An Introduction to Salt Stress Perception and Toxicity Level: Worldwide Report at a Glance

Abstract

The impact of salt stress is found to be most severe on agricultural crops. Elevated soil salinity hampers the plants in various ways such as osmotic stress, ionic toxicity, retarded cell division, reduced photosynthesis, to name a few. Prolonged exposure provoked the development of a defense mechanism in some species against salt stress and toxicity either by excluding through cells or by enhancing the salt tolerance. Accumulation of excessive salt content in the soil causing direct and indirect adverse effects on flora and fauna is termed as salt stress. Based on the origin and root cause, there are two different categories of salinity, namely, primary and secondary. Hydro-geological activities contribute in escalating soil salinity and sodicity. Salinity issue dominates about 21% of comprehensive land footprint, especially arid regions of Asia and Pacific and areas with impeded drainage. Salt stress induces a diverse range of metabolic and growth-oriented detrimental changes in plants. © 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. All rights reserved.