Evidence from functional genomics studies demonstrates that sulfur metabolism is closely integrated with redox signaling, stress tolerance, and plant immunity, which supports a view of sulfur metabolism as a dynamic regulatory network rather than a linear nutrient‐assimilation pathway.
Abstract
Sulfur (S) is an essential macronutrient that plays critical roles in plant growth, redox homeostasis, stress adaptation, and immunity. In rice (Oryza sativa), sulfur deficiency is becoming increasingly common due to modern agricultural practices, yet the molecular regulation of sulfur metabolism remains incompletely understood. Recent advances in functional genomics have provided new insights into the mechanisms governing sulfur uptake, transport, assimilation, and downstream metabolic regulation. This review synthesizes current knowledge of sulfur metabolism in rice, with particular emphasis on transgenic and microRNA‐based approaches. We discuss the functions of sulfate transporters, sulfur assimilation enzymes, and sulfur‐containing metabolites such as glutathione in regulating sulfur homeostasis, redox balance, and stress responses. Particular attention is given to the conserved miR395 regulatory module, which coordinates sulfur assimilation and allocation through posttranscriptional regulation of ATP sulfurylase genes. Evidence from functional genomics studies demonstrates that sulfur metabolism is closely integrated with redox signaling, stress tolerance, and plant immunity. Collectively, these findings support a view of sulfur metabolism as a dynamic regulatory network rather than a linear nutrient‐assimilation pathway. We further highlight key knowledge gaps, emerging research opportunities, and future directions for applying functional genomics to improve sulfur use efficiency and resilience in rice. This review provides a framework for advancing both the fundamental understanding and translational application of sulfur metabolism in sustainable rice production.
It is proposed that sulfur metabolism should be viewed as a dynamic resource allocation network rather than a linear assimilation pathway, to help identify regulatory variants that improve sulfur-use efficiency, stress resilience, immunity, and grain quality without compromising yield stability.
F. Rauf, Hakim Zamir, Hussam Ahmad et al.· Molecular Biotechnology· 0 citations
Sulfur availability is a major modulator of iron-responsive phenotypic, transcriptional, and metabolic traits in durum wheat and provides a systems-level framework for future functional studies of Fe/S crosstalk.
E. Coppa, Mutsumi Watanabe, Moez Maghrebi et al.· New Phytologist· 0 citations
Arsenic (As) is a highly toxic metalloid that can be absorbed by plants, inducing stress that disrupts vital physiological processes. In response, plants activate defense mechanisms that allow them to cope with As-induced stress. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the metabolic pathways involved in plant responses to As stress, focusing on the mechanisms of As uptake and transport, metabolic and antioxidant responses, molecular regulation, and mitigation strategies that contribute to plant adaptation and tolerance. As exposure disrupts primary metabolism by impairing photosynthesis, the Calvin cycle, and carbon and energy metabolism, while also altering aquaporin-mediated transport and phosphate homeostasis. In addition, As induces oxidative stress, leading to increased lipid peroxidation and enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR). It also affects secondary metabolism by modifying the biosynthesis and accumulation of specialized metabolites involved in stress tolerance. Overall, the evidence reviewed indicates that As can induce changes in both primary and secondary metabolic pathways. Although primary metabolic alterations are relatively well documented, information regarding changes in secondary metabolites, including phenolics and flavonoids, remains limited. Therefore, future research should integrate genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics to elucidate the molecular basis of As tolerance and support modern crop breeding programs aimed at developing arsenic-tolerant cultivars. Moreover, this knowledge is fundamental for mitigating the impact of As on major food crops such as rice, wheat, maize, and vegetables, where arsenic contamination can reduce productivity, compromise crop quality, and increase the risk of As entry into the food chain. Furthermore, the mechanistic insights gained from these crops may serve as a basis for developing mitigation strategies applicable to other agriculturally important species.
E.P. Trejo-Nava, C. Ozuna, J. Salas-Leiva et al.· Horticulturae· 0 citations
Improved understanding of how sulfate transport systems function in halophytes is improved and provides a foundation for future research on sulfur-mediated stress tolerance in plants.
Yingyi Yu, Ming-Hua Luo, Yan Leng et al.· Biology· 0 citations
Phosphorus (P) is essential for plant growth and development. Although soils contain abundant total P, about 70% of global arable land is deficient in available inorganic phosphate (Pi), severely restricting sustainable agricultural production. To date, numerous physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying plant adaptation to low-Pi stress have been elucidated. In this review, we provide an overview of recent advances in plant adaptation to low-Pi stress at both the physiological and molecular levels, including root plasticity and hormonal regulation, root exudate-mediated Pi acquisition, metabolic adaptation such as sugar metabolism, membrane lipid remodeling, and secondary metabolite accumulation, as well as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. Furthermore, we summarize the molecular regulatory networks governing plant responses to low-Pi stress, covering phosphate transporters, SPX-PHR signaling, transcription factors, non-coding RNAs, and epigenetic modifications. The interaction between low-Pi signaling and other signaling pathways is also discussed. This review synthesizes recent advances in adaptive mechanisms across multiple regulatory levels and discusses strategies for breeding P-efficient crops to support sustainable agriculture.
Junhao Zhang, Ao Pan, Zhangqiang Song et al.· Frontiers in Plant Science· 0 citations
Soil salinization threatens global arable land and agricultural sustainability, severely reducing crop nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) by disrupting root ammonium and nitrate fluxes, impairing nitrogen-assimilation enzymes, and disrupting carbon–nitrogen (C–N) balance. This review synthesizes recent advances in the coordination of salt-stress signaling and nitrogen homeostasis in plants. Two mechanistically distinct regulatory axes have recently been proposed. In one, a nitrate transporter acts as a dual sensor for nitrate and abscisic acid (ABA); in the other, SOS kinase-mediated phosphorylation of an ammonium transporter maintains ammonium uptake under Na+ stress. In addition, rapid post-translational regulatory mechanisms, including reversible protein phosphorylation and S-nitrosylation of nitrate reductase, can fine-tune nitrogen fluxes shortly after salt exposure. These findings inform a four-tier closed-loop conceptual framework comprising signal perception, transport reprogramming, metabolic redistribution, and genetic redesign. The framework yields three testable predictions: the sequential activation of regulatory tiers; a quantitative relationship between Ca2+ signal amplitude and the extent of C–N metabolic redistribution; and salt-concentration thresholds that distinguish basal homeostatic buffering from full adaptive reprogramming. Translation of this framework to field crops requires an integrated breeding pipeline that combines multi-environment quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, pan-genome-enabled genome-wide association studies, genomic selection for minor-effect alleles, and multiplex CRISPR editing coupled with stress-inducible synthetic promoters to pyramid favorable traits while minimizing yield penalties. A major unresolved challenge is to resolve the dynamic protein–metabolite networks that govern growth–defense trade-offs under combined salinity and nitrogen limitation. The integration of single-cell transcriptomics, isotope-based metabolic flux analysis, and machine-learning-assisted phenomics may help link genotypic variation to agronomic performance in salinized agroecosystems.
Ranran Liu, Long-Yu Wang, Shulei Wang et al.· Frontiers in Plant Science· 0 citations
