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Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defense in Crop Plants

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A special issue of Antioxidants (ISSN 2076-3921). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural and Synthetic Antioxidants".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 February 2025) | Viewed by 21787

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Dr. María C. Romero-Puertas

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Guest Editor

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology of Plants, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Apartado 419, E-18080 Granada, Spain
Interests: reactive oxygen species (ROS); reactive nitrogen species (RNS); plant stress

Dr. Marta Jańczak-Pieniążek

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Guest Editor Assistant

Department of Crop Production, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Environment Management and Protection, Faculty of Technology and Life Sciences, University of Rzeszów, 4 Zelwerowicza Street, 35-601 Rzeszów, Poland
Interests: crop production; cereal grain quality; wheat; rye; trriticale; plant nutrition; oxidative stres; plant biochemistry; photosynthesis; biostimulants

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Crop plants are exposed to various biotic and abiotic stresses. Oxidative stress results in damage to the cell organelles and cell membrane, which can ultimately lead to cell death. Consequently, plant metabolism is disrupted, leading to a weakening of the plants, affecting their productivity. Under stress conditions, plants have developed several mechanisms at the cellular and tissue levels to avoid the effects of stress. These mechanisms include changes in their stomatal conductance, hormone balance, antioxidant defense system, osmotic regulation, and ion exclusion. As a result, the plant’s leaf area is reduced, reducing photosynthesis and consequently inhibiting growth. Through the closure of the stomata, which limits stomatal conductance, both biotic and abiotic stresses lead to the inhibition of CO₂ attachment, creating immense energy levels. The result is increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which cause oxidative stress due to their overproduction and the imbalance of defense mechanisms. The antioxidant system, which is classified as a defense mechanism, is composed of enzymatic antioxidants including superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), etc. Plant cells also generate low-molecular-weight non-enzymatic antioxidants that are involved in ROS scavenging, including phenolic compounds. These non-enzymatic antioxidants play a major role in maintaining the redox balance by improving plant stress tolerance.

This Special Issue aims to gather pioneering research and comprehensive reviews that elucidate the complex dynamics between oxidative stress and antioxidant responses in crop plants. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

The negative effects of environmental stresses on crops;
The antioxidant defense mechanisms in crop plants;
Enzimatic and non-enzimatic antioxidant systems in plants.

Dr. María C. Romero-Puertas
Guest Editor
Dr. Marta Jańczak-Pieniążek
Guest Editor Assistant

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Keywords

biotic and abiotic stress
oxidative stress
ROS
plant biostimulants
crop plants
antioxidant mechanisms

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 2297 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Arginine and Spermine Ameliorate Water Deficit Stress in Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) by Enhancing Growth and Physio-Biochemical Processes

by Ali A. Badawy, Wadha Kh. Alshammari, Noura F. G. Salem, Woroud S. Alshammari and Hebat-Allah A. Hussein

Antioxidants 2025, 14(3), 329; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14030329 - 11 Mar 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 717

Abstract

Plants face various stresses, particularly water deficit, which negatively impacts photosynthesis, growth, and development, thereby limiting agricultural production. Utilizing growth regulators, such as amino acids and polyamines, to enhance osmotic stress tolerance is a crucial area of research in sustainable agriculture. This study investigates the impact of arginine and spermine treatments on various growth attributes, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, photosynthetic pigments, protein and lipid peroxidation, and yield traits of fenugreek plants under both normal and drought conditions. The results indicate that drought conditions significantly reduce morphological characteristics, leaf pigments, and yield traits. However, the application of arginine and spermine enhances these parameters, with spermine showing a more pronounced effect. Additionally, treatments boost antioxidant enzymes activities and improve the levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants and osmolytes, contributing to better stress tolerance and growth performance. Principal component analysis confirms that drought significantly alters plant physiology, increasing proline and malondialdehyde levels, while arginine and spermine alleviate drought stress by enhancing antioxidant activity and osmolyte accumulation. The current investigation aims to evaluate the effectiveness of spermine and arginine treatments on various growth attributes and stress tolerance of fenugreek plants under normal and drought conditions, focusing on their comparative efficacy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defense in Crop Plants)

