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Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Abiotic Stress Tolerance: 2nd Edition

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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 September 2025) | Viewed by 17273

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Prof. Dr. Michael Moustakas

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Department of Botany, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: plant ecophysiology; biotic stress; abiotic stress; photosynthesis; antioxidative mechanisms; photoprotective mechanisms; mineral nutrition; ROS
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Dear Colleagues,

Throughout their life cycle, plants are continuously exposed to various abiotic stress factors that negatively influence plant growth, development, and crop productivity. However, plants have developed several dynamic approaches at the morphological, physiological, and biochemical levels that enable them to avoid and/or tolerate abiotic stresses. Avoidance mechanisms mainly include morphological and physiological adjustments that allow the plant to escape from the abiotic stress factor. In the case of drought stress, these adjustments involve an increased root system, increased leaf thickness, decreased leaf area, reduced stomatal number and conductance, and leaf rolling or folding to minimize evapotranspiration. Drought tolerance traits are correlated with the maintenance of the plant’s water status through osmotic adjustment, involving the accumulation of osmolytes that help the plants preserve their water status and acclimate to water deﬁcit. The impact of abiotic stress factors on plants depends on the intensity, frequency, and duration of the stress, as well as on the plant species.

Despite various studies aiming to elucidate the mechanisms of plant tolerance to abiotic stress factors, the exact molecular mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Therefore, to evaluate the main reasons for crop yield reduction and food production worldwide, we need to illuminate the molecular mechanisms of plant abiotic stress tolerance to various stresses, such as drought, temperature, salinity, nutrient deficiency, light intensity, heavy metals, and UV radiation, as well as their influence on the growth, physiology, biochemistry, and photosynthesis of the plant species.

This Special Issue of IJMS will highlight the molecular mechanisms of plant tolerance to abiotic stresses, contributing to a better understanding of plant responses to stress factors, which can help in the development of realistic interventions to increase agricultural productivity.

Scientists from all around the world are invited to submit original research and review articles on all aspects of plant physiology and development, including growth, water relations, nutrition, photosynthesis, and related plant physiological processes, as well as changes in metabolism using omic techniques (ionomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, genomics, etc.).

Prof. Dr. Michael Moustakas
Guest Editor

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Keywords

acclimation
drought
salinity
pesticides
high–low temperature
high–low light intensity
nutrient deficiencies
heavy metals
UV radiation
photosynthetic efficiency
ROS
antioxidant mechanisms
redox regulation

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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26 pages, 3173 KB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancement of Photosynthetic Efficiency and Antioxidant Response in Wheat Under Drought Stress by Quercetin–Copper Complex

by Marta Jańczak-Pieniążek, Dagmara Migut, Tomasz Piechowiak and Maciej Balawejder

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(21), 10365; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262110365 - 24 Oct 2025

Viewed by 477

Abstract

One way to counteract the effects of environmental stresses, including drought, is to use products with growth-promoting properties for plants. Such agents include quercetin, which is known for its antioxidant and photosynthesis-enhancing properties. In the conducted experiment, the influence of the quercetin–copper complex (Q-Cu (II)) treatment, characterized by strong high solubility in water and strong antioxidant properties, was investigated. The pot experiment demonstrated the effect of spraying with Q-Cu (II) solutions (0.01, 0.05 and 0.1%) on wheat plants growing under drought stress conditions. Two treatments of Q-Cu (II) solutions were applied, and chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence (the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry (F_v/F_m), the efficiency of the water-splitting complex on the donor side of PSII (F_v/F_o), and the photosynthetic efficiency index (PI)), as well as gas exchange (photosynthetic network intensity (P_N), transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (g_s) and intercellular CO₂ concentration (C_i)), were measured 1 and 7 days after each treatment. In addition, antioxidant enzyme activity (catalase (CAT), peroxidase (SOD) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPOX)) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were determined. Drought stress caused a decrease in chlorophyll content, and values of parameters F_v/F_m, F_v/F_o, PI and P_N, E, g_s, C_i, as well as an increase in ROS levels and antioxidant enzyme activity. Exogenous Q-Cu (II) improved photosynthetic indices and modulated redox status in a dose-dependent manner: 0.01–0.05% reduced ROS, whereas 0.1% increased ROS while concomitantly enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities and photosynthetic performance, consistent with ROS-mediated priming. The conducted research indicates the possibility of using Q-Cu (II) as a product to enhance the efficiency of the photosynthetic process under drought stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Abiotic Stress Tolerance: 2nd Edition)

