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Horticulturae
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Research Advances in Plant Stress Biology
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Research Advances in Plant Stress Biology

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Biotic and Abiotic Stress".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 May 2024 | Viewed by 8991

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Qingmei Guan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shanxi, China
Interests: molecular mechanisms of plant responses to abiotic stress (extreme temperatures and drought stress); Molecular marker-assisted apple breeding at whole-genome level with stress- resistant traits
Dr. Vincent G.M. Bus

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Plant & Food Research, Private Bag 1401, Havelock North 4157, New Zealand
Interests: durable pest and disease resistance; host-pathogen interaction; genetics of resistance; resistance breeding; fruit crops

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Adverse environments are defining the production of horticultural crops worldwide. As sessile organisms, horticultural crops are continuously facing abiotic and biotic stresses and thus have evolved various strategies at the physiological, biochemical, and molecular levels. Understanding the physiological and molecular mechanisms of horticultural plants in response to stresses is pivotal for their improvement of stress tolerance. We encourage the submission of high-quality research articles that

1. provide novel insights into stress tolerance, adaptation, or evolution of horticultural plants;

2. engineer stress-tolerant horticultural plants;

3. generate useful tools for the evaluation of stress tolerance in horticultural plants.

Prof. Dr. Qingmei Guan
Dr. Vincent G.M. Bus
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. Horticulturae is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2200 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

  • horticultural crops
  • abiotic stress
  • biotic stress
  • transcriptome
  • metabolome
  • molecular mechanism

