Plant Cell Signalling under Stress

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Response to Abiotic Stress and Climate Change".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 August 2022) | Viewed by 19798

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua Campo Alegre, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
Interests: biocontrol; cytotoxicology; ecotoxicology; essential oils; natural molecules; OMICS; phytochemistry; plant protection; plant physiologist
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Co-Guest Editor
Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal
Interests: microbiology; one health; antimicrobial resistance; biofilms; microbial genetics; infectious diseases
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Co-Guest Editor
Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: abiotic stress; antioxidants; biostimulants; drought; oxidative stress; plant metabolomics; plant physiology; stress mitigation; sustainable agriculture; olive tree
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This special issue accepts to publish sound research on plants' responses to biotic and abiotic stress. High-quality papers covering molecular, biochemical, omics, and physiological aspects in response to biotic and abiotic stress, including works unveiling signaling cascades and models of plants' perception and response, are welcome. This issue accepts original research papers, perspectives, hypotheses, opinions, reviews, modeling approaches, and methods) focused on this domain area.

Prof. Dr. Conceição Santos
Prof. Dr. Gilberto Igrejas
Dr. Maria Celeste Dias
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • abiotic stress

  • biotic stress
  • stress signaling
  • environmental stress
  • genomics
  • metabolomics
  • oxidative stress
  • physiology
  • plant stress
  • proteomics
  • resistance genes
  • signaling pathways

 

