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Applied Sciences
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Plant Response to Arid Environment
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Plant Response to Arid Environment

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2020) | Viewed by 40890

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Cecilia Brunetti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection (IPSP), I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
Interests: plant biology; plant physiology and biochemistry; ecophysiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Antonella Gori

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
Interests: plant physiology; secondary metabolites; plant biochemistry; antioxidants; drought stress; poly-phenols; plant water relations; environmental stresses; photosynthesis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Arid environments are defined by the dominant role of water in limiting the activities of life. Plants have evolved numerous adaptations that allow them to survive in these harsh environments and to deal with water deficits. Survival strategies involve adjustments at many levels, from gene expression, through individual plant physiological and biochemical processes, to ecosystem levels. Understanding the mechanisms that underlie the response of plants to water scarcity is an urgent problem in arid environments, particularly considering that these ecosystems are prone to land degradation or desertification and are characterized by shrub encroachment, invasion by exotic species, and loss of total perennial vegetation cover. This Special Issue focuses on the responses of plants that enable them to survive in arid environments and deal with the adaptation of individual species or populations to drought in terms of physiology, water relations, and biochemical mechanisms.

Dr. Cecilia Brunetti
Dr. Antonella Gori
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Arid environments
  • Plant physiology
  • Plant vulnerability
  • Drought
  • Plant metabolism
  • Climate change

