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Plant Responses to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses

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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: 20 August 2025 | Viewed by 8277

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Prof. Dr. Longxing Tao

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Research and Development Center of Rice Cropping Technology, China National Rice Research Institute (CNRRI), Hangzhou 310006, China
Interests: high yield; nitrogen apply; heat stress; hormone spray; physiological mechanisms
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Dr. Tingting Chen

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National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 310006, China
Interests: rice; grain yield; drought stress; water management; chemical regulation; physiological mechanism
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Meteorological records have shown that mean annual temperatures have increased by approximately 1 °C over the past century, and this trend is expected to continue in the future. Meanwhile, droughts and floods are occurring more frequently than before. The increasing frequency of extreme weather events poses a serious threat to global food security. As a result, improving plant, particularly crop, resistance to abiotic stresses has become increasingly important. It is therefore crucial to understand how plants effectively cope with high-intensity extreme weather conditions, and to elucidate the underlying molecular as well as physiological mechanisms of plant responses to abiotic stresses. This knowledge can aid in the development of technologies to help plants withstand abiotic stresses and mitigate the impacts of extreme climate change on crop security.

We welcome submissions of original research and review articles. Topics for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

Molecular mechanisms of plant responses to abiotic stresses;
Physiological responses of plants under abiotic stresses;
Plant hormone signals in enhancing plant responses to abiotic stresses;
Pathways of plant resistance to abiotic stress conditions;
Methods to reduce the inhibitory effects of abiotic stresses on plant growth, development, and yield formation.

Dr. Longxing Tao
Dr. Tingting Chen
Guest Editors

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Keywords

climate change and crop production
abiotic stress
biotic stress
plant resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses
molecular mechanism
physiological responses
plant hormones
carbohydrate metabolism and transport
molecular signaling
reactive oxygen species (ROS)
calcium ions
photosynthesis
respiration
energy metabolism

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Published Papers (12 papers)

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18 pages, 3012 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigating Morphological and Physiological Responses to Stress in Begonia semperflorens

by Julian Ginori, Chi D. Nguyen, Sandra Wilson, Zhanao Deng and Heqiang Huo

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(8), 3514; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26083514 - 9 Apr 2025

Viewed by 193

Abstract

Begonia semperflorens, or wax begonias, are popular ornamental plants often challenged by heat and high light stress in subtropical and tropical regions. This study examined the responses of two stress-tolerant genotypes (FB08-059 and OPGC 5104) and two stress-susceptible genotypes (Cocktail Vodka and Sprint White) under elevated temperature and light conditions. The results revealed significant genotype-dependent differences in stress responses. Stress-tolerant genotypes demonstrated distinct adaptive traits, including thicker cuticles, acute leaf folding, and elevated anthocyanin accumulation, which collectively contributed to enhanced photoprotection and mitigation of cellular damage. Notably, FB08-059 exhibited the most robust stress-adaptive responses, characterized by a 25.83% increase in cuticle thickness and a threefold increase in anthocyanin content under stress conditions. These adaptations effectively limited ROS accumulation and maintained higher Fv/Fm values, thereby sustaining photosynthetic efficiency relative to the other genotypes. In contrast, stress-susceptible genotypes exhibited increased ion leakage, reduced chlorophyll content, and impaired gas exchange rates, reflecting greater oxidative stress and cellular damage. These findings highlight cuticle thickness, anthocyanin accumulation, and leaf folding as key indicators of heat and light stress resilience. This research provides critical insights for breeding programs focused on improving the resilience of wax begonias, supporting the development of heat- and light-tolerant cultivars for sustainable production in stress-prone environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Responses to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses)

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21 pages, 3971 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Identification of the BTB Domain-Containing Protein Gene Family in Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

by Qiaoling Yuan, Jin Wang, Feng Liu, Xiongze Dai, Fan Zhu, Xuexiao Zou and Cheng Xiong

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(7), 3429; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26073429 - 6 Apr 2025

