The lethality of infectious diseases has decreased due to the implementation of crucial sanitary procedures such as vaccination. However, the resurgence of pathogenic diseases in different parts of the world has revealed the importance of identifying novel, rapid, and concrete solutions for control and prevention. Edible vaccines pose an interesting alternative that could overcome some of the constraints of traditional vaccines. The term “edible vaccine” refers to the use of edible parts of a plant that has been genetically modified to produce specific components of a particular pathogen to generate protection against a disease. The aim of this review is to present and critically examine “edible vaccines” as an option for global immunization against pathogenic diseases and their outbreaks and to discuss the necessary steps for their production and control and the list of plants that may already be used as edible vaccines. Additionally, this review discusses the required standards and ethical regulations as well as the advantages and disadvantages associated with this powerful biotechnology tool.

Key message: Woody plants have salt-tolerant mechanisms similar to those developed by non-woody plants. Among others, compartmentalization of ions, production of compatible solutes, synthesis of specific proteins and metabolites, and induction of transcriptional factors are the most relevant. Woody plant-associated microbial interactions as well as naturally stress-adapted trees are resources that deserve to be deepened to fully understand the tolerance mechanisms.Context: The high variability of salinity responses found in woody plants implies a high potentiality for germplasm selection and breeding. Salt tolerance mechanisms of plants are regulated by numerous genes, which control ion homeostasis, production of compatible solutes and specific proteins, and activation or repression of specific transcription factors. Despite the fact that numerous studies have been done on herbaceous model plants, knowledge about salt tolerance mechanisms in woody plants is still scarce.Aims: The present review critically evaluates molecular control of salt tolerance mechanisms of woody plants, focusing on the regulation and compartmentalization of ions, production of compatible solutes, activation of transcription factors, and differential expression of stress response-related proteins, including omics-based approaches and the role of plant-microbial interactions. The potential identification of genes from naturally stress-adapted woody plants and the integration of the massive omics data are also discussed.Conclusion: In woody plants, salt tolerance mechanisms seem not to diverge to those identified in non-woody plants. More comparative studies between woody and non-woody salt tolerance plants will be relevant to identify potential molecular mechanisms specifically developed for wood plants. In this sense, the activation of metabolic pathways and molecular networks by novel genetic engineering techniques is key to establish strategies to improve the salt tolerance in woody plant species and to contribute to more sustainable agricultural and forestry systems.

Woody leguminous species are valuable crops because of their nutritional, economic, and ecological characteristics. Such crops have aided in the recovery of marginal lands for agricultural development due to their ability to fix nitrogen, control erosion, and act as a refuge for other species, in addition to their capacity to improve soil mineral composition and microbial biodiversity. Nevertheless, some leguminous trees are recognized to be one of the worst invasive species that affect negatively biodiversity and the entire ecosystem balance. In this study, we review new global uses for some woody leguminous crops, highlighting new nutraceutical and pharmacological properties, their uses as bioenergy sources, and their ecological uses for bioremediation opening new possibilities of management. We aim to bring knowledge on the multiple benefits that these woody plants continue to provide to humans from economic, social, and environmental standpoints.