ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a review of the role of the trace elements in mitigating osmotic stresses. Li et al. showed that cobalt application inhibited ethylene production, alleviated antioxidant enzyme activities, and decreased polyamine content during osmotic stress in potato, protecting the plant under stress conditions. Selenium (Se) protected the cell membranes against lipid peroxidation, enhanced the stability of cucumber plants grown under salt stress conditions, and resulted in plant tolerance to stress conditions. Improving drought stress damage by Se is related to adjustment of the water status of plants and increasing root length and diameter. Foliar application of Se decreased membrane damage in sorghum by improving antioxidant defense under heat stress conditions. Silicon (Si) can alleviate salt, metal toxicity, nutrient imbalance, drought, radiation, high-temperature, freezing, and UV stress during different growth stages. Si treatment positively affected photosynthetic and transpiration rate, dry weight, root properties, and water potential under drought stress conditions in rice and wheat.