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24 pages, 18999 KB

Open AccessArticle

Transcriptomic Analysis of Osmotic Stress-Tolerant Somatic Embryos of Coffea arabica L. Mediated by the Coffee Antisense Trehalase Gene: A Marker-Free Approach

by Eliana Valencia-Lozano, Aarón Barraza, Jorge Ibarra, John P. Délano-Frier, Norma A. Martínez-Gallardo, Idalia Analí Gámez-Escobedo and José Luis Cabrera-Ponce

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(18), 9224; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26189224 - 21 Sep 2025

Viewed by 1390

Abstract

Coffee Coffea arabica L. depends on abundantly distributed rainfall, and drought negatively impacts plant development, fruit production, bean quality, and, ultimately, beverage quality. Plant biotechnology by means of genetic manipulation and plant regeneration by the somatic embryogenic process is an alternative technology to overcome these problems. In the present work, we used the molecular approach of the Trehalase gene silencing to allow trehalose accumulation favoring plants surviving in extreme drought/salt environments. We used a cassette containing the antisense C. arabica L. Trehalase gene under the RD29 promoter from A. thaliana and the NOS terminator to genetically modify an embryogenic coffee C. arabica L. cv Typica line under osmotic stress supplemented with mannitol (0.3 M) and sorbitol (0.3 M). Osmotic stress-tolerant somatic embryos lines were recovered and regenerated into plants. Tolerant somatic embryo lines showed a higher rate of competence to induce secondary SE capacity and plants robustness. These lines showed a down-regulation of the Trehalase; accumulation of trehalose, sucrose, starch, and proline; higher photosynthetic rate; improved water-use efficiency; and appropriated vapor deficit pressure under soil conditions. A transcriptome analysis was performed from highly competent somatic embryogenic lines to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying osmotic-stress tolerance. From the up-regulated genes, a PPI network made by STRING v12.0 with high confidence (0.700) revealed the presence of the 10 modules: the cell cycle, chromatin remodeling, somatic embryogenesis, oxidative stress, generic transcription pathway, carbon metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, trehalose biosynthesis, proline biosynthesis, and glycerolipid metabolism. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Abiotic Stress Tolerance: 2nd Edition)

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23 pages, 4545 KB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Association Study and Transcriptome Analysis Reveal Alkaline Stress-Responsive Genes in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

by Xuelian Sun, Xin Kang, Jiayan Wang, Xiaoyan He, Wenxing Liu, Dengan Xu, Xuehuan Dai, Wujun Ma and Jianbin Zeng

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(17), 8659; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26178659 - 5 Sep 2025

