Chemical Priming of Plants Against Multiple Abiotic Stresses: Mission Possible?

Trends Plant Sci. 2016 Apr;21(4):329-340. doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2015.11.003. Epub 2015 Dec 15.

Abstract

Crop plants are subjected to multiple abiotic stresses during their lifespan that greatly reduce productivity and threaten global food security. Recent research suggests that plants can be primed by chemical compounds to better tolerate different abiotic stresses. Chemical priming is a promising field in plant stress physiology and crop stress management. We review here promising chemical agents such as sodium nitroprusside, hydrogen peroxide, sodium hydrosulfide, melatonin, and polyamines that can potentially confer enhanced tolerance when plants are exposed to multiple abiotic stresses. The challenges and opportunities of chemical priming are addressed, with the aim to boost future research towards effective application in crop stress management.

Keywords: melatonin; polyamines; reactive species; stress tolerance; systemic resistance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Crops, Agricultural / drug effects*
  • Crops, Agricultural / physiology
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / pharmacology*
  • Melatonin / pharmacology*
  • Nitroprusside / pharmacology*
  • Polyamines / pharmacology*
  • Stimulation, Chemical
  • Stress, Physiological / drug effects*
  • Sulfides / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Polyamines
  • Sulfides
  • Nitroprusside
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • sodium bisulfide
  • Melatonin