Special Issues

Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crop Plants: Physio-biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms

Submission Deadline: 31 July 2025 View: 298 Submit to Special Issue

Guest Editors

A/Prof. Ahmed El Moukhtari

Email: elmoukhtari.ahmed94@gmail.com 

Affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences Ben M’Sick, Hassan II University, Casablanca, PB 7955, MOROCCO

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Research Interests: abiotic stress, crop tolerance, plant physiology, plant biochemistry, transcription factors, molecular biology

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Prof. Mohamed Farissi

Email: farissimohamed@gmail.com 

Affiliation: Department of Biology, Polydisciplinary Faculty of Beni Mellal, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, PB 23000, MOROCCO

Homepage:

Research Interests: abioticctress, crop tolerance, transcription factors, biostimulant-biofertilizers, plant physiology, tolerance mechanisms

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Summary

Abiotic stresses, such as drought, heavy metals, salinity, nutrient deficiency, and extreme temperatures, are among the most common adverse threats that restrict land use for agriculture and limit crop growth and productivity. As sessile organisms, plants protect themselves from abiotic stresses by developing various tolerance mechanisms governed by several biochemical traits. These biochemicals are the products of key genes expressed under specific conditions. Interestingly, the expression of these genes is regulated by specialized proteins known as transcription factors (TFs). In fact, by binding to particular DNA sequences, TFs could act as molecular switches to either repressing or activating the transcription of the targeted genes. Moreover, previous studies have evidenced the critical role of TFs in regulating plant growth and development, morphogenesis, and responses to environmental changes. Thus, understanding the occurrence and interactions of molecular and physio-biochemical changes has been considered an interesting research area that could help in improving crop abiotic stress tolerance. In this regard, this special issue welcomes original research, reviews, and mini-reviews that highlight the latest exciting progress on the physio-biochemical and molecular levels of the adaptation of crop plants to abiotic constraints. Potential subjects for this topic include (but are not limited to):

· Climate change resilience of crops

· Growth and productivity of crops in the context of climate changes

· Physio-biochemical and molecular adaptations of crop plants to abiotic stress

· Identification of stress-responsive TFs, regulation networks, and their mechanisms of action under abiotic stress

· TFs and transgenic crops


Keywords

abiotic stress, crop tolerance, genetic engineering, molecular mechanisms, physio-biochemical adaptations, signaling pathway, transcription factors, transgenic plants

Published Papers


  • Open Access

    REVIEW

    The Role of Phytohormones in Alleviating Salt Stress in Rice

    Lili Guo, Huiwen Yu, Chenxi Zhang, Mourad Kharbach
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.058622
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crop Plants: Physio-biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms)
    Abstract Rice is a crucial food crop globally. Soil salt stress has adverse effects on the physiology and biochemistry of rice, leading to ionic toxicity and disrupted metabolism. Research aimed at improving salt tolerance and understanding its underlying mechanisms in rice is becoming increasingly important. Phytohormones are crucial in managing rice’s reaction to salt stress by controlling its physiological and biochemical functions. Some phytohormones can improve salt tolerance in rice by affecting gene programming, protein expression, and salt stress signaling, thereby helping rice adapt to salt-stressed environments. This review highlights recent advancements in understanding how various More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Mitigation of Detrimental Effects of Salinity on Sweet Pepper through Biochar-Based Fertilizers Derived from Date Palm Wastes

    Adil Mihoub, Mohammed Mesnoua, Nabil Touzout, Reguia Zeguerrou, Nourelislm Siabdallah, Chawqi Benchikh, Saliha Benaoune, Aftab Jamal, Domenico Ronga, Jakub Černý
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.057536
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crop Plants: Physio-biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms)
    Abstract Globally, salinity is a brutal environmental constraint that poses a major threat to agriculture worldwide, causing nutrient imbalances and oxidative stress, leading to reduced crop yields and quality. Date palm waste from the agro-industry is a major environmental problem, but its conversion to biochar for soil amendment could help alleviate the effects of salinity stress. Pepper is a commonly grown horticultural crop that is sensitive to salinity. That’s why the current experiment was conducted with the novel idea of exploring the potential use of biochar-based fertilizer derived from date palm waste as a mitigation strategy… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Genome-Wide Identification of ALDH Gene Family under Salt and Drought Stress in Phaseolus vulgaris

    Abdil Hakan Eren
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.058627
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crop Plants: Physio-biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms)
    Abstract Background: Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) genes constitute an important family of supergenes that play key roles in synthesizing various biomolecules and maintaining cellular homeostasis by catalyzing the oxidation of aldehyde products. With climate change increasing the exposure of plants to abiotic stresses such as salt and drought, ALDH genes have been identified as important contributors to stress tolerance. In particular, they help to reduce stress-induced lipid peroxidation. Objectives: This study aims to identify and characterize members of the ALDH supergene family in Phaseolus vulgaris through a genome-wide bioinformatic analysis and investigate their role in response to abiotic stressors such… More >

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