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Molecular Responses of Plants to Abiotic Stress

A special issue of Current Issues in Molecular Biology (ISSN 1467-3045). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 1051

Editors


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Guest Editor
College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
Interests: abiotic stress; redox regulation; lipid metabolism; light regulation; greenhouse cultivation

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
Interests: stress signaling; anthocyanin biosynthesis; nutrient utilization; hormone regulation; gene functional analysis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, and nutrient deficiency, are major factors limiting plant growth and crop productivity worldwide. To cope with these adverse environmental conditions, plants have evolved complex adaptive mechanisms involving morphological, physiological, and molecular changes. These stress responses are orchestrated by intricate regulatory networks that control gene expression, protein modification, and metabolic reprogramming. Despite significant progress in identifying stress-responsive genes and pathways, a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying plant stress tolerance remains elusive. 

This Special Issue, titled "Molecular Responses of Plants to Abiotic Stress," aims to gather cutting-edge research that unravels the molecular basis of abiotic stress perception, signal transduction, and tolerance in plants. We welcome studies employing molecular, genetic, and multi-omics approaches to dissect the regulatory networks governing stress responses. We particularly encourage submissions that highlight the functional characterization of candidate genes/proteins through approaches, including overexpression, gene silencing, or CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing, with a focus on understanding their roles at both transcriptional and post-translational levels. By integrating classical molecular biology with advanced technologies, this Special Issue seeks to provide novel insights into stress adaptation mechanisms with potential applications in crop improvement and sustainable agriculture.

Dr. Tuo Ji
Prof. Dr. Fengjuan Yang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • abiotic stress responses
  • stress signal transduction
  • gene functional characterization
  • multi-omics regulation
  • crop stress tolerance

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 9563 KB  
Article
Genome-Wide Identification of the PIN-LIKES (PILS) Gene Family in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and Its Expression Analysis Under Abiotic Stresses
by Xiao Han, Xiaojie Zhang, Rui Wang, Lili Gu, Wenxian Yang, Yiqiang Ren and Zhenwei Ren
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2026, 48(6), 580; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb48060580 - 1 Jun 2026
Viewed by 220
Abstract
The PIN-LIKES (PILS) gene family is crucial for regulating auxin homeostasis and stress adaptation in plants; nevertheless, a comprehensive study on this family in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) remains insufficient. This research found 46 MsPILS genes within the tetraploid alfalfa [...] Read more.
The PIN-LIKES (PILS) gene family is crucial for regulating auxin homeostasis and stress adaptation in plants; nevertheless, a comprehensive study on this family in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) remains insufficient. This research found 46 MsPILS genes within the tetraploid alfalfa genome and categorized them into four subfamilies. The genes are irregularly allocated throughout 16 chromosomes, with tandem duplications acting as a primary catalyst for family expansion. Analysis indicated that all MsPILS proteins contain the conserved Mem_trans domain. The promoter study revealed that MsPILS genes had many cis-elements that respond to abiotic stressors and hormones. qRT-PCR research indicated that MsPILS genes exhibit variable expression across several tissues and respond to multiple abiotic stressors. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) research revealed PIN3, PIN5, and PIN6 as principal interacting partners of the MsPILS proteins. Subcellular localization studies indicated that MsPILS1c is in the nucleus, plasma membrane, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER). This research offers significant genetic resources and a theoretical framework for elucidating the activities of PILS genes and for molecular breeding aimed at improving stress tolerance in alfalfa. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Responses of Plants to Abiotic Stress)
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21 pages, 9328 KB  
Article
Identification of SmNAC28 Transcription Factor and Its Mechanism of Regulating Salt Tolerance in Eggplant via S-Palmitoylation
by Yuting Fan, Chenxiao Xu, Qi Chen, Wenhao Hu, Tuo Ji and Fengjuan Yang
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2026, 48(4), 398; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb48040398 - 14 Apr 2026
Viewed by 465
Abstract
The NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC1/2) family of transcription factors (TFs) play critical roles in regulating salt tolerance across diverse plant species. This study identified and characterized 101 NAC TFs in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), revealing their diverse physicochemical properties, chromosomal distributions, [...] Read more.
The NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC1/2) family of transcription factors (TFs) play critical roles in regulating salt tolerance across diverse plant species. This study identified and characterized 101 NAC TFs in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), revealing their diverse physicochemical properties, chromosomal distributions, and evolutionary relationships. Based on its salt stress-induced expression pattern and homology to known salt-responsive NAC factors, SmNAC28 was selected as a key candidate for functional investigation of salt tolerance. Expression profiling indicated that SmNAC28 is preferentially expressed in roots and stems, and its transcript levels are modulated by salt stress. Subcellular localization confirmed that SmNAC28 localizes to both the plasma membrane and nucleus, a dynamic distribution regulated by S-palmitoylation. Under normal conditions, SmNAC28 is anchored to the plasma membrane and nucleus via S-palmitoylation; upon salt stress exposure, it undergoes depalmitoylation and translocates to the nucleus. Using a hairy root transformation system in eggplant, we demonstrated that overexpression of SmNAC28 in roots significantly enhanced salt tolerance by mitigating oxidative damage, maintaining ion homeostasis, and promoting osmotic adjustment. Analysis of transcript levels further revealed that SmNAC28 overexpression upregulated ion transporter genes (NHX2, CHXs), signaling genes (CIPKs), and the proline biosynthesis gene (P5CS), which demonstrated that SmNAC28 integrates antioxidant defense, ion homeostasis, and osmotic regulation to confer salt tolerance. This study reveals the response mechanism of SmNAC28 to salt stress of the eggplant transcription factor SmNAC28 under salt stress, and provided a research foundation for salt tolerance breeding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Responses of Plants to Abiotic Stress)
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