Crop Responses and Strategies for Mitigating Cold, Salt, and Drought Stress in Vegetables: A Review

Abstract

The demand for vegetables has increased significantly over the past few decades, due mostly to the world's rising population. Cold, salt, and drought are all key abiotic variables that might jeopardise vegetable production. Many vegetables, including cauliflower, carrot, tomato, okra, pea, eggplant, lettuce and potato, are sensitive to cold temperatures, excessive salt levels and dry circumstances. Researchers have extensively studied the plant's defence systems against cold, salt, and drought stress in both model plant species and field crops. To increase food production, it is critical to produce crops that are resistant to stress and can survive in salty and dry areas. Vegetables play an important part in the human diet owing to their nutritional value, which includes vitamins, carbohydrates, protein, and minerals. Several vegetable crops have substantial local relevance worldwide, while others are widely cultivated. Each of these vegetable crops experiences varied levels of biotic and abiotic stress, resulting in changes in their molecular, physiological, and morphological responses. This review paper focuses on the major abiotic stresses that influence essential crops such as okra, cauliflower, tomatoes, peas, chilies, and eggplant. The review also examines a variety of methods for promoting growth and development in these vegetables in stressful environments.