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Plants
Special Issues
Plant Organ Development and Stress Response
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Plant Organ Development and Stress Response

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 4310

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Tian Pan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311400, China
Interests: genetics and molecular biology; plant cell protein transport; plant abiotic stress response
Dr. Maohong Cai

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Life and Environmental Science, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
Interests: molecular genetics; regulatory network; plant stress tolerance; molecular improvement of crops
Dr. Yuanyuan Hao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Crop and Nuclear Technology Utilization, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
Interests: genetic improvement and breeding application of rice quality
Dr. Mingming Wu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Crop and Nuclear Technology Utilization, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
Interests: rice grain filling; rice quality improvement; diurnal flower opening time of rice

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Plants delves into the fundamental molecular pathways governing plant growth, organ development, and adaptive responses to environmental stressors. As plants are sessile organisms, they must continuously integrate internal developmental programs with external signals to survive and thrive. This Special Issue focuses on the molecular underpinnings of these processes, highlighting the latest advancements and emerging trends in this dynamic field. Plant organs, including roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits or grains, undergo complex developmental processes that are finely tuned to environmental cues. Understanding these processes is crucial for improving crop resilience and productivity in the face of increasing environmental challenges such as drought, salinity, and temperature extremes.

Recent advances in genomics, proteomics, and molecular biology have provided unprecedented insights into the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying plant organ development and stress response. This Special Issue aims to combine a comprehensive collection of research articles, reviews, and perspectives that address key questions in this area. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the roles of phytohormones, transcription factors, and signaling molecules in coordinating organogenesis and stress tolerance; the interplay between environmental stimuli—such as drought, salinity, temperature extremes, and pathogen attacks—and their impact on developmental trajectories; and the molecular basis of stress tolerance and adaptation. This Special Issue will also explore the application of cutting-edge technologies, such as CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and high-throughput phenotyping, in studying plant development and stress response.

By providing a platform for the exchange of cutting-edge research and innovative ideas, this Special Issue aims to foster collaboration and accelerate the development of strategies for enhancing plant resilience and sustainability in a changing world.

Dr. Tian Pan
Dr. Maohong Cai
Dr. Yuanyuan Hao
Dr. Mingming Wu
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

  • plant growth
  • organ development
  • stress response
  • molecular mechanisms
  • envi-ronmental stress

