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Mitigation Strategies and Tolerance of Plants to Abiotic Stresses—3rd Edition

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A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Response to Abiotic Stress and Climate Change".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 6070

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Prof. Dr. Geovani Soares de Lima

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Academic Unit of Agricultural Sciences, Center for Science and Agrifood Technology, Federal University of Campina Grande, Pombal 58840-000, CEP, Brazil
Interests: soil/water salinity; tolerance mechanisms; biosaline agriculture; tolerance of fruit crops; stress mitigation strategies; oxidative stress
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Prof. Dr. Lauriane Almeida dos Anjos Soares

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Academic Unit of Agricultural Sciences, Center for Science and Agrifood Technology, Federal University of Campina Grande, Pombal 58840-000, CEP, Brazil
Interests: irrigation; salt stress; water stress; physiology; tolerance mechanisms
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Prof. Dr. Francisco Vanies Da Silva Sá

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Department of Agrarian and Exact, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Catolé do Rocha 58884-000, PB, Brazil
Interests: seed physiology; plant ecophysiology; plant nutrition
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Dear Colleagues,

Semi-arid and arid areas around the world are subject to a qualitative and quantitative scarcity of water resources. Thus, both scarcity (water deficit) and the occurrence of water sources with high salt concentrations stand out as limiting factors for agricultural production. Thus, there is an urgent need to establish strategies that mitigate abiotic stresses aimed at facilitating the sustainability of crops and meeting growing needs for food production. This Special Issue on Mitigation Strategies and Plant Tolerance to Abiotic Stresses presents original research results on the effects of abiotic stresses, tolerance mechanisms, crop tolerance associated with mitigation strategies, and biomolecular mechanisms. Submitted manuscripts must not be previously published or under evaluation for publication in another journal.

Prof. Dr. Geovani Soares de Lima
Prof. Dr. Lauriane Almeida dos Anjos Soares
Prof. Dr. Francisco Vanies Da Silva Sá
Guest Editors

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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-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). 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

salt and water stress
tolerance mechanisms
oxidative stress
hydroponic cultivation
hydroponic cultivation
fertilizing
eliciting substances

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 15264 KB

Open AccessArticle

Applying Carbon Dots to Alleviate Photoinhibition and Boost Early Growth of Soybean Plants

by Marina M. Kawazoe, Adriana de Paula Cardoso, Marilza Castilho, Ailton J. Terezo, Adriano B. Siqueira, Halley C. Oliveira and Diego G. Gomes

Plants 2026, 15(10), 1446; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15101446 - 9 May 2026

Viewed by 391

Abstract

Although soybean is vital to the global economy, this crop faces productivity losses due to photoinhibition of photosystem II (PSII), which is worsened by heat and drought. Carbon dots (Cdots) offer a strategy to mitigate this stress by acting as light-harvesting and UV-protective agents. This study evaluated the foliar application of Cdots on soybean (Glycine max L. Merr. cv. BRS 1054 IPRO) exposed to high light intensity. In a greenhouse experiment with a completely randomized design, plants received deionized water (Control), synthesized Cdots at three concentrations (0.02, 0.05, and 0.20 mg mL⁻¹), or a commercial Cdot product. Plants were grown under 50% shade and, at 24 days after sowing, transferred to a high-light greenhouse (20% attenuation). Measurements included PSII fluorescence (maximum quantum yield, potential activity, basal fluorescence, and dynamic photoinhibition) and leaf gas exchange (stomatal conductance, net photosynthesis, transpiration, intercellular CO₂ concentration, intrinsic water use efficiency, and carboxylation efficiency), as well as chlorophyll index and growth traits. Cdots at 0.05 mg mL⁻¹ and the commercial product maintained higher morning PSII maximum activity (+16% vs. Control), indicating enhanced photoprotection. Conversely, 0.20 mg mL⁻¹ Cdots reduced PSII maximum activity by 62% at noon. At day 14, the 0.05 mg mL⁻¹ treatment improved stress acclimation, reducing stomatal conductance and transpiration, while sustaining photosynthesis. Growth was significantly enhanced at this concentration, increasing chlorophyll content by 14%, shoot length by 26%, and total dry mass by up to 41% compared to controls. In conclusion, Cdots at 0.05 mg mL⁻¹ alleviated chronic photoinhibition without increasing dynamic photoinhibition, thus acting as a promising nanobiostimulant that promotes soybean early growth under high-light stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mitigation Strategies and Tolerance of Plants to Abiotic Stresses—3rd Edition)

