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Molecular, Biochemical and Developmental Adaptations of Plants Under Abiotic Stress
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Molecular, Biochemical and Developmental Adaptations of Plants Under Abiotic 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: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 4026

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Polydefkis Hatzopoulos

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Guest Editor
Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
Interests: molecular biology; plant biotechnology; developmental genetics; abiotic stress and adaptation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Konstantinos Koudounas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Agricultural Chemistry, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: plant biotechnology; specialized metabolism; biosynthetic pathways; functional genomics; biochemistry; enzymology; natural products; phytochemistry; medicinal plants
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

On a global scale, ecosystems have already started to face new challenges due to the impacts of environmental changes. According to predictions, the average global temperature is expected to rise, and certain areas will be exposed to extensive drought periods or intense flooding. Despite their phenotypic plasticity, plants will be exposed to harsh conditions, affecting their life cycles and survival rates. Abiotic stresses will impact agriculturally important plants, affecting the growth and yield of these crops, having potentially tremendous effects on global food supply.

This Special Issue of Plants will compile research on responsive and adaptation strategies at the molecular, biochemical or developmental level that confer resistance to abiotic stresses. Moreover, potential topics include (but are not limited to) biotechnological approaches used to manipulate endogenous targets or introduce novel characteristics to fortify plants against abiotic challenges. Both original research papers and review articles are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Polydefkis Hatzopoulos
Dr. Konstantinos Koudounas
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

  • abiotic stress
  • salinity
  • drought
  • temperature stress
  • heavy metals
  • plant tolerance
  • plant acclimatization
  • plant adaptation
  • molecular mechanisms
  • biochemical processes