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 3253 KiB  
Article
Functional Groups Response to Water Deficit in Mediterranean Ecosystems
by Helena Castro, Maria Celeste Dias, José Paulo Sousa and Helena Freitas
Plants 2023, 12(7), 1471; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12071471 - 27 Mar 2023
Viewed by 944
Abstract
Enhanced drought, more frequent rainfall events and increased inter-annual variability of precipitation are the main trends of climate expected for the Mediterranean. Drought is one of the most important stressors for plants and significantly impacts plant communities causing changes in plant composition and [...] Read more.
Enhanced drought, more frequent rainfall events and increased inter-annual variability of precipitation are the main trends of climate expected for the Mediterranean. Drought is one of the most important stressors for plants and significantly impacts plant communities causing changes in plant composition and species dominance. Through an experiment under controlled conditions, we assessed the response of Mediterranean species from different functional groups (annual grass, annual forb, annual legume, and perennial shrub) to moderate and severe water deficit. Changes in plant traits (leaf dry matter), biomass and physiology (water status, photosynthesis, pigments, and carbohydrate) were evaluated. The studied species differed in their response to water deficit. Ornithopus compressus, the legume, showed the strongest response, particularly under severe conditions, decreasing leaf relative water content (RWC), pigments and carbohydrates. The grass, Agrostis pourreti and the forb, Tolpis barbata, maintained RWC, indicating a higher ability to cope with water deficit. Finally, the shrub, Cistus salviifolius, had the lowest response to stress, showing a higher ability to cope with water deficit. Despite different responses, plant biomass was negatively affected by severe water deficit in all species. These data provide background for predicting plant diversity and species composition of Mediterranean grasslands and Montado under climate change conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Cell Signalling under Stress)
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12 pages, 1235 KiB  
Article
Quercus suber Roots Activate Antioxidant and Membrane Protective Processes in Response to High Salinity
by Maria Celeste Dias, Conceição Santos, Márcia Araújo, Pedro M. Barros, Margarida Oliveira and José Miguel P. Ferreira de Oliveira
Plants 2022, 11(4), 557; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11040557 - 19 Feb 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1791
Abstract
Cork oak (Quercus suber) is a species native to Mediterranean areas and its adaptation to the increasingly prevalent abiotic stresses, such as soil salinization, remain unknown. In sequence with recent studies on salt stress response in the leaf, it is fundamental [...] Read more.
Cork oak (Quercus suber) is a species native to Mediterranean areas and its adaptation to the increasingly prevalent abiotic stresses, such as soil salinization, remain unknown. In sequence with recent studies on salt stress response in the leaf, it is fundamental to uncover the plasticity of roots directly exposed to high salinity to better understand how Q. suber copes with salt stress. In the present study we aimed to unveil the antioxidants and key-genes involved in the stress-responses (early vs. later responses) of Q. suber roots exposed to high salinity. Two-month-old Q. suber plants were watered with 300 mM NaCl solution and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, lipid peroxidation and the relative expression of genes related to stress response were analysed 8 h and 6 days after salt treatment. After an 8 h of exposure, roots activated the expression of QsLTI30 and QsFAD7 genes involved in stress membrane protection, and QsRAV1 and QsCZF1 genes involved in tolerance and adaptation. As a result of the continued salinity stress (6 days), lipid peroxidation increased, which was associated with an upregulation of QsLTI30 gene. Moreover, other protective mechanisms were activated, such as the upregulation of genes related to antioxidant status, QsCSD1 and QsAPX2, and the increase of the antioxidant enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase, concomitantly with total antioxidant activity and phenols. These data suggest a response dependent on the time of salinity exposure, leading Q. suber roots to adopt protective complementary strategies to deal with salt stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Cell Signalling under Stress)
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15 pages, 3401 KiB  
Article
Application of Native or Exotic Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Complexes and Monospecific Isolates from Saline Semi-Arid Mediterranean Ecosystems Improved Phoenix dactylifera’s Growth and Mitigated Salt Stress Negative Effects
by Elmostapha Outamamat, Mohammed Bourhia, Hanane Dounas, Ahmad Mohammad Salamatullah, Abdulhakeem Alzahrani, Heba Khalil Alyahya, Nawal A. Albadr, Mohamed Najib Al Feddy, Bacem Mnasri and Lahcen Ouahmane
Plants 2021, 10(11), 2501; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10112501 - 18 Nov 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2034
Abstract
The date, the palm tree (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is an important component of arid and semi-arid Mediterranean ecosystems, particularly in Morocco where it plays a considerable socio-economic and ecological role. This species is largely affected by desertification, global warming, and anthropic pressure. [...] Read more.
The date, the palm tree (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is an important component of arid and semi-arid Mediterranean ecosystems, particularly in Morocco where it plays a considerable socio-economic and ecological role. This species is largely affected by desertification, global warming, and anthropic pressure. Salinity is a very worrying problem that negatively affects the growth and the physiological and biochemical activities of the date palm. In these arid zones, the main challenge is to develop new environmentally friendly technologies that improve crop tolerance to abiotic restraints including salinity. In this sense, Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have received much attention due to their capability in promoting plant growth and tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses. It is thus fitting that the current research work was undertaken to evaluate and compare the effects of native AMF on the development of the growth and tolerance of date palm to salt stress along with testing their role as biofertilizers. To achieve this goal, two complexes and two monospecific isolates of native and non-native AMF were used to inoculate date palm seedlings under saline stress (0 g·L−1 Na Cl, 10 g·L−1, and 20 g·L−1 Na Cl). The obtained results showed that salinity drastically affected the physiological parameters and growth of date palm seedlings, whilst the application of selected AMF significantly improved growth parameters and promoted the activities of antioxidant enzymes as a protective strategy. Inoculation with non-native AMF complex and monospecific isolates showed higher responses for all analyzed parameters when compared with the native complex and isolate. It therefore becomes necessary to glamorize the fungal communities associated with date palm for their use in the inoculation of Phoenix dactylifera L. seedlings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Cell Signalling under Stress)
