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Results for “drought stress”

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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2025

Genome-wide identification and analysis of paclobutrazol-resistance gene family in cotton and the positive role of GhPRE3 in salt stress and drought stress resistance.

Compared with other transcription factors, much less studies have been performed on paclobutrazol-resistance (PRE), a subgroup of the extensive bHLH transcription factor gene family, and the research in cotton was also limited. By utilizing the PRE genes and their conserved domains identified in Arabidopsis, a total of 23, 22, 11, and 12 PRE genes were identified from two major cultivated cotton species and their two ancestors, respectively. The cotton PRE gene family was categorized into three subgroups based on evolutionary tree analysis. Motif and intron analyses indicated that the PRE gene has remained highly conserved throughout evolution. Collinearity analysis indicated that gene duplication, particularly through fragment replication, has significantly contributed to the expansion of the cotton PRE family. An exploration of the conserved elements within the PRE gene family uncovered numerous elements associated with plant stress resistance. Additionally, cotton transcriptome and qRT-PCR analysis showed that PRE genes were associated with a variety of abiotic stresses, including salt, drought, and cold treatments. Subcellular localization experiments indicated that the GhPRE3 gene is associated with membrane proteins. Finally, we selected the GhPRE3 gene for a VIGS experiment, which revealed that under salt stress and drought stress conditions, the wilting of leaves in the GhPRE3-silenced plants was significantly more severe than that observed in the control group, with T-AOC levels notably lower and MDA levels significantly higher. Overexpression of GhPRE3 enhanced seed germination and root development in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana under salt stress and drought stresses. This suggests that GhPRE3 plays a positive regulatory role in cotton tolerance to salt and drought stressed, providing a reference for molecular genetic breeding of cotton with salt and drought tolerance.

Gossypium↗

PubMed2026

Rhizosphere Dialogue: Microorganisms Mediated by Root Exudates Alleviate Drought Stress in Grasses.

Drought stress threatens the ecological functions and economic value of grasses, posing a major challenge to their sustainable production. Plants co-evolve with rhizosphere microbial communities, sometimes described as the plant's second genome, that can contribute to drought adaptation. Drought alters root architecture, hormonal and redox regulation and belowground carbon allocation, thereby modifying the quantity and composition of root exudation and reshaping the rhizosphere environment. This review uses the rhizosphere dialogue as an integrative framework to link these plant responses with microbial recruitment and subsequent feedback to the host. We summarise three linked stages of this dialogue: drought-induced changes in root exudation; microbial recruitment and colonisation through chemotaxis, attachment, biofilm formation, and root colonisation; and microbiome-mediated feedback that improves plant water relations, hormonal and redox homoeostasis, nutrient acquisition, and root function. We highlight microbial extracellular polymeric substances, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase, and microbial volatile organic compounds as key mediators of drought alleviation. We then discuss how this framework may inform rational synthetic microbial community (SynCom) design, microbiome-informed breeding, artificial intelligence and machine-learning assisted strain prioritisation, rhizosphere legacy effects, and real-time monitoring. Future work should distinguish active exudate-mediated recruitment from drought-driven environmental filtering and integrate multi-omics, plant genetics, functional validation, and multi-location field trials to determine whether rhizosphere dialogue can become a predictive framework for climate-resilient grass production.

drought stress↗

PubMed2026

Scion-based drought stress memory affects potato response to water deficit.

A scion-based stress memory signal, which was derived from drought-primed potato plants, was transmitted to new potato plants generated through vegetative reproduction. This affected potato tuber yield. Drought is one of the most significant threats to agricultural productivity worldwide. The cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a crop species that is sensitive to drought stress. This study investigated the impact of scion-based drought stress memory on tuber yield, physiological parameters, gene expression, and DNA methylation in the vegetative progeny of grafted plants. The tuber progeny plants remembered the drought stress signal transmitted from the drought-primed scion. Significant changes were observed in the expression of genes, primarily those related to photosynthetic metabolic pathways, as well as those associated with chromatin remodeling, DNA repair, and the plant's response to abiotic stresses. The gene expression landscape corresponded with variability in chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. In the first and the second generation of vegetatively propagated plants, scion-based memory had a positive effect on tuber yield. This was achieved by buffering the decline in yield caused by drought, as compared to plants grown under control conditions. Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing analysis revealed no correlation between changes in DNA methylation and gene expression. Drought-induced alterations in DNA methylation were erased in the second progeny generation. We propose that there is a direct causal relationship between scion-based memory of drought stress and photosynthetic efficiency, as well as potato tuber productivity.

