Crosstalk between abscisic acid and nitric oxide under heat stress: exploring new vantage points

Heat stress adversely affects plants growth potential. Global warming is reported to increase in the intensity, frequency, and duration of heatwaves, eventually affecting ecology, agriculture and economy. With an expected increase in average temperature by 2-3 °C over the next 30-50 years, crop production is facing a severe threat to sub-optimum growth conditions. Abscisic acid (ABA) and nitric oxide (NO) are growth regulators that are involved in the adaptation to heat stress by affecting each other and changing the adaptation process. The interaction between these molecules has been discussed in various studies in general or under stress conditions; however, regarding high temperature, their interaction has little been worked out. In the present review, the focus is shifted on the role of these molecules under heat stress emphasizing the different possible interactions between ABA and NO as both regulate stomatal closure and other molecules including hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), antioxidants, proline, glycine betaine, calcium (Ca²⁺) and heat shock protein (HSP). Exploring the crosstalk between ABA and NO with other molecules under heat stress will provide us with a comprehensive knowledge of plants mechanism of heat tolerance which could be useful to develop heat stress-resistant varieties.