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Special Issue "Abiotic Stress Tolerance and Genetic Diversity in Plants"

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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2023) | Viewed by 3938

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Dr. Andrés J. Cortés

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1. AGROSAVIA (Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria)–CI La Selva, Rionegro 054048, Colombia
2. Evolutionary Biology Centre, Department of Plant Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
Interests: plant genetics; crop breeding; hybridization; poliploidy; fruit trees
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant breeding, plant conservation and plant restoration efforts urgently demand the development of novel adaptive sources in order to cope with increasing abiotic pressures. However, standing genetic diversity for tolerance to abiotic stress is often lacking from traditional genepools. Therefore, cryptic pockets of genetic and ecological diversity may provide hidden adaptations, genotypes and alleles to cope with abiotic pressures. Meanwhile, modern methodological achievements in genomics, molecular biology, bioinformatics, biotechnology and geographical modeling are offering new perspectives on the genomic bases and ecological drivers of abiotic stress tolerance. These achievements may led to new interdisciplinary areas where plant breeding, restoration ecology and conservation genetics could converge. Therefore, this Special Issue, entitled “Abiotic Stress Tolerance and Genetic Diversity in Plants”, aims to compile innovative research on the exploration, leveraging and utilization of plant genetic diversity to improve abiotic stress tolerance traits using a diverse array of techniques and perspectives. Ultimately, we envision an interplay among genetic, molecular, ecological and modeling disciplines to cope with abiotic stresses such as, but not limited to, drought, heat, flooding, salinity, frost, and soil toxicity.

Dr. Andrés J. Cortés
Guest Editor

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Keywords

biodiversity
molecular breeding
comparative genomics
abiotic stress adaptation
genetic mapping
predictive breeding
genomic prediction
assisted gene flow
plant breeding
restoration ecology
conservation genetics

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

Open AccessArticle

The SbbHLH041–SbEXPA11 Module Enhances Cadmium Accumulation and Rescues Biomass by Increasing Photosynthetic Efficiency in Sorghum

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Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(17), 13061; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241713061 - 22 Aug 2023

Viewed by 351

Abstract

In plants, expansin genes are responsive to heavy metal exposure. To study the bioremediary potential of this important gene family, we discovered a root-expressed expansin gene in sorghum, SbEXPA11, which is notably upregulated following cadmium (Cd) exposure. However, the mechanism underlying the Cd detoxification and accumulation mediated by SbEXPA11 in sorghum remains unclear. We overexpressed SbEXPA11 in sorghum and compared wild-type (WT) and SbEXPA11-overexpressing transgenic sorghum in terms of Cd accumulation and physiological indices following Cd. Compared with the WT, we found that SbEXPA11 mediates Cd tolerance by exerting reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging effects through upregulating the expression of antioxidant enzymes. Moreover, the overexpression of SbEXPA11 rescued biomass production by increasing the photosynthetic efficiency of transgenic plants. In the pot experiment with a dosage of 10 mg/kg Cd, transgenic sorghum plants demonstrated higher efficacy in reducing the Cd content of the soil (8.62 mg/kg) compared to WT sorghum plants (9.51 mg/kg). Subsequent analysis revealed that the SbbHLH041 transcription factor has the ability to induce SbEXPA11 expression through interacting with the E-box located within the SbEXPA11 promoter. These findings suggest that the SbbHLH041–SbEXPA11 cascade module may be beneficial for the development of phytoremediary sorghum varieties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Tolerance and Genetic Diversity in Plants)

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Open AccessArticle

A Large-Scale Candidate-Gene Association Mapping for Drought Tolerance and Agronomic Traits in Sugarcane

Warodom Wirojsirasak

Patcharin Songsri

Nakorn Jongrungklang

Sithichoke Tangphatsornruang

Peeraya Klomsa-ard

and

Kittipat Ukoskit

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(16), 12801; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241612801 - 15 Aug 2023

Viewed by 469

Abstract

Dissection of the genetic loci controlling drought tolerance traits with a complex genetic inheritance is important for drought-tolerant sugarcane improvement. In this study, we conducted a large-scale candidate gene association study of 649 candidate genes in a sugarcane diversity panel to identify genetic variants underlying agronomic traits and drought tolerance indices evaluated in plant cane and ratoon cane under water-stressed (WS) and non-stressed (NS) environments. We identified 197 significant marker-trait associations (MTAs) in 141 candidate genes associated with 18 evaluated traits with the Bonferroni correction threshold (α = 0.05). Out of the total, 95 MTAs in 78 candidate genes and 62 MTAs in 58 candidate genes were detected under NS and WS conditions, respectively. Most MTAs were found only in specific water regimes and crop seasons. These MTAs explained 7.93–30.52% of phenotypic variation. Association mapping results revealed that 34, 59, and 104 MTAs involved physiological and molecular adaptation, phytohormone metabolism, and drought-inducible genes. They identified 19 pleiotropic genes associated with more than one trait and many genes related to drought tolerance indices. The genetic and genomic resources identified in this study will enable the combining of yield-related traits and sugar-related traits with agronomic value to optimize the yield of sugarcane cultivars grown under drought-stressed and non-stressed environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Tolerance and Genetic Diversity in Plants)

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Open AccessArticle

Genome Identification and Evolutionary Analysis of LBD Genes and Response to Environmental Factors in Phoebe bournei

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Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(16), 12581; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241612581 - 09 Aug 2023

