4.6. Drought Stress
Drought frequently has limiting impacts on plants’ growth and developmental stages and induces growth inhibition and low total crop production
[58]. Stomatal conductance, CO
2 penetration, membrane electron transfer rate, photosynthesis, and carboxylation efficiency are hampered by drought, and this results in the production of ROS, which triggers oxidative damage. Exogenous supply of GSH attenuated drought stress in plants and was associated with enhanced photosynthesis as well as chlorophyll content and the activity of antioxidant enzymes
[59].
GST (glutathione S-transferase) overexpression in
Arabidopsis thaliana has a signaling function and controls plant growth by sustaining GSH pools. In comparison to the wild type, the mutated species atgstu17 produced more GSH and ABA. Additionally, adding exogenous GSH into wild-type plants increased their ABA concentration, produced a phenotype comparable to that of the variant, and improved their ability to withstand drought. The phytohormone ABA, which regulates stomatal aperture, inhibits transpiration rate, and regulates germination, was increased by GSH treatment
[60].
In
Ctenanthe setosa (Marantaceae), drought stress led to leaf rolling; this leaf rolling is regarded as an adaptability associated with increased GSH content as well as reduced GSSG concentration. The AsA–GSH cycle proteins and GSH levels were linked to the elimination of ROS. The stabilization of leaf moisture content was likewise linked to a higher GSH content, suggesting that it may play a role in preventing leaf rolling
[61].
5. GSH Interaction with Phytohormones
Phytohormones such as ABA, SA, ET, and JA—which are fundamental for plant development regulation—are, by and large, available in near to the ground fixations but are also important for the improvement, generation, and endurance of plants, in addition to their roles as signaling molecules. Adjustment in phytohormonal concentrations under environmental stresses prompts an intricate crosstalk that assists the plants in undertaking the necessary versatile responses [62][63].
In plants, for the improvement of environmental stresses, the past studies on proteo-genomics additionally settled the GSH interchange in the company of ABA, along with SA [64][65]. In any case, at the transcriptional level, the outcome of phytohormones lying on GSH is still under investigation. At the transcriptional level, the current study focuses on illustrating the relationship between GSH and numerous phytohormones in samples of Arabidopsis with altered GSH content, such as the GSH-exhausted mutant, alongside the wild-type Col-0, the enhanced pad2-1 (treated with JA, SA, ABA, and ET), and the transgenic AtECS1 line with improved GSH content.
Exogenous SA might, therefore, be used to mimic the state of plants after they have been exposed to biotic and abiotic stimuli that have resulted in increased endogenous SA levels. After SA treatment, the existence of enhanced GSH levels in AtECS1 may accordingly be worthwhile, as articulation of SA-interceded PR gene expression is caused by it, in contrast with the mutant plants and wild-type plants. Discernibly, the acceptance of the genes was not as substantial in pad2-1 in contrast with wild-type plants. In this way, GSH is found to be fundamental for plants in order to confer the resistance towards stress; furthermore, the upgraded GSH via SA signaling may provide protection against stress, as proven in transgenic tobacco from a past examination, which triggers the overexpressing γ-ECS [66].
6. Crosstalk between GSH and Jasmonate
Cross-resilience is the imposed resistance to extra abiotic and biotic challenges after focusing on a specific oxidative stress, and it is a limitless protective mechanism in higher plants.
Pseudomonas syringae becomes impervious when Arabidopsis is treated to ozone in advance
[67]. The pre-exposure of tobacco to ozone and ultra-violet light initiated protection from tobacco mosaic infection
[68]. Various reports showed H
2O
2-prompted stress resistance
[69][70]. Tobacco exhibited JA-actuated cross-resilience as well as ozone stress injuries
[71]. The cross-resistance induced by JA is clarified by after-effects of upregulated JA-initiated metabolic genes of GSH. JA unequivocally invigorated gene expressions for GSH reuse and synthesis, conceivably prompting upgraded GSH synthesis, giving assurance towards ozone as well as towards oxidative stress.
Externally applied jasmonates significantly increased transcript modifications, although, under these conditions, no increase in GSH level was seen. GSH homeostasis remains a promising avenue of research and is expected to cover various applications. When there is zero GSH interest, if at that time JA improves the limit with respect to GSH synthesis, when a life form is subjected to oxidative stress, GSH synthesis is predicted to be quicker and more sensitive.
[72] recommended that different regulatory “hardware” be engaged for signals of oxidative stress for the purpose of its detection and preparation. The signals originating from various oxidative stress events are frequency-modulated towards the nucleus, where gene expression is initiated, which determines cascade events. In both biotic and abiotic stressors, ROS, GSH, and redox status were hypothesized as focal segments of signal transmission
[70]. In light of the fact that the results do not support reactive oxygen as measured by H
2O
2 decrease or perhaps the redox potential as measured by the GSH/GSSG ratio as signals framework, under oxidative stress, it is unclear if these putative signal molecules affect the outflow of GSH metabolic genes
[70].
