Root Exudates and Their Significance in Abiotic Stress Amelioration in Plants: A Review

Abiotic stresses such as salinity, drought, extreme temperature, radiation, nutrient deficiency, and heavy metals can significantly impact plant growth and yield, posing a challenge to agriculture. Various strategies have been employed to enhance plant resistance to these stresses through conventional and genetic manipulations. However, these often require extensive breeding programmes and substantial financial investments. In this regard, plant root exudates have emerged as a promising tool for improving plant performance under adverse conditions. They play a crucial role in the rhizosphere, influencing and guiding the microbial community to support plant growth. Published literature suggests that plants can adapt to abiotic stress by modifying the chemistry of their root exudates. These modified exudates can recruit beneficial microorganisms that aid in protecting plants from stress. Despite the progress made in identifying, characterizing, and detecting root exudates, there is still a substantial gap in our understanding of their significance and potential applications, particularly in addressing abiotic stress in plants. Therefore, the present review provides valuable insights into recent research progress in the field of root exudates. It covers fundamental information about root exudates, mechanisms of exudation, the impact of abiotic factors, and the interactions between roots and microbes in exudation. The review also explores how root exudates contribute to enhancing abiotic stress tolerance in plants, shedding light on the potential benefits of these compounds. The review also discusses existing challenges in the field of root exudates, particularly in their application for sustainable agriculture. It also addresses potential research gaps and outlines future directions for further investigation and practical application in agriculture for abiotic stress amelioration.