Actions of biological trace elements in plant abiotic stress tolerance

Abstract

With the increase of global population, the demand for food crops, oil, fiber and other by-product yielding crops is increasing. In contrast to this increasing demand, abiotic stresses hinder the productivity of plants. Abiotic stresses sometimes reduce more than half of the crop yields. To attain global food security, understanding of plant responses to abiotic stresses is crucial because this is the prerequisite for developing approaches/tools for improving plant stress tolerance. Trace elements are nutrients required in small quantities to facilitate a range of physiological functions. These elements stimulate growth but are not essential. Some are essential only for certain plant species or required under a given condition. Trace elements not only improve plant physiological processes and growth but play roles in improving plant stress tolerance. However, the actual physiological functions of trace elements in conferring abiotic stress tolerance are still under study. This chapter focuses on the roles of trace elements emphasizing especially the recent advances on the actions of biological trace elements in plant abiotic stress tolerance.