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The Role of Tissue Culture in Enhancing Plant Stress Tolerance...
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The Role of Tissue Culture in Enhancing Plant Stress Tolerance and Propagation

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Cell Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2025) | Viewed by 7840

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Mouaad Amine Mazri

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Agro-Biotechnology Research Unit, Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Marrakech, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, BP 415 Rabat Principale, Rabat 10090, Morocco
Interests: Plant tissue culture

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, climate change has received a large amount of attention from scientists and policymakers because of its impact on agricultural production and food security. Among the consequences of climate change is that biotic and abiotic pressures are becoming more severe, endangering the sustainability of world agriculture. While the spread of weeds, pests, and phytopathogenic microorganisms to new regions and/or host plants is an example of biotic stresses that are observed as a result of climate change, we have also seen significant increases in the occurrence of abiotic stresses such as salinity, drought, heat, cold, nutritional, and heavy metal stress.

The use of in vitro propagation and regeneration systems represents an efficient approach to improving crop yield and quality. Tissue culture systems are known for their effectiveness in rapidly propagating species and cultivars resistant to abiotic and biotic stresses, improving stress tolerance through genetic transformation, in vitro selection, genetic editing and molecular cloning, and as a tool to understand the mechanisms underlying stress tolerance at the biochemical, physiological, and molecular levels.

This Special Issue, entitled “The Role of Tissue Culture in Enhancing Plant Stress Tolerance and Propagation”, aims to compile up-to-date research and reviews on the use of in vitro culture systems to produce stress-tolerant plants, and to advance our understanding of the various mechanisms underlying enhanced resilience to environmental stress.

Dr. Mouaad Amine Mazri
Guest Editor

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-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

  • biotechnology
  • in vitro stress induction
  • micropropagation
  • regeneration
  • stress tolerance

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 1805 KB  
Article
Effect of Light and Cytokinin Modulators on Adventitious Shooting in Melia volkensii Gürke
by Nandini Bhogar Suresh, Lenka Plačková, Karel Doležal and Stefaan P. O. Werbrouck
Plants 2026, 15(2), 322; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15020322 - 21 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 512
Abstract
Adventitious shoot regeneration in woody species is regulated by interactions between plant growth regulators, endogenous hormone metabolism, and environmental cues such as light quality. Here, we investigated the effects of thidiazuron (TDZ) and the cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase (CKX) inhibitors INCYDE and phenyladenine (PA), in [...] Read more.
Adventitious shoot regeneration in woody species is regulated by interactions between plant growth regulators, endogenous hormone metabolism, and environmental cues such as light quality. Here, we investigated the effects of thidiazuron (TDZ) and the cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase (CKX) inhibitors INCYDE and phenyladenine (PA), in combination with different light spectra, on morphogenesis in Melia volkensii leaf explants. TDZ induced the highest frequencies of callus formation and adventitious shoot regeneration, particularly under white light. INCYDE promoted localized regeneration responses, including activation of dormant meristematic regions in secondary leaf axils, whereas PA showed limited regeneration efficiency. Light quality significantly influenced morphogenesis, with white and blue light favoring organized shoot development, while red and far-red light suppressed shoot regeneration and promoted callus formation. Cytokinin profiling revealed treatment-dependent shifts in endogenous cytokinin composition, most notably in isopentenyladenine (iP)-type cytokinins, which is consistent with altered cytokinin degradation dynamics. Cis-zeatin-type cytokinins were abundant across treatments, likely reflecting regulation associated with in vitro culture conditions. These findings indicate that cytokinin metabolism and light quality jointly influence organogenic competence in Melia volkensii Gürke, providing a physiological basis for optimizing regeneration strategies in woody plants. This study provides the first integrated analysis of cytokinin-modulating compounds and light spectra on adventitious shoot regeneration in Melia volkensii. The findings establish a physiological basis for improving regeneration protocols in recalcitrant woody species and support future biotechnological applications, including genetic improvement and advanced propagation strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Tissue Culture in Enhancing Plant Stress Tolerance and Propagation)
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11 pages, 3223 KB  
Article
Effects of Elicitation on Abeliophyllum distichum Leaf Callus and Changes in Verbascoside Content
by Daeho Choi, Yong-Woo Park, Jungmok Kang, Eun-Suk Jung and Hwayong Lee
Plants 2025, 14(9), 1386; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14091386 - 4 May 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1325
Abstract
Abeliophyllum distichum is a monotypic species in the family Oleaceae that contains a range of phenolic compounds and components such as coumaric acid, catechin, and verbascoside, the latter of which is a major candidate of commercial interest. In this study, we assessed the [...] Read more.
Abeliophyllum distichum is a monotypic species in the family Oleaceae that contains a range of phenolic compounds and components such as coumaric acid, catechin, and verbascoside, the latter of which is a major candidate of commercial interest. In this study, we assessed the potential for producing verbascoside using callus culture. To enhance callus productivity in this regard, we evaluated the efficacy of treatment with the elicitors salicylic acid (SA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) based on changes in verbascoside content with callus development using Petri dish cultures. Whereas the initial content of verbascoside in A. distichum callus was approximately 50 mg/g, in response to treatment with 50 μM MeJA, we detected an increase to approximately 97.05 mg/g. In contrast, treatment with SA had no significant effects on verbascoside content. In addition, we found that the fresh weight of callus receiving elicitor treatment was lower than that of control callus. Conversely, however, in bioreactor cultures, the fresh weight of callus following treatment with 50μM MeJA for 1 week was higher than that of control callus, and the content of verbascoside in callus treated with 50 μM MeJA was higher than that in control callus. Our findings in this study thus indicate that with appropriate elicitation, the production of verbascoside by A. distichum callus pieces can be enhanced. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Tissue Culture in Enhancing Plant Stress Tolerance and Propagation)
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Review

