Chemical Induction of Stress Tolerance in Plants

Plants face a myriad of abiotic stresses—drought, salinity, extreme temperatures and heavy-metal toxicity—that threaten global crop productivity. Chemical induction of stress tolerance harnesses small molecules to prime or trigger intrinsic defence pathways, offering a rapid and non-transgenic route to enhance resilience. Exogenous applications of organic acids, nitric oxide donors, phytohormones and synthetic heterocycles can modulate hormone signalling networks (including abscisic acid and jasmonate cascades), adjust osmotic balance via compatible solutes such as proline, and bolster antioxidant systems to detoxify reactive oxygen species. By fine-tuning ion transporters and epigenetic marks, these treatments reprogramme metabolism and gene expression, preparing plants to withstand subsequent stress. With climate change intensifying environmental challenges, chemical priming represents a scalable strategy for safeguarding yield and quality, particularly in resource-limited settings where rapid, cost-effective interventions are essential.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Studies have demonstrated that foliar application of acetic acid effectively mitigates seawater-induced salt toxicity in mung bean by restoring ionic homeostasis and water use efficiency. Treated plants accumulated higher levels of calcium and magnesium while excluding sodium, alongside elevated proline, soluble sugars and antioxidant enzymes. Phenolic and flavonoid contents also rose, contributing to enhanced growth under saline conditions. In rice, root treatment with acetic acid activates jasmonate signalling, generating root-to-shoot messages that mimic early drought responses. This pre-emptive activation attenuates subsequent stress-induced damage in leaves by fine-tuning stomatal conductance and gene expression in anticipation of water deficit. Together, these findings reveal how simple organic acids can orchestrate complex hormonal networks and stress memory to improve tolerance.

Chemical Induction of Stress Tolerance in Plants publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in chemical induction of stress tolerance in plants across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Abiotic stress: Non-living environmental factors (e.g. drought, salinity) that adversely affect plant growth.

Phytoeffector: A chemical agent applied to plants to elicit or modulate physiological responses.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Highly reactive molecules (e.g. hydrogen peroxide) generated under stress that can damage cellular components.

Jasmonate signalling: Hormonal pathway involving jasmonic acid that regulates defence and stress-adaptation responses.

Osmolyte: A compatible solute (e.g. proline, trehalose) that stabilises proteins and membranes under osmotic stress.

Antioxidant enzymes: Proteins (e.g. catalase, peroxidase) that scavenge ROS to prevent oxidative damage.

References

1. Acetic acid: a cost-effective agent for mitigation of seawater-induced salt toxicity in mung bean. Scientific Reports (2019).
2. Acetic-acid-induced jasmonate signaling in root enhances drought avoidance in rice. Scientific Reports (2021).
3. Sydnone Imines as a New Class of Promising Plant Growth and Stress Tolerance Modulators—A First Experimental Structure–Activity Overview. Stresses (2024).
4. Acetic acid positively modulates proline metabolism for mitigating PEG-mediated drought stress in Maize and Arabidopsis. Frontiers in Plant Science (2023).
5. Role of Acetic Acid and Nitric Oxide against Salinity and Lithium Stress in Canola (Brassica napus L.). Plants (2023).