Ethylene-mediated stomatal responses to dehydration and rehydration in seed plants.

The article focuses on the complex role of ethylene, a plant hormone, in regulating stomatal movement during dehydration and rehydration in seed plants. Ethylene can induce stomatal closure through signaling pathways involving reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and activation of SLOW ANION CHANNEL-ASSOCIATED 1 (SLAC1), sometimes acting synergistically with abscisic acid (ABA). However, ethylene also inhibits ABA- and jasmonic acid-induced stomatal closure under drought, and it prevents stomatal reopening during rehydration, thereby limiting gas exchange recovery. The article highlights species-specific and concentration-dependent variations in ethylene's effects, the interplay between ethylene and other phytohormones, and the need for further research on ethylene's signaling mechanisms and potential applications in improving crop drought tolerance.