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 23267 KB  
Article
Identification of StbZIP in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and StbZIP104 Enhances Cold Resistance
by Yihan Zhao, Chunna Lv, Yifan Zhou, Rong Li, Yuting Bao, Minghao Xu and Fang Wang
Plants 2026, 15(10), 1513; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15101513 - 15 May 2026
Viewed by 251
Abstract
Low-temperature stress significantly limits plant growth, development, and productivity, posing a major environmental constraint. The potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is particularly vulnerable to low temperatures, underscoring the crucial need to enhance cold tolerance in potato breeding efforts for sustainable production. Basic leucine [...] Read more.
Low-temperature stress significantly limits plant growth, development, and productivity, posing a major environmental constraint. The potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is particularly vulnerable to low temperatures, underscoring the crucial need to enhance cold tolerance in potato breeding efforts for sustainable production. Basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors serve as central regulators of plant developmental processes and stress responses; however, their functional role in cold tolerance in tetraploid potato remains poorly understood. Here, we report a systematic characterization of the bZIP gene family in tetraploid potato and provide preliminary evidence that StbZIP104 enhances plant cold tolerance. A total of 191 StbZIP genes were identified and classified into 11 subfamilies, exhibiting uneven chromosomal distribution and expansion primarily driven by whole-genome and segmental duplication. Promoter cis-element analysis, together with GO and KEGG enrichment analyses, indicated that StbZIP genes are broadly associated with hormone signaling, stress responses, signal transduction, and environmental adaptation. Expression profiling under low-temperature treatment revealed eight cold-inducible StbZIP genes (log2FC ≥ 1 and FDR < 0.05), among which StbZIP104 was strongly induced (log2FC ≥ 2) and showed 5.36-fold higher expression in highly cold-resistant cultivars than in cold-sensitive cultivars. Subcellular localization confirmed that StbZIP104 is a nuclear-localized protein. Functional validation confirmed that overexpressing StbZIP104 notably improved cold tolerance in transgenic Samsun NN tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Samsun NN). This was supported by heightened superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities, increased levels of soluble protein and soluble sugars, and decreased malondialdehyde content compared to the wild type under cold stress. This study establishes a basis for the functional characterization of the bZIP gene family in tetraploid potato and serves as a theoretical reference for understanding the mechanisms that govern cold tolerance in this species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular, Biochemical and Developmental Adaptations of Plants Under Abiotic Stress)
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19 pages, 17864 KB  
Article
The Enhancement of Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Arabidopsis via Heterologous Overexpression of TcDHN1, a Dehydrin Identified in the Recalcitrant Seeds of Taxillus chinensis
by Ya Qin, Yuqiong Li, Cuihong Yang, Wenjing Liang, Lingjian Gui, Lisha Song, Jie Shen, Ru Chen, Limei Pan, Shugen Wei and Lingyun Wan
Plants 2026, 15(6), 884; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15060884 - 12 Mar 2026
Viewed by 605
Abstract
Taxillus chinensis (DC.) Danser is an important hemiparasitic medicinal plant whose propagation is severely limited by the desiccation sensitivity of its recalcitrant seeds. Dehydrins (DHNs), which protect plants against dehydration-induced stresses such as salinity, drought, and low temperatures, may play a critical role [...] Read more.
Taxillus chinensis (DC.) Danser is an important hemiparasitic medicinal plant whose propagation is severely limited by the desiccation sensitivity of its recalcitrant seeds. Dehydrins (DHNs), which protect plants against dehydration-induced stresses such as salinity, drought, and low temperatures, may play a critical role in protecting recalcitrant seeds. However, the role of DHNs in the seeds of T. chinensis remains unclear. In this study, a differentially expressed gene was identified from the seed transcriptome of T. chinensis and designated TcDHN1. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analyses revealed that TcDHN1 encodes a dehydrin protein. Heterologous overexpression of TcDHN1 in Arabidopsis did not affect growth under normal conditions. Under salt, drought, and cold stresses, transgenic lines exhibited higher seed germination rates, longer primary roots, and improved seedling growth compared with wild-type (WT) plants. The transgenic lines showed significantly increased activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase. In addition, ectopic overexpression of TcDHN1 in Arabidopsis conferred enhanced tolerance to abiotic stresses compared to WT plants, accompanied by increased expression of the stress-responsive genes Responsive to Desiccation 29A (AtRD29A) and Heat Shock Protein 70-1 (AtHSP70-1). The above results indicate that TcDHN1 confers enhanced tolerance to abiotic stresses. This study provides a functional characterization of an abiotic stress-responsive gene from recalcitrant seeds and identifies a potential genetic resource for molecular breeding. This could potentially improve abiotic stress resistance in T. chinensis and related medicinal plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular, Biochemical and Developmental Adaptations of Plants Under Abiotic Stress)
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20 pages, 1669 KB  
Article
Evaluation of Salinity Tolerance Potentials of Two Contrasting Soybean Genotypes Based on Physiological and Biochemical Responses
by Mawia Sobh, Tahoora Batool Zargar, Oqba Basal, Ayman Shehada AL-Ouda and Szilvia Veres
Plants 2026, 15(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15010010 - 19 Dec 2025
Viewed by 778
Abstract
Salinity stress is a major abiotic constraint limiting soybean (Glycine max L.) productivity in saline–alkali soils; however, the physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlying genotypic tolerance remain poorly understood. This study aimed to identify key traits that underpin salinity tolerance and can inform [...] Read more.
Salinity stress is a major abiotic constraint limiting soybean (Glycine max L.) productivity in saline–alkali soils; however, the physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlying genotypic tolerance remain poorly understood. This study aimed to identify key traits that underpin salinity tolerance and can inform breeding and agronomic strategies to enhance soybean performance under saline conditions. Two contrasting soybean genotypes, YAKARTA and POCA, were exposed to 25, 50, 75, and 100 mM NaCl from the first to the fourth trifoliate stage (V1–V4) under controlled conditions for 30 days. YAKARTA maintained higher relative water content (75.51% vs. 66.97%), stomatal conductance (342 vs. 286 mmol H2O m−2 s−1), proline (6.15 vs. 4.36 µmol g−1 fresh weight), K+/Na+ ratio (61.8 vs. 32.2), and H2O2 (833.8 vs. 720.2 µmol g−1 fresh weight) compared with POCA, whereas POCA exhibited elevated solute leakage (87.1% vs. 79.21%), malondialdehyde (122 vs. 112 µg g−1), and ascorbic acid (334 vs. 293 µg g−1), indicating greater sensitivity. At 100 mM NaCl, relative water content, stomatal conductance, K+/Na+ ratio, and H2O2 declined by 44.5%, 81.9%, 99.8%, and 49.5%, respectively, while proline, solute leakage, malondialdehyde, and ascorbic acid increased by 56-, 1.27-, 11.6-, and 1.68-fold, respectively. The contrasting physiological and biochemical responses between these genotypes highlight key traits, such as relative water content, stomatal conductance, proline accumulation, malondialdehyde content, and the K+/Na+ ratio, as promising potential markers associated with salinity tolerance in soybean. These findings provide a foundational understanding that can guide future research to validate these markers across a wider genetic pool and under field conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular, Biochemical and Developmental Adaptations of Plants Under Abiotic Stress)
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17 pages, 3914 KB  
Article
Genomic and Functional Characterization of Acetolactate Synthase (ALS) Genes in Stress Adaptation of the Noxious Weed Amaranthus palmeri
by Jiao Ren, Mengyuan Song, Daniel Bimpong, Fulian Wang, Wang Chen, Dongfang Ma and Linfeng Du
Plants 2025, 14(19), 3088; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14193088 - 7 Oct 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1408
Abstract
Acetolactate synthase (ALS) is an important enzyme in plant branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis and the target of several major herbicide classes. Despite its agronomic importance, the role of ALS genes in stress adaptation in the invasive weed Amaranthus palmeri remains unstudied. In this [...] Read more.
Acetolactate synthase (ALS) is an important enzyme in plant branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis and the target of several major herbicide classes. Despite its agronomic importance, the role of ALS genes in stress adaptation in the invasive weed Amaranthus palmeri remains unstudied. In this study, four ApALS genes with high motif conservation were identified and analyzed in A. palmeri. Phylogenetic analysis classified ApALS and other plant ALS proteins into two distinct clades, and the ApALS proteins were predicted to localize to the chloroplast. Gene expression analysis demonstrated that ApALS genes are responsive to multiple stresses, including salt, heat, osmotic stress, glufosinate ammonium, and the ALS-inhibiting herbicide imazethapyr, suggesting roles in both early and late stress responses. Herbicide response analysis using an Arabidopsis thaliana ALS mutant (AT3G48560) revealed enhanced imazethapyr resistance, associated with higher chlorophyll retention. Furthermore, high sequence homology between AT3G48560 and ApALS1 suggests a conserved role in protecting photosynthetic function during herbicide stress. This study provides the first comprehensive analysis of the ALS gene family in A. palmeri and offers important insights into its contribution to stress resilience. These findings establish a vital foundation for developing novel strategies to control this pervasive agricultural weed and present potential genetic targets for engineering herbicide tolerance in crops. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular, Biochemical and Developmental Adaptations of Plants Under Abiotic Stress)
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Review

