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Plants 2025—from Seeds to Food Security

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A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 11623

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Dilantha Fernando

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Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
Interests: canola and wheat pathology; epidemiology of plant pathogens; evolution/genetic variation of fungal pathogens; biological control of plant diseases; breeding for disease resistance microbial; ecology and microbial interactions
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Prof. Dr. Fermín Morales

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Research Professor, Instituto de Agrobiotecnología, CSIC-Gobierno de Navarra, Mutilva, Spain
Interests: agronomy; elevated CO₂; elevated temperature; grapevine biology; photosynthesis; plant adaptation to climate change; plant nutrition; plant physiology; plant stress physiology; water stress
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Prof. Dr. Oscar Vicente

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Institute for the Conservation and Improvement of Valencian Agrodiversity (COMAV), Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera 14, 46022 Valencia, Spain
Interests: plant abiotic stress; abiotic stress tolerance; drought; salinity; halophytes; plant biochemistry and molecular biology; plant reproductive biology; plant biotechnology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is related to the conference “Plants 2025: From Seeds to Food Security”, which will be held in Barcelona, Spain, 31 March–2 April 2025. The aim of the conference is to bring together plant scientists, researchers, and experts from around the world to share cutting-edge research, foster collaboration, and explore innovative solutions for the future of agriculture and plant science.

This Special Issue will align with the conference’s seven main themes, inviting submissions that explore the following key areas:

Plant Responses to Abiotic Stress and Climate Change;
Plant–Microbe Interactions;
Emerging Technologies in Plant Health;
Emerging Technologies in Plant Breeding;
Emerging Technologies in Biotechnology and Molecular Research;
Seed Technologies and Seed Enhancement;
Plant Nutrition.

We welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that highlight innovative approaches and advancements in plant science. Contributions highlighting the latest scientific discoveries and advances in addressing global challenges, such as increasing crop yields, improving food quality, reducing agrochemical contamination, and enhancing forest cover, are highly encouraged. Submissions from conference participants, as well as researchers who are unable to attend, are welcome.

This Special Issue will provide a comprehensive collection of high-quality research, reflecting the latest scientific discoveries and future directions in plant science. By bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise, we aim to inspire collaboration and drive progress towards a more sustainable and food-secure future.

Prof. Dr. Dilantha Fernando
Prof. Dr. Fermín Morales
Prof. Dr. Oscar Vicente
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-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

climate change
abiotic stress
biotic stress
breeding
plant nutrition
plant-microbe interactions
plant molecular biology
plant health

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

17 pages, 813 KB

Open AccessArticle

Are We Chasing a Wild Goose? Rethinking Breeding Targets for Salinity Stress Tolerance in Rice

by Qian Xu, Ping Yun, Kiril Tenekedjiev, Natalia Nikolova, Babar Shahzad, Jiarui Zheng, Lana Shabala, Meixue Zhou and Sergey Shabala

Plants 2026, 15(4), 597; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15040597 - 13 Feb 2026

Viewed by 517

Abstract

Salinity stress has become an increasingly critical challenge for agricultural production, especially for rice, a staple crop that feeds over 50% of the world population but is extremely sensitive to salt stress. In this study, ten rice genotypes were treated with three salinity levels (0, 50, and 100 mM NaCl) to investigate the effects of salt stress on rice, and this data was then used to build regression models that describe plant growth responses as a function of stomatal conductance (Gs), chlorophyll content (SPAD), and shoot K⁺ and Na⁺ contents—parameters that can be used for high-throughput screening of rice plants for salinity stress tolerance. In silico modeling results showed that the best model for predicting shoot dry weight (SDW) was based on Gs, SPAD, and shoot K⁺ content, while shoot Na⁺ content had no significant influence on biomass accumulation. These findings challenge the traditional focus on Na⁺ exclusion from the shoot as a breeding target and suggest that enhancing K⁺ retention and optimizing stomatal development and operation may be a more effective strategy for improving rice growth under salinity. Overall, this study highlights the need to reconsider key genetic targets involved in the regulation of Gs, K⁺ homeostasis, and chlorophyll maintenance to better face the challenges caused by salinity in future climate scenarios. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants 2025—from Seeds to Food Security)

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27 pages, 3946 KB

Open AccessArticle

Contrasting Response of Santina and Bing Sweet Cherry Cultivars Under Combined Biotic and Abiotic Stress

by Claudia Carreras, Alan Zamorano, Camila Gamboa, Luis Villalobos-González, Paula Pimentel, Lorena Pizarro, Weier Cui, Manuel Pinto, Carlos Rubilar-Hernández, Analía Llanes, Assunta Bertaccini and Nicola Fiore

