Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defense in Crop Plants, 3rd Edition

A special issue of Antioxidants (ISSN 2076-3921). This special issue belongs to the section "ROS, RNS and RSS".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 957

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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; triticale; plant nutrition; oxidative stress; plant biochemistry; plant physiology; biostimulants
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the third edition of our Special Issue, “Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defense in Crop Plants”, we aim to expand our discussion to include current research directions on the molecular and physiological mechanisms of plant responses to environmental stress. We pay particular attention to the integration of redox regulation processes with signaling networks, changes in gene expression, and metabolic reprogramming, which determine effective adaptation and stress tolerance.

In the face of ongoing climate change and increasing environmental pressures, understanding plant adaptive mechanisms is crucial for ensuring the sustainability of agricultural production. In this Special Issue, we particularly emphasize the complexity and interdependence of defense processes that enable plants to maintain cellular homeostasis and yield potential under stressful conditions.

The collected papers will focus on the interplay of enzymatic and non-enzymatic components of the antioxidant system, their regulation under single and multifactorial stress conditions, and the practical implications of the obtained results for breeding plants resistant to unfavorable environmental conditions. We believe that the presented research will contribute to deepening knowledge about plant adaptation strategies and will indicate new directions of action for sustainable and resilient agriculture.

Dr. Marta Jańczak-Pieniążek
Guest Editor

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Keywords

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

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

28 pages, 11626 KB  
Article
Integrated Structural, Physiological, and Molecular Assessment of Sugar Beet Infested by Scrobipalpa ocellatella Under Field Conditions
by Ildikó Jócsák, Ádám Csóka, Tamás Donkó, György Végvári, Bálint Gerbovits, Ferenc Csima and Sándor Keszthelyi
Antioxidants 2026, 15(5), 624; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15050624 - 14 May 2026
Viewed by 127
Abstract
Background: The beet moth, Scrobipalpa ocellatella Boyd, 1858 (Lep.: Gelechiidae), is an increasingly important pest whose climate-driven expansion threatens sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) production in Europe. This study aimed to characterize the structural, physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses of sugar beet [...] Read more.
Background: The beet moth, Scrobipalpa ocellatella Boyd, 1858 (Lep.: Gelechiidae), is an increasingly important pest whose climate-driven expansion threatens sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) production in Europe. This study aimed to characterize the structural, physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses of sugar beet to infestation. Methods: Plants were analysed using computed tomography (CT), SPAD and NDVI measurements, HPLC-based sugar analysis, FRAP and MDA assays, and RT-qPCR of antioxidant-related genes. Results: CT imaging enabled non-destructive detection of larvae (mean length: 7.32 ± 0.73 mm) and pest-induced cavities (982.20 ± 316.04 mm3). SPAD did not differ significantly among treatments, whereas NDVI was consistently reduced in infested plants, declining from 0.648 ± 0.031 in non-infested plants to 0.593 ± 0.038 in infested-treated plants and 0.611 ± 0.021 in infested-untreated plants at the first sampling. Infestation induced pronounced oxidative stress, with FRAP increasing from 14.102 ± 0.943 to 25.471 ± 0.922 µg AA eq g−1 FW and MDA from 558.065 ± 21.819 to 1325.806 ± 16.762 nmol g−1 FW in untreated infested plants. Antioxidant gene expression was significantly upregulated, particularly for SOD, CAT, APX, DHAR, MDAR, and GPX. Conclusions: S. ocellatella infestation triggered coordinated oxidative stress responses in sugar beet, while CT and NDVI proved useful for early damage detection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defense in Crop Plants, 3rd Edition)
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18 pages, 5698 KB  
Article
Sulfur Supplementation Enhances Cadmium Tolerance in Rice by Modulating Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenging, Thiol-Dependent Detoxification, and Mineral Nutrient Homeostasis
by Ha-il Jung, Chaw Su Lwin, Myung-Sook Kim, Eun-Jin Lee, Tae-Gu Lee, Theint Thandar Latt, Jinwook Lee and Bok-Rye Lee
Antioxidants 2026, 15(4), 467; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15040467 - 9 Apr 2026
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Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is a potentially toxic element that impairs plant growth and threatens food safety and human health. This study aimed to investigate the effects of sulfur (S) supplementation on Cd uptake and tolerance in rice under hydroponic conditions. Rice seedlings were exposed [...] Read more.
Cadmium (Cd) is a potentially toxic element that impairs plant growth and threatens food safety and human health. This study aimed to investigate the effects of sulfur (S) supplementation on Cd uptake and tolerance in rice under hydroponic conditions. Rice seedlings were exposed to Cd stress and treated with S at different concentrations. Physiological traits, oxidative damage markers, thiol compounds, and ionomic profiles in rice plants were assessed. S supplementation reduced Cd-induced growth inhibition, restoring plant biomass. Although Cd accumulation increased with S treatment, it was accompanied by enhanced antioxidant responses, scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde. S application increased the production of thiol-containing compounds, including γ-glutamylcysteine, glutathione, and phytochelatins, which helped chelate Cd and sequester it in vacuoles, particularly in roots. Additionally, S supplementation altered the essential nutrient composition in rice tissues, particularly the uptake of N, P, and K, while influencing levels of Ca, Mg, and other essential elements. S supplementation enhanced rice tolerance to Cd stress by reestablishing ROS balance, activating thiol-based detoxification pathways, and regulating mineral nutrient balance. Furthermore, sulfur (S) exhibited a dual effect in plants, enhancing cadmium (Cd) uptake while also promoting its detoxification, underscoring its role in improving crop resilience in contaminated soils. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defense in Crop Plants, 3rd Edition)
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