Viewed by 398

Abstract

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), recognized as a globally preeminent vegetable, holds substantial economic and nutritional value. The BTB (broad-complex, tramtrack, and bric-a-brac) family of proteins, characterized by a highly conserved BTB domain, also denoted as the POZ domain, are intricately involved in a diverse array of biological processes. However, the existing corpus of research regarding pepper BTB genes remains relatively meager. In this study, a total of 72 CaBTB gene members were meticulously identified from the entire genome of pepper. Phylogenetic analysis illuminated the presence of conspicuous collinear relationships between the CaBTB genes and those of its closely affiliated species. Gene expression profiling and RT-qPCR analysis revealed that multiple CaBTB genes exhibited pronounced differential expression under diverse treatment regimens. Expression pattern analysis unveiled that CaBTB25 manifested a remarkably elevated abundance in leaves. Moreover, its promoters were replete with an abundance of light-responsive cis-elements. Our comprehensive and in-depth explorations into subcellular localization revealed that CaBTB25 was predominantly detected to localize within the nucleus and lacked transcriptional activation. This research provides a crucial theoretical edifice, enabling a more profound understanding of the biological functions of the BTB gene family in pepper, thereby underscoring its potential significance within the intricate network of gene–environment interactions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Responses to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses)

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24 pages, 5761 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Decoding PHR-Orchestrated Stress Adaptation: A Genome-Wide Integrative Analysis of Transcriptional Regulation Under Abiotic Stress in Eucalyptus grandis

by Huiming Xu, Yifan Xing, Guangyou Li, Xin Wang, Xu Zhou, Zhaohua Lu, Liuyin Ma and Deming Yang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(7), 2958; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26072958 - 25 Mar 2025

Viewed by 266

Abstract

The phosphate starvation response (PHR) transcription factor family play central regulatory roles in nutrient signaling, but its relationship with other abiotic stress remains elusive. In the woody plant Eucalyptus grandis, we characterized 12 EgPHRs, which were phylogenetically divided into three groups, with group I exhibiting conserved structural features (e.g., unique motif composition and exon number). Notably, a protein–protein interaction network analysis revealed that EgPHR had a species-specific protein–protein interaction network: EgPHR6 interacted with SPX proteins of multiple species, while Eucalyptus and poplar PHR uniquely bound to TRARAC-kinesin ATPase, suggesting functional differences between woody and herbaceous plants. A promoter sequence analysis revealed a regulatory network of 59 transcription factors (TFs, e.g., BPC, MYBs, ERFs and WUS), mainly associated with tissue differentiation, abiotic stress, and hormonal responses that regulated EgPHRs’ expression. Transcriptomics and RT-qPCR gene expression analyses showed that all EgPHRs dynamically responded to phosphate (Pi) starvation, with the expression of EgPHR2 and EgPHR6 exhibiting sustained induction, and were also regulated by salt, cold, jasmonic acid, and boron deficiency. Strikingly, nitrogen starvation suppressed most EgPHRs, highlighting crosstalk between nutrient signaling pathways. These findings revealed the multifaceted regulatory role of EgPHRs in adaptation to abiotic stresses and provided insights into their unique evolutionary and functional characteristics in woody plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Responses to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses)

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24 pages, 3508 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chlorine Modulates Photosynthetic Efficiency, Chlorophyll Fluorescence in Tomato Leaves, and Carbohydrate Allocation in Developing Fruits

by Longpu Su, Tao Lu, Qiang Li, Yang Li, Xiaoyang Wan, Weijie Jiang and Hongjun Yu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(7), 2922; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26072922 - 24 Mar 2025