Plants 2026, 15(3), 450; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15030450 - 1 Feb 2026

Viewed by 471

Abstract

Climate change is intensifying the simultaneous occurrence of biotic and abiotic stresses in fruit crops, but yet the molecular mechanisms underlying plant responses remain poorly understood. The physiological and transcriptomic responses of two sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cultivars, Santina and Bing, grafted onto Gisela 12, were investigated under single and combined stresses imposed by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae and water deficit. Although biomass, gas exchange, and hormone accumulation showed only minor changes, combined stress triggered distinct cultivar-dependent transcriptional reprogramming. The cultivar Bing exhibited a pronounced response with 4261 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), characterized by strong repression of photosynthetic processes and activation of defense- and hormone-related pathways. In contrast, the cultivar Santina showed a moderate response with 674 DEGs, primarily reinforcing structural and secondary metabolism. Cultivar-specific modulation of abscisic acid sensitivity was associated with the contrasting regulation of WRKY40 and Sin3-like repressors, despite comparable ABA levels. Strikingly, both cultivars upregulated the GIGANTEA gene, underscoring its role as a central regulatory hub linking circadian rhythm, stomatal function, and hormonal crosstalk under dual stress. Collectively, these results reveal non-additive, genotype-specific transcriptional strategies in sweet cherry trees, providing insights into stress integration in fruit trees and identifying regulatory genes that may inform breeding and management strategies for resilience under climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants 2025—from Seeds to Food Security)

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15 pages, 854 KB

Open AccessArticle

Altered Environmental Conditions Affect Responses to the Green Leaf Volatile Z-3-Hexenol in Zea mays

by Marie Engelberth and Jurgen Engelberth

Plants 2026, 15(3), 342; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15030342 - 23 Jan 2026

Viewed by 332

Abstract

Green leaf volatiles (GLVs) are significant volatile signals that have been shown to protect plants against biotic and abiotic stresses, including insect herbivory and pathogen infections, as well as drought, cold, and heat stress. Since all these stresses are affected by climate change, GLVs provide an important target for research into their broad activities and their potential applications in agricultural settings. Therefore, to gain further insights into the protective properties of GLVs and their regulation under changing environmental conditions, we investigated whether climate-related changes alter the capacity to produce and the responsiveness to GLVs in Zea mayss, our model plant. Specifically, we studied the effects of limited nutrient supply, drought, and higher temperature. Neither significantly affected the capacity of plants to produce Z-3-hexenal as the first metabolite of the pathway, but elevated temperature increased E-2-hexenal production. We further identified changes in the effectiveness of plants to respond to GLVs under changing abiotic conditions by monitoring glucose levels and typical GLV-responsive genes covering metabolism, direct defense, indirect defense, and water stress. The results provide first evidence that plant responses to GLVs under defined environmentally challenging and stressful conditions are highly context-dependent and can vary substantially. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants 2025—from Seeds to Food Security)

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20 pages, 2354 KB

Open AccessArticle

Combined Effects of Vegetable Oil-, Micronutrient-, and Activated Flavonoid-Based Biostimulants on Photosynthesis, Nematode Suppression, and Fruit Quality of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

by Georgia Ouzounidou, Niki-Sophia Antaraki, Antonios Anagnostou, George Daskas and Ioannis-Dimosthenis Adamakis

Plants 2026, 15(2), 274; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15020274 - 16 Jan 2026

Viewed by 423

Abstract

The agricultural industry faces increasing environmental degradation due to the intensive use of conventional chemical fertilizers, leading to water pollution and alterations in soil composition. In addition, root-knot and cyst nematodes are major constraints to cucumber production, causing severe root damage and yield losses worldwide, underscoring the need for sustainable alternatives to conventional fertilization and pest management. Under greenhouse conditions, a four-month cultivation trial evaluated vegetable oil-, micronutrient-, and activated flavonoid-based biostimulants, applying Key Eco Oil^® (Miami, USA) via soil drench (every 15 days) combined with foliar sprays of CropBioLife^® (Victoria, Australia) and KeyPlex 120^® (Miami, USA) (every 7 days). Results showed reduced parasitic nematodes by 66% in soil and decreased gall formation by 41% in roots. Chlorophyll fluorescence and infrared gas analysis revealed higher oxygen-evolving complex efficiency (38%), increased PSII electron transport, improved the fluorescence decrease ratio, also known as the vitality index (Rfd), and higher CO₂ assimilation compared to conventional treatments. Processed cucumbers showed higher sugar and nearly double ascorbic acid content, with improved flesh consistency and color. Therefore, the application of these bioactive products significantly reduced nematode infestation while enhancing plant growth and physiological performance, underscoring their potential as sustainable tools for crop cultivation and protection. These results provide evidence that sustainable bioactive biostimulants improve plant resilience, productivity, and nutritional quality, offering also an environmentally sound approach to pest management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants 2025—from Seeds to Food Security)

