MECHANISMS OF ACTION AND SIGNALING PATHWAYS INVOLVED IN ABIOTIC STRESS ELICITATION

M HAMMAD; M SHAFIQ; A BATOOL; SHUH SHERAZI

doi:10.64013/bbasr.v2026i1.116

Authors

M HAMMAD Department of Horticulture, , Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, 54590, Pakistan https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8543-2974
M SHAFIQ Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, 54590, Pakistan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3330-9963
A BATOOL Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of the Punjab, P.O BOX. 54590, Lahore, Pakistan
SHUH SHERAZI Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of the Punjab, P.O BOX. 54590, Lahore, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.64013/bbasr.v2026i1.116

Keywords:

Abiotic stress, Signal transduction, Transcriptional regulation, Stress-resilient crops, oxidative stress

Abstract

Abiotic stressors like drought, salinity, heat, heavy metals, oxidative stress, and UV radiation severely limit plant growth, development, and productivity. Plants detect these stresses using particular membrane sensors, resulting in fast changes in intracellular calcium concentrations, reactive oxygen species pulses, and phytohormone signaling. These initial signals are converted into conserved kinase signaling pathways (MAPKs, CDPKs, SnRK2s) and hormone-mediated pathways (ABA-dependent and ABA-independent), which then activate stress-responsive transcription factors (DREBs, NACs, WRKYs, MYBs) and remodel the transcriptome. Chromatin modification, alternative splicing, short RNAs, and post-translational modifications (phosphorylation and ubiquitination) all contribute to complicated regulation, ensuring precise control of stress gene expression. Plants use hormonal interactions and network hubs to balance survival, growth, and defense. Recent advances in systems biology have revealed these complicated networks, and biotechnological approaches—transgenic methods, CRISPR/Cas genome editing, and multi-omics integration—have opened up new avenues for the production of stress-tolerant crops. This chapter provides a thorough, human-crafted overview of these processes and examines future directions for applying molecular knowledge to sustainable farming operations.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Agarwal, P., Jiwani, G., Khurana, A., Gupta, P., and Kumar, R. (2017). Ethylene and stress mediated signaling in plants: a molecular perspective. Mechanism of Plant Hormone Signaling under Stress 1, 295-326. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118889022.ch12 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118889022.ch12

Ahmad, H. M., Fiaz, S., Hafeez, S., Zahra, S., Shah, A. N., Gul, B., Aziz, O., Fakhar, A., Rafique, M., and Chen, Y. (2022). Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria eliminate the effect of drought stress in plants: a review. Frontiers in Plant Science 13, 875774. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118889022.ch12 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.875774

Alharbi, K., Al-Osaimi, A. A., and Alghamdi, B. A. (2022). Sodium chloride (NaCl)-induced physiological alteration and oxidative stress generation in Pisum sativum (L.): A toxicity assessment. ACS omega 7, 20819-20832. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.2c01427 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.2c01427

Ali, J., and Chen, R. Z. (2024). "Chemical Ecology: Insect-Plant Interactions," CRC Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003479857

Allakhverdiev, S. I., Kreslavski, V. D., Fomina, I. R., Los, D. A., Klimov, V. V., Mimuro, M., Mohanty, P., and Carpentier, R. (2012). Inactivation and repair of photosynthetic machinery under heat stress. Photosynthesis: overviews on recent progress and future perspective. IK International Publishing House Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, 189.

Alves, H. L., Matiolli, C. C., Soares, R. C., Almadanim, M. C., Oliveira, M. M., and Abreu, I. A. (2021). Carbon/nitrogen metabolism and stress response networks–calcium-dependent protein kinases as the missing link? Journal of Experimental Botany 72, 4190-4201. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erab136 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erab136

Angon, P. B., Tahjib-Ul-Arif, M., Samin, S. I., Habiba, U., Hossain, M. A., and Brestic, M. (2022). How do plants respond to combined drought and salinity stress?—A systematic review. Plants 11, 2884. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11192884 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11212884

Aramburu, J., Ortells, M. C., Tejedor, S., Buxadé, M., and López-Rodríguez, C. (2014). Transcriptional regulation of the stress response by mTOR. Science signaling 7, re2-re2. https://doi.org/10.1126/scisignal.2005910 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/scisignal.2005326

Argosubekti, N. (2020). A review of heat stress signaling in plants. In "IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science", Vol. 484, pp. 012041. IOP Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/484/1/012041 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/484/1/012041

Asano, T., Hayashi, N., Kikuchi, S., and Ohsugi, R. (2012). CDPK-mediated abiotic stress signaling. Plant Signaling & Behavior 7, 817-821. https://doi.org/10.4161/psb.20486 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4161/psb.20351

Aslam, M. A., Ahmed, M., Hassan, F.-U., Afzal, O., Mehmood, M. Z., Qadir, G., Asif, M., Komal, S., and Hussain, T. (2022). Impact of temperature fluctuations on plant morphological and physiological traits. Building climate resilience in agriculture: theory, practice and future perspective, 25-52. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-2730-8_2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79408-8_3