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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25 pages, 2890 KiB  
Article
Physiological and Biochemical Behaviors of Date Palm Vitroplants Treated with Microbial Consortia and Compost in Response to Salt Stress
by Salma Toubali, Abdel-ilah Tahiri, Mohamed Anli, Sarah Symanczik, Abderrahim Boutasknit, Mohamed Ait-El-Mokhtar, Raja Ben-Laouane, Khalid Oufdou, Youssef Ait-Rahou, Hela Ben-Ahmed, Martin Jemo, Mohamed Hafidi and Abdelilah Meddich
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(23), 8665; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10238665 - 03 Dec 2020
Cited by 30 | Viewed by 2683
Abstract
The main challenge of the agricultural sector is to develop new ecological technologies that increase the yields and the tolerance of crops to abiotic constraints, especially in arid areas. The objective of this study was to test the potential roles of biofertilizers, namely, [...] Read more.
The main challenge of the agricultural sector is to develop new ecological technologies that increase the yields and the tolerance of crops to abiotic constraints, especially in arid areas. The objective of this study was to test the potential roles of biofertilizers, namely, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), a native AMF consortium (AMF1) and an exotic AMF strain (AMF2); plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR); and compost (comp), applied separately or in combination, in improving the tolerance of date palm vitroplants to salt stress. Plants were grown under non-stressed (0 mM NaCl) or stressed conditions (120 and 240 mM NaCl). Salt stress negatively affected growth and physiological parameters. However, biofertilizers used alone or in combination increased these traits in either the presence or absence of salinity. The two tripartite combinations PGPR+AMF1+Comp and PGPR+AMF2+Comp efficiently increased plant height compared to the controls, with respective enhancements of 47% and 48% under non-stressed conditions (0 mM), 44% and 43% under 120 mM NaCl and 42% and 41% under 240 mM NaCl. Moreover, under 240 mM NaCl level, the PGPR, AMF1+Comp and PGPR+AMF1+Comp treatments improved the shoot dry weight by 128%, 122% and 113% respectively compared to the stressed control plants submitted to 240 mM NaCl. The tripartite combinations PGPR+AMF1/AMF2+Comp improved salt stress tolerance of plants by increasing plant growth, accumulation of osmotic adjustment compounds and antioxidant enzyme activity compared to control plants and the other treatments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Response to Arid Environment)
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10 pages, 2327 KiB  
Article
Effects of a Trench as a Moisture Harvesting Structure on the Biomass Production and Growth of Trees Planted to Restore Degraded Land, Southern Ethiopia
by Shiferaw Alem, Petr Němec and Hana Habrová
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(23), 8560; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10238560 - 30 Nov 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2059
Abstract
Knowledge about the biomass productivity of trees planted in a rainwater harvesting structure, i.e., a trench (T), relative to a normal pit (P) on degraded land is scarce. The objective of this research paper is to compare the effect [...] Read more.
Knowledge about the biomass productivity of trees planted in a rainwater harvesting structure, i.e., a trench (T), relative to a normal pit (P) on degraded land is scarce. The objective of this research paper is to compare the effect of T with P on the growth and biomass production of the Acacia saligna and Casuarina equisetifolia which were planted on degraded land. All the individual stems of both species in the T and P, their diameters at breast height (DBH) and heights in 2016 and 2020 were measured. Species-specific allometric equations were used to quantify the biomass production of the studied species. The t-tests were used for data analysis; both A. saligna and C. equisetifolia individuals planted in the T had higher DBH and height increment as compared with A. saligna and C. equisetifolia that were planted and grown in a P. The results also revealed significant differences on the mean DBH and height of A. saligna and C. equisetifolia planted in a T and P (p < 0.05). Between 2016 and 2020, the total biomass (TB) of A. saligna planted in a T and in a P increased significantly (p < 0.05) on average by 25.5 kg/tree and 7.7 kg/tree, respectively (p < 0.05). Similarly, the mean TB values of the C. equisetifolia planted in a T and a P between 2016 and 2020 increased significantly (p < 0.05) by 28.9 kg/tree and 13.1 kg/tree, respectively. Finally, establishing trenches to restore degraded lands was shown to facilitate growth and biomass production of planted species on degraded land. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Response to Arid Environment)
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12 pages, 3203 KiB  
Article
Biomass Dynamics in a Fragment of Brazilian Tropical Forest (Caatinga) over Consecutive Dry Years
by Diego A. Campos, Eunice M. Andrade, Andréa D. A. Castanho, Ramon C. Feitosa and Helba Q. A. Palácio
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(21), 7813; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10217813 - 04 Nov 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2591
Abstract
Increases in water scarcity due to climate change, especially in dry regions, can affect the dynamics of successional species. In view of the longest sequence of dry years (2010–2019) to have occurred in the Brazilian semi-arid region, with a consequent reduction in water [...] Read more.
Increases in water scarcity due to climate change, especially in dry regions, can affect the dynamics of successional species. In view of the longest sequence of dry years (2010–2019) to have occurred in the Brazilian semi-arid region, with a consequent reduction in water availability, the influence of rainfall distribution on the production of above-ground plant biomass was investigated in a Dry Tropical Forest (DTF). This natural change monitoring experiment was conducted over 11 years (2009–2019) in a fragment of DTF under regeneration for 40 years, in the district of Iguatu, Ceará, Brazil. All living individuals of the woody component with a Diameter at Ground Level (DGL) ≥3 cm and a height (h) ≥100 cm were measured during 2009–2010, 2015–2016, 2018–2019. Biomass production was calculated using an allometric equation defined for DTF species. A mean mortality rate of 134 ind. ha−1 yr−1 was registered, with a recruitment of 39 ind. ha−1 yr−1, generating a mean deficit of 95 ind. ha−1 yr−1. The mean reduction in biomass was 3.26 Mg ha−1 yr−1. Climate conditions during consecutive dry years have a direct effect on the mortality and recruitment of woody species, with a recruitment/mortality ratio of 0.11. Shrubby-tree individuals of smaller diameter showed less resilience to the cumulative effect of drought. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Response to Arid Environment)
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18 pages, 1999 KiB  
Article
Eco-Physiological Traits and Phenylpropanoid Profiling on Potted Vitis vinifera L. cv Pinot Noir Subjected to Ascophyllum nodosum Treatments under Post-Veraison Low Water Availability
by Linda Salvi, Cecilia Brunetti, Eleonora Cataldo, Paolo Storchi and Giovan Battista Mattii
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(13), 4473; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10134473 - 28 Jun 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2015
Abstract
In Mediterranean regions, extreme weather conditions during the growing season may alter grapevine physiology and metabolism, thus modifying the quality of wines. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Ascophyllum nodosum treatments on plant physiology and berry metabolism in [...] Read more.
In Mediterranean regions, extreme weather conditions during the growing season may alter grapevine physiology and metabolism, thus modifying the quality of wines. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Ascophyllum nodosum treatments on plant physiology and berry metabolism in Vitis vinifera exposed to water stress. The experiment was performed on potted vines subjected to two irrigation regimes (well-watered, WW, and water stressed, WS) both associated with A. nodosum treatments (SWE), compared with control plants (CTRL). Gas exchanges, chlorophyll fluorescence, and water relations were monitored on SWE and CTRL leaves, both in WW and WS vines at three times. Moreover, the quantification of secondary metabolites and their partitioning were performed in berry skins. Plants treated with A. nodosum extract showed higher photosynthesis and stomatal conductance than CTRL in both irrigation regimes and maintained a better plant hydraulic conductivity at the end of the sampling period. In addition, secondary metabolites in berry skins and their partitioning were significantly affected by the treatments in both irrigation regimes. Our results suggest that foliar application of A. nodosum extract may help the acclimation of grapevines to post-veraison water stress, likely improving plant physiological and biochemical performances under environmental constraints. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Response to Arid Environment)
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Review

