Plant Responses and Tolerance to Salinity Stress, 2nd Edition

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closed (15 November 2025)

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15 January 2026

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Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Due to climate change, the overexploitation of aquifers, and the use of reclaimed water for agriculture, salinity is becoming one of the most significant environmental factors that most limit crop yield. To solve this problem, several strategies have been explored. Such strategies range from the remediation of soils to the discovery of crops (cultivars) that are more tolerant to salinity stress. Salinity has an osmotic and toxic effect on plants. Osmotic effects induce a physiological drought on plants due to the retention of more water in soil, and this causes similar plant responses to those under water-limited conditions. Toxic effects are produced by an excess of sodium ions in the soil solution, which can displace potassium and other ions and cause an imbalance in the K+/Na+ ratio. This can also cause an imbalance of other essential ions and can therefore lead to membrane and protein damage and, in some extreme cases, plant death. For this Topic, we seek manuscripts that address plant response and tolerance mechanisms to cope with salinity stress and management actions to mitigate it. We encourage the submission of papers that feature experiments conducted in field, greenhouse or growth chambers and adopt various approaches, from assessing agronomic traits to investigating molecular mechanisms. Moreover, manuscripts with a physiological and biochemical focus and those that use multi-omics approaches are also welcome.

Prof. Dr. Ricardo Aroca
Prof. Dr. Pablo Cornejo
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Agriculture agriculture	3.6	6.3	2011	18 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Agronomy agronomy	3.4	6.7	2011	17.2 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Crops crops	1.9	2.4	2021	23.5 Days	CHF 1200	Submit
Plants plants	4.1	7.6	2012	17.7 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
International Journal of Molecular Sciences ijms	4.9	9.0	2000	20.5 Days	CHF 2900	Submit
International Journal of Plant Biology ijpb	-	3.0	2010	19.6 Days	CHF 1200	Submit

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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22 pages, 4088 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Mitigating Salinity Stress in Sugar Beet Seedlings Through Exogenous Application of Putrescine and Salicylic Acid

by Md. Jahirul Islam, Byung Ryeol Ryu, Tanjina Alam, Masuma Akter Mou, Md. Hafizur Rahman, Md. Abdus Salam, Young-Seok Lim and Mohammad Anwar Hossain

Int. J. Plant Biol. 2025, 16(4), 131; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb16040131 - 19 Nov 2025

Viewed by 294

Abstract

Salinity stress is a major constraint on the growth and productivity of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.). This study evaluated the potential of exogenously applied putrescine (Put) and salicylic acid (SA) to enhance salt stress tolerance. Thirty-day-old seedlings were grown for seven [...] Read more.

Salinity stress is a major constraint on the growth and productivity of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.). This study evaluated the potential of exogenously applied putrescine (Put) and salicylic acid (SA) to enhance salt stress tolerance. Thirty-day-old seedlings were grown for seven days under control conditions before being subjected to eight treatments for 10 days: (i) Control, (ii) Control + 0.6 mM Put, (iii) Control + 0.6 mM SA, (iv) Control + 0.6 mM Put + 0.6 mM SA, (v) Salinity (150 mM NaCl), (vi) Salinity + 0.6 mM Put, (vii) Salinity + 0.6 mM SA, and (viii) Salinity + 0.6 mM Put + 0.6 mM SA. Put and SA were applied once as a foliar spray at the onset of the treatments. Salt stress significantly reduced plant growth, biomass, chlorophyll content, and photosynthetic efficiency, while increasing reactive oxygen species (particularly H₂O₂) and lipid peroxidation. Foliar applications of Put and SA alleviated these adverse effects, either individually or in combination. Put primarily enhanced plant growth rate, shoot length, plant height, shoot and root biomass, leaf relative water content, respiration activity, and sucrose accumulation. SA improved root length, photosynthetic activity, water-use efficiency, and proline accumulation. When applied together, Put and SA combinedly increased growth rate, shoot length, plant height, shoot biomass, leaf relative water content, stomatal conductance, and the maximum quantum yield of PSII, while more prominently reducing malondialdehyde and H₂O₂ accumulation and enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities. These findings suggest that foliar application of Put and SA enhances salinity tolerance in sugar beet seedlings by improving antioxidant enzyme activities, osmolyte accumulation, and ion homeostasis, thereby mitigating oxidative stress under saline conditions. This outcome could contribute to potential applications in breeding programs and stress management in saline-prone regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Plant Responses and Tolerance to Salinity Stress, 2nd Edition)

