Phytohormone-Related Response of Crops to Biotic and Abiotic Stresses

Dear Colleagues,

It is estimated that only about 10% of the area of agricultural land on Earth is free from stress-generating factors and close to optimal for plant cultivation. The rest are characterized by insufficient moisture or flooding, deficiency or excess radiation, low mineral content or toxic ion contamination, too high or low temperature, or salinity. Plants as sessile organisms are also constantly exposed to biotic factors, such as pathogens, herbivores, and other competing species. Their exposure to numerous unfavorable factors requires the development of specific defense mechanisms. The stress response may be local and occur at the site of factor perception, or systemic, when the stressed tissue transmits information to other organs, leading to increased immunity. The main coordinators of all stress-related mechanisms are phytohormones, which can be transported over long distances, acting as signaling molecules. It is well known that stress disrupts hormonal homeostasis. Under unfavorable conditions, many phytohormones, e.g., abscisic acid, jasmonates, and ethylene, are accumulated. They cause metabolic and morphogenetic changes to minimize the negative effects, allowing to adapt to adverse conditions and maintaining the plant’s vitality at the same time. This is why it is so important to understand the regulation of stress responses by phytohormones, which helps to modulate the activity of these compounds to enhance tolerance of different species. Given the progressive climate changes caused by anthropogenic pressure, these issues are important and intriguing because they can be helpful for the improvement of crop resistance, which is valuable information for modern agriculture.

Our Special Issue covers aspects of different phytohormones in plants’ response to environmental issues. Specific topics of interest include biosynthesis, signal transduction, conjugations of plant hormones, and their crosstalk under the influence of biotic and abiotic factors. Original papers, reviews, perspectives, and opinions are welcome.

Dr. Agata Kućko
Dr. Emilia Wilmowicz
Guest Editors

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