Viewed by 303

Abstract

Chlorine (Cl) is an essential nutrient for higher plants, playing a critical role in their growth and development. However, excessive Cl application can be detrimental, leading to its limited use in controlled-environment agriculture. Recently, Cl has been recognized as a beneficial macronutrient, yet studies investigating its impact on plant growth and fruit quality remain scarce. In this study, we determined the optimal Cl concentration in nutrient solutions through a series of cultivation experiments. A comparative analysis of Cl treatments at 1, 2, and 3 mM revealed that 3 mM Cl⁻ significantly enhanced chlorophyll content, biomass accumulation, and yield. Furthermore, we examined the effects of 3 mM Cl⁻ (supplied as 1.5 mM CaCl₂ and 3 mM KCl) on leaf photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, and fruit sugar metabolism. The results demonstrated that Cl⁻ treatments enhanced the activity of Photosystem I (PS I) and Photosystem II (PS II), leading to a 25.53% and 28.37% increase in the net photosynthetic rate, respectively. Additionally, Cl⁻ application resulted in a 12.3% to 16.5% increase in soluble sugar content in mature tomato fruits. During fruit development, Cl⁻ treatments promoted the accumulation of glucose, fructose, and sucrose, thereby enhancing fruit sweetness and overall quality. The observed increase in glucose and fructose levels was attributed to the stimulation of invertase activity. Specifically, acidic invertase (AI) activity increased by 61.6% and 62.6% at the green ripening stage, while neutral invertase (NI) activity was elevated by 56.2% and 32.8% in the CaCl₂ and KCl treatments, respectively, at fruit maturity. Furthermore, sucrose synthase (SS-I) activity was significantly upregulated by 1.5- and 1.4-fold at fruit maturity, while sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) activity increased by 76.4% to 77.8% during the green ripening stage. These findings provide novel insights into the role of Cl⁻ in tomato growth and metabolism, offering potential strategies for optimizing fertilization practices in protected horticulture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Responses to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses)

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36 pages, 1224 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Strain-Specific Features of Primary Metabolome Characteristic for Extremotolerant/Extremophilic Cyanobacteria Under Long-Term Storage

by Tatiana Bilova, Nikita Golushko, Nadezhda Frolova, Alena Soboleva, Svetlana Silinskaia, Anna Khakulova, Anastasia Orlova, Maria Sinetova, Dmitry Los and Andrej Frolov

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(5), 2201; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26052201 - 28 Feb 2025

Viewed by 422

Abstract

Cyanobacteria isolated from extreme habitats are promising in biotechnology due to their high adaptability to unfavorable environments and their specific natural products. Therefore, these organisms are stored under a reduced light supply in multiple collections worldwide. However, it remains unclear whether these strains maintain constitutively expressed primary metabolome features associated with their unique adaptations. To address this question, a comparative analysis of primary metabolomes of twelve cyanobacterial strains from diverse extreme habitats was performed by a combined GC-MS/LC-MS approach. The results revealed that all these cyanobacterial strains exhibited clear differences in their patterns of primary metabolites. These metabolic differences were more pronounced for the strains originating from ecologically different extreme environments. Extremotolerant terrestrial and freshwater strains contained lower strain-specifically accumulated primary metabolites than extremophilic species from habitats with high salinity and alkalinity. The latter group of strains was highly diverse in amounts of specific primary metabolites. This might indicate essentially different molecular mechanisms and metabolic pathways behind the survival of the microorganisms in saline and alkaline environments. The identified strain-specific metabolites are discussed with respect to the metabolic processes that might impact maintaining the viability of cyanobacteria during their storage and indicate unique adaptations formed in their original extreme habitats. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Responses to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses)

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20 pages, 3814 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating Drought Tolerance in Codonopsis pilosula Seedlings: Combining Growth, Physiology, Yield, and Tolerance Indices

by Hongyan Wang, Yuan Chen, Fengxia Guo, Di Wu, Wei Liang, Pengbin Dong and Jiali Cheng

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(4), 1600; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26041600 - 13 Feb 2025

