Forage Plant Ecophysiology under Different Stress Conditions

Abstract

Forage production often occurs in fragile environments with low fertility and various limitations. The main topic of this Special Issue is the study of the effects and new mechanisms of tolerance and recovery under different environmental stress conditions in forage species. Furthermore, climate change could increase the likelihood of several stressful events, such as heavy rainfall leading to soil waterlogging or submersion, extreme temperatures, and drought conditions, negatively impacting plant growth and productivity [1,2]. New livestock production systems are also common under trees or shrub cover, where forage plants grow in varying degrees of shade. In turn, each of these abiotic stresses generally acts in combination with defoliation or with another of the stressors (e.g., flooding and salinity, drought, and heat stress, among others). They can even act in different temporal sequences in relation to the environmental variability of the system, which was also increased by climate change. In general, information is available on the response to each individual stress, but less is known about the ecophysiological mechanisms involved in the tolerance to the combination and temporal sequences of different types of stress. Understanding the effects and mechanisms of tolerance and recovery under abiotic stress conditions is crucial as a foundation for the genetic improvement of forage species and to develop optimal grazing management strategies that promote the production, quality, and persistence of valuable species and environmental sustainability. In this context, the aim of this Special Issue is to enhance our understanding of novel mechanisms of tolerance to stresses and their patterns of variation within and between accessions of different forage species. We present six scientific articles authored by individuals affiliated with various countries, including Argentina, Spain, Ethiopia, Brazil, Kenya, Australia, and Fiji. This results in the analysis of different stresses specific to various pastoral systems worldwide. Additionally, studies on grasses and legumes were conducted. These works underscore the significance of studying genetic variability as a crucial initial step in identifying tolerant accessions and signify clear progress in elucidating mechanisms of tolerance. However, we are convinced that this topic still warrants attention from the scientific community.