Special Issues
Table of Content

Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crop Plants: Physio-biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms

Submission Deadline: 31 October 2025 (closed) View: 1331 Submit to Journal

Guest Editors

A/Prof. Ahmed El Moukhtari

Email: elmoukhtari.ahmed94@gmail.com 

Affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences Ben M’Sick, Hassan II University, Casablanca, PB 7955, MOROCCO

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Research Interests: abiotic stress, crop tolerance, plant physiology, plant biochemistry, transcription factors, molecular biology

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Prof. Mohamed Farissi

Email: farissimohamed@gmail.com 

Affiliation: Department of Biology, Polydisciplinary Faculty of Beni Mellal, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, PB 23000, MOROCCO

Homepage:

Research Interests: abioticctress, crop tolerance, transcription factors, biostimulant-biofertilizers, plant physiology, tolerance mechanisms

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Summary

Abiotic stresses, such as drought, heavy metals, salinity, nutrient deficiency, and extreme temperatures, are among the most common adverse threats that restrict land use for agriculture and limit crop growth and productivity. As sessile organisms, plants protect themselves from abiotic stresses by developing various tolerance mechanisms governed by several biochemical traits. These biochemicals are the products of key genes expressed under specific conditions. Interestingly, the expression of these genes is regulated by specialized proteins known as transcription factors (TFs). In fact, by binding to particular DNA sequences, TFs could act as molecular switches to either repressing or activating the transcription of the targeted genes. Moreover, previous studies have evidenced the critical role of TFs in regulating plant growth and development, morphogenesis, and responses to environmental changes. Thus, understanding the occurrence and interactions of molecular and physio-biochemical changes has been considered an interesting research area that could help in improving crop abiotic stress tolerance. In this regard, this special issue welcomes original research, reviews, and mini-reviews that highlight the latest exciting progress on the physio-biochemical and molecular levels of the adaptation of crop plants to abiotic constraints. Potential subjects for this topic include (but are not limited to):

· Climate change resilience of crops

· Growth and productivity of crops in the context of climate changes

· Physio-biochemical and molecular adaptations of crop plants to abiotic stress

· Identification of stress-responsive TFs, regulation networks, and their mechanisms of action under abiotic stress

· TFs and transgenic crops


Keywords

abiotic stress, crop tolerance, genetic engineering, molecular mechanisms, physio-biochemical adaptations, signaling pathway, transcription factors, transgenic plants

Published Papers


  • Open Access

    REVIEW

    Key Plant Transcription Factors in Crop Tolerance to Abiotic Stresses

    Nadia Lamsaadi, Oumaima Maarouf, Soukaina Lahmaoui, Hamid Msaad, Omar Farssi, Chaima Hamim, Mohamed Tamoudjout, Hafsa Hirt, Habiba Kamal, Majida El Hassni, Cherki Ghoulam, Ahmed El Moukhtari, Mohamed Farissi
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.11, pp. 3585-3610, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.072311
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crop Plants: Physio-biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms)
    Abstract Abiotic stresses, such as drought, heavy metals, salinity, and extreme temperatures, are among the most common adverse threats that restrict the use of land for agriculture and limit crop growth and productivity. As sessile organisms, plants defend themselves from abiotic stresses by developing various tolerance mechanisms. These mechanisms are governed by several biochemical traits. The biochemical mechanisms are the products of key genes that express under specific conditions. Interestingly, the expression of these genes is regulated by specialized proteins known as transcription factors (TFs). Several TFs, including those from the bZIP, bHLH, MYB, HSF, WRKY,… More >

  • Open Access

    REVIEW

    Melatonin Biosynthesis, Growth Regulation, and Adaptability to Environmental Stress in Plants

    Xiaomei He, Xiaoting Wan, Muhammad Arif , Ziyang Hu, Haiyu Wang, Muhammad Aamir Manzoor, Cheng Song
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 2985-3002, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.070697
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crop Plants: Physio-biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms)
    Abstract Melatonin is a multifunctional molecule found in all organisms that has been shown to play a crucial role in plant growth, development, and stress response. Plant melatonin is typically synthesized in organelles termed chloroplasts, and the mechanisms of its synthesis and metabolic pathways have been extensively studied. Melatonin serves a significant regulatory function in plant growth and development, influencing the morphological and physiological characteristics of plants by modulating biological processes. While studies on plant melatonin receptors are in their early stages compared to studies in animal receptors, the binding mechanism with melatonin is now recognized… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of FAR1 in Phaseolus vulgaris under Salt and Drought Stress Conditions

    Abdil Hakan Eren
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 3085-3107, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.069506
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crop Plants: Physio-biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms)
    Abstract The FAR1-related sequence (FAR1) gene family consists of transcription factors that originated from transposases and is crucial for light signaling and stress adaptation in plants. Despite the recognized importance of FAR1 genes in model organisms, their genomic architecture, structural variability, and expression patterns in Phaseolus vulgaris have yet to be investigated. This study offers the inaugural comprehensive genome-wide identification and characterization of the FAR1 gene family in P. vulgaris. A total of 27 PvulFAR1 genes were identified, and their chromosomal distribution, gene structures, conserved domains, and phylogenetic relationships were analyzed systematically. The promoter regions of these genes were discovered… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Citric Acid Optimizes Lead (Pb) Phytoextraction in Mung Bean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) by Regulating Nutrient Uptake and Photosynthesis

