Secondary metabolites as biostimulants in salt stressed plants: mechanisms of oxidative defense and signal transduction

Soil salinity, a critical environmental stressor, substantially impacts plant growth and productivity. It induces osmotic stress, disrupts ion homeostasis, and triggers the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can lead to oxidative damage within plant cells. To counteract the...

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Main Authors: Muhammad Ikram, Burhan Khalid, Maria Batool, Maaz Ullah, Jiang Zitong, Abdul Rauf, Muhammad Junaid Rao, Haseeb Ur Rehman, Jie Kuai, Zhenghua Xu, Jie Zhao, Jing Wang, Guangsheng Zhou, Bo Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Plant Stress
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667064X25001599
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author Muhammad Ikram
Burhan Khalid
Maria Batool
Maaz Ullah
Jiang Zitong
Abdul Rauf
Muhammad Junaid Rao
Haseeb Ur Rehman
Jie Kuai
Zhenghua Xu
Jie Zhao
Jing Wang
Guangsheng Zhou
Bo Wang
author_facet Muhammad Ikram
Burhan Khalid
Maria Batool
Maaz Ullah
Jiang Zitong
Abdul Rauf
Muhammad Junaid Rao
Haseeb Ur Rehman
Jie Kuai
Zhenghua Xu
Jie Zhao
Jing Wang
Guangsheng Zhou
Bo Wang
author_sort Muhammad Ikram
collection DOAJ
description Soil salinity, a critical environmental stressor, substantially impacts plant growth and productivity. It induces osmotic stress, disrupts ion homeostasis, and triggers the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can lead to oxidative damage within plant cells. To counteract these detrimental effects, plants have evolved sophisticated defense mechanisms, one of which involves the production of secondary metabolites (SMs). These SMs function as biostimulants that bolster antioxidative defenses and modulate signal transduction pathways, thus enhancing the plant's tolerance to salt stress. Recent evidence reveals SMs like sulforaphane (glucosinolate-derived) uniquely stabilize redox cofactors and reprogram stress-responsive miRNAs. Furthermore, they influence key signaling cascades, such as the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and various hormone-regulated pathways, which are instrumental in orchestrating adaptive responses to saline conditions. The regulation of SMs biosynthesis under salt stress is mediated by transcription factors like MYB, WRKY, and bHLH, which are essential for activating the genes involved in these metabolic pathways. Elucidating the intricate mechanisms by which SMs operate as biostimulants not only advances our understanding of plant stress responses but also paves the way for developing sustainable agricultural practices aimed at improving crop resilience in saline environments. This knowledge is instrumental for cultivating crops that can thrive under challenging soil conditions, ultimately contributing to global food security.
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spelling doaj-art-bd2f66073e8946acae6ba2f4011ffa352025-08-20T02:33:20ZengElsevierPlant Stress2667-064X2025-06-011610089110.1016/j.stress.2025.100891Secondary metabolites as biostimulants in salt stressed plants: mechanisms of oxidative defense and signal transductionMuhammad Ikram0Burhan Khalid1Maria Batool2Maaz Ullah3Jiang Zitong4Abdul Rauf5Muhammad Junaid Rao6Haseeb Ur Rehman7Jie Kuai8Zhenghua Xu9Jie Zhao10Jing Wang11Guangsheng Zhou12Bo Wang13MOA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agricultural Science’s and Technology Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, PakistanMOA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaMOA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaMOA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaMOA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaMOA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaNational Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, ChinaDepartment of Agronomy, Faculty of Agricultural Science’s and Technology Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan; Corresponding authors.MOA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaMOA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaMOA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaMOA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaMOA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaMOA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Corresponding authors.Soil salinity, a critical environmental stressor, substantially impacts plant growth and productivity. It induces osmotic stress, disrupts ion homeostasis, and triggers the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can lead to oxidative damage within plant cells. To counteract these detrimental effects, plants have evolved sophisticated defense mechanisms, one of which involves the production of secondary metabolites (SMs). These SMs function as biostimulants that bolster antioxidative defenses and modulate signal transduction pathways, thus enhancing the plant's tolerance to salt stress. Recent evidence reveals SMs like sulforaphane (glucosinolate-derived) uniquely stabilize redox cofactors and reprogram stress-responsive miRNAs. Furthermore, they influence key signaling cascades, such as the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and various hormone-regulated pathways, which are instrumental in orchestrating adaptive responses to saline conditions. The regulation of SMs biosynthesis under salt stress is mediated by transcription factors like MYB, WRKY, and bHLH, which are essential for activating the genes involved in these metabolic pathways. Elucidating the intricate mechanisms by which SMs operate as biostimulants not only advances our understanding of plant stress responses but also paves the way for developing sustainable agricultural practices aimed at improving crop resilience in saline environments. This knowledge is instrumental for cultivating crops that can thrive under challenging soil conditions, ultimately contributing to global food security.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667064X25001599Salt stressSecondary metabolitesBiostimulantsROSStress-responsive genes
spellingShingle Muhammad Ikram
Burhan Khalid
Maria Batool
Maaz Ullah
Jiang Zitong
Abdul Rauf
Muhammad Junaid Rao
Haseeb Ur Rehman
Jie Kuai
Zhenghua Xu
Jie Zhao
Jing Wang
Guangsheng Zhou
Bo Wang
Secondary metabolites as biostimulants in salt stressed plants: mechanisms of oxidative defense and signal transduction
Plant Stress
Salt stress
Secondary metabolites
Biostimulants
ROS
Stress-responsive genes
title Secondary metabolites as biostimulants in salt stressed plants: mechanisms of oxidative defense and signal transduction
title_full Secondary metabolites as biostimulants in salt stressed plants: mechanisms of oxidative defense and signal transduction
title_fullStr Secondary metabolites as biostimulants in salt stressed plants: mechanisms of oxidative defense and signal transduction
title_full_unstemmed Secondary metabolites as biostimulants in salt stressed plants: mechanisms of oxidative defense and signal transduction
title_short Secondary metabolites as biostimulants in salt stressed plants: mechanisms of oxidative defense and signal transduction
title_sort secondary metabolites as biostimulants in salt stressed plants mechanisms of oxidative defense and signal transduction
topic Salt stress
Secondary metabolites
Biostimulants
ROS
Stress-responsive genes
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667064X25001599
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