-related pathways, including cell wall biosynthesis, hormone signaling, and transporter activity. Our integrative analysis reveals that Cr tolerance in rapeseed associated with cultivar-specific physiological and molecular adaptations. These insights provide potential targets and pathways for developing Cr-resistant varieties for sustainable agriculture in contaminated environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regulatory Network of Crop to Environmental Stress: Genetic and Biochemical Characterization)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 1447 KB  
Article
Synthesis, Antibacterial Properties, and Physiological Responses of Nano-Selenium in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Seedlings Under Cadmium Stress
by Hongyan Sun, Xin Lian, Runge Yao, Bingjie Shang, Siyu Yi, Jia Yu, Bo Zhang and Xiaoyun Wang
Agronomy 2025, 15(12), 2750; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15122750 - 28 Nov 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 547
Abstract
Selenium (Se) nanoparticles have emerged as a vital tool in enhancing plant resilience to multiple stress factors. So, the present study was designed to synthesize nano-Se, evaluate its antibacterial properties, and to investigate the effects of nano-Se at 2, 5, 10, and 15 [...] Read more.
Selenium (Se) nanoparticles have emerged as a vital tool in enhancing plant resilience to multiple stress factors. So, the present study was designed to synthesize nano-Se, evaluate its antibacterial properties, and to investigate the effects of nano-Se at 2, 5, 10, and 15 μM on the growth and physiological responses of barley seedlings under Cd stress. The results showed that nano-Se with an average size of 24.71 nm exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Notably, 5 μM nano-Se reduced Cd concentrations in leaves and roots by 19.46% and 31.07%, respectively, while enhancing root length, shoot/root fresh weight (FW), and dry weight (DW) compared to Cd-stressed plants. Furthermore, exogenous nano-Se significantly increased chlorophyll, protein, amino acid content, and enhanced photosynthetic performance compared to Cd treatment alone. Nano-Se further boosted the activity of antioxidant enzymes and concurrently reduced malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), proline, total flavonoids, and total phenols levels. Moreover, nano-Se supplementation under Cd stress promoted the uptake of essential nutrient elements and increased sugar content. Our results collectively suggest that nano-Se application during Cd stress may enhance photosynthesis, promote carbohydrate metabolism, and mitigate oxidative damage, thereby improving barley growth under Cd toxicity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regulatory Network of Crop to Environmental Stress: Genetic and Biochemical Characterization)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

12 pages, 1600 KB  
Article
Development, Evaluation, and Application of a Molecular Marker System for Wheat Quality Breeding in China
by Peng Jiang, Xiangyun Fan, Lei Wu, Chang Li, Huadun Wang, Yi He, Peng Zhang, Chunhao Dong, Guihong Yin and Xu Zhang
Agronomy 2025, 15(11), 2494; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15112494 - 28 Oct 2025
Viewed by 1328
Abstract
To address the limitations of traditional wheat quality breeding, this study developed a Wheat Quality Molecular Marker Selection System (QMMS) by integrating key genetic loci controlling core quality traits: grain protein content (GPC), grain hardness (GH), and high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS). The QMMS [...] Read more.
To address the limitations of traditional wheat quality breeding, this study developed a Wheat Quality Molecular Marker Selection System (QMMS) by integrating key genetic loci controlling core quality traits: grain protein content (GPC), grain hardness (GH), and high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS). The QMMS comprises three KASP markers (Kgpc-2B, Kgpc-2D, Kgpc-4A) and two duplex KASP (dKASP) markers (Pin-ab, Glu-AD), enabling cost-effective (≈5 CNY per sample) and high-throughput genotyping. Systematic validation was conducted using four panels of materials: representative varieties, breeding nursery materials, regional trial materials from the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River, and advanced lines from four cooperative institutions. Results showed that (1) the QMMS accurately distinguished quality types of representative varieties: strong-gluten varieties carried five or more strong-gluten–favorable alleles, while weak-gluten varieties harbored five or more weak-gluten favorable alleles; (2) in breeding nursery materials, quality traits increased significantly with the number of aggregated strong-gluten favorable alleles, and 48.15% of strong-gluten candidates met strong- and medium-strong-gluten standards; (3) in regional trial materials, 15.25% (36/236) and 1.69% (4/236) of lines carried ≥5 strong-gluten and weak-gluten favorable alleles, with low utilization of Kgpc-2D and Pina/Pinb favorable alleles (<30%); and (4) the QMMS screened 273 strong-gluten and 27 weak-gluten candidates for cooperative institutions, matching their breeding focuses. In conclusion, the QMMS provides reliable technical support for precise and efficient wheat quality breeding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regulatory Network of Crop to Environmental Stress: Genetic and Biochemical Characterization)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

14 pages, 1314 KB  
Review
Integrative Roles of Growth-Regulating Factors (GRFs) in Leaf Morphogenesis, Stress Response, and Crop Regeneration
by Omotola Adebayo Olunuga, Lixin Xu, Ibrahim Adams, Mohammad Gul Arabzai, Ting Wu, Jingai Gao, Fulin Ke, Qiuxia Bai, Shengzhen Chen, Chang An, Yuan Qin and Lulu Wang
Agronomy 2026, 16(6), 675; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16060675 - 23 Mar 2026
Viewed by 501
Abstract
Growth-Regulating Factors (GRFs) are plant-specific transcription factors that, together with GRF-Interacting Factors (GIFs) and under post-transcriptional control by miR396, coordinate cell proliferation and expansion to define organ size. This GRF–GIF–miR396 regulatory module holds major agronomic importance, shaping leaf architecture, source–sink relationships, nitrogen-use efficiency [...] Read more.
Growth-Regulating Factors (GRFs) are plant-specific transcription factors that, together with GRF-Interacting Factors (GIFs) and under post-transcriptional control by miR396, coordinate cell proliferation and expansion to define organ size. This GRF–GIF–miR396 regulatory module holds major agronomic importance, shaping leaf architecture, source–sink relationships, nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE), and stress resilience in crops. Upregulation of specific GRF genes has been shown to enhance leaf width, yield potential, and other important agronomic traits. Synthetic GRF–GIF chimeras have revolutionized regeneration and genome editing in multiple crop species, revealing both successes and species-specific limitations. Expanding GRF/GIF gene families and functional analyses across various crops highlight conserved developmental functions with variable outcomes, including improved drought and salinity tolerance through sustained canopy growth. This review, focused on crop systems, integrates current advances in GRF-regulated leaf development, their contributions to abiotic and biotic stress adaptation, and the emerging utility of GRF–GIF chimeras. Finally, it outlines key challenges and future opportunities for leveraging GRFs in designing climate-resilient, high-efficiency crop ideotypes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regulatory Network of Crop to Environmental Stress: Genetic and Biochemical Characterization)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop