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Regulation of Abiotic and Biotic Stress Responses by Plant Hormones: Recent Advances

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A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 December 2020) | Viewed by 37179

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Dr. Maren Müller

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Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Interests: plant hormone physiology; crosstalk of plant hormones; plant hormone regulation under abiotic stress; ethylene signaling; ROS and plant hormone interaction; antioxidants; stress tolerance; plant senescence
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Climate changes are the main cause of abiotic (such as drought, heat, cold and salinity) and biotic (bacteria, fungi, viruses, nematodes and insects) stresses affecting both crop and non-crop plants. Plant hormones are known to play crucial roles in the regulation of developmental and growth processes (seed dormancy, seed germination, plant growth, flowering, fruit ripening, etc.) throughout the plant life cycle, but they also trigger adaptive responses induced by external stimuli such as biotic and/or abiotic stresses. Plant hormones are small signaling molecules that include five “classic” groups: auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, ethylene, and abscisic acid. Other major compounds known to exert hormone-like functions in plants include jasmonates, salicylic acid, brassinosteroids, and strigolactones. While auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, brassinosteroids and strigolactones have been identified as the major developmental growth regulating plant hormones, abscisic acid, ethylene, jasmonates, and salicylic acid are often implicated in stress regulation. Each of these plant hormones possesses specific functions, but they interact with each other antagonistically or cooperatively by complex crosstalk. The plant hormone signaling network and its ability to crosstalk make plant hormones ideal candidates for mediating abiotic and biotic stresses. Previous work has greatly advanced our knowledge about plant hormone signaling and the plant hormone interaction network; however, the detailed mechanisms of how plant hormones modulate plant development and growth under abiotic and biotic stresses are far from being completely understood.

Under this framework, we welcome contributions to this Special Issue of Plants in the form of original research, methods, perspectives, or review articles. In addition to classical overview articles describing the current knowledge of recent plant hormone regulation and crosstalk under stress, we especially encourage the community to highlight new hormone research that provides information on ways to improve plant stress tolerance.

Assit. Prof. Dr. Maren Müller
Guest Editor

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Keywords

plant hormones
phytohormones
abscisic acid
auxin
brassinosteroids
cytokinins
ethylene
gibberellins
jasmonates
salicylic acid
strigolactones
crosstalk
abiotic stress
biotic stress

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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24 pages, 3347 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nitrogen Deficiency and Synergism between Continuous Light and Root Ammonium Supply Modulate Distinct but Overlapping Patterns of Phytohormone Composition in Xylem Sap of Tomato Plants

by Martina Paponov, Aleksandr Arakelyan, Petre I. Dobrev, Michel J. Verheul and Ivan A. Paponov

Plants 2021, 10(3), 573; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10030573 - 18 Mar 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2795

Abstract

Continuous light (CL) or a predominant nitrogen supply as ammonium (NH₄⁺) can induce leaf chlorosis and inhibit plant growth. The similarity in injuries caused by CL and NH₄⁺ suggests involvement of overlapping mechanisms in plant responses to these conditions; however, these mechanisms are poorly understood. We addressed this topic by conducting full factorial experiments with tomato plants to investigate the effects of NO₃⁻ or NH₄⁺ supply under diurnal light (DL) or CL. We used plants at ages of 26 and 15 days after sowing to initiate the treatments, and we modulated the intensity of the stress induced by CL and an exclusive NH₄⁺ supply from mild to strong. Under DL, we also studied the effect of nitrogen (N) deficiency and mixed application of NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺. Under strong stress, CL and exclusive NH₄⁺ supply synergistically inhibited plant growth and reduced chlorophyll content. Under mild stress, when no synergetic effect between CL and NH₄⁺ was apparent on plant growth and chlorophyll content, we found a synergetic effect of CL and NH₄⁺ on the accumulation of several plant stress hormones, with an especially strong effect for jasmonic acid (JA) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), the immediate precursor of ethylene, in xylem sap. This modulation of the hormonal composition suggests a potential role for these plant hormones in plant growth responses to the combined application of CL and NH₄⁺. No synergetic effect was observed between CL and NH₄⁺ for the accumulation of soluble carbohydrates or of mineral ions, indicating that these plant traits are less sensitive than the modulation of hormonal composition in xylem sap to the combined CL and NH₄⁺ application. Under diurnal light, NH₄⁺ did not affect the hormonal composition of xylem sap; however, N deficiency strongly increased the concentrations of phaseic acid (PA), JA, and salicylic acid (SA), indicating that decreased N concentration rather than the presence of NO₃⁻ or NH₄⁺ in the nutrient solution drives the hormone composition of the xylem sap. In conclusion, N deficiency or a combined application of CL and NH₄⁺ induced the accumulation of JA in xylem sap. This accumulation, in combination with other plant hormones, defines the specific plant response to stress conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regulation of Abiotic and Biotic Stress Responses by Plant Hormones: Recent Advances)

