Submergence and Waterlogging Stress in Plants: A Review Highlighting Research Opportunities and Understudied Aspects

Abstract

Soil flooding creates composite and complex stress in plants known as either submergence or waterlogging stress depending on the depth of the water table. In nature, these stresses are important factors dictating the species composition of the ecosystem. On agricultural land, they cause economic damage associated with longterm social consequences. The understanding of the plant molecular responses to these two stresses has benefited from research studying individual components of the stress, in particular low-oxygen stress. To a lesser extent, other associated stresses and plant responses have been incorporated into the molecular framework, such as ion and ROS signaling, pathogen susceptibility, and organ-specific expression and development. In this review, we aim to highlight known or suspected components of submergence/waterlogging stress that have not yet been thoroughly studied at the molecular level in this context, such as miRNA and retrotransposon expression, the influence of light/dark cycles, protein isoforms, root architecture, sugar sensing and signaling, post-stress molecular events, heavy-metal and salinity stress, and mRNA dynamics (splicing, sequestering, and ribosome loading). Finally, we explore biotechnological strategies that have applied this molecular knowledge to develop cultivars resistant to flooding or to offer alternative uses of flooding-prone soils, like bioethanol and biomass production.

Peer Review #1 of "Genome-wide characterization and expression analysis of soybean trihelix gene family (v0.1)"

“…It has been reported that HRA1 (At3G10040), a submergence or hypoxia-inducible GTγ trihelix gene in Arabidopsis, acted as a negative regulator of an ERF-VII TF RAP2.12, and then reducing the expression of core hypoxia-response genes (Giuntoli et al, 2014). This regulatory mechanism may contribute to the avoidance of RAP2.12 overaccumulation, preventing rapid depletion of carbohydrate reserves under oxygen deprivation (such as during submergence) (Fukao et al, 2019). In the present study, of the 3 GTγ genes mentioned above, the expression level of Glyma.19G190000, which is homologous to HRA1 was also strongly induced by submergence treatment, suggesting its potential role in flood tolerance.…”

Rola etylenu i zmiany na poziomie transkryptomu w odpowiedzi na stres niedotlenienia u roślin

“…ethylen respose factor). Czynniki ERF posiadają domenę Apetala2 (AP2) wiążącą się do DNA i stanowią jedną z największych rodzin czynników transkrypcyjnych u roślin [19]. U O. sativa występuje 139 czynników ERF, klasyfikowanych na podstawie podobieństw domeny AP2 w 15 podgrupach, a u A.thaliana 122 w 12 podgrupach.…”

“…Ważnym elementem odpowiedzi na stres abiotyczny jest regulacja ekspresji genów kluczowych dla tego procesu przez miRNA [43]. W stresie hipoksji miRNA regulują procesy kwitnienia, adaptacji morfologicznych, zmiany w zasobach energetycznych oraz odpowiedzi na stres oksydacyjny rośliny [19].…”

“…W korzeniach kukurydzy hipoksja powoduje wzrost ekspresji miR159 i zmniejszenie poziomu mRNA GAMYBs, MYB33 i MYB101. Badania prowadzone u A. thaliana potwierdziły, że miR159 kontroluje poziom czynników transkrypcyjnych MYB33, MYB101 i MYB65, które powodują zahamowanie wzrostu korzenia głównego [19]. Wykazano także udział miR390 i auksyn we wzroście korzeni podczas hipoksji [45].…”

Eco-Physiological Traits Related to Recovery from Complete Submergence in the Model Legume Lotus japonicus

“…The resumption of vigorous growth after experiencing complete submergence indicates the recovery ability of the species/genotype/accession [8]. Plant responses during submergence have been extensively studied and documented [4,[9][10][11][12], while plant responses after water recession (i.e. recovery phase) have seldom been reported (but see [13,14] for Arabidopsis thaliana).…”