Viewed by 491

Abstract

Drought stress during the Codonopsis pilosula (Campanulaceae) seedling stage significantly affects its growth, quality, and yield. The aim of this study was to identify drought-tolerant cultivars of C. pilosula by using the growth—physiology—yield composite index (GPYCI) and drought-tolerant indices. Nine C. pilosula cultivars were evaluated under normal-watered (black plastic film hole sowing, BF) and water-stressed (spread in the open field, SF) conditions in a design that adopted a two-factor paired experiment with three replications. The emergence rate was significantly influenced by the water treatment, while both the water treatment and the cultivar affected root length, proline content, APX activity, and chlorophyll levels. The G1 cultivar performed better than others in multiple aspects. Yields and their attributes varied among cultivars under different water levels. The average yield was 7350.76 kg/hm² under BF conditions and 4856.32 kg/hm² under SF conditions. Drought stress reduced the total root length, single root fresh weight, and yield by 18.33%, 28.4%, and 33.9%, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed unique physiological response mechanisms to water changes among cultivars. Drought tolerance indices and comprehensive factor analysis indicated varying levels of drought tolerance among cultivars. This study has provided valuable insights into the growth, physiology, and yield response of C. pilosula under drought conditions and laid the foundation for breeding drought-tolerant cultivars. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Responses to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses)

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14 pages, 1848 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Temperature on Polyamine Oxidase Genes in Skeletonema dohrnii

by Wei Teng and Jun Sun

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(3), 1048; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26031048 - 26 Jan 2025

Viewed by 665

Abstract

In our experiments, we investigated the effect of temperature on diatom polyamine metabolism using Skeletonema dohrnii as an experimental algal species. We set three different temperature conditions for incubation and selected Skeletonema dohrnii in the exponential growth period, and analyzed basic physiological parameters, polyamine composition and content, and polyamine oxidase (PAO) gene expression at different temperatures. The results showed that low temperatures led to a decrease in growth rate, an increase in biogenic silica content, an increase in the content of putrescine and spermine, a decrease in the concentration of spermidine, and a down-regulation of PAO gene expression. In addition, high temperature led to an increase in growth rate, a significant change in the concentration of putrescine and spermine, and an increase in spermidine. These findings suggest that changes in temperature affect the growth rate of algae, low temperature increases the biogenic silica content of diatoms, different temperature stresses lead to different kinds of polyamine changes in diatoms, and the PAO gene may play a role in regulating the response of algae to temperature changes. This study lays a foundation for further exploration of the function of the PAO gene in Skeletonema dohrnii. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Responses to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses)

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27 pages, 5694 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Unraveling Effects of miRNAs Associated with APR Leaf Rust Resistance Genes in Hybrid Forms of Common Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

by Julia Spychała, Aleksandra Noweiska, Agnieszka Tomkowiak, Roksana Bobrowska, Katarzyna Szewczyk and Michał Tomasz Kwiatek

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(2), 665; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26020665 - 14 Jan 2025

Viewed by 869

Abstract

The fungus Puccinia triticina Eriks (Pt) is the cause of leaf rust, one of the most damaging diseases, which significantly reduces common wheat yields. In Pt-resistant adult plants, an APR-type resistance is observed, which protects the plant against multiple pathogen races and is distinguished by its persistence under production conditions. With a more complete understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the function of APR genes, it will be possible to develop new strategies for resistance breeding in wheat. Currently, mainly APR genes, such as Lr34, Lr46, and Lr67, are principally involved in resistance breeding as they confer durable resistance to multiple fungal races occurring under different climatic and environmental conditions. However, the mechanisms underlying the defence against pathogens mediated by APR genes remain largely unknown. Our research aimed to shed light on the molecular mechanisms related to resistance genes and miRNAs expression, underlying APR resistance to leaf rust caused by Pt. Furthermore, the present study aimed to identify and functionally characterize the investigated miRNAs and their target genes in wheat in response to leaf rust inoculation. The plant material included hybrid forms of wheat from the F₂ and BC₁F₁ generations, obtained by crossing the resistance cultivar Glenlea (CItr 17272) with agriculturally important Polish wheat cultivars. Biotic stress was induced in adult plants via inoculation with Pt fungal spores under controlled conditions. The RT-qPCR method was used to analyze the expression profiles of selected APR genes at five time points (0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hpi). The results presented here demonstrate the differential expression of APR genes and miRNAs at stages of leaf rust development at selected timepoints after inoculation. We analyzed the expression of three leaf rust resistance genes, using different genetic backgrounds in F₂ and BC₁F₁ segregation materials, in leaf tissues after Pt infection. Our goal was to investigate potential differences resulting from the genetic background found in different generations of hybrid forms of the same parental forms. Gene ontology analysis predicted 190 target genes for tae-miR5384-3p and 167 target genes for tae-miR9653b. Our findings revealed distinct expression profiles for genes, with the highest expression levels observed mainly at 6, 24, and 48 hpi. The candidate gene Lr46-Glu2 displayed an upregulation, suggesting its potential involvement in the immune response against Pt infection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Responses to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses)

