Carfora Angela, Lucibelli Francesca, Di Lillo Paola, Mazzucchiello Sarah Maria, Saccone Giuseppe, Salvemini Marco, Varone Marianna, Volpe Gennaro, Aceto Serena
Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 26, 80126, Naples, Italy.
Planta. 2025 Apr 4;261(5):102. doi: 10.1007/s00425-025-04678-1.
This review aims to describe the main genetic adaptations of plants to abiotic and biotic stressors in urban landscapes through modulation of gene expression and genotypic changes. Urbanization deeply impacts biodiversity through ecosystem alteration and habitat fragmentation, creating novel environmental challenges for plant species. Plants have evolved cellular, molecular, and biochemical strategies to cope with the diverse biotic and abiotic stresses associated with urbanization. However, many of these defense and resistance mechanisms remain poorly understood. Addressing these knowledge gaps is crucial for advancing our understanding of urban biodiversity and elucidating the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of species in urban landscapes. As sessile organisms, plants depend heavily on modifications in gene expression as a rapid and efficient strategy to survive urban stressors. At the same time, the urban environment pressures induced plant species to evolve genotypic adaptations that enhance their survival and growth in these contexts. This review explores the different genetic responses of plants to urbanization. We focus on key abiotic challenges, such as air pollution, elevated CO levels, heavy metal contamination, heat and drought stress, salinity, and biotic stresses caused by herbivorous insects. By examining these genetic mechanisms induced by urban stressors, we aim to analyze the molecular pathways and genetic patterns underlying the adaptation of plant species to urban environments. This knowledge is a valuable tool for enhancing the selection and propagation of adaptive traits in plant populations, supporting species conservation efforts, and promoting urban biodiversity.
本综述旨在通过基因表达调控和基因型变化来描述城市景观中植物对非生物和生物胁迫的主要遗传适应性。城市化通过生态系统改变和栖息地破碎化对生物多样性产生深远影响,给植物物种带来了新的环境挑战。植物已经进化出细胞、分子和生化策略来应对与城市化相关的各种生物和非生物胁迫。然而,许多这些防御和抗性机制仍知之甚少。填补这些知识空白对于增进我们对城市生物多样性的理解以及阐明城市景观中物种的生态和进化动态至关重要。作为固着生物,植物在很大程度上依赖基因表达的改变作为一种快速有效的策略来在城市胁迫下生存。同时,城市环境压力促使植物物种进化出基因型适应性,以增强它们在这些环境中的生存和生长能力。本综述探讨了植物对城市化的不同遗传反应。我们关注关键的非生物挑战,如空气污染、一氧化碳水平升高、重金属污染、高温和干旱胁迫、盐度以及食草昆虫引起的生物胁迫。通过研究城市胁迫诱导的这些遗传机制,我们旨在分析植物物种适应城市环境的分子途径和遗传模式。这些知识是增强植物种群中适应性性状的选择和繁殖、支持物种保护工作以及促进城市生物多样性的宝贵工具。