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Molecular Aspects of Plant Salinity Stress and Tolerance
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Molecular Aspects of Plant Salinity Stress and Tolerance

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 December 2021) | Viewed by 74551

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Jen-Tsung Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Life Sciences, National University of Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung 811, Taiwan
Interests: bioactive compounds; chromatography techniques; medicinal plants; phytochemicals; plant biotechnology; plant growth regulators; plant secondary metabolites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ricardo Aroca

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Soil and Plant Microbiology, EEZ-CSIC (Estación Experimental del Zaidin-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), E-18100 Granada, Spain
Interests: abscisic acid; aquaporins; drought, ethylene; jasmonic acid; mycorrhizal fungi; salinity; soil bacteria; water relations
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Daniela Romano

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania, Via Valdisavoia, 5, 95123 Catania, Italy
Interests: floriculture; ornamental plants; abiotic stresses; biodiversity; new crops, product quality; germination; light response
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses that retard the growth and productivity of crops, particularly in hot and dry areas of the world. It is an intensive topic on which many studies have been conducted, with the aim of understanding the physiological and molecular responses involved in plant salinity stress. In recent years, with the rapid progress of molecular technologies, scientists have acquired more powerful tools to reveal in-depth mechanisms and to establish crop breeding programs for plant salinity tolerance. Hence, this Special Issue aims to unravel the whole picture of plant salinity tolerance by expanding knowledge that focuses on the molecular aspects of the following subtopics.

1. Mechanistic insights: Explore mechanisms associated with responses to salinity stress using modern molecular tools such as high-throughput technologies
- Crucial cell signaling networks and integrative multi-omics;
- Structure and function of key signaling components involved in membrane Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Cl− transport systems, as well as the role of secondary messengers;
- Role of phytohormones (e.g., the involvement of abscisic acid);
- Role of biostimulants such as melatonin.

2. Biotechnology: Enhancing the salinity tolerance of plants using biotechnological tools
- The identification of candidate genes for salinity tolerance;
- Genetic engineering for salinity tolerance by altering the patterns of gene expression, including technologies involving targeted genome editing;
- In vitro screening and induced mutation, including polyploidy, to obtain salinity-tolerant genotypes.

3. Breeding: Developing salinity-tolerant crops that have improved growth, yield, and product quality in salt-affected fields.
- Explore genetic resources for salinity tolerance in crops based on molecular-marker-assisted methods such as the use of QTLs and SNPs for genetic mapping;
- Plant breeding programs for developing salinity-tolerant crops.

4. Agricultural practices: The use of agricultural techniques and/or chemical or biological regimes to improve plant growth and productivity when subjected to soil salinity
- The application of beneficial soil microorganisms such as mycorrhizal fungi and growth-promoting bacteria;
- The utilization of plant growth regulators, osmoprotectants, antioxidants, and trace elements;
- Studies on the effects of organic and inorganic immobilizing amendments on salinity stress alleviation.

We invite scientists to contribute both original research articles and reviews for this Special Issue. Please note that approaches will only be considered for peer-review if they are extended to provide further in-depth insights into the mechanisms associated with responses to salinity stress.

Dr. Jen-Tsung Chen
Prof. Dr. Ricardo Aroca
Prof. Daniela Romano
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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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

  • agricultural practice
  • biotechnology
  • breeding
  • high-throughput technology
  • ion transport
  • molecular markers
  • plant hormones
  • plant growth regulation
  • salinity stress
  • salinity tolerance
  • soil microorganisms

Published Papers (17 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

3 pages, 191 KiB  
Editorial
Molecular Aspects of Plant Salinity Stress and Tolerance
by Jen-Tsung Chen, Ricardo Aroca and Daniela Romano
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(9), 4918; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22094918 - 06 May 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2233
Abstract
Salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses that inhibit the growth, development, and productivity of crops, particularly in hot and dry areas of the world [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Aspects of Plant Salinity Stress and Tolerance)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