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14 pages, 3111 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Gibberellic Acid on Growing-Point Development of Non-Vernalized Wheat Plants under Long-Day Conditions

by Milan Skalicky, Jan Kubes, Pavla Vachova, Shokoofeh Hajihashemi, Jaroslava Martinkova and Vaclav Hejnak

Plants 2020, 9(12), 1735; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9121735 - 09 Dec 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3181

Abstract

The goal of this study was to determine whether the application of gibberellic acid (GA₃) to seeds of common wheat varieties with different vernalization and photoperiod requirements affects the transition from vegetative to generative stage. Three varieties of wheat with different photoperiod sensitivities and vernalization were selected for the experiment—the winter varieties, Mironovskaya and Bezostaya, and the spring variety, Sirael. Seeds were treated with different concentrations of GA₃ and plants were grown under long-day conditions with monitoring of their photosynthetic activity (F_v/F_m, P_n, E, g_s). We monitored the activity of the photosynthetic apparatus by checking the plants to see if they were growing properly. The phenological stages of the wheat species were checked for indications of a transition from the vegetative to the generative stage. Selected concentrations of GA₃ had no effect on the compensation of the vernalization process (transition to the generative phase). Chlorophyll fluorescence was one of the factors for monitoring stress. The variety, Bezostaya, is similar to the spring variety, Sirael, in its trends and values. The growth conditions of Bezostaya and Sirael were not affected by the activity of the photosynthetic apparatus. The development of growing points in winter varieties occurred at the prolonged single ridge stage. The spring variety reached the stage of head emergence after sixty days of growth (changes to the flowering phase did not appear in winter wheat). Application of GA₃ to the seeds had no effect on the transition of the growing point to the double-ridge generative stage. The present study highlights the priming effect of GA₃ on seeds of common wheat varieties with different vernalization and photoperiod requirements as it affected the transition from vegetative to generative stage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regulation of Abiotic and Biotic Stress Responses by Plant Hormones: Recent Advances)

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15 pages, 3954 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Arabidopsis Response to Inhibitor of Cytokinin Degradation INCYDE: Modulations of Cytokinin Signaling and Plant Proteome

by Veronika Berková, Michaela Kameniarová, Vladěna Ondrisková, Miroslav Berka, Simona Menšíková, Romana Kopecká, Markéta Luklová, Jan Novák, Lukáš Spíchal, Aaron M. Rashotte, Břetislav Brzobohatý and Martin Černý

Plants 2020, 9(11), 1563; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9111563 - 13 Nov 2020

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3388

Abstract

Cytokinins are multifaceted plant hormones that play crucial roles in plant interactions with the environment. Modulations in cytokinin metabolism and signaling have been successfully used for elevating plant tolerance to biotic and abiotic stressors. Here, we analyzed Arabidopsis thaliana response to INhibitor of CYtokinin DEgradation (INCYDE), a potent inhibitor of cytokinin dehydrogenase. We found that at low nanomolar concentration, the effect of INCYCE on seedling growth and development was not significantly different from that of trans-Zeatin treatment. However, an alteration in the spatial distribution of cytokinin signaling was found at low micromolar concentrations, and proteomics analysis revealed a significant impact on the molecular level. An in-depth proteome analysis of an early (24 h) response and a dose-dependent response after 168 h highlighted the effects on primary and secondary metabolism, including alterations in ribosomal subunits, RNA metabolism, modulations of proteins associated with chromatin, and the flavonoid and phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway. The observed attenuation in stress-response mechanisms, including abscisic acid signaling and the metabolism of jasmonates, could explain previously reported positive effects of INCYDE under mild stress conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regulation of Abiotic and Biotic Stress Responses by Plant Hormones: Recent Advances)

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14 pages, 3171 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria on the Content of Abscisic Acid and Salt Resistance of Wheat Plants

by Tatiana Arkhipova, Elena Martynenko, Guzel Sharipova, Ludmila Kuzmina, Igor Ivanov, Margarita Garipova and Guzel Kudoyarova

Plants 2020, 9(11), 1429; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9111429 - 24 Oct 2020

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 3162

Abstract

Although salinity inhibits plant growth, application of appropriate rhizosphere bacteria can diminish this negative effect. We studied one possible mechanism that may underlie this beneficial response. Wheat plants were inoculated with Bacillus subtilis IB-22 and Pseudomonas mandelii IB-Ki14 and their consequences for growth, water relations, and concentrations of the hormone abscisic acid (ABA) were followed in the presence of soil salinity. Salinity alone increased ABA concentration in wheat leaves and roots and this was associated with decreased stomatal conductance, but also with chlorophyll loss. Bacterial treatment raised ABA concentrations in roots, suppressed accumulation of leaf ABA, decreased chlorophyll loss, and promoted leaf area and transpiration. However, water balance was maintained due to increased water uptake by inoculated plants, brought about in part by a larger root system. The effect may be the outcome of ABA action since the hormone is known to maintain root extension in stressed plants. Root ABA concentration was highest in salt-stressed plants inoculated with B. subtilis and this contributed to greater root hydraulic conductivity. We conclude that bacteria can raise salt resistance in wheat by increasing root ABA, resulting in larger root systems that can also possess enhanced hydraulic conductivity thereby supporting better-hydrated leaves. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regulation of Abiotic and Biotic Stress Responses by Plant Hormones: Recent Advances)

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15 pages, 3811 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Prohydrojasmon on the Growth of Eggplant and Komatsuna

by Haidar Rafid Azis, Shinya Takahashi, Masami Koshiyama, Hiroshi Fujisawa and Hiroko Isoda

Plants 2020, 9(10), 1368; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9101368 - 15 Oct 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2535

Abstract

Prohydrojasmon (PDJ) can improve the polyphenol and anthocyanin content and antioxidant activity of some crop plants, but it also shows a suppressive effect on the plant growth. This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of PDJ on the growth of two crop plants: komatsuna (Brassica rapa var. periviridis) and eggplant (Solanum melongena). We applied various concentrations of PDJ drip-wise or by spraying to eggplant and komatsuna seedlings and made detailed observations of growth. In general, no significant suppressive effect of PDJ was observed in the aerial parts in both plants. However, a significant inhibitory effect was found in roots treated with PDJ at concentrations of 600 and 1000 ppm. Interestingly, komatsuna treated with PDJ at a concentration of 200 ppm in both approaches resulted in a significant increase in root weight up to 37%. At a concentration range of 200–400 ppm, PDJ showed no inhibitory effects, and in some cases slightly promoted root growth. Therefore, this could be the recommended concentration range. We conclude that application of PDJ can still be beneficial to the vegetable crops without causing serious inhibition or suppression effects on the growth, as long as it is kept at rather low concentrations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regulation of Abiotic and Biotic Stress Responses by Plant Hormones: Recent Advances)

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21 pages, 4040 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Synthetic Cytokinin Improves Photosynthesis in Rice under Drought Stress by Modulating the Abundance of Proteins Related to Stomatal Conductance, Chlorophyll Contents, and Rubisco Activity

by Ranjit Singh Gujjar, Pennapa Banyen, Wannisa Chuekong, Phapawee Worakan, Sittiruk Roytrakul and Kanyaratt Supaibulwatana

Plants 2020, 9(9), 1106; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9091106 - 27 Aug 2020