Solanum tuberosum↗

PubMed2026

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Key Drought-Stress-Responsive Genes in Two Bermudagrass Genotypes.

Drought inhibits grass development and survival. However, molecular-based studies on drought tolerance mechanisms in bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) remain scarce. Therefore, a drought-resistant bermudagrass (Tianshui) and a drought-sensitive (Zhengzhou) genotype were selected and subjected to 28 days of 50% drought stress. Leaves were sampled for RNA sequencing. Under drought stress, 2410 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were discovered in which 1214 were upregulated (tolerant vs. sensitive) and 1196 downregulated. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) indicated that these specific DEGs are notably present in hormonal signal transduction pathways, flavonoids biogenesis, carbohydrate metabolic processes, abscisic acid-mediated pathways, MAPK signaling, and gluconeogenesis. Additionally, the plant hormone signal transduction pathway is predominantly linked to abscisic acid signal transduction, and many other plant hormones were also drought-responsive. The study specifically targeted genes associated with the antioxidant enzyme system, with a particular emphasis on responsive TFs such as MYB, bHLH, bZIP, GRAS, and WRKY. This study establishes the theoretical framework and identifies gene sources for the genetic enhancement and breeding of bermudagrass in the future.

Cynodon↗

PubMed2026

Identification of the R2R3-MYB gene family in wild jujube (Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa) and analysis of its expression under drought stress.

BACKGROUND: R2R3-MYB gene family serves as a pivotal regulatory factor in plant growth, development, and responses to environmental stresses. To investigate its function in the drought stress response of wild jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill. var. spinosa), a typical eco-economic forest species, this study performed genome-wide identification and relevant analyses of R2R3-MYB genes. RESULTS: A total of 91 R2R3-MYB genes (designated as ZjMYB1 to ZjMYB91) were identified, which were unevenly distributed across 12 chromosomes. These genes mainly encode hydrophilic and unstable proteins, 97.8% of which are localized in the nucleus. Phylogenetic analysis classified these genes into 25 clades, showing evolutionary conservation and species-specific divergence with the R2R3-MYB protein family. The expansion of the ZjMYB family is mainly characterized by segmental duplication, and all duplicated gene pairs have undergone purifying selection. ZjMYBs are widely involved in plant growth and development as well as abiotic stress responses, with the highest expression level particularly in leaf tissues; a total of 13 genes were specifically annotated as water deficit response-related genes in drought stress and abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathways. Integrating the above analyses together with transcriptome data and qRT-PCR validation results revealed that ZjMYB5, ZjMYB53, ZjMYB57 and ZjMYB85 function as core drought-responsive genes, which display both tissue-specific and time-dependent expression patterns under drought stress. CONCLUSIONS: This study systematically elucidated the functional characteristics and regulatory network of the R2R3-MYB gene family in wild jujube, providing critical genetic resources and a theoretical basis for dissecting the molecular mechanisms underlying drought tolerance in wild jujube and breeding drought-resistant cultivars.

Ziziphus↗

PubMed2026

Grafting and biodynamic nanosilica-induced physiological and transcriptomic modulation of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) under drought stress.

Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) is an economically important vegetable crop cultivated worldwide. Increasing drought stress associated with climate change has severely reduced chilli productivity. Although grafting and silicon-based nanomaterials have each been investigated independently as drought mitigation strategies in Solanaceae crops, this study represents, to our knowledge, the first investigation of their combined physiological, yield, and genome-wide transcriptomic effects in chilli under experimentally validated drought stress. Biodynamic nanosilica (BNS) is an α-quartz nanoparticle preparation (20-200 nm) derived from the biodynamic agricultural preparation BD501 through a vortex-triturating process, and distinct from chemically synthesised nanosilica in preparation method and surface bioavailability, applied as a foliar spray at 50 mg L-1. Five treatments were established: well-watered (WW), drought (D), grafting + BNS + drought (G+B+D), grafting + drought (G+D), and BNS + drought (B+D), each with three independent biological replicates. Under moderate-to-severe drought conditions (DSI 62-64%; VWC ~12% v/v at 14 days), the combined G+B+D treatment significantly improved plant height (3.05-fold over D), leaf relative water content (83% vs 49% in D), net photosynthetic rate (2.0-fold over D), water-use efficiency (+40%), and antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD: 3.1-fold; CAT: 2.8-fold over D), while reducing lipid peroxidation by 76%. Root architecture was also substantially enhanced, with a 4.1-fold increase in root length and a 3.1-fold increase in root surface area relative to D. Fruit yield increased by 79% relative to drought-stressed non-grafted plants. Transcriptomic analysis using Illumina NovaSeq 6000 identified 1,051 DEGs (431 upregulated, 620 downregulated; FDR < 0.05, |log2FC| > 1). Integrated transcriptomic-phenotypic concordance analysis revealed enrichment of MAPK signalling, ABA-mediated regulation (including ABA binding and (+)-ABA 8'-hydroxylase activity), and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis as the enriched pathways. Protein-protein interaction network analysis further revealed coordinated regulation of redox homeostasis, drought-responsive hormone signalling, and water transport gene modules in the combined treatment. These findings demonstrate that integrating grafting with biodynamic nanosilica is a promising strategy to enhance drought resilience and productivity in chilli, offering a sustainable approach for vegetable production under drought.

Capsicum↗

PubMed2026

Genome-wide identification of the peanut HD-Zip gene family and AhHDZ15 positively regulating salt and drought stress in heterologously overexpressed Arabidopsis.

Homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) transcription factors play important roles in plant growth, development, and abiotic stress responses. However, bioinformatic analyses and functional studies of HD-Zip family in peanut are scarce. In this study, 128 AhHDZ genes were identified and classified into four subfamilies in the phylogenetic analysis. Transcriptomic data and RT-qPCR analysis indicated the expression levels of AhHDZ4 and AhHDZ15 were significantly elevated in response to 12 h of salt stress, while AhHDZ4/15/60/69/126 all showed a progressive increase over time in response to drought stress. AhHDZ15 protein was localized in the nucleus. Under salt and drought stress, the germination rates of AhHDZ15-overexpressing in Arabidopsis were significantly higher than wild-type (WT), and root lengths were also significantly longer than WT. In addition, the SOD, CAT, chlorophyll content, and Relative Leaf Water Content (RLWC) value of leaves in AhHDZ15-overexpressing lines were significantly higher than WT, while the MDA content was significantly lower than WT. The above results indicate that heterologous overexpression of AhHDZ15 enhanced salt and drought tolerance in Arabidopsis. Furthermore, AhHDZ15 could bind to the L1-box element of the AhVNI2 promoter, thereby activating AhVNI2 transcription and enhancing the expression of downstream salt stress-responsive genes. These findings implies a potential function of AhHDZ15 in peanut that requires further validation.

Arabidopsis↗

PubMed2026

Circular RNAs orchestrate integrated post-transcriptional responses to combined heat and drought stress in rice.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are emerging post-transcriptional regulators, yet their landscape and functional roles in rice under combined abiotic stress remain largely unexplored. Here, we systematically reanalyzed strand-specific RNA-seq data to characterize circRNAs responsive to simultaneous heat and drought stress. Following quality control, read mapping, and dual-algorithm prediction using CIRI2 and CIRCexplorer2, we identified 208 high-confidence circRNAs distributed across all 12 chromosomes. Comparative profiling revealed 83 circRNAs uniquely expressed in control samples, 51 in stressed samples, and 74 shared between conditions, indicating stress-dependent circularization. Junction-read analysis highlighted a spectrum of circularization strength, ranging from highly abundant circRNAs with dominant junction reads to low-confidence candidates masked by linear transcript background. Genomic annotation showed that circRNAs primarily originated from exonic and intergenic regions, with a pronounced negative-strand bias; several genes generated multiple circRNA isoforms via alternative back-splicing. Functional enrichment of host genes suggested involvement in protein folding, nutrient reservoir activity, RNA degradation, and branched-chain amino acid catabolism, implicating roles in stress adaptation and metabolic regulation. Differential expression analysis identified seven circRNAs specifically induced under combined stress conditions. Network topology analysis pinpointed key miRNAs-including osa-miR414, osa-miR1439, and osa-miR2919-as candidate topological hubs within the predicted network. Their predicted target genes, such as those encoding stress-responsive transcription factors and signaling proteins, suggest potential roles in coordinating post-transcriptional responses to combined stress. Network topology analysis pinpointed key miRNAs-including osa-miR414, osa-miR1439, and osa-miR2919-as candidate topological hubs within the predicted network. Their predicted target genes, such as those encoding stress-responsive transcription factors and signaling proteins, suggest potential roles in coordinating post-transcriptional responses to combined stress. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive map of circRNAs in rice under combined heat and drought stress, suggests their potential as ceRNAs based on predictive analysis, and lays a foundation for future experimental validation of circRNA-mediated regulation.

