The molecular regulatory networks governing plant responses to low-Pi stress, covering phosphate transporters, SPX-PHR signaling, transcription factors, non-coding RNAs, and epigenetic modifications are summarized.
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is essential for plant growth and development. Although soils contain abundant total P, about 70% of global arable land is deficient in available inorganic phosphate (Pi), severely restricting sustainable agricultural production. To date, numerous physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying plant adaptation to low-Pi stress have been elucidated. In this review, we provide an overview of recent advances in plant adaptation to low-Pi stress at both the physiological and molecular levels, including root plasticity and hormonal regulation, root exudate-mediated Pi acquisition, metabolic adaptation such as sugar metabolism, membrane lipid remodeling, and secondary metabolite accumulation, as well as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. Furthermore, we summarize the molecular regulatory networks governing plant responses to low-Pi stress, covering phosphate transporters, SPX-PHR signaling, transcription factors, non-coding RNAs, and epigenetic modifications. The interaction between low-Pi signaling and other signaling pathways is also discussed. This review synthesizes recent advances in adaptive mechanisms across multiple regulatory levels and discusses strategies for breeding P-efficient crops to support sustainable agriculture.
This integrated framework identifies Si as a context-dependent modulator of plant–rhizosphere interactions and provides a mechanistic basis for developing precise and sustainable Si-based salinity-management strategies.
Traditional breeding and modern techniques like Marker-Assisted Selection, Genetic Engineering, Genome Editing and Genomic Selection are used to identify and integrate desirable traits into new crop varieties, enabling breeders to develop more robust and stable crops.
The survival of plants in arid environments relies on their intricate responses to drought stress, encompassing physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms. In the face of limited water availability, plants exhibit remarkable adaptations to minimize water loss and sustain vital functions. Physiologically, stomatal closure reduces transpirational water loss, while growth reduction and wilting help conserve water. Root growth alterations enable exploration of deeper soil layers for water acquisition. Biochemically, osmotic adjustment through accumulation of compatible solutes maintains cellular turgor pressure. Antioxidant production counteracts reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by water stress. Notably, abscisic acid (ABA) accumulates, orchestrating stress responses including stomatal closure and gene regulation. Molecularly, gene expression changes underlie the activation of stress-responsive genes. Transcription factors like DREB and bZIP modulate gene expression, while ABA-dependent and ABA-independent pathways govern signaling. LEA proteins and chaperones shield cellular structures, and microRNAs fine-tune post-transcriptional regulation. This comprehensive framework underscores the remarkable capacity of plants to adapt to drought stress through an integrated network of physiological, biochemical, and molecular strategies. Understanding these responses holds promise for enhancing crop resilience and agricultural sustainability in water-scarce environments.
Anjali, P. Chand· Progressive Agriculture· 0 citations
A phytohormone-centric framework is proposed to select strains that optimize growth, ion homeostasis and plant stress resilience under salinity, integrating molecular evidence with morpho-physiological studies and proposing a phytohormone-centric framework to select strains that optimize growth, ion homeostasis and plant stress resilience under salinity.
Arghyadeepa Moharana, Lochan Dhruw, Armita Chakraborty et al.· International Journal of Mol...· 0 citations
Drought stress is among the most severe environmental constraints limiting plant growth, productivity and ecosystem stability worldwide. It disrupts cellular homeostasis, impairs photosynthesis, induces oxidative damage and alters metabolite profiles. In response, plants activate coordinated physiological and metabolic responses that reprogram carbon and nitrogen allocation toward protective functions. A major component of this adaptive response is the enhanced production of plant secondary metabolites, which contribute to stress tolerance through integrated biochemical, physiological and ecological mechanisms. This review synthesizes the major classes of drought-responsive secondary metabolites including phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids and glucosinolates, and evaluates their biosynthetic pathways, regulatory networks and functional roles in drought adaptation. These metabolites contribute to antioxidant defense, membrane stabilization, osmotic adjustment, lignification and hormonal signaling, maintaining cellular homeostasis under drought stress. Their biosynthesis is coordinated through carbon and nitrogen reallocation via the shikimate, mevalonate, and methylerythritol phosphate pathways, and regulated by transcription factors, abscisic acid signaling and epigenetic modifications. Unlike previous reviews that discuss metabolite classes independently, this review integrates carbon–nitrogen allocation, metabolic trade-offs, regulatory networks and ecological interactions into a systems-level framework for understanding drought adaptation. Therefore, integrating molecular insights with breeding and metabolic engineering approaches facilitates the development of climate-resilient crops adapted to increasingly water-limited environments, supporting global food security and climate adaptation efforts.
Soil salinity is a major threat to crop productivity, sustainable agriculture, and global food security, with more than 833 million hectares of land affected worldwide. Salt stress restricts plant growth through osmotic stress, ion toxicity, oxidative damage, membrane disruption, reduced photosynthesis, and yield loss. Plants respond through coordinated regulatory networks that connect early stress perception with ion balance, osmotic adjustment, hormone signaling, transcript regulation, and protein modification. Recent advances have identified several sensory and signaling modules involved in salinity responses, including calcium signaling, receptor like kinases, FERONIA, OSCA, MOCA, annexins, and mechanosensitive channels that detect ionic, osmotic, and mechanical changes. Established pathways such as the SOS pathway and GABA shunt are included as established background mechanisms for sodium homeostasis and metabolic adjustment under saline conditions. Hormonal networks involving abscisic acid, ethylene, jasmonic acid, auxin, gibberellins, and brassinosteroids coordinate root architecture, stomatal control, antioxidant defense, growth restraint, and post-stress recovery. Emerging regulatory layers mediated by microRNAs, phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and SUMOylation further fine tune transcript stability, protein activity, ion transport, redox balance, and stress resilience. A central challenge is the translational gap between model species and crops, since many mechanisms defined in Arabidopsis and rice still lack functional validation in major crop species and halophytes. Integrating conserved and species dependent mechanisms with crop centered validation will help convert molecular knowledge into breeding, genome editing, and management strategies for saline agriculture.
Muhammad Usman, Li Wang, Xiaojuan An et al.· Plant Science· 0 citations
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