Jasmonates: Mechanisms and functions in abiotic stress tolerance of plants

Recent advancement in plant biology and innovative molecular and biochemical techniques has caused in the nearly exponential accumulation of our knowledge on hormonal signaling of plants under a variety of abiotic stress conditions. Jasmonates are naturally occurring plant oxylipins and important members of their family include methyl jasmonate, jasmonic acid, and jasmonyl-isolucine. These growth regulators are involved in several physiological and biochemical procedures in plant growth and development, such as seed development, leaf growth and, senescence. Jasmonates are also involved in plant defense mechanism against wounding by pathogens and insects attack. New reports indicate that jasmonates can modulate aspects of plant growth and resistance to different abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, thermal stress, light stress, heavy metals, and flooding stress. In general, jasmonates can protect plants from the damaging effects of environmental stresses via. up-regulating the gene expression and regulating some physiological and biochemical responses. Jasmonates can maintain the integrity of plant cells under different abiotic stresses through enhancing antioxidant capacity (enzymatic and non-enzymatic) and synthesis of different osmoprotectants such as proline and glycine betaine. These growth regulators can also remobilize the photoassimilates to the vegetative sinks and improve plant growth under stressful conditions.