Biotic and Abiotic Stress Signaling Mediated by Salicylic Acid

Abstract

Biotic and abiotic stresses are significant factors limiting the production of food and other supporting materials required to sustain increasing world population. Plant health is directly related to human health and is increasingly becoming significant and demands more attention towards limiting the damages caused by biotic and abiotic stresses. Significant progress has been made towards our understanding of the processes, which mediate both biotic and abiotic stress signaling in plants. Significant role is played by various plant hormones, e.g., salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) in biotic stress and abscisic acid (ABA) in abiotic stress (Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 28:489–521, 2012). Other hormones with minor role include the cytokinins (CK), auxins (indole 3 acetic acid. IAA), and the brassinosteroids (BR) (Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 28:489–521, 2012). Cross talk between these plant hormones is significant and may result in either synergistic or antagonistic effect on stress responses (Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 28:489–521, 2012). In recent years, extensive research carried out in various laboratories has implicated cross talk between the ABA and the SA in abiotic stress response. This is significant in light of SA being key player in biotic stress responses in plants. This review will discuss the role of SA in biotic and abiotic stress signaling and its cross talk with other hormones in mediating abiotic stress signaling in plants.