Oryza↗

PubMed2026

Systematic identification pepper CaE2F transcription factor reveals the role of CaDPb in drought stress response.

The EARLY 2 FACTOR (E2F) transcription factor (TF) family plays a pivotal role in regulating plant development and adaptations to environmental stresses. However, the physiological function of E2Fs in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) are not well elucidated. In this work, we conduct a comprehensive genome-wide annotation of the E2F family within the Zunla-1 pepper genome and further explore the biological roles of CaDPb in response to drought stress. Through systematic bioinformatics analysis, we identify a total of nine CaE2F genes within the Zunla-1 genome, categorizing them into three distinct subgroups. Additionally, we discover multiple cis-regulatory elements in the CaE2F promoter regions associated with responses to plant hormones and drought stress. Public RNA-seq datasets reveal distinct expression profiles of CaE2F genes across various pepper tissues and their responses to environmental stimuli and plant hormones. Subsequently, the CaDPb gene is further functionally verified in drought response. Our findings indicate that TRV2:CaDPb silenced pepper plants are more sensitivity to drought. Furthermore, we show that CaDPb participates in the regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, the expression of drought-responsive genes, and the modulation of stomatal aperture. Taken together, our findings provide a comprehensive characterization of E2F genes in pepper and offer insights into the biological function of CaDPb in pepper drought stress response.

Capsicum↗

PubMed2026

Uncovering hub genes and key pathways responsive to drought stress in rice via meta-analysis of transcriptomic data.

Drought stress presents a formidable threat to global rice cultivation, triggering complex molecular responses that impact plant growth and productivity. To decipher the underlying gene expression dynamics, we performed a comprehensive meta-analysis of transcriptomic datasets derived from drought-tolerant rice genotypes. Via microarray data from three independent studies, we identified a set of consistently expressed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under drought conditions. Integration of functional annotation tools, including GO and KEGG pathway enrichment, revealed key biological processes and signaling cascades involved in stress mitigation, such as ABA signaling, protein folding, and photosynthesis suppression. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction, followed by hub gene identification via maximal clique centrality (MCC), highlighted pivotal regulators including LEA proteins, dehydrins, HSP70, and several transcription factors. Machine learning approaches further prioritize potential biomarkers, with Random Forest models achieving high classification accuracy and pinpointing key predictive genes. Chromosomal localization analysis provided spatial insights into the distribution of these hub genes, whose expression patterns were further compared against qRT-PCR data from previously published studies. This integrative approach identifies candidate genomic markers and mechanistic insights that may support future breeding strategies for drought-tolerant rice, pending experimental validation.

Cytoscape↗

PubMed2024

PSEUDO-RESPONSE REGULATOR 3b and transcription factor ABF3 modulate abscisic acid-dependent drought stress response in soybean.

The circadian system plays a pivotal role in facilitating the ability of crop plants to respond and adapt to fluctuations in their immediate environment effectively. Despite the increasing comprehension of PSEUDO-RESPONSE REGULATORs and their involvement in the regulation of diverse biological processes, including circadian rhythms, photoperiodic control of flowering, and responses to abiotic stress, the transcriptional networks associated with these factors in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) remain incompletely characterized. In this study, we provide empirical evidence highlighting the significance of GmPRR3b as a crucial mediator in regulating the circadian clock, drought stress response, and abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathway in soybeans. A comprehensive analysis of DNA affinity purification sequencing and transcriptome data identified 795 putative target genes directly regulated by GmPRR3b. Among them, a total of 570 exhibited a significant correlation with the response to drought, and eight genes were involved in both the biosynthesis and signaling pathways of ABA. Notably, GmPRR3b played a pivotal role in the negative regulation of the drought response in soybeans by suppressing the expression of abscisic acid-responsive element-binding factor 3 (GmABF3). Additionally, the overexpression of GmABF3 exhibited an increased ability to tolerate drought conditions, and it also restored the hypersensitive phenotype of the GmPRR3b overexpressor. Consistently, studies on the manipulation of GmPRR3b gene expression and genome editing in plants revealed contrasting reactions to drought stress. The findings of our study collectively provide compelling evidence that emphasizes the significant contribution of the GmPRR3b-GmABF3 module in enhancing drought tolerance in soybean plants. Moreover, the transcriptional network of GmPRR3b provides valuable insights into the intricate interactions between this gene and the fundamental biological processes associated with plant adaptation to diverse environmental conditions.

