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14.7
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Antioxidants
Special Issues
Advances in Plant Redox Biology Research
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Advances in Plant Redox Biology Research

A Special Issue of Antioxidants (ISSN 2076-3921) belonging to the section "ROS, RNS and RSS".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 March 2027 | Viewed by 5731

Editors

Prof. Dr. Yurong Xie

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
1. Beijing Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-Breeding, Research Institute of Biology and Agriculture, School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
2. Beijing Engineering Laboratory of Main Crop Bio-Tech Breeding, Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Bio-Tech Breeding, Zhongzhi International Institute of Agricultural Biosciences, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: maize; plant architecture; high-temperature stress; high photosynthetic efficiency; molecular mechanism; genetic basis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Ming Chang

E-Mail Website
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

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. Antioxidants is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 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 (6 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

30 pages, 13280 KB  
Article
Comprehensive Characterization of Cytochrome P450s Reveals Candidate Enzymes Involved in the Metabolic Fate of Absorbed Volatile Organic Compounds in Potato
by Milica D. Bogdanović, Nina Devrnja, Katarina B. Ćuković Janićijević, Sofija Stupar, Slađana I. Todorović and Jelena Savić
Antioxidants 2026, 15(9), 1107; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15091107 - 2 Sep 2026
Abstract
Plants are continuously exposed to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by neighbors. Although the mechanisms governing VOC uptake and metabolism remain unclear, cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP450s) are thought to participate in the detoxification and metabolic conversion of absorbed VOCs. Data from previously conducted [...] Read more.
Plants are continuously exposed to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by neighbors. Although the mechanisms governing VOC uptake and metabolism remain unclear, cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP450s) are thought to participate in the detoxification and metabolic conversion of absorbed VOCs. Data from previously conducted cDNA microarray transcriptomic profiling in potato exposed to French marigold essential oil (FM-EO) was here used to filter differentially expressed sequences, and identified 54 unique CYP450 transcripts. Among the 10 most highly expressed sequences, two CYP81D1-like (81D1-1 and 81D1-2) and one CYP81D11-like (81D11-1) transcripts were found. RT-qPCR confirmed their strong induction within 8 h of volatile exposure. Comprehensive bioinformatics identified the most highly induced 81D1-1 gene as a CYP450 containing a predicted N-terminal hydrophobic signal or membrane-anchor region, the conserved heme-binding signature motif, and regulatory elements associated with oxidative stress responses. The other 81D11-1 gene, exhibiting a comparable expression level, was annotated only as a heme-binding protein but possessed seven distinct cis-regulatory elements, suggesting high transcriptional plasticity. Machine learning predictions assigned the highest interaction probability to (Z)-β-ocimene, whereas structure-based docking yielded the most favorable mean score for piperitone. This study provides the first characterization of the potato CYP450 superfamily in the context of volatile-mediated plant–plant interactions and identifies two CYP81D members as strong candidates for the oxidative metabolism of absorbed VOCs. The results support a proposed detoxification pathway in which CYP81-mediated oxidation precedes glutathione conjugation and intracellular sequestration of VOCs. These candidate genes provide a valuable foundation for future functional studies and may facilitate the development of sustainable crop protection strategies based on volatile-mediated plant defense. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Redox Biology 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 3 | Viewed by 868
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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28 pages, 6733 KB  
Review
The Dark Side of Antioxidants: When Scavenging ROS Undermines Plant Stress Acclimation
by Panqi Qiu, Ziwei Chu and Yurong Xie
Antioxidants 2026, 15(8), 965; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15080965 - 2 Aug 2026
Viewed by 474
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) exert dual biological functions in plants. Though they form toxic byproducts of aerobic metabolism, ROS also serve as indispensable secondary messengers that orchestrate stress acclimation programs. For decades, plant physiologists operated under a pervasive assumption that constitutive and non-compartmentalized [...] Read more.