Viewed by 472

Abstract

Phoebe bournei is nationally conserved in China due to its high economic value and positive effect on the ecological environment. P. bournei has an excellent wood structure, making it useful for industrial and domestic applications. Despite its importance, there are only a few studies on the lateral organ boundary domain (LBD) genes in P. bournei. The LBD gene family contributes to prompting rooting in multiple plant species and therefore supports their survival directly. To understand the LBD family in P. bournei, we verified its characteristics in this article. By comparing the sequences of Arabidopsis and identifying conserved domains and motifs, we found that there were 38 members of the LBD family in P. bournei, which were named PbLBD1 to PbLBD38. Through evolutionary analysis, we found that they were divided into two different populations and five subfamilies in total. The LBD gene family in P. bournei (Hemsl.) Yang species had two subfamilies, including 32 genes in Class I and 6 genes in Class II. It mainly consists of a Lateral Organ Boundary (LOB) conservative domain, and the protein structure is mostly “Y”-shaped. The gene expression pattern of the LBD gene family showed that the LBD genes were mainly expressed in lateral organs of plants, such as flowers and fruits. The response of LBD transcription factors to red and blue light was summarized, and several models of optogenetic expression regulation were proposed. The effect of regulatory mechanisms on plant rooting was also predicted. Moreover, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) revealed that most PbLBDs were differentially expressed under cold, heat, drought, and salt stresses, indicating that PbLBDs might play different functions depending on the type of abiotic stress. This study provides the foundation for further research on the function of LBD in this tree species in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Tolerance and Genetic Diversity in Plants)

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Open AccessArticle

Physiological and Transcriptional Analyses Provide Insight into Maintaining Ion Homeostasis of Sweet Sorghum under Salt Stress

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Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(13), 11045; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241311045 - 03 Jul 2023

Viewed by 637

Abstract

Sweet sorghum is an important bioenergy grass and valuable forage with a strong adaptability to saline environments. However, little is known about the mechanisms of sweet sorghum coping with ion toxicity under salt stresses. Here, we first evaluated the salt tolerance of a sweet sorghum cultivar “Lvjuren” and determined its ion accumulation traits under NaCl treatments; then, we explored key genes involved in Na⁺, Cl⁻, K⁺ and NO₃⁻ transport using transcriptome profiling and the qRT-PCR method. The results showed that growth and photosynthesis of sweet sorghum were unaffected by 50 and 100 mM NaCl treatments, indicative of a strong salt tolerance of this species. Under NaCl treatments, sweet sorghum could efficiently exclude Na⁺ from shoots and accumulate Cl⁻ in leaf sheaths to avoid their overaccumulation in leaf blades; meanwhile, it possessed a prominent ability to sustain NO₃⁻ homeostasis in leaf blades. Transcriptome profiling identified several differentially expressed genes associated with Na⁺, Cl⁻, K⁺ and NO₃⁻ transport in roots, leaf sheaths and leaf blades after 200 mM NaCl treatment for 6 and 48 h. Moreover, transcriptome data and qRT-PCR results indicated that HKT1;5, CLCc and NPF7.3-1 should be key genes involved in Na⁺ retention in roots, Cl⁻ accumulation in leaf sheaths and maintenance of NO₃⁻ homeostasis in leaf blades, respectively. Many TFs were also identified after NaCl treatment, which should play important regulatory roles in salt tolerance of sweet sorghum. In addition, GO analysis identified candidate genes involved in maintaining membrane stability and photosynthetic capacity under salt stresses. This work lays a preliminary foundation for clarifying the molecular basis underlying the adaptation of sweet sorghum to adverse environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Tolerance and Genetic Diversity in Plants)

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Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of the Msr Gene Family in Alfalfa under Abiotic Stress

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Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(11), 9638; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24119638 - 01 Jun 2023

Viewed by 828

Abstract

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is an important leguminous forage, known as the “The Queen of Forages”. Abiotic stress seriously limits the growth and development of alfalfa, and improving the yield and quality has become an important research area. However, little is known about the Msr (methionine sulfoxide reductase) gene family in alfalfa. In this study, 15 Msr genes were identified through examining the genome of the alfalfa “Xinjiang DaYe”. The MsMsr genes differ in gene structure and conserved protein motifs. Many cis-acting regulatory elements related to the stress response were found in the promoter regions of these genes. In addition, a transcriptional analysis and qRT-PCR (quantitative reverse transcription PCR) showed that MsMsr genes show expression changes in response to abiotic stress in various tissues. Overall, our results suggest that MsMsr genes play an important role in the response to abiotic stress for alfalfa. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Tolerance and Genetic Diversity in Plants)

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Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Investigation of the NAC Transcription Factor Family in Apocynum venetum Revealed Their Synergistic Roles in Abiotic Stress Response and Trehalose Metabolism

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Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(5), 4578; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24054578 - 26 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 786

Abstract

NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) transcription factors (TFs) are one of the most prominent plant-specific TF families and play essential roles in plant growth, development and adaptation to abiotic stress. Although the NAC gene family has been extensively characterized in many species, systematic analysis is still relatively lacking in Apocynum venetum (A. venetum). In this study, 74 AvNAC proteins were identified from the A. venetum genome and were classified into 16 subgroups. This classification was consistently supported by their gene structures, conserved motifs and subcellular localizations. Nucleotide substitution analysis (Ka/Ks) showed the AvNACs to be under the influence of strong purifying selection, and segmental duplication events were found to play the dominant roles in the AvNAC TF family expansion. Cis-elements analysis demonstrated that the light-, stress-, and phytohormone-responsive elements being dominant in the AvNAC promoters, and potential TFs including Dof, BBR-BPC, ERF and MIKC_MADS were visualized in the TF regulatory network. Among these AvNACs, AvNAC58 and AvNAC69 exhibited significant differential expression in response to drought and salt stresses. The protein interaction prediction further confirmed their potential roles in the trehalose metabolism pathway with respect to drought and salt resistance. This study provides a reference for further understanding the functional characteristics of NAC genes in the stress-response mechanism and development of A. venetum. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Tolerance and Genetic Diversity in Plants)

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