Glycine max↗

PubMed2026

Functional study of the AfRAP2 gene in Amorpha fruticosa L. tolerance to saline-alkali and drought stress.

BACKGROUND: Amorpha fruticosa L. is a leguminous shrub with high tolerance to drought, poor soil, and saline-alkali stress conditions. As a member of the family of transcription factors in higher plants, the ethylene response factor AP2/ERF plays a crucial role in both plant adaptation to abiotic stress and in growth and development. In this study, based on genes identified from the transcriptomic sequencing of Amorpha fruticosa L. under drought stress, the upregulated gene AfRAP2 was isolated from its seedlings, with the aim of elucidating its stress-response function using molecular biological techniques. RESULTS: In this study, the AfRAP2 gene was cloned from the leaves of Amorpha fruticosa L. using RT-PCR. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that AfRAP2 contains an AP2 domain and belongs to the DREB subfamily of the AP2/ERF transcription factor family, showing close phylogenetic relationships with LaEREBP from Lathyrus albus. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) results indicate that AfRAP2 is expressed in various tissues of Amorpha fruticosa L., with the highest expression in leaves and the lowest in stems, furthermore, its expression is significantly upregulated in roots and leaves upon induction by NaHCO3 and PEG6000. Subcellular localization experiments confirmed that the AfRAP2 protein is localized to the nucleus, and GUS histochemical staining assay revealed that its promoter drives GUS expression in anthers. Resistance analysis of overexpressing yeast strains showed that yeast transformed with the AfRAP2 gene exhibited significantly better growth under sorbitol, mannitol, and NaHCO3 stress conditions compared to the control, indicating that this gene enhances yeast tolerance to drought and saline-alkali stress. We screened transgenic tobacco and Populus davidiana × P. alba var. Pyramidalis. The results showed that under natural drought and saline-alkali stress treatments, the transgenic lines exhibited significantly improved growth and higher activities of the physiological indicators of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POD) compared with wild-type plants, indicating that the overexpression of the AfRAP2 gene plays a key role in the response to saline-alkali stress and drought stress. CONCLUSION: In summary, AfRAP2 contains an AP2 domain and belongs to the DREB subfamily of transcription factors, under abiotic stress induced by NaHCO₃ and mannitol, it can induce the expression of the AfRAP2 gene in tobacco and Populus davidiana×P. alba var. pyramidalis. AfRAP2 plays a vital role in the plant response to saline-alkali stress and drought stress and is a promising candidate gene for stress-tolerant breeding.

Plant Proteins↗

PubMed2026

EST-SSR based genetic polymorphism among Lablab (Lablab purpureus L. Sweet) accessions contrasting for drought stress at seedling stage.