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22 pages, 5756 KB  
Review
Hyperhydricity Syndrome in In Vitro Plants: Mechanisms, Physiology, and Control
by Rajesh Barua, Abir U. Igamberdiev and Samir C. Debnath
Plants 2025, 14(24), 3721; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14243721 - 5 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1381
Abstract
Understanding the physiological characteristics of hyperhydric plantlets is ultimately necessary since hyperhydricity results in financial loss for in vitro plants from a commercial perspective. Although many studies report the possible causes and symptoms of hyperhydricity, knowledge of it remains limited. This review aims [...] Read more.
Understanding the physiological characteristics of hyperhydric plantlets is ultimately necessary since hyperhydricity results in financial loss for in vitro plants from a commercial perspective. Although many studies report the possible causes and symptoms of hyperhydricity, knowledge of it remains limited. This review aims to provide an integrated overview of this phenomenon and outline the perspectives for its prevention. First, we summarize the factors of in vitro hyperhydricity, including gelling agents, growth regulators, vessel ventilation and gas exchange, light, and osmotic conditions. Second, we describe physiological and internal changes commonly observed in hyperhydric plants, such as ROS/ethylene imbalance, altered antioxidant capacity, defects in the cell wall, and lignification. Third, we outline ultrastructural characteristics and accumulate HPLC findings to recognize the metabolite profiles of hyperhydric plantlets. Fourth, we introduce emerging AI-assisted MLM (machine learning model) approaches to detect and optimize the culture parameters to prevent hyperhydricity. Finally, we evaluate the strategies for the protection of the culture from hyperhydric conditions. This structured overview intends to reduce hyperhydricity in commercial and research settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Tissue Culture in Enhancing Plant Stress Tolerance and Propagation)
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33 pages, 762 KB  
Review
In Vitro Mycorrhization for Plant Propagation and Enhanced Resilience to Environmental Stress: A Review
by Hassna Radi, Meriyem Koufan, Ilham Belkoura, Tayeb Koussa and Mouaad Amine Mazri
Plants 2025, 14(14), 2097; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14142097 - 8 Jul 2025
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3107
Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a key role in enhancing plant stress tolerance, nutrient uptake, and overall health, making them essential for sustainable agriculture. Their multifaceted contributions to the rhizosphere—through biofertilization, bioprotection, and biostimulation—have led to growing interest in their application. In recent [...] Read more.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a key role in enhancing plant stress tolerance, nutrient uptake, and overall health, making them essential for sustainable agriculture. Their multifaceted contributions to the rhizosphere—through biofertilization, bioprotection, and biostimulation—have led to growing interest in their application. In recent years, in vitro mycorrhization has emerged as a promising approach for the rapid propagation of economically and ecologically important plant species, offering improved agronomic and physiological traits as well as increased resilience to environmental stressors. However, challenges remain in achieving consistent AMF-plant symbiosis under in vitro conditions across diverse species. This review highlights the potential of in vitro mycorrhization as a controlled system for investigating AMF interactions and their impact on plant development. Various in vitro mycorrhization systems are described and discussed, along with their applications in the mass production of AMF propagules and mycorrhizal plants, and their role in enhancing the acclimatization of micropropagated plantlets to ex vitro conditions. The role of in vitro mycorrhization as an effective tissue culture approach that integrates plant propagation with enhanced resilience to environmental stress is emphasized. The factors influencing the success of in vitro mycorrhization and strategies for the large-scale production of AMF propagules and mycorrhizal plants are explored. Although research in this area is still limited, existing studies underscore the potential of in vitro mycorrhization to enhance plant tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses—an increasingly urgent goal in the context of climate change and global food security. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Tissue Culture in Enhancing Plant Stress Tolerance and Propagation)
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