New Insights into Plant Biotic and Abiotic Stress

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Currently, the world faces an increased frequency of drought and heat waves and the appearance of new diseases. By the end of the century, crop production will need to increase by 50% to meet the anticipated food demand and encounter the challenges caused by climate change. In addition to global concerns over food insecurity, future agriculture must meet a considerable number of other grand challenges, including becoming more sustainable, and biofortifying the ecosystems’ biodiversity.

It is urgent to develop alternatives to current agricultural systems that highly depend on agrochemicals and water. Understanding how microbiomes influence the fitness network of crops, grassland plants, and soil health under global change is pivotal for developing sustainable agricultural strategies.

It has been suggested that microbiomes, via multiple cascades, define plant phenotypes, including stress tolerance, as well as providing genetic variability (biodiversity). Plant and soil signals affect interaction with microbial communities and hence are also relevant for making more efficient the benefits of treatments with microbial biostimulants for improving tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress. These signals are related to the production of specific compounds and expression of specific genes. However, what specific mechanisms underlie their effect on plant-microbiome interaction and how they make microbiomes highly efficient, are all still largely unanswered questions.

Therefore, information about these mechanisms, identification of the compounds and genes involved, and what regulatory mechanisms affect plant–soil-microbiome interactions, are essential for understanding which features can increase the beneficial effect of microbiome treatment.

We encourage contributions that advance our understanding of these critical issues, fostering dialogue and innovation to support the long-term health and resilience of agro-ecosystems.

Dr. Salme Timmusk
Dr. Erick Zagal
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Crops crops	1.9	2.4	2021	22.4 Days	CHF 1200	Submit
International Journal of Molecular Sciences ijms	4.9	9.0	2000	17.8 Days	CHF 2900	Submit
International Journal of Plant Biology ijpb	-	3.0	2010	17 Days	CHF 1400	Submit
Stresses stresses	-	6.9	2021	22 Days	CHF 1200	Submit

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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15 pages, 1286 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Combined Fertilization with Filter Cake, Microbial Consortium, and Amino Acids Improves Peanut Performance Under Water Scarcity Conditions

by Lissett Abreus Hernández, Alexander Calero Hurtado, Kolima Peña Calzada, Ana María Espinosa Negrín and Janet Jiménez Hernández

Stresses 2026, 6(2), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/stresses6020019 - 7 Apr 2026

Abstract

Water deficit is a major abiotic constraint limiting peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production. This study evaluated the combined effects of filter cake, foliar application of an amino acid-based biostimulant, microbial consortium inoculation, on peanut growth, physiology, and yield under water scarcity conditions. [...] Read more.

Water deficit is a major abiotic constraint limiting peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production. This study evaluated the combined effects of filter cake, foliar application of an amino acid-based biostimulant, microbial consortium inoculation, on peanut growth, physiology, and yield under water scarcity conditions. Treatments were arranged in a split-plot design with four replicates, where filter cake (0 and 5 t ha⁻¹) was assigned to main plots, amino acid application to subplots (0.25 and 0.50 L ha⁻¹), and microbial consortium to sub-subplots (100 and 200 mL m⁻²). At 50 days after sowing, plant growth parameters, relative chlorophyll content, and aboveground biomass were assessed, while yield components and seed yield were determined at harvest. Results indicated that the combined treatment with 5 t ha⁻¹ filter cake, 0.50 L ha⁻¹ amino acids, and 200 mL m⁻² microbial consortium, consistently produced the highest main stem length (increase of 40%), aboveground biomass accumulation (increase of 41%), number of matured pods per plant (increase of 38%), seed mass per plant (increase of 87%), and final seed yield (increase of 86%) compared to the lowest-input treatment (F₀A_0.25M₁₀₀) under water-limited conditions. These findings indicate that the integrated fertilization can improve phenological, physiological, and yield responses and represents a sustainable approach to improve peanut resilience and productivity under water scarcity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic New Insights into Plant Biotic and Abiotic Stress)

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16 pages, 1435 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Bacillus aryabhattai Improves Agronomic Performance and Water Use Efficiency of Common Bean Under Deficit Irrigation Levels

by Ana L. P. Oliveira, João P. Santos, Gustavo F. Silva and Fernando F. Putti

Crops 2026, 6(2), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/crops6020038 - 30 Mar 2026

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Abstract

The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is of great food and economic importance in Brazil, but its productivity is highly affected by water deficit due to its superficial root system and short cycle. With the increase in prolonged droughts, irrigation has become [...] Read more.

