Special lssues

Abiotic and Biotic Stress Tolerance in Crop

Submission Deadline: 30 September 2024 Submit to Special Issue

Guest Editors

Assoc. Prof. Ibrahim Al-Ashkar, Plant Production Department, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia & Agronomy Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Egypt
Prof. Arafat Abdel Hamed Abdel Latef, Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, South Valley University, Egypt
Assistant Professor. Abdelhalim Ghazy, Plant Production Department, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.
Dr. walid Ben Romdhane, Plant Production Department, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia

Summary

Due to climate changes as observed now and as expected in the future, there has been an increasing interest in clarifying the mechanisms of plant adaptation and tolerance against environmental abiotic and biotic stress factors. Many researchers have focused their efforts on exploring the resistance of different crop species to different abiotic stressors (alone or multiple) such as (drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, heavy metal toxicity, high light, UV radiation, and oxidative stress) and biotic stresses such as (fungi, bacteria, and viruses). Crop improvements through plant breeding programs, primarily focusing on improving a crop’s environmental adaptability and, abiotic and biotic stress tolerance in order to increase yield, have allowed agricultural production to keep pace with human population growth. Genetic tolerance/resistance represents the most economical approach to crop protection.

 

Plant responses to abiotic stress factors are complex and involve a wide array of morphological, physiological, and biochemical processes. Therefore, knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved in the response and adaptation of the photosynthetic apparatus to stressful conditions is of great importance for a deeper understanding of plant tolerance under abiotic stress, which can support new strategies for the development of climate changes crops. Biotic resistance, one goal of understanding plant/pathogen interactions at the molecular level is to facilitate disease resistance in crop species. Disease resistance is often the most dynamic component of the crop breeding process, requiring continual updating owing to pathogen adaptation to plant genotypes to engineer resistance that is broad (effective against most or all genotypes of the pathogen).

 

The genetic identification of cultivars/lines using morphological measurements alone is not enough. Due to advances in molecular genetics, various techniques have emerged for assaying genetic variation such as molecular marker technologies (molecular-assisted selection (MAS), paternity analysis, quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, assessing genetic variability, cultivar identification, phylogenetic relationship analysis, and genetic mapping) and molecular genetic technology (gene expression analysis). High-throughput tools have supported plant breeders in increasing the rate of stability of the genetic gain of interpretive traits and obtain a more reliable assessment of a great number of genotypes through multidimensional (multivariate) technical methods (e.g., multicollinearity, multiple regression, principal component analysis, path analysis, MANOVA and discriminant analysis)

Scientists from all over the world are invited to submit original research and review articles on topics related to crop tolerance to adverse environmental conditions.


Keywords

Crops breeding; grain yield and quality assessments;crops response to biotic and abiotic influences; stability and adaptability of crops cultivars/germplasm; crops genetic resources; molecular marker technologies; gene expression analysis; multivariate analysis

Published Papers


  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Silicon Mitigates Aluminum Toxicity of Tartary Buckwheat by Regulating Antioxidant Systems

    Anyin Qi, Xiaonan Yan, Yuqing Liu, Qingchen Zeng, Hang Yuan, Huange Huang, Chenggang Liang, Dabing Xiang, Liang Zou, Lianxin Peng, Gang Zhao, Jingwei Huang, Yan Wan
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.1, pp. 1-13, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2023.045802
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Abiotic and Biotic Stress Tolerance in Crop)
    Abstract

    Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a considerable factor limiting crop yield and biomass in acidic soil. Tartary buckwheat growing in acidic soil may suffer from Al poisoning. Here, we investigated the influence of Al stress on the growth of tartary buckwheat seedling roots, and the alleviation of Al stress by silicon (Si), as has been demonstrated in many crops. Under Al stress, root growth (total root length, primary root length, root tips, root surface area, and root volume) was significantly inhibited, and Al and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulated in the root tips. At the same time, catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase activities,… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    The Effect of Soil Enzymes and Polysaccharides Secreted by the Roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge under Drought, High Temperature, and Nitrogen and Phosphorus Deficits

    Yong Qin, Xiaoyu Li, Yanhong Wu, Hai Wang, Guiqi Han, Zhuyun Yan
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.1, pp. 119-135, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2023.046075
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Abiotic and Biotic Stress Tolerance in Crop)
    Abstract Root exudates serve as crucial mediators for information exchange between plants and soil, and are an important evolutionary mechanism for plants’ adaptation to environmental changes. In this study, 15 different abiotic stress models were established using various stress factors, including drought (D), high temperature (T), nitrogen deficiency (N), phosphorus deficiency (P), and their combinations. We investigated their effects on the seedling growth of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge and the activities of Solid-Urease (S-UE), Solid-Nitrite Reductase (S-NiR), Solid-Nitrate Reductase (S-NR), Solid-Phosphotransferase (S-PT), and Solid-Catalase (S-CAT), as well as the contents of polysaccharides in the culture medium. The results showed that the growth… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Application of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria as an Eco-Friendly Strategy for Mitigating the Harmful Effects of Abiotic Stress on Plants