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30 pages, 4704 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mitigation Effect of Exogenous Nano-Silicon on Salt Stress Damage of Rice Seedlings

by Jian Xiong, Xiaohui Yang, Minmin Sun, Jianqin Zhang, Linchong Ding, Zhiyuan Sun, Naijie Feng, Dianfeng Zheng, Liming Zhao and Xuefeng Shen

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(1), 85; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26010085 - 25 Dec 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 844

Abstract

Salt stress represents a significant abiotic stress factor that impedes the growth of rice. Nano-silicon has the potential to enhance rice growth and salt tolerance. In this experiment, the rice variety 9311 was employed as the test material to simulate salt stress via hydroponics, with the objective of investigating the mitigation effect of foliar application of nano-silicon on rice seedlings. The results demonstrated that NaCl stress markedly impeded the growth of rice seedlings after seven days of NaCl treatment. The foliar application of nano-silicon followed by NaCl stress alleviated the growth of rice seedlings, markedly improved the spatial conformation of the root system, and enhanced photosynthesis compared with that of NaCl stress alone. The activities of antioxidant enzymes were improved. The contents of antioxidants were increased, and the over-accumulation of ROS was reduced. Furthermore, the foliar application of nano-silicon was found to enhance the uptake of Si⁴⁺, K⁺, and Ca²⁺ in plants, while simultaneously reducing Na⁺ and Cl⁻ accumulation. Additionally, the content of IAA, CTK, GA, JA, and SA was increased, and ABA was decreased. In conclusion, the foliar application of nano-silicon has been demonstrated to alleviate salt stress injury and improve the growth of rice seedlings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Responses to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses)

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21 pages, 11208 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Identification, Functional Characterization, and Stress-Responsive Expression Profiling of Subtilase (SBT) Gene Family in Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

by Shipeng Li, Huiwen Fu, Yasir Sharif, Sheidu Abdullaziz, Lihui Wang, Yongli Zhang and Yuhui Zhuang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(24), 13361; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252413361 - 13 Dec 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1169

Abstract

Subtilases (SBTs), known as serine proteases or phytoproteases in plants, are crucial enzymes involved in plant development, growth, and signaling pathways. Despite their recognized importance in other plant species, information regarding their functional roles in cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogea L.) remains sparse. We identified 122 AhSBT genes in the STQ peanut genome, classifying them into six subgroups based on phylogenetic analysis. Detailed structural and motif analyses revealed the presence of conserved domains, highlighting the evolutionary conservation of AhSBTs. The collinearity results indicate that the A. hypogea SBT gene family has 17, 5, and 1 homologous gene pairs with Glycine max, Arabidopsis thaliana, and Zea mays, respectively. Furthermore, the prediction of cis-elements in promoters indicates that they are mainly associated with hormones and abiotic stress. GO and KEGG analyses showed that many AhSBTs are important in stress response. Based on transcriptome datasets, some genes, such as AhSBT2, AhSBT18, AhSBT19, AhSBT60, AhSBT102, AhSBT5, AhSBT111, and AhSBT113, showed remarkably higher expression in diverse tissues/organs, i.e., embryo, root, and leaf, potentially implicating them in seed development. Likewise, only a few genes, including AhSBT1, AhSBT39, AhSBT53, AhSBT92, and AhSBT115, were upregulated under abiotic stress (drought and cold) and phytohormone (ethylene, abscisic acid, paclobutrazol, brassinolide, and salicylic acid) treatments. Upon inoculation with Ralstonia solanacearum, the expression levels of AhSBT39, AhSBT50, AhSBT92, and AhSBT115 were upregulated in disease-resistant and downregulated in disease-susceptible varieties. qRT-PCR-based expression profiling presented the parallel expression trends as generated from transcriptome datasets. The comprehensive dataset generated in the study provides valuable insights into understanding the functional roles of AhSBTs, paving the way for potential applications in crop improvement. These findings deepen our understanding of peanut molecular biology and offer new strategies for enhancing stress tolerance and other agronomically important traits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Responses to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses)

