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Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Plant Tolerance upon Abiotic Stress—2nd Edition
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Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Plant Tolerance upon Abiotic Stress—2nd Edition

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: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 1958

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Emilia Apostolova

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Bl. 21, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Interests: abiotic stress; chlorophyll fluorescence; photosynthesis; adaptation of plants; lipid–protein interactions; mechanisms of plant tolerance
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants in their development are exposed to various abiotic stress factors that have negative effects on plant growth and crop productivity. Stress-induced damage in proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids leads to an increased accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which cause oxidative damage. One process in plants that is strongly affected under stress is photosynthesis. The impact of stress factors on plants depends on their intensity, frequency, and duration, as well as the plant species. Plants evolve different adaptation mechanisms to survive the harmful effects of the environment. Studies in past years have revealed that plants have different sensitivities to stress factors. Despite many studies working to elucidate the mechanisms of plant tolerance to abiotic stress factors, the exact mechanisms are not fully understood. Therefore, the study of the influence of abiotic stress factors on the growth, physiology, biochemistry, and photosynthesis of different plant species is of great importance in order to clarify the mechanisms of tolerance in plants.

This Special Issue aims to show the molecular mechanisms associated with plant tolerance upon various abiotic stresses, such as salinity, drought, temperature, ultraviolet radiation, and heavy metals.

Scientists from all over the world are invited to submit original research and review articles on topics related to plant defense mechanisms.

Prof. Dr. Emilia Apostolova
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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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
  • antioxidant activity
  • chlorophyll fluorescence
  • environmental pollution
  • photosynthesis
  • photosynthetic machinery
  • plant responses to abiotic stress
  • plant tolerance
  • reactive oxygen species
  • thylakoid membranes
  • photosynthetic machinery
  • signal molecules

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 2368 KiB  
Article
The Role of Light-Harvesting Complex II Organization in the Efficiency of Light-Dependent Reactions in the Photosynthetic Apparatus of Pisum sativum L.
by Georgi D. Rashkov, Martin A. Stefanov, Amarendra N. Misra and Emilia L. Apostolova
Plants 2025, 14(12), 1846; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14121846 - 16 Jun 2025
Abstract
In this study, the functions of the photosynthetic machinery were evaluated using chlorophyll a fluorescence technique (PAM and JIP test) in pea plants (Pisum sativum L. cv Borec) and its LHC II oligomerization variants (mutants Costata 2/133 and Coeruleovireus 2 [...] Read more.
In this study, the functions of the photosynthetic machinery were evaluated using chlorophyll a fluorescence technique (PAM and JIP test) in pea plants (Pisum sativum L. cv Borec) and its LHC II oligomerization variants (mutants Costata 2/133 and Coeruleovireus 2/16). The oligomeric forms of LHCII increased in the following order: Costata 2/133 < Borec wt < Coeruleovireus 2/16. Data revealed that the mutant with higher LHCII oligomerization (Coeruleovireus 2/16) at low light intensity (LL, 150 µmol photons/m2·s) exhibited the following: (i) decreased energy dissipation and increased electron transport efficiency; (ii) higher reaction center density; (iii) increased amounts of the open reaction centers (qp) and their excitation efficiency (Φexc); and (iv) influenced the reoxidation of QA−, alleviating its interaction with plastoquinone. These effects enhanced photosynthetic performance related to PSII photochemistry (PIABS) and overall photosynthetic efficiency (PItotal). High light intensity (HL, 500 µmol photons/m2·s) caused a reduction in open reaction centers (qp), excitation efficiency (Φexc), photochemical energy conversion of PSII (ΦPSII), maximum efficiency of PSII photochemistry in light (Fv′/Fm′), and linear electron transport via PSII, with more pronounced effects observed in membranes with a lower degree of LHCII oligomerization (Costata 2/133). This study provides novel experimental evidence for the pivotal role of the LHCII structural organization in determining the efficiency of light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Plant Tolerance upon Abiotic Stress—2nd Edition)
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31 pages, 2699 KiB  
Article
Developmental and Temperature-Driven Variations in Metabolic Profile and Antioxidant Capacity of Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. cymosa)
by Daria Gmižić and Ivana Šola
Plants 2025, 14(12), 1825; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14121825 - 13 Jun 2025
Viewed by 132
Abstract
This study investigates the impact of high temperature (HT) on the metabolic profile, oxidative-stress parameters, and antioxidant capacity of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. cymosa) at different developmental stages—microgreens, seedlings, and two organs at the mature stage (leaves and head). We used [...] Read more.
This study investigates the impact of high temperature (HT) on the metabolic profile, oxidative-stress parameters, and antioxidant capacity of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. cymosa) at different developmental stages—microgreens, seedlings, and two organs at the mature stage (leaves and head). We used spectrophotometric and chromatographic methods to quantify the concentrations of different groups and individual phenolic compounds, L-ascorbic acids, soluble sugars, proteins, glucosinolates, nitrates, pigments, oxidative-stress parameters, and antioxidant capacity. The highest number of analyzed variables significantly impacted by HT was in mature broccoli heads, with the most substantial change being an increase in proline by 168%. The lowest number of variables susceptible to HT (66%) was in the leaves of mature broccoli. The most dramatic change observed in this study was an increase in proline in seedlings by 587%. Statistical analyses showed that developmental stage plays a dominant role in shaping metabolic profiles, while HT further modulates it. Based on the measured parameters, the average contribution of developmental stage to the variance was 75%, while temperature explained 39% of the variance. The highest proportion of variance caused by temperature was seen in proline (92%), followed by kaempferol (80%), chlorophyll a/b (76%), soluble sugars (73%), total flavonoids (65%), antioxidant capacity measured by DPPH (58%), and chlorophyll/carotenoids ratio (56%). Temperature explained more variance than developmental stage for the concentration of soluble sugars, total hydroxycinnamic acids, and total tannins, which indicates an important role of these metabolites’ groups in the response of broccoli to HTs. The interaction of developmental stage and temperature explained more variance than developmental stage alone for the concentration of total proanthocyanidins, hydroxycinnamic acids, and phenolic acids. These findings underscore the complexity of metabolic regulation in broccoli and emphasize the importance of considering both developmental stage and environmental conditions when assessing its nutritional and functional properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Plant Tolerance upon Abiotic Stress—2nd Edition)
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Graphical abstract

