Role of Plant Growth Regulators in Improving Crop Productivity under Abiotic Stress Conditions
Abstract
Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) play a vital role in improving crop productivity by regulating plant growth, development, and physiological responses under adverse environmental conditions. Abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, flooding, nutrient deficiencies, and heavy metal toxicity significantly reduce agricultural productivity worldwide by disrupting plant metabolism, photosynthesis, water relations, and nutrient uptake. With increasing climate variability and global warming, the development of effective stress mitigation strategies has become essential for ensuring sustainable agricultural production and food security. Plant Growth Regulators—including auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, abscisic acid, ethylene, brassinosteroids, jasmonates, salicylic acid, and polyamines—enhance plant tolerance to abiotic stress by regulating hormonal balance, antioxidant defense systems, osmotic adjustment, root development, photosynthesis, and stress-responsive gene expression. These compounds improve plant growth, flowering, fruit development, nutrient utilization, and yield even under unfavorable environmental conditions. This study examines the role of Plant Growth Regulators in improving crop productivity under abiotic stress conditions. It discusses the physiological mechanisms of PGR action, evaluates their effectiveness against major abiotic stresses, explores recent technological advancements supporting PGR-based stress management, and identifies future research directions and policy interventions for sustainable agriculture. The study concludes that Plant Growth Regulators represent an environmentally sustainable and economically viable approach for enhancing crop resilience, improving productivity, and strengthening climate-smart agriculture. Continued research, precision agriculture, biotechnology, and farmer awareness will further enhance the effective utilization of PGRs for sustainable crop production under changing climatic conditions.