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Mechanisms of Plant Regulation against Environmental Stress
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Mechanisms of Plant Regulation against Environmental Stress

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: closed (30 September 2024) | Viewed by 10591

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Weibing Zhuang

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Guest Editor
Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Science, Nanjing, China
Interests: abiotic stress; physiological mechanisms; molecular mechanisms; photosynthetic characteristics; multi-omics analysis
Dr. Tao Wang

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Guest Editor
Ornamental Plant Research Center, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Science, Nanjing, 210014, China
Interests: abiotic stress, physiological mechanisms, molecular mechanisms, photosynthetic characteristics, multi-omics analysis
Dr. Peng Wang

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Guest Editor
Ornamental Plant Research Center, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Science, Nanjing 210014, China
Interests: abiotic stress; physiological mechanisms; molecular mechanisms; plant growth and development; stress-resistant plants; anthocyanin biosynthesis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants are exposed to ever-changing environments to which they must adjust. Abiotic stresses include drought, extreme temperature, UV radiation, strong light, high salinity, low soil nutrient levels, etc., which can affect plant growth at all phenological developmental stages, from the morphological to the molecular level. On the other hand, plants have evolved special methods, including stress avoidance and tolerance, and undergo various morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular modifications in order to cope with different abiotic stresses. Due to the continuous climate change and environmental deterioration caused by human activity, environmental stresses have become a key threat to plant growth and development. Drought stress, salt stress, nutrient imbalances (including mineral toxicity and deficiencies), and temperature extremes represent significant environmental factors that limit the productivity of plants around the world. Therefore, it is important to understand the mechanisms that control different processes and that underlie abiotic stress tolerance in plants. This Special Issue will focus on the morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular modifications of plants under various abiotic stresses. With the maturity of biotechnology, especially gene editing and transgenic technology, it has become increasingly easy to change plant traits. An increasing number of researchers are successfully creating stress-tolerant plants using biotechnology. The identification and characterization of candidate genes associated with stress resistance in plants is also of interest. Through this Special Issue, we hope to increase our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the responses of plants to abiotic stresses, and provide guidance for establishing stress-resistant plant varieties.

Dr. Weibing Zhuang
Dr. Tao Wang
Dr. Peng Wang
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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

  • abiotic stress
  • physiological mechanisms
  • molecular mechanisms
  • plant growth and development
  • stress-resistant plants
  • genes associated with stress resistance