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 3676 KiB  
Article
Transcriptional Effects of Rootstock on Scion after Drought: A Case Study of Using MdGH3 RNAi as the Rootstock
by Jieqiang He, Junxing Guo, Lijuan Jiang, Wenjing An, Fengwang Ma, Qingmei Guan and Chundong Niu
Horticulturae 2022, 8(12), 1212; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8121212 - 17 Dec 2022
Viewed by 1620
Abstract
Drought stress is an important environmental factor limiting apple yield and fruit quality. Previously, we identified GRETCHEN HAGEN3.6 (GH3.6) as a negative regulator of drought stress in apple trees. Using transgenic MdGH3 RNAi (knocking down MdGH3.6 and its five homologs) plants as rootstock [...] Read more.
Drought stress is an important environmental factor limiting apple yield and fruit quality. Previously, we identified GRETCHEN HAGEN3.6 (GH3.6) as a negative regulator of drought stress in apple trees. Using transgenic MdGH3 RNAi (knocking down MdGH3.6 and its five homologs) plants as rootstock can increase drought tolerance, water use efficiency, flowering, and fruit quality of the Fuji scion after drought stress. However, the molecular mechanism behind this phenomenon is still unknown. Here, we performed transcriptome sequencing of the grafted plants (Fuji/GL-3 where Fuji was used as the scion and non-transgenic GL-3 was used as the rootstock, and Fuji/MdGH3 RNAi where MdGH3 RNAi was used as the rootstock) under control and drought conditions. Under control conditions, 667 up-regulated genes and 176 down-regulated genes were identified in the scion of Fuji/MdGH3 RNAi, as compared to the scion of Fuji/GL-3. Moreover, 941 up-regulated genes and 2226 down-regulated genes were identified in the rootstock of MdGH3 RNAi plants relative to GL-3. GO terms of these differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in scion and rootstock showed associations with plant growth, fruit development, and stress responses. After drought stress, 220 up-regulated and 452 down-regulated genes were identified in MdGH3 RNAi rootstock, as compared to GL-3. Significantly enriched GO terms included response to abiotic stimulus, cell division, microtubule-based process, metabolic and biosynthetic process of flavonoid, pigment, and lignin. The comparison between the scion of Fuji/MdGH3 RNAi and Fuji/GL-3 yielded a smaller number of DEGs; however, all of them were significantly enriched in stress-related GO terms. Furthermore, 365 and 300 mRNAs could potentially move from MdGH3 RNAi rootstock to scion under control and drought conditions, respectively, including FIDDLEHEAD (FDH), RESPONSIVE TO DESICCATION 26 (RD26), ARS-binding factor 2 (ABF2), WRKY75, and ferritin (FER). Overall, our work demonstrates the effects of rootstock on scion at the transcriptional level after drought stress and provides theoretical support for further understanding and utilization of MdGH3 RNAi plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Advances in Plant Stress Biology)
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14 pages, 2231 KiB  
Article
Physiological Responses of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) to Soil Contamination with Pb
by Elena Ikkonen and Natalia Kaznina
Horticulturae 2022, 8(10), 951; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8100951 - 14 Oct 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1824
Abstract
Contamination of agricultural soils with heavy metal leads to a decrease in the crop quality and yield, as well as increases in public health risks. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of soil contamination with lead (Pb) on the growth, [...] Read more.
Contamination of agricultural soils with heavy metal leads to a decrease in the crop quality and yield, as well as increases in public health risks. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of soil contamination with lead (Pb) on the growth, photosynthesis, respiration, and coupling between these physiological processes, as well as temporal dynamics of Pb uptake and accumulation by lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) plants. For this 46-day pot experiment, Pb(NO3)2 was mixed with loamy Retisol soil with the rate of 0, 50, and 250 mg kg−1. No significant differences in plant biomass accumulation were found between plants grown on Pb-free and Pb-rich soil, but root-weight ratio, root-to-shoot weight ratio, and leaf area were lower, and the number of leaves and leaf weight per unit area were significantly higher in plants grown on soil contaminated with Pb than in their counterparts grown on Pb-free soil. The concentration of Pb in plant root and shoot followed the increase in soil Pb, with Pb content in the roots being higher than in the shoots. Soil Pb decreased chlorophyll content, net CO2 assimilation rate and photosynthetic light use efficiency, but caused an increase in the leaf respiration rate regardless of whether respiration was performed in the light or in darkness. Increased ratio of respiration to photosynthesis reflects the shift in the carbon balance of lettuce plants toward carbon losses under stress conditions of soil contamination with Pb. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Advances in Plant Stress Biology)
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16 pages, 2381 KiB  
Article
Effects of Fusarium proliferatum on Aboveground Physiological Indicators of Superior Apple Rootstock Line 12-2 (Malus spectabilis) with Improved Apple-Replant-Disease Resistance
by Xueli Cui, Xin Qin, Yangbo Liu, Yanli Hu, Zhiquan Mao, Xuesen Chen, Yunfei Mao and Xiang Shen
Horticulturae 2022, 8(8), 723; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8080723 - 11 Aug 2022
Viewed by 1496
Abstract
