The role of calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK) genes in plant stress resistance and secondary metabolism regulation

Calcium signaling is known to play an important role in the activation of plant responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) are currently recognized as important calcium sensors in plants. This review summarizes and analyzes the published results on the gain- and loss-of-function studies of plant CDPKs to evaluate their functions in plant responses to adverse environmental conditions, pathogen attack, and plant secondary metabolite production. In this review, we also analyze the features of using CDPK genes in genetic engineering to enhance plant stress resistance and secondary metabolism activation. This information is crucial for the development of agricultural and horticultural varieties with improved traits.