    Hafiza Saima Gul, Mumtaz Hussain, Tayyaba Sanaullah, Habib-ur-Rehman Athar, Ibrahim Al-Ashkar, Muhammad Kamran, Mohammed Antar, Ayman El Sabagh
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.9, pp. 2893-2909, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.058816
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crop Plants: Physio-biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms)
    Abstract The low efficiency of phytoextraction of lead (Pb) from agricultural fields poses a significant agricultural challenge. Organic chelating agents can influence Pb bioavailability in soil, affecting its uptake, transport, and toxicity in plants. This study aimed to assess the impact of citric acid (CA) and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) on chelate-assisted phytoextraction of Pb and its effect on growth and physiology of two cultivars (07001; 07002) of mung bean (Vigna radiata). The cultivars of mung bean were exposed to 60 mg·L−1 lead chloride (PbCl2) solution, with or without the addition of 300 mg·L−1 CA or 500 mg·L−1 DTPA, until… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Ascorbic Acid Alleviates Salt Stress on the Physiology and Growth of Guava Seedlings

    Jackson Silva Nóbrega, Geovani Soares de Lima, Jean Telvio Andrade Ferreira, Julio Cesar Agostinho da Silva, Lauriane Almeida dos Anjos Soares, Valéria Fernandes de Oliveira Sousa, Paulo Vinicius de Oliveira Freire, Reynaldo Teodoro de Fátima, Flávia de Sousa Almeida, Hans Raj Gheyi, Josemir Moura Maia
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.5, pp. 1587-1600, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.063633
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crop Plants: Physio-biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms)
    Abstract The Northeast region is the main producer of guava in Brazil, generating employment and income. However, water availability means that producer’s resort to using water with high salinity, which harms plant development, especially during the seedling formation phase. The adoption of techniques that mitigate the deleterious effect of salinity is increasingly necessary, such as the use of elicitors such as ascorbic acid. The purpose of this study was to analyze the morphophysiology of guava seedlings under saline and ascorbic acid levels. The study was carried out by applying treatments composed of five saline levels (SL… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Impact of Drought, Salinity, and Waterlogging on Wheat: Physiological, Biochemical Responses, and Yield Implications

    Mudasser Mehmood, Zoahaib Aslam Khan, Adil Mehmood, Madiha Zaynab, Muhammad Atiq ur Rahman, Mohammad Khalid Al-Sadoon, M. Harshini, Ling Shing Wong
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.4, pp. 1111-1135, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.059812
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crop Plants: Physio-biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms)
    Abstract Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a staple crop critical for global food security, yet its productivity is significantly affected by abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and waterlogging, which are exacerbated by climate change. This study evaluated the effects of these stresses on vegetative growth, physiological responses, and yield. Field experiments were conducted using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) at the Mona Reclamation Experimental Project (MREP), WAPDA, Bhalwal, Sargodha, Punjab Pakistan. Stress treatments included three levels of drought (25%, 50%, and 75% field capacity), salinity (4, 8, and 12 dS/m), and waterlogging (24, 48, and… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Assessment of Salinity Tolerance and Ecotypic Variability in Vicia narbonensis L.: Morphological, Physiological, and Biochemical Responses

    Hocine Bougrine, Salah Hadjout, Mohamed Zouidi, Abdeldjalil Belkendil, Amer Zeghmar, Chaouki Boulekdam, Walid Ouaret, Walid Soufan, Fathi Abdellatif Belhouadjeb, Amar Mebarkia
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.1, pp. 251-267, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.060096
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crop Plants: Physio-biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms)
    Abstract Salinity stress is a major challenge for global agriculture, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, limiting plant productivity due to water and soil salinity. These conditions particularly affect countries along the southern Mediterranean rim, including Algeria, which primarily focuses on pastoral and forage practices. This study investigates salinity tolerance and ecotypic variability in Vicia narbonensis L., a fodder legume species recognized for its potential to reclaim marginal soils. Morphological, physiological, and biochemical responses were assessed in three ecotypes (eco2, eco9, and eco10) exposed to different salinity levels (low, moderate, and severe). The study was conducted using… More >