21 pages, 43737 KiB  
Article
Evolutionary Significance of NHX Family and NHX1 in Salinity Stress Adaptation in the Genus Oryza
by Celymar Angela Solis, Miing-Tiem Yong, Meixue Zhou, Gayatri Venkataraman, Lana Shabala, Paul Holford, Sergey Shabala and Zhong-Hua Chen
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(4), 2092; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23042092 - 14 Feb 2022
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3271
Abstract
Rice (Oryza sativa), a staple crop for a substantial part of the world’s population, is highly sensitive to soil salinity; however, some wild Oryza relatives can survive in highly saline environments. Sodium/hydrogen antiporter (NHX) family members contribute to Na+ homeostasis [...] Read more.
Rice (Oryza sativa), a staple crop for a substantial part of the world’s population, is highly sensitive to soil salinity; however, some wild Oryza relatives can survive in highly saline environments. Sodium/hydrogen antiporter (NHX) family members contribute to Na+ homeostasis in plants and play a major role in conferring salinity tolerance. In this study, we analyzed the evolution of NHX family members using phylogeny, conserved domains, tertiary structures, expression patterns, and physiology of cultivated and wild Oryza species to decipher the role of NHXs in salt tolerance in Oryza. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the NHX family can be classified into three subfamilies directly related to their subcellular localization: endomembrane, plasma membrane, and tonoplast (vacuolar subfamily, vNHX1). Phylogenetic and structural analysis showed that vNHX1s have evolved from streptophyte algae (e.g., Klebsormidium nitens) and are abundant and highly conserved in all major land plant lineages, including Oryza. Moreover, we showed that tissue tolerance is a crucial trait conferring tolerance to salinity in wild rice species. Higher Na+ accumulation and reduced Na+ effluxes in leaf mesophyll were observed in the salt-tolerant wild rice species O. alta, O. latifolia, and O. coarctata. Among the key genes affecting tissue tolerance, expression of NHX1 and SOS1/NHX7 exhibited significant correlation with salt tolerance among the rice species and cultivars. This study provides insights into the evolutionary origin of plant NHXs and their role in tissue tolerance of Oryza species and facilitates the inclusion of this trait during the development of salinity-tolerant rice cultivars. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Aspects of Plant Salinity Stress and Tolerance)
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23 pages, 2386 KiB  
Article
Characterization of Differentially Expressed Genes under Salt Stress in Olive
by Soraya Mousavi, Roberto Mariotti, Maria Cristina Valeri, Luca Regni, Emanuele Lilli, Emidio Albertini, Primo Proietti, Daniela Businelli and Luciana Baldoni
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(1), 154; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23010154 - 23 Dec 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2955
Abstract
Climate change, currently taking place worldwide and also in the Mediterranean area, is leading to a reduction in water availability and to groundwater salinization. Olive represents one of the most efficient tree crops to face these scenarios, thanks to its natural ability to [...] Read more.
Climate change, currently taking place worldwide and also in the Mediterranean area, is leading to a reduction in water availability and to groundwater salinization. Olive represents one of the most efficient tree crops to face these scenarios, thanks to its natural ability to tolerate moderate salinity and drought. In the present work, four olive cultivars (Koroneiki, Picual, Royal de Cazorla and Fadak86) were exposed to high salt stress conditions (200 mM of NaCl) in greenhouse, in order to evaluate their tolerance level and to identify key genes involved in salt stress response. Molecular and physiological parameters, as well as plant growth and leaves’ ions Na+ and K+ content were measured. Results of the physiological measurements showed Royal de Cazorla as the most tolerant cultivar, and Fadak86 and Picual as the most susceptible ones. Ten candidate genes were analyzed and their complete genomic, CDS and protein sequences were identified. The expression analysis of their transcripts through reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) demonstrated that only OeNHX7, OeP5CS, OeRD19A and OePetD were upregulated in tolerant cultivars, thus suggesting their key role in the activation of a salt tolerance mechanism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Aspects of Plant Salinity Stress and Tolerance)
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16 pages, 3490 KiB  
Article
Isolation and Functional Characterization of a Salt-Responsive Calmodulin-Like Gene MpCML40 from Semi-Mangrove Millettia pinnata
by Yi Zhang, Jianzi Huang, Qiongzhao Hou, Yujuan Liu, Jun Wang and Shulin Deng
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(7), 3475; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22073475 - 27 Mar 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2153
Abstract