Lablab is a multipurpose and the most drought-tolerant (DT) crop compared with its relatives. Despite its potential, Lablab is still an underutilized crop with a lack of improved varieties in many countries. The DT (D349, D147, HA4, D363, D352, D359, D348, D311, D55 and D250) and drought-susceptible (DS) (D271, D66, D106, D6, D26, D255, D28, D186, D95, and D258) accessions were earlier identified according to their morphological and biochemical responses to moisture stress at the seedling stage. These accessions were used to establish genetic polymorphism among the accessions contrasting for drought stress based on the Expressed Sequence Tag-Simple Sequence Repeats (EST-SSR) markers. The CTAB protocol was employed for the genomic DNA extraction. After DNA quality and quantity verification, the PCR was conducted using 16 EST-SSR primer pairs specific to the Lablab. The products were separated through the horizontal polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (hPAGE). Discriminating ability of the markers and primers' efficiency were evaluated based on various genetic parameters. Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) was performed to estimate the distance matrix among the population and among the accessions. While cluster analysis was processed to trace the genetic relationship among the accessions, dendrogram was constructed to decipher their genetic relationship. Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) was finally computed to quantify the diversity level and genetic relationship among the population, and among the accessions. A low polymorphism (GD = 0.19) was observed between the DT and DS accessions, likely due to limited discriminatory power of the EST-SSR markers. However, the PCoA, cluster analysis and AMOVA identified DT (D147, HA4, and D349) and DS (D106, D95, and D271) accessions as strongly contrasting populations under drought stress, with D147, HA4, D349, D363, D359, D352, and D348 further recommended as DT accessions. Given the low polymorphism observed, further validation using more informative molecular markers and advanced genomic approaches is recommended to improve the identification of drought-tolerance genes and related QTLs to support Lablab breeding programs.

Expressed Sequence Tags↗

PubMed2026

Deciphering differential mRNA and lncRNA expression profiles in response to PEG simulated drought stress in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.).

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), a vital fruit vegetable of the Cucurbitaceae family, originated in India ∼ 3000 years ago. It is widely used in the culinary, therapeutic, and cosmetic sectors. Cucumber cultivation is significantly impacted by drought stress, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. This study investigates the molecular response to drought using two contrasting cucumber lines: WBC-23-2 (drought-tolerant) and DGPC-59 (drought-sensitive). Drought was simulated using polyethylene glycol (PEG), and effects on physiological and biochemical traits were evaluated. The tolerant line exhibited reduced leaf wilting and higher relative water content (RWC). Based on these physiological markers, transcriptomic profiling was employed to identify the underlying regulatory networks. Analysis identified 4,736 DEGs, suggesting that the tolerant line's superior resilience is driven by preferential activation of genes involved in photosynthesis and glutathione metabolism. Conversely, the sensitive genotype showed enrichment in organonitrogen compound catabolism and water deprivation response. This divergence is further reflected in the regulation of 155 transcription factors (TFs) across various families, indicating distinct regulatory architectures between the two lines. Additionally, 774 drought-responsive long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were identified, acting via cis, trans, and competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanisms to modulate gene expression. Key candidate genes associated with drought tolerance included WAT1-related protein At5g64700, thaumatin-like protein, berberine bridge enzyme-like 18, probable WRKY transcription factor, and pathogenesis-related protein 1. This study reveals a complex regulatory network of mRNAs, lncRNAs, and TFs underlying drought response and provides a valuable foundation for breeding drought-resilient cucumber cultivars. A web-based genomic resource, CsDTDb, has been developed and made publicly available to facilitate future functional genomics studies related to drought tolerance in cucumber.

DEGs↗

PubMed2026

From stress signaling to yield stability: physiological and molecular mechanisms of wheat resilience to heat and drought stress.

Wheat resilience depends on coordinated signaling, reproductive protection, and source-sink regulation, providing a framework to breed robust trait combinations that stabilize yield under combined heat and drought. Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of heat and drought events, posing a major threat to wheat productivity, yield stability, and food security. Because these stresses often coincide in the field, their combined effects can impair growth, reproductive development, grain filling, and final yield more severely than either stress alone. Wheat resilience under such conditions depends on coordinated physiological adjustment and molecular regulation that sustain cellular homeostasis, protect reproductive tissues, and preserve yield-related traits. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the physiological and molecular bases of wheat resilience to heat and drought, with emphasis on their combined effects. We discuss major physiological responses, including photosynthetic adjustment, stomatal regulation, canopy cooling, osmotic balance, antioxidant defense, membrane stability, and source-sink coordination. We also examine key regulatory pathways involved in stress perception and adaptation, including calcium and reactive oxygen species signaling, mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades, phytohormonal crosstalk, transcriptional regulation, heat shock proteins, late embryogenesis abundant proteins, and osmoprotective and redox-associated pathways. In addition, we highlight the growing contribution of transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and phenomics to the identification of candidate genes, biomarkers, and adaptive traits. Finally, we consider how mechanistic insights can be translated into wheat improvement through molecular markers, genomic selection, gene editing, and climate-realistic phenotyping. An integrated understanding of stress signaling and adaptive trait deployment will be essential for developing wheat cultivars with improved resilience and yield stability under future climates.

