Updates and Prospects: Morphological, Physiological, and Molecular Regulation in Crop Response to Waterlogging Stress

Abstract

With the frequent occurrence of extreme weather such as typhoons and rainstorms, waterlogging has become one of the most important threats to global crop growth and production. Waterlogging limits plants’ access to oxygen and light, leading to disadvantageous changes in metabolism to disturb plant growth and development. To escape the damage of hypoxia or promote the diffusion of oxygen to submerged organs, plants respond to waterlogging stress by regulating their morphological structure, photosynthesis, respiration, energy metabolism, and endogenous plant hormone biosynthesis/signal transduction. The adventitious roots (AR), aerenchyma, and stem internode are the major target structure for waterlogging adaptation. The molecular mechanism of crop survival under waterlogging conditions and the key genes related photosynthesis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis, and ethylene signal transduction are reviewed. We also elucidated recent advances in the study of interactions between various regulatory pathways and emphasized the important role of stress memory and cross-stress mechanisms in plant response to abiotic stress, indicating the importance of epigenetic modifications. On the basis of above, the research direction and focus of plants coping with waterlogging stress in the future are proposed. This review provides rich genetic resources and a theoretical basis for improving the genetic breeding of crop resistance to waterlogging.

Adventitious root formation confers waterlogging tolerance in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)

“…Consequently, under anoxygenic conditions, ARs support and enhance gas diffusion and water and nutrient uptake in plants along and across the roots via air-filled space known as aerenchyma (Steffens and Rasmussen, 2016). Therefore, plants that can quickly form AR under waterlogged conditions are expected to be a better adaptation trait for waterlogging environments (Yang et al, 2023). In the current study, no tested varieties developed AR under control conditions (Figures 5, 6).…”

Uncovering the effect of waterlogging stress on plant microbiome and disease development: current knowledge and future perspectives

“…Two hormones namely Abscisic acid (ABA) and ethylene (ET) were identified as key drivers for systemic signaling during water stress ( Hsu et al., 2011 ; TSAI et al., 2014 ). One of the earliest responses to anoxia conditions in plant roots or shoots is the activation of calcium and reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling cascades and suppression of mitochondrial respiration ( Yang et al., 2023 ). Some of the key players like vacuolar H + /calcium transporter CATION/PROTON EXCHANGER 1 (CAX1) and the RESPIRATORY BURST OXIDASE HOMOLOGs D and F ( RBOHD and RBOHF ) that drive early response during waterlogging have been identified that regulates distinct anoxia response like aerenchyma formation ( Liu et al., 2017 ; Yang et al., 2022 ).…”

De novogenome assembly ofMyricaria laxifloraprovides insights into its molecular mechanisms under flooding stress

“…Overexpression of the ERF transcription factor Sub1A in waterlogging sensitive rice varieties can significantly enhance the waterlogging tolerance of transgenic lines [24,25]. The expression of TaERFVI.1 in wheat is also induced by waterlogging stress [26,27]. Overexpression of TaERFVI.1 can significantly improve the waterlogging tolerance of wheat, but has no adverse effect on yield [27].…”