Plant responses to hypoxia: Signaling and adaptation

Abstract

Molecular oxygen deficiency leads to altered cellular metabolism and can dramatically reducecrop productivity. Nearly all crops are negatively affected by lack of oxygen (hypoxia) due to adverseenvironmental conditions such as excessive rain and soil waterlogging. Extensive efforts to fullyunderstand how plants sense oxygen deficiency and their ability to respond using different strategiesare crucial to increase hypoxia tolerance. It was estimated that 57% of crop losses are due to floods. Progress in our understanding has been significant in the last years. This topic deserved moreattention from the academic community; therefore, we have compiled a Special Issue including fourreviews and thirteen research articles reflecting the advancements made thus far.