Salt stress is a major increasing threat to global agriculture. Pongamia (Millettia pinnata), a semi-mangrove, is a good model to study the molecular mechanism of plant adaptation to the saline environment. Calcium signaling pathways play critical roles in the model plants [...] Read more.
Salt stress is a major increasing threat to global agriculture. Pongamia (Millettia pinnata), a semi-mangrove, is a good model to study the molecular mechanism of plant adaptation to the saline environment. Calcium signaling pathways play critical roles in the model plants such as Arabidopsis in responding to salt stress, but little is known about their function in Pongamia. Here, we have isolated and characterized a salt-responsive MpCML40, a calmodulin-like (CML) gene from Pongamia. MpCML40 protein has 140 amino acids and is homologous with Arabidopsis AtCML40. MpCML40 contains four EF-hand motifs and a bipartite NLS (Nuclear Localization Signal) and localizes both at the plasma membrane and in the nucleus. MpCML40 was highly induced after salt treatment, especially in Pongamia roots. Heterologous expression of MpCML40 in yeast cells improved their salt tolerance. The 35S::MpCML40 transgenic Arabidopsis highly enhanced seed germination rate and root length under salt and osmotic stresses. The transgenic plants had a higher level of proline and a lower level of MDA (malondialdehyde) under normal and stress conditions, which suggested that heterologous expression of MpCML40 contributed to proline accumulation to improve salt tolerance and protect plants from the ROS (reactive oxygen species) destructive effects. Furthermore, we did not observe any measurable discrepancies in the development and growth between the transgenic plants and wild-type plants under normal growth conditions. Our results suggest that MpCML40 is an important positive regulator in response to salt stress and of potential application in producing salt-tolerant crops. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Aspects of Plant Salinity Stress and Tolerance)
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14 pages, 6731 KiB  
Article
Overexpression of the Zygophyllum xanthoxylum Aquaporin, ZxPIP1;3, Promotes Plant Growth and Stress Tolerance
by Mengzhan Li, Mingfa Li, Dingding Li, Suo-Min Wang and Hongju Yin
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(4), 2112; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22042112 - 20 Feb 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2197
Abstract
Drought and salinity can result in cell dehydration and water unbalance in plants, which seriously diminish plant growth and development. Cellular water homeostasis maintained by aquaporin is one of the important strategies for plants to cope with these two stresses. In this study, [...] Read more.
Drought and salinity can result in cell dehydration and water unbalance in plants, which seriously diminish plant growth and development. Cellular water homeostasis maintained by aquaporin is one of the important strategies for plants to cope with these two stresses. In this study, a stress-induced aquaporin, ZxPIP1;3, belonging to the PIP1 subgroup, was identified from the succulent xerophyte Zygophyllum xanthoxylum. The subcellular localization showed that ZxPIP1;3-GFP was located in the plasma membrane. The overexpression of ZxPIP1;3 in Arabidopsis prompted plant growth under favorable condition. In addition, it also conferred salt and drought tolerance with better water status as well as less ion toxicity and membrane injury, which led to more efficient photosynthesis and improved growth vigor via inducing stress-related responsive genes. This study reveals the molecular mechanisms of xerophytes’ stress tolerance and provides a valuable candidate that could be used in genetic engineering to improve crop growth and stress tolerance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Aspects of Plant Salinity Stress and Tolerance)
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23 pages, 2862 KiB  
Article
Adaptation Strategies of Halophytic Barley Hordeum marinum ssp. marinum to High Salinity and Osmotic Stress
by Stanislav Isayenkov, Alexander Hilo, Paride Rizzo, Yudelsy Antonia Tandron Moya, Hardy Rolletschek, Ljudmilla Borisjuk and Volodymyr Radchuk
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(23), 9019; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21239019 - 27 Nov 2020
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3018
Abstract
The adaptation strategies of halophytic seaside barley Hordeum marinum to high salinity and osmotic stress were investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, as well as ionomic, metabolomic, and transcriptomic approaches. When compared with cultivated barley, seaside barley exhibited a better plant growth rate, [...] Read more.
