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New Insights into Plant Pathology and Abiotic Stress

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 July 2025 | Viewed by 5865

Special Issue Editor

1. National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-Breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Anyang 455000, China
2. School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
Interests: crop germplasm; crop genomics; gene identification; genetic diversity; population genetics
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants are constantly exposed to a myriad of pathogens and environmental stresses that can affect their growth, development, and productivity. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying plant responses to abiotic stress factors and pathogenic attacks such as drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, and chemical toxicity is crucial for developing resilient crop varieties and sustainable agricultural practices.

This Special Issue, titled “New Insights into Plant Pathology and Abiotic Stress,” seeks to  explore the dynamic interactions between plants and their stressors at the molecular level. We encourage submissions that address, but are not limited to, the following areas:

  • Molecular and genetic basis of plant resistance to biotic and abiotic stress.
  • Signaling pathways and regulatory networks involved in plant stress responses.
  • Role of epigenetics in plant adaptation to biotic and abiotic stresses.
  • Advances in ‘omics’ technologies (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, etc.) to dissect plant stress responses.
  • Development of innovative strategies for disease management and stress tolerance in plants.
  • Impact of climate change on plant disease dynamics and stress factors.
  • Interdisciplinary approaches combining molecular biology, bioinformatics, and plant physiology to tackle plant stress issues.

We welcome original research articles, reviews, and short communications that provide novel insights into the molecular science of plant pathology and abiotic stress. Contributions should not only present significant findings but also potentially inform breeding strategies and crop management practices aimed at enhancing plant health and agricultural productivity.

Dr. Shoupu He
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • plant pathology
  • abiotic stress
  • molecular mechanisms
  • stress resistance
  • signaling pathways
  • epigenetics
  • omics technologies
  • disease management
  • climate change
  • plant stress responses

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 4352 KiB  
Article
Multi-Time Point Transcriptome Analysis and Functional Validation Revealed Bol4CL41 Negatively Regulates Black Rot Resistance in Cabbage
by Hongxue Ma, Siping Deng, Congcong Kong, Yulun Zhang, Tong Zhao, Jialei Ji, Yong Wang, Yangyong Zhang, Mu Zhuang, Limei Yang, Marina Lebedeva, Vasiliy Taranov, Anna M. Artemyeva, Zhiyuan Fang, Jingquan Yu, Zhangjian Hu and Honghao Lv
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(13), 6179; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26136179 - 26 Jun 2025
Viewed by 225
Abstract
4-coumarate-CoA ligase (4CL) plays a crucial role in the phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway and is a key enzyme involved in plant growth and stress responses. Black rot, caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) is a major bacterial disease affecting the production [...] Read more.
4-coumarate-CoA ligase (4CL) plays a crucial role in the phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway and is a key enzyme involved in plant growth and stress responses. Black rot, caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) is a major bacterial disease affecting the production of global cruciferous crop-like cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata). However, the role of 4CL genes in cabbage resistance to black rot remains unclear. In this study, transcriptome sequencing was conducted using resistant cabbage MY and susceptible cabbage LY at 0, 6, 24, and 48 h post-inoculation. KEGG analysis identified the enrichment of the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, and significant expression changes of 4CL genes were determined through the expression heat map. Further genome-wide analysis revealed 43 Bol4CL gene family members on the cabbage genome distributed across nine chromosomes. Gene structure and protein motif analysis revealed similarities in motifs within the same evolutionary branch, but variations in gene structure. A combination of Bol4CL gene expression profiles and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from the transcriptome identified Bol4CL41 as a key gene for further study. Inoculation of overexpressed Bol4CL41 T2 generation stably expressed cabbage seedlings demonstrated significantly larger lesion areas compared to wild type cabbage, indicating that Bol4CL41 negatively regulates resistance to black rot in cabbage. The analysis of multi-time point transcriptomes in cabbage and the functional study of the Bol4CL gene family enhance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying plant disease resistance. This provides compelling evidence and experimental support for elucidating the mechanisms of black rot resistance in cabbage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Plant Pathology and Abiotic Stress)
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30 pages, 6105 KiB  
Article
Genome-Wide Genetic Architecture for Common Scab (Streptomyces scabei L.) Resistance in Diploid Potatoes
by Bourlaye Fofana, Braulio Jorge Soto-Cerda, Mohsin Zaidi, David Main and Sherry Fillmore
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(3), 1126; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26031126 - 28 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 898
Abstract
Most cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum) varieties are highly susceptible to common scab (Streptomyces scabei). The disease is widespread in all major potato production areas and leads to high economic losses and food waste. Varietal resistance is seen as the [...] Read more.
Most cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum) varieties are highly susceptible to common scab (Streptomyces scabei). The disease is widespread in all major potato production areas and leads to high economic losses and food waste. Varietal resistance is seen as the most viable and sustainable long-term management strategy. However, resistant potato varieties are scarce, and their genetic architecture and resistance mechanisms are poorly understood. Moreover, diploid potato relatives to commercial potatoes remain to be fully explored. In the current study, a panel of 384 ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS)-mutagenized diploid potato clones were evaluated for common scab coverage, severity, and incidence traits under field conditions, and genome-wide association studies (GWASs) were conducted to dissect the genetic architecture of their traits. Using the GAPIT-MLM and RTM-GWAS statistical models, and Mann–Whitney non-parametric U-tests, we show that 58 QTNs/QTLs distributed on all 12 potato chromosomes were associated with common scab resistance, 52 of which had significant allelic effects on the three traits. In total, 38 of the 52 favorable QTNs/QTLs were found to be pleiotropic on at least two of the traits, while 14 were unique to a single trait and were found distributed over 3 chromosomes. The identified QTNs/QTLs showed low to high effects, highlighting the quantitative and multigenic inheritance of common scab resistance. The QTLs/QTNs associated with the three common scab traits were found to be co-located in genomic regions carrying 79 candidate genes playing roles in plant defense, cell wall component biosynthesis and modification, plant–pathogen interactions, and hormone signaling. A total of 61 potato clones were found to be tolerant or resistant to common scab. Taken together, the data show that the studied germplasm panel, the identified QTNs/QTLs, and the candidate genes are prime genetic resources for breeders and biologists in breeding and targeted gene editing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Plant Pathology and Abiotic Stress)
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Review

