Transcriptomics of Biostimulation of Plants Under Abiotic Stress

Abstract

Plant biostimulants are compounds, living microorganisms, or their constituent parts that alter plant development programs. The impact of biostimulants is manifested in several ways: via morphological, physiological, biochemical, epigenomic, proteomic, and transcriptomic changes. For each of these, a response and alteration occur, and these alterations in turn improve metabolic and adaptive performance in the environment. Many studies have been conducted on the effects of different biotic and abiotic stimulants on plants, including many crop species. However, as far as we know, there are no reviews available that describe the impact of biostimulants for a specific field such as transcriptomics, which is the objective of this review. For the commercial registration process of products for agricultural use, it is necessary to distinguish the specific impact of biostimulants from that of other legal categories of products used in agriculture, such as fertilizers and plant hormones. For the chemical or biological classification of biostimulants, the classification is seen as a complex issue, given the great diversity of compounds and organisms that cause biostimulation. However, with an approach focused on the impact on a particular field such as transcriptomics, it is perhaps possible to obtain a criterion that allows biostimulants to be grouped considering their effects on living systems, as well as the overlap of the impact on metabolism, physiology, and morphology occurring between fertilizers, hormones, and biostimulants.

A Meta-Analysis of Biostimulant Yield Effectiveness in Field Trials

“…Exogenously applied compounds may elicit a stress response that prepares the plant for subsequent stresses caused by limitations in water, soil fertility, or unfavorable temperature conditions (Ahmad et al, 2019 ). Molecules that can elicit a stress response are present in biostimulants and have been shown to induce stress-related genes (Geelen and Xu, 2020 ; González-Morales et al, 2021 ). Phytohormones are also commonly present in biostimulants, and their interactions with plants are known to enhance osmolyte accumulation and tolerance to stress (Sharma et al, 2019 ).…”

Microbiome engineering and plant biostimulants for sustainable crop improvement and mitigation of biotic and abiotic stresses

“…PBs protect plants against abiotic stresses through activating a cascade of signaling activity, increasing enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant activities, reducing the level of lipid peroxidation and electrolyte leakage, and enhancing water use efficiency, nutrient use efficiency, and photosynthesis activity [110,114]. Several key genes involved in antioxidant metabolism (CAT , SOD, POD, APX, GPX, GR, CHS, CSD1, and DHAR), biosynthesis and signaling of abscisic acid (NCED), aquaporin (PIP1 and PIP2), osmoprotectant (P5CS1), and secondary metabolite biosynthesis (PAL) showed differential expression patterns [130].…”

Exploring the Adaptive Responses of Plants to Abiotic Stresses Using Transcriptome Data

“…Furthermore, the expression of the TAS14 gene encodes a group 2 LEA protein called dehydrin, which is induced by osmotic stress and ABA. The expression of this gene provides a longterm tolerance to drought and salinity by a reduction in osmotic potential and accumulation of sugar and K + [93]. Moreover, the expression of MYB60 is directly involved in stomatal movement, regulated by ABA.…”

“…Moreover, the expression of MYB60 is directly involved in stomatal movement, regulated by ABA. Its induction apparently facilitates the stomatal opening [93,94]. Under the initial state of stress, this gene can induce root growth.…”