Elucidating the molecular mechanisms of plant stress responses: Deciphering the impacts of abiotic and biotic stressors and developing innovative mitigation strategies for sustainable agriculture

Abstract

Crop stress, caused by abiotic factors or biotic agents, represents a major challenge for agricultural production worldwide. Abiotic stresses like drought, salinity, extreme temperature and nutrient imbalances disrupt plant physiology, leading to reduced growth, impaired photosynthesis, oxidative damage, and yield losses. Biotic stresses from pathogens (bacteria, fungi, viruses), pests (insects, nematodes) and competing plants impose additional constraints through tissue damage, nutrient depletion and disruption of physiological processes. Understanding the mechanisms by which these stresses impact plants is crucial for developing effective mitigation strategies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of abiotic and biotic stress factors affecting crops, their modes of action and their detrimental effects on plant growth, development and productivity. It further discusses various approaches to alleviate stress, including breeding for stress tolerance, optimized cultural practices, application of plant growth regulators and soil amendments, biological control methods and integrated pest management. Employing a combination of these mitigation strategies, tailored to specific stress factors and crop species, is vital to enhancing crop resilience and achieving sustainable food production amidst growing population demands and climate change challenges.