Research Progress on the Mechanism of Salt Tolerance in Maize: A Classic Field That Needs New Efforts

Abstract

Maize is the most important cereal crop globally. However, in recent years, maize production faced numerous challenges from environmental factors due to the changing climate. Salt stress is among the major environmental factors that negatively impact crop productivity worldwide. To cope with salt stress, plants developed various strategies, such as producing osmolytes, increasing antioxidant enzyme activity, maintaining reactive oxygen species homeostasis, and regulating ion transport. This review provides an overview of the intricate relationships between salt stress and several plant defense mechanisms, including osmolytes, antioxidant enzymes, reactive oxygen species, plant hormones, and ions (Na+, K+, Cl−), which are critical for salt tolerance in maize. It addresses the regulatory strategies and key factors involved in salt tolerance, aiming to foster a comprehensive understanding of the salt tolerance regulatory networks in maize. These new insights will also pave the way for further investigations into the significance of these regulations in elucidating how maize coordinates its defense system to resist salt stress.

Molecular Basis of Crops and Fruit Plants in Response to Stress

“…Setubal et al [10] observed that nitrogen fertilization is inefficient for seed yield in soybeans under drought. Finally, Li et al [11] revised different mechanisms associated with maize salt tolerance.…”

“…The articles published in this SI covered the identification and characterization of transcription factors associated with stress resistance [1][2][3], beneficial endophytic/plant interaction [4,5], and molecular mechanisms involved in crops and fruit plants to stress tolerance [6][7][8][9][10][11].…”

“…In the last approach, Li et al [11] reviewed the mechanisms involved in maize salt tolerance. The authors explored relevant plant defense mechanisms associated with salinity tolerance including the following topics: osmolyte accumulation and signaling pathways, antioxidant enzymes, reactive oxygen species, phytohormones, and the role of Na + , K + , and Cl − in salt tolerance of maize plants.…”