Avramova, Z. (2015). Transcriptional ‘memory’of a stress: transient chromatin and memory (epigenetic) marks at stress‐response genes. The Plant Journal 83, 149-159. https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.12716 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.12832

Ayub, A., Javed, T., Nayab, A., Nan, Y., Xie, Y., Hussain, S., Shafiq, Y., Tian, H., Hui, J., and Gao, Y. (2025). AREB/ABF/ABI5 transcription factors in plant defense: regulatory cascades and functional diversity. Critical Reviews in Biotechnology, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1080/07388551.2024.2301234 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07388551.2025.2475127

Balali-Mood, M., Naseri, K., Tahergorabi, Z., Khazdair, M. R., and Sadeghi, M. (2021). Toxic mechanisms of five heavy metals: mercury, lead, chromium, cadmium, and arsenic. Frontiers in pharmacology 12, 643972. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.643972 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.643972

Banerjee, A., and Roychoudhury, A. (2017). Abiotic stress, generation of reactive oxygen species, and their consequences: an overview. Reactive Oxygen Species in Plants: Boon or Bane‐Revisiting the Role of ROS, 23-50. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119368762.ch2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119324928.ch2

Basso, M. F., Ferreira, P. C. G., Kobayashi, A. K., Harmon, F. G., Nepomuceno, A. L., Molinari, H. B. C., and Grossi‐de‐Sa, M. F. (2019). Micro RNA s and new biotechnological tools for its modulation and improving stress tolerance in plants. Plant biotechnology journal 17, 1482-1500. https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.13088 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.13116

Bhattacharjee, S. (2012). The language of reactive oxygen species signaling in plants. Journal of Botany 2012, 985298. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/985298 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/985298

Bieluszewski, T., Prakash, S., Roulé, T., and Wagner, D. (2023). The role and activity of SWI/SNF chromatin remodelers. Annual Review of Plant Biology 74, 139-163. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-arplant-102820-012728 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-arplant-102820-093218

Bucholc, M., Goch, G., Ciesielski, A., Anielska-Mazur, A., and Dobrowolska, G. (2013). Functional and biochemical characterization of Arabidopsis calcium sensor SCS a potential regulator of SnRK2 protein kinases. BioTechnologia. Journal of Biotechnology Computational Biology and Bionanotechnology 94.

Callis, J. (2014). The ubiquitination machinery of the ubiquitin system. The Arabidopsis Book/American Society of Plant Biologists 12, e0174. https://doi.org/10.1199/tab.0174 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1199/tab.0174

Chen, Q., Shi, X., Ai, L., Tian, X., Zhang, H., Tian, J., Wang, Q., Zhang, M., Cui, S., and Yang, C. (2023). Genome-wide identification of genes encoding SWI/SNF components in soybean and the functional characterization of GmLFR1 in drought-stressed plants. Frontiers in Plant Science 14, 1176376. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1176376 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1176376

Cheuvront, S. N., Kenefick, R. W., Montain, S. J., and Sawka, M. N. (2010). Mechanisms of aerobic performance impairment with heat stress and dehydration. Journal of applied physiology 109, 1989-1995. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00367.2010 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00367.2010

Costa Alves, G. (2015). Characterization of a candidate gene for drought tolerance in Coffea: the CcDREB1D gene, in contrasting genotypes of Coffea canephora and related species, Montpellier SupAgro.

Damaris, R. N., and Yang, P. (2021). Protein phosphorylation response to abiotic stress in plants. Plant phosphoproteomics: methods and protocols, 17-43. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1016-9_2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1625-3_2

De Zélicourt, A., Colcombet, J., and Hirt, H. (2016). The role of MAPK modules and ABA during abiotic stress signaling. Trends in plant science 21, 677-685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2016.04.007 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2016.04.004

Duque, A. S., de Almeida, A. M., da Silva, A. B., da Silva, J. M., Farinha, A. P., Santos, D., Fevereiro, P., and de Sousa Araújo, S. (2013). Abiotic stress responses in plants: unraveling the complexity of genes and networks to survive. In "Abiotic stress-plant responses and applications in agriculture". IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/45844

Fàbregas, N., Yoshida, T., and Fernie, A. R. (2020). Role of Raf-like kinases in SnRK2 activation and osmotic stress response in plants. Nature communications 11, 6184. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-19972-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-19977-2

Farooq, M., Wahid, A., Kobayashi, N., Fujita, D., and Basra, S. M. (2009). Plant drought stress: effects, mechanisms and management. In "Sustainable agriculture", pp. 153-188. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2666-8_12 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2666-8_12

Feng, X., Liu, R., Li, C., Zhang, H., and Slot, M. (2023). Contrasting responses of two C4 desert shrubs to drought but consistent decoupling of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance at high temperature. Environmental and Experimental Botany 209, 105295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2023.105295 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2023.105295