The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is of great food and economic importance in Brazil, but its productivity is highly affected by water deficit due to its superficial root system and short cycle. With the increase in prolonged droughts, irrigation has become a solution, albeit a costly one, for small farmers. In this scenario, bioinputs, such as Bacillus aryabhattai, represent a sustainable and low-cost strategy to improve crop performance under reduced irrigation conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of B. aryabhattai to improve the agronomic performance of the common bean under reduced irrigation levels. A greenhouse experiment was conducted in randomized blocks with a 2 × 4 factorial design (presence/absence of B. aryabhattai and four irrigation levels: 40, 60, 80, and 100% of the ETc). Agronomic and productive variables were evaluated. The results showed better performance at 80 and 100% ETc, achieving 16 and 20 g per plant⁻¹. Inoculation increased water use efficiency by 13% and contributed to higher grain yield. It was concluded that rational irrigation management combined with the use of B. aryabhattai improves agronomic performance and water use efficiency under reduced irrigation levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic New Insights into Plant Biotic and Abiotic Stress)

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19 pages, 2214 KB  

Open AccessReview

Impact of Water Stress on Growth, Physiology, and Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.): Bibliographic Review

by Magdoline Mustafa Ahmed Osman, Ronald Kuunya, Rania Alrasheed, András Tamás, Illés Árpád and Tamás Rátonyi

Int. J. Plant Biol. 2026, 17(3), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb17030021 - 6 Mar 2026

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Abstract

Water stress is a major challenge that limits the growth, development, and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) worldwide, especially under climate change, particularly abiotic stresses. This review presents a comprehensive bibliometric and literature-based analysis of research on maize’s response to drought [...] Read more.

Water stress is a major challenge that limits the growth, development, and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) worldwide, especially under climate change, particularly abiotic stresses. This review presents a comprehensive bibliometric and literature-based analysis of research on maize’s response to drought and water scarcity from 1975 to 2025, using VOS viewer1.6.20 software, facilitating the detection of co-authorship networks, thematic groupings, and patterns of keyword co-occurrence within the selected publications. Data from the Web of Science were examined to assess publication trends, keyword networks, and international collaborations. A literature search was conducted by combining the keywords ((“maize”) OR (“corn”) AND (“drought”) OR (“water stress”) AND (“yield”)). Relevant studies were retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) database using this search string. The Mann–Kendall test revealed a significant positive trend (p = 0.001) in publications on water scarcity (R² = 0.8526), with 396 relevant studies identified globally, regardless of language. The analysis of publication trends demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the volume of publications over the examined period, featuring major contributions from Kenya, Switzerland, Mexico, China, and the United States. The most influential publication focuses on a biotic stressor that significantly reduces maize grain yield. These results emphasise the need for integrated strategies that combine genetic improvement and sustainable irrigation to mitigate the impacts of water stress. This comprehensive analysis provides a foundation for guiding future research and policy development to improve maize resilience against the effects of water stress under changing climatic conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic New Insights into Plant Biotic and Abiotic Stress)

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19 pages, 2889 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Analysis of VOC Profiles in Populus deltoides cv. Harvard I-63/51 and P. × canadensis cv. Conti 12 Poplars Attacked by Megaplatypus mutatus

by Celeste Arancibia, Laura Mitjans, María Victoria Bertoldi, Andrés Morales, Magdalena Gantuz, Leonardo Bolcato, Patricia Piccoli, Natalia Naves, Juan Alberto Bustamante and Ricardo Williams Masuelli

Stresses 2026, 6(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/stresses6010006 - 31 Jan 2026

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Abstract

Megaplatypus mutatus, a major poplar pest in South America, tunnels into the xylem, weakening trunks and reducing wood quality. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are key mediators of plant–insect interactions and may reflect genotype-specific defence strategies. This study analysed VOC profiles of young [...] Read more.

Megaplatypus mutatus, a major poplar pest in South America, tunnels into the xylem, weakening trunks and reducing wood quality. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are key mediators of plant–insect interactions and may reflect genotype-specific defence strategies. This study analysed VOC profiles of young and adult Populus deltoides cv. Harvard and P. × canadensis cv. Conti 12 under natural M. mutatus infestation. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry putatively annotated 31 VOCs, including green leaf volatiles (GLVs), pentyl leaf volatiles (PLVs), terpenes, alcohols, aromatics and phenolics, 12 of which, to our knowledge, have not been previously reported in Populus VOC profiles. Harvard trees showed ~14.5-fold higher total VOC abundance than Conti trees. In Conti, constitutive VOC emissions remained stable regardless of infestation status or age. In contrast, under infestation, Harvard trees emitted10-fold higher constitutive VOCs than non-infested Harvard trees and ~52-fold higher than Conti, a pattern consistent with increased defensive activity. GLVs and PLVs relatively dominated both genotypes, although Harvard showed higher emissions. Terpenes were not detected in young Conti trees under our analytical conditions but were abundant and diverse in infested Harvard trees, which may indicate a stronger terpene-associated response in this clone. Several compounds were detected only under specific genotype–condition combinations in our dataset and therefore represent candidate volatiles for future behavioural and functional studies. These results are consistent with differences in VOC emission patterns between genotypes and age classes, improve our understanding of putative chemical cues in the interaction between Populus and M. mutatus, and provide a basis for future work towards sustainable pest management strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic New Insights into Plant Biotic and Abiotic Stress)

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