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 6990 KB  
Article
Comparative Physiological and Transcriptomic Characterisation of Two Japonica Rice Cultivars Under Low Nitrogen Stress
by Yu Zou, Yi Ren, Shuxin Jiang, Xinchun Zhan, Peijiang Zhang, Shaojie Song and Ending Xu
Plants 2025, 14(24), 3836; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14243836 - 16 Dec 2025
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient for the growth and development of rice. However, excessive N fertiliser application and low N Use Efficiency (NUE) have led to serious environmental problems and threatened agricultural sustainability. In this study, we compared the physiological and transcriptomic [...] Read more.
Nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient for the growth and development of rice. However, excessive N fertiliser application and low N Use Efficiency (NUE) have led to serious environmental problems and threatened agricultural sustainability. In this study, we compared the physiological and transcriptomic profiles of roots of two cultivars exposed to normal nitrogen (NN) and low nitrogen (LN). The results showed that the LN treatment suppressed root growth and severely affected enzymatic activities in the roots of both rice cultivars compared to the NN treatment. Moreover, HJ753 exhibited significantly higher activities of NITRATE REDUCTASE (NR) and GLUTAMINE SYNTHETASE (GS) in its roots than DJ8 under both LN and NN conditions. Transcriptomic analysis identified 23,205 genes across all samples, with more than 5000 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) detected in response to LN stress in both cultivars. The KEGG analysis revealed that the DEGs were primarily involved in DNA replication, tryptophan metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, plant hormone signal transduction, and N metabolism. Under LN stress, most genes associated with tryptophan metabolism and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways remained stable or were upregulated in both cultivars. In contrast, genes related to auxin signalling transduction, N metabolism, and N utilisation exhibited significant genotype-specific expression patterns between HJ753 and DJ8. In conclusion, this study elucidated the genotypic differences in root development and N response mechanisms under LN stress at the molecular level, providing new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of N efficiency that may be used to develop and support the breeding of N-efficient rice cultivars. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Organ Development and Stress Response)
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14 pages, 6919 KB  
Article
Identification of a Leaf Cuticular Wax Biosynthesis Gene BrCER2 in Chinese Cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis)
by Yunshuai Huang, Xiaoyu Bai, Wenlong Ying, Yanbing Wang, Chaofeng Yang, Mujun Huang, Liai Xu, Huihui Fang, Jianguo Wu and Yunxiang Zang
Plants 2025, 14(24), 3831; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14243831 - 16 Dec 2025
Abstract
Glossy appearance is a critical trait that affects the appearance quality and marketability of leafy vegetables, including Chinese cabbage. The glossy trait is primarily associated with cuticular wax. Although several genes involved in cuticular wax biosynthesis have been characterized in Chinese cabbage, the [...] Read more.
Glossy appearance is a critical trait that affects the appearance quality and marketability of leafy vegetables, including Chinese cabbage. The glossy trait is primarily associated with cuticular wax. Although several genes involved in cuticular wax biosynthesis have been characterized in Chinese cabbage, the regulatory relationships among them remain unclear. In this study, we identified a glossy mutant, glossy leaf4 (gl4), and cuticular wax crystals in the gl4 mutant were obviously reduced. Genetic analysis indicated that the glossy phenotype in the gl4 mutant appears to be controlled by a single recessive gene. Using a bulked segregant analysis coupled with next-generation sequencing (BSA-seq) and map-based cloning methods, the AtCER2 homologous gene BrCER2 was identified as the candidate gene. BrCER2 was expressed in various tissues, and BrCER2-GFP was localized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Furthermore, BrCER2 could interact with BrKCS6 in the ER, and the expression levels of some wax biosynthesis-related genes were decreased in the gl4 mutant. Our overall results provide insights about the role of BrCER2 in wax biosynthesis through ER localization and interaction with BrKCS6 in Chinese cabbage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Organ Development and Stress Response)
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17 pages, 3234 KB  
Article
Transcription Factor BnaC04.MYB89 Negatively Regulates Seed Fatty Acid Biosynthesis in Brassica napus
by Dong Li, Xumin Wang, Yujiao Song, Jianchao Sun, Shuhan Yu, Bowei Zhu, Xin Liu, Guodong Zhao, Tongsheng Zhao, Limin Wang, Yuting Sheng and Hongxia Zhang
Plants 2025, 14(22), 3495; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14223495 - 16 Nov 2025
Viewed by 438
Abstract
Seed oil content and fatty acid (FA) composition collectively determine the quality and economic value of Brassica napus. Little is known about the role of R2R3-MYB transcription factors (TFs) in regulating FA biosynthesis in B. napus. Here, BnaC04.MYB89 was found to [...] Read more.
Seed oil content and fatty acid (FA) composition collectively determine the quality and economic value of Brassica napus. Little is known about the role of R2R3-MYB transcription factors (TFs) in regulating FA biosynthesis in B. napus. Here, BnaC04.MYB89 was found to be expressed primarily in developing seeds. Overexpression of BnaC04.MYB89 consistently decreased FA levels, as evidenced by its effect in both the Arabidopsis thaliana myb89-1 mutant and B. napus seeds. RNA-seq of developing seeds at 30 DAP (days after pollination) revealed marked suppression of FA biosynthetic genes in BnaC04.MYB89-overexpressing plants compared to the K407 control. ChIP (Chromatin immunoprecipitation) analysis revealed that BnaC04.MYB89 directly inhibited the expression of BnaA03.BCCP1 and BnaC03.HD while indirectly regulating that of BnaA09.BADC1, BnaA03.BADC3, BnaA03.MOD1, and BnaA08.FAT8, thereby reducing seed FA accumulation. Collectively, these results elucidate the role for BnaC04.MYB89 and provide new insights into the transcriptional regulatory network controlling seed oil accumulation in B. napus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Organ Development and Stress Response)
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20 pages, 2281 KB  
Article
Comprehensive Responses of Physiology and Rhizosphere Microbiome to Saline–Alkaline Stress in Soybean Seedlings with Different Tolerances
by Bikun Wang, Fangang Meng, Tong Cheng, Jiarui Niu, Demin Rao, Zhe Han, Wei Zhang and Zhian Zhang
Plants 2025, 14(22), 3480; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14223480 - 14 Nov 2025
Viewed by 361
Abstract
Soil salinization severely threatens global crop production. Understanding the relationship between crop saline–alkaline tolerance physiology and the rhizosphere microbiome, and leveraging beneficial microorganisms to enhance crop stress resistance, holds importance for sustainable agricultural development. This study investigated the physiological and rhizosphere microbial responses [...] Read more.
Soil salinization severely threatens global crop production. Understanding the relationship between crop saline–alkaline tolerance physiology and the rhizosphere microbiome, and leveraging beneficial microorganisms to enhance crop stress resistance, holds importance for sustainable agricultural development. This study investigated the physiological and rhizosphere microbial responses of two soybean cultivars with different saline–alkaline tolerance to stress. Under saline–alkaline conditions, the tolerant cultivar exhibited superior physiological performance, including higher chlorophyll content, photosynthetic efficiency, and elevated activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, and CAT), alongside reduced oxidative damage (MDA) and greater biomass accumulation. Combined metagenomic and physiological analyses revealed significant correlations of Bradyrhizobium and Solirubrobacter with key physiological indicators, including dry weight, PIABS, φpo, and MDA. The tolerant cultivar selectively enriched distinct marker microbes, such as Bradyrhizobium sp. and Bradyrhizobium liaoningense, in its rhizosphere. We conclude that the tolerant cultivar exhibits strong intrinsic physiological resistance. This resistance is further enhanced by a beneficially assembled rhizosphere microbiome, while the host plant’s physiology remains the dominant factor. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Organ Development and Stress Response)
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Review