Fita, A., Rodríguez-Burruezo, A., Boscaiu, M., Prohens, J., and Vicente, O. (2015). Breeding and domesticating crops adapted to drought and salinity: a new paradigm for increasing food production. Frontiers in Plant Science 6, 978. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2015.00978 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2015.00978

Fujita, Y., Yoshida, T., and Yamaguchi‐Shinozaki, K. (2013). Pivotal role of the AREB/ABF‐SnRK2 pathway in ABRE‐mediated transcription in response to osmotic stress in plants. Physiologia plantarum 147, 15-27. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-3054.2012.01635.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-3054.2012.01635.x

Gan, P., Liu, F., Li, R., Wang, S., and Luo, J. (2019). Chloroplasts—beyond energy capture and carbon fixation: tuning of photosynthesis in response to chilling stress. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 20, 5046. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20205046 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20205046

Ganie, S. A., and Reddy, A. S. (2021). Stress-induced changes in alternative splicing landscape in rice: functional significance of splice isoforms in stress tolerance. Biology 10, 309. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10040309 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10040309

Geiman, T. M., and Robertson, K. D. (2002). Chromatin remodeling, histone modifications, and DNA methylation—how does it all fit together? Journal of cellular biochemistry 87, 117-125. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jcb.10286

Giulietti, S., Bigini, V., and Savatin, D. V. (2024). ROS and RNS production, subcellular localization, and signaling triggered by immunogenic danger signals. Journal of Experimental Botany 75, 4512-4534. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erae235 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erad449

Gorgues, L., Li, X., Maurel, C., Martinière, A., and Nacry, P. (2022). Root osmotic sensing from local perception to systemic responses. Stress Biology 2, 36. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44154-022-00049-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s44154-022-00054-1

Gull, A., Lone, A. A., and Wani, N. U. I. (2019). Biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. In "Abiotic and biotic stress in plants". IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88886 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85832

Haak, D. C., Fukao, T., Grene, R., Hua, Z., Ivanov, R., Perrella, G., and Li, S. (2017). Multilevel regulation of abiotic stress responses in plants. Frontiers in plant science 8, 1564. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.01564 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.01564

Ho, S. N. (2006). Intracellular water homeostasis and the mammalian cellular osmotic stress response. Journal of cellular physiology 206, 9-15. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcp.20492 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jcp.20445

Hussain, Q., Asim, M., Zhang, R., Khan, R., Farooq, S., and Wu, J. (2021a). Transcription factors interact with ABA through gene expression and signaling pathways to mitigate drought and salinity stress. Biomolecules 11, 1159. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11081159 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11081159

Hussain, S. S., Kayani, M. A., and Amjad, M. (2011). Transcription factors as tools to engineer enhanced drought stress tolerance in plants. Biotechnology progress 27, 297-306. https://doi.org/10.1002/btpr.514 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/btpr.514

Hussain, T., Li, J., Feng, X., Asrar, H., Gul, B., and Liu, X. (2021b). Salinity induced alterations in photosynthetic and oxidative regulation are ameliorated as a function of salt secretion. Journal of plant research 134, 779-796. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-021-01276-0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-021-01285-5

Iqbal, N., Khan, N. A., Ferrante, A., Trivellini, A., Francini, A., and Khan, M. (2017). Ethylene role in plant growth, development and senescence: interaction with other phytohormones. Frontiers in plant science 8, 475. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.00475 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.00475

Jan, R., Hussain, A., Assad, A., Khurshid, S., and Macha, M. A. (2025). Challenges with multi-omics data integration. In "Multi-Omics Technology in Human Health and Diseases", pp. 223-242. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-18606-3.00010-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-13595-8.00010-6

Jiang, C., and Fu, X. (2007). GA action: turning on de-DELLA repressing signaling. Current opinion in plant biology 10, 461-465. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2007.07.005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2007.08.011

Joyce, J. (2023). Exploring the Molecular Mechanisms of Aphid and Thrips Perception in Arabidopsis thaliana, University of East Anglia.

Juan, C. A., Pérez de la Lastra, J. M., Plou, F. J., and Pérez-Lebeña, E. (2021). The chemistry of reactive oxygen species (ROS) revisited: outlining their role in biological macromolecules (DNA, lipids and proteins) and induced pathologies. International journal of molecular sciences 22, 4642. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22094642 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22094642

Kacperska, A. (2004). Sensor types in signal transduction pathways in plant cells responding to abiotic stressors: do they depend on stress intensity? Physiologia Plantarum 122, 159-168. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-3054.2004.00393.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0031-9317.2004.00388.x

Kamali, S., and Singh, A. (2023). Genomic and transcriptomic approaches to developing abiotic stress-resilient crops. Agronomy 13, 2903. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13122903 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13122903

Karmakar, S., Dutta, D., Kumari, A., and Kant, L. (2021). Comprehensive strategy to achieve drought tolerance in plants. Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability 9, 233-242. https://doi.org/10.5958/2231-5131.2021.00034.3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5958/2320-642X.2021.00021.1

Kathuria, P. (2024). TOLERANCE OR RESISTANCE BREEDING: PATH FORWARD FOR TO TACKLE ABIOTIC STRESS. Amalgamation of Recent Efforts in Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, 75.

