Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for IJMS Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Advance in Plant Abiotic Stress: 4th Edition

Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Related Special Issues
Published Papers

A Special Issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067) belonging to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2026 | Viewed by 4882

Share This Special Issue

Editors

Prof. Dr. Deguo Han

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

College of Horticulture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Interests: transcription factors in abiotic stress (cold, drought, salt, etc.) and response of fruit
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Xingguo Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

College of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Interests: plant abiotic stress; secondary metabolism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants are frequently exposed to variable environmental stresses, such as drought, salt, heat, cold, and nutrient deficiency, which adversely affect plant growth, development, and productivity. In the long process of evolution, plants have evolved complex self-regulation mechanisms to adapt to abiotic stress, such as drought and salt stresses, in which transcription factors play an irreplaceable role. Also, plant hormones act as signalling compounds that regulate crucial aspects of growth, development, and environmental stress responses. They activate a multitude of signalling cascades to elicit a plant’s adaptive responses.

This Special Issue will provide a platform for molecular research on plant abiotic stress, with a special focus on plant stress resistance mechanisms. We believe that this Special Issue will enable further research on plants and lead to the improvement of plants’ tolerance to abiotic stresses in the future. We request submissions of original papers and reviews based on results from molecular viewpoints.

Prof. Dr. De-Guo Han
Dr. Xingguo Li
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized 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.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

abiotic stress
cold
drought
salt
heat
nutrient deficiency
secondary metabolism
stress resistance
plant

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Related Special Issues

Advance in Plant Abiotic Stress in International Journal of Molecular Sciences (37 articles)
Advance in Plant Abiotic Stress: 2nd Edition in International Journal of Molecular Sciences (23 articles)
Advance in Plant Abiotic Stress: 3rd Edition in International Journal of Molecular Sciences (13 articles)

Published Papers (9 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

16 pages, 2633 KB

Open AccessArticle

Overexpression of a Malus baccata NAC Transcription Factor Gene MbNAC40 Increases Cold Tolerance in Arabidopsis

by Kuibao Jiao, Yuze Li, Penghui Song, Wenhui Li, Zhe Zhang, Teng Wang, Xingguo Li and Deguo Han

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(19), 8480; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27198480 - 23 Sep 2026

Viewed by 182

Abstract

As a primary apple rootstock extensively cultivated across Northeast China, Malus baccata (L.) Borkh. constantly suffers from low temperature, drought and salt damage throughout its growth cycle. NAC transcription factors take critical parts in coordinating plant adaptation to various adverse environments, yet relevant functional research on this woody rootstock species remains limited. In this work, a NAC family gene designated MbNAC40 was cloned from M. baccata, and its biological function was explored via heterologous transformation in Arabidopsis thaliana. Sequence analysis revealed that the open reading frame of MbNAC40 spans 1467 bp and encodes a 488-amino-acid protein targeted to the cell nucleus. After 24 h cold acclimation at 4 °C, plants were subjected to −4 °C freezing stress for 12 h, then recovered at 25 °C for 3 d. Transgenic Arabidopsis lines overexpressing MbNAC40 exhibited much stronger cold tolerance relative to wild-type plants. Transgenic materials retained more chlorophyll and synthesized more osmoprotective proline, accompanied by enhanced activity of three antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD and CAT). Meanwhile, multiple stress-marker genes (AtCAT1, AtCSD1, AtAPX6, and AtP5CS1) associated with ROS and osmotic adjustment were significantly activated in overexpression lines. Taken together, these results confirm that MbNAC40 acts as a positive modulator of cold resistance in Arabidopsis, which provides a valuable gene resource for molecular breeding of cold-resistant M. baccata rootstock varieties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Plant Abiotic Stress: 4th Edition)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 3621 KB

Open AccessArticle

Physiological and Proteomic Analyses Reveal the Adaptive Mechanisms of Maize Genotypes Under Potassium Deficiency

by Xudong Yang, Haoran Qin, Fei Zou, Hui Ma, Hui Li, Yanye Ruan and Shuisen Chen

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(18), 8286; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27188286 - 17 Sep 2026

