Salicylic Acid, a Multifaceted Hormone, Combats Abiotic Stresses in Plants

Abstract

In recent decades, many new and exciting findings have paved the way to the better understanding of plant responses in various environmental changes. Some major areas are focused on role of phytohormone during abiotic stresses. Salicylic acid (SA) is one such plant hormone that has been implicated in processes not limited to plant growth, development, and responses to environmental stress. This review summarizes the various roles and functions of SA in mitigating abiotic stresses to plants, including heating, chilling, salinity, metal toxicity, drought, ultraviolet radiation, etc. Consistent with its critical roles in plant abiotic tolerance, this review identifies the gaps in the literature with regard to the complex signalling network between SA and reactive oxygen species, ABA, Ca2+, and nitric oxide. Furthermore, the molecular mechanisms underlying signalling networks that control development and stress responses in plants and underscore prospects for future research on SA concerning abiotic-stressed plants are also discussed.