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Molecular Research in Plant Adaptation to Abiotic Stress

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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 February 2025) | Viewed by 16226

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Dr. Małgorzata Janicka

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Guest Editor

Department of Plant Molecular Physiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, Kanonia 6/8, 50-328 Wrocław, Poland
Interests: plant physiology; membrane transport; proton pumps; abiotic stresses; signaling molecules; phytohormones

Dr. Katarzyna Kabała

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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants are constantly exposed to adverse environmental factors. In recent years, changes in temperature, periodic water deficits and increased salinity have occurred, impairing plants’ physiological processes and modifying their metabolism. To survive unfavorable conditions, plant cells activate various adaptive mechanisms. This activation includes the induction of signaling pathways and modifications at the gene expression level. Small gaseous molecules, such as NO and H₂S, reactive oxygen species and phytohormones, may transmit signals from the environment to the cell and cellular compartments. For this reason, it is very important to understand their role in plants’ tolerance to climate changes. This could help create more resistant crop varieties or promote appropriate agricultural practices.

In this Special Issue, original studies on all aspects of plant adaptation to unfavorable climate changes are welcome, with particular attention on the role of signaling molecules, including NO, H₂S, H₂O₂, GABA and phytohormones.

Dr. Małgorzata Janicka
Dr. Katarzyna Kabała
Guest Editors

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Keywords

NO
H₂S
H₂O₂
GABA
phytohormones
salinity
high and low temperatures
dehydration
drought
oxidative stress

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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10 pages, 4329 KB

Open AccessArticle

Moderate Salinity Stress Affects Rice Quality by Influencing Expression of Amylose- and Protein-Content-Associated Genes

by Chongke Zheng, Shulin Niu, Ying Yan, Guanhua Zhou, Yongbin Peng, Yanan He, Jinjun Zhou, Yaping Li and Xianzhi Xie

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(7), 4042; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25074042 - 5 Apr 2024

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2001

Abstract

Salinity is an environmental stress that severely impacts rice grain yield and quality. However, limited information is available on the molecular mechanism by which salinity reduces grain quality. In this study, we investigated the milling, appearance, eating and cooking, and nutritional quality among three japonica rice cultivars grown either under moderate salinity with an electrical conductivity of 4 dS/m or under non-saline conditions in a paddy field in Dongying, Shandong, China. Moderate salinity affected rice appearance quality predominantly by increasing chalkiness rate and chalkiness degree and affected rice eating and cooking and nutritional quality predominantly by decreasing amylose content and increasing protein content. We compared the expression levels of genes determining grain chalkiness, amylose content, and protein content in developing seeds (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 days after flowering) of plants grown under saline or non-saline conditions. The chalkiness-related gene Chalk5 was up-regulated and WHITE-CORE RATE 1 was repressed. The genes Nuclear factor Y and Wx, which determine amylose content, were downregulated, while protein-content-associated genes OsAAP6 and OsGluA2 were upregulated by salinity in the developing seeds. These findings suggest some target genes that may be utilized to improve the grain quality under salinity stress conditions via gene-pyramiding breeding approaches. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research in Plant Adaptation to Abiotic Stress)

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17 pages, 4409 KB

Open AccessReview

WRKY Transcription Factor Responses and Tolerance to Abiotic Stresses in Plants

by Ziming Ma and Lanjuan Hu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(13), 6845; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25136845 - 21 Jun 2024

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 3410

Abstract

Plants are subjected to abiotic stresses throughout their developmental period. Abiotic stresses include drought, salt, heat, cold, heavy metals, nutritional elements, and oxidative stresses. Improving plant responses to various environmental stresses is critical for plant survival and perpetuation. WRKY transcription factors have special structures (WRKY structural domains), which enable the WRKY transcription factors to have different transcriptional regulatory functions. WRKY transcription factors can not only regulate abiotic stress responses and plant growth and development by regulating phytohormone signalling pathways but also promote or suppress the expression of downstream genes by binding to the W-box [TGACCA/TGACCT] in the promoters of their target genes. In addition, WRKY transcription factors not only interact with other families of transcription factors to regulate plant defence responses to abiotic stresses but also self-regulate by recognising and binding to W-boxes in their own target genes to regulate their defence responses to abiotic stresses. However, in recent years, research reviews on the regulatory roles of WRKY transcription factors in higher plants have been scarce and shallow. In this review, we focus on the structure and classification of WRKY transcription factors, as well as the identification of their downstream target genes and molecular mechanisms involved in the response to abiotic stresses, which can improve the tolerance ability of plants under abiotic stress, and we also look forward to their future research directions, with a view of providing theoretical support for the genetic improvement of crop abiotic stress tolerance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research in Plant Adaptation to Abiotic Stress)