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 4689

Abstract

Drought susceptible rice cultivar PTT1 (Pathumthani1) was treated with drought (−72 kPa) and CPPU (N-2-(chloro-4-pyridyl)-N-phenyl urea) @ 5 mg/L at tillering and grain-filling stages. Plants were tested for the effect of synthetic cytokinin on the parameters influencing the process of photosynthesis. Exogenous spray of CPPU improved the stomatal conductance of rice leaves, which was severely reduced by drought. The abundance intensities of proteins, associated with the stomatal conductance (ZEP, NCED4, PYL9, PYL10, ABI5, SnRK4, Phot1, and Phot2), were also in agreement with the positive impact of CPPU on the stomatal conductance under drought stress. Among the photosynthetic pigments, Chl b contents were significantly reduced by drought stress, whereas CPPU treated plants retained the normal contents of Chl b under drought stress. Subsequently, we examined the abundance intensities of chlorophyll synthase and HCR proteins, implicated in the biosynthesis of chlorophyll pigments and the conversion of Chl b to Chl a, respectively. The results indicated a drought-mediated suppression of chlorophyll synthase. However, CPPU treated plants retained normal levels of chlorophyll synthase under drought stress. In addition, drought stress induced HCR proteins, which might be the cause for reduced Chl b contents in drought stressed plants. Further, CPPU treatment helped the plants sustain photosynthesis at a normal rate under drought stress, which was comparable with well-watered plants. The results were further confirmed by examining the abundance intensities of two key proteins, RAF1 and Rubisco activase, implicated in the assembly and activation of Rubisco, respectively. CPPU treatment reversed the drought mediated suppression of these proteins at both of the growth stages of rice under drought stress. Based on the results, it can be suggested that synthetic cytokinins help the plants sustain photosynthesis at a normal rate under drought stress by positively influencing the determinants of photosynthesis at a molecular level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regulation of Abiotic and Biotic Stress Responses by Plant Hormones: Recent Advances)

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21 pages, 5523 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Melatonin Regulatory Mechanisms and Phylogenetic Analyses of Melatonin Biosynthesis Related Genes Extracted from Peanut under Salinity Stress

by Abdelaleim I. ElSayed, Moncef Boulila, Mohammed S. Rafudeen, Azza H. Mohamed, Sonali Sengupta, Mostafa Rady and Ahmad A. Omar

Plants 2020, 9(7), 854; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9070854 - 06 Jul 2020

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 3642

Abstract

Melatonin improves the tolerance of plants to various environmental stresses by protecting plant cells against oxidative stress damage. The objective of the current study was to determine whether exogenous melatonin (MT) treatments could help protecting peanut (Arachis hypogaea) seedlings against salinity stress. This was achieved by investigating enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems and the expression of melatonin biosynthesis related genes in response to salinity stress with or without exogenous MT. The results showed a significant increase in the concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in peanut seedlings under salinity stress. The exogenous application of melatonin decreased the levels of ROS through the activation of antioxidant enzymes in peanut seedlings under salinity stress. Transcription levels of melatonin biosynthesis related genes such as N-acetylserotonin methyltransferase (ASMT1, ASMT2, ASMT3), tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC), and tryptamine 5-hydroxylase (T5H) were up-regulated with a 150 µM melatonin treatment under salinity stress. The results indicated that melatonin regulated the redox homeostasis by its ability to induce either enzymatic or non-enzymatic antioxidant systems. In addition, phylogenetic analysis of melatonin biosynthesis genes (ASMT1, ASMT2, ASMT3, TDC, T5H) were performed on a total of 56 sequences belonging to various plant species including five new sequences extracted from Arachis hypogaea (A. hypogaea). This was based on pairwise comparison among aligned nucleotides and predicted amino acids as well as on substitution rates, and phylogenetic inference. The analyzed sequences were heterogeneous and the A. hypogaea accessions were primarily closest to those of Manihot esculenta, but this needs further clarification. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regulation of Abiotic and Biotic Stress Responses by Plant Hormones: Recent Advances)