Viewed by 223

Abstract

Potassium (K) deficiency severely constrains maize productivity, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying genotypic differences in K tolerance remain poorly understood. A comparative physiological and iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomic analysis was conducted on two maize inbred lines with contrasting K-deficiency tolerance (Ktm, tolerant; Ksm, sensitive) following 3 days of K starvation (0 mM K), using roots as the primary analytical target. Physiological assessments revealed that under K deficiency, Ktm exhibited higher root vitality (Ktm decreased by 16.65% vs. Ksm by 31.54%) and larger root volume but lower electrolyte leakage compared with Ksm. Proteomic profiling identified 93 and 126 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) in Ktm and Ksm, respectively. Integrative analysis indicated that Ktm responsed to K deprivation though coordinated downregulation of glycolytic enzymes, differential ROS accumulation with enhanced catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) upregulation, and increased the abundances of cell wall-reinforcing proteins (dirigent proteins and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase). In contrast, Ksm exhibited a less efficient stress response characterized by impaired ROS signaling, H₂O₂ accumulation, and compromised membrane permeability. These results suggested that under short-term K starvation, K tolerance in maize was associated more closely with the efficiency of metabolic reprogramming and ROS homeostasis than with differences in root K content. Our findings provide a mechanistic framework for understanding genotypic variation in K adaptation and identify candidate protein markers for breeding K-efficient maize varieties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Plant Abiotic Stress: 4th Edition)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 3732 KB

Open AccessArticle

Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Illicium verum Seedlings to Drought

by Miaojuan Guan, Mengwei Wu, Shuai Du, Xiang Luo, Ding Huang and Yong Tan

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(17), 7509; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27177509 - 22 Aug 2026

Viewed by 326

Abstract

This study analyzed the changes in physiological and biochemical indexes of seedlings from different Illicium verum Hook.f. (I. verum) cultivars under drought stress to comprehensively compare their drought resistance and lay a foundation for the screening and artificial cultivation of stress-resistant I. verum cultivars. The effects of drought stress on Relative Water Content (RWC), Malondialdehyde (MDA), osmotic adjustment substances, and antioxidant enzymes of seedlings of different I. verum cultivars were determined by indoor hydroponic method and PEG-6000 simulated drought stress experiment. RWC showed a downward trend, and the smallest change was Dongrong. The change trend of MDA content was increased and then decreased, and the greatest change was Heiye. Differences exist in the changes of osmotic adjustment substances in seedlings of different I. verum cultivars in response to drought stress. The contents of osmoregulatory substances all showed an upward trend. The Proline (Pro) content and soluble sugar (Ss) content in Luoma changed the most, and the soluble protein (Sp) content changed the most in Dongrong. Seedlings of different I. verum cultivars differ in antioxidant enzyme activities in response to drought stress. With the extension of drought stress time, the activities of Superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme, Peroxidase (POD) enzyme, and Catalase (CAT) enzyme increased first and then decreased. The activities of SOD enzyme, POD enzyme, and CAT enzyme changed the most in Luoma, Dongrong, and Chenping. The drought resistance of the five I. verum cultivars was Dongrong > Muwang > Luoma > Heiye > Chenping. Different drought-resistant cultivars should be selected according to local conditions in the cultivation process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Plant Abiotic Stress: 4th Edition)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 6228 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of Water-Deficit Responses in Japonica Hybrid Rice ‘Dianheyou 615’

by Xiaoli Zhou, Cui Zhang, Junjie Li, Xianyu Wang, Chunli Wang, Fan Luo, Wenfeng Zhang, Changhe Wei, Qian Zhu and Lijuan Chen

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(16), 7469; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27167469 - 20 Aug 2026