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35 pages, 1692 KiB  
Review
Impact of Nutrient Stress on Plant Disease Resistance
by Héctor Martín-Cardoso and Blanca San Segundo
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(4), 1780; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26041780 - 19 Feb 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2406
Abstract
Plants are constantly exposed to abiotic and biotic stresses that seriously affect crop yield and quality. A coordinated regulation of plant responses to combined abiotic/biotic stresses requires crosstalk between signaling pathways initiated by each stressor. Interconnected signaling pathways further finetune plant stress responses [...] Read more.
Plants are constantly exposed to abiotic and biotic stresses that seriously affect crop yield and quality. A coordinated regulation of plant responses to combined abiotic/biotic stresses requires crosstalk between signaling pathways initiated by each stressor. Interconnected signaling pathways further finetune plant stress responses and allow the plant to respond to such stresses effectively. The plant nutritional status might influence disease resistance by strengthening or weakening plant immune responses, as well as through modulation of the pathogenicity program in the pathogen. Here, we discuss advances in our understanding of interactions between nutrient stress, deficiency or excess, and immune signaling pathways in the context of current agricultural practices. The introduction of chemical fertilizers and pesticides was a major component of the Green Revolution initiated in the 1960s that greatly boosted crop production. However, the massive application of agrochemicals also has adverse consequences on the environment and animal/human health. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of the connections between stress caused by overfertilization (or low bioavailability of nutrients) and immune responses is a timely and novel field of research with important implications for disease control in crop species. Optimizing nutrient management practices tailored to specific environmental conditions will be crucial in maximizing crop production using environmentally friendly systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Plant Pathology and Abiotic Stress)
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17 pages, 1949 KiB  
Review
Advances in Protein Kinase Regulation of Stress Responses in Fruits and Vegetables
by Yanan Song, Fujun Li, Maratab Ali, Xiaoan Li, Xinhua Zhang and Zienab F. R. Ahmed
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(2), 768; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26020768 - 17 Jan 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1441
Abstract
Fruits and vegetables (F&Vs) are essential in daily life and industrial production. These perishable produces are vulnerable to various biotic and abiotic stresses during their growth, postharvest storage, and handling. As the fruit detaches from the plant, these stresses become more intense. This [...] Read more.
Fruits and vegetables (F&Vs) are essential in daily life and industrial production. These perishable produces are vulnerable to various biotic and abiotic stresses during their growth, postharvest storage, and handling. As the fruit detaches from the plant, these stresses become more intense. This unique biological process involves substantial changes in a variety of cellular metabolisms. To counter these stresses, plants have evolved complex physiological defense mechanisms, including regulating cellular activities through reversible phosphorylation of proteins. Protein kinases, key components of reversible protein phosphorylation, facilitate the transfer of the γ-phosphate group from adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to specific amino acid residues on substrates. This phosphorylation alters proteins’ structure, function, and interactions, thereby playing a crucial role in regulating cellular activity. Recent studies have identified various protein kinases in F&Vs, underscoring their significant roles in plant growth, development, and stress responses. This article reviews the various types of protein kinases found in F&Vs, emphasizing their roles and regulatory mechanisms in managing stress responses. This research sheds light on the involvement of protein kinases in metabolic regulation, offering key insights to advance the quality characteristics of F&Vs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Plant Pathology and Abiotic Stress)
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