The adaptation strategies of halophytic seaside barley Hordeum marinum to high salinity and osmotic stress were investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, as well as ionomic, metabolomic, and transcriptomic approaches. When compared with cultivated barley, seaside barley exhibited a better plant growth rate, higher relative plant water content, lower osmotic pressure, and sustained photosynthetic activity under high salinity, but not under osmotic stress. As seaside barley is capable of controlling Na+ and Cl− concentrations in leaves at high salinity, the roots appear to play the central role in salinity adaptation, ensured by the development of thinner and likely lignified roots, as well as fine-tuning of membrane transport for effective management of restriction of ion entry and sequestration, accumulation of osmolytes, and minimization of energy costs. By contrast, more resources and energy are required to overcome the consequences of osmotic stress, particularly the severity of reactive oxygen species production and nutritional disbalance which affect plant growth. Our results have identified specific mechanisms for adaptation to salinity in seaside barley which differ from those activated in response to osmotic stress. Increased knowledge around salt tolerance in halophytic wild relatives will provide a basis for improved breeding of salt-tolerant crops. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Aspects of Plant Salinity Stress and Tolerance)
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19 pages, 3258 KiB  
Article
The bZIP Transcription Factor GmbZIP15 Negatively Regulates Salt- and Drought-Stress Responses in Soybean
by Man Zhang, Yanhui Liu, Hanyang Cai, Mingliang Guo, Mengnan Chai, Zeyuan She, Li Ye, Yan Cheng, Bingrui Wang and Yuan Qin
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(20), 7778; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21207778 - 21 Oct 2020
Cited by 45 | Viewed by 3458
Abstract
Soybean (Glycine max), as an important oilseed crop, is constantly threatened by abiotic stress, including that caused by salinity and drought. bZIP transcription factors (TFs) are one of the largest TF families and have been shown to be associated with various [...] Read more.
Soybean (Glycine max), as an important oilseed crop, is constantly threatened by abiotic stress, including that caused by salinity and drought. bZIP transcription factors (TFs) are one of the largest TF families and have been shown to be associated with various environmental-stress tolerances among species; however, their function in abiotic-stress response in soybean remains poorly understood. Here, we characterized the roles of soybean transcription factor GmbZIP15 in response to abiotic stresses. The transcript level of GmbZIP15 was suppressed under salt- and drought-stress conditions. Overexpression of GmbZIP15 in soybean resulted in hypersensitivity to abiotic stress compared with wild-type (WT) plants, which was associated with lower transcript levels of stress-responsive genes involved in both abscisic acid (ABA)-dependent and ABA-independent pathways, defective stomatal aperture regulation, and reduced antioxidant enzyme activities. Furthermore, plants expressing a functional repressor form of GmbZIP15 exhibited drought-stress resistance similar to WT. RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analyses revealed that GmbZIP15 positively regulates GmSAHH1 expression and negatively regulates GmWRKY12 and GmABF1 expression in response to abiotic stress. Overall, these data indicate that GmbZIP15 functions as a negative regulator in response to salt and drought stresses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Aspects of Plant Salinity Stress and Tolerance)
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20 pages, 3986 KiB  
Article
A Survey of Barley PIP Aquaporin Ionic Conductance Reveals Ca2+-Sensitive HvPIP2;8 Na+ and K+ Conductance
by Sen Thi Huong Tran, Tomoaki Horie, Shahin Imran, Jiaen Qiu, Samantha McGaughey, Caitlin S. Byrt, Stephen D. Tyerman and Maki Katsuhara
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(19), 7135; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21197135 - 27 Sep 2020
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3446
Abstract
Some plasma membrane intrinsic protein (PIP) aquaporins can facilitate ion transport. Here we report that one of the 12 barley PIPs (PIP1 and PIP2) tested, HvPIP2;8, facilitated cation transport when expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. HvPIP2;8-associated ion currents were detected with [...] Read more.
Some plasma membrane intrinsic protein (PIP) aquaporins can facilitate ion transport. Here we report that one of the 12 barley PIPs (PIP1 and PIP2) tested, HvPIP2;8, facilitated cation transport when expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. HvPIP2;8-associated ion currents were detected with Na+ and K+, but not Cs+, Rb+, or Li+, and was inhibited by Ba2+, Ca2+, and Cd2+ and to a lesser extent Mg2+, which also interacted with Ca2+. Currents were reduced in the presence of K+, Cs+, Rb+, or Li+ relative to Na+ alone. Five HvPIP1 isoforms co-expressed with HvPIP2;8 inhibited the ion conductance relative to HvPIP2;8 alone but HvPIP1;3 and HvPIP1;4 with HvPIP2;8 maintained the ion conductance at a lower level. HvPIP2;8 water permeability was similar to that of a C-terminal phosphorylation mimic mutant HvPIP2;8 S285D, but HvPIP2;8 S285D showed a negative linear correlation between water permeability and ion conductance that was modified by a kinase inhibitor treatment. HvPIP2;8 transcript abundance increased in barley shoot tissues following salt treatments in a salt-tolerant cultivar Haruna-Nijo, but not in salt-sensitive I743. There is potential for HvPIP2;8 to be involved in barley salt-stress responses, and HvPIP2;8 could facilitate both water and Na+/K+ transport activity, depending on the phosphorylation status. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Aspects of Plant Salinity Stress and Tolerance)
