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Life (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2022Agriculture production faces many abiotic stresses, mainly drought, salinity, low and high temperature. These abiotic stresses inhibit plants' genetic potential, which... (Review)
Review
Agriculture production faces many abiotic stresses, mainly drought, salinity, low and high temperature. These abiotic stresses inhibit plants' genetic potential, which is the cause of huge reduction in crop productivity, decrease potent yields for important crop plants by more than 50% and imbalance agriculture's sustainability. They lead to changes in the physio-morphological, molecular, and biochemical nature of the plants and change plants' regular metabolism, which makes them a leading cause of losses in crop productivity. These changes in plant systems also help to mitigate abiotic stress conditions. To initiate the signal during stress conditions, sensor molecules of the plant perceive the stress signal from the outside and commence a signaling cascade to send a message and stimulate nuclear transcription factors to provoke specific gene expression. To mitigate the abiotic stress, plants contain several methods of avoidance, adaption, and acclimation. In addition to these, to manage stress conditions, plants possess several tolerance mechanisms which involve ion transporters, osmoprotectants, proteins, and other factors associated with transcriptional control, and signaling cascades are stimulated to offset abiotic stress-associated biochemical and molecular changes. Plant growth and survival depends on the ability to respond to the stress stimulus, produce the signal, and start suitable biochemical and physiological changes. Various important factors, such as the biochemical, physiological, and molecular mechanisms of plants, including the use of microbiomes and nanotechnology to combat abiotic stresses, are highlighted in this article.
PubMed: 36295069
DOI: 10.3390/life12101634 -
Plant, Cell & Environment Dec 2022Environmental stresses can compromise the interactions of plants with beneficial microbes. In the present review, experimental results showing that stresses negatively... (Review)
Review
Environmental stresses can compromise the interactions of plants with beneficial microbes. In the present review, experimental results showing that stresses negatively affect the abundance and/or functionality of plant beneficial microbes are summarized. It is proposed that the environmental interference of these plant-microbe interactions is explained by the stress-mediated induction of plant signalling pathways associated with defence hormones and reactive oxygen species. These plant responses are recognized to regulate beneficial microbes within plants. The direct negative effect of stresses on microbes may also contribute to the environmental regulation of these plant mutualisms. It is also posited that, in stress situations, beneficial microbes harbour mechanisms that contribute to maintain the mutualistic associations. Beneficial microbes produce effector proteins and increase the antioxidant levels in plants that counteract the detrimental effects of plant stress responses on them. In addition, they deliver specific stress-protective mechanisms that assist to their plant hosts to mitigate the negative effects of stresses. Our study contributes to understanding how environmental stresses affect plant-microbe interactions and highlights why beneficial microbes can still deliver benefits to plants in stressful environments.
Topics: Plants; Symbiosis; Stress, Physiological
PubMed: 36180415
DOI: 10.1111/pce.14455 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Feb 2023Turfgrasses are ground cover plants with intensive fibrous roots to encounter different edaphic stresses. The major edaphic stressors of turfgrasses often include soil... (Review)
Review
Turfgrasses are ground cover plants with intensive fibrous roots to encounter different edaphic stresses. The major edaphic stressors of turfgrasses often include soil salinity, drought, flooding, acidity, soil compaction by heavy traffic, unbalanced soil nutrients, heavy metals, and soil pollutants, as well as many other unfavorable soil conditions. The stressors are the results of either naturally occurring soil limitations or anthropogenic activities. Under any of these stressful conditions, turfgrass quality will be reduced along with the loss of economic values and ability to perform its recreational and functional purposes. Amongst edaphic stresses, soil salinity is one of the major stressors as it is highly connected with drought and heat stresses of turfgrasses. Four major salinity sources are naturally occurring in soils: recycled water as the irrigation, regular fertilization, and air-borne saline particle depositions. Although there are only a few dozen grass species from the family used as turfgrasses, these turfgrasses vary from salinity-intolerant to halophytes interspecifically and intraspecifically. Enhancement of turfgrass salinity tolerance has been a very active research and practical area as well in the past several decades. This review attempts to target new developments of turfgrasses in those soil salinity stresses mentioned above and provides insight for more promising turfgrasses in the future with improved salinity tolerances to meet future turfgrass requirements.
