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Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Plants: From Gene Regulation to Adaptive Traits

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: 30 July 2026 | Viewed by 1495

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Guest Editor
College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Interests: forest molecular biology; tree physiology; plant developmental biology; plant-microbe interactions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Brief Overview: Abiotic stresses (e.g., drought, salt, heat, and light fluctuation) pose severe threats to forest productivity and ecological stability worldwide. Unraveling the molecular pathways that govern plants’ response and adaptation to these stresses is critical for breeding stress-tolerant cultivars and promoting sustainable forest management. This Special Issue aims to showcase cutting-edge research on the molecular mechanisms of abiotic stress tolerance in plants, integrating multi-omics approaches, functional gene validation, and evolutionary analyses to bridge the gap between basic research and practical applications.

Scope of Accepted Manuscripts:

  1. Genome-wide identification and functional characterization of stress-responsive gene families (e.g., TCP, GATA, BES1, LBD, CAMTA) in plants;
  2. Transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and epigenetic regulation of abiotic stress signaling pathways;
  3. Multi-omics analyses (genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics) of stress adaptation in key forest species (e.g., Phoebe bournei, Cunninghamia lanceolata, Eucalyptus grandis);
  4. Functional validation of stress-tolerant genes via genetic transformation, gene editing, or reverse genetics;
  5. Evolutionary dynamics of stress-adaptive traits and their genetic basis in plant populations;
  6. Development of molecular markers for stress-tolerance breeding in plants.

Dr. Shijiang Cao
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • forest molecular biology
  • tree physiology
  • plant developmental biology
  • plant-microbe interactions
  • abiotic stresses

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 10709 KB  
Article
Genome-Wide Identification of the Hsp20 Family Responding to Heat Stress in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)
by Yushan Liu, Shurui Dong, Qian Zhang, Wenning Liu, Xiaolei Wu, Cheng Lu, Leyang Wu, Ye Sun, Jing Liu, Maohong Cai and Tao Chen
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(13), 5799; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27135799 (registering DOI) - 26 Jun 2026
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Abstract
Small heat shock proteins (Hsp20s) function as essential molecular chaperones in plant stress responses, yet their genome-wide characterization in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) remains lacking and their functional role in heat response is also unknown. In this study, 65 HaHsp20 genes were [...] Read more.
Small heat shock proteins (Hsp20s) function as essential molecular chaperones in plant stress responses, yet their genome-wide characterization in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) remains lacking and their functional role in heat response is also unknown. In this study, 65 HaHsp20 genes were identified in sunflower through a comprehensive genome-wide analysis based on the conserved ACD (α-crystallin) domain. The expansion of this family was primarily driven by whole-genome duplication (WGD) or segmental duplication events, with the CI subfamily (20 members) representing the most significantly expanded lineage-specific clade. While all HaHsp20 proteins harbor the conserved α-crystallin domain (ACD), they exhibit diverse molecular weights (11.31–53.35 kDa), isoelectric points (4.71–9.75), and subcellular localization patterns. Promoter cis-regulatory element analysis revealed a predominance of ABA and MeJA-responsive elements but only two canonical heat shock elements. Transcriptome and RT-qPCR analyses revealed that most HaHsp20 genes are responsive to heat stress, with seven HaHsp20 genes exhibiting extremely upregulated expression (more than 1000-fold) after 10 h of 45 °C treatment. Among these, HaHsp21.59 and HaHsp25.91 showed an increase of over 4000-fold in expression. These findings provide a comprehensive foundation for understanding the evolutionary history and expression dynamics of the HaHsp20 family in sunflower, and highlight HaHsp21.59 and HaHsp25.91 as promising candidate genes for future functional validation of their potential roles in heat stress tolerance. Full article

Review

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21 pages, 5057 KB  
Review
Plant bZIPs in Root Environmental Adaptation: From Single-Cell Expression Atlas to Functional Insights
by Menglan Xu, Linping Zhang, Jingyan Wang, Shuxin Gan, Yan Xiong, Yanlin Liu and Zhenzhen Zhang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(2), 568; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27020568 - 6 Jan 2026
Viewed by 1025
Abstract
Plant roots interact dynamically with complex environments, and their capacity to adapt is crucial for growth, development, survival, and productivity. Basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors have emerged as key regulators in managing the root’s response to various environmental signals. The shift from [...] Read more.
Plant roots interact dynamically with complex environments, and their capacity to adapt is crucial for growth, development, survival, and productivity. Basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors have emerged as key regulators in managing the root’s response to various environmental signals. The shift from bulk tissue analysis to single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has enabled the creation of a highly detailed expression atlas for root bZIPs, significantly enhancing our understanding of their functions. This review first summarizes the classification and structural features of bZIPs in Arabidopsis, and compares representative members with their orthologs in cereal crops. Next, we integrate the expression patterns of various bZIP members in root cells and clarify their roles through single-cell expression profiling. Furthermore, we delineate characterized bZIP regulatory modules that respond to signals spanning light, hormones, nutrients, and stresses, thereby orchestrating transcriptional reprogramming to facilitate plant adaptation. By combining single-cell omics with functional genetics, we reveal how bZIPs control critical processes, including responses to light signals, hormonal interactions, nutrient uptake and balance, and reactions to abiotic stresses. Ultimately, this integrated perspective highlights the potential for targeting bZIP transcription factors in the development of climate-resilient crops with optimized root systems, thereby enabling them to adapt to changing environmental conditions. Full article
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