Physiological Responses to Drought, Salinity, and Heat Stress in Plants: A Review

Abstract

On the world stage, the increase in temperatures due to global warming is already a reality that has become one of the main challenges faced by the scientific community. Since agriculture is highly dependent on climatic conditions, it may suffer a great impact in the short term if no measures are taken to adapt and mitigate the agricultural system. Plant responses to abiotic stresses have been the subject of research by numerous groups worldwide. Initially, these studies were concentrated on model plants, and, later, they expanded their studies in several economically important crops such as rice, corn, soybeans, coffee, and others. However, agronomic evaluations for the launching of cultivars and the classical genetic improvement process focus, above all, on productivity, historically leaving factors such as tolerance to abiotic stresses in the background. Considering the importance of the impact that abiotic stresses can have on agriculture in the short term, new strategies are currently being sought and adopted in breeding programs to understand the physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses to environmental disturbances in plants of agronomic interest, thus ensuring the world food security. Moreover, integration of these approaches is bringing new insights on breeding. We will discuss how water deficit, high temperatures, and salinity exert effects on plants.

DNA methylation dynamics during stress response in woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca)

“…S6a ). It has previously been described that heat stress and salt stress trigger the activation of common genes related with osmotic stress, oxidative stress and leaf physiology, and particularly, photosynthetic activity in plants such as olive, rice, and coffee [ 71 , 72 ]. In this study we found that DMRs were enriched in genes related to transcription factor regulation and activity as well as generators of metabolites and energy for heat stress.…”

A Review on the Role of Endophytes and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria in Mitigating Heat Stress in Plants

“…Above the normal temperature range, plants restrict growth, development, and physiological cellular metabolism. Heat stress raises the morbidity and mortality of plants and deteriorate their quality [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]. If the duration of heat stress increases, it may cause irreversible changes, such as cellular destruction, in plant cells.…”

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis Elucidates the Potential Role of PFK Gene Family in Drought Stress Tolerance and Sugar Metabolism in Cotton

“…Drought stress is a frequent abiotic stress that restricts crop growth and yield around the globe ( Yao and Wu, 2016 ). In plants, drought triggers a complex set of molecular responses that starts with stress detection, progresses through a signal transduction cascade, and ends with physio-morphological changes at the cellular level, such as stomatal closure, cellular respiration activation, and inhibition of cell growth and photosynthesis ( Lamaoui et al, 2018 ; dos Santos et al, 2022 ). Plants can also generate and accumulate certain metabolites that are specifically engaged in stress tolerance when they are subjected to drought ( da Silva et al, 2017 ).…”