Kennelly, M., O’Mara, J., Rivard, C., Miller, G. L., and Smith, D. (2012). Introduction to abiotic disorders in plants. The Plant Health Instructor 10, 10-20. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHI-I-2012-10-29-01 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHI-I-2012-10-29-01

Khalid, M. F., Huda, S., Yong, M., Li, L., Li, L., Chen, Z.-H., and Ahmed, T. (2023). Alleviation of drought and salt stress in vegetables: crop responses and mitigation strategies. Plant Growth Regulation 99, 177-194. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-022-00888-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-022-00905-x

Khan, A. A., Iqbal, B., Jalal, A., Khan, K. A., Al-Andal, A., Khan, I., Suboktagin, S., Qayum, A., and Elboughdiri, N. (2024). Advanced Molecular approaches for improving crop yield and quality: a review. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation 43, 2091-2103. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-023-10995-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-024-11253-7

KhokharVoytas, A., Shahbaz, M., Maqsood, M. F., Zulfiqar, U., Naz, N., Iqbal, U. Z., Sara, M., Aqeel, M., Khalid, N., and Noman, A. (2023). Genetic modification strategies for enhancing plant resilience to abiotic stresses in the context of climate change. Functional & integrative genomics 23, 283. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10142-023-01056-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10142-023-01202-0

Kopecká, R., Kameniarová, M., Černý, M., Brzobohatý, B., and Novák, J. (2023). Abiotic stress in crop production. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24, 6603. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24136603 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24076603

Korek, M., Mehta, D., Uhrig, G. R., Daszkowska-Golec, A., Novak, O., Buchcik, W., and Marzec, M. (2025). Strigolactone insensitivity affects the hormonal homeostasis in barley. Scientific Reports 15, 9375. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-63999-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94430-2

Kratsch, H., and Wise, R. R. (2000). The ultrastructure of chilling stress. Plant, Cell & Environment 23, 337-350. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3040.2000.00551.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3040.2000.00560.x

Kulik, A., Wawer, I., Krzywińska, E., Bucholc, M., and Dobrowolska, G. (2011). SnRK2 protein kinases—key regulators of plant response to abiotic stresses. Omics: a journal of integrative biology 15, 859-872. https://doi.org/10.1089/omi.2011.0037 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/omi.2011.0091

Kumar, R., and Kumar, V. (2016). Physiological disorders in perennial woody tropical and subtropical fruit crops: A review. The Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 86, 703-17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v86i6.58831

Kumar, S., Sravani, B., Korra, T., Behera, L., Datta, D., Dhakad, P. K., and Yadav, M. (2022). Psychrophilic microbes: biodiversity, beneficial role and improvement of cold stress in crop plants. In "New and future developments in microbial biotechnology and bioengineering", pp. 177-198. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-90573-0.00008-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-85163-3.00002-8

Kundu, P., Nehra, A., Gill, R., Tuteja, N., and Gill, S. S. (2022). Unraveling the importance of EF-hand-mediated calcium signaling in plants. South African Journal of Botany 148, 615-633. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2021.10.004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2022.04.045

Kyriakis, J. M., and Avruch, J. (2001). Mammalian mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathways activated by stress and inflammation. Physiological reviews. https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.2001.81.2.807 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.2001.81.2.807

Li, Y., Rahman, S. U., Qiu, Z., Shahzad, S. M., Nawaz, M. F., Huang, J., Naveed, S., Li, L., Wang, X., and Cheng, H. (2023). Toxic effects of cadmium on the physiological and biochemical attributes of plants, and phytoremediation strategies: A review. Environmental Pollution 325, 121433. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121433 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121433

Liu, H., Todd, J. L., and Luo, H. (2023). Turfgrass salinity stress and tolerance—A review. Plants 12, 925. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12040925 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12040925

Liu, S., Lv, Z., Liu, Y., Li, L., and Zhang, L. (2018). Network analysis of ABA-dependent and ABA-independent drought responsive genes in Arabidopsis thaliana. Genetics and Molecular Biology 41, 624-637. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-4685-GMB-2018-0044 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2017-0229

Ma, X., Zhao, F., and Zhou, B. (2022). The characters of non-coding RNAs and their biological roles in plant development and abiotic stress response. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 23, 4124. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23174124 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23084124

Ma, Y., Tang, M., Wang, M., Yu, Y., and Ruan, B. (2024). Advances in Understanding Drought Stress Responses in Rice: Molecular Mechanisms of ABA Signaling and Breeding Prospects. Genes 15, 1529. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15091529 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15121529

Mahdavian, K. (2024). Effects of ultraviolet radiation on plants and their protective mechanisms. Russian Journal of Plant Physiology 71, 184. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10709-024-00165-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1021443724607481