  • Open Access

    REVIEW

    The Role of Phytohormones in Alleviating Salt Stress in Rice

    Lili Guo, Huiwen Yu, Chenxi Zhang, Mourad Kharbach
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.12, pp. 3131-3149, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.058622
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crop Plants: Physio-biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms)
    Abstract Rice is a crucial food crop globally. Soil salt stress has adverse effects on the physiology and biochemistry of rice, leading to ionic toxicity and disrupted metabolism. Research aimed at improving salt tolerance and understanding its underlying mechanisms in rice is becoming increasingly important. Phytohormones are crucial in managing rice’s reaction to salt stress by controlling its physiological and biochemical functions. Some phytohormones can improve salt tolerance in rice by affecting gene programming, protein expression, and salt stress signaling, thereby helping rice adapt to salt-stressed environments. This review highlights recent advancements in understanding how various More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Construction of a Yeast Hybrid Library and Identification of Proteins Regulating CaABI3/VP1-1 Expression in Capsicum annuum var. conoides

    Huiru Deng, Huan Tian, Liuyan Yang, Siyang Ou, Hui Wang, Guangdong Geng, Suqin Zhang
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.12, pp. 3273-3291, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.058638
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crop Plants: Physio-biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms)
    Abstract Hot pepper (Capsicum annuum var. conoides) is a significant vegetable that is widely cultivated around the world. Currently, global climate change has caused frequent severe weather events, and waterlogging stress harms the pepper industry by affecting the planting period, growth conditions, and disease susceptibility. The gene CaABI3/VP1-1 could improve pepper waterlogging tolerance. In order to explore the upstream regulatory mechanism of CaABI3/VP1-1, a high-quality standardized yeast hybrid library was successfully constructed for yeast one-, two-, and three-hybrid screening using pepper ‘ZHC2’ as the experimental material, with a library recombinant efficiency of up to 100%. The length of inserted… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Effect of Shading on Nodule Growth at Seedling Stage in Relay Strip Intercropping System

    Xiaobo Yu, Jiangang An, Mingrong Zhang, Haiying Wu, Taiwen Yong, Wenyu Yang
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.12, pp. 3387-3399, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.058494
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crop Plants: Physio-biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms)
    Abstract Relay strip intercropping (RSI) increases soybean nodule number and nitrogen fixation activity at the reproductive stage more than monocropping (M), but the effect of changes in the environment, especially light, on nodules during the coexistence duration and vegetative stage, is unclear. To determine the impact of shading on nodule development at the seedling stage, nodule traits, distribution, and physiological function were compared between M and RSI in a potting experiment in a field environment. Compared with M, nodule number and weight decreased significantly (an average of 81.77% and 93.16%, respectively); thus, the exponential relationship… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Revealing the Effect of Different Nitrogen Fertilizer Levels on Rice Yield through Metabolite Evaluation

    Yanhong Zhang, Tong Sun, Jinyan Zhu, Qiangqiang Xiong, Jinlong Hu, Haipeng Zhang, Nianbing Zhou, Hongcheng Zhang
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.12, pp. 3573-3587, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.057690
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crop Plants: Physio-biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms)
    Abstract We investigated the differences in metabolites related to rice yield under different nitrogen fertilizer levels and the regulatory roles of key metabolites in metabolic pathways, in the hope of providing data support from the metabolite level for further regulation of rice yield. This study focused on the rice variety Yangchan 15002 and used non-targeted metabolomics methods to detect the metabolic products of rice leaves under three nitrogen fertilizer levels. The yield of oryza sativa plants under high nitrogen (A3: 315 kg/ha) conditions was significantly higher than that of plants under medium (A2: 270 kg/ha) and… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Genome-Wide Identification of ALDH Gene Family under Salt and Drought Stress in Phaseolus vulgaris

    Abdil Hakan Eren
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.11, pp. 2883-2907, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.058627
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crop Plants: Physio-biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms)
    Abstract Background: Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) genes constitute an important family of supergenes that play key roles in synthesizing various biomolecules and maintaining cellular homeostasis by catalyzing the oxidation of aldehyde products. With climate change increasing the exposure of plants to abiotic stresses such as salt and drought, ALDH genes have been identified as important contributors to stress tolerance. In particular, they help to reduce stress-induced lipid peroxidation. Objectives: This study aims to identify and characterize members of the ALDH supergene family in Phaseolus vulgaris through a genome-wide bioinformatic analysis and investigate their role in response to abiotic stressors such… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Mitigation of Detrimental Effects of Salinity on Sweet Pepper through Biochar-Based Fertilizers Derived from Date Palm Wastes

    Adil Mihoub, Mohammed Mesnoua, Nabil Touzout, Reguia Zeguerrou, Nourelislm Siabdallah, Chawqi Benchikh, Saliha Benaoune, Aftab Jamal, Domenico Ronga, Jakub Černý
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.11, pp. 2993-3011, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.057536
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crop Plants: Physio-biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms)
    Abstract Globally, salinity is a brutal environmental constraint that poses a major threat to agriculture worldwide, causing nutrient imbalances and oxidative stress, leading to reduced crop yields and quality. Date palm waste from the agro-industry is a major environmental problem, but its conversion to biochar for soil amendment could help alleviate the effects of salinity stress. Pepper is a commonly grown horticultural crop that is sensitive to salinity. That’s why the current experiment was conducted with the novel idea of exploring the potential use of biochar-based fertilizer derived from date palm waste as a mitigation strategy… More >

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