Viewed by 1371

Abstract

Alkaline stress, driven by high pH and carbonate accumulation, results in severe physiological damage in plants. While the molecular mechanisms underlying alkaline tolerance have been partially elucidated in many crops, they remain largely unexplored in wheat. We hypothesize that alkaline stress tolerance in wheat is genotype-dependent. This study employed an integrated multi-omics approach to assess alkaline stress responses, combining genome-wide association study (GWAS) and RNA-seq analyses. Systematic phenotyping revealed severe alkaline stress-induced root architecture remodeling—with 57% and 73% length reductions after 1- and 3-day treatments, respectively—across 258 accessions. Analysis of the GWAS results identified nine significant alkaline tolerance QTLs on chromosomes 1A, 3B, 3D, 4A, and 5B, along with 285 associated candidate genes. Using contrasting genotypes—Dingxi 38 (tolerant) and TDP.D-27 (sensitive)—as experimental materials, physiological analyses demonstrated that root elongation was less inhibited in Dingxi 38 under alkaline stress compared to TDP.D-27, with superior root integrity observed in the tolerant genotype. Concurrently, Dingxi 38 exhibited enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capacity. Subsequent RNA-seq analysis identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in ion homeostasis, oxidative defense, and cell wall remodeling. Integrated GWAS and RNA-seq analyses allowed for the identification of seven high-confidence candidate genes, including transcription factors (MYB38, bHLH148), metabolic regulators (ATP-PFK3), and transporters (OCT7), elucidating a mechanistic basis for adaptation to alkaline conditions. These findings advance our understanding of alkaline tolerance in wheat and provide candidate targets for molecular breeding of saline- and alkaline-tolerant crops. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Abiotic Stress Tolerance: 2nd Edition)

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32 pages, 445 KB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Soil Drought on Yield and Leaf Sugar Content in Wheat: Genotypic and Phenotypic Relationships Compared Using a Doubled Haploid Population

by Magdalena Grela, Steve Quarrie, Katarzyna Cyganek, Jan Bocianowski, Małgorzata Karbarz, Mirosław Tyrka, Dimah Habash, Michał Dziurka, Edyta Kowalczyk, Wojciech Szarski and Ilona Mieczysława Czyczyło-Mysza

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(16), 7833; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167833 - 13 Aug 2025

Viewed by 810

Abstract

Improving yield stability under water-limited conditions is a key objective of wheat breeding programmes. One trait of particular interest is carbohydrate accumulation and remobilisation. This study assessed the genetic basis of aspects of yield and flag leaf sugar contents under drought and well-watered conditions using QTL mapping in a population of 90 doubled haploid lines derived from the cross Chinese Spring × SQ1. As well as soluble sugar content, glucose, fructose, sucrose, and maltose, the traits grain yield (Yld), biomass (Bio), and thousand grain weight (TGW) were also analysed. Analysis of variance showed that genotype, environment and their interactions significantly influenced all the traits studied, with environmental effects explaining up to 74.4% of the total variation. QTL analysis identified 40 QTLs for Yld, TGW, and Bio as well as 53 QTLs for soluble carbohydrates, accounting for up to 40% of phenotypic variation. QTLs coincident for more than one trait were identified on 21 chromosome regions, associated with carbohydrate metabolism and yield performance under drought, particularly on chromosomes 2D, 4A, 4B, 5B, 5D, 6B, and 7A. Candidate genes for several yield-related QTLs were identified. These results provide useful genetic markers for the development of more drought-resistant wheat cultivars. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Abiotic Stress Tolerance: 2nd Edition)

28 pages, 3134 KB

Open AccessArticle

Identification and Network Construction of mRNAs, miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs in Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.) Adventitious Roots Under Salt Stress via Whole-Transcriptome RNA Sequencing

by Bo Jiang, Yuxia Li, Jun Shi, Dagaga Dibaba Chalasa, Lei Zhang, Shaoyuan Wu and Tao Xu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(4), 1660; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26041660 - 15 Feb 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1716

