Current Progress on the Responses of Eggplant to Ultra-Low Temperatures during Production

Abstract

Cold stress has an adverse effect on eggplant growth and is a yield-limiting factor. Low temperatures are prevalent during early spring cultivation in temperate climates, and they have a negative impact on eggplant growth and development. Temperatures below the eggplant’s optimum growth temperature (22-30ºC) are considered low and detrimental to growth and development. In this review, we described how eggplants respond to moderately low and cold temperatures at different scales. We compiled literature on the current understanding of physiological, cellular responses to cold stress in eggplant as well as the transcriptional regulation during cold stress. Subsequently, we also highlight the genetic and molecular evidence, particularly the function of cold-responsive genes in strengthening cold tolerance in eggplant. Lastly, we covered the role of mineral nutrients and useful microorganisms in alleviating the consequences of cold stress in eggplant roots. Agronomic management practices such as the use of AMF species may mitigate the detrimental effects of low temperature and the enhancement of crop varieties with high yield throughout cold stress.

Keywords

• Cold stress tolerance
• Molecular mechanisms
• Plant defense system
• Solanum melongena
• Sub-optimal conditions

References

1. Abak, K., & Guler, H.Y. (1994). Pollen fertility and the vegetative growth of various eggplant genotypes under low temperature greenhouse conditions. Acta Horticulturae, 366:85–92.
2. Acciarri, N., Restaino, F., Vitelli, G., Perrone, D., Zottini, M., Pandolfini, T., Spena, A., & Rotino, G.L. (2002). Genetically modified parthenocarpic eggplants: improved fruit productivity under both greenhouse and open field cultivation. BMC Biotechnology, 2:4.
3. Alam, I., & Salimullah, M. (2021). Genetic engineering of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.): Progress, controversy and potential. Horticulturae, 7:1-29.
4. Chen, J., Wu, X., Yao, X., Zhu, Z., Xu, S., & Zha, D. (2015). Exogenous 6-benzylaminopurine confers tolerance to low temperature by amelioration of oxidative damage in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) seedlings. Brazilian Journal of Botany, 39:409–416.
5. Chen, S., Zimei, L., Cui, J., Jiangang, D., Xia, X., Liu, D., & Yu, J. (2011) Alleviation of chilling-induced oxidative damage by salicylic acid pretreatment and related gene expression in eggplant seedlings. Plant Growth Regulation, 65:101–108.
6. Concellón, A., Añón, M.C., & Chaves, A.R. (2005) Effect of chilling on ethylene production in eggplant fruit. Food Chemistry 92:63-69.
7. Darré, M., Valerga, L., Zaro, M.J., Lemoine, M.L., Concellón, A., & Vicente, A.R. (2021). Eggplant grafting on a cold-tolerant rootstock reduces fruit chilling susceptibility and improves antioxidant stability during storage. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, doi:10.1002/jsfa.11682.
8. Donzella, G., Spena, A., & Rotino, G.L. (000). Transgenic parthenocarpic eggplants: superior germplasm for increased win2ter production. Molecular Breeding ,6:79–86.