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18 pages, 7523 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Chloroplast Genomes Analysis Provided Adaptive Evolution Insights in Medicago ruthenica

by Tianxiang Zhang, Manman Li, Xiaoyue Zhu, Shuaixian Li, Meiyan Guo, Changhong Guo and Yongjun Shu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(16), 8689; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25168689 - 9 Aug 2024

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1788

Abstract

A perennial leguminous forage, Medicago ruthenica has outstanding tolerance to abiotic stresses. The genome of Medicago ruthenica is large and has a complex genetic background, making it challenging to accurately determine genetic information. However, the chloroplast genome is widely used for researching issues related to evolution, genetic diversity, and other studies. To better understand its chloroplast characteristics and adaptive evolution, chloroplast genomes of 61 Medicago ruthenica were assembled (including 16 cultivated Medicago ruthenica germplasm and 45 wild Medicago ruthenica germplasm). These were used to construct the pan-chloroplast genome of Medicago ruthenica, and the chloroplast genomes of cultivated and wild Medicago ruthenica were compared and analyzed. Phylogenetic and haplotype analyses revealed two main clades of 61 Medicago ruthenica germplasm chloroplast genomes, distributed in eastern and western regions. Meanwhile, based on chloroplast variation information, 61 Medicago ruthenica germplasm can be divided into three genetic groups. Unlike the phylogenetic tree constructed from the chloroplast genome, a new intermediate group has been identified, mainly consisting of samples from the eastern region of Inner Mongolia, Shanxi Province, and Hebei Province. Transcriptomic analysis showed that 29 genes were upregulated and three genes were downregulated. The analysis of these genes mainly focuses on enhancing plant resilience and adapting adversity by stabilizing the photosystem structure and promoting protein synthesis. Additionally, in the analysis of adaptive evolution, the accD, clpP and ycf1 genes showed higher average Ka/Ks ratios and exhibited significant nucleotide diversity, indicating that these genes are strongly positively selected. The editing efficiency of the ycf1 and clpP genes significantly increases under abiotic stress, which may positively contribute to plant adaptation to the environment. In conclusion, the construction and comparative analysis of the complete chloroplast genomes of 61 Medicago ruthenica germplasm from different regions not only revealed new insights into the genetic variation and phylogenetic relationships of Medicago ruthenica germplasm, but also highlighted the importance of chloroplast transcriptome analysis in elucidating the model of chloroplast responses to abiotic stress. These provide valuable information for further research on the adaptive evolution of Medicago ruthenica. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research in Plant Adaptation to Abiotic Stress)

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38 pages, 2275 KB

Open AccessReview

Relationship between the GABA Pathway and Signaling of Other Regulatory Molecules

by Katarzyna Kabała and Małgorzata Janicka

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(19), 10749; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms251910749 - 6 Oct 2024

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3260

Abstract

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is an amino acid whose numerous regulatory functions have been identified in animal organisms. More and more research indicate that in plants, this molecule is also involved in controlling basic growth and development processes. As recent studies have shown, GABA plays an essential role in triggering plant resistance to unfavorable environmental factors, which is particularly important in the era of changing climate. The main sources of GABA in plant cells are glutamic acid, converted in the GABA shunt pathway, and polyamines subjected to oxidative degradation. The action of GABA is often related to the activity of other messengers, including phytohormones, polyamines, NO, H₂O₂, or melatonin. GABA can function as an upstream or downstream element in the signaling pathways of other regulators, acting synergistically or antagonistically with them to control cellular processes. Understanding the role of GABA and its interactions with other signaling molecules may be important for developing crop varieties with characteristics that enable adaptation to a changing environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research in Plant Adaptation to Abiotic Stress)

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18 pages, 603 KB

Open AccessReview

Biological Insights and Recent Advances in Plant Long Non-Coding RNA

by Zhihao Zhao, Yaodong Yang, Amjad Iqbal, Qiufei Wu and Lixia Zhou

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(22), 11964; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252211964 - 7 Nov 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2115

