Phytohormonal strategies for managing crop responses to abiotic stresses: a review

Plant stress refers to external factors that negatively impact plant growth and development, which can lead to significant agricultural yield losses. These stressors impede regular plant activity by interfering with cellular functions. By triggering metabolic and biochemical pathways to combat abiotic stressors, studies have demonstrated the critical function phytohormones (PHs) play in plant growth. Through the regulation of photosynthesis, antioxidant enzyme activity, oxidative damage management, and gene expression, PHs strengthen plant defences and increase tolerance to stress. Despite numerous studies underscoring the role of PHs in managing abiotic stress, there remains a gap in systematically understanding their regulatory functions in promoting crop growth under stress conditions. This paper investigates the potential of exogenous PH applications in abiotic stress responses, examining how they can be optimized to mitigate stress impacts. Additionally, we explore the intricate mechanisms through which PHs modulate stress tolerance, providing valuable insights for improving crop resilience in challenging environmental conditions.