Advancing Plant Abiotic Stress Tolerance: Mechanisms, Molecular Tools,
and Breeding Strategies
Abstract
Plants are constantly exposed to various abiotic stresses, such as
drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures, significantly impacting
their growth, development, and productivity. To cope with these
challenges, plants have evolved intricate signaling pathways mediated by
phytohormones, including abscisic acid (ABA), jasmonic acid (JA), and
brassinosteroids (BR). These hormones regulate stress responses by
activating specific transcription factors, protein kinases, antioxidant
systems, and other downstream effectors. This review highlights the
molecular mechanisms underlying these pathways, emphasizing the
interplay between phytohormones and their roles in modulating stress
tolerance. By integrating recent findings, this paper provides insights
into the potential biotechnological applications for enhancing plant
resilience to environmental stresses.