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17 pages, 1633 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Foliar Application of Silicon Influences the Physiological and Epigenetic Responses of Wheat Grown Under Salt Stress

by Renata Tobiasz-Salach, Barbara Stadnik, Marzena Mazurek, Jan Buczek and Danuta Leszczyńska

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(24), 13297; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252413297 - 11 Dec 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 872

Abstract

Soil salinity is considered a serious problem that limits agricultural productivity. Currently, solutions are being sought to mitigate the negative impact of salt on economically important crops. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of foliar application of silicon (Si) on the physiological and epigenetic responses of wheat grown under salt stress conditions. The experiment with wheat seedlings was established in pots with 200 mM NaCl added. After 7 days, foliar fertilizer (200 g L⁻¹ SiO₂) was used at concentrations of 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2%. Physiological parameters were measured three times. The addition of salt caused a significant decrease in the values of the measured parameters in plants of all variants. In plants sprayed with Si fertilizer under salinity conditions, a significant increase in CCI and selected gas exchange parameters (P_N, C_i, E, g_s) and chlorophyll fluorescence (PI, RC/ABS, F_V/F_m, Fv/F₀) was observed. Si doses of 0.1 and 0.2% showed a better mitigating effect compared to the dose of 0.05%. The observed effect was maintained over time. The results obtained indicate a positive role for foliar silicon fertilization in mitigating salinity stress in wheat. Epigenetic mechanisms play an important role in regulating gene expression in response to stress. Changes in the status of methylation of the 5′CCGG3′ sequence of the nuclear genome of wheat plants exposed to salinity and treated with Si at different doses were determined by the MSAP approach. The obtained results showed a clear alteration of DNA methylation in plants as a response to experimental factors. The methylation changes were silicon dose-dependent. These modifications may suggest a mechanism for plant adaptation under salt stress after silicon application. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Responses to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses)

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17 pages, 5697 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Energy Deficiency and Misdistribution Leads to Disrupted Formation in Grain Yield and Rice Quality

by Yiding Wang, Guangyan Li, Jiaying Ma, Haoran Su, Wenfei Hu, Junjiang Lin, Weimeng Fu, Yvxiang Zeng, Longxing Tao, Guanfu Fu, Jie Xiong and Tingting Chen

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(23), 12751; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252312751 - 27 Nov 2024

Viewed by 645

Abstract

With the progress of society and the improvement of agricultural scientific technology, the single focus on high yield for rice production has gradually shifted to high quality. Coordinated development of grain yield and rice quality has become a core issue for researchers, and the underlying mechanisms remain to be solved. Two varieties, Zhongzheyou1 (ZZY1) and Zhongzheyou8 (ZZY8), were used as study materials under field conditions. The yield of ZZY1 was higher than that of ZZY8, which was mainly characterized by a higher seed-setting rate and grain weight. The rice quality of ZZY8 was better than that of ZZY1, primarily due to lower chalkiness and a higher head rice rate. The total dry matter weight of ZZY1 was lower than that of ZZY8, but the proportion of panicle dry matter weight or nonstructural carbohydrate to the total in the former was higher than that of the latter. The maximum grain-filling rate, average grain-filling rate, and key enzyme activities of ZZY1 were significantly higher than those of ZZY8, while the active grain-filling period was shorter than that of ZZY8. Furthermore, the ATP/ATPase content and energy charge values in the grains of ZZY1 were higher than those of ZZY8 at the early grain-filling stage. Transcriptome analysis showed that carbohydrate and energy metabolism were the main ways affecting the yield and quality of the two varieties. The energy production of ZZY1 was insufficient to simultaneously supply the needs thus leading to the discordant formation in its grain yield and rice quality formation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Responses to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses)

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