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19 pages, 16595 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Identification and Drought-Responsive Functional Analysis of the GST Gene Family in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

by Ningfan Shi, Youfang Fan, Wei Zhang, Zhijia Zhang, Zhuanfang Pu, Zhongrun Li, Lijun Hu, Zhenzhen Bi, Panfeng Yao, Yuhui Liu, Zhen Liu, Jiangping Bai and Chao Sun

Antioxidants 2025, 14(2), 239; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14020239 - 19 Feb 2025

Viewed by 603

Abstract

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) play crucial roles in crop stress tolerance through protection against oxidative damage. In this study, we conducted genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the GST gene family in the autotetraploid potato cultivar Cooperative-88 (C88) using bioinformatic approaches. We identified 366 GST genes in the potato genome, which were classified into 10 subfamilies. Chromosomal mapping revealed that StGSTs were distributed across all 12 chromosomes, with 13 tandem duplication events observed in three subfamilies. Analysis of protein sequences identified 10 conserved motifs, with motif 1 potentially representing the GST domain. Analysis of cis-acting elements in the StGSTs promoter regions suggested their involvement in stress response pathways. RNA-seq analysis revealed that most StGSTs responded to both drought stress and DNA demethylation treatments. Quantitative PCR validation of 16 selected StGSTs identified four members that showed strong responses to both treatments, with distinct expression patterns between drought-tolerant (QS9) and drought-sensitive (ATL) varieties. Transient expression assays in tobacco demonstrated that these four StGSTs enhanced drought tolerance and may be regulated through DNA methylation pathways, though the precise mechanisms require further investigation. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for understanding the response and epigenetic regulation of potato GST genes under drought stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defense in Crop Plants)

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18 pages, 4357 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Deciphering Antioxidant Responses in Tomato Autografts

by Carlos Frey, Andrés Hernández-Barriuso, José Luis Acebes and Antonio Encina

Antioxidants 2025, 14(2), 234; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14020234 - 18 Feb 2025

Viewed by 456

Abstract

Grafting is a horticultural technique that involves a healing process that requires grafted plants to develop physiological responses to overcome oxidative stress. In this study, oxidative damage, total antioxidant capacity and antioxidant enzymatic activities were analysed in functional and non-functional tomato autografts for eight days after grafting, considering scion and rootstock tissues separately. The results showed that oxidative damage, measured as lipid peroxidation, was controlled, especially in functional grafts. Scion tissues showed significant increases in total antioxidant capacity and activities of key antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase and catalase. Non-functional grafts showed elevated levels of class III peroxidase, potentially related to defensive suberisation and lignification. Principal component analysis revealed that antioxidant activities correlated dynamically with grafting stages, highlighting their critical role in stress mitigation. These results suggest that an efficient and asymmetric antioxidant response is essential for successful graft healing in tomato plants. Furthermore, different patterns in non-functional grafts underline the importance of redox balance in determining graft success. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defense in Crop Plants)

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15 pages, 6039 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exogenous GABA-Ca Alleviates Growth Inhibition Induced by a Low-P Environment in Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea)

by Zhiyu Sun, Mingzhu Ma, Huan Liu, Dongbing Tao, Shaikh Amjad Salam, Xiaori Han, Yifei Liu and Jean Wan Hong Yong

Antioxidants 2024, 13(11), 1414; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13111414 - 18 Nov 2024

Viewed by 1125

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) deficiency is a major global factor constraining peanut production. Exogenous γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and Ca²⁺ are essential to improve stress resilience in peanuts growing under low-P conditions. This study therefore examined the detailed physiological effects of GABA-Ca on restoring peanut growth under low-P conditions. These included the root–shoot ratio, leaf nutrients, photochemical activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS), cyclic electron flow (CEF), ATP synthase activity, and the proton gradient (∆pH), all of which were measured under low-P (LP, 0.5 mM) and optimized-P (1 mM) conditions. Specifically, supplying GABA-Ca under LP conditions regulated the ∆pH by causing adjustments in CEF and ATP synthase activities, buffering the photosystems’ activities, restoring the antioxidant enzyme system, and lowering ROS production. Interestingly, exogenous GABA-Ca restored peanut growth under low-P conditions, possibly by the putative signaling crosstalk between GABA and Ca²⁺. The plausible signal amplification between GABA and Ca²⁺ suggested that the combination of GABA and Ca, may offer an effective strategy for enhancing peanut adaptation to low-P conditions. Moving forward, the strategic supplementation of GABA-Ca, either during cultivation or through the formulation of novel fertilizers, opens up many possibilities for better and more resilient plant production in soils with low P. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defense in Crop Plants)

