Plant Growth Regulation - Special Issue: Phytohormone Signalling in Plant Stress Physiology

Plant hormones are low molecular weight organic compounds, which occur in low concentrations and are produced by plants as secondary metabolites to regulate growth, development, reproduction, even death, and the adaptation to environmental stimuli. Five major classes of plant hormones have been known for a long time, including auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, ethylene, and abscisic acid. Meanwhile, the list of classical hormones has been expanded to brassinosteroids, jasmonates, salicylic acid, and strigolactones. However, the definition of a plant hormone has not been clearly established. Further plant growth regulators, such as polyamines, can also be classified as plant hormones, depending on which hormone definition is considered.

In general, plant hormones can be divided into two groups depending on their role in the control of senescence. Ethylene, jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, and abscisic acid, and, to a minor extent, strigolactons have been characterized as hormones promoting senescence, while cytokinins, auxins, gibberellins, and brassinosteroids are regarded as hormones delaying senescence. Nevertheless, plant hormones do not exert their effects alone. They interact with each other in a complex network with versatile antagonistic and synergist connections which due to this fine-tuning lead to actual plant responses both under normal and stress conditions. Furthermore, their action and/or metabolism can be in relation to the synthesis of other protective or signaling compounds and hormones or hormone-like compounds, e.g., carotenoids, ethylene, gamma aminobutyric acid, glycine betaine, phytochelatins, flavonoid derivatives, proline, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide.

Stress modulates almost all physiological, biochemical, and molecular processes in plants. Revealing the way of perception, new elements and cross-talking can help us to establish new models in the regulation of plant hormones.

Here, we invite researchers to submit (this opens in a new tab) to a special issue focused on plant hormones and their signaling in plant stress physiology. In consideration are original research, short communications, reviews, perspectives, and opinions.

We welcome investigations at metabolite and gene expression levels which highlight changes in hormonal balance, newly discovered roles of plant hormones and hormone-like compounds, and their interactions with each other. Studies with exogenous application of hormones and using mutant or transgenic genotypes under biotic or abiotic stress are greatly encouraged so long as they provide insights into the biological mechanisms.  

Submission will be opened until 15 June 2024.

Guest Editors

Mohsin Tanveer
Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Science, China

Marino B. Arnao
University of Murcia, Spain

Lei Wang
Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China