PubMed: 36840273
DOI: 10.3390/plants12040925 -
Genes Sep 2022Melatonin was discovered in plants in the late nineties, but its role, signaling, and crosstalk with other phytohormones remain unknown. Research on melatonin in plants... (Review)
Review
Melatonin was discovered in plants in the late nineties, but its role, signaling, and crosstalk with other phytohormones remain unknown. Research on melatonin in plants has risen dramatically in recent years and the role of this putative plant hormone under biotic and abiotic stress conditions has been reported. In the present review, we discuss the main functions of melatonin in the growth and development of plants, its role under abiotic stresses, such as water stress (waterlogging and drought), extreme temperature (low and high), salinity, heavy metal, and light-induced stress. Similarly, we also discuss the role of melatonin under biotic stresses (antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal effects). Moreover, the present review meticulously discusses the crosstalk of melatonin with other phytohormones such as auxins, gibberellic acids, cytokinins, ethylene, and salicylic acid under normal and stressful conditions and reports melatonin receptors and signaling in plants. All these aspects of melatonin suggest that phytomelatonin is a key player in crop improvement and biotic and abiotic stress regulation.
Topics: Plant Growth Regulators; Melatonin; Receptors, Melatonin; Antifungal Agents; Plants; Cytokinins; Ethylenes; Indoleacetic Acids; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antiviral Agents; Salicylates
PubMed: 36292584
DOI: 10.3390/genes13101699 -
BioEssays : News and Reviews in... May 2017Beyond protein synthesis and autophagy, emerging evidence has implicated mTORC1 in regulating protein folding and proteasomal degradation as well, highlighting its... (Review)
Review
Beyond protein synthesis and autophagy, emerging evidence has implicated mTORC1 in regulating protein folding and proteasomal degradation as well, highlighting its prominent role in cellular proteome homeostasis or proteostasis. In addition to growth signals, mTORC1 senses and responds to a wide array of stresses, including energetic/metabolic stress, genotoxic stress, oxidative stress, osmotic stress, ER stress, proteotoxic stress, and psychological stress. Whereas growth signals unanimously stimulate mTORC1, stresses exert complex impacts on mTORC1, most of which are repressive. mTORC1 suppression, as a generic adaptive strategy, empowers cell survival under various stressful conditions. In this essay, we provide an overview of the emerging role of mTORC1 in proteostasis, the distinct molecular mechanisms through which mTORC1 reacts to diverse stresses, and the schemes exploited by cancer cells to circumvent stress-induced mTORC1 suppression. Hence, acting as a stress sensor, mTORC1 intimately couples stresses to cellular proteostasis.
Topics: Animals; Carcinogenesis; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress; Humans; Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1; Models, Biological; Neoplasms; Osmotic Pressure; Oxidative Stress; Proteostasis; Stress, Physiological; Stress, Psychological
PubMed: 28295473
DOI: 10.1002/bies.201600268 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2022The sessile plant has developed mechanisms to survive the "rough and tumble" of its natural surroundings, aided by its evolved innate immune system. Precise perception... (Review)
Review
The sessile plant has developed mechanisms to survive the "rough and tumble" of its natural surroundings, aided by its evolved innate immune system. Precise perception and rapid response to stress stimuli confer a fitness edge to the plant against its competitors, guaranteeing greater chances of survival and productivity. Plants can "eavesdrop" on volatile chemical cues from their stressed neighbours and have adapted to use these airborne signals to prepare for impending danger without having to experience the actual stress themselves. The role of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in plant-plant communication has gained significant attention over the past decade, particularly with regard to the potential of VOCs to prime non-stressed plants for more robust defence responses to future stress challenges. The ecological relevance of such interactions under various environmental stresses has been much debated, and there is a nascent understanding of the mechanisms involved. This review discusses the significance of VOC-mediated inter-plant interactions under both biotic and abiotic stresses and highlights the potential to manipulate outcomes in agricultural systems for sustainable crop protection via enhanced defence. The need to integrate physiological, biochemical, and molecular approaches in understanding the underlying mechanisms and signalling pathways involved in volatile signalling is emphasised.
PubMed: 36235439
DOI: 10.3390/plants11192566 -
SSM - Population Health Sep 2023Many individuals are experiencing the potentially stressful combination of providing care while still employed. In this study, the association between unpaid caregiving...
Many individuals are experiencing the potentially stressful combination of providing care while still employed. In this study, the association between unpaid caregiving to another adult and self-reported stress among men and women aged 45-74 is investigated, using nationally representative time use diary data for Sweden (2000-01 and 2010-11, N = 6689). Multivariate regression analyses established that women were overall more stressed than men with the largest gender stress gap observed among intensive caregivers, providing >60 min of daily care and employed caregivers. The association between unpaid caregiving, employment, and self-reported stress is gendered. Among men, there is no caregiver effect regarding stress, but for women there is a net effect of 6-9%. Combining employment and unpaid caregiving (especially if intensive) is stressful for women but not for men. There are two potential mechanisms for this: less time for leisure and sleep. Unpaid caregiving is positively associated with stress among women when seen in relation to the way caregivers trade off time, not least to aid their recovery. These findings provide a more nuanced understanding of the time trade-offs carers make and uncover gender differences in the association between caregiving and stress that add to an existing gender stress gap. Given that unpaid caregivers are an important source of long-term care services, policymakers should consider that caregiving may be stressful and that stress impacts are gendered when designing and evaluating policies for longer working lives.