Abstract

Sweetpotato is the seventh largest crop worldwide, and soil salinization is a major environmental stress limiting its yield. Recent studies have shown that noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) play important regulatory roles in plant responses to abiotic stress. However, ncRNAs in sweetpotato remain largely unexplored. This study analyzed the characteristics of salt-responsive ncRNAs in sweetpotato adventitious roots under salt stress via whole-transcriptome RNA sequencing. The results revealed that 3175 messenger RNAs (mRNAs), 458 microRNAs (miRNAs), 544 long-chain ncRNAs (lncRNAs), and 23 circular RNAs (circRNAs) were differentially expressed. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis revealed that most differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) and miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) were enriched primarily in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, starch and sucrose metabolism, the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, plant hormone signal transduction, the mRNA surveillance pathway, and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that the majority of DEmRNAs, their target DEmiRNAs, and differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) were associated with the cell wall, oxidation–reduction, the plasma membrane, protein phosphorylation, metabolic processes, transcription factor activity, and the regulation of transcription. Additionally, based on the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) hypothesis, we predicted interactions among different RNAs and constructed a salt-responsive ceRNA network comprising 22 DEmiRNAs, 42 DEmRNAs, 27 DElncRNAs, and 10 differentially expressed circRNAs (DEcircRNAs). Some miRNAs, such as miR408, miR169, miR160, miR5139, miR5368, and miR6179, were central to the network, suggesting their crucial roles in the sweetpotato salt response. Our findings provide a foundation for further research into the potential functions of ncRNAs and offer new targets for salt stress resistance improvement through the manipulation of ncRNAs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Abiotic Stress Tolerance: 2nd Edition)

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13 pages, 2920 KB

Open AccessArticle

How the Ectopic Expression of the Barley F-Box Gene HvFBX158 Enhances Drought Resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana

by Shuting Wen, Yicheng Chen, Xingzhe Yang, Guo Zhang, Lulu Jin, Xiaoqin Zhang, Yunxia Fang and Dawei Xue

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(1), 342; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26010342 - 2 Jan 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1316

Abstract

In this study, the drought-responsive gene HvFBX158 from barley was transferred to Arabidopsis thaliana, and overexpression lines were obtained. The phenotypic characteristics of the transgenic plants, along with physiological indicators and transcription level changes of stress-related genes, were determined under drought treatment. Under drought stress, transgenic plants overexpressing HvFBX158 exhibited enhanced drought tolerance and longer root lengths compared to wild-type plants. Additionally, malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide contents were significantly lower in transgenic lines, while superoxide dismutase activity was elevated. Quantitative RT-PCR showed that the expression levels of drought and stress response genes, including AtP5CS, AtDREB2A, AtGSH1, AtHSP17.8, and AtSOD, were significantly upregulated. Transcriptome analysis further confirmed that HvFBX158 regulated multiple stress tolerance pathways. In summary, the overexpression of the HvFBX158 gene enhanced drought tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana by regulating multiple stress response pathways. This study provides a practical basis for improving drought-resistant barley varieties and lays a foundation for subsequent research on F-box family genes for stress resistance in barley. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Abiotic Stress Tolerance: 2nd Edition)

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13 pages, 2323 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Interplay of Nitric Oxide and Nitrosative Modifications in Maize: Implications for Aphid Herbivory and Drought Stress

by Hubert Sytykiewicz, Paweł Czerniewicz, Magdalena Ruszczyńska and Katarzyna Kmieć

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(20), 11280; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252011280 - 20 Oct 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1601

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) and other reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are considered to be signaling molecules in higher plants involved in the regulation of growth and development processes. However, the molecular mechanisms of their formation, removal, and participation in plant responses to adverse environmental stimuli remain largely unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the influence of selected single stresses and combined stresses (i.e., Rhopalosiphum padi L. aphid infestation, drought, aphid infestation, and drought) and post-stress recovery on the contents of NO and peroxynitrite anion (ONOO⁻), as well as the levels of mRNA and protein nitration (i.e., the 8-nitroguanine and protein 3-nitrotyrosine amounts, respectively), in maize seedlings (Zea mays L.). Moreover, the expression patterns of the two tested genes (nos-ip, encoding nitric oxide synthase-interacting protein, and nr1, encoding nitrate reductase 1) involved in NO metabolism in maize plants were quantified. We identified significant intervarietal, time-course, and stress-dependent differences in the levels of the quantified parameters. Under the investigated stress conditions, the aphid-resistant Waza cv. seedlings were characterized by a higher and earlier NO accumulation and mRNA nitration level and an increased expression of the two target genes (nos-ip and nr1), compared to the aphid-susceptible Złota Karłowa cv. seedlings. Conversely, the Złota Karłowa plants responded with a greater elevation in the content of ONOO⁻ and protein 3-nitrotyrosine than the Waza cv. plants The multifaceted role of NO and its derivatives in maize plants challenged by single and combined stresses, as well as during post-stress recovery, is discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Abiotic Stress Tolerance: 2nd Edition)

