Guest Editors
Prof. Dr. Esmat Farouk Ali
Email: esmatfarouk@yahoo.com
Affiliation: Assiut University, Faculty of Agriculture
Homepage:
Research Interests: Plant Sciences
Summary
Plants in their natural environments are exposed to various biotic and abiotic stressors such as extreme temperatures, heavy metals, drought, flooding (submergence stress), and salinity. As sessile organisms, plants cannot escape these challenges, and their growth and productivity are significantly affected. In response, plants have evolved numerous strategies and defense mechanisms to cope with these pressures.
Bio-stimulants, composed of bioactive compounds, can enhance plant growth and development under both normal and stressful conditions. There are six main categories of bio-stimulants: phytohormonal and non-phytohormonal substances, protein hydrolysates and amino acids, humic substances, seaweed extracts, biopolymers, and inorganic compounds. These bio-stimulants are widely used in agriculture and offer various benefits such as faster crop establishment, improved nutrient uptake, enhanced tolerance to stress, better seed germination, extended shelf life, reduced nutrient leaching, improved root development, and the removal of heavy metals from contaminated soils.
This Special Issue focuses on the roles and functions of different bio-stimulants in agricultural and horticultural crops. The aim is to gather essential insights into their beneficial effects on plant growth, yield, and product quality. Additionally, the potential limitations and future directions for bio-stimulant research will be discussed. Scientists are encouraged to submit original research or review articles addressing the impact of abiotic stress on plants.
Keywords
biotic and abiotic stress, bio-stimulants, ROS, waterlogging, oxidative stress, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, gene regulation, organic farming, microbial bio-stimulants, nanoparticles as a new type of plant stressor, miRNAs involved in abiotic stress in plants
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