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14 pages, 2626 KiB  
Article
Regulation of Botrytis cinerea Infection and Gene Expression in Cut Roses by Using Nano Silver and Salicylic Acid
by Suong Tuyet Thi Ha, Yong-Tae Kim, Yong Ho Jeon, Hyong Woo Choi and Byung-Chun In
Plants 2021, 10(6), 1241; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10061241 - 18 Jun 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3284
Abstract
Botrytis cinerea (B. cinerea) is one of the necrotrophic pathogens resulting in the heaviest commercial losses in cut rose flowers, and the severity of gray mold disease partly depends on the presence of ethylene during the storage and transport. The effectiveness [...] Read more.
Botrytis cinerea (B. cinerea) is one of the necrotrophic pathogens resulting in the heaviest commercial losses in cut rose flowers, and the severity of gray mold disease partly depends on the presence of ethylene during the storage and transport. The effectiveness of nano silver (NS) and salicylic acid (SA) was assessed as a novel control agent in protecting the cut rose flowers against B. cinerea infection and ethylene damages. The efficacy of NS and SA was compared with an inoculated control (CON). A non-treated control (NT) was also used to evaluate the natural infection process. The results indicated that pretreatment with 20 mg L−1 NS significantly reduced B. cinerea growth in rose petals during vase periods. NS effectively suppressed the mRNA levels of ethylene biosynthesis genes (RhACS2, RhACS4, and RhACO1) and the reduction in expression levels of ethylene receptor genes (RhETR1, RhETR2, and RhETR5) and the downstream regulator RhCTR2 in rose petals after B. cinerea inoculation. NS application also decreased the expression of the B. cinerea snod-prot-like 1 (Bcspl1) gene which acts as the virulence factor in cut roses. In NS flowers, the maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm) value was higher and the leaf temperature was lower on day 1, suggesting that these factors can be used for detecting B. cinerea infection and water stress in cut rose flowers. Furthermore, NS improved water relations and extended the vase life of cut rose flowers by 3.3 d, compared with that of NT flowers. In contrast, SA had no inhibitive effects on both B. cinerea growth and ethylene response in cut roses. The findings from the present study highlight NS as a promising new candidate for preventing B. cinerea infection and ethylene damages and for improving the postharvest quality of cut roses exported overseas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Cell Signalling under Stress)
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15 pages, 3060 KiB  
Article
Physiological, Biochemical and Molecular Assessment of UV-A and UV-B Supplementation in Solanum lycopersicum
by Nuno Mariz-Ponte, Rafael J. Mendes, Sara Sario, Cristiana V. Correia, Carlos M. Correia, José Moutinho-Pereira, Paula Melo, Maria Celeste Dias and Conceição Santos
Plants 2021, 10(5), 918; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10050918 - 03 May 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2334
Abstract
Daily UV-supplementation during the plant fruiting stage of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) growing indoors may produce fruits with higher nutraceutical value and better acceptance by consumers. However, it is important to ensure that the plant’s performance during this stage is not compromised [...] Read more.
Daily UV-supplementation during the plant fruiting stage of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) growing indoors may produce fruits with higher nutraceutical value and better acceptance by consumers. However, it is important to ensure that the plant’s performance during this stage is not compromised by the UV supplement. We studied the impact of UV-A (1 and 4 h) and UV-B (2 and 5 min) on the photosynthesis of greenhouse-grown tomato plants during the fruiting/ripening stage. After 30 d of daily irradiation, UV-B and UV-A differently interfered with the photosynthesis. UV-B induced few leaf-necrotic spots, and effects are more evidenced in the stimulation of photosynthetic/protective pigments, meaning a structural effect at the Light-Harvesting Complex. UV-A stimulated flowering/fruiting, paralleled with no visible leaf damages, and the impact on photosynthesis was mostly related to functional changes, in a dose-dependent manner. Both UV-A doses decreased the maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), the effective efficiency of photosystem II (ΦPSII), and gas exchange processes, including net carbon assimilation (PN). Transcripts related to Photosystem II (PSII) and RuBisCO were highly stimulated by UV supplementation (mostly UV-A), but the maintenance of the RuBisCO protein levels indicates that some protein is also degraded. Our data suggest that plants supplemented with UV-A activate adaptative mechanisms (including increased transcription of PSII peptides and RuBisCO), and any negative impacts on photosynthesis do not compromise the final carbohydrate balances and plant yield, thus becoming a profitable tool to improve precision agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Cell Signalling under Stress)
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17 pages, 2711 KiB  
Article
Antioxidant Adjustments of Olive Trees (Olea Europaea) under Field Stress Conditions
by Márcia Araújo, João Prada, Nuno Mariz-Ponte, Conceição Santos, José Alberto Pereira, Diana C. G. A. Pinto, Artur M. S. Silva and Maria Celeste Dias
Plants 2021, 10(4), 684; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10040684 - 01 Apr 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2698
Abstract
Extreme climate events are increasingly frequent, and the 2017 summer was particularly critical in the Mediterranean region. Olive is one of the most important species of this region, and these climatic events represent a threat to this culture. However, it remains unclear how [...] Read more.
Extreme climate events are increasingly frequent, and the 2017 summer was particularly critical in the Mediterranean region. Olive is one of the most important species of this region, and these climatic events represent a threat to this culture. However, it remains unclear how olive trees adjust the antioxidant enzymatic system and modulate the metabolite profile under field stress conditions. Leaves from two distinct adjacent areas of an olive orchard, one dry and the other hydrated, were harvested. Tree water status, oxidative stress, antioxidant enzymes, and phenolic and lipophilic metabolite profiles were analyzed. The environmental conditions of the 2017 summer caused a water deficit in olive trees of the dry area, and this low leaf water availability was correlated with the reduction of long-chain alkanes and fatty acids. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide radical (O2•–) levels increased in the trees collected from the dry area, but lipid peroxidation did not augment. The antioxidant response was predominantly marked by guaiacol peroxidase (GPOX) activity that regulates the H2O2 harmful effect and by the action of flavonoids (luteolin-7-O-glucuronide) that may act as reactive oxygen species scavengers. Secoiridoids adjustments may also contribute to stress regulation. This work highlights for the first time the protective role of some metabolite in olive trees under field drought conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Cell Signalling under Stress)
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Review