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24 pages, 2430 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Irrigation with Saline Water on Germination, Physiology, Growth, and Yield of Durum Wheat Varieties on Silty Clay Soil

by Khadija Manhou, Rachid Moussadek, Houria Dakak, Abdelmjid Zouahri, Ahmed Ghanimi, Hatim Sanad, Majda Oueld Lhaj and Driss Hmouni

Agriculture 2025, 15(22), 2364; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15222364 - 14 Nov 2025

Viewed by 546

Abstract

Freshwater scarcity in arid regions forces farmers to use saline water, reducing durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum) productivity, particularly during early growth stages. This study evaluated two Moroccan varieties, Faraj and Nachit, on silty clay soil under five salinity [...] Read more.

Freshwater scarcity in arid regions forces farmers to use saline water, reducing durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum) productivity, particularly during early growth stages. This study evaluated two Moroccan varieties, Faraj and Nachit, on silty clay soil under five salinity levels (0.2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 dS m⁻¹) in a randomized complete block design with three replications, aiming to identify tolerance thresholds and characterize physiological and agronomic responses. Key traits measured included germination percentage, germination stress index, mean germination time, root and coleoptile length, plant height, leaf number, chlorophyll fluorescence, grain yield, weight of 200 grains, and straw yield. Germination percentage declined from 8 dS m⁻¹, with delayed germination and inhibited vegetative growth at higher salinity. Both varieties maintained grain yield up to 8 dS m⁻¹ and weight of 200 grains and straw yield up to 12 dS m⁻¹, with Nachit showing higher tolerance. Multivariate analyses, including principal component analysis and heatmaps, linked soil sodium, chloride, and electrical conductivity negatively to growth and yield, whereas potassium, calcium, and magnesium supported plant growth and physiological activity. These findings provide insights for breeding and irrigation strategies to sustain durum wheat under salinity stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Plant Responses and Tolerance to Salinity Stress, 2nd Edition)

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17 pages, 3454 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Mitigating Salinity Stress in Solanaceae: The Role of Nanoparticles in Seed Germination and Growth Development

by Chinur Hadi Mahmood, Kamaran Salh Rasul and Hawar Sleman Halshoy

Crops 2025, 5(5), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/crops5050062 - 12 Sep 2025

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Abstract

Salinity is a significant challenge that limits agricultural productivity worldwide. This study examined the use of nanoparticles to improve the growth and development of Solanaceae crops under salinity stress. Specifically, titanium dioxide (TiO₂NPs), copper oxide (CuONPs), and zinc oxide (ZnONPs) were [...] Read more.

Salinity is a significant challenge that limits agricultural productivity worldwide. This study examined the use of nanoparticles to improve the growth and development of Solanaceae crops under salinity stress. Specifically, titanium dioxide (TiO₂NPs), copper oxide (CuONPs), and zinc oxide (ZnONPs) were applied at 750, 1250, and 1500 mg/kg per seed, respectively, to assess their effects on seed germination and growth of tomato, eggplant, and pepper plants. Results showed that tomato plants under salinity stress performed best with CuONPs, which improved key traits. The combination of salinity and TiO₂NPs reduced flower abortion and increased seed yield and 1000-Seed weight. In eggplants, CuONPs and ZnONPs, both individually and in combination with salinity, enhanced plant characteristics, with CuONPs showing particularly strong effects. Control plants consistently recorded the lowest values across traits. For peppers, ZnONPs applied individually most effectively improved growth traits, while CuONPs reduced flower abortion and enhanced seed and germination rates. However, salinity stress itself severely reduced pepper growth parameters. The findings highlight the potential of nanoparticle applications to mitigate salinity stress, enhance growth performance, and support sustainable crop production in tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers, offering practical solutions for salinity-affected agriculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Plant Responses and Tolerance to Salinity Stress, 2nd Edition)

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