Influence of Environmental Adversities on Physiological Changes in Plants

Abiotic stresses are the major hurdles in sustainable agriculture development. The major abiotic stresses include drought, salt, heat, cold, and heavy metal curtailing plant growth and yield. Abiotic stresses affect plant at every plant growth stages and influence several plant processes. One of the main and most effected processes includes physiological damages/changes in plant in response to abiotic stress. Generally, plant shows a similar physiological response against every stress such as stomatal closure, reduction in photosynthesis rate, decrease in water contents, and damage to chloroplast. However, tolerant plant exhibits a different response, and various factors are involved for making it tolerant against a specific stress. Plant has an ability to adapt themselves to changing climatic conditions and synthesis of beneficial enzymes and osmoprotectant to minimize damages to cellular membrane and oxidative stress. Moreover, it protects protein and scavenges free radicals. As plant under stress regulates stress signals and activates specific gene expression to resist abiotic stress, it is necessary to understand the role of specific gene expression for physiological functions to protect plants from damages.