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Multifaceted Role of Salicylic Acid in Combating Cold Stress in Plants: A Review

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Abstract

Plants face different types of stresses, including biotic and abiotic stresses. Among various abiotic stress, low-temperature stress alters various morphological, cytological, physiological, and other biochemical processes in plants. To thrive in such condition’s plants must adopt some strategy. Out of various strategies, the approach of using plant growth regulators (PGRs) gained a prominent role in the alleviation of multiple stresses. Salicylic acid, application triggers tolerance to both biotic and abiotic stresses via regulation of various morpho-physiological, cytological, and biochemical attributes. SA is shown to alleviate and regulate the various cold-induced changes. Both endogenous and exogenously applied SA show an imperative role in the alleviation of cold-induced changes by activating multiple signaling pathways like ABA-dependent or independent pathway, Ca2+ signaling pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs) pathway, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) pathways. Activation of these pathways leads to the amelioration of the cold-induced changes by increasing production of antioxidants, osmolytes, HSPs and other cold-responsive proteins like LEA, dehydrins, AFPs, PR proteins, and various other proteins. This review describes the tolerance of cold stress by SA in plants through the involvement of different stress signaling pathways.

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Acknowledgements

M. Saleem gratefully acknowledges the financial support in the form of Junior Research Fellowship rendered by CSIR-UGC, New Delhi Ref. NO. 677/(CSIR-UGC NET JUNE 2018).

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Correspondence to Qazi Fariduddin.

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Saleem, M., Fariduddin, Q. & Janda, T. Multifaceted Role of Salicylic Acid in Combating Cold Stress in Plants: A Review. J Plant Growth Regul 40, 464–485 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-020-10152-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-020-10152-x

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