The mechanism of Ca2+ signal transduction in plants responding to abiotic stresses

Ca2+ is a metal ion essential for plant growth and development. It plays an important role in plant signal transduction as a second messenger and is involved in most metabolic and signal transduction processes in the cell. Ca2+ can maintain the homeostasis of the cell wall and cell membrane, sense external stress signals, and respond to them promptly. Here, we review the mechanisms involved Ca2+ responses to stress signals, the regulation of ion transport under stress by Ca2+, the interaction with phytohormones to alleviate stress, the role of calmodulin and calcium-dependent protein kinase in response to stress, the role of the CBL-CIPK calcium signaling network in regulating ion transport in response to stress, and the role of Ca2+ in stress resistance. We present a summary of the literature to provide a theoretical basis for a comprehensive understanding of Ca2+ signal transduction and the associated regulatory mechanisms in plants under stress.