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12 pages, 3758 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physiological and Microstructure Analysis Reveals the Mechanism by Which Formic Acid Delays Postharvest Physiological Deterioration of Cassava

by Yannian Che, Zhongping Ding, Chen Shen, Alisdair R. Fernie, Xiangning Tang, Yuan Yao, Jiao Liu, Yajie Wang, Ruimei Li and Jianchun Guo

Antioxidants 2024, 13(10), 1245; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13101245 - 16 Oct 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1045

Abstract

Formic acid is reported to act as a food preservative and feed additive, but its effects on controlling postharvest physiological deterioration (PPD) development in cassava are unclear. In this study, we assessed the effectiveness of different concentrations of formic acid in attenuating PPD occurrence in fresh-cut cassava. The results showed that the concentration of 0.1% (v/v) formic acid could significantly delay the occurrence of PPD, and that the higher the concentration of formic acid supplied, the later the occurrence of PPD symptoms. The physiological and biochemical analysis of 0.5%-formic-acid-treated cassava slices revealed that formic acid decreased the degradation of starch, inhibited the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), malondialdehyde (MDA), and water-soluble pectin in cassava slices with PPD development, and increased the activities of the antioxidant enzymes ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR). A microscopic observation showed that the formic acid treatment inhibited the enlargement of the intercellular space during the cassava PPD process, which suggests that the formation of an intercellular layer of the cell wall was inhibited by formic acid. This study thus revealed the mechanism used by formic acid to extend the cassava shelf life; however, a detailed evaluation of the possible side effects on, for example, the cyanide content will be needed to categorically ensure the safety of this method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defense in Crop Plants)

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17 pages, 3977 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Employing Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles as Biostimulant against Salinity: Improving Antioxidative Defense and Reactive Oxygen Species Balancing in Eggplant Seedlings

by Muhammad Fasih Khalid, Muhammad Zaid Jawaid, Muddasir Nawaz, Rana Abdul Shakoor and Talaat Ahmed

Antioxidants 2024, 13(10), 1209; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13101209 - 8 Oct 2024

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1497

Abstract

Salinity is a major abiotic stress that affects the agricultural sector and poses a significant threat to sustainable crop production. Nanoparticles (NPs) act as biostimulants and significantly mitigate abiotic stress. In this context, this experiment was designed to assess the effects of foliar application of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles at 200 and 400 ppm on the growth of eggplant (Solanum melongena) seedlings under moderate (75 mM) and high (150 mM) salinity stress. The TiO₂-NPs employed were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The seedlings were assessed physiologically, growth-wise, and biochemically. The seedlings were significantly affected by their physiological attributes (Fv′/Fm′, Fv/Fm, NPQ), growth (root length, shoot length, number of leaves, fresh biomass, dry biomass, leaf greenness), antioxidative enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT, APx, GR), stress indicators (H₂O₂, MDA), and toxic ion (Na⁺) concentrations. The maximum decrease in physiological and growth attributes in eggplant seedling leaves was observed with no TiO₂-NP application at 150 mM NaCl. Applying TiO₂-NPs at 200 ppm showed significantly less decrease in Fv’/Fm’, root length, shoot length, number of leaves, fresh biomass, dry biomass, and leaf greenness. In contrast, there were larger increases in SOD, POD, CAT, APx, GR, and TSP. This led to less accumulation of H₂O₂, MDA, and Na⁺. No significant difference was observed in higher concentrations of TiO₂-NPs compared to the control. Therefore, TiO₂-NPs at 200 ppm might be used to grow eggplant seedlings at moderate and high salinity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defense in Crop Plants)

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17 pages, 8961 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Abscisic Acid Receptor Gene StPYL8-like from Solanum tuberosum Confers Tolerance to Drought Stress in Transgenic Plants

by Panfeng Yao, Chunli Zhang, Chao Sun, Yuhui Liu, Zhen Liu, Jia Wei, Xinglong Su, Jiangping Bai, Junmei Cui and Zhenzhen Bi

