Overlapping responses to multiple abiotic stresses in citrus: from mechanism understanding to genetic improvement

Abstract

Citrus plants routinely experience a broad range of biotic and abiotic stress that occur either concurrently or sequentially in the field, causing huge losses in yield. Hence, cultivated citrus plants that tolerate only one type of abiotic stress are insufficient to maintain citrus productivity as the climate changes. Plants primarily develop delicate regulatory mechanisms to detect, transduce and respond to adverse environmental conditions. Therefore, elucidating the physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying the dynamic response to multiple abiotic stresses is a prerequisite for determining the targets for genetic improvement programs of citrus. In this review, we pinpoint the current understanding of the physiological basis of citrus tolerance to abiotic stress. Then, we discuss recent insights into the integrated molecular mechanisms that are involved in the citrus response to multiple types of abiotic stress. Finally, we discuss recent prospects for using modern molecular technologies to facilitate the genetic improvement of citrus.