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13 pages, 910 KiB  
Review
Opportunities and Threats of Mediterranean Evergreen Sclerophyllous Woody Species Subjected to Extreme Drought Events
by Filippo Bussotti and Martina Pollastrini
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(23), 8458; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10238458 - 27 Nov 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2526
Abstract
Climate change and extreme drought and heat events impact the Mediterranean evergreen sclerophyllous vegetation in South Europe, especially in Iberian and Italian peninsula, where widespread crown defoliation and dieback have been observed since the 90s of the XX century. Field observations and long-term [...] Read more.
Climate change and extreme drought and heat events impact the Mediterranean evergreen sclerophyllous vegetation in South Europe, especially in Iberian and Italian peninsula, where widespread crown defoliation and dieback have been observed since the 90s of the XX century. Field observations and long-term experiments showed different sensitivity of the various woody species, Quercus ilex and Arbutus unedo being prone to drought, whereas Phillyrea latifolia and Pistacia lentiscus appeared to be resistant. The present review aims at exploring the phylogenetic and evolutionary basis of the resistance (or susceptibility) to drought of Mediterranean vegetation and its possible mechanisms of resilience. The main findings are summarized as follows: (1) Mediterranean regions in the world are refuge areas for several plant evolutive lineages and migratory routes. Evergreen sclerophyllous species, currently presented in Mediterranean basin, evolved under different climatic conditions; (2) the evergreen habitus represents an adaptation to mild drought conditions. Deciduous (specially summer deciduous) species are better performing under severe drought and low air relative humidity than evergreen species; (3) severe drought events acts selectively by favouring the species evolved in the Quaternary era and those originated in drier regions; (4) the evergreen trees and shrubs are resilient to the severe drought events and can restore the pre-event condition by resprouting from dormant buds in the cambium tissue. This ability is related to the non-structural carbohydrate content in the parenchyma-rays in woody stems. The amount and availability of these strategic reserve can be compromised by frequent drought events; (5) plant seed regeneration can be affected by drought and seedling establishment may be limited by soil dryness and microenvironment conditions; (6) the role of phenotypic plasticity of the species and epigenetic responses in Mediterranean-type ecosystems, although discussed in few papers, is still poorly known. We hypothesize that instead of latitudinal (South to North) or altitudinal (lowland to upland) plant migrations, Mediterranean forest ecosystems may respond to climate change by modulating their species composition and community structure with genetic resources (i.e., taxonomic diversity) already present in loco. Changes in vegetation assemblages and community structure may lead changes in ecological and landscape ecosystem values, with changes in related ecosystem services. A redefinition of management criteria of natural resources and a pro-active silviculture to make forest ecosystems more resilient are required. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Response to Arid Environment)
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15 pages, 601 KiB  
Review
Abscisic Acid Biosynthesis and Signaling in Plants: Key Targets to Improve Water Use Efficiency and Drought Tolerance
by Amanda A. Cardoso, Antonella Gori, Cristiane J. Da-Silva and Cecilia Brunetti
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(18), 6322; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10186322 - 11 Sep 2020
Cited by 42 | Viewed by 9917
Abstract
The observation of a much-improved fitness of wild-type plants over abscisic acid (ABA)-deficient mutants during drought has led researchers from all over to world to perform experiments aiming at a better understanding of how this hormone modulates the physiology of plants under water-limited [...] Read more.
The observation of a much-improved fitness of wild-type plants over abscisic acid (ABA)-deficient mutants during drought has led researchers from all over to world to perform experiments aiming at a better understanding of how this hormone modulates the physiology of plants under water-limited conditions. More recently, several promising approaches manipulating ABA biosynthesis and signaling have been explored to improve water use efficiency and confer drought tolerance to major crop species. Here, we review recent progress made in the last decade on (i) ABA biosynthesis, (ii) the roles of ABA on plant-water relations and on primary and secondary metabolisms during drought, and (iii) the regulation of ABA levels and perception to improve water use efficiency and drought tolerance in crop species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Response to Arid Environment)
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19 pages, 1993 KiB  
Review
The Impact of Drought in Plant Metabolism: How to Exploit Tolerance Mechanisms to Increase Crop Production
by Dhriti Kapoor, Savita Bhardwaj, Marco Landi, Arti Sharma, Muthusamy Ramakrishnan and Anket Sharma
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(16), 5692; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10165692 - 17 Aug 2020
Cited by 285 | Viewed by 15665
Abstract
Plants are often exposed to unfavorable environmental conditions, for instance abiotic stresses, which dramatically alter distribution of plant species among ecological niches and limit the yields of crop species. Among these, drought stress is one of the most impacting factors which alter seriously [...] Read more.
Plants are often exposed to unfavorable environmental conditions, for instance abiotic stresses, which dramatically alter distribution of plant species among ecological niches and limit the yields of crop species. Among these, drought stress is one of the most impacting factors which alter seriously the plant physiology, finally leading to the decline of the crop productivity. Drought stress causes in plants a set of morpho-anatomical, physiological and biochemical changes, mainly addressed to limit the loss of water by transpiration with the attempt to increase the plant water use efficiency. The stomata closure, one of the first consistent reactions observed under drought, results in a series of consequent physiological/biochemical adjustments aimed at balancing the photosynthetic process as well as at enhancing the plant defense barriers against drought-promoted stress (e.g., stimulation of antioxidant systems, accumulation of osmolytes and stimulation of aquaporin synthesis), all representing an attempt by the plant to overcome the unfavorable period of limited water availability. In view of the severe changes in water availability imposed by climate change factors and considering the increasing human population, it is therefore of outmost importance to highlight: (i) how plants react to drought; (ii) the mechanisms of tolerance exhibited by some species/cultivars; and (iii) the techniques aimed at increasing the tolerance of crop species against limited water availability. All these aspects are necessary to respond to the continuously increasing demand for food, which unfortunately parallels the loss of arable land due to changes in rainfall dynamics and prolonged period of drought provoked by climate change factors. This review summarizes the most updated findings on the impact of drought stress on plant morphological, biochemical and physiological features and highlights plant mechanisms of tolerance which could be exploited to increase the plant capability to survive under limited water availability. In addition, possible applicative strategies to help the plant in counteracting unfavorable drought periods are also discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Response to Arid Environment)
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Other