7. GSH interaction with Salicylic Acid
Plants experience a wide variety of stresses for the duration of their life in today’s threatening climate. To conquer these unfavorable circumstances, plants employ an assortment signaling molecules. The currently identified molecules are ROS, ABA, SA, ET, and JA, which are used by plants to combat different natural stress circumstances. Over the last two decades, GSH has acquired significance and has become an important molecule for plant scientists, particularly in the field of natural ecological stress organization. Albeit the role of GSH in safeguarding plants has been known for quite some time, a shortage of data still exists; furthermore, in regard to how the system of GSH partakes in this perplexing situation, the investigation shows an interchange in GSH by means of different signal-producing particles such as ABA, SA, and ET, utilizing genetic engineering to deal with, create, and build up transgenic tobacco, which is associated with overexpressing γ-ECS, resistance potential due to biotic/abiotic stresses, and improved GSH concentrations. Transcriptomic profiling distinguished genes as well as proteins identified with ET. SA was also associated with the potential related to stress resistance
[73].
In plants, in responsive mechanisms instigated from different microbes, SA acts as a significant signaling molecule which plays a fundamental job
[74]. Ongoing information points to the fact that, for regulating plant reactions towards numerous environmental stresses, SA additionally plays significant roles in response to environmental stresses include chilling, heat, salinity, and drought stresses. Conversely, abiotic resistance mediated through SA remains underappreciated, and investigations on SA-mediated abiotic resilience has primarily been conducted at the physical level. SA may have acted as a scavenger for eliminating ROS created during abiotic stress
[75].
Antioxidant enzymatic frameworks (for example, peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutases (SOD), as well as catalase (CAT)) as well as substances such as GSH and AsA have been linked to protection from ROS induced through stress conditions such as salt stress
[76][77]. Earlier studies have shown that, SA strikingly increased AsA along with GSH levels as well as the gene that encodes the AsA–GSH cycle and its enzyme under cold stress conditions in maize, cucumber and rice, as well as in eggplant; researchers concluded that SA-prompted cold resistance has a significant role in the AsA–GSH cycle
[78][79]. Various plant types have evolved immune processes to various biotic and abiotic stresses
[80].
8. GSH Defense Enzymes in Crops
It has been suggested that the alkylation of the cysteine residue in GSH, proceeded by dissociation and oxidation to create alkenyl cysteine sulphoxide, is the first step in the production of taste precursors
[81]. The catalytic activity of several GSH-dependent enzymes, such as GSTs and glyoxalase-I, use the tripeptide GSH as a detoxifying agent for both endogenous and exogenous toxins. In comparison, L-cystine conjugates are quickly metabolized in the vacuole from GSH conjugates, which are created by the catalytic properties of GSTs
[82]. Alliinase or other such enzymes then proceed to metabolize cysteine conjugates to thiol and other related compounds in the cytosol following their efflux from the vacuole
[83]. All of these events imply that GSTs, glyoxalase-I, and alliinase are interconnected. While analyzing the three enzymes’ activity in soluble vegetable extracts, a relationship between them was determined. The greatest GST activity was observed in onions, and then in Western blotting, a broad band for presumptive GST activity was recognized by anti-CmGSTF1 antiserum. The dissolved extraction, meanwhile, displayed the highest specified level of activity for onion glyoxalase-I, suggesting that the band may have partially been caused by the enzyme.
Detoxifying enzymes such as GSTs and glyoxalase-I serve a purpose for GSH. As a result, onion bulbs should exhibit the highest levels of these enzymes’ activity, which may indicate a connection between the two enzymes. Additionally, alliinase, a separate type of enzyme whose activity is relevant to sulfur compounds formed from GSH, demonstrated the highest degree of activity in onion bulbs
[81]. The primary role of GSTs is the detoxification of endogenous and herbicidal toxins; hence, the presence of proteins in vegetables may improve food quality. Food quality may be connected with glyoxalase enzymes which detox harmful methylglyoxal.
9. GSH Role in Root Architecture and Root-Derived Changes in Shoots
In addition to modulating physiological and metabolic functioning in plant’s foliar parts, GSH takes part in modifying root traits and/or root-to-shoot signaling, thereby affecting shoot attributes. GSH’s involvement in root development is prevalent but its functions are poorly understood. Suppression in root growth, structural changes (length and cell division) in root apical meristem, and abnormalities in lateral root formation were observed when plants were treated with the GSH biosynthesis inhibitor buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) and Arabidopsis mutants lacking GSH biosynthesis (cad2, rax1, and rml1)
[84]. The molecular mechanisms of GSH action were studied, and it was discovered that GSH deficiency affected the total ubiquitination of proteins and inhibited the transcriptional activation of early auxin-responsive genes as well as the auxin-related, ubiquitination-dependent degradation of Aux/IAA proteins. The ROS control of GSH, GSH’s active participation in cell proliferation, and GSH’s interactions with auxin suggest that GSH may modulate root development under stress conditions
[85].