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 6913 KiB  
Article
Brassinosteroid Enhances Cucumber Stress Tolerance to NaHCO3 by Modulating Nitrogen Metabolism, Ionic Balance and Phytohormonal Response
by Wenjing Nie, Biao Gong, Dan Wen, Peng Qiao, Hongen Guo and Qinghua Shi
Plants 2025, 14(1), 80; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14010080 - 30 Dec 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 702
Abstract
Under NaHCO3 stress, exogenous 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) markedly alleviated Na+ accumulation in cucumber plants, thereby decreasing the Na+/K+, Na+/Mg2+, and Na+/Ca2+ ratios. This mitigation was accompanied by elevated concentrations of K [...] Read more.
Under NaHCO3 stress, exogenous 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) markedly alleviated Na+ accumulation in cucumber plants, thereby decreasing the Na+/K+, Na+/Mg2+, and Na+/Ca2+ ratios. This mitigation was accompanied by elevated concentrations of K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+, as well as enhanced expression of the NHX and SOS1 genes. In addition, the activities of plasma membrane H+-ATPase, vesicular membrane H+-ATPase, and vesicular membrane H+-PPase were significantly increased, contributing to the maintenance of ionic balance in cucumber plants. NaHCO3 stress disrupted nitrogen metabolism, as evidenced by reductions in the activities of NR, GS, GOGAT, GOT, and GPT, along with altered GDH activity. These disruptions led to an accumulation of NH4+ and substantial decreases in NO3−-N and total nitrogen content. Exogenous EBR alleviated these effects by enhancing the activities of NR, GS, GOGAT, GOT, and GPT, countering the prolonged suppression of GDH activity, and restoring NO3−-N and total nitrogen levels. Consequently, EBR application reduced NH4+ toxicity induced by alkali stress. Additionally, NaHCO3 stress increased ABA accumulation while decreasing IAA and GA3 content in cucumber seedlings. In contrast, exogenous EBR application elevated IAA and GA3 levels and increased the IAA/ABA and GA3/ABA ratios, thus maintaining hormonal equilibrium under alkali stress. Collectively, these findings highlight that exogenous EBR enhances the alkaline tolerance of cucumber plants by regulating nitrogen metabolism, ion homeostasis, and phytohormonal responses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of Plant Regulation against Environmental Stress)
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30 pages, 9209 KiB  
Article
Agro-Physiological and DNA Methylation Responses to Salinity Stress in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), Aegilops cylindrica Host, and Their Introgressed Lines
by Mohsen Hoseini, Ahmad Arzani, Ghodratollah Saeidi and Fabrizio Araniti
Plants 2024, 13(19), 2673; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13192673 - 24 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1224
Abstract
Bottlenecks, including limited genetic variation and the ongoing loss of genetic diversity, have hindered the development of modern wheat cultivars., making it crucial to use genetic diversity from wild relatives to improve wheat’s adaptation to abiotic stress, such as salinity. This study assessed [...] Read more.
Bottlenecks, including limited genetic variation and the ongoing loss of genetic diversity, have hindered the development of modern wheat cultivars., making it crucial to use genetic diversity from wild relatives to improve wheat’s adaptation to abiotic stress, such as salinity. This study assessed the phenotypic and epigenetic variation of introgressed wheat lines (BC4F2) derived from hybridizing two wheat cultivars with Aegilops cylindrica (AC). This study assessed the phenotypic and epigenetic variation of 156 introgressed wheat lines (BC4F2) derived from hybridization between wheat cultivars “Chinese Spring” (CS) and “Roshan” (R) and Aegilops cylindrica (AC). These lines and their recurrent parents (total of 158) were evaluated under normal and saline field conditions for the agronomic traits and stress tolerance indices. The data were used to select the most tolerant and most sensitive lines. Then, the selected BC4F2 lines and their parents (AC, CS, and R) were subjected to physiological, DNA cytosine methylation, and expression analysis of HKT1;5, NHX1, and SOS1 genes under control and salt stress conditions. Agro-physiological, epigenetic, and gene expression analyses showed the significant effects of salt stress and genetic background, as well as the differential response of the BC4F2 lines to salt stress. The variations in leaf and root K, Na, and K/Na ratios, and leaf Chla, Chlb, Car, and MDA levels, unlike DPPH radical scavenging levels, between salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive BC4F2 lines under saline conditions indicated a substantial distinction in salinity tolerance responses. RT-qPCR indicated higher expression levels of NHX1 and SOS1 genes in the leaf and root tissues of tolerant lines than those of sensitive lines. Global leaf and root DNA methylation analysis revealed the significant effects of salinity on the methylation modifications and confirmed the successful introgression of the salt-tolerance epigenome from Ae. cylindrica into wheat. Exploiting the genetic diversity of wild wheat relatives is a crucial goal for increasing genetic and epigenetic variation to enhance plant adaptation to salt stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of Plant Regulation against Environmental Stress)
