Drought is the most prevalent unfavorable condition that impairs plant growth and development by altering morphological, physiological, and biochemical functions, thereby impeding plant biomass production. To survive the adverse effects, water limiting condition triggers a sophisticated adjustment mechanism orchestrated mainly by hormones that directly protect plants via the stimulation of several signaling cascades. Predominantly, water deficit signals cause the increase in the level of endogenous ABA, which elicits signaling pathways involving transcription factors that enhance resistance mechanisms to combat drought-stimulated damage in plants. These responses mainly include stomatal closure, seed dormancy, cuticular wax deposition, leaf senescence, and alteration of the shoot and root growth. Unraveling how plants adjust to drought could provide valuable information, and a comprehensive understanding of the resistance mechanisms will help researchers design ways to improve crop performance under water limiting conditions. This review deals with the past and recent updates of ABA-mediated molecular mechanisms that plants can implement to cope with the challenges of drought stress.
Keywords: ABA; cuticle; dormancy; drought; senescence; signaling; stomata.