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17 pages, 4749 KB

Open AccessArticle

SlHB8 Is a Novel Factor in Enhancing Cold Resistance in Tomato Anthers by Modulating Tapetal Cell Death

by Hongling Guan, Canye Yu, Zaohai Zeng, Huimin Hu, Yuxiang Lin, Caiyu Wu, Yiwen Yao, Rui Xia, Zhengguo Li, Chongjian Ma, Riyuan Chen, Baowen Huang and Yanwei Hao

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(17), 9336; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25179336 - 28 Aug 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1743

Abstract

Tomato plants favor warmth, making them particularly susceptible to cold conditions, especially their reproductive development. Therefore, understanding how pollen reacts to cold stress is vital for selecting and improving cold-resistant tomato varieties. The programmed cell death (PCD) in the tapetum is particularly susceptible to cold temperatures which could hinder the degradation of the tapetal layer in the anthers, thus affecting pollen development. However, it is not clear yet how genes integral to tapetal degradation respond to cold stress. Here, we report that SlHB8, working upstream of the conserved genetic module DYT1-TDF1-AMS-MYB80, is crucial for regulating cold tolerance in tomato anthers. SlHB8 expression increases in the tapetum when exposed to low temperatures. CRISPR/Cas9-generated SlHB8-knockout mutants exhibit improved pollen cold tolerance due to the reduced temperature sensitivity of the tapetum. SlHB8 directly upregulates SlDYT1 and SlMYB80 by binding to their promoters. In normal anthers, cold treatment boosts SlHB8 levels, which then elevates the expression of genes like SlDYT1, SlTDF1, SlAMS, and SlMYB80; however, slhb8 mutants do not show this gene activation during cold stress, leading to a complete blockage of delayed tapetal programmed cell death (PCD). Furthermore, we found that SlHB8 can interact with both SlTDF1 and SlMYB80, suggesting the possibility that SlHB8 might regulate tapetal PCD at the protein level. This study sheds light on molecular mechanisms of anther adaptation to temperature fluctuations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Abiotic Stress Tolerance: 2nd Edition)

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21 pages, 11250 KB

Open AccessArticle

GDSL in Lilium pumilum (LpGDSL) Confers Saline–Alkali Resistance to the Plant by Enhancing the Lignin Content and Balancing the ROS

by Zongying Wang, Wenhao Wan, Miaoxin Shi, Shangwei Ji, Ling Zhang, Xiaolu Wang, Lingshu Zhang, Huitao Cui, Xingyu Liu, Hao Sun, Fengshan Yang and Shumei Jin

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(17), 9319; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25179319 - 28 Aug 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1324