Mansoor, S., Ali, A., Kour, N., Bornhorst, J., AlHarbi, K., Rinklebe, J., Abd El Moneim, D., Ahmad, P., and Chung, Y. S. (2023). Heavy metal induced oxidative stress mitigation and ROS scavenging in plants. Plants 12, 3003. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12163003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12163003

Matsui, A., Nakaminami, K., and Seki, M. (2019). Biological function of changes in RNA metabolism in plant adaptation to abiotic stress. Plant and Cell Physiology 60, 1897-1905. Meena, H., Kiran, B. U., and Bindu, H. (2025). Genetic Enhancement of Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Oilseeds Through Contemporary Breeding Approaches. In "Breeding Climate Resilient and Future Ready Oilseed Crops", pp. 43-99. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1093/pcp/pcz104 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-7744-0_3

Mehrotra, R., Bhalothia, P., Bansal, P., Basantani, M. K., Bharti, V., and Mehrotra, S. (2014). Abscisic acid and abiotic stress tolerance–Different tiers of regulation. Journal of plant physiology 171, 486-496. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jplph.2014.02.009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jplph.2013.12.007

Meraj, T. A., Fu, J., Raza, M. A., Zhu, C., Shen, Q., Xu, D., and Wang, Q. (2020). Transcriptional factors regulate plant stress responses through mediating secondary metabolism. Genes 11, 346. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes11030346 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/genes11040346

Mishra, B., Kumar, N., and Mukhtar, M. S. (2021). Network biology to uncover functional and structural properties of the plant immune system. Current Opinion in Plant Biology 62, 102057. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2020.102057 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2021.102057

Mondal, N. S., and Ghosh, A. R. (2024). Global Climate Change and Ecosystem Services: An Indian Perspective. Ecosystem Management: Climate Change and Sustainability, 171-203. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781394231249.ch6

Morillo, S. A., and Tax, F. E. (2006). Functional analysis of receptor-like kinases in monocots and dicots. Current opinion in plant biology 9, 460-469. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2006.06.011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2006.07.009

Mosadegh, H. (2018). Secondary metabolite regulation and UV-B tolerance mechanisms in Ocimum basilicum Var. Genovese.

Moustafa, K., AbuQamar, S., Jarrar, M., Al-Rajab, A. J., and Trémouillaux-Guiller, J. (2014). MAPK cascades and major abiotic stresses. Plant cell reports 33, 1217-1225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-014-1620-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-014-1629-0

Msanne, J., Lin, J., Stone, J. M., and Awada, T. (2011). Characterization of abiotic stress-responsive Arabidopsis thaliana RD29A and RD29B genes and evaluation of transgenes. Planta 234, 97-107. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-011-1415-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-011-1387-y

Mudrilov, M., Ladeynova, M., Grinberg, M., Balalaeva, I., and Vodeneev, V. (2021). Electrical signaling of plants under abiotic stressors: transmission of stimulus-specific information. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22, 10715. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222010715 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms221910715

Muhammad Aslam, M., Waseem, M., Jakada, B. H., Okal, E. J., Lei, Z., Saqib, H. S. A., Yuan, W., Xu, W., and Zhang, Q. (2022). Mechanisms of abscisic acid-mediated drought stress responses in plants. International journal of molecular sciences 23, 1084. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23031084 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23031084

Nadeem, H., Amir, K., Gupta, R., Hashem, M., Alamri, S., Siddiqui, M. A., and Ahmad, F. (2023). Stress combination: When two negatives may become antagonistic, synergistic or additive for plants? Pedosphere 33, 287-300 https://doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0160(23)60151-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedsph.2022.06.031

Nakashima, K., and Yamaguchi-Shinozaki, K. (2013). ABA signaling in stress-response and seed development. Plant cell reports 32, 959-970. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-013-1474-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-013-1418-1

Naz, M., Afzal, M. R., Raza, M. A., Pandey, S., Qi, S., Dai, Z., and Du, D. (2024). Calcium (Ca2+) signaling in plants: A plant stress perspective. South African Journal of Botany 169, 464-485. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2024.01.092 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2024.04.047

Nazareth, T. d. M., Soriano Pérez, E., Luz, C., Meca, G., and Quiles, J. M. (2024). Comprehensive review of aflatoxin and ochratoxin a dynamics: Emergence, toxicological impact, and advanced control strategies. Foods 13, 1920. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13121920 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13121920

Novikova, G., Moshkov, I., and Los, D. (2007). Protein sensors and transducers of cold and osmotic stress in cyanobacteria and plants. Molecular Biology 41, 427-437. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0026893307050080 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0026893307030089

Nowicka, B. (2022). Heavy metal–induced stress in eukaryotic algae—mechanisms of heavy metal toxicity and tolerance with particular emphasis on oxidative stress in exposed cells and the role of antioxidant response. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 29, 16860-16911. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-16524-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-18419-w

Oguz, M. C., Aycan, M., Oguz, E., Poyraz, I., and Yildiz, M. (2022). Drought stress tolerance in plants: Interplay of molecular, biochemical and physiological responses in important development stages. Physiologia 2, 180-197. https://doi.org/10.3390/physiologia2030014 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/physiologia2040015

Pamungkas, S. S. T., and Farid, N. (2022). Drought stress: responses and mechanism in plants. Reviews in Agricultural Science 10, 168-185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ras.2022.07.002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7831/ras.10.0_168

Pandita, D., and Pandita, A. (2023). "Plant MicroRNAs and stress response," CRC Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003322214

Parray, R. A. (2019). Genetic studies for improving yield under drought stress environments in rice of Assam, Assam Agricultural University Jorhat.