15 pages, 7086 KiB  
Article
AtPADRE13 Negatively Regulates Salt Stress Tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana
by Ziru Chang, Xiaona Tian, Xiaocui Niu, Meiting Bai, Wei Bai, Ruigang Wang, Guojing Li and Qi Yang
Plants 2025, 14(10), 1514; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14101514 - 19 May 2025
Viewed by 417
Abstract
The PADRE (Pathogen and abiotic stress response, cadmium tolerance, disordered region-containing) family of genes, which contains the structural DUF4228 domain of unknown function (DUF), has been reported to be associated with plant responses to abiotic stresses. However, the specific functions of this family [...] Read more.
The PADRE (Pathogen and abiotic stress response, cadmium tolerance, disordered region-containing) family of genes, which contains the structural DUF4228 domain of unknown function (DUF), has been reported to be associated with plant responses to abiotic stresses. However, the specific functions of this family in the salt stress response remain unknown. AtPADRE13 is induced by salt stress and ABA (abscisic acid). After the overexpression of AtPADRE13 in Arabidopsis, seeds were found to be insensitive to ABA treatment. After salt treatment, the overexpression lines presented a significantly lower survival rate, increased MDA (Malondialdehyde) content, and reduced antioxidant enzyme activities compared with the wild-type, and were more sensitive to salt stress. Transcriptome data analysis further revealed that AtPADRE13 overexpression resulted in different degrees of down-regulation for a series of positive regulators related to ABA catabolism, transport, and their mediated plant responses to salt stress. In addition, the expression of genes related to ROS (reactive oxygen species) scavenging was down-regulated. In conclusion, AtPADRE13 plays a negative regulatory role in the response to salt stress in Arabidopsis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Plant Tolerance upon Abiotic Stress—2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 2929 KiB  
Article
Changes of Photosynthetic Parameters in Melatonin-Treated Wheat Subjected to Drought
by Dessislava Todorova, Svetoslav Anev, Martin Iliev, Margarita Petrakova and Iskren Sergiev
Plants 2024, 13(23), 3414; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13233414 - 5 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 952
Abstract
Drought stress affects many aspects of plant biochemistry, with photosynthesis being one the most significantly impaired physiological processes. Melatonin is a natural antioxidant with growth-regulating properties in plants. Its diverse physiological functions have been extensively studied in recent decades. Changes in leaf gas [...] Read more.
Drought stress affects many aspects of plant biochemistry, with photosynthesis being one the most significantly impaired physiological processes. Melatonin is a natural antioxidant with growth-regulating properties in plants. Its diverse physiological functions have been extensively studied in recent decades. Changes in leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters were investigated in young wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. Fermer and cv. Gines which were characterized to differ in their responses to drought, with cv. Gines being more tolerant than cv. Fermer. The plants were subjected to drought for five days by withholding their water supply. Melatonin was applied as a root supplement to the irrigation water before or after the drought period. Analyses were performed before and at the end of the stress period, as well as during the recovery phase. Changes in leaf pigment content, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration, as well as some chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters, were recorded. Melatonin alone did not cause considerable changes in the measured traits. We found a significant decrease in leaf gas exchange parameters, Fv/Fm and Fv/F0 values, and leaf pigments due to drought, especially in cv. Fermer. The data show that the application of melatonin favorably influenced the efficiency of the photosynthetic apparatus under water deprivation and during plant recovery. The pre-treatment with melatonin maintained the photosynthesis-related parameters closer to the control levels during the stress period. Both melatonin treatments supported the recovery of photosynthesis when the water supply was restored and the post-drought treatment showed a similar but weaker effect than pre-drought treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Plant Tolerance upon Abiotic Stress—2nd Edition)
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