Advances in Plant Redox Biology Research

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2026 | Viewed by 2734

Editors


E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
1. Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
2. Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Lab, Sanya 572025, China
Interests: maize; plant architecture; high-temperature stress; high photosynthetic efficiency; molecular mechanism; genetic basis
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Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Soybean Disease and Pest Control (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs), Key Laboratory of Plant Immunity, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Interests: plant physiology; plant immunity; plant growth and development

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant redox biology has become a cornerstone for deciphering the molecular mechanisms that govern stress resilience, growth, and immune responses in plants. Researchers worldwide have spearheaded advancements in this field, uncovering novel insights into redox signaling pathways, the dual roles of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), and the redox-mediated regulation of gene expression and protein activity. This Special Issue, "Advances in Plant Redox Biology Research", aims to bring together high-quality original research and review articles that reflect the current state and future directions of this rapidly evolving field.

Highlighting pioneering contributions from around the world, this Special Issue will cover redox dynamics during plant development, environmental stress adaptation, and host–microbe interactions. Key topics include redox-sensitive post-translational modifications, ROS/RNS crosstalk in signaling networks, redox homeostasis under abiotic–biotic stresses, and cutting-edge technologies for real-time redox imaging and quantification. By bridging molecular, cellular, and system-level approaches, this collection underscores the global leadership in transforming fundamental redox discoveries into actionable strategies for crop resilience and sustainable agriculture.

We welcome submissions that employ interdisciplinary methodologies, novel technologies, or translational frameworks, fostering global collaboration to tackle urgent challenges in food security and climate change. This Special Issue will chart the evolving landscape of plant redox biology and its implications for science and society.

Prof. Dr. Yurong Xie
Prof. Dr. Ming Chang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 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

  • plant redox biology
  • reactive oxygen species
  • reactive nitrogen species
  • plant development
  • environmental stress
  • abiotic/biotic stresses
  • host–microbe interactions

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 6717 KB  
Article
The FBXL Gene Family in Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.): Identification and Expression Response to TMV and Abiotic Stresses
by Jiaxin Li, Jia Shen, Fang Wang, Wei Wang, Yifeng Yan, Xiaolu Pan, Chaoqiang Jiang, Huaying Yang and Qing Dong
Antioxidants 2026, 15(2), 246; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15020246 - 13 Feb 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 687
Abstract
F-box-LRR (FBXL) proteins are crucial components of the SCF ubiquitin ligase complex, regulating diverse processes such as development and stress responses in plants. However, the FBXL family in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) remains poorly characterized. This study performed the first genome-wide analysis [...] Read more.
F-box-LRR (FBXL) proteins are crucial components of the SCF ubiquitin ligase complex, regulating diverse processes such as development and stress responses in plants. However, the FBXL family in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) remains poorly characterized. This study performed the first genome-wide analysis of the FBXL gene family in tobacco and identified 47 NtaFBXL genes. Phylogenetic analysis classified them into five clades, among which Clade III exhibited notable expansion. Promoter analysis revealed abundant stress- and hormone-related cis-elements. Expression profiling demonstrated tissue-specific patterns and strong responses to drought, ABA, IAA, and TMV infection. Importantly, six genes exhibited a significant negative correlation with TMV accumulation, suggesting their potential roles in antiviral defense. Moreover, both drought and TMV stress triggered a disturbance of redox homeostasis, a dynamic process that was closely associated with the expression of specific NtaFBXL genes, characterized by upregulated antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT) and accumulated oxidative markers (H2O2, MDA). Collectively, this study provided a foundational resource for understanding the function of NtaFBXLs and identified key candidate genes for the genetic improvement of stress resistance in tobacco. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Redox Biology Research)
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Review

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19 pages, 970 KB  
Review
Photo-Oxidative Stress in Plants: ROS Signaling, Damage Propagation, and Systems-Level Resilience
by Xinguo Li, Sha Yang, Jialei Zhang and Shubo Wan
Antioxidants 2026, 15(3), 371; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15030371 - 15 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1377
Abstract
Photo-oxidative stress, resulting from an imbalance between light absorption and photosynthetic carbon utilization, poses a fundamental challenge to plant survival and productivity. This review synthesizes recent advances to present an integrated framework connecting reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling, damage propagation, and systems-level resilience. [...] Read more.
Photo-oxidative stress, resulting from an imbalance between light absorption and photosynthetic carbon utilization, poses a fundamental challenge to plant survival and productivity. This review synthesizes recent advances to present an integrated framework connecting reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling, damage propagation, and systems-level resilience. We move beyond describing ROS as mere toxic byproducts to position them as central hubs in a complex, interconnected network. We integrate the specific sites of ROS generation, particularly 1O2 at PSII and H2O2 at PSI, with their distinct retrograde signaling pathways (e.g., EXECUTER, β-cyclocitral, and RES/RCS pathways) that reprogram nuclear gene expression. A systems perspective is then applied to reveal how initial photochemical damage propagates through a self-amplifying “vicious cycle” of impaired photosystem repair, lipid peroxidation, and protein oxidation, ultimately threatening cellular integrity. Counteracting this cycle is a multi-layered photoprotective arsenal including NPQ, alternative electron sinks (CEF, WWC), and an integrated antioxidant network, which we re-evaluate not as independent modules but as a coordinated, evolutionary-tuned defense system. We synthesize this knowledge to highlight a central paradigm for crop improvement: the pervasive growth–defense trade-off. Investment in photoprotection, while crucial for survival, diverts resources from yield, explaining why single-gene modifications often fail in the field. Therefore, we argue that future strategies must move beyond simply enhancing single components and instead focus on “optimizing the network”. We conclude by outlining how synthetic biology, multi-omics integration, and genomics-assisted breeding can be leveraged to fine-tune this integrated system, aiming to develop climate-resilient crops that balance productivity with survival in an increasingly volatile climate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Redox Biology Research)
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