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27 pages, 2693 KiB  
Review
Protein Carbonylation: Emerging Roles in Plant Redox Biology and Future Prospects
by Adesola J. Tola, Amal Jaballi and Tagnon D. Missihoun
Plants 2021, 10(7), 1451; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10071451 - 15 Jul 2021
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 5129
Abstract
Plants are sessile in nature and they perceive and react to environmental stresses such as abiotic and biotic factors. These induce a change in the cellular homeostasis of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS are known to react with cellular components, including DNA, lipids, [...] Read more.
Plants are sessile in nature and they perceive and react to environmental stresses such as abiotic and biotic factors. These induce a change in the cellular homeostasis of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS are known to react with cellular components, including DNA, lipids, and proteins, and to interfere with hormone signaling via several post-translational modifications (PTMs). Protein carbonylation (PC) is a non-enzymatic and irreversible PTM induced by ROS. The non-enzymatic feature of the carbonylation reaction has slowed the efforts to identify functions regulated by PC in plants. Yet, in prokaryotic and animal cells, studies have shown the relevance of protein carbonylation as a signal transduction mechanism in physiological processes including hydrogen peroxide sensing, cell proliferation and survival, ferroptosis, and antioxidant response. In this review, we provide a detailed update on the most recent findings pertaining to the role of PC and its implications in various physiological processes in plants. By leveraging the progress made in bacteria and animals, we highlight the main challenges in studying the impacts of carbonylation on protein functions in vivo and the knowledge gap in plants. Inspired by the success stories in animal sciences, we then suggest a few approaches that could be undertaken to overcome these challenges in plant research. Overall, this review describes the state of protein carbonylation research in plants and proposes new research avenues on the link between protein carbonylation and plant redox biology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Cell Signalling under Stress)
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