Viewed by 367

Abstract

Water deficit severely limits rice productivity. The elite Dian (D1)-type hybrid japonica rice ‘Dianheyou 615 (ZH1)’ exhibits exceptional drought adaptation in high-altitude rainfed uplands of the Yungui Plateau, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. We compared phenotypic and transcriptomic responses of ZH1 and six other japonica cultivars under well-watered and water-deficit conditions. Water-deficit stress significantly impaired agronomic traits across all cultivars; however, ZH1 uniquely maintained relatively stable flag leaf morphology and seed-setting rate, and displayed distinctive stomatal traits, in stark contrast to its parental lines and other cultivars. Transcriptomic profiling at the jointing-to-booting stage defined a core drought response module of 174 conserved genes across all cultivars. Critically, by intersecting 1097 ZH1-specific genes with drought-responsive elements, we pinpointed 15 core, cultivar-specific regulatory genes. These candidates are enriched in functions related to cuticle formation, carbohydrate metabolism, and stress signaling; among them, a DREB transcription factor (LOC4347618) is a prime candidate. qRT-PCR validated their expression. Using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing, we generated homozygous knockout mutants for LOC4333842, LOC4347618, and LOC4328441. Under 20% PEG-6000-simulated drought stress, all three mutant lines showed significantly increased drought susceptibility relative to wild-type controls, confirming the positive regulatory roles of these genes in drought stress tolerance in japonica rice. These results establish these three genes as promising targets for molecular breeding aimed at enhancing drought resistance in rice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Plant Abiotic Stress: 4th Edition)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 10178 KB

Open AccessArticle

CsCYP82D47 Is Identified as a Candidate Gene for Vivipary in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

by Jingjing Xu, Tingting Fan, Yuxing Mo, Jintao Cai, Meina Liao, Zhaoyang Peng, Jing Zhou, Jing Zhao, Huiming Chen and Ruozhong Wang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(16), 7428; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27167428 - 19 Aug 2026

Viewed by 348

Abstract

Vivipary adversely affects the production process of the cucumber seed industry and greatly limits the popularization of cucumber varieties. Identification of the cucumber seed vivipary phenotype and screening of vivipary-associated genes will provide important theoretical value and practical significance for solving this problem in agricultural production. In this study, cucumber near-isogenic lines with significant differences in vivipary traits (viviparous line F and non-viviparous line BF) were successfully screened and used to construct genetic populations. Bulk segregant analysis (BSA) and QTL-seq were performed to fine-map the major-effect quantitative trait locus associated with vivipary variation. Based on QTL and BSA analyses, CsaV3_3G044640 (designated CsCYP82D47), which encodes a cytochrome P450 family protein, was identified as a candidate gene associated with cucumber vivipary. CsCYP82D47 exhibits obvious tissue specificity and is highly expressed in leaves, sprouts, and seeds. However, no significant difference in CsCYP82D47 expression was detected between viviparous and non-viviparous cucumber materials. Further sequence analysis revealed multiple mutation sites in this gene between different genotypes. Specifically, the CYP82D47 protein in viviparous materials harbours one amino acid insertion (L63) and two missense mutations (M71L and S124L). In addition, the altered leucine residue distribution in viviparous cucumber may enlarge the substrate channel and enhance substrate catalytic efficiency, which may contribute to the vivipary phenotype. In summary, this study identifies a promising candidate gene potentially related to cucumber vivipary, which lays a foundation for further exploration of the molecular mechanism underlying cucumber vivipary and provides a potential genetic resource for cucumber molecular breeding. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Plant Abiotic Stress: 4th Edition)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

28 pages, 12735 KB

Open AccessArticle

Transcriptomic and Physiological Profiling Elucidates Differential Salt Stress Responses in Tolerant ‘SO4’ and Sensitive ‘Beida’ Grapevine Rootstocks

by Abdul Hakeem, Essam Elatafi, Wen Liu, Basma Elhendawy, Abdullah Alebidi, Rashid S. Al-Obeed, Mostafa Saeed, Jinggui Fang and Mahmoud Abdel-Sattar

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(14), 6479; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27146479 - 21 Jul 2026

