Mechanism of Salinity Tolerance in Plants

Dear Colleagues,

Salinity is a common problem throughout the world and is among one of the most important abiotic stresses that lead to significant crop losses. The salinity problem is further pronounced with the increasing scarcity of good-quality irrigation water. To cope with growing food demand due to an increasing human population, there is a greater need to develop more sustainable crops to increase productivity by utilizing saline water for irrigation.

In the early phase of salinity exposure, plant growth is suppressed due to osmotic stress, which is then followed by specific ion toxicity. Osmotic stress leads to reduced water absorption by a plant, directly impacting transpiration, mineral nutrient balance, photosynthesis, membrane stability, and ability to detoxify reactive oxygen species (ROS). Ionic stress leads to accumulation of specific ions in different plant tissue, such as Na⁺ and Cl^-, which results in ion imbalance and may lead to deficiencies of essential nutrients for growth and development. To survive in saline environments, plants employ certain strategies and acquire various adaptive mechanisms, which include ion uptake, ion exclusion, ion compartmentalization, ion transport and balance, osmotic regulation, compatible solute accumulation, hormone metabolism, antioxidant metabolism, and stress signaling.

In order to comprehend the complex salinity puzzle, it is vital to understand the genetic determinants that regulate morphological, physiological, cellular, and metabolic responses, which is critical to developing genetic material tolerant to salinity. Furthermore, knowledge concerning the genetics and physiology of tolerance mechanisms will contribute to the identification of trait-based selection criteria which are critical for the development of breeding programs aimed at marker-assisted improvement of crop salt tolerance.

The aim and scope of this Special Issue is to encourage the publication of reviews and/or experimental research dealing with morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular aspects related to salt-tolerance mechanisms in plants.

Dr. Devinder Sandhu
Guest Editor

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