(1) Background: Cultivating resistant rootstocks is an effective way to mitigate apple replant disease (ARD), and we developed superior apple rootstock line 12-2 (self-named), which shows improved ARD resistance. (2) Methods: We used ARD-associated pathogen Fusarium proliferatum MR5 (MR5) to test the fungal [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Cultivating resistant rootstocks is an effective way to mitigate apple replant disease (ARD), and we developed superior apple rootstock line 12-2 (self-named), which shows improved ARD resistance. (2) Methods: We used ARD-associated pathogen Fusarium proliferatum MR5 (MR5) to test the fungal infection in the 12-2 line. Seedlings of the 12-2, T337, and M26 rootstock lines were planted in a substrate with potato dextrose broth and MR5 spore solution, and aboveground physiological indicators were measured. (3) Results: MR5 had the greatest effect on the leaf growth of T337 and M26. The incidence rates of infectious symptoms in the T337 and M26 lines were 68 and 100%, respectively. MR5 significantly affected the leaf chlorophyll content, ETR, and NPQ of T337 and M26, as well as Pn and Tr of M26. MR5 tended to reduce the leaf photosynthetic parameters of T337, but the decreases were not significant. The leaf reactive-oxygen-species levels of T337 and M26, the leaf antioxidant-enzyme activities of M26, and the superoxide-dismutase activity of T337 were significantly affected by MR5. MR5 also had a significant effect on the leaf malondialdehyde, proline, and soluble-sugar contents of T337 and M26. None of these aboveground physiological indicators were affected by MR5 in the 12-2 rootstock. (4) Conclusions: The 12-2 rootstock was more resistant to ARD-associated MR5 and could serve as an important test material for resistant-apple-rootstock breeding in China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Advances in Plant Stress Biology)
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14 pages, 5056 KiB  
Article
Identification and Functional Characterization of Apple MdCKX5.2 in Root Development and Abiotic Stress Tolerance
by Yang Liu, Xun Wang, Xiaofei Wang, Wensheng Gao and Chunxiang You
Horticulturae 2022, 8(1), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8010062 - 10 Jan 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1652
Abstract
Cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenases (CKXs) are the key enzymes in cytokinin degradation and have been widely studied in model plants. Little is known about apple’s (Malus×domestica) CKX genes. Here, using genome-wide analysis, we identified 10 MdCKX genes in apple. The phylogenetics, [...] Read more.
Cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenases (CKXs) are the key enzymes in cytokinin degradation and have been widely studied in model plants. Little is known about apple’s (Malus×domestica) CKX genes. Here, using genome-wide analysis, we identified 10 MdCKX genes in apple. The phylogenetics, chromosome locations, and genome structures were then tested. Expression analysis showed that MdCKX genes had different expression profiles in apple, pointing to the different roles. Meanwhile, relative expression analysis showed that these genes have different expression patterns in response to several exogenous cytokinin factors, including trans-zeatin (ZT), thidiazuron (TDZ), and N6-furfuryladenine (KT). Finally, we introduced the MdCKX5.2 gene into Arabidopsis to evaluate its functions, and the results suggested the transgenic Arabidopsis displayed phenotypes related to promoting primary root and lateral root development, response to exogenous ZT, and conferring to drought and salt tolerant. Taken together, our results provide insights on the possible application of the MdCKX5.2 gene for molecular breeding in apples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Advances in Plant Stress Biology)
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15 pages, 1645 KiB  
Article
Interactive Effects of Intraspecific Competition and Drought on Stomatal Conductance and Hormone Concentrations in Different Tomato Genotypes
by Yang Gao, Yueping Liang, Yuanyuan Fu, Zhuanyun Si and Abdoul Kader Mounkaila Hamani
Horticulturae 2022, 8(1), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8010045 - 04 Jan 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1703
Abstract
Plant physiological responses to various stresses are characterized by interaction and coupling, while the intrinsic mechanism remains unclear. The effects of intraspecific competition on plant growth, stomatal opening, and hormone concentrations were investigated with three tomato genotypes (WT-wild type, Ailsa Craig; FL-a abscisic [...] Read more.
Plant physiological responses to various stresses are characterized by interaction and coupling, while the intrinsic mechanism remains unclear. The effects of intraspecific competition on plant growth, stomatal opening, and hormone concentrations were investigated with three tomato genotypes (WT-wild type, Ailsa Craig; FL-a abscisic acid (ABA) deficient mutant, flacca; NR-a partially ethylene-insensitive genotype) under two water regimes (full irrigation, irrigation amount = daily transpiration; deficit irrigation, 60% of irrigation amount in full irrigation) in this study. Three kinds of competitions were designed, i.e., root and canopy competition, non-root competition, and non-canopy competition, respectively. Intraspecific competition reduced plant leaf area and stomatal conductance (gs) of wild-type tomato, accompanied by ABA accumulation and ethylene evolution. Intraspecific competition-induced decrease in gs was absent in FL and NR, indicating ABA and ethylene involved in plant response to intraspecific competition. As soil water becomes dry, the competition decreased gs by elevating ABA and ethylene accumulations. Under severe drought, the competition-induced decline in gs was covered by the severe drought-induced decrease in gs, as hydraulic signals most probably dominate. The absence of canopy competition insignificantly influenced plant stomatal opening of well-watered tomato, as canopy separation minimized the plant neighbor sensing by ethylene and other signals. Whereas under water deficit condition, the absence of canopy competition significantly reduced ABA accumulation in roots and then stomatal conductance, indicating the belowground neighbor detection signals maybe enhanced by soil drought. The absence of root competition increased ethylene evolution, confirming the importance of ethylene in neighbor detection and plant response to environmental stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Advances in Plant Stress Biology)
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