ABSTRACT
In current years, the prevalence of abiotic stresses has become a major threat for the growth and development of plants worldwide. Since the past few decades, there has been an increase in abiotic stresses due to climate changes, industrial developments, economic revolution, and sudden population explosion. Abiotic stresses include heavy metal stress, salinity stress, drought stress, heat stress, and cold stress, which affect the plant growth, physiology, and biochemical parameters and ultimately reduce the growth and yield of plants. Globally, abiotic stresses have become the main hazard for the food production and crop productivity systems. In order to cope with abiotic stresses, plants accumulate osmolytes and osmoprotectants, enzymatic antioxidants, and nonenzymatic antioxidants as defense mechanisms, which will be within the scope of this book chapter.
