Peptide Hormone-Mediated Regulation of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptability

Peptide hormones are essential signaling molecules in plants, playing critical roles in regulating growth and development, stress responses, and crop genetic improvement. However, the full extent of their functions, functional redundancy among different peptide hormones, signaling mechanisms between ligand and receptor pathways, and peptide hormones-mediated regulation of plant development and environmental adaptability are still not fully understood. In this study, recent advances in understanding the formation and functions of plant peptide hormones, distinguishing between non-secretory and secretory peptides and their respective physiological roles are reviewed. These peptide hormones interact intricately with receptor kinases to regulate multiple signal transduction pathways. Plant peptide hormones are involved in cell proliferation and differentiation within both shoot apical and root apical meristems, as well as in the development of various organs. They also play a central role in plant reproduction, particularly in coordinating male-female gametophyte interactions for successful fertilization. Furthermore, plant peptide hormones contribute to abiotic stress responses and immune responses against biotic stresses. An overview of the multifaceted roles of plant peptide hormones in growth, development, and environmental adaptability, emphasizing their importance in plant biology are presented. Understanding the complex functions of these peptide hormones lays the foundation for developing strategies to enhance crop resilience and productivity.