Plant drought stress: physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms

Drought is a severe constraint that affects growth and limits plant productivity on a global scale and its impact is increasing with climate change. To adapt to moisture gradients in soil, plants alter their growth and physiology. A comprehensive understanding of the effects of drought stress on plants at the morphological, physiological and biochemical levels, and an understanding of the drought resistance mechanism of plants, especially forest trees, are expected to provide a theoretical basis and technical reference for the genetic improvement of forest trees. Here, we have reviewed the effects of drought stress on the morphological, physiological and molecular mechanisms of drought stress on plants and the research progress in plant drought resistance. It provides a reference for research directions such as understanding the mechanism of plant drought resistance, genetic improvement of drought resistance, and directional cultivation of drought-resistant varieties.