Parvathy, S. T. (2018). Versatile roles of ubiquitous calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) in plants. Indian Soc. Oilseeds Res 35, 1-11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.56739/jor.v35i1.137345

Pearce, R. S. (2001). Plant freezing and damage. Annals of botany 87, 417-424. https://doi.org/10.1006/anbo.2000.1298 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1006/anbo.2000.1352

Perfus‐Barbeoch, L., Leonhardt, N., Vavasseur, A., and Forestier, C. (2002). Heavy metal toxicity: cadmium permeates through calcium channels and disturbs the plant water status. The Plant Journal 32, 539-548. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-313X.2002.01498.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-313X.2002.01442.x

Pivato, M. (2023). The molecular basis of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii responses to the environment: the role of intracellular Ca2+ signalling and minor antenna proteins.

Praveena, K., and Malaisamy, A. (2024). Climatic shifts and agricultural strategies: A thorough review on impact of climate change on food security and crop productivity. Int. J. Environ. Clim. Change 14, 817-831. DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/ijecc/2024/v14i13900

Qi, X., Wang, X., Wang, Q., Li, M., Ma, L., Li, Y., Li, X., and Wang, L. (2021). Photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, endogenous hormones and organic acid synergistic regulation in leaves of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under elevated CO 2. Applied Ecology & Environmental Research 19. https://doi.org/10.15666/aeer/1904_433341 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15666/aeer/1905_37733787

Qiao, M., Hong, C., Jiao, Y., Hou, S., and Gao, H. (2024). Impacts of drought on photosynthesis in major food crops and the related mechanisms of plant responses to drought. Plants 13, 1808. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13191808 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13131808

Qin, F., Sakuma, Y., Tran, L.-S. P., Maruyama, K., Kidokoro, S., Fujita, Y., Fujita, M., Umezawa, T., Sawano, Y., and Miyazono, K.-i. (2008). Arabidopsis DREB2A-interacting proteins function as RING E3 ligases and negatively regulate plant drought stress–responsive gene expression. The Plant Cell 20, 1693-1707. https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.108.058519 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.107.057380

Rai, K. K., Pandey, N., Rai, N., Rai, S. K., and Pandey-Rai, S. (2021). Salicylic acid and nitric oxide: insight into the transcriptional regulation of their metabolism and regulatory functions in plants. Frontiers in Agronomy 3, 781027. https://doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2021.781027 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2021.781027

Ramegowda, V., and Senthil-Kumar, M. (2015). The interactive effects of simultaneous biotic and abiotic stresses on plants: mechanistic understanding from drought and pathogen combination. Journal of plant physiology 176, 47-54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jplph.2015.05.009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jplph.2014.11.008

Rasheed, A., Gill, R. A., Hassan, M. U., Mahmood, A., Qari, S., Zaman, Q. U., Ilyas, M., Aamer, M., Batool, M., and Li, H. (2021). A critical review: recent advancements in the use of CRISPR/Cas9 technology to enhance crops and alleviate global food crises. Current Issues in Molecular Biology 43, 1950-1976. https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb43030103 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb43030135

Rastogi, R. P., Richa, n., Kumar, A., Tyagi, M. B., and Sinha, R. P. (2010). Molecular mechanisms of ultraviolet radiation‐induced DNA damage and repair. Journal of nucleic acids 2010, 592980. https://doi.org/10.1155/2010/592980 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4061/2010/592980

Raza, A., Razzaq, A., Mehmood, S. S., Zou, X., Zhang, X., Lv, Y., and Xu, J. (2019). Impact of climate change on crops adaptation and strategies to tackle its outcome: A review. Plants 8, 34. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants8050034 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants8020034

Razzaq, M. K., Aleem, M., Mansoor, S., Khan, M. A., Rauf, S., Iqbal, S., and Siddique, K. H. (2021). Omics and CRISPR-Cas9 approaches for molecular insight, functional gene analysis, and stress tolerance development in crops. International journal of molecular sciences 22, 1292. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22031292 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22031292

Rehman, S., and Mahmood, T. (2015). Functional role of DREB and ERF transcription factors: regulating stress-responsive network in plants. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum 37, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-015-1918-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-015-1929-1