Abstract

In order to explore the response mechanism of Lilium pumilum (L. pumilum) to saline–alkali stress, we successfully cloned LpGDSL (GDSL lipase, Gly-Asp-Ser-Leu) from L. pumilum. The qRT-PCR results indicated that the LpGDSL expression was higher in the leaves of L. pumilum, and the expression of the LpGDSL reached the highest level at 12 h in leaves under 11 mM H₂O₂, 200 mM NaCl, 25 mM Na₂CO₃, and 20 mM NaHCO₃. The bacteriophage overexpressing LpGDSL was more tolerant than the control under different NaHCO₃ contents. Overexpressed and wild-type plants were analyzed for phenotype, chlorophyll content, O₂⁻ content, H₂O₂ content, lignin content, and so on. Overexpressed plants had significantly higher resistance than the wild type and were less susceptible to saline–alkali stress. The yeast two-hybrid and BiFC assays demonstrated the existence of an interaction between LpGDSL and LpBCP. The yeast one-hybrid assay and transcriptional activation assay confirmed that B3 transcription factors could act on LpGDSL promoters. Under saline–alkali stress, L. pumilum will promote the expression of LpGDSL, which will then promotes the accumulation of lignin and the scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to reduce its damage, thus improving the saline–alkali resistance of the plant. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Abiotic Stress Tolerance: 2nd Edition)

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Review

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21 pages, 1400 KB

Open AccessReview

The Role of Alternative Splicing in Polyploids in Response to Abiotic Stress

by Faiza Fatima and Mi-Jeong Yoo

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(20), 10146; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262010146 - 18 Oct 2025

Viewed by 823

Abstract

Alternative splicing (AS) is a crucial post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism that enhances transcriptomic and proteomic diversity by generating multiple mRNA isoforms from a single gene. In plants, AS plays a central role in modulating growth, development, and stress responses. We summarize the prevalence and functional roles of AS in plant development and stress adaptation, highlighting mechanisms that link AS to hormone signaling, RNA surveillance, and epigenetic regulation. Polyploid crops, with their duplicated genomes, exhibit expanded AS complexity, contributing to phenotypic plasticity, stress tolerance, and adaptive evolution. Thus, this review synthesizes current knowledge on AS in plants, with a focus on three economically important polyploid crops—Brassica napus, Gossypium hirsutum, and Triticum aestivum. We also discuss how subgenome interactions shape diversity in polyploids and influence trait variation. Despite significant advances enabled by high-throughput sequencing, mechanistic studies that directly link specific AS events to phenotypic outcomes remain limited. Understanding how polyploidy reprograms AS and how isoform variation contributes to stress adaptation will be critical for harnessing AS in crop improvement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Abiotic Stress Tolerance: 2nd Edition)

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28 pages, 3491 KB

Open AccessReview

Functional and Molecular Characterization of Plant Nitrate Transporters Belonging to NPF (NRT1/PTR) 6 Subfamily

by Olga I. Nedelyaeva, Dmitry E. Khramov, Yurii V. Balnokin and Vadim S. Volkov

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(24), 13648; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252413648 - 20 Dec 2024

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3033

Abstract

Plant nitrate transporters in the NPF (NRT1) family are characterized by multifunctionality and their involvement in a number of physiological processes. The proteins in this family have been identified in many monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous species: a bioinformatic analysis predicts from 20 to 139 members in the plant genomes sequenced so far, including mosses. Plant NPFs are phylogenetically related to proton-coupled oligopeptide transporters, which are evolutionally conserved in all kingdoms of life apart from Archaea. The phylogenetic analysis of the plant NPF family is based on the amino acid sequences present in databases; an analysis identified a separate NPF6 clade (subfamily) with the first plant nitrate transporters studied at the molecular level. The available information proves that proteins of the NPF6 clade play key roles not only in the supply of nitrate and its allocation within different parts of plants but also in the transport of chloride, amino acids, ammonium, and plant hormones such as auxins and ABA. Moreover, members of the NPF6 family participate in the perception of nitrate and ammonium, signaling, plant responses to different abiotic stresses, and the development of tolerance to these stresses and contribute to the structure of the root–soil microbiome composition. The available information allows us to conclude that NPF6 genes are among the promising targets for engineering/editing to increase the productivity of crops and their tolerance to stresses. The present review summarizes the available published data and our own results on members of the NPF6 clade of nitrate transporters, especially under salinity; we outline their molecular, structural, and functional characteristics and suggest potential lines for future research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Abiotic Stress Tolerance: 2nd Edition)

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