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25 pages, 2622 KB

Open AccessArticle

Advances in Potassium Silicate-Induced Drought Tolerance in Tropical Tree Seedlings: Effects on Morphological Traits, Physiological Responses, and Biochemical Regulation

by Sylvia Henintsoa Nomenaharinaivo, Dario Donno, Lorenzo Rosso, Giovanni Gamba, Harilala Andriamaniraka and Gabriele Beccaro

Plants 2025, 14(24), 3760; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14243760 - 10 Dec 2025

Viewed by 603

Abstract

Water stress is among the most important abiotic constraints affecting forest ecosystem functioning and regeneration, a phenomenon expected to intensify with climate change. It impacts photosynthesis, growth, and seedling survival, therefore threatening biodiversity and accelerating forest degradation. The use of silicon-based biostimulants has emerged as a way of mitigating the effects of water stress by improving water status and stimulating mechanical and biochemical defense. However, its effectiveness on forest tree species remains poorly explored. This study examines how potassium silicate (PS) alleviates the effects of drought on Canarium madagascariense, with the aim of improving our understanding of the resilience mechanisms of tropical forest species. To do this, an experiment with 135 two-year-old C. madagascariense saplings has been conducted, testing three irrigation levels in combination with the addition of potassium silicate (PS) at concentrations of 5 and 10 mM, via foliar spraying and soil application. Morphometric and physiological parameters were monitored, followed by the biochemical profiling of the induced responses. Linear mixed models were computed to assess the effects of the different factors on the different growth performance, physiological functioning parameters over time, and ANOVA was used for evaluating the punctual data on the biochemical compounds. Drought had a significant impact on the morphological and physiological behaviour of the seedlings. However, the application of PS modified the drought-induced changes, even at a low concentration of 5 mM. Biochemical defenses were also improved further with PS application. Hormone profiling revealed a predominance of auxins, while abscisic acid was lower in the water stress treatments under drought. Therefore, using PS could support the production of robust seedlings that are more tolerant of, and adaptive to, the challenges of climate change, making restoration more efficient. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants 2025—from Seeds to Food Security)

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21 pages, 2225 KB

Open AccessArticle

Biochemical Responses of Atacama and Blesbok Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) Cultivars to Early Drought Stress

by Fikile N. Makhubu, Lebogang E. Siviya, Molemi E. Rauwane, Sunette M. Laurie, Ntakadzeni E. Madala and Sandiswa Figlan

Plants 2025, 14(22), 3532; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14223532 - 19 Nov 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 978

Abstract

Sweet potato is a nutrient-dense crop with the potential to improve food security, yet its productivity is constrained by drought stress. Metabolic profiling in sweet potato, particularly in response to abiotic stress, remains poorly understood, with limited knowledge on the metabolites contributing to drought response. The study aimed to profile and compare metabolites in drought-tolerant (cv Atacama) and drought-susceptible (cv Blesbok) sweet potato cultivars under water-deficient conditions. The cultivars were grown in a rainout shelter during the 2024 growing season at the Agricultural Research Council-Vegetable and Industrial Medicinal Plant (ARC-VIMP). The trial was laid out in a randomized block design with a plot size of 242 m squared with three drought treatment conditions, i.e., 30%, 50%, and 70% field capacity (FC). After two weeks of drought stress imposition, leaf samples were collected and analyzed for metabolite changes using untargeted ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). Using chemometrics analysis, mainly using principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), significant separation was shown between the three drought stress conditions and the two cultivars, highlighting variable metabolic accumulation. Ten significantly regulated metabolites were identified (VIP > 1, p < 0.05), with the most pronounced log₂ fold changes observed for kaempferol-3-O-galactoside (3.48), chlorogenic acid (3.34), glc-glc-octadecatrienoyl-sn-glycerol (3.14), and apigenin-7-O-β-D-neohesperidoside (2.71). Metabolite concentration varied in the two cultivars, although most were positively correlated with Atacama. Enriched pathways included flavonoid biosynthesis, zeatin biosynthesis, and starch and sucrose metabolism. These findings highlight cultivar-specific metabolic responses and propose candidate biomarkers for breeding drought-tolerant sweet potato. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants 2025—from Seeds to Food Security)