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17 pages, 3892 KiB  
Article
Na+ Transporter SvHKT1;1 from a Halophytic Turf Grass Is Specifically Upregulated by High Na+ Concentration and Regulates Shoot Na+ Concentration
by Yuki Kawakami, Shahin Imran, Maki Katsuhara and Yuichi Tada
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(17), 6100; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21176100 - 24 Aug 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2850
Abstract
We characterized an Na+ transporter SvHKT1;1 from a halophytic turf grass, Sporobolus virginicus. SvHKT1;1 mediated inward and outward Na+ transport in Xenopus laevis oocytes and did not complement K+ transporter-defective mutant yeast. SvHKT1;1 did not complement athkt1;1 mutant Arabidopsis [...] Read more.
We characterized an Na+ transporter SvHKT1;1 from a halophytic turf grass, Sporobolus virginicus. SvHKT1;1 mediated inward and outward Na+ transport in Xenopus laevis oocytes and did not complement K+ transporter-defective mutant yeast. SvHKT1;1 did not complement athkt1;1 mutant Arabidopsis, suggesting its distinguishable function from other typical HKT1 transporters. The transcript was abundant in the shoots compared with the roots in S. virginicus and was upregulated by severe salt stress (500 mM NaCl), but not by lower stress. SvHKT1;1-expressing Arabidopsis lines showed higher shoot Na+ concentrations and lower salt tolerance than wild type (WT) plants under nonstress and salt stress conditions and showed higher Na+ uptake rate in roots at the early stage of salt treatment. These results suggested that constitutive expression of SvHKT1;1 enhanced Na+ uptake in root epidermal cells, followed by increased Na+ transport to shoots, which led to reduced salt tolerance. However, Na+ concentrations in phloem sap of the SvHKT1;1 lines were higher than those in WT plants under salt stress. Based on this result, together with the induction of the SvHKT1;1 transcription under high salinity stress, it was suggested that SvHKT1;1 plays a role in preventing excess shoot Na+ accumulation in S. virginicus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Aspects of Plant Salinity Stress and Tolerance)
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22 pages, 2832 KiB  
Article
Transcriptomic Analysis of Short-Term Salt Stress Response in Watermelon Seedlings
by Qiushuo Song, Madhumita Joshi and Vijay Joshi
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(17), 6036; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21176036 - 21 Aug 2020
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 3791
Abstract
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) is a widely popular vegetable fruit crop for human consumption. Soil salinity is among the most critical problems for agricultural production, food security, and sustainability. The transcriptomic and the primary molecular mechanisms that underlie the salt-induced responses in [...] Read more.
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) is a widely popular vegetable fruit crop for human consumption. Soil salinity is among the most critical problems for agricultural production, food security, and sustainability. The transcriptomic and the primary molecular mechanisms that underlie the salt-induced responses in watermelon plants remain uncertain. In this study, the photosynthetic efficiency of photosystem II, free amino acids, and transcriptome profiles of watermelon seedlings exposed to short-term salt stress (300 mM NaCl) were analyzed to identify the genes and pathways associated with response to salt stress. We observed that the maximal photochemical efficiency of photosystem II decreased in salt-stressed plants. Most free amino acids in the leaves of salt-stressed plants increased many folds, while the percent distribution of glutamate and glutamine relative to the amino acid pool decreased. Transcriptome analysis revealed 7622 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under salt stress, of which 4055 were up-regulated. The GO analysis showed that the molecular function term “transcription factor (TF) activity” was enriched. The assembled transcriptome demonstrated up-regulation of 240 and down-regulation of 194 differentially expressed TFs, of which the members of ERF, WRKY, NAC bHLH, and MYB-related families were over-represented. The functional significance of DEGs associated with endocytosis, amino acid metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, photosynthesis, and hormonal pathways in response to salt stress are discussed. The findings from this study provide novel insights into the salt tolerance mechanism in watermelon. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Aspects of Plant Salinity Stress and Tolerance)
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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

