The Role of Antitranspirants in Mitigating Drought Stress in Plants of the Grass Family (Poaceae)—A Review

Abstract

One of the biggest problems facing agriculture is the occurrence of droughts. Due to ongoing climate change, many regions of the world are exposed to increasingly frequent and prolonged water shortages. The situation may significantly reduce production and the quality of many crops in the Poaceae family, including crucial cereals. Therefore, it is important to find solutions that can help adapt plants to the drought phenomenon and reduce its negative effects. One measure that could potentially improve the condition of plants and help them survive under water deficit conditions is the use of antitranspirants (AT), which are products that reduce transpiration. Antitranspirants are divided into three groups: film-forming, metabolic, and reflective types. This review aimed to the current state of knowledge on the effects of selected AT applications on Poaceae plants under drought conditions. It demonstrated that AT, in many cases, mitigates the negative effects of drought on crops such as maize, wheat, or rice, which are crucial for global food security. Furthermore, AT often improved growth and yield parameters. These results are particularly relevant for countries that are important cereals producers and are more vulnerable to droughts in the future. However, it should be noted that the results obtained often depend on several factors, such as plant species, environment, type of antitranspirant, and applied dose. Therefore, it is advisable to measure further the effects of AT on plants under drought-stress conditions.