ABSTRACT
Abiotic and biotic stress factors trigger a wide range of plant responses, from altered gene expression and cellular metabolism to changes in growth rates and crop yields, that restrict the plant from reaching its full genetic potential. Plant adaptation to these stresses is dependent upon the activation of cascades of molecular networks involved in stress perception, signal transduction and the expression of specific stress-related genes and metabolites. Recent findings have revealed the importance of temporal-spatial synchronization between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and other signals involved in the production of stress-triggered chemicals, compounds and hormones. The cross-talk arsing at the convergence points among hormone signalling cascades form a network which interacts with either a common second messenger or a phosphorylation cascade. Therefore, understanding the physiological and molecular aspects of plant functions under stressful conditions can be used to construct a model of biotic and abiotic stress signaling that may be used to develop stress tolerance in plants. This chapter appraises recent literature on stress signaling and stress responses in plants.