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21 pages, 9039 KiB  
Article
Genomic Survey of LRR-RLK Genes in Eriobotrya japonica and Their Expression Patterns Responding to Environmental Stresses
by Mengqi Yang, Tian Min, Teja Manda, Liming Yang and Delight Hwarari
Plants 2024, 13(17), 2387; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13172387 - 27 Aug 2024
Viewed by 973
Abstract
The impact of global warming is increasing and thus exacerbating environmental stresses that affect plant yield and distribution, including the Eriobotrya japonica Lindl (Loquat tree). Eriobotrya japonica, a member of the Rosaceae family, is valued not only for its nutritious fruit but [...] Read more.
The impact of global warming is increasing and thus exacerbating environmental stresses that affect plant yield and distribution, including the Eriobotrya japonica Lindl (Loquat tree). Eriobotrya japonica, a member of the Rosaceae family, is valued not only for its nutritious fruit but also for its medicinal purposes, landscape uses, and other pharmacological benefits. Nonetheless, the productivity of Eriobotrya japonica has raised a lot of concern in the wake of adverse environmental conditions. Understanding the characteristics of the LRR-RLK gene family in loquat is crucial, as these genes play vital roles in plant stress responses. In this study, 283 LRR-RLK genes were identified in the genome of E. japonica that were randomly positioned on 17 chromosomes and 24 contigs. The 283 EjLRR-RLK proteins clustered into 21 classes and subclasses in the phylogenetic analysis based on domain and protein arrangements. Further explorations in the promoter regions of the EjLRR-RLK genes showed an abundance of cis-regulatory elements that functioned in growth and development, phytohormone, and biotic and abiotic responses. Most cis-elements were present in the biotic and abiotic responses suggesting that the EjLRR-RLK genes are invested in regulating both biotic and abiotic stresses. Additional investigations into the responses of EjLRR-RLK genes to abiotic stress using the RT-qPCR revealed that EjLRR-RLK genes respond to abiotic stress, especially heat and salt stresses. Particularly, EjapXI-1.6 and EjapI-2.5 exhibited constant upregulation in all stresses analyzed, indicating that these may take an active role in regulating abiotic stresses. Our findings suggest the pivotal functions of EjLRR-RLK genes although additional research is still required. This research aims to provide useful information relating to the characterization of EjLRR-RLK genes and their responses to environmental stresses, establishing a concrete base for the following research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of Plant Regulation against Environmental Stress)
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18 pages, 11248 KiB  
Article
Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of RdHSP Genes Related to High Temperature in Rhododendron delavayi
by Cheng Wang, Xiaojing Wang, Ping Zhou and Changchun Li
Plants 2024, 13(13), 1878; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13131878 - 7 Jul 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1755
Abstract
Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are molecular chaperones that play essential roles in plant development and in response to various environmental stresses. Understanding R. delavayi HSP genes is of great importance since R. delavayi is severely affected by heat stress. In the present study, a [...] Read more.
Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are molecular chaperones that play essential roles in plant development and in response to various environmental stresses. Understanding R. delavayi HSP genes is of great importance since R. delavayi is severely affected by heat stress. In the present study, a total of 76 RdHSP genes were identified in the R. delavayi genome, which were divided into five subfamilies based on molecular weight and domain composition. Analyses of the chromosome distribution, gene structure, and conserved motif of the RdHSP family genes were conducted using bioinformatics analysis methods. Gene duplication analysis showed that 15 and 8 RdHSP genes were obtained and retained from the WGD/segmental duplication and tandem duplication, respectively. Cis-element analysis revealed the importance of RdHSP genes in plant adaptations to the environment. Moreover, the expression patterns of RdHSP family genes were investigated in R. delavayi treated with high temperature based on our RNA-seq data, which were further verified by qRT-PCR. Further analysis revealed that nine candidate genes, including six RdHSP20 subfamily genes (RdHSP20.4, RdHSP20.8, RdHSP20.6, RdHSP20.3, RdHSP20.10, and RdHSP20.15) and three RdHSP70 subfamily genes (RdHSP70.15, RdHSP70.21, and RdHSP70.16), might be involved in enhancing the heat stress tolerance. The subcellular localization of two candidate RdHSP genes (RdHSP20.8 and RdHSP20.6) showed that two candidate RdHSPs were expressed and function in the chloroplast and nucleus, respectively. These results provide a basis for the functional characterization of HSP genes and investigations on the molecular mechanisms of heat stress response in R. delavayi. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of Plant Regulation against Environmental Stress)
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Review