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24 pages, 2686 KB

Open AccessArticle

Linking Soil Microbial Functional Profiles to Fungal Disease Resistance in Winter Barley Under Different Fertilisation Regimes

by Mariana Petkova, Petar Chavdarov and Stefan Shilev

Plants 2025, 14(20), 3199; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14203199 - 18 Oct 2025

Viewed by 2910

Abstract

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a major fodder crop whose productivity is often reduced by phytopathogens, especially during early growth. Understanding how soil fertility management and microbial communities influence disease outcomes is critical for developing sustainable strategies that reduce fungicide dependence and enhance crop resilience. This study evaluated the resistance of the winter barley cultivar “Zemela” to powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei), brown rust (Puccinia hordei), and net blotch (Pyrenophora teres f. maculata). The crop was cultivated under two soil management systems—green manure and conventional—and five fertilisation regimes: mineral, vermicompost, combined, biochar, and control. Phytopathological assessment was integrated with functional predictions of soil microbial communities. Field trials showed high resistance to powdery mildew (RI = 95%) and brown rust (RI = 82.5%), and moderate resistance to net blotch (RI = 60%). While ANOVA indicated no significant treatment effects (p > 0.05), PCA explained 82.3% of the variance, revealing clear clustering of microbial community functions by soil management system and highlighting the strong influence of fertilisation practices on disease-related microbial dynamics. FAPROTAX analysis suggested that organic amendments enhanced antifungal functions, whereas conventional systems were dominated by nitrogen cycling. FUNGuild identified higher saprotrophic and mycorrhizal activity under organic and combined treatments, contrasting with greater pathogen abundance in conventional plots. Overall, results demonstrate that soil fertilisation practices, together with microbial functional diversity, play a central role in disease suppression and crop resilience, supporting sustainable barley production with reduced reliance on chemical inputs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants 2025—from Seeds to Food Security)

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22 pages, 5591 KB

Open AccessArticle

Morphological Acclimation of Durum Wheat Spikes in Response to Foliar Micronutrient Applications

by Despina Dimitriadi, Georgios P. Stylianidis, Ioannis Tsirogiannis, Lampros D. Bouranis, Styliani N. Chorianopoulou and Dimitris L. Bouranis

Plants 2025, 14(19), 3079; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14193079 - 5 Oct 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 799

Abstract

A cultivation of durum wheat that established in a field with soil poor in micronutrients received foliar applications at the initiation of the dough stage towards biofortifying the spikes with micronutrients. The morphology of the spike is crucial in determining grain yield, and the spikelets, the components of the inflorescence, influence each other. The number and arrangement of these spike components affect spike length, spike weight, spike chaff (the non-grain biomass in the spike), grain number per spike, grain weight per spike, and spikelet number per spike, and all contribute to final grain yield per spike. The spike’s developmental program responded to the interventions regarding the morphological traits; this response was analyzed for each spike component, and an acclimation program seemed to be activated by each intervention. Cysteine or methionine has been added as a potential enhancer of the biofortification process, and the application mixtures were coupled with selected surfactants, an organosilicon ethoxylate or an alcohol ethoxylate one, while products with targeted composition for biofortification with micronutrients have also been studied. Their effect on the developmental acclimation program of the treated spike is presented and discussed. The action of this program provided grains of similar weight, regardless of the intervention. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants 2025—from Seeds to Food Security)

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Review

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14 pages, 1642 KB

Open AccessReview

Biochar-Assisted Agriculture: From Healthy Soil to Healthy Plants

by Cheng Liu, Chao Wang, Shijie Shang, Jingyu Ma, Shengdao Shan, Qian Yue, Lianqing Li and Genxing Pan

Plants 2025, 14(21), 3273; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14213273 - 27 Oct 2025

Viewed by 1677

Abstract

Land application of biochar appears to be the most promising tool for managing soil and plant health in agriculture for food production. Biochar induces plant resistance and root growth, deactivates fungitoxic compounds, supports better habituation of beneficial microorganisms, and alters soil properties to facilitate moisture and nutrient availability. This review assimilates lessons from the authors’ experience with biochar application in agriculture, in addition to the previous literature, to elucidate the role of biochar in crop production, from soil health to plant health (root growth, disease control, yield, and quality), and its link to food health. This review provides bottom–up evidence for developing biochar-assisted agriculture in the context of ONE Health applied to soil–plant–food, contributing to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants 2025—from Seeds to Food Security)

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