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13 pages, 1980 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Priming of Defense Systems and Upregulation of MYC2 and JAZ1 Genes after Botrytis cinerea Inoculation in Methyl Jasmonate-Treated Strawberry Fruits

by Felipe Valenzuela-Riffo, Paz E. Zúñiga, Luis Morales-Quintana, Mauricio Lolas, Marcela Cáceres and Carlos R. Figueroa

Plants 2020, 9(4), 447; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9040447 - 02 Apr 2020

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3498

Abstract

Several attempts have been made to study the effects of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on plants in the past years. However, the comparative effects of the number and phenological time of MeJA applications on the activation of defense systems is currently unknown in strawberries. In the present research, we performed three field treatments during strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa ‘Camarosa’) fruit development and ripening which consisted of differential MeJA applications at flowering (M3), and the large green (M2 and M3) and red ripe (M1, M2, and M3) fruit stages. We also checked changes in gene expression related to plant defense against Botrytis cinerea inoculation post-harvest. In M3 treatment, we observed an upregulation of the anthocyanin and lignin contents and the defense-related genes, encoding for chitinases, β-1,3-glucanases and polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins, after harvest (0 hpi), along with the jasmonate signaling-related genes FaMYC2 and FaJAZ1 at 48 h after B. cinerea inoculation (48 hpi) during postharvest storage. Although we did not find differences in gray mold incidence between the MeJA treatments and control, these results suggest that preharvest MeJA treatment from the flowering stage onwards (M3) primes defense responses mediated by the upregulation of different defense-related genes and retains the upregulation of MYC2 and JAZ1 at 48 hpi. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regulation of Abiotic and Biotic Stress Responses by Plant Hormones: Recent Advances)

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Review

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16 pages, 1024 KiB

Open AccessReview

Autophagy Dances with Phytohormones upon Multiple Stresses

by Yifan Li, Yanni Lin, Xi Li, Shaoying Guo, Yifeng Huang and Qingjun Xie

Plants 2020, 9(8), 1038; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9081038 - 15 Aug 2020

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3435

Abstract

Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved process for turning over unwanted cellular components, thus promoting nutrient recycling and maintaining cellular homeostasis, which eventually enables plants to survive unfavorable growth conditions. In addition to plant growth and development, previous studies have demonstrated that autophagy is involved in the responses to various environmental challenges through interplaying with multiple phytohormones, including abscisic acid (ABA), jasmonic acid (JA), and salicylic acid (SA). In this review, we summarize the advances made in their synergistic interactions in response to multiple abiotic and biotic stresses; we also discuss the remaining issues and perspectives regarding their crosstalk. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regulation of Abiotic and Biotic Stress Responses by Plant Hormones: Recent Advances)

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7 pages, 501 KiB

Open AccessPerspective

Foes or Friends: ABA and Ethylene Interaction under Abiotic Stress

by Maren Müller

Plants 2021, 10(3), 448; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10030448 - 27 Feb 2021

Cited by 57 | Viewed by 4272

Abstract

Due to their sessile nature, plants constantly adapt to their environment by modulating various internal plant hormone signals and distributions, as plants perceive environmental changes. Plant hormones include abscisic acid (ABA), auxins, brassinosteroids, cytokinins, ethylene, gibberellins, jasmonates, salicylic acid, and strigolactones, which collectively regulate plant growth, development, metabolism, and defense. Moreover, plant hormone crosstalk coordinates a sophisticated plant hormone network to achieve specific physiological functions, on both a spatial and temporal level. Thus, the study of hormone–hormone interactions is a competitive field of research for deciphering the underlying regulatory mechanisms. Among plant hormones, ABA and ethylene present a fascinating case of interaction. They are commonly recognized to act antagonistically in the control of plant growth, and development, as well as under stress conditions. However, several studies on ABA and ethylene suggest that they can operate in parallel or even interact positively. Here, an overview is provided of the current knowledge on ABA and ethylene interaction, focusing on abiotic stress conditions and a simplified hypothetical model describing stomatal closure / opening, regulated by ABA and ethylene. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regulation of Abiotic and Biotic Stress Responses by Plant Hormones: Recent Advances)

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