Adaptation Mechanisms of Forest Trees to Abiotic Stress (2nd Edition)

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 1171

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100091, China
2. Department of Biology, Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, Shenzhen 518172, China
3. State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Interests: plant stress resistance physiology; stem cell regulation; tree micropropagation; forest plantation
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Following the success of the first edition, this second edition of this Special Issue continues to highlight recent advances in understanding the adaptation mechanisms of forest trees to abiotic stress. Abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity, and cold, remain major environmental factors that adversely affect tree growth and influence forest productivity and species distribution.

Tree responses and tolerance to abiotic stress are complex biological processes, which can be better understood by employing genetic, genomic, metabolomic, and phenomic approaches to analyze them at a systems level. This will expedite the dissection of stress-sensing and signaling networks to further support efficient genetic improvement programs for forest trees. Moreover, the enormous genetic diversity for stress tolerance exists within some forest tree species, and the molecular genetic basis for this diversity has been rapidly unfolding in recent years, thanks to advances in sequencing technologies. In addition, the use of emerging phenotyping technologies extends the suite of traits that can be measured and will provide us with a better understanding of stress tolerance. The elucidation of abiotic stress tolerance mechanisms will enable the effective pyramiding of multiple tolerances in a single tree through genetic engineering.

This Special Issue will compile recent research on the molecular, physiological, and phenotypic bases of abiotic stress tolerance in forest trees, aiming to provide insights for genetic engineering, breeding programs, and future studies. We welcome submissions of original research, reviews, and perspectives that build upon the foundation laid by the first edition.

Prof. Dr. Ling Yang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • genetic variation
  • epigenetic control
  • plant hormone
  • nitric oxide
  • reactive oxygen
  • species
  • phenomic
  • metabolomic
  • genomic
  • signal transduction
  • gene function

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 7590 KB  
Article
Identification of the GST Gene Family in Reaumuria soongorica and Its Response to Drought Stress
by Jun Zhao, Liying Ma, Weibo Du, Qianwen Song, Luna Xing, Wei Chen, Qingyan Zhao, Chunlei Zhen and Songsong Lu
Biology 2026, 15(8), 660; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15080660 - 21 Apr 2026
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Abstract
This study conducted a genome-wide identification and functional analysis of the glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene family in the xerophytic desert shrub Reaumuria soongorica. A total of 67 GST genes were identified, classified into seven subfamilies, including Phi and Tau, with [...] Read more.
This study conducted a genome-wide identification and functional analysis of the glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene family in the xerophytic desert shrub Reaumuria soongorica. A total of 67 GST genes were identified, classified into seven subfamilies, including Phi and Tau, with family expansion primarily attributed to small-scale duplication events. The findings revealed that ResoGST52, a member of the Tau subfamily, serves as a core gene in drought response, exhibiting significant upregulation of 2.40-fold in leaves and 9.01-fold in roots under drought stress. Mechanistic investigations indicated that the expression of ResoGST52 is likely directly regulated by the transcription factor ResoDof17, with specific hydrogen bonding interactions identified between the two. Co-expression network analysis further demonstrated that ResoGST52 cooperates with key pathways such as plant hormone signaling, MAPK cascades, and glutathione metabolism to collectively respond to drought stress. Notably, evolutionary analysis revealed that ResoGST52 has undergone positive selection, with three positively selected sites identified. Among these, the p.Ala115Ser mutation increases the volume of the protein’s active site pocket, while the remaining mutations enhance surface hydrophobicity, thereby improving protein stability and catalytic efficiency under extreme drought conditions. In summary, this study not only systematically identifies the GST gene family in R. soongorica but also elucidates the central role of ResoGST52 in drought adaptation through multiple layers—from transcriptional regulation and co-expression networks to protein structural adaptive evolution—providing valuable candidate genes and theoretical insights for genetic improvement of drought tolerance in crops. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptation Mechanisms of Forest Trees to Abiotic Stress (2nd Edition))
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23 pages, 3081 KB  
Article
Effects of Leaf Nutrients, Non-Structural Carbohydrates, and Microanatomical Structure on Biomass of Three Tree Species Under Drought Stress
by Zhaoqun Ma, Xi Zhang, Mengyun Lei, Nan Qin, Wenfang Ma, Lu Han and Haizhen Wang
Biology 2026, 15(8), 629; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15080629 - 16 Apr 2026
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Abstract
Drought stress profoundly affects plant growth and survival, but comparisons of integrated adaptive strategies across multiple tree species remain unclear. In this study, seedlings of Elaeagnus angustifolia (E. angustifolia), Populus euphratica (P. euphratica) and Xanthoceras sorbifolium (X. sorbifolium [...] Read more.
Drought stress profoundly affects plant growth and survival, but comparisons of integrated adaptive strategies across multiple tree species remain unclear. In this study, seedlings of Elaeagnus angustifolia (E. angustifolia), Populus euphratica (P. euphratica) and Xanthoceras sorbifolium (X. sorbifolium) were subjected to well-watered (CK), mild (T1), moderate (T2), and severe (T3) drought treatments. Leaf microanatomical traits, non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs), stoichiometric elements, biomass allocation, and key stress indicators were measured. The results showed that P. euphratica seedlings thickened leaves and vascular tissues and accumulated soluble sugars (SSs) and starch (ST) under T1–T2, but under T3, they prioritized root investment (root biomass +26.0%); their antioxidant enzymes were activated only under mild-to-moderate stress and declined under severe stress. E. angustifolia seedlings exhibited moderate leaf structural thickening, sharply increased root biomass (+97.2% under T3) while maintaining stem biomass, continuously elevated activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) as well as osmoregulatory substances (soluble protein SP, proline Pro), and showed the lowest malondialdehyde (MDA) content; their leaf carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) contents decreased the least, and their stoichiometric ratios remained stable. In contrast, X. sorbifolium seedlings progressively reduced leaf thickness and vascular area, depleted NSC reserves, exhibited unstable antioxidant responses, showed a significant decrease in Pro under severe drought, accumulated the highest MDA, and had the lowest N/P ratio, indicating the strongest nitrogen limitation. These results demonstrate that E. angustifolia combines structural plasticity, efficient nutrient use, robust osmotic adjustment, and sustained antioxidant capacity, conferring the strongest drought tolerance; P. euphratica* shows moderate tolerance through transient structural and carbon investment but suffers under extreme drought; X. sorbifolium has the weakest drought tolerance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptation Mechanisms of Forest Trees to Abiotic Stress (2nd Edition))
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