Roychoudhury, A., Paul, S., and Basu, S. (2013). Cross-talk between abscisic acid-dependent and abscisic acid-independent pathways during abiotic stress. Plant cell reports 32, 985-1006. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-013-1428-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-013-1414-5

Saber Sichani, A., Ranjbar, M., Baneshi, M., Torabi Zadeh, F., and Fallahi, J. (2023). A review on advanced CRISPR-based genome-editing tools: base editing and prime editing. Molecular Biotechnology 65, 849-860. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-023-00739-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-022-00639-1

Saleem, M. H., Noreen, S., Ishaq, I., Saleem, A., Khan, K. A., Ercisli, S., Anas, M., Khalid, A., Ahmed, T., and Hassan, A. (2025). Omics technologies: unraveling abiotic stress tolerance mechanisms for sustainable crop improvement. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-024-11021-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-025-11674-y

Sanches, P. H. G., de Melo, N. C., Porcari, A. M., and de Carvalho, L. M. (2024). Integrating molecular perspectives: strategies for comprehensive multi-omics integrative data analysis and machine learning applications in transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. Biology 13, 848. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13100848 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13110848

Santisree, P., Jalli, L. C. L., Bhatnagar‐Mathur, P., and Sharma, K. K. (2020). Emerging roles of salicylic acid and jasmonates in plant abiotic stress responses. Protective chemical agents in the amelioration of plant abiotic stress: biochemical and molecular perspectives, 342-373. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119552154.ch17

Satrio, R. D., Fendiyanto, M. H., and Miftahudin, M. (2024). Tools and techniques used at global scale through genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics to investigate plant stress responses at the molecular level. In "Molecular Dynamics of Plant Stress and its Management", pp. 555-607. Springer. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-1699-9_25

Scandalios, J. (2005). Oxidative stress: molecular perception and transduction of signals triggering antioxidant gene defenses. Brazilian journal of medical and biological research 38, 995-1014. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-879X2005000700002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-879X2005000700003

Schieber, M., and Chandel, N. S. (2014). ROS function in redox signaling and oxidative stress. Current biology 24, R453-R462. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2014.03.034 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2014.03.034

Seleiman, M. F., Al-Suhaibani, N., Ali, N., Akmal, M., Alotaibi, M., Refay, Y., Dindaroglu, T., Abdul-Wajid, H. H., and Battaglia, M. L. (2021). Drought stress impacts on plants and different approaches to alleviate its adverse effects. Plants 10, 259. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020259 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020259

Sharma, M., Sidhu, A. K., Samota, M. K., Gupta, M., Koli, P., and Choudhary, M. (2023). Post-translational modifications in histones and their role in abiotic stress tolerance in plants. Proteomes 11, 38. https://doi.org/10.3390/proteomes11020038 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/proteomes11040038

Sharma, P., Jha, A. B., and Dubey, R. S. (2019). Oxidative stress and antioxidative defense system in plants growing under abiotic stresses. In "Handbook of Plant and Crop Stress, Fourth Edition", pp. 93-136. CRC press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/9781351104609-7

Sharma, S., Chatterjee, S., Kataria, S., Joshi, J., Datta, S., Vairale, M. G., and Veer, V. (2017). A review on responses of plants to UV‐B radiation related stress. UV‐B Radiation: From Environmental Stressor to Regulator of Plant Growth, 75-97. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41580-022-00457-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119143611.ch5

Shelake, R. M., Kadam, U. S., Kumar, R., Pramanik, D., Singh, A. K., and Kim, J.-Y. (2022). Engineering drought and salinity tolerance traits in crops through CRISPR-mediated genome editing: Targets, tools, challenges, and perspectives. Plant Communications 3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xplc.2022.100363 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xplc.2022.100417

Shvedunova, M., and Akhtar, A. (2022). Modulation of cellular processes by histone and non-histone protein acetylation. Nature reviews Molecular cell biology 23, 329-349. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41580-022-00457-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41580-021-00441-y

Singh, A., Sagar, S., and Biswas, D. K. (2017). Calcium dependent protein kinase, a versatile player in plant stress management and development. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences 36, 336-352. https://doi.org/10.1080/07352689.2017.1408996 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07352689.2018.1428438

Singh, A. H., Wolf, D. M., Wang, P., and Arkin, A. P. (2008). Modularity of stress response evolution. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 105, 7500-7505. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0802578105 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0709764105

Singh, D., and Laxmi, A. (2015). Transcriptional regulation of drought response: a tortuous network of transcriptional factors. Frontiers in plant science 6, 895. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2015.00895 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2015.00895

Singh, R. K., Sood, P., Prasad, A., and Prasad, M. (2021). Advances in omics technology for improving crop yield and stress resilience. Plant Breeding 140, 719-731. https://doi.org/10.1111/pbr.12946 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/pbr.12963

Srivastava, H., Ferrell, D., and Popescu, G. V. (2022). NetSeekR: a network analysis pipeline for RNA-Seq time series data. BMC bioinformatics 23, 54. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12859-021-04578-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12859-021-04554-1

