Guest Editors
Dr. Fabrizio Barozzi
Email: fabrizio.barozzi@unisalento.it
Affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (Di.S.Te.B.A.), University of Salento, Campus Ecotekne, 73100 Lecce, Italy
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Research Interests: confocal microscopy, endomembrane system, chloroplast, photosystem, moss, Phiscomitrella patens, Taxifyllum barbieri, Leptodictyum riparium, Vesicularia montagnei, phytoremediation, HM, Arabidopsis thaliana, plant physiology, molecular biology
Summary
Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) are essential compounds (natural or synthetic) that orchestrate a myriad of critical processes governing plant growth and development. These multifaceted substances significantly impact key physiological mechanisms such as cell division, elongation, differentiation, and flowering, thereby fine-tuning plants' responses to their dynamic environments. PGRs include well-studied compounds such as auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, abscisic acid, and ethylene, as well as recently discovered and less-characterized substances with growth-regulating effects, such as polyamines, brassinosteroids, jasmonates, salicylic acid, peptides, and strigolactones. In light of environmental challenges, PGRs take on an even more pivotal role in aiding plants' management of stress. Abiotic stressors, such as drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, and nutrient deficiencies, can severely impact plant health, growth, and crop yields. Through the strategic application of PGRs, plants can strengthen their defenses against these adversities. For example, abscisic acid is vital in the plant's drought response, triggering a cascade of signals that result in stomatal closure, thereby reducing water loss. Concurrently, cytokinins can bolster a plant's ability to cope with oxidative stress by promoting the production of antioxidants and enhancing overall vigor. Exploring the intricate relationships between PGRs and plant stress responses opens new pathways for agricultural innovation. By leveraging these growth regulators, both farmers and researchers can devise effective strategies to enhance crop resilience and optimize growth under increasingly unpredictable environmental conditions. As the challenges posed by climate change and resource scarcity grow increasingly urgent, understanding and utilizing PGRs in sustainable agriculture becomes all the more critical.
Keywords
PGRs, plant stress, plant physiology, molecular mechanisms, , stress tolerance, sustainable agriculture
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