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20 pages, 1172 KB  
Review
Genetic and Molecular Basis for Heat Tolerance in Rice: Strategies for Resilience Under Climate Change
by Wei Zhang, Liang Zhou and Dewen Zhang
Plants 2025, 14(22), 3492; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14223492 - 16 Nov 2025
Viewed by 670
Abstract
Heat stress has emerged as a significant abiotic constraint affecting rice yield and grain quality. In recent years, substantial advancements have been achieved in elucidating molecular regulatory mechanisms and breeding applications pertinent to rice heat tolerance. This review offers a comprehensive examination of [...] Read more.
Heat stress has emerged as a significant abiotic constraint affecting rice yield and grain quality. In recent years, substantial advancements have been achieved in elucidating molecular regulatory mechanisms and breeding applications pertinent to rice heat tolerance. This review offers a comprehensive examination of the fundamental regulatory pathways involved in rice responses to heat stress, encompassing membrane lipid homeostasis, heat signal transduction, transcriptional regulation, RNA stability and translation, epigenetic modifications, hormone signaling, antioxidant defense, and the protection of reproductive organs. Particular emphasis is placed on the functional mechanisms and breeding potential of pivotal thermotolerance-associated genes and quantitative trait loci (QTLs), such as TT1, TT3, and QT12. Additionally, we summarize recent applications of cutting-edge technologies in the enhancement of heat-tolerant rice varieties, including multi-omics integration, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, marker-assisted selection (MAS), and rational design breeding. Finally, we address current challenges, including integrating regulatory mechanisms, developing realistic heat simulation systems, validating the functionality of candidate genes, and managing trait trade-offs. This review provides a theoretical foundation for developing heat-tolerant rice cultivars and offers valuable insights to accelerate the breeding of climate-resilient rice varieties for sustainable production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Organ Development and Stress Response)
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26 pages, 1637 KB  
Review
Rice Heat Stress Response: Physiological Changes and Molecular Regulatory Network Research Progress
by Weiwei Ma, Xiaole Wang, Chuanwei Gu, Zhengfei Lu, Rongrong Ma, Xiaoyan Wang, Yongfa Lu, Kefeng Cai, Zhiming Tang, Zhuoqi Zhou, Zhixin Chen, Huacheng Zhou and Xiuhao Bao
Plants 2025, 14(16), 2573; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14162573 - 19 Aug 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2321
Abstract
Global climate change has markedly increased the frequency of heat stress events in rice, severely threatening both yield and grain quality and posing a substantial challenge to global food security. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying heat tolerance in rice is therefore essential to [...] Read more.
Global climate change has markedly increased the frequency of heat stress events in rice, severely threatening both yield and grain quality and posing a substantial challenge to global food security. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying heat tolerance in rice is therefore essential to facilitate the breeding of thermotolerant cultivars. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the effects of heat stress on rice agronomic traits across various developmental stages. We summarize key physiological and metabolic alterations induced by high temperatures and discuss recent advances in unraveling the molecular regulatory networks involved in heat stress responses. By integrating findings from gene cloning, functional genomics, and advanced breeding strategies, this review outlines practical approaches for improving rice heat tolerance and identifies critical knowledge gaps that warrant further investigation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Organ Development and Stress Response)
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