Chapter 15 - Hydrogen sulfide and phytohormones crosstalk in plant defense against abiotic stress

Abstract

Global developmental strategies and population expansion are continuously showing their odd impacts on the living world, thereby causing stresses of multiple natures. To combat these stresses, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is well-examined signaling molecule that acts as a priming agent and helps in regulating the response of plants to various stressful conditions. Hydrogen sulfide is formed in the plant cells as an intermediate of an assimilatory sulfate reduction. Despite the endogenous release of hydrogen sulfide, its exogenous application has been found to be beneficial in the amelioration of multiple abiotic stresses. These responses are also mediated by the expression of genes and proteins that participate in signaling and metabolic pathways induced through several small signaling molecules known as plant hormones or phytohormones. Phytohormones are also found to be involved in regulation of the protective responses under various abiotic and biotic stress conditions. H2S in crosstalk with these phytohormones significantly ameliorates the abiotic stress in plants. In this chapter we have discussed in detail how H2S in crosstalk with phytohormones helps in the enhancement of defense against abiotic stress in plants.