Mechanisms of plant acclimation to multiple abiotic stresses

Zhang Jiang; Martijn van Zanten; Rashmi Sasidharan

doi:10.1038/s42003-025-08077-w

Mechanisms of plant acclimation to multiple abiotic stresses

Zhang Jiang, Martijn van Zanten^*, Rashmi Sasidharan^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

Plants frequently encounter a range of abiotic stresses and their combinations. Even though stresses rarely occur in isolation, research on plant stress resilience typically focuses on single environmental stressors. Plant responses to abiotic stress combinations are often distinct from corresponding individual stresses. Factors determining the outcomes of combined stresses are complex and multifaceted. In this review, we summarize advancements in our understanding of the mechanisms underlying plant responses to co-occurring (combined and sequential) abiotic stresses, focusing on morphological, physiological, developmental, and molecular aspects. Comprehensive understanding of plant acclimation, including the signaling and response mechanisms to combined and individual stresses, can contribute to the development of strategies for enhancing plant resilience in dynamic environments.

Original language	English
Article number	655
Journal	Communications Biology
Volume	8
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08077-w
Publication status	Published - 24 Apr 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2025.

Funding

This research was funded by China Scholarship Council (CSC) grant 201806170025 to Z.J. and Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO) grant OCENW.M20.197 to R.S. and 867.15.031 to R.S. and M.v.Z. We thank Rens Voesenek and Sjef Smeekens for their support in the early stages of the project.

Funders	Funder number
Rens Voesenek and Sjef Smeekens
China Scholarship Council	201806170025
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek	867.15.031, OCENW.M20.197

Keywords

Acclimatization
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
Plant Physiological Phenomena
Plants/metabolism
Signal Transduction
Stress, Physiological

Access to Document

10.1038/s42003-025-08077-wLicence: CC BY

s42003-025-08077-wFinal published version, 1.28 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{95c11cf8bc274ee69963272f70bd5fcb,

title = "Mechanisms of plant acclimation to multiple abiotic stresses",

abstract = "Plants frequently encounter a range of abiotic stresses and their combinations. Even though stresses rarely occur in isolation, research on plant stress resilience typically focuses on single environmental stressors. Plant responses to abiotic stress combinations are often distinct from corresponding individual stresses. Factors determining the outcomes of combined stresses are complex and multifaceted. In this review, we summarize advancements in our understanding of the mechanisms underlying plant responses to co-occurring (combined and sequential) abiotic stresses, focusing on morphological, physiological, developmental, and molecular aspects. Comprehensive understanding of plant acclimation, including the signaling and response mechanisms to combined and individual stresses, can contribute to the development of strategies for enhancing plant resilience in dynamic environments.",

keywords = "Acclimatization, Gene Expression Regulation, Plant, Plant Physiological Phenomena, Plants/metabolism, Signal Transduction, Stress, Physiological",

author = "Zhang Jiang and {van Zanten}, Martijn and Rashmi Sasidharan",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025.",

year = "2025",

month = apr,

day = "24",

doi = "10.1038/s42003-025-08077-w",

language = "English",

volume = "8",

journal = "Communications Biology",

issn = "2399-3642",

publisher = "Springer Nature",

number = "1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Mechanisms of plant acclimation to multiple abiotic stresses

AU - Jiang, Zhang

AU - van Zanten, Martijn

AU - Sasidharan, Rashmi

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2025.

PY - 2025/4/24

Y1 - 2025/4/24

N2 - Plants frequently encounter a range of abiotic stresses and their combinations. Even though stresses rarely occur in isolation, research on plant stress resilience typically focuses on single environmental stressors. Plant responses to abiotic stress combinations are often distinct from corresponding individual stresses. Factors determining the outcomes of combined stresses are complex and multifaceted. In this review, we summarize advancements in our understanding of the mechanisms underlying plant responses to co-occurring (combined and sequential) abiotic stresses, focusing on morphological, physiological, developmental, and molecular aspects. Comprehensive understanding of plant acclimation, including the signaling and response mechanisms to combined and individual stresses, can contribute to the development of strategies for enhancing plant resilience in dynamic environments.

AB - Plants frequently encounter a range of abiotic stresses and their combinations. Even though stresses rarely occur in isolation, research on plant stress resilience typically focuses on single environmental stressors. Plant responses to abiotic stress combinations are often distinct from corresponding individual stresses. Factors determining the outcomes of combined stresses are complex and multifaceted. In this review, we summarize advancements in our understanding of the mechanisms underlying plant responses to co-occurring (combined and sequential) abiotic stresses, focusing on morphological, physiological, developmental, and molecular aspects. Comprehensive understanding of plant acclimation, including the signaling and response mechanisms to combined and individual stresses, can contribute to the development of strategies for enhancing plant resilience in dynamic environments.

KW - Acclimatization

KW - Gene Expression Regulation, Plant

KW - Plant Physiological Phenomena

KW - Plants/metabolism

KW - Signal Transduction

KW - Stress, Physiological

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105003496810&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1038/s42003-025-08077-w

DO - 10.1038/s42003-025-08077-w

M3 - Review article

C2 - 40269242

SN - 2399-3642

VL - 8

JO - Communications Biology

JF - Communications Biology

IS - 1

M1 - 655

ER -

Mechanisms of plant acclimation to multiple abiotic stresses

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this