Untapped Potential of Salicylic Acid, Jasmonic Acid and PGPRs to Develop Abiotic Stress Resilience in Crop Plants

Abiotic stresses are the major limiting factor for crop productivity and food security. There are several regions in the world which have been affected by changing environmental scenario and facing a serious decline in agricultural productivity. Abiotic stresses are responsible for major crop yield loss in the field. Numerous studies suggested that plant growth and developmental processes are directly or indirectly regulated by plant growth regulators and phytohormones. These phytohormones strike balance between plant growth and adaptations in abiotic stress. The increasing number of studies in crop plants revealed a potential role of salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) in activation of abiotic stress tolerance apart from their role in biotic stress resistance. Evidently, the endogenous level of salicylic acid and jasmonic acid in plants increased during abiotic stress. The present review article is mainly focussed on the role of two phytohormones; salicylic acid and jasmonic acid in inducing tolerance against drought and salt when applied exogenously and their endogenous level in crop plants. On the other hand, the role of PGPRs in plant growth and development activities are widely accepted that holds great significance.