Summary
This narrative review synthesises current evidence on the role of plant biostimulants in enhancing crop resilience to abiotic stress in the context of climate change. The authors examine diverse biostimulant types from simple organic compounds to complex living microorganisms, and elucidate the underlying physiological and biochemical mechanisms through which they improve plant performance. The review identifies current challenges and future research priorities for optimising biostimulant application in sustainable crop production.
UK applicability
Findings are applicable to UK agriculture, particularly given the need to enhance crop resilience to increasing climate variability, drought stress, and temperature extremes. UK growers and agronomists could adopt these strategies to improve productivity of major arable and horticultural crops, though field validation under UK growing conditions would be advisable for site-specific recommendations.
Key measures
Mechanisms of biostimulant action (antioxidant pathways, hormonal regulation, metabolic adjustments); crop resilience and stress tolerance to abiotic stressors (drought, salinity, heat, nutrient deficiency); crop productivity under stress conditions
Outcomes reported
The review synthesises evidence on how diverse biostimulants (organic compounds and living microorganisms) enhance crop resilience to abiotic stress. It documents the mechanisms—antioxidant defences, hormonal regulation, and metabolic adjustments—through which biostimulants mitigate drought, salinity, high temperature, and nutrient deficiency impacts on crop productivity.
Topic tags
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