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26 pages, 3832 KB  
Review
Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica L.): From Molecular Mechanisms to Climate-Resilient Breeding
by Hong-Jin Wang, Xiangwei Hu, Yun Zhao, Baoyi Yang, Hui Wang, Jianan Huang, Qadir Bakhsh, Zaituniguli· Kuerban and Guojun Feng
Plants 2026, 15(10), 1474; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15101474 - 12 May 2026
Viewed by 313
Abstract
Abiotic stresses caused by climate change pose a significant challenge to global food security, making it necessary to develop stress-resistant crops. Foxtail millet (Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.) is a drought-tolerant C4 cereal and serves as a model crop for elucidating [...] Read more.
Abiotic stresses caused by climate change pose a significant challenge to global food security, making it necessary to develop stress-resistant crops. Foxtail millet (Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.) is a drought-tolerant C4 cereal and serves as a model crop for elucidating stress adaptation mechanisms and promoting climate-resilient agricultural solutions. This paper reviews the tolerance mechanisms of foxtail millet to abiotic stresses. Physiologically, the species exhibits excellent water-use efficiency, requiring 75% less irrigation than traditional cereals, achieved through enhanced osmotic adjustment via soluble substance accumulation and the maintenance of ion homeostasis. Morphological adaptations include reduced leaf area, adjusted stomatal density, well-developed root systems, and specialized anatomical features that optimize water conservation. At the molecular level, stress tolerance involves complex transcriptional networks mediated by multiple transcription factor family members, including those (NF-Y, DREB, NAC, WRKY, MYB) that coordinate stress-responsive gene expression, antioxidant defense systems, and osmotic adjustment pathways. Furthermore, this review summarizes multi-omics characteristics, including genomics (such as QTL mapping and GWAS), proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and regulatory networks, for foxtail millet under abiotic stress tolerance. Additionally, reproductive resilience is maintained through efficient mobilization of stem reserves to panicles, phenological plasticity in flowering timing, and preserved gametic viability under thermal stress. Combining advanced molecular breeding with the inherent tolerance of foxtail millet positions this crop as both a solution to climate change and a genetic resource for enhancing the stress resistance of other cereals. These findings establish foxtail millet as a valuable model for developing sustainable agricultural technologies essential for food security under projected climate scenarios. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular, Biochemical and Developmental Adaptations of Plants Under Abiotic Stress)
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