Plant hormone ethylene: A leading edge in conferring drought stress tolerance

Abstract

Agricultural sufficient productivity is of paramount importance for ensuring food security and conserving soil health to support the world's agronomy. Climatic abruptions have been emerging as one of the most nerve‐pressing issues for the sustainment of the planet Earth in the twenty‐first century. Among the various environmental constraints, drought stress stands out as a potent factor restricting crop growth and productivity. It triggers a myriad of intricate responses in plants to combat the underlying stress‐mediated adversities. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the key physiological and molecular mechanisms that enable plants to withstand drought stress is crucial for developing effective strategies to enhance crop resilience. Ethylene, a gaseous plant hormone, influences the adaptive measures adopted by plants subjected to drought stress by regulating the drought stress‐mediated signal transduction‐associated responses. The present review article provides an in‐depth understanding of the critical roles of ethylene in enhancing plants' ability to restrain the severity of drought stress. It also highlights the significance of ethylene signaling components in regulating plant survival and drought stress tolerance. Additionally, we have illustrated the additive and antagonistic interactions of ethylene with other plant growth regulators, which instigate the tolerance responses. Conclusively, this review emphasizes the significance of complex networks involved in ethylene‐mediated drought tolerance, providing valuable insights for future research and uncovering novel studies in the field of ethylene biology.