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10 pages, 962 KiB  
Brief Report
Combined Effects of Water Deficit, Exogenous Ethylene Application and Root Symbioses on Trigonelline and ABA Accumulation in Fenugreek
by Simin Irankhah, Fabiano Sillo, Luca Nerva, Ali Ganjeali, Raffaella Balestrini and Walter Chitarra
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(7), 2338; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10072338 - 29 Mar 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2244
Abstract
Secondary metabolites (SMs) have high economic impact thanks to their exploitability in chemical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Trigonella foenum-graecum has an importance due to the production of bioactive compounds with pharmaceutical values. Among them, the alkaloid trigonelline is known for its role in [...] Read more.
Secondary metabolites (SMs) have high economic impact thanks to their exploitability in chemical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Trigonella foenum-graecum has an importance due to the production of bioactive compounds with pharmaceutical values. Among them, the alkaloid trigonelline is known for its role in the treatment of different human diseases. SM accumulation is influenced by environmental factors but is modulated by the application of exogenous compounds. Ethephon, a precursor of the phytohormone ethylene, was already used to influence SM accumulation. Our work is aimed at evaluating the accumulation of trigonelline and the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) when three factors were combined: i) two levels of water regimes (well-watered and water deficit), ii) ethephon treatments and iii) inoculation with an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM)-based inoculum also leading to nodulation. The content of trigonelline and ABA was significantly affected by symbioses, showing high accumulation in AM-colonized plants irrespective of the water regimes applied. In terms of trigonelline accumulation with respect to ethephon treatments, while symbiotic plants showed a dose-dependent trend, non-symbiotic plants showed a significantly difference only when 550 ppm of ethephon was applied. In conclusion, our work provides new information on the effects of both ethephon and symbioses on plant growth and accumulation of valuable compounds, such as trigonelline, in fenugreek. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Response to Arid Environment)
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