Viewed by 606

Abstract

Soil salinity severely limits grapevine (Vitis spp.) growth and productivity, yet the mechanisms distinguishing tolerant and sensitive rootstocks remain incompletely understood. We compared the salt-tolerant rootstock ‘SO4’ with the salt-sensitive ‘Beida’ under 100 mmol L⁻¹ NaCl for 0, 6, and 12 days. Salinity progressively reduced photosynthetic pigments in both genotypes, although ‘SO4’ retained higher levels. Salt treatment also increased hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, soluble sugars, soluble proteins, proline, and antioxidant enzyme activities. Compared with ‘Beida’, ‘SO4’ showed stronger osmotic adjustment and greater activation of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase. RNA-seq analysis revealed extensive genotype- and time-dependent transcriptional reprogramming, with differentially expressed genes mainly associated with hormone signalling, secondary metabolism, carbon fixation, protein processing, and lipid metabolism. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified the MEblack module as positively associated with salt tolerance in ‘SO4’ but negatively associated with ‘Beida’. Within this module, Vitvi01g00735/VvBCA2 and Vitvi07g02043/VvLCB1 were prioritized as candidate hubs based on high module membership, gene significance, and intramodular connectivity. Hub-centred networks linked VvBCA2 to redox regulation, protein homeostasis, defense, and osmotic signalling, whereas VvLCB1 was associated with cell-wall remodelling, methyl metabolism, membrane signalling, and lipid turnover. Transcription-factor families, including MYB, WRKY, AP2/ERF, bHLH, and HSF, were more strongly represented in ‘SO4’. Collectively, these findings identify coordinated physiological and transcriptional mechanisms underlying salt tolerance and provide candidate genes for grapevine improvement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Plant Abiotic Stress: 4th Edition)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 7641 KB

Open AccessArticle

Differences in Salinity Stress Responses Across Developmental Stages and Tissue Regions in Saccharina japonica

by Wen Lin, Jiexin Cui, Jincheng Yuan and Tao Liu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(13), 5910; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27135910 - 30 Jun 2026

Viewed by 347

Abstract

Saccharina japonica is an economically important stenohaline brown seaweed whose growth and yield are significantly affected by frequent salinity fluctuations in coastal aquaculture areas. The differences in salt tolerance and response characteristics among developmental stages and among tissue regions of adult-stage thalli remain unclear, and the dynamic temporal patterns of responses across stages and tissues have not been systematically elucidated. In this study, we compared the physiological responses of juvenile and adult-stage thalli under varying salinity conditions and further analyzed the responses of the basal, middle, and tip regions of adult-stage thalli to define stage- and tissue-specific patterns of salt tolerance. The results indicate that low-salinity stress caused more severe injury than high-salinity stress, as reflected by sustained decreases in Fv/Fm, increased accumulation of MDA, and aggravated tissue decay with green-rot symptoms. Juvenile sporophytes exhibited higher salt tolerance than adult-stage thalli, and within the latter, tolerance differed markedly among tissue regions, with the basal region showing greater tolerance than the middle and tip regions. The basal region maintained higher photosynthetic activity, lower lipid peroxidation levels, and more stable antioxidant and osmotic regulatory responses under stress, whereas the tip region experienced early photosynthetic inactivation and irreversible damage. qRT-PCR results showed that antioxidant- and osmotic-regulation-related genes, including SjGSH, SjGST, SjPro, SjSOD, and SjPOD, were differentially expressed under salinity treatments at 24 h and 72 h, and their expression dynamics were generally consistent with the changes in physiological indicators. Overall, this study demonstrates that the response of S. japonica to salinity stress exhibits clear developmental stage-dependent differences and tissue-specific characteristics. In adult-stage thalli, the tip region may serve as a sensitive monitoring region for low-salinity damage, the middle region may serve as a transitional region for evaluating the progression of stress-induced damage, and the basal region may be an important region for maintaining thallus growth and physiological homeostasis. This study also provides experimental evidence for low-salinity stress risk assessment, the management of key growth stages, the monitoring of sensitive tissues, and the evaluation of salt tolerance traits during S. japonica aquaculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Plant Abiotic Stress: 4th Edition)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 1530 KB

