Defense Strategies of Cereals Affected by Abiotic and Biotic Stresses

Dear Colleagues,

In order to survive adverse conditions and continue growth and development, cereal plants, exposed to abiotic or biotic stressors, quickly and precisely recognize external stimuli. Moreover, from the agronomic point of view, it is important in which stage of cereal development the stress factor acts, which may undoubtedly affect the quantity and quality of cereal grain yield in the future. Cereal plants' responses to environmental factors are extremely complex. They can be observed at various levels of plant organization, from changes in the activity of basic biochemical processes such as respiration, and photosynthesis, to morphological and anatomical changes in plant organs. Biochemical changes are preceded by the activation of an efficient signaling system which includes hormones, and other molecules, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and hydrogen sulphide (H₂S). All signaling pathways can lead to the activation of proper transcription factors (TFs), enabling the transcription of genes crucial for maintaining plant homeostasis under stress by activation of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutases (SOD), peroxidases (POX) and catalases (CAT). Signal molecules also regulate the expression of different stress-responsive genes involved in the accumulation of compatible osmolytes, synthesis of late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins, dehydrins, chitinases, glucanases, as well as other protective proteins, such as the heat shock protein (HSP).

This Special Issue accepts original publications or reviews papers concerning the physiological, biochemical, and genetic aspects of the plant's stress response.

Dr. Małgorzata Nykiel
Dr. Mateusz Labudda
Guest Editors

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