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27 pages, 2419 KiB  
Review
Impact of Abiotic Stress on Rice and the Role of DNA Methylation in Stress Response Mechanisms
by Ming Yin, Shanwen Wang, Yanfang Wang, Ronghua Wei, Yawei Liang, Liying Zuo, Mingyue Huo, Zekai Huang, Jie Lang, Xiuqin Zhao, Fan Zhang, Jianlong Xu, Binying Fu, Zichao Li and Wensheng Wang
Plants 2024, 13(19), 2700; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13192700 - 26 Sep 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3480
Abstract
With the intensification of global climate change and the increasing complexity of agricultural environments, the improvement of rice stress tolerance is an important focus of current breeding research. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the impact of various abiotic stresses on rice [...] Read more.
With the intensification of global climate change and the increasing complexity of agricultural environments, the improvement of rice stress tolerance is an important focus of current breeding research. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the impact of various abiotic stresses on rice and the associated epigenetic responses (DNA methylation). Abiotic stress factors, including high temperature, drought, cold, heavy metal pollution, and high salinity, have a negative impact on crop productivity. Epigenetic changes are key regulatory factors in plant stress responses, and DNA methylation is one of the earliest discovered and thoroughly studied mechanisms in these epigenetic regulatory mechanisms. The normal growth of rice is highly dependent on the environment, and changes in the environment can lead to rice sterility and severe yield loss. Changes in the regulation of the DNA methylation pathway are involved in rice’s response to stress. Various DNA methylation-regulating protein complexes that function during rice development have been identified. Significant changes in DNA methylation occur in numerous stress-responsive genes, particularly those in the abscisic acid signaling pathway. These findings underscore the complex mechanisms of the abiotic stress response in rice. We propose the effective improvement of tolerance traits by regulating the epigenetic status of rice and emphasize the role of DNA methylation in abiotic stress tolerance, thereby addressing global climate change and ensuring food security. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of Plant Regulation against Environmental Stress)
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18 pages, 1185 KiB  
Review
Functions and Regulatory Mechanisms of bHLH Transcription Factors during the Responses to Biotic and Abiotic Stresses in Woody Plants
by Tengyue Yan, Xiaochun Shu, Chuanli Ning, Yuhang Li, Zhong Wang, Tao Wang and Weibing Zhuang
Plants 2024, 13(16), 2315; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13162315 - 20 Aug 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1698
Abstract
Environmental stresses, including abiotic and biotic stresses, have complex and diverse effects on the growth and development of woody plants, which have become a matter of contention due to concerns about the outcomes of climate change on plant resources, genetic diversity, and world [...] Read more.
Environmental stresses, including abiotic and biotic stresses, have complex and diverse effects on the growth and development of woody plants, which have become a matter of contention due to concerns about the outcomes of climate change on plant resources, genetic diversity, and world food safety. Plant basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) transcription factors (TFs) are involved in a variety of physiological processes and play an important role in biotic and abiotic stress responses of woody plants. In recent years, an increasing body of studies have been conducted on the bHLH TFs in woody plants, and the roles of bHLH TFs in response to various stresses are increasingly clear and precise. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a systematic and comprehensive review of the progress of the research of woody plants. In this review, the structural characteristics, research history and roles in the plant growth process of bHLH TFs are summarized, the gene families of bHLH TFs in woody plants are summarized, and the roles of bHLH TFs in biotic and abiotic stresses in woody plants are highlighted. Numerous studies mentioned in this review have shown that bHLH transcription factors play a crucial role in the response of woody plants to biotic and abiotic stresses. This review serves as a reference for further studies about enhancing the stress resistance and breeding of woody plants. Also, the future possible research directions of bHLH TFs in response to various stresses in woody plants will be discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of Plant Regulation against Environmental Stress)
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