Abiotic stress responses in maize: a review

Maize (Zea mays) is the most widely grown crop throughout the world. Its response against various environmental stress factors is quite complex and dynamic, and can be either elastic (reversible) or plastic (irreversible) in nature. Climatic change on the other hand is expected to increase the intensity and frequency of both abiotic and biotic stress factors. In this context, we review the literature on climate change consortium with abiotic stress highlighting the scenario of this nutritionally valuable crop plant and its elicited responses at morphological, physiological, biochemical and phytochemical levels. Besides, ‘omic’ architecture of the plant toward multiple stress factors is also discussed as a report of its first kind. Despite significant knowledge gaps that still exist, it is evident that climate change is going to influence the abiotic stress tolerance mechanisms in plants in general and maize in particular. While broad generalizations are not yet possible, because the specific plant responses towards one type of stress at one time or multiple stresses differ considerably. However, a better understanding of underlying response mechanisms regulated in the face of climate change-associated abiotic stress is needed to safeguard the optimal resilience and productivity of the maize.