Connecting the dots: Sulfur uptake efficiency as a key player in climate-resilient Brassicas
• Sulfur nutrition is important for Brassica crops under the changing climate. • Sulfur paly an important role in biotic and abiotic stress resilience in Brassica crops. • The genetic and molecular mechanism of sulfur uptake largely remains elusive in Brassica crops. Brassica crops are vital for global agriculture and human nutrition. In recent years, climate change has emerged as major challenge, potentially yield, quality and overall plant fitness. Sulfur (S) is essential macronutrient required for plant growth and, stress tolerance. However, research gape exists to elucidate the role sulfur under stress conditions in Brassica crops. Therefore, a detailed understanding of sulfur uptake (S-uptake), use efficiency, and metabolism is required to clarify the role of sulfur in mediating stress responses in Brassica crops. S-uptake is influenced by several factors, including such as soil pH, microbial activity, and plant genetic variability. The role of Sulfur in Brassica nutrition, and function has been revived in details. Here we discussed the role of Sulfur in mitigating environmental stress and coping with the climate alterations. The role of Sulfate transporters ( SULTRs ) is essential to S-uptake and transport and assimilation pathways in plants. This review explores S-uptake efficiency (SUE) as a key factor in developing climate-resilient Brassica varieties. Advances in breeding strategies, genetic modifications, and genome editing approaches to enhance SUE are highlighted, alongside agronomic practices i.e., targeted fertilization and crop rotation. Finally, we pointed the existing challenges in optimizing SUE and outlined future directions for research aimed to foster sustainable, resilient Brassica cultivation. This comprehensive review underscores SUE's potential to strengthen Brassica crops resilience against climate stress, enhancing agricultural sustainability and food security.
Authors
- Shumaila Sial
- Numra Saeed
- Saman Zulfiqar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3677-2531)
- Muhammad Mahran Aslam (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9520-6145)
- Samiya Rehman
- Fozia Farhat
- Muhammad Abbas
- Ahmad Ali
- Liu Yibao
- Jawad Ali
- Saifullah Abro
- Muhammad Asad Saeed
Institutions
- University of Sindh (PK)
- International Atomic Energy Agency (AT)
- Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (PK)
- University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (CN)
- Huazhong Agricultural University (CN)
- Liaquat National Hospital (PK)
- Government Sadiq College Women University (PK)
- Huzhou Normal University (CN)
- University of Okara (PK)
- East China University of Technology (CN)
- Government College Women University Faisalabad (PK)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Plant Stress
- Published
- 2026-02-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stress.2026.101292
- Primary Topic
- Nitrogen and Sulfur Effects on Brassica
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00