16 pages, 1891 KiB  
Review
Roles of E3 Ubiquitin Ligases in Plant Responses to Abiotic Stresses
by Shuang Wang, Xiaoyan Lv, Jialin Zhang, Daniel Chen, Sixue Chen, Guoquan Fan, Chunquan Ma and Yuguang Wang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(4), 2308; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23042308 - 19 Feb 2022
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3471
Abstract
Plants are frequently exposed to a variety of abiotic stresses, such as those caused by salt, drought, cold, and heat. All of these stressors can induce changes in the proteoforms, which make up the proteome of an organism. Of the many different proteoforms, [...] Read more.
Plants are frequently exposed to a variety of abiotic stresses, such as those caused by salt, drought, cold, and heat. All of these stressors can induce changes in the proteoforms, which make up the proteome of an organism. Of the many different proteoforms, protein ubiquitination has attracted a lot of attention because it is widely involved in the process of protein degradation; thus regulates many plants molecular processes, such as hormone signal transduction, to resist external stresses. Ubiquitin ligases are crucial in substrate recognition during this ubiquitin modification process. In this review, the molecular mechanisms of plant responses to abiotic stresses from the perspective of ubiquitin ligases have been described. This information is critical for a better understanding of plant molecular responses to abiotic stresses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Aspects of Plant Salinity Stress and Tolerance)
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12 pages, 854 KiB  
Review
Analysis of Gene Expression Changes in Plants Grown in Salty Soil in Response to Inoculation with Halophilic Bacteria
by Ashley K. Miller and Brent L. Nielsen
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(7), 3611; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22073611 - 31 Mar 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4016
Abstract
Soil salinity is an increasing problem facing agriculture in many parts of the world. Climate change and irrigation practices have led to decreased yields of some farmland due to increased salt levels in the soil. Plants that have tolerance to salt are thus [...] Read more.
Soil salinity is an increasing problem facing agriculture in many parts of the world. Climate change and irrigation practices have led to decreased yields of some farmland due to increased salt levels in the soil. Plants that have tolerance to salt are thus needed to feed the world’s population. One approach addressing this problem is genetic engineering to introduce genes encoding salinity, but this approach has limitations. Another fairly new approach is the isolation and development of salt-tolerant (halophilic) plant-associated bacteria. These bacteria are used as inoculants to stimulate plant growth. Several reports are now available, demonstrating how the use of halophilic inoculants enhance plant growth in salty soil. However, the mechanisms for this growth stimulation are as yet not clear. Enhanced growth in response to bacterial inoculation is expected to be associated with changes in plant gene expression. In this review, we discuss the current literature and approaches for analyzing altered plant gene expression in response to inoculation with halophilic bacteria. Additionally, challenges and limitations to current approaches are analyzed. A further understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in enhanced plant growth when inoculated with salt-tolerant bacteria will significantly improve agriculture in areas affected by saline soils. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Aspects of Plant Salinity Stress and Tolerance)
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19 pages, 1002 KiB  
Review
Maintenance of Cell Wall Integrity under High Salinity
by Jianwei Liu, Wei Zhang, Shujie Long and Chunzhao Zhao
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(6), 3260; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22063260 - 23 Mar 2021
Cited by 48 | Viewed by 4730
Abstract
