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Plants
Special Issues
Biological Signaling in Plant Development
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Biological Signaling in Plant Development

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Development and Morphogenesis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 7671

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Klaus Palme

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Faculty of Biology, Institute of Biology II/Molecular Plant Physiology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
2. Centre for BioSystems Analysis, BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
Interests: systems biology approaches to plant hormone signaling; molecular networks and the mechanisms of action of various substances affecting plant growth and development
Dr. Maren Müller

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: plant hormone physiology; crosstalk of plant hormones; plant hormone regulation under abiotic stress; ethylene signaling; ROS and plant hormone interaction; antioxidants; stress tolerance; plant senescence
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biological signals are essential for plant growth, adaptation, and reproduction. This complex network of signaling pathways involves dynamic interactions between hormones, gene expression, and environmental factors that regulate different stages of plant development from seed germination to flowering. These signals ensure proper plant growth and adaptation to changing environments. Therefore, an understanding of plant biological signaling is essential to elucidate the response mechanisms of cell differentiation, tissue formation, and exogenous stress.

This Special Issue aims to explore the complex signaling networks underlying plant growth and development. It will provide a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in the field through a curated selection of state-of-the-art research articles, reviews, and expert opinions. We invite contributions that shed light on the intricate mechanisms and new insights into signaling regulation in plant biology.

Prof. Dr. Klaus Palme
Dr. Maren Müller
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 signaling
  • hormone regulation
  • developmental biology
  • signal transduction
  • en-vironmental response
  • cell differentiation
  • organogenesis
  • molecular pathways

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 4428 KB  
Article
Zea Maize Calmodulin (ZmCaM2) Regulates Drought Tolerance in Corn Plants Through an Abscisic Acid-Dependent Signaling Pathway
by Meiyi Liu, Pengxiang Bao, Hanqiao Wang, Zhiqiang Wu, Zhen Wang, Xiangyu Xing, Wei Yang, Xuejiao Ren, Jiabin Ci, Liangyu Jiang and Zhenyuan Zang
Plants 2025, 14(23), 3656; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14233656 - 30 Nov 2025
Viewed by 856
Abstract
Calmodulins (CaMs), which are important calcium-binding proteins, play critical roles in plant stress responses. However, limited information is available regarding the biological functions of CaMs under drought stress. In this study, we identified and isolated a CaM gene, ZmCaM2, from maize ( [...] Read more.
Calmodulins (CaMs), which are important calcium-binding proteins, play critical roles in plant stress responses. However, limited information is available regarding the biological functions of CaMs under drought stress. In this study, we identified and isolated a CaM gene, ZmCaM2, from maize (Zea mays L.) in length and encodes a 184-amino acid protein containing four EF-hand domains capable of specifically binding calcium ions (Ca2+). Subcellular localization analysis revealed that ZmCaM2 is localized to the nucleus and membrane. Functional characterization indicated that ZmCaM2 negatively regulates drought tolerance in maize by increasing malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) content while decreasing antioxidant enzyme activity, proline (Pro) content, abscisic acid (ABA) content and relative water content (RWC). Moreover, ZmCaM2 reduced maize sensitivity to ABA treatment, suggesting that ZmCaM2 negatively regulates the drought tolerance of maize by relying on the ABA pathway. These findings provide new insights into the functional role of ZmCaM2 and may facilitate the development of drought-resistant maize cultivars. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Signaling in Plant Development)
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14 pages, 2556 KB  
Article
Differences in Growth Responses to Climate of Three Conifer Species in Lugu Lake of Northwestern Yunnan, Southwestern China
by Tao Yan, Yaoyao Kang, Siyu Xie, Chun Tao, Lianxiang Li, Xuefen Li, Qiong Wang and Yun Zhang
Plants 2025, 14(16), 2508; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14162508 - 12 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1238
Abstract
Responses of tree radial growth to climate are usually species-specific. Northwestern Yunnan has become a hotspot for the study of dendrochronology due to its sensitivity to climate change and the relative integrity of vegetation preservation. In this paper, we take three dominant conifers— [...] Read more.
Responses of tree radial growth to climate are usually species-specific. Northwestern Yunnan has become a hotspot for the study of dendrochronology due to its sensitivity to climate change and the relative integrity of vegetation preservation. In this paper, we take three dominant conifers—Pinus armandii, Pinus yunnanensis and Picea likiangensis—as the research objects and analyze their tree-ring width chronologies in order to reveal the main climate factors affecting tree growth in northwestern Yunnan and to evaluate species-specific variation in climate response. The results showed that the radial growth of the three tree species was co-regulated by temperature and precipitation but that the growth response patterns were varied. Specifically: (1) The radial growth of the three species of conifers was significantly and negatively correlated with the July average maximum temperature (Tmax) and the October Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) in the current year. (2) Current May precipitation significantly promoted P. armandii growth and inhibited P. likiangensis growth, and a wet July was beneficial for both P. yunnanensis and P. likiangensis growth, while the radial growth of P. yunnanensis and P. armandii showed a significant and positive correlation with the August Tmax in the current year. (3) The sliding analysis supported the results of the response function by showing stable relationships with climate factors which significantly affected tree growth. Results from redundancy analysis (RDA) and response function analysis were basically consistent, demonstrating that these two methods could complement each other in the understanding of relationships between tree radial growth and climatic factors. This study elucidates the climate–growth relationship of the main tree species in the study area and provides theoretical guidance and scientific evidence for regional forest management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Signaling in Plant Development)
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15 pages, 2888 KB  
Article
CsPHYB–CsPIF3/4 Regulates Hypocotyl Elongation by Coordinating the Auxin and Gibberellin Biosynthetic Pathways in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)
by Liqin Chen, Zongqing Qiu, Jing Dong, Runhua Bu, Yu Zhou, Huilin Wang and Liangliang Hu
Plants 2025, 14(3), 371; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14030371 - 26 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1752
Abstract
Hypocotyl length is closely related to quality in seedlings and is an important component of plant height vital for plant-type breeding in cucumber. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of hypocotyl elongation are poorly understood. In this study, the endogenous hormone content of indole [...] Read more.
Hypocotyl length is closely related to quality in seedlings and is an important component of plant height vital for plant-type breeding in cucumber. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of hypocotyl elongation are poorly understood. In this study, the endogenous hormone content of indole acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellin (GA3) showed an increase in the long hypocotyl Csphyb (phytochrome B) mutant AM274M compared with its wild-type AM274W. An RNA-sequencing analysis identified 1130 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 476 and 654 were up- and downregulated in the mutant AM274M, respectively. A KEGG enrichment analysis exhibited that these DEGs were mainly enriched in the plant hormone signal transduction pathway. The expression levels of the pivotal genes CsGA20ox-2, in the gibberellin biosynthesis pathway, and CsYUCCA8, in the auxin biosynthesis pathway, were notably elevated in the hypocotyl of the mutant AM274M, in contrast to the wild-type AM274W. Additionally, GUS staining and a dual-luciferase reporter assay corroborated that the phytochrome-interacting factors CsPIF3/4 can bind to the E(G)-box motifs present in the promoters of the CsGA20ox-2 and CsYUCCA8 genes, thereby modulating their expression and subsequently influencing hypocotyl elongation. Consequently, this research offers profound insights into the regulation of hypocotyl elongation by auxin and gibberellin in response to light signals and establishes a crucial theoretical groundwork for cultivating robust cucumber seedlings in agricultural practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Signaling in Plant Development)
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16 pages, 3259 KB  
Article
Elevated CO2 Shifts Photosynthetic Constraint from Stomatal to Biochemical Limitations During Induction in Populus tomentosa and Eucalyptus robusta
by Xianhui Tang, Jie Zhao, Jiayu Zhou, Qingchen Zhu, Xiyang Sheng and Chao Yue
Plants 2025, 14(1), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14010047 - 27 Dec 2024
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1986
Abstract
The relative impacts of biochemical and stomatal limitations on photosynthesis during photosynthetic induction have been well studied for diverse plants under ambient CO2 concentration (Ca). However, a knowledge gap remains regarding how the various photosynthetic components limit duction efficiency [...] Read more.
The relative impacts of biochemical and stomatal limitations on photosynthesis during photosynthetic induction have been well studied for diverse plants under ambient CO2 concentration (Ca). However, a knowledge gap remains regarding how the various photosynthetic components limit duction efficiency under elevated CO2. In this study, we experimentally investigated the influence of elevated CO2 (from 400 to 800 μmol mol–1) on photosynthetic induction dynamics and its associated limitation components in two broadleaved tree species, Populus tomentosa and Eucalyptus robusta. The results show that elevated CO2 increased the steady-state photosynthesis rate (A) and decreased stomatal conductance (gs) and the maximum carboxylation rate (Vcmax) in both species. While E. robusta exhibited a decrease in the linear electron transport rate (J) and the fraction of open reaction centers in photosynthesis II (qL), P. tomentosa showed a significant increase in non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). With respect to non-steady-state photosynthesis, elevated CO2 significantly reduced the induction time of A following a shift from low to high light intensity in both species. Time-integrated limitation analysis during induction revealed that elevated CO2 reduces the relative impacts of stomatal limitations in both species, consequently shifting the predominant limitation on induction efficiency from stomatal to biochemical components. Additionally, species-specific changes in qL and NPQ suggest that elevated CO2 may increase biochemical limitation by affecting energy allocation between carbon fixation and photoprotection. These findings suggest that, in a future CO2-rich atmosphere, plants productivity under fluctuating light may be primarily constrained by photochemical and non-photochemical quenching. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Signaling in Plant Development)
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Review

