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

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 1618

Special Issue Editors


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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
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
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
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor

Special Issue Information

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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Keywords

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

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 1184 KB  
Article
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
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 [...] Read more.
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
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15 pages, 2753 KB  
Article
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
Viewed by 261
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 [...] Read more.
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
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24 pages, 5192 KB  
Article
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
Viewed by 511
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 [...] Read more.
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
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26 pages, 4419 KB  
Article
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
Viewed by 535
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 [...] Read more.
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
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