Regulation of alternative splicing in the ABA signaling pathway of plants

Alternative splicing (AS), a fundamental post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism in eukaryotic cells, generates transcriptomic and proteomic diversity by producing distinct mature mRNAs from single precursor RNAs. This diversification modulates multifarious biological processes. The phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) is central to regulating plant development and stress responses, including seed dormancy, root growth, leaf senescence, and abiotic stress tolerance. Accumulating evidence underscores AS as a critical regulatory layer within ABA signaling pathways. This review synthesizes recent advances in understanding core splicing factors governing AS events integral to ABA signal transduction, alongside ABA-responsive genes whose transcripts themselves undergo ABA-modulated splicing. We elucidate the mechanisms linking these AS events to ABA sensitivity and developmental processes. Furthermore, we delineate key future research priorities, providing a foundation for leveraging AS mechanisms to engineer stress-resilient crop varieties optimized for plant production.