Physiological Mechanism for Anthocyanins to Strengthen the Drought Tolerance of Plants

This paper summarized the possible physiological mechanism by which anthocyanins strengthen the tolerance of plants to drought. Drought stress can in-duce plant cel s to synthesize and accumulate anthocyanins. The photochemical properties, subcel ular accumulation sites and spatial distributions in plant organs and tissues of anthocyanins determine their function of strengthening plant tolerance, which is realized by three possible physiological mechanisms： （1） anthocyanins and their chelated metal ions can optimize the osmoregulation ability of the plant cel s by directly acting as the osmoregulation substances of the cel s, （2） anthocyanins with suitable spatial locations can reduce the photoinhibition of the plants under drought stresses, （3） anthocyanins can effectively maintain and improve the active oxygen-scavenging capacity of the plant cel s under drought conditions. Therein, that the anthocyanins enhance the antioxidant capacity of the plant cel s under drought stresses is probably the main reason for the anthocyanins to strengthen the drought tolerance of plants. This review could provide a reference for the mechanism re-search of the drought resistance and the breeding of the drought-resistant cultivars for the plants holding the ability to synthesize and accumulate anthocyanins.

Plant salt tolerance and Na^+ sensing and transport

Salinity is a global challenge to agricultural production. Understanding Na^+ sensing and transport in plants under salt stress will be of benefit for breeding robustly salt-tolerant crop species. In this review, first, possible salt stress sensor candidates and the root meristem zone as a tissue harboring salt stress-sensing components are proposed. Then,the importance of Na^+ exclusion and vacuolar Na^+ sequestration in plant overall salt tolerance is highlighted. Other Na^+ regulation processes, including xylem Na^+ loading and unloading, phloem Na^+ recirculation, and Na^+ secretion, are discussed and summarized.Along with a summary of Na^+ transporters and channels, the molecular regulation of Na^+ transporters and channels in response to salt stress is discussed. Finally, some largely neglected issues in plant salt stress tolerance, including Na^+ concentration in cytosol and the role of Na^+ as a nutrient, are reviewed and discussed.

Advanced Backcross QTL Analysis for the Whole Plant Growth Duration Salt Tolerance in Rice(Oryza sativa L.)

Salinity is a major factor limiting rice yield in coastal areas of Asia. To facilitate breeding salt tolerant rice varieties, the wholeplant growth duration salt tolerance（ST） was genetically dissected by phenotyping two sets of BC2F5 introgression lines（ILs） for four yield traits under severe natural salt stress and non-stress filed conditions using SSR markers and the methods of advanced backcross QTL（AB-QTL） analysis and selective introgression. Many QTLs affecting four yield traits under salt stress and nonstress conditions were identified, most（〉90%） of which were clustered in 13 genomic regions of the rice genome and involved in complex epistasis. Most QTLs affecting yield traits were differentially expressed under salt stress and non-stress conditions. Our results suggested that genetics complementarily provides an adequate explanation for the hidden genetic diversity for ST observed in both IL populations. Some promising Huanghuazhan（HHZ） ILs with favorable donor alleles at multiple QTLs and significantly improved yield traits under salt stress and non-stress conditions were identified, providing excellent materials and relevant genetic information for improving rice ST by marker-assisted selection（MAS） or genome selection.

Insights into plant salt stress signaling and tolerance

Soil salinization is an essential environmental stressor,threatening agricultural yield and ecological security worldwide.Saline soils accumulate excessive soluble salts which are detrimental to most plants by limiting plant growth and productivity.It is of great necessity for plants to efficiently deal with the adverse effects caused by salt stress for survival and successful reproduction.Multiple determinants of salt tolerance have been identified in plants,and the cellular and physiological mechanisms of plant salt response and adaption have been intensely characterized.Plants respond to salt stress signals and rapidly initiate signaling pathways to re-establish cellular homeostasis with adjusted growth and cellular metabolism.This review summarizes the advances in salt stress perception,signaling,and response in plants.A better under-standing of plant salt resistance will contribute to improving crop performance under saline conditions using multiple engineering approaches.The rhizosphere microbiome-mediated plant salt tolerance as well as chemical priming for enhanced plant salt resistance are also discussed in this review.

