Chapter 16 - Reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress in higher plants, and role of rhizosphere in soil remediation

Abstract

Various abiotic stresses are the leading cause of overproducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plants. The formation of ROS causes oxidative stress in plants by damaging biomacromolecules, such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acid. The abiotic stress in plants occurs due to inconsistent climatic conditions like rainfall, rise in temperature, cold, drought, salinity, alkalinity, and high light. The use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) has been very helpful in protecting the plants from abiotic climate-induced changes, which limit the overall performance of plants under stressful conditions. To survive in the rhizosphere, these microbes expand their biological activity that influences the growth and survival of plants. This chapter deals with various abiotic stresses, the formation of ROS, and oxidative stress in plants.