Ethylene in Abiotic Stress

Abstract

Plants, being sessile organisms, confront various environmental stressors that profoundly impact their growth and development, ultimately affecting agricultural productivity. To thrive in adverse conditions, plants have evolved intricate mechanisms to sense and adapt to environmental changes. Plant hormones play a crucial role in mediating responses to these stresses, with ethylene emerging as a multifunctional phytohormone with pivotal roles in both growth and stress tolerance. Ethylene controls many aspects of the plant life cycle, including seed germination, root formation, flower growth, fruit ripening, senescence and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Ethylene exerts profound control over various facets of the plant life cycle, encompassing seed germination, root formation, flower development, fruit ripening, senescence and responses to both biotic and abiotic stressors. This multifaceted hormone plays a pivotal role in orchestrating plant responses to environmental cues, thereby influencing the resilience and reproductive success of plants. Understanding the processes is crucial for harnessing the potential of ethylene in optimizing crop production and ensuring the resilience of plants in response to environmental challenges. The chapter describes roles of ethylene in different stresses and emphasizes their roles for crop improvement programs. © 2024 selection and editorial matter, Dhandapani Raju, R Ambika Rajendran, Ayyagari Ramlal and Virendra Pal Singh; individual chapters, the contributors.