Ethylene in abiotic stress tolerance in crops

Ethylene is known as the hormone associated with stress and senescence. The biosynthesis of ethylene production is a typical response of plants exposed to stress conditions. Changes in ethylene production are associated with hardening or acclimation processes that plants adopt to cope the abiotic stress. The ethylene production increase associated with other plant hormones under stress conditions can be responsible for physiological stress symptoms such as reduced growth, epinasty, stomatal closure, roots formation, and different organ abscission. Most physiological plant responses can be a reaction of plants to maintain normal function and successfully adapt to stressful conditions. In agricultural crops, abiotic stresses are responsible for loss of yield with dramatic economic impact.