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20 pages, 2765 KB

Open AccessArticle

Identification of SNPs and Candidate Genes Associated with Major Drought Tolerance QTL on Wheat Chromosome 4A

by Joanne Caguiat, Md Sultan Mia, Hui Liu, Guijun Yan and Kadambot H. M. Siddique

Plants 2026, 15(6), 921; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15060921 - 16 Mar 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1560

Abstract

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most cultivated crops in the world, but production is often affected by drought. The wheat chromosome 4A contains several quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with drought tolerance and yield-related traits, making it a valuable target for genetic improvement. In this study, we developed near-isogenic lines (NILs) carrying qDT.4A.1, a major QTL for yield using a fast generation cycling system (FGCS) and characterized these NILs for grain yield and thousand-grain weight (TGW) under drought stress and control conditions. We identified a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker Kukri_c27037_112, which showed a consistent genotype–phenotype associations across two NIL pairs. This marker is linked to four candidate genes encoding a RING-finger E3 ubiquitin ligase, a receptor kinase, and a protein kinase family protein involved in drought stress response and pathways. In silico expression analyses revealed upregulation of these genes in grain tissue under drought conditions, supporting their potential role in grain development and yield formation during drought stress conditions. The identified SNP marker and its associated candidate genes are potential resources in marker-assisted selection and fine mapping pending further validation and functional studies. Our results provide valuable genomic resources, laying the foundation for the development of drought-tolerant wheat varieties and highlighting chromosome 4A as a key region governing drought tolerance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mitigation Strategies and Tolerance of Plants to Abiotic Stresses—3rd Edition)

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15 pages, 3710 KB

Open AccessArticle

Irrigation Management with Brackish Water Impacting Biomass and Protein Productivity in Intercropped Opuntia stricta and Clitória ternatea

by Rute Maria Rocha Ribeiro, Claudivan Feitosa de Lacerda, Carla Ingryd Nojosa Lessa, Ivo Rabelo de Melo, Jonnathan Richeds da Silva Sales, Kenya Gonçalves Nunes, Maria da Saúde de Sousa Ribeiro, Aiala Vieira Amorim, Marlos Alves Bezerra, Antonia Leila Rocha Neves, Eduardo Santos Cavalcante, Márcio José Alves Peixoto and José do Egito Sales Andrade

Plants 2026, 15(5), 738; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15050738 - 28 Feb 2026

Viewed by 513

Abstract

The use of brackish water associated with intercropping is an approach that can enhance the resilience of agriculture in semi-arid regions. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate irrigation with brackish water as a strategy to ensure the sustainability of forage production in isolated and intercropped systems. The study was conducted under a hot semi-arid climate in the years 2022, 2023, and 2024. Two water scenarios (rainfed and irrigated) and four production systems with forage cactus-FC (Opuntia stricta) and butterfly pea-BP (Clitória ternatea) were evaluated: FC—forage cactus, BP—butterfly pea, FC+1BP—forage cactus intercropped with one row of BP, and FC+2BP—forage cactus intercropped with two rows of BP. Butterfly pea received supplemental irrigation from February to August, while the forage cactus was irrigated during the dry season (July to December). Our results showed that the strategic management of irrigation with brackish water optimizes biomass and protein production in crops adapted to the tropical semi-arid region. The FC+1BP intercropping system (forage palm with a row of butterfly pea) proved to be the most advantageous, mainly in terms of crude protein production and water use efficiency, proving to be an alternative for forage production and food security for livestock in the tropical semi-arid region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mitigation Strategies and Tolerance of Plants to Abiotic Stresses—3rd Edition)

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14 pages, 1184 KB

Open AccessArticle

Ibuprofen Improves Wheat Growth Under Salinity by Modulating Hormonal and Antioxidant Status

by Dilara Maslennikova and Oleg Mozgovoj

Plants 2026, 15(3), 360; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15030360 - 23 Jan 2026

