Abiotic Stresses

Abiotic stresses are environmental factors that can adversely affect plant growth and productivity. Examples include extreme temperatures, drought, soil salinity, and air pollution. Abiotic stress tolerance is a critical component of agricultural productivity and sustainability, as abiotic stresses represent a major economic burden among crop species worldwide. Plants have evolved numerous strategies to minimize the impacts of abiotic stresses, including the induction of physiological and biochemical adaptations. Understanding the molecular basis of plant responses to abiotic stress will ultimately enable the development of crop varieties with improved abiotic stress tolerance for sustainable agriculture.