Chitosan Applications for Plant Stress Tolerance

Chitosan, a deacetylated polysaccharide derived from chitin, has emerged as a versatile biostimulant to enhance plant resilience under abiotic stress. Its biodegradability, biocompatibility and capacity to induce physiological and molecular responses confer protection against drought, salinity, cold and oxidative injury. Foliar sprays, seed coatings, root treatments and nanoformulations of chitosan activate antioxidant defence systems, modulate osmolyte and phytohormone levels, reinforce cell walls and regulate gene expression associated with stress signalling and secondary metabolism. Advances in chitosan chemistry—such as molecular‐weight optimisation, chemical derivatisation and nanoparticle synthesis—have further improved its efficacy and controlled‐release properties. Field trials and omics studies across diverse crops demonstrate that chitosan applications can increase water‐use efficiency, photosynthetic performance, nutrient uptake and yield stability under challenging environmental conditions, indicating a sustainable strategy for climate‐smart agriculture worldwide.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Research into chemically modified chitosan derivatives applied as foliar sprays to maize under induced water deficit uncovered enhancements in antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase) and osmoprotectant accumulation (proline, soluble sugars). The use of semisynthetic chitosan mixtures reduced lipid peroxidation and improved gas‐exchange metrics during prolonged drought stress, ultimately boosting grain yield and harvest index. This work illustrates the potential of derivative formulations to strengthen plant defence mechanisms and maintain productivity under moderate to severe water limitations.

Chitosan Applications for Plant Stress Tolerance publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in chitosan applications for plant stress tolerance across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Chitosan: A deacetylated derivative of chitin composed of glucosamine units, used as a biodegradable biopolymer to elicit plant defence.

Biostimulant: Substance or microorganism applied to plants to enhance nutrition efficiency, abiotic stress tolerance and quality traits without direct nutritional value.

Nanoparticles: Ultrafine particles (1–100 nm) of chitosan or its derivatives engineered to improve solubility, controlled release and cellular uptake.

Antioxidant enzymes: Proteins such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidases that scavenge reactive oxygen species generated during stress.

Osmolytes: Low‐molecular‐weight solutes (e.g., proline, sugars) that accumulate in cells to maintain osmotic balance under stress.

Foliar application: Direct spraying of formulations onto leaf surfaces to enable rapid absorption and systemic effects.

References

1. The foliar application of a mixture of semisynthetic chitosan derivatives induces tolerance to water deficit in maize, improving the antioxidant system and increasing photosynthesis and grain yield. Scientific Reports (2019).
2. Chitosan-Enclosed Menadione Sodium Bisulfite as an Environmentally Friendly Alternative to Enhance Biostimulant Properties against Drought. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (2023).
3. Metabolic and Transcriptomic Approaches of Chitosan and Water Stress on Polyphenolic and Terpenoid Components and Gene Expression in Salvia abrotanoides (Karl.) and S. yangii. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
4. Response to the Cold Stress Signaling of the Tea Plant (Camellia sinensis) Elicited by Chitosan Oligosaccharide. Agronomy (2020).