Open AccessArticle

Exogenous Hydrogen Sulfide Enhances Photosynthesis Under Thiocyanate Stress by Regulating Rubisco Energy Metabolism and Activation in Rice Seedlings

by Hui-Ling Chen, Yu-Xi Feng, Yu-Juan Lin, Meng-Hua Chen, Yan-Hong Li and Yan-Peng Liang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(4), 1898; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27041898 - 16 Feb 2026

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 700

Abstract

Thiocyanate (SCN⁻), a persistent inorganic contaminant widely present in industrial wastewater, poses severe risks to plant growth and photosynthesis. Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is an emerging gaseous signaling molecule involved in the regulation of plant stress responses; however, its role in modulating Rubisco energy metabolism and activation under SCN⁻ stress remains unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of exogenous H₂S on magnesium homeostasis, ATP/NADPH metabolism, Rubisco activation, and photosynthetic performance in rice seedlings exposed to SCN⁻ stress via physiological, biochemical, and transcriptional approaches. We found that exogenous H₂S significantly increased Mg²⁺ accumulation, enhanced H⁺-ATPase and Mg²⁺-ATPase activities, and promoted Rubisco activase (RCA) abundance and activity. These changes were accompanied by reduced steady-state ATP and NADPH contents, indicating that increased energy consumption was driven by accelerated Calvin cycle turnover. At the transcriptional level, H₂S regulated key genes involved in ATP hydrolysis, Mg²⁺ transport, Rubisco activation, and chlorophyll biosynthesis. Consequently, the chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate improved under SCN⁻ stress. Collectively, our results demonstrate that exogenous H₂S enhances photosynthetic efficiency and Rubisco carboxylation capacity by coordinating Rubisco energy metabolism and activation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Plant Abiotic Stress: 4th Edition)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 5116 KB

Open AccessArticle

Overexpression of Malus baccata WRKY63 Enhances Cold Tolerance by Increasing the Antioxidant Level Associated with ROS Scavenging

by Wanda Liu, Tianhe Wang, Xinhui Wang, Zhiwei Wang, Baitao Guo, Yu Wang, Xiaoyu Shen, Jilong Han, Wenhui Li and Deguo Han

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(24), 11997; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262411997 - 12 Dec 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 942

Abstract

During their natural growth, plants encounter adverse environmental conditions, such as chilling injury, freezing injury, drought, and salt damage, collectively known as abiotic stresses. Several studies have shown that WRKY proteins regulate various abiotic stress responses and plant developmental processes. However, researchers have rarely investigated WRKY genes associated with the stress response in apples. Within this research, Malus baccata (L.) Borkh as the experimental material. We isolated and cloned MbWRKY63 and investigated its function in low-temperature stress tolerance. Subcellular localization analysis shows that MbWRKY63 localizes to the cell nucleus. Tissue-specific expression analysis revealed that MbWRKY63 is relatively highly expressed in the young leaves and root tissues of apples. Under low-temperature treatment at 4 °C, Arabidopsis thaliana plants that overexpressed MbWRKY63 showed greater cold stress resistance than the wild type (WT) and the empty vector (UL) control. In transgenic plants, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) were significantly enhanced; meanwhile, the contents of proline, malondialdehyde (MDA), and chlorophyll also changed significantly. In addition, by regulating the expression levels of AtKIN1, AtCBF1, AtCBF2, AtCBF3, AtCOR47, and AtCOR15a, MbWRKY63 enhanced the low-temperature stress tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis. The results suggest that MbWRKY63 in apples may be involved in the response to low-temperature stress, laying a foundation for understanding the role of WRKY transcription factors (TFs) in abiotic stress responses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Plant Abiotic Stress: 4th Edition)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Advance in Plant Abiotic Stress: 4th Edition

Share This Special Issue

Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Related Special Issues

Published Papers (9 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI