Chapter 2 - Plant physiological and molecular mechanisms in cross-regulation of biotic-abiotic stress responses

Abstract

Plants, as sessile organisms, are often exposed to combined biotic stressors such as herbivores and pathogens, and abiotic stressors such as adverse climate and soil conditions. The relationships between different biotic and abiotic stresses in shaping plant responses and performance are diverged in a context-dependent manner. Trade-off is often seen in plant adaptation between different biotic and abiotic stresses, however, an initial exposure to one stress often leads to an enhanced state of the tolerance to different stresses, designated cross-tolerance. Plants often prioritize their response to one stress over that to another. This may reflect the allocation of limited resources and the hierarchical interactions between different stress signaling pathways. Here, we review the mode and mechanisms by which plants deal with their exposure to different biotic and abiotic stresses, with a particular focus on how immune responses and abiotic stress responses influence each other.