Tanveer, M., and Shabala, S. (2020). Neurotransmitters in signalling and adaptation to salinity stress in plants. Neurotransmitters in plant signaling and communication, 49-73. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-54478-2_3

Tripathy, K. P., Mukherjee, S., Mishra, A. K., Mann, M. E., and Williams, A. P. (2023). Climate change will accelerate the high-end risk of compound drought and heatwave events. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 120, e2219825120. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2219825120 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2219825120

Ul Hassan, M., Rasool, T., Iqbal, C., Arshad, A., Abrar, M., Abrar, M. M., Habib-ur-Rahman, M., Noor, M. A., Sher, A., and Fahad, S. (2021). Linking plants functioning to adaptive responses under heat stress conditions: a mechanistic review. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-020-10224-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-021-10493-1

Vakulabaranam Sridharan, S. (2015). Biological Pathways Based Approaches to Model and Control Gene Regulatory Networks.

Villalobos-López, M. A., Arroyo-Becerra, A., Quintero-Jiménez, A., and Iturriaga, G. (2022). Biotechnological advances to improve abiotic stress tolerance in crops. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 23, 12053. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232012053 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms231912053

Wang, P., and Song, C.-P. (2008). Guard-cell signalling for hydrogen peroxide and abscisic acid. New Phytologist 178. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2008.02431.x

Wang, S., Yao, Y., Wang, J., Ruan, B., and Yu, Y. (2025). Advancing Stress-Resilient Rice: Mechanisms, Genes, and Breeding Strategies. Agriculture 15, 721. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15040721 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15070721

Wang, Y., Mostafa, S., Zeng, W., and Jin, B. (2021). Function and mechanism of jasmonic acid in plant responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22, 8568. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22168568

Wang, Z., and Dane, F. (2013). NAC (NAM/ATAF/CUC) transcription factors in different stresses and their signaling pathway. Acta physiologiae plantarum 35, 1397-1408. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-013-1323-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-012-1195-4

Xiao, B.-Z., Chen, X., Xiang, C.-B., Tang, N., Zhang, Q.-F., and Xiong, L.-Z. (2009). Evaluation of seven function-known candidate genes for their effects on improving drought resistance of transgenic rice under field conditions. Molecular Plant 2, 73-83. https://doi.org/10.1093/mp/ssn062 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/mp/ssn068

Xie, X., He, Z., Chen, N., Tang, Z., Wang, Q., and Cai, Y. (2019). The roles of environmental factors in regulation of oxidative stress in plant. BioMed research international 2019, 9732325. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/9732325 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/9732325

Yadav, C., Rawat, N., Singla‐Pareek, S. L., and Pareek, A. (2025). Knockdown of OsPHP1 leads to improved yield under salinity and drought in rice via regulating the complex Set of TCS members and cytokinin signalling. Plant, Cell & Environment 48, 2769-2782. https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.14819 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.15337

Yadav, S., Irfan, M., Ahmad, A., and Hayat, S. (2011). Causes of salinity and plant manifestations to salt stress: a review. Journal of environmental biology 32, 667.

Yadav, S., Yadav, J., Kumar, S., and Singh, P. (2024). Metabolism of Macro-elements (Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Chloride and Phosphorus) and Associated Disorders. In "Clinical Applications of Biomolecules in Disease Diagnosis: A Comprehensive Guide to Biochemistry and Metabolism", pp. 177-203. Springer. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-4723-8_8

Yoshida, T., Fujita, Y., Maruyama, K., Mogami, J., Todaka, D., Shinozaki, K., and Yamaguchi‐Shinozaki, K. (2015). Four A rabidopsis AREB/ABF transcription factors function predominantly in gene expression downstream of SnRK2 kinases in abscisic acid signalling in response to osmotic stress. Plant, cell & environment 38, 35-49. https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.12468 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.12351

Yuan, F., Yang, H., Xue, Y., Kong, D., Ye, R., Li, C., Zhang, J., Theprungsirikul, L., Shrift, T., and Krichilsky, B. (2014). OSCA1 mediates osmotic-stress-evoked Ca2+ increases vital for osmosensing in Arabidopsis. Nature 514, 367-371. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature13793 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature13593

Yue, J., and López, J. M. (2020). Understanding MAPK signaling pathways in apoptosis. International journal of molecular sciences 21, 2346. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21072346 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21072346

Zha, D., He, Y., and Song, J. (2025). Regulatory role of ABA‐responsive element binding factors in plant abiotic stress response. Physiologia Plantarum 177, e70233. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.13823 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.70233

Zhu, J.-K. (2016). Abiotic stress signaling and responses in plants. Cell 167, 313-324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2016.01.004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2016.08.029

Zhu, Q., Gao, S., and Zhang, W. (2021). Identification of key transcription factors related to bacterial spot resistance in pepper through regulatory network analyses. Genes 12, 1351. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/genes12091351