    Ahmed Hassan Abdou, Omar Abdullah Alkhateeb, Hossam Eldin Hamed Mansour, Hesham S. Ghazzawy, Muayad Saud Albadrani, Nadi Awad Al-harbi, Wasimah B. Al-Shammari, Khaled Abdelaal
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.92, No.12, pp. 3305-3321, 2023, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2023.044780
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Abiotic and Biotic Stress Tolerance in Crop)
    Abstract Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) play an important role in improving agricultural production under several abiotic stress factors. PGPB can be used to increase crop growth and development through hormonal balance and increase nutrient uptake. The positive effect of PGPB may be due to its pivotal role in morphophysiological and biochemical characteristics like leaf number, leaf area, and stem length. Furthermore, relative water content, chlorophyll content, carotenoids, antioxidant enzymes, and plant hormones were improved with PGPB treatment. Crop yield and yield components were also increased with PGPB treatment in numerous crops. The anatomical structure of plant organs was increased such as… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    The Cotton GhWRKY91 Gene Negatively Regulates Root Elongation in Overexpressed Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana

    Yueying Liu, Yuqing Wang, Lijiao Gu
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.92, No.11, pp. 2937-2946, 2023, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2023.043306
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Abiotic and Biotic Stress Tolerance in Crop)
    Abstract WRKY transcription factors play important roles in plant growth, development, and stress responses. Our previous research has shown that the GhWRKY91 gene can delay age-, abscisic acid (ABA)-, and drought-induced leaf senescence when overexpressed in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. To explore in more depth the biological functions of the GhWRKY91 gene, we further observed the root growth of overexpressing transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana under ABA and drought treatment. In this study, we transplanted the germinated seeds of wild-type (WT) and three transgenic lines (OE-12, OE-13 and OE-20) to 1/2 MS solid medium containing ABA and different concentrations of mannitol (simulated drought treatment)… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Transcriptomic Responses of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) to Heat and Drought Stresses

    Seung Hee Eom, Tae Kyung Hyun
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.92, No.11, pp. 3077-3090, 2023, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2023.044032
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Abiotic and Biotic Stress Tolerance in Crop)
    Abstract Heat and drought are prominent abiotic stressors that limit crop productivity and yield, particularly concerning climate change; therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying plant stress responses is crucial for stress-tolerant crop production. This study conducted a transcriptomic analysis to elucidate how garlic (Allium sativum L.) responds to drought and heat stress conditions. Transcriptome libraries were generated to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) induced by drought and heat stresses. Functional classification and clustering analysis of DEGs revealed stress-specific gene expression patterns. Notably, cell wall-related genes were implicated in the drought response, whereas heat stress was associated with heat stress transcription factors… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Osmotic Regulation, Antioxidant Enzyme Activities and Photosynthetic Characteristics of Tree Peony ( Andr.) in Response to High-Temperature Stress

    Zhipeng Sheng, Jiasong Meng, Jun Tao, Daqiu Zhao
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.92, No.11, pp. 3133-3147, 2023, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2023.028818
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Abiotic and Biotic Stress Tolerance in Crop)
    Abstract

    Tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa Andr.) is a traditional Chinese flower, which prefers cool weather. However, high temperature in summer in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River restricts its growth and development. In this study, osmotic regulation, antioxidant enzyme activities, and photosynthetic characteristics of tree peony in response to high-temperature stress were investigated. The results showed that high-temperature stress had destroyed the cell membrane, manifested as the increased relative electrical conductivity and malondialdehyde content. Moreover, high-temperature stress led to excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species, thereby, activating antioxidant enzyme activities. Also, photosynthetic parameters and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters directly… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    The Function of GABA in Plant Cell Growth, Development and Stress Response

    Yue Jin, Lulu Zhi, Xin Tang, Yilin Chen, John T. Hancock, Xiangyang Hu
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.92, No.8, pp. 2211-2225, 2023, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2023.026595
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Abiotic and Biotic Stress Tolerance in Crop)
    Abstract Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a ubiquitous four-carbon non-protein amino acid that is involved in various physiological processes of plant growth and development, such as root architecture, stem elongation, leaf senescence, pollen tube growth, fruit ripening, and seed germination. GABA is also related to plant stress responses, such as drought, salt, cold, and heat stresses. Regulation of GABA in plant stress responses is complex and involves multiple signaling pathways, including calcium and hormone signaling. This paper systematically reviews the synthesis, metabolic pathways and regulatory role of GABA in plants, which will provide new insights into the understanding of plant growth and… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    The Physiological Mechanisms Underlying N2-Fixing Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Tolerance to Iron Deficiency