PubMed: 37397832
DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2023.101458 -
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 2019Observing another person in a stressful situation can cause a full-blown physiological stress response in the observer, which is referred to as empathic stress. One way...
Observing another person in a stressful situation can cause a full-blown physiological stress response in the observer, which is referred to as empathic stress. One way through which stress-related information might be transmitted between individuals under conditions of empathic stress is chemosensory communication. In the present study, we investigated whether the odorant Hedione, as a potential chemosignal, affects the empathic stress response at a physiological and psychological level. For this purpose, two experiments were designed, each testing one group of participants in an odor-free room and a second group in a room scented with Hedione. In Experiment 1, 60 participants (25 males) watched a video of an unknown female participant in the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). In Experiment 2, 37 free-cycling females watched a live video of a male participant in the TSST. Observers' psychological and physiological stress response was captured repeated measurements of salivary cortisol, alpha-amylase, and self-report ratings. Empathy with the stressed participants was assessed on the dimensions of personal distress and empathic concern of the Emotional Response Scale (ERS). Our results show no substantial physiological stress response in the observers and no effect of Hedione on physiological stress measures. Further, in Experiment 1, there was no subjective stress elicited by the video and no effect of Hedione. In Experiment 2, the observation was perceived as stressful and Hedione reduced subjective vicarious stress. The subjective stress response was associated with the Observers' direct personal distress, but not with their empathic concern for the target in both experiments. Based on the findings presented above, we conclude that under conditions of empathic stress, Hedione alleviates subjectively perceived stress felt when observing another person being stressed, while leaving empathic concern for the target unaffected. In this regard, future research is warranted to clarify the underlying mechanisms of this effect.
PubMed: 32038191
DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00297 -
Life (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2022In recent decades, many new and exciting findings have paved the way to the better understanding of plant responses in various environmental changes. Some major areas... (Review)
Review
In recent decades, many new and exciting findings have paved the way to the better understanding of plant responses in various environmental changes. Some major areas are focused on role of phytohormone during abiotic stresses. Salicylic acid (SA) is one such plant hormone that has been implicated in processes not limited to plant growth, development, and responses to environmental stress. This review summarizes the various roles and functions of SA in mitigating abiotic stresses to plants, including heating, chilling, salinity, metal toxicity, drought, ultraviolet radiation, etc. Consistent with its critical roles in plant abiotic tolerance, this review identifies the gaps in the literature with regard to the complex signalling network between SA and reactive oxygen species, ABA, Ca, and nitric oxide. Furthermore, the molecular mechanisms underlying signalling networks that control development and stress responses in plants and underscore prospects for future research on SA concerning abiotic-stressed plants are also discussed.
PubMed: 35743917
DOI: 10.3390/life12060886 -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2020Photosynthesis sustains plant life on earth and is indispensable for plant growth and development. Factors such as unfavorable environmental conditions, stress... (Review)
Review
Photosynthesis sustains plant life on earth and is indispensable for plant growth and development. Factors such as unfavorable environmental conditions, stress regulatory networks, and plant biochemical processes limits the photosynthetic efficiency of plants and thereby threaten food security worldwide. Although numerous physiological approaches have been used to assess the performance of key photosynthetic components and their stress responses, though, these approaches are not extensive enough and do not favor strategic improvement of photosynthesis under abiotic stresses. The decline in photosynthetic capacity of plants due to these stresses is directly associated with reduction in yield. Therefore, a detailed information of the plant responses and better understanding of the photosynthetic machinery could help in developing new crop plants with higher yield even under stressed environments. Interestingly, cracking of signaling and metabolic pathways, identification of some key regulatory elements, characterization of potential genes, and phytohormone responses to abiotic factors have advanced our knowledge related to photosynthesis. However, our understanding of dynamic modulation of photosynthesis under dramatically fluctuating natural environments remains limited. Here, we provide a detailed overview of the research conducted on photosynthesis to date, and highlight the abiotic stress factors (heat, salinity, drought, high light, and heavy metal) that limit the performance of the photosynthetic machinery. Further, we reviewed the role of transcription factor genes and various enzymes involved in the process of photosynthesis under abiotic stresses. Finally, we discussed the recent progress in the field of biodegradable compounds, such as chitosan and humic acid, and the effect of melatonin (bio-stimulant) on photosynthetic activity. Based on our gathered researched data set, the logical concept of photosynthetic regulation under abiotic stresses along with improvement strategies will expand and surely accelerate the development of stress tolerance mechanisms, wider adaptability, higher survival rate, and yield potential of plant species.
PubMed: 33584756
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.615942