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20 pages, 1896 KB  
Review
Research Progress on Flowering Period of Hemp
by Lie Yang, Chao Fan, Jiaxi Li, Hongmei Yuan, Lili Cheng, Dandan Liu, Wenyuan He, Qinghua Kang, Xixia Song, Dandan Yao, Weidong Jiang, Wenjie Zhang and Lili Tang
Plants 2026, 15(5), 682; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15050682 - 25 Feb 2026
Viewed by 916
Abstract
Flowering regulation in hemp is critical for determining fiber yield, seed production, and the accumulation of medicinal components. This paper, based on bibliometric analysis, highlights the current gap in basic research on cannabis floral organs. The latest advancements in flowering regulation are then [...] Read more.
Flowering regulation in hemp is critical for determining fiber yield, seed production, and the accumulation of medicinal components. This paper, based on bibliometric analysis, highlights the current gap in basic research on cannabis floral organs. The latest advancements in flowering regulation are then systematically reviewed. The morphological and physiological foundations of flowering are examined, including the flowering phenotype, timing, and flower differentiation. Furthermore, the direct regulatory mechanisms of key environmental and cultivation factors—such as photoperiod (type, light quality, duration) and plant nutrition (fertilization, hormones)—on flowering are discussed. Potential pathways through which biotic and abiotic stresses indirectly affect flowering by disrupting metabolic processes are also explored. In addition, the genetic basis of flowering regulation, including key gene loci such as Autoflower1, Early1, and CsPRR37, as well as molecular networks like the FT-mediated photoperiod pathway and the miR156-SPL age pathway, is examined in detail. Finally, the industrial significance of flowering regulation is summarized, and future research directions are proposed to provide a theoretical foundation for the precise breeding and cultivation management of high-quality hemp varieties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Signaling in Plant Development)
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