Heat Stress Tolerance in Plants: Action of Salicylic Acid

Abstract

Heat stress is a major abiotic stress of global concern, affecting plant growth and production of plants, particularly crops worldwide. It occurs due to disturbance in plant metabolism as a consequence of excess generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which leads to oxidative stress. Plants adopt different strategies to overcome the adverse effects of heat stress. The molecular mechanism of the heat stress responses and breeding of heat-tolerant plants is essential to protect the food production. Recently, the role of salicylic acid has received attention in the regulation of numerous developmental processes under heat stress condition and has emerged through cross talk between chemical signaling pathways. The present review focuses on improving our understanding on the mechanism to induce thermotolerance in plants by salicylic acid interaction and gives an insight into some scientific approaches to modulate plants’ responses for high temperature tolerance.