    Abdelmajid Krouma
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.92, No.7, pp. 2133-2150, 2023, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2023.029048
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Abiotic and Biotic Stress Tolerance in Crop)
    Abstract Iron is an essential element for plants as well as all living organisms, functioning in various physiological and biochemical processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, DNA synthesis, and N2 fixation. In the soil, Fe bioavailability is extremely low, especially under aerobic conditions and at high pH ranges. In contrast, plants with nodules on their roots that fix atmospheric nitrogen need much more iron. To highlight the physiological traits underlying the tolerance of N2-fixing common bean to iron deficiency, two genotypes were hydroponically cultivated in a greenhouse: Coco nain (CN) and Coco blanc (CB). Plants were inoculated with an efficient strain of… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Physiological and Biochemical Mechanisms of Salinity Tolerance in Carex morrowii Boott

    Aysegul Akpinar
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.92, No.7, pp. 2197-2210, 2023, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2023.029006
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Abiotic and Biotic Stress Tolerance in Crop)
    Abstract Carex species are widely used in many parts of the world and contain a large number of ecologically diverse species. Among the Carex species, some of them are known to be glycophytes, while others are halophytes. Carex morrowii Boott (Cyperaceae) is resistant to trample through their root structure and has an essential ornamental value in the landscape with their leaves. However, no information was found about the level of salinity tolerance/ sensitivity of the Carex morrowii among these species. In the present study, changes in trace element contents (Na, K, Ca, Cu, Mn, Mg, Ni, Fe, P, Zn, and N)… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Melatonin Promotes Rice Seed Germination under Drought Stress by Regulating Antioxidant Capacity

    Luqian Zhang, Xilin Fang, Nan Yu, Jun Chen, Haodong Wang, Quansheng Shen, Guanghui Chen, Yue Wang
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.92, No.5, pp. 1571-1587, 2023, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2023.025481
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Abiotic and Biotic Stress Tolerance in Crop)
    Abstract Drought stress is a serious threat to the germination of plant seeds and the growth of seedlings. Melatonin has been proven to play an important role in alleviating plant stress. However, its effect on seed germination under drought conditions is still poorly understood. Therefore, we studied the effects of melatonin on rice seed germination and physiological characteristics under drought stress. Rice seeds were treated with different concentrations of melatonin (i.e., 0, 20, 100, and 500 μM) and drought stress was simulated with 5% polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG6000). The results showed that 100 μM melatonin can effectively improve the germination potential,… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Identification and Evaluation of Insect and Disease Resistance in Transgenic Cry1Ab13-1 and NPR1 Maize

    Yongjing Xi, Zhou Yang, Yukun Jin, Jing Qu, Shuyan Guan, Siyan Liu, Piwu Wang
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.92, No.4, pp. 1257-1274, 2023, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2023.025918
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Abiotic and Biotic Stress Tolerance in Crop)
    Abstract PCR detection, quantitative real-time PCR (q-RTPCR), outdoor insect resistance, and disease resistance identification were carried out for the detection of genetic stability and disease resistance through generations (T2, T3, and T4) in transgenic maize germplasms (S3002 and 349) containing the bivalent genes (insect resistance gene Cry1Ab13-1 and disease resistance gene NPR1) and their corresponding wild type. Results indicated that the target genes Cry1Ab13-1 and NPR1 were successfully transferred into both germplasms through tested generations; q-PCR confirmed the expression of Cry1Ab13-1 and NPR1 genes in roots, stems, and leaves of tested maize plants. In addition, S3002 and 349 bivalent gene-transformed lines… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    The Improvement of Soybean Salt Tolerance by Overexpressed GmPAO1

    Yeyao Du, Yang Song, Ye Zhang, Sujie Fan, Hanzhu Zhang, Piwu Wang
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.92, No.4, pp. 1109-1124, 2023, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2023.025503
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Abiotic and Biotic Stress Tolerance in Crop)
    Abstract Polyamines play an important regulatory role during plant growth and development and adversity stress, and polyamine oxidase (PAO) is involved in polyamine catabolism. In this study, an up-regulated polyamine oxidase gene GmPAO1 was obtained by transcriptome sequencing analysis and screening at soybean seedling stages. Also, its expression pattern and function were analyzed. The identification results of transgenic GmPAO1 soybean positive lines showed that the relative expression level of GmPAO1 in the overexpressed lines was increased under salt stress. With increasing stress concentration, the seed germination rate decreased. However, the seed germination rate of the overexpressed lines was significantly higher than… More >

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