Viewed by 746

Abstract

Pre-sowing seed treatment (priming) is a strategic tool for programming future crop yield, aimed at improving early plant development and enhancing stress resilience. This study investigated the effects of priming wheat seeds with 100 µM ibuprofen on early ontogeny under optimal conditions and salt stress (100 mM NaCl). An evaluation of germination energy, growth parameters, phytohormone levels (abscisic acid, indolylacetic acid, and cytokinins) and the status of the antioxidant system in 7-day-old seedlings demonstrated that ibuprofen treatment stimulates wheat growth and tolerance, despite its absence of accumulation in plant tissues. Modulation of hormonal balance plays a key role in these protective effects: under optimal conditions, ibuprofen elevates abscisic acid and indolylacetic acid levels, while under salt stress, it prevents excessive abscisic acid accumulation and mitigates the stress-induced decline in indolylacetic acid and cytokinins. Furthermore, ibuprofen promotes a coordinated increase in glutathione, ascorbate, and H₂O₂ levels, concomitant with the activation of key enzymes (glutathione reductase and ascorbate peroxidase), thereby enhancing the plants’ antioxidant potential. Under saline conditions, ibuprofen pretreatment also reduces stress-induced dysregulation of this system. Therefore, ibuprofen acts as a hormetic preconditioning agent that improves seedling vigor and stress tolerance by fine-tuning hormonal signaling and redox metabolism. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mitigation Strategies and Tolerance of Plants to Abiotic Stresses—3rd Edition)

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15 pages, 2753 KB

Open AccessArticle

Tolerance and Antioxidant Activity of Watermelon Cultivars Pre-Treated with Stress Attenuators and Subjected to Water Deficit

by Moadir de Sousa Leite, Salvador Barros Torres, Clarisse Pereira Benedito, Kleane Targino Oliveira Pereira, Maria Valdiglezia de Mesquita Arruda, Roseane Rodrigues de Oliveira, Giovanna Dias de Sousa, Cynthia Cavalcanti de Albuquerque, Marciana Bizerra de Morais, Charline Zaratin Alves, Givanildo Zildo da Silva, Emerson de Medeiros Sousa, Pablo Ferreira da Silva, Cibele Chalita Martins and Francisco Vanies da Silva Sá

Plants 2026, 15(2), 184; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15020184 - 7 Jan 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 622

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of stress attenuators on the tolerance and antioxidant activity of watermelon cultivars under water deficit. The experiment was conducted in two stages, Stage I corresponding to water deficit levels (N1 = 0; N2 = −0.1; N3 = −0.2 MPa) and six watermelon cultivars. Stage II comprises two cultivars selected in Stage I (one sensitive and one tolerant) and the combination of water restriction with attenuators (T1 = 0.0 MPa (control), T2 = −0.2 MPa (water deficit), T3 = −0.2 MPa + hydropriming, T4 = −0.2 MPa + gibberellic acid, T5 = −0.2 MPa + salicylic acid, and T6 = −0.2 MPa + hydrogen peroxide). The concentration and exposure times of the attenuators were determined through preliminary tests. In Stage I, physiological and biochemical analyses were performed. In Stage II, in addition to these tests, hydrogen peroxide content, malondialdehyde levels, and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were assessed. Water deficit impaired germination and seedling vigor of watermelon, with Crimson Sweet, Omaru, Charleston Gray, and Congo being the most sensitive cultivars, while Fairfax was the most tolerant. For Crimson Sweet, pre-germination treatments reduced oxidative stress and enhanced tolerance by stimulating antioxidant enzyme activity, with GA and H₂O₂ providing the most effective results. For Fairfax, greater tolerance was associated with osmotic adjustment through the accumulation of compatible solutes, a mechanism further enhanced by the use of attenuators. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mitigation Strategies and Tolerance of Plants to Abiotic Stresses—3rd Edition)