Abstract

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) refers to an RNA molecule longer than 200 nucleotides (nt) that plays a significant role in regulating essential molecular and biological processes. It is commonly found in animals, plants, and viruses, and is characterized by features such as epigenetic markers, developmental stage-specific expression, and tissue-specific expression. Research has shown that lncRNA participates in anatomical processes like plant progression, while also playing a crucial role in plant disease resistance and adaptation mechanisms. In this review, we provide a concise overview of the formation mechanism, structural characteristics, and databases related to lncRNA in recent years. We primarily discuss the biological roles of lncRNA in plant progression as well as its involvement in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Additionally, we examine the current challenges associated with lncRNA and explore its potential application in crop production and breeding. Studying plant lncRNAs is highly significant for multiple reasons: It reveals the regulatory mechanisms of plant growth and development, promotes agricultural production and food security, and drives research in plant genomics and epigenetics. Additionally, it facilitates ecological protection and biodiversity conservation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research in Plant Adaptation to Abiotic Stress)

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14 pages, 5764 KB

Open AccessArticle

Carotenoid Cleavage Dioxygenase Gene CCD4 Enhances Tanshinone Accumulation and Drought Resistance in Salvia miltiorrhiza

by Qian Tian, Wei Han, Shuai Zhou, Liu Yang, Donghao Wang, Wen Zhou and Zhezhi Wang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(23), 13223; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252313223 - 9 Dec 2024

Viewed by 1340

Abstract

Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge) is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Salvia genus in the family Lamiaceae. Its dry root is one of the important traditional Chinese herbal medicines with a long officinal history. The yield and quality of S. miltiorrhiza are influenced by various factors, among which drought is one of the most significant types of abiotic stress. Based on the transcriptome database of S. miltiorrhiza, our research group discovered a carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase gene, SmCCD4, belonging to the carotenoid cleavage oxygenase (CCO) gene family which is highly responsive to drought stress on the basis of our preceding work. Here, we identified 26 CCO genes according to the whole-genome database of S. miltiorrhiza. The expression pattern of SmCCD4 showed that this gene is strongly overexpressed in the aboveground tissue of S. miltiorrhiza. And by constructing SmCCD4 overexpression strains, it was shown that the overexpression of SmCCD4 not only promotes the synthesis of abscisic acid and increases plant antioxidant activity but also regulates the synthesis of the secondary metabolites tanshinone and phenolic acids in S. miltiorrhiza. In summary, this study is the first in-depth and systematic identification and investigation of the CCO gene family in S. miltiorrhiza. The results provide useful information for further systematic research on the function of CCO genes and provide a theoretical basis for improving the yield and quality of S. miltiorrhiza. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research in Plant Adaptation to Abiotic Stress)

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16 pages, 3345 KB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Identification of the Trihelix Transcription Factor Family and Functional Analysis of ZmTHX15 in Maize

by Yanyong Cao, Zeqiang Cheng, Xinyan Sun, Meichen Zhu, Ling Yue, Hui Liu, Xiaolin Wu, Jinghua Zhang and Canxing Duan

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(24), 13257; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252413257 - 10 Dec 2024

Viewed by 1168

Abstract

The trihelix transcription factor, which is a plant-specific family, play a critical role in plant growth and development and stress responses. Drought is the main limiting factor affecting yield of maize (Zea mays). However, the identification and characterization of this gene family in maize and its biological functions in response to drought stress have not been reported. Here, 46 Zea mays trihelix genes (ZmTHXs) were identified in the genome. Phylogenetic analysis of the ZmTHXs revealed that the genes were clustered into five subfamilies: GT-1, GT-2, GTγ, SH4, and SIP1. Chromosomal localization analysis showed that the 46 ZmTHXs were unevenly distributed across 10 chromosomes in maize. Cis-acting elements related to abiotic stress in ZmTHXs were found. Most ZmTHXs genes showed significant changes in expression levels under drought treatment. In addition, ZmTHX15-overexpressing Arabidopsis exhibited stronger drought tolerance with less secondary oxidative damage and higher photosynthetic rate. These findings could serve as a basis for future studies on the roles of ZmTHXs and the potential genetic markers for breeding stress-resistant and high-yielding maize varieties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research in Plant Adaptation to Abiotic Stress)

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