9. Gangola, M.P., & Ramadoss, B.R. (2018). Sugars play a critical role in abiotic stress tolerance in plants. pp. 17–38. In: Wani, S.H. (ed.) Biochemical, physiological and molecular avenues for combating abiotic stress tolerance in plants (1st Edition). Academic Press, Cambridge, MA.
10. Gao, Q., Wu, Y., Xu, K., & Gao, H. (2006). Responses of grafted eggplant seedling roots to low temperature stress. Ying Yong Sheng Tai Xue Bao, 17:390–394.
11. Gao, Q.H., Xu, K., Wang, X.F., & Wu, Y. (2008). Effect of grafting on cold tolerance in eggplant seedlings. Acta Horticulturae, 771:167–174.
12. Jiang, M., Liu, Y., Ren, L., Lian, H., & Chen, H. (2016). Molecular cloning and characterization of anthocyanin biosynthesis genes in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). Acta Physiologiae Plantarum 38:163. Latef, A.A.H.A., Hashem, A., Rasool, S., Abd_Allah, E.F., Alqarawi, A.A., Egamberdieva, D., Jan, S., Anjum, N.A., & Ahmad, P (2016) Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and abiotic stress in plants: A review. Journal of Plant Biology, 59:407–426.
13. Li, D., He, Y., Li, S., Shi, S., Li, L., Liu, Y., & Chen, H. (2021). Genome-wide characterization and expression analysis of AP2/ERF genes in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 167:492–503.
14. Lv, L.L., Li, W., Xiao, X.O., & Gao, X.M. (2017). Grey Correlative Degree Analysis on the Cold-Resistant Traits of Parthenocarpic Eggplant. Journal of Agricultural Science, 9:95–104.
15. Makrogianni, D.I., Tsistraki, A., Karapanos, I.C., & Passam, H.C. (2017). Nutritional value and antioxidant content of seed-containing and seedless eggplant fruits of two cultivars grown under protected cultivation during autumn-winter and spring-summer. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 97:3752–3760.
16. Mehrotra, S., Verma, S., Kumar, S., Kumari, S., & Mishra, B.N. (2020). Transcriptional regulation and signalling of cold stress response in plants: an overview of current understanding. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 180:104243.
17. Nothmann, J., & Koller, D. (1975). Effects of Low-Temperature Stress on Fertility and Fruiting of Eggplant (Solanum melongena) in a Subtropical Climate. Experimental Agriculture, 11:33–38.
18. Pasbani, B., Salimi, A., Aliasgharzad, N., & Hajiboland, R. (2020). Colonization with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi mitigates cold stress through improvement of antioxidant defense and accumulation of protecting molecules in eggplants. Scientia Horticulturae, 272:109575.
19. Peshev, D., Vergauwen, R., Moglia, A., Hideg, E., & Van den Ende, W. (2013). Towards understanding vacuolar antioxidant mechanisms: a role for fructans? Journal of Experimental Botany, 64:1025–1038.
20. Pohl, A., Komorowska, M., Kalisz, A., & Sękara, A. (2019). Eggplant seedlings modify antioxidant system during acclimation to low temperature. Agrochimica, 63:151–167.
21. Prabhavathi, V.R., & Rajam, M.V. (2007). Polyamine accumulation in transgenic eggplant enhances tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses and fungal resistance. Plant Biotechnology, 24:273–282.
22. Schwenkert, S., Fernie, A.R., Geigenberger, P., Leister, D., Möhlmann, T., Naranjo, B., & Ekkehard Neuhaus, H. (2022). Chloroplasts are key players to cope with light and temperature stress. Trends in Plant Science https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2021.12.004.
23. Wan, F.-X., Gao, J., Wang, G.-L., Niu, Y., Wang, L.-Z., Zhang, X.-G., Wang, Y.-Q& Pan, Y. (2021). Genome-wide identification of NAC transcription factor family and expression analysis of ATAF subfamily members under abiotic stress in eggplant. Scientia Horticulturae, 289:110424.
24. Wan, F., Pan, Y., Li, J., Chen, X., Pan, Y., Wang, Y., Tian, S., & Zhang, X. (2014). Heterologous expression of Arabidopsis C-repeat binding factor 3 (AtCBF3) and cold-regulated 15A (AtCOR15A) enhanced chilling tolerance in transgenic eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). Plant Cell Reports 33:1951–1961.
25. Wang, J., Hu, H., Wang, W., Wei, Q., Hu, T., & Bao, C. (2020). Genome-wide identification and functional characterization of the heat shock factor family in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) under abiotic stress conditions. Plants, 9:915.
26. Wang, M., Gao Z., Huang, R., Lü G., Zhang, W., & Du, S. (2009). Studies on cold shock stress effect of photosystem II and its thermodynamics analyse in eggplant. Acta Horticulturae Sinica, 36:261–266.
27. Xia, L.C., Ying, L.B., Ying, S.B., Xu, L., Nan, L.Y., Yue, L.Z. (2018). Effects of low temperature on physiological properties of eggplant seedlings and selection of cold-tolerance indicators. Fujian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 33:930–936.
28. Xia, X., Chun, Y.X., Shi, Z.D., Wen, Z.Z., & Shuang, X. (2013). Studies on physiological mechanism of eggplant under low temperature stress. Acta Agriculturae Shanghai, 29:45–49.
29. Xiao, X.O., Zeng, Y.M., Cao, B.H., Lei, J.J., Chen, Q.H., Meng, C.M., & Cheng, Y.J. (2017). PSAG12-IPT overexpression in eggplant delays leaf senescence and induces abiotic stress tolerance. The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 92:349–357.
30. Yan, Z.X., & Kun, X. (2009). Effect of interaction between rootstock and scion on chilling tolerance of grafted eggplant seedlings under low temperature and light conditions. Scientia Agricultura Sinica, 42:3734–3740.
31. Yang, Y., Liu, J., Zhou, X., Liu, S., & Zhuang, Y. (2020). Identification of WRKY gene family and characterization of cold stress-responsive WRKY genes in eggplant. Peer Journal, https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.8777
32. Yang, X., Liu, F., Zhang, Y., Wang, L., & Cheng, Y. (2017). Cold-responsive miRNAs and their target genes in the wild eggplant species Solanum aculeatissimum. BMC Genomics, 18:1000.
33. Yang, Y., Liu, J., Zhou, X., Liu, S., & Zhuang, Y. (2020). Transcriptomics analysis unravels the response to low temperature in sensitive and tolerant eggplants. Scientia Horticulturae 271:109468.
34. Ying, Z., Zhong, L.F., Hui, C.Y., & Yong, L. (2009). Characteristics of eggplant parthenocarpy at low temperature. China Vegetables, 2:16–20.
35. Zhou, L., He, Y., Li, J., Li, L., Liu, Y., & Chen, H.Y. (2020). An eggplant SmICE1a gene encoding MYC‐type ICE1‐like transcription factor enhances freezing tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Biology, 22:450–458.
36. Zhou, L., He, Y., Li, J., Liu, Y., & Chen, H. (2019). CBFs function in anthocyanin biosynthesis by interacting with MYB113 in eggplant (Solanum melongena L). Plant and Cell Physiology, 61:416–426.
37. Zhou, L., Li, J., He, Y., Liu, Y., & Chen, H. (2018). Functional characterization of SmCBF genes involved in abiotic stress response in eggplant (Solanum melongena). Scientia Horticulturae, 233:14–21.