title: Salicylic acid-induced abiotic stress tolerance and underlying mechanisms in plants.
abstract: Abiotic stresses (such as metals/metalloids, salinity, ozone, UV-B radiation, extreme temperatures, and drought) are among the most challenging threats to agricultural system and economic yield of crop plants. These stresses (in isolation and/or combination) induce numerous adverse effects in plants, impair biochemical/physiological and molecular processes, and eventually cause severe reductions in plant growth, development and overall productivity. Phytohormones have been recognized as a strong tool for sustainably alleviating adverse effects of abiotic stresses in crop plants. In particular, the significance of salicylic acid (SA) has been increasingly recognized in improved plant abiotic stress-tolerance via SA-mediated control of major plant-metabolic processes. However, the basic biochemical/physiological and molecular mechanisms that potentially underpin SA-induced plant-tolerance to major abiotic stresses remain least discussed. Based on recent reports, this paper: (a) overviews historical background and biosynthesis of SA under both optimal and stressful environments in plants; (b) critically appraises the role of SA in plants exposed to major abiotic stresses;
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh, India.
authors.forename: M Iqbal R
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh, India.
authors.forename: Mehar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fatma
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh, India.
authors.forename: Tasir S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Per
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Naser A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Anjum
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh, India.
authors.forename: Nafees A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Khan
keywords: abiotic stress; crop-loss; phytohormones; salicylic acid; stress tolerance mechanisms