Metabolic Analysis of Plant Development and Defense Responses

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 212

Special Issue Editor

Department of Life Sciences, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea
Interests: medicinal plants; phytochemistry; phylogenetics; computational analysis; ethnopharmacology; plant extracts
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant metabolism plays a essential role in the regulation of developmental processes and the arranging of defense mechanisms against a wide array of biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. Understanding the multifaceted metabolic networks that trigger plant growth, differentiation, and immune responses is central for advancements in agricultural sustainability and crop pliability. This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive platform for recent advancements in the field of plant metabolic research, focusing on the elucidation of primary and secondary metabolic pathways that govern key physiological functions in development and defense. We invite original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that explore the dynamic interplay between metabolic processes and plant developmental stages, including seed germination, vegetative growth, flowering, fruiting, and senescence. Additionally, we welcome studies highlighting the metabolic reprogramming associated with plant defense responses against pathogens, pests, and environmental stresses such as drought, salinity, and temperature extremes. Special emphasis will be given to research employing advanced omics technologies—metabolomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and integrated multi-omics approaches—to uncover regulatory networks and identify metabolic biomarkers involved in stress tolerance and defense signaling. This Special Issue also encourages contributions that discuss metabolic engineering strategies aimed at improving plant growth, yield, and resilience, as well as investigations into the role of specialized metabolites, including phytoalexins, alkaloids, terpenoids, and flavonoids, in defense responses. Articles addressing the crosstalk between hormonal signaling pathways and metabolic regulation are particularly welcome. Through this Special Issue, we aim to advance our understanding of the metabolic foundations of plant development and immunity, fostering innovative solutions for crop improvement and sustainable agriculture in the face of global climate change and emerging plant diseases.

Dr. Adnan Amin
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • plant metabolism
  • defense responses
  • metabolomics
  • stress tolerance
  • metabolic engineering

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

17 pages, 2071 KiB  
Article
Melatonin Enhances Drought Tolerance by Regulating the Genes Underlying Photosynthesis and Antioxidant Defense in Rubber Tree (Hevea brasiliensis) Seedlings
by Dejun Li, Zhihui Xia, Xuncheng Wang, Hong Yang and Yao Li
Plants 2025, 14(14), 2243; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14142243 - 21 Jul 2025
Abstract
Melatonin (MT) can enhance plant stress tolerance by activating the internal defense system, but its application in rubber trees has been barely reported up to now. In this study, we found that the relative electrical conductivity (REC), H2O2, and [...] Read more.
Melatonin (MT) can enhance plant stress tolerance by activating the internal defense system, but its application in rubber trees has been barely reported up to now. In this study, we found that the relative electrical conductivity (REC), H2O2, and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were significantly higher in the leaves of rubber tree seedlings under drought stress compared to the control (water treatment), whereas chlorophyll contents were obviously lower in the leaves under drought stress compared to the control. MT partly relieves the aforementioned drought-induced adverse effects by dramatically reducing chlorophyll degradation, H2O2 accumulation, MDA content, and REC. Comparative transcriptomes among the PEG (P), MT (M), and PEG + MT (PM) treatments against the control showed that 213, 896, and 944 genes were differently expressed in rubber tree seedlings treated with M, P, and PM in contrast to the control. Among the 64 differently expressed genes (DEGs) being common among the three comparisons, the expression profiles of 25 were opposite in MH compared with PH. Intriguingly, all the KEGG pathways of the DEGs mentioned above belonged to metabolism including energy metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and the metabolism of cofactors and vitamins. Exogenous application of MT mainly regulated the genes associated with photosynthesis and the anti-oxidative defense system, thereby enhancing the antioxidant protection of rubber tree seedlings under drought stress. These results suggest that exogenous melatonin application can effectively enhance drought tolerance by heightening ROS scavenging to decrease H2O2 accumulation in rubber tree seedlings. Our results elucidate the molecular mechanisms of MT’s roles in drought stress, which help to employ exogenous MT to boost drought tolerance in the rubber tree. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolic Analysis of Plant Development and Defense Responses)
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