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24 pages, 5192 KB

Open AccessArticle

Growth, Physiology and Yield of Traditional Cowpea Varieties Under Salt Stress Using Exogenous Magnesium

by Antonio Sávio dos Santos, Miguel Ferreira Neto, Hayanne Ywricka de Araújo Melo, Ricardo André Rodrigues Filho, Francisca das Chagas de Oliveira, Joyce Fernandes de Medeiros, Clara Araújo da Silva, Paula Cristina de Morais Rosario, José Francismar de Medeiros, Nildo da Silva Dias, Tayd Dayvison Custódio Peixoto, Josinaldo Lopes Araújo, Alberto Soares de Melo, Alex Álvares da Silva and Francisco Vanies da Silva Sá

Plants 2025, 14(22), 3524; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14223524 - 19 Nov 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 817

Abstract

Salinization is one of the main environmental challenges affecting agriculture in semi-arid regions. We evaluated the feasibility of foliar magnesium and its effects at different doses on the acclimation of cowpea varieties under salt stress. The experiment occurred in a greenhouse using a randomized block design in a 2 × 3 × 4 factorial scheme, with five replicates. Two cowpea varieties—‘Pingo de Ouro’ and ‘Costela de Vaca’—were subjected to three salinity levels in irrigation water (0.54, 3.50, and 5.00 dS m⁻¹) and four foliar magnesium (Mg) doses (0, 1, 2, and 3 mL L⁻¹). Under 3.50 dS m⁻¹ salinity, the 1 mL L⁻¹ dose resulted in the highest yield per plant (18.29 g). CO₂ assimilation was highest with 2 mL L⁻¹ Mg at 3.50 dS m⁻¹ for ‘Costela de Vaca’, and with 1 mL L⁻¹ Mg at 5.00 dS m⁻¹ for ‘Pingo de Ouro’. The ‘Pingo de Ouro’ variety was more tolerant to ‘Costela de Vaca’. Foliar Mg fertilization proved to be a promising strategy to mitigate the effects of salt stress in cowpea, especially for ‘Pingo de Ouro’. Magnesium effectively reduces salt stress, but its effect varies by plant variety and irrigation salinity, necessitating customized dose adjustments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mitigation Strategies and Tolerance of Plants to Abiotic Stresses—3rd Edition)

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26 pages, 4419 KB

Open AccessArticle

Salicylic Acid Mitigates the Effects of Water Deficit in Sour Passion Fruit in the Phenological Phases

by Allesson Ramos de Souza, Geovani Soares de Lima, André Alisson Rodrigues da Silva, Carlos Alberto Vieira de Azevedo, Lucyelly Dâmela Araújo Borborema, Kheila Gomes Nunes, Denis Soares Costa, Larissa Fernanda Souza Santos, Thiago Filipe de Lima Arruda, Luciano Marcelo Fallé Saboya, Lauriane Almeida dos Anjos Soares, Hans Raj Gheyi, Weslley Bruno Belo de Souza, Fellype Jonathar Lemos da Silva and Gustavo de Oliveira Porto

Plants 2025, 14(22), 3507; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14223507 - 17 Nov 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 846

Abstract

Practices that mitigate the deleterious effects of water deficit are of great importance for agricultural production in the semi-arid region of Northeastern Brazil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of foliar application of salicylic acid on mitigating water deficit in the morphophysiology and yield components of sour passion fruit during different phenological stages. Treatments were arranged in a randomized block design in a 6 × 2 factorial scheme, consisting of six irrigation strategies under water deficit, based on reference evapotranspiration (ETr) [irrigation with 100% ETr throughout the entire cultivation cycle—IS1; irrigation with 50% ETr during the vegetative stage—IS2; flowering—IS3; fruiting—IS4; vegetative/flowering—IS5; and vegetative/fruiting—IS6], combined with or without salicylic acid (SA) application (0 and 1 mM). The application of 1.0 mM salicylic acid alleviated the effects of water deficit during the flowering stage, improving gas exchange, photochemical efficiency, relative water content, growth, and yield of sour passion fruit. In addition, it contributed to reducing electrolyte leakage in the leaf blade. Therefore, foliar application of salicylic acid represents a promising strategy to maintain the integrity of the photosynthetic apparatus and the productive performance of sour passion fruit under water deficit conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mitigation Strategies and Tolerance of Plants to Abiotic Stresses—3rd Edition)

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