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) exert dual biological functions in plants. Though they form toxic byproducts of aerobic metabolism, ROS also serve as indispensable secondary messengers that orchestrate stress acclimation programs. For decades, plant physiologists operated under a pervasive assumption that constitutive and non-compartmentalized upregulation of antioxidant capacity would universally enhance abiotic stress tolerance. This long-standing dogma has now been thoroughly overturned. A growing body of evidence shows that sustained, global high antioxidant activity often impairs adaptation rather than helping it. In this review, we replace the simplistic “more antioxidants equal better tolerance” framework with a dynamic model of cellular redox homeostasis. We dissect three interconnected mechanisms though which unrestrained ROS scavenging generates deleterious phenotypic outcomes. First, indiscriminate clearance blunts transient ROS pulses and propagating ROS waves, the core signaling events acquired to trigger systemic acquired acclimation (SAA). Second, continuous antioxidant biosynthesis drains finite carbon skeletons, NADPH, and ATP pools, exacerbating evolutionary growth-defense resource trade-offs. Third, non-specific bulk ROS scavenging erases compartment-specific organellar retrograde signals, which rely on tightly controlled spatial and temporal ROS fluctuations. We concurrently define physiological boundary conditions where robust antioxidant activity remains vital for plant survival under extreme stress. Rather than advocating for the complete suppression of ROS detoxification, our analysis advocates context-dependent fine-tuning of redox signaling networks. We also summarize emerging precision redox monitoring and genetic engineering tools, and outline translational breeding pipelines to develop climate-resilient crops that balance stress survival and yield stability. This work delivers novel conceptual perspectives to advance fundamental plant redox biology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Redox Biology Research)
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21 pages, 1011 KB  
Review
Singlet Oxygen in Plants: Mechanistic Insights into Production, Oxidative Damage, and Stress-Response Signaling
by Zhonghua Qiu and Jiayu Wang
Antioxidants 2026, 15(8), 952; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15080952 - 30 Jul 2026
Viewed by 482
Abstract
Singlet oxygen (1O2), a highly reactive oxygen species generated in illuminated chloroplasts, is a major contributor to photooxidative damage in plants, particularly under high-light stress. This review summarizes the major sites of 1O2 production, its damage mechanisms, [...] Read more.
Singlet oxygen (1O2), a highly reactive oxygen species generated in illuminated chloroplasts, is a major contributor to photooxidative damage in plants, particularly under high-light stress. This review summarizes the major sites of 1O2 production, its damage mechanisms, and the antioxidant defense and scavenging strategies that limit 1O2 accumulation. Particular emphasis is placed on recent advances in 1O2-mediated signal transduction. EX1 and β-carotene-derived oxidation products have been proposed to act as key components in 1O2 perception and signaling, mediating signal transmission from distinct subchloroplast locations and contributing to a spatially coordinated 1O2 signaling network. Plants counteract 1O2-induced damage through a multilayered defense–perception–signal transduction system. The functional partitioning of 1O2 signaling between grana margins and grana cores, together with the coordinated action of multiple signaling molecules, provides important insights into the mechanisms of plant photoprotection and offers potential strategies for improving crop tolerance to photooxidative stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Redox Biology Research)
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43 pages, 23995 KB  
Review
Redox Regulation of Plant–Root-Knot Nematode Interactions: From ROS-Mediated Immunity to Sustainable Resistance
by Jung-Wook Yang, Ho Soo Kim and Yun-Hee Kim
Antioxidants 2026, 15(7), 853; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15070853 - 6 Jul 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 734
Abstract
Root-knot nematodes (RKNs; Meloidogyne spp.) are among the most destructive plant parasites, causing severe yield losses in diverse crops. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), particularly superoxide radicals (O2•−) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), are central regulators of [...] Read more.
Root-knot nematodes (RKNs; Meloidogyne spp.) are among the most destructive plant parasites, causing severe yield losses in diverse crops. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), particularly superoxide radicals (O2•−) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), are central regulators of plant–RKN interactions. This review synthesizes current molecular, biochemical, genetic, transcriptomic, and translational evidence showing that the outcome of infection is determined by the spatiotemporal regulation of H2O2 rather than by ROS abundance alone. In resistant interactions, nematode perception activates PTI-associated signaling through selected cell-surface receptor complexes, including some BAK1/SERK3-associated pathways, together with BIK1, Ca2+ signaling, and RBOHD/F, generating a sustained oxidative activity associated with salicylic acid-dependent immune signaling and reduced H2O2-scavenging capacity and coupled to hypersensitive response, lignin and callose deposition, and feeding site restriction. In susceptible interactions, RKNs deploy ROS-targeting effectors such as Mi-CRT, MjTTL5, CATLe, Mj-NEROSs, and CMII to suppress ROS production, enhance antioxidant scavenging, or weaken SA-dependent defense. Evidence from a cyst-nematode system suggests that RBOH-derived ROS can restrict excessive cell death around syncytia; whether an analogous lower-redox requirement exists in RKN-induced giant cells remains unresolved. Finally, redox-based strategies, including CRISPR/Cas editing, host-induced gene silencing, chemical priming, and biocontrol, are discussed as promising approaches for durable and sustainable nematode resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Redox Biology Research)
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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 6 | Viewed by 2069
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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