Triticum↗

PubMed2026

Genome-Wide Characterization of the ScLOR Gene Family in Wild Tomato Solanum lycopersicoides Reveals ScLOR16 as a Negative Regulator of Cold-and Drought-Stress Tolerance.

The LOR (LURP-one related) gene family encodes proteins containing conserved LOR domains; however, its functions in plant abiotic stress responses remain largely unexplored. In this study, we systematically identified and characterized the LOR gene family in the stress-tolerant wild tomato Solanum lycopersicoides using comprehensive bioinformatic analyses and conducted functional validation of the candidate gene ScLOR16. A total of 19 ScLOR members were identified and classified into eight phylogenetic subgroups. Numerous cis-acting elements associated with responses to abscisic acid (ABA), cold, and drought, including ABRE, LTR, and MBS, were detected in the promoter regions, suggesting that the ScLOR family may be broadly involved in ABA-mediated stress signaling pathways. RT-qPCR analysis revealed that ScLOR16 expression was significantly induced by both cold and drought treatments. Subcellular localization assays demonstrated that ScLOR16 is localized in both the nucleus and cytoplasm. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) was subsequently employed to generate ScLOR16-silenced plants. Following 24 h of cold treatment at 4 °C and four days of drought stress, ScLOR16-silenced seedlings exhibited significantly less severe wilting symptoms than empty-vector controls. Physiological analyses showed that silenced plants exhibited enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities, increased proline accumulation, and decreased thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) content. Collectively, these results indicate that reduced ScLOR16 transcript levels are associated with enhanced cold and drought tolerance, accompanied by alterations in antioxidant defense and osmoprotection-related physiological markers. This study yields new insights into the evolution and stress-related functions of the ScLOR family.

LOR gene family↗

PubMed2025

Comparative analysis of DREB gene family in buckwheat: the role of FtDREB02 in the delphinidin biosynthesis and drought stress response.

Dehydration response element binding (DREB) transcription factors play a pivotal role in plant abiotic stress responses, but its evolutionary and functional characterization in buckwheat remains unexplored. Here, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the DREB gene family across three buckwheat species, revealing segmental duplication as the primary driver of family expansion and potential purifying selection during evolution. A FtDREB02 gene, classified as group A2, was identified through genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) on drought tolerance and delphinidin content. Functional validation in Arabidopsis thaliana and the hairy root of Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) demonstrated that overexpression of this gene promotes delphinidin biosynthesis and enhances plant resistance to water scarcity. Through the integration of DAP-seq and PEG transcriptome cluster analysis, a FtANS candidate was screened. Functional studies showed that FtDREB02 regulates delphinidin content by binding directly to DRE elements of the FtANS promoter. This research identifies and comprehensively analyzes the DREB family within buckwheat species, elucidating the regulatory mechanisms of FtDREB02 in controlling flavonoid biosynthesis and drought resistance, providing potential genetic resources for breeding buckwheat varieties with excellent agronomic traits.

Anthocyanins↗

PubMed2026

MhSHINE2-like interacts with MhGRF3 to promote drought tolerance via modulating stomatal aperture in apple.

Drought poses a significant global challenge to agriculture, substantially reducing crop yields. Abscisic acid (ABA) plays a crucial role in response to drought stress. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanism underlying the ABA-mediated drought stress response in apple remains poorly understood. We identified a drought- and ABA-induced AP2/ERF transcription factor (TF), MhSHINE2-like, which positively regulates drought stress tolerance in apple. Biochemical analysis showed that MhSHINE2-like directly binds to the GAGA-rich element in the promoter of the ABA biosynthesis gene MhNCED3, promoting its transcription under drought stress. Overexpression of MhNCED3 promotes ABA accumulation and enhances apple drought tolerance by regulating stomatal closure under drought stress. Further studies revealed that MhSHINE2-like physically interacts with 14-3-3 protein, MhGRF3, which also contributes positively to drought tolerance. Notably, MhSHINE2-like and MhGRF3 function cooperatively to modulate the expression of downstream genes, promoting ABA accumulation, and consequently enhancing drought tolerance in apple. These findings reveal a regulatory network mediated by the combined effects of TFs and chaperone proteins, offering valuable genetic resources for the development of drought-tolerant apple cultivars.

Malus↗