Antioxidants 2024, 13(9), 1088; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13091088 - 5 Sep 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1278

Abstract

Pyrabactin resistance 1-like (PYL) proteins are abscisic acid (ABA) receptors that play a crucial role in the plant’s response to adverse environmental conditions. However, as of yet, there is limited research on the role of PYL proteins in potato. In this study, a potato PYL gene, StPYL8-like, was identified through transcriptome analysis under drought stress. Molecular characterization revealed that the StPYL8-like protein possesses a highly conserved PYL family domain. Evolutionary analysis demonstrated that StPYL8-like protein clusters with various PYL proteins are involved in stress responses across different species. Functional assays showed that StPYL8-like robustly responds to different abiotic stresses, including drought and ABA treatment. Furthermore, the transient and stable expressions of StPYL8-like in tobacco enhanced their drought resistance, leading to increased plant height, leaf number, and fresh weight, as well as an improved root system. Transgenic tobacco carrying the StPYL8-like gene exhibited lower malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and higher proline accumulation and antioxidant enzyme activity compared to wild-type plants under drought conditions. Moreover, StPYL8-like upregulated the expression of stress-responsive genes (NtRD29A, NtLEA5, NtP5CS, NtPOD, NtSOD, and NtCAT) in transgenic plants subjected to drought stress. Collectively, these findings highlight the positive regulatory role of the StPYL8-like gene in enhancing potato plants’ response to drought stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defense in Crop Plants)

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16 pages, 11706 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physiological and Transcriptome Analysis of the Effects of Exogenous Strigolactones on Drought Responses of Pepper Seedlings

by Huangying Shu, Muhammad Ahsan Altaf, Naveed Mushtaq, Huizhen Fu, Xu Lu, Guopeng Zhu, Shanhan Cheng and Zhiwei Wang

Antioxidants 2023, 12(12), 2019; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12122019 - 21 Nov 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2120

Abstract

Drought stress significantly restricts the growth, yield, and quality of peppers. Strigolactone (SL), a relatively new plant hormone, has shown promise in alleviating drought-related symptoms in pepper plants. However, there is limited knowledge on how SL affects the gene expression in peppers when exposed to drought stress (DS) after the foliar application of SL. To explore this, we conducted a thorough physiological and transcriptome analysis investigation to uncover the mechanisms through which SL mitigates the effects of DS on pepper seedlings. DS inhibited the growth of pepper seedlings, altered antioxidant enzyme activity, reduced relative water content (RWC), and caused oxidative damage. On the contrary, the application of SL significantly enhanced RWC, promoted root morphology, and increased leaf pigment content. SL also protected pepper seedlings from drought-induced oxidative damage by reducing MDA and H₂O₂ levels and maintaining POD, CAT, and SOD activity. Moreover, transcriptomic analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes were enriched in ribosomes, ABC transporters, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and Auxin/MAPK signaling pathways in DS and DS + SL treatment. Furthermore, the results of qRT-PCR showed the up-regulation of AGR7, ABI5, BRI1, and PDR4 and down-regulation of SAPK6, NTF4, PYL6, and GPX4 in SL treatment compared with drought-only treatment. In particular, the key gene for SL signal transduction, SMXL6, was down-regulated under drought. These results elucidate the molecular aspects underlying SL-mediated plant DS tolerance, and provide pivotal strategies for effectively achieving pepper drought resilience. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defense in Crop Plants)

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23 pages, 4075 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Caffeine Produced in Rice Plants Provides Tolerance to Water-Deficit Stress

by Youngchul Yoo, Yo-Han Yoo, Dong Yoon Lee, Ki-Hong Jung, Sang-Won Lee and Jong-Chan Park

Antioxidants 2023, 12(11), 1984; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12111984 - 8 Nov 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2597