Physiological and Morphological Responses of Susceptible and Resistant Barleys to Bird Cherry-Oat Aphid Feeding

The bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi [Linnaeus, 1758]) is considered a key pest of cereal crops worldwide, causing direct damage through sap feeding and by acting as a vector for viral diseases. Managing aphids is challenging because of their biology and potential resistance to insecticides. Developing resistant barley genotypes is a sustainable strategy for managing BCOA. In this study, we assessed responses of susceptible “Morex” and resistant “BCO R001” barley, Hordeum vulgare L. genotypes to different initial BCOA densities (0, 50, 100 or 200 aphids.plant-1). Physiological and morphological parameters were measured weekly for four weeks after infestation. Chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, plant aerial fresh and dry weight were greater for the resistant cultivar at lower aphid abundances and up to three weeks after infestation. Carbon assimilation curves (A/Ci) of infested “BCO R001” were similar to controls 15 days post infestation, differing from Morex. However, BCOA infestation of 50 aphid.plant-1 for two weeks negatively impacted the fitness of both genotypes. Initial resistance by BCO R001 to BCOA infestation can allow growers and natural enemies more time contributing to more effective and sustainable management of BCOA infestations.

Vigna radiata var. GM4 Plant Growth Enhancement and Root Colonization by a Multi-Metal-Resistant Plant Growth-Promoting Bacterium Enterobacter sp. C1D in Cr(VI)-Amended Soils

Contamination of agricultural soils by heavy metals has become a major concern due to their toxic effects on plant growth,symbiosis and consequently the yields of crops. In the present study, to enhance plant growth in Cr（VI）-amended soils, novel metalresistant plant growth-promoting bacteria（PGPB） were isolated from a soil contaminated with industrial waste effluent. One of the bacterial isolates, identified as Enterobacter sp. C1 D by 16 S r RNA gene sequencing, was found to be multi-metal resistant in nature with excellent plant growth-promoting（PGP） traits. Mung bean（Vigna radiata var. GM4） inoculation with Enterobacter sp.C1 D significantly（P ＆lt; 0.01） increased root and shoot length, shoot and root weight, and chlorophyll content in a range of Cr（VI）treatments. Plant tolerance towards Cr（VI） measured as effective concentration showed higher values with Enterobacter sp. C1 Dtreated plants compared to un-inoculated plants. Root colonization study was also carried out using green fluorescence protein-labeled Enterobacter sp. C1 D under a hydroponic system. Confocal laser scanning microscopy of the plant roots showed heavy bacterial loads on the surface of the plant root specifically at the root tip and the point of root hair/lateral root formation. The results of PGP traits showed that elevated indole acetic acid levels and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase activity enabled Enterobacter sp. C1 D to enhance V. radiata growth in Cr（VI）-amended soils, whereby it significantly increased plant tolerance towards elevated Cr（VI） concentrations.

Selective uptake of major and trace elements in Erica andevalensis,an endemic species to extreme habitats in the Iberian Pyrite Belt

To assess the ecophysiological traits and the phytoremediation potential of the endemic heather Erica andevalensis, we determined the concentrations of major and trace elements in different plant parts and in rizosphere soils from Riotinto mining district （Huelva, Spain）. The results showed that E. andevalensis may grow on substrates with very high As, Cu, Fe and Pb concentrations （up to 4114, 1050, 71900 and 15614μg/g dry weight, respectively）, very low availability of macro- and micronutrients and with pH values ranging from 3.3 to 4.9. In these harsh edaphic conditions E. andevalensis selectively absorbed and translocated essential nutrients and excludes potentially phytotoxic elements, which were accumulated in the root epidermis. The concentrations of major and trace elements in E. andevalensis aerial parts from the Riotinto mining district were in the normal range for plants; likewise other Erica species it accumulated Mn and only in a very polluted site we measured leaf concentrations of As and Pb within the excessive or toxic limits for plants. Differently from previous studies, which emphasized the soil pH and bioavailability of phytotoxic elements as the main stress factors, this study showed that in the Riotinto region, E. andevalensis can tolerate wide range of pH and toxic element concentrations; the harshest environments colonized by monospecific patches of this species were characterized above all by very low availability of nutrients. The extraordinary capability to adapt to these extreme habitats made E. andevalensis a priority species to promote the phytostabilization and the development of a self-sustaining vegetative cover on Riotinto mine tailings.