Cell wall biosynthesis is a complex biological process in plants. In the rapidly growing cells or in the plants that encounter a variety of environmental stresses, the compositions and the structure of cell wall can be dynamically changed. To constantly monitor cell wall [...] Read more.
Cell wall biosynthesis is a complex biological process in plants. In the rapidly growing cells or in the plants that encounter a variety of environmental stresses, the compositions and the structure of cell wall can be dynamically changed. To constantly monitor cell wall status, plants have evolved cell wall integrity (CWI) maintenance system, which allows rapid cell growth and improved adaptation of plants to adverse environmental conditions without the perturbation of cell wall organization. Salt stress is one of the abiotic stresses that can severely disrupt CWI, and studies have shown that the ability of plants to sense and maintain CWI is important for salt tolerance. In this review, we highlight the roles of CWI in salt tolerance and the mechanisms underlying the maintenance of CWI under salt stress. The unsolved questions regarding the association between the CWI and salt tolerance are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Aspects of Plant Salinity Stress and Tolerance)
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39 pages, 991 KiB  
Review
Roles of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) in Stimulating Salinity Stress Defense in Plants: A Review
by Dung Minh Ha-Tran, Trinh Thi My Nguyen, Shih-Hsun Hung, Eugene Huang and Chieh-Chen Huang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(6), 3154; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22063154 - 19 Mar 2021
Cited by 119 | Viewed by 10343
Abstract
To date, soil salinity becomes a huge obstacle for food production worldwide since salt stress is one of the major factors limiting agricultural productivity. It is estimated that a significant loss of crops (20–50%) would be due to drought and salinity. To embark [...] Read more.
To date, soil salinity becomes a huge obstacle for food production worldwide since salt stress is one of the major factors limiting agricultural productivity. It is estimated that a significant loss of crops (20–50%) would be due to drought and salinity. To embark upon this harsh situation, numerous strategies such as plant breeding, plant genetic engineering, and a large variety of agricultural practices including the applications of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and seed biopriming technique have been developed to improve plant defense system against salt stress, resulting in higher crop yields to meet human’s increasing food demand in the future. In the present review, we update and discuss the advantageous roles of beneficial PGPR as green bioinoculants in mitigating the burden of high saline conditions on morphological parameters and on physio-biochemical attributes of plant crops via diverse mechanisms. In addition, the applications of PGPR as a useful tool in seed biopriming technique are also updated and discussed since this approach exhibits promising potentials in improving seed vigor, rapid seed germination, and seedling growth uniformity. Furthermore, the controversial findings regarding the fluctuation of antioxidants and osmolytes in PGPR-treated plants are also pointed out and discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Aspects of Plant Salinity Stress and Tolerance)
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26 pages, 1655 KiB  
Review
Jasmonates and Plant Salt Stress: Molecular Players, Physiological Effects, and Improving Tolerance by Using Genome-Associated Tools
by Celia Delgado, Freddy Mora-Poblete, Sunny Ahmar, Jen-Tsung Chen and Carlos R. Figueroa
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(6), 3082; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22063082 - 17 Mar 2021
Cited by 43 | Viewed by 7555
Abstract
Soil salinity is one of the most limiting stresses for crop productivity and quality worldwide. In this sense, jasmonates (JAs) have emerged as phytohormones that play essential roles in mediating plant response to abiotic stresses, including salt stress. Here, we reviewed the mechanisms [...] Read more.