Abstract

Exogenous or endogenous caffeine application confers resistance to diverse biotic stresses in plants. In this study, we demonstrate that endogenous caffeine in caffeine-producing rice (CPR) increases tolerance even to abiotic stresses such as water deficit. Caffeine produced by CPR plants influences the cytosolic Ca²⁺ ion concentration gradient. We focused on examining the expression of Ca²⁺-dependent protein kinase genes, a subset of the numerous proteins engaged in abiotic stress signaling. Under normal conditions, CPR plants exhibited increased expressions of seven OsCPKs (OsCPK10, OsCPK12, OsCPK21, OsCPK25, OsCPK26, OsCPK30, and OsCPK31) and biochemical modifications, including antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase) activity and non-enzymatic antioxidant (ascorbic acid) content. CPR plants exhibited more pronounced gene expression changes and biochemical alterations in response to water-deficit stress. CPR plants revealed increased expressions of 16 OsCPKs (OsCPK1, OsCPK2, OsCPK3, OsCPK4, OsCPK5, OsCPK6, OsCPK9, OsCPK10, OsCPK11, OsCPK12, OsCPK14, OsCPK16, OsCPK18, OsCPK22, OsCPK24, and OsCPK25) and 8 genes (OsbZIP72, OsLEA25, OsNHX1, OsRab16d, OsDREB2B, OsNAC45, OsP5CS, and OsRSUS1) encoding factors related to abiotic stress tolerance. The activity of antioxidant enzymes increased, and non-enzymatic antioxidants accumulated. In addition, a decrease in reactive oxygen species, an accumulation of malondialdehyde, and physiological alterations such as the inhibition of chlorophyll degradation and the protection of photosynthetic machinery were observed. Our results suggest that caffeine is a natural chemical that increases the potential ability of rice to cope with water-deficit stress and provides robust resistance by activating a rapid and comprehensive resistance mechanism in the case of water-deficit stress. The discovery, furthermore, presents a new approach for enhancing crop tolerance to abiotic stress, including water deficit, via the utilization of a specific natural agent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defense in Crop Plants)

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Review

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14 pages, 1257 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Regulation of ROS and Phytohormones in Balancing Crop Yield and Salt Tolerance

by Lei Jiang, Minggang Xiao, Rongfeng Huang and Juan Wang

Antioxidants 2025, 14(1), 63; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14010063 - 7 Jan 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1279

Abstract

Salinity affects crop growth and productivity, and this stress can be increased along with drought or high temperature stresses and poor irrigation management. Cultivation of salt-tolerant crops plays a critical role in enhancing crop yield under salt stress. In the past few decades, the mechanisms of plant adaptation to salt stress have been described, especially relying on ionic homeostasis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, and phytohormone signaling. The studies of these molecular mechanisms have provided a basis for breeding new salt-tolerant crop germplasm and have facilitated the entry into the era of molecular breeding of salt-tolerant crops. In this review, we outline the recent progress in the molecular regulations underlying crop salt tolerance, focusing on the double-edged sword effect of ROS, the regulatory role of phytohormones, and the trade-off effects of ROS and phytohormones between crop yield and salt tolerance. A future challenge is to identify superior alleles of key salt-tolerant genes that will accelerate the breeding of high-yield and salt-tolerant varieties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defense in Crop Plants)

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27 pages, 2532 KiB

Open AccessReview

Higher Plant-Derived Biostimulants: Mechanisms of Action and Their Role in Mitigating Plant Abiotic Stress

by Sara Esperanza Martínez-Lorente, José Manuel Martí-Guillén, María Ángeles Pedreño, Lorena Almagro and Ana Belén Sabater-Jara

Antioxidants 2024, 13(3), 318; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13030318 - 6 Mar 2024

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 6287

Abstract

Modern agriculture is being challenged by deteriorating edaphoclimatic conditions and increasing anthropogenic pressure. This necessitates the development of innovative crop production systems that can sustainably meet the demands of a growing world population while minimizing the environmental impact. The use of plant biostimulants is gaining ground as a safe and ecologically sound approach to improving crop yields. In this review, biostimulants obtained from different higher plant sources are presented under the term higher plant-derived biostimulants (hPDBs). Their mechanisms of action regulate physiological processes in plants from germination to fructification, conditioned by responses induced in plant mineral nutrition and primary metabolism, specialized metabolism, photosynthetic processes, oxidative metabolism, and signaling-related processes. The aim of this review is to collect and unify the abundant information dispersed in the literature on the effects of these biostimulants, focusing on crops subjected to abiotic stress conditions and the underlying mechanisms of action. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defense in Crop Plants)

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