Roles of Aquaporins in Woody Plants

Plant aquaporins are a large and diverse family of porter proteins abundantly distributed in cellular membranes. They play versatile roles in transmembrane substrate transport and cell water homeostasis, and influence plant growth, development, and responses to environmental stimuli. In addition to the well-studied model species, aquaporin research has been providing perspectives for critical and sometimes unique biological processes in many woody plants that have great ecological, silvicultural, and horticultural significance on the global scale. This Special Issue invites contributions of the recent advances in the cellular and physiological roles of aquaporins in trees, shrubs, and lianas grown in natural habitats or under cultivation. Topics include but are not limited to the following aspects:

1. Classification and selective transport of water, gases, metalloids, and other small neutral molecules of PIPs, TIPs, NIPs, SIPs, and XIPs;
2. Cell water homeostasis, cell expansion and division, and cell wall formation in primary and secondary growth;
3. Root water uptake and transport, and hydraulic and carbohydrate dynamics in vascular tissues;
4. Foliar exchanges, stomatal behavior, and photosynthesis;
5. Reproductive growth and development, and fruit growth, development, and disorders;
6. Cold acclimation, de-acclimation, and dormancy;
7. Aquaporin expression and post-translational regulation in responses to abiotic stresses such as water deficit, waterlogging, salinity, adverse pH, and temperatures, and to silvicultural/horticultural mitigation measures;
8. Functions in biotic interactions with beneficial micro-organisms, pests, and pathogens, and competitive and companion plants;
9. Novel physiological functions of aquaporins in woody perennials;
10. Novel techniques in aquaporin-related research.

Research articles, reviews, opinions, communications, and methods are welcomed.

Dr. Hao Xu
Guest Editor

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• aquaporin
• cell expansion
• environmental stress
• fruit development
• hydraulics