Molecular Soil Biology 2024, Vol.15, No.5, 205-215 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/msb 205 Feature Review Open Access Comprehensive Response Mechanisms of Plants to Water Deficit: A Physiological, Biochemical, Molecular, and Ecological Review Chunli Wang1, Xiaoli Zhou2,4, JiangQin1, Xianyu Wang1, HangYu 1, QianZhu1,2,3, Dongsun Lee 1,2,3, Lijuan Chen1,2,3 1 Rice Research Institute, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China 2 The Key Laboratory for Crop Production and Smart Agriculture of Yunnan Province, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China 3 College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China 4 College of Agricultural Science, Xichang University, Liangshan, 615013, Sichuan, China Corresponding email: chenlijuan@hotmail.com Molecular Soil Biology, 2024, Vol.15, No.5 doi: 10.5376/msb.2024.15.0021 Received: 17 Jul., 2024 Accepted: 24 Aug., 2024 Published: 05 Sep., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Wang et al., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Wang C.L., Zhou X.L., Qin J., Wang X.Y., Yu H., Zhu Q., Lee D.S., and Chen L.J., 2024, Comprehensive response mechanisms of plants to water deficit: a physiological, biochemical, molecular, and ecological review, Molecular Soil Biology, 15(5): 205-215 (doi: 10.5376/msb.2024.15.0021) Abstract This study provides a comprehensive insight about complex response mechanisms that plants cope with water deficit conditions in the field, involving physiological, biochemical, molecular, and ecological adaptations changes that finally plants can survive and persistence under drought stress. Key adaptive changes are plants activate a range of natural defense systems to mitigate the adverse effects of drought. These changes in cellular osmotic potential, water potential, and the activation of antioxidant enzymes and osmolytes such as proline, glycine betaine, and soluble sugars. Phytohormones like abscisic acid, jasmonates, and salicylic acid play crucial roles in modulating plant responses to water stress through complex signaling networks. Additionally, plants exhibit morphological changes such as increased root growth and alterations in leaf anatomy to enhance water uptake and reduce water loss. Molecular insight of plants response to drought stress is stress-responsive genes that contribute to cellular protection and metabolic adjustments. In this paper, the multifaceted nature of plant responses to water deficit are described, and the importance of integrated physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms are listed, respectively. Understanding these complex interactions is essential for developing strategies to improve crop resilience and productivity in water-limited environments. Keywords Water deficit; Drought stress; Plant physiology; Biochemical responses; Molecular mechanisms; Ecological adaptations 1 Introduction Water deficit, commonly referred to as drought stress, is a condition where water availability is significantly below the optimal level required for plant growth and development. Water deficit condition is one of the most important factors restricting agricultural productions, which seriously affects crop yield (Khan et al., 2013). Moreover, as one of the main restraining factors in the process of plant growth, water deficit can hinder plant respiration, stomatal movement and photosynthesis (Yang et al., 2021), thus reduced plant growth, altered phenology, and impaired photosynthesis and respiration (Farooq et al., 2009; Kaur et al., 2021). The severity and duration of water deficit can vary, influencing the extent of its impact on plant systems (Bray, 1997). Summarize the mechanisms by which plants respond to water deficit is crucial for developing strategies to mitigate its adverse effects (Mullet and Whitsitt, 1996). Water deficit has profound implications for agriculture and ecosystems. In agriculture, drought stress is a leading factors for crop yield reduction worldwide, and aggravates like heat, salinity and pathogen attack which cause damage of plants (Ahluwalia et al., 2021; Kaur et al., 2021). The impact of water deficit is expected to intensify with climate change, affecting more agricultural lands and leading to prolonged periods of drought (Kaur et al., 2021). This stress not only limits crop productivity but also affects the quality of produce, posing a significant challenge to food security (Yang et al., 2021). In natural ecosystems, water deficit can alter plant community structures, reduce biodiversity, and disrupt plant-pollinator interactions, threaten ecosystem sustainability, thereby affecting ecosystem services (Kuppler and Kotowska, 2021). The anatomical and physiological changes induced by drought stress in plants, such as reduced leaf size and altered root morphology, further highlight the need for comprehensive studies on plant responses to water deficit (Shao et al., 2008; 2009). Studying the response mechanisms of plants to water deficit is essential for several reasons. Firstly, it provides insights into the
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