Soil salinity is one of the most limiting stresses for crop productivity and quality worldwide. In this sense, jasmonates (JAs) have emerged as phytohormones that play essential roles in mediating plant response to abiotic stresses, including salt stress. Here, we reviewed the mechanisms underlying the activation and response of the JA-biosynthesis and JA-signaling pathways under saline conditions in Arabidopsis and several crops. In this sense, molecular components of JA-signaling such as MYC2 transcription factor and JASMONATE ZIM-DOMAIN (JAZ) repressors are key players for the JA-associated response. Moreover, we review the antagonist and synergistic effects between JA and other hormones such as abscisic acid (ABA). From an applied point of view, several reports have shown that exogenous JA applications increase the antioxidant response in plants to alleviate salt stress. Finally, we discuss the latest advances in genomic techniques for the improvement of crop tolerance to salt stress with a focus on jasmonates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Aspects of Plant Salinity Stress and Tolerance)
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26 pages, 1779 KiB  
Review
Advances in Sensing, Response and Regulation Mechanism of Salt Tolerance in Rice
by Kimberly S. Ponce, Longbiao Guo, Yujia Leng, Lijun Meng and Guoyou Ye
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(5), 2254; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22052254 - 24 Feb 2021
Cited by 40 | Viewed by 4570
Abstract
Soil salinity is a serious menace in rice production threatening global food security. Rice responses to salt stress involve a series of biological processes, including antioxidation, osmoregulation or osmoprotection, and ion homeostasis, which are regulated by different genes. Understanding these adaptive mechanisms and [...] Read more.
Soil salinity is a serious menace in rice production threatening global food security. Rice responses to salt stress involve a series of biological processes, including antioxidation, osmoregulation or osmoprotection, and ion homeostasis, which are regulated by different genes. Understanding these adaptive mechanisms and the key genes involved are crucial in developing highly salt-tolerant cultivars. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms of salt tolerance in rice—from sensing to transcriptional regulation of key genes—based on the current knowledge. Furthermore, we highlight the functionally validated salt-responsive genes in rice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Aspects of Plant Salinity Stress and Tolerance)
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15 pages, 245 KiB  
Review
Advances and Challenges in the Breeding of Salt-Tolerant Rice
by Hua Qin, Yuxiang Li and Rongfeng Huang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(21), 8385; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21218385 - 09 Nov 2020
Cited by 89 | Viewed by 7453
Abstract
Soil salinization and a degraded ecological environment are challenging agricultural productivity and food security. Rice (Oryza sativa), the staple food of much of the world’s population, is categorized as a salt-susceptible crop. Improving the salt tolerance of rice would increase the [...] Read more.
Soil salinization and a degraded ecological environment are challenging agricultural productivity and food security. Rice (Oryza sativa), the staple food of much of the world’s population, is categorized as a salt-susceptible crop. Improving the salt tolerance of rice would increase the potential of saline-alkali land and ensure food security. Salt tolerance is a complex quantitative trait. Biotechnological efforts to improve the salt tolerance of rice hinge on a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying salt stress tolerance. In this review, we summarize progress in the breeding of salt-tolerant rice and in the mapping and cloning of genes and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with salt tolerance in rice. Furthermore, we describe biotechnological tools that can be used to cultivate salt-tolerant rice, providing a reference for efforts aimed at rapidly and precisely cultivating salt-tolerance rice varieties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Aspects of Plant Salinity Stress and Tolerance)
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