The dual role of ethylene in plant growth and abiotic stress: Mechanisms, regulation, and mitigation through ACC deaminase

Plants often inhabit ever-changing environments and are exposed to various stresses, including drought, salinity, flooding, nutrient deficiency, and even pathogen attack. To adapt to adverse environments, plants have evolved specialized molecular mechanisms that facilitate a balance between responses to abiotic stress and growth. Ethylene is an endogenous, gaseous plant hormone that plays a crucial role in various physiological and developmental processes as a regulator of growth and adaptation to abiotic stresses. Ethylene also functions as a stress hormone, increasing its production when plants face environmental challenges. This triggers responses such as root remodelling, detoxification of reactive oxygen species, and the synthesis of osmolytes, as well as increased expression of ethylene pathway genes. However, excessive ethylene accumulation disrupts the hormonal balance, suppresses root elongation, and accelerates senescence, underscoring the need for precise regulation of this process. Accordingly, reducing ethylene levels through CRISPR/Cas9-mediated modifications of key signalling components or the use of beneficial soil bacteria capable of degrading their precursors alleviates stress-induced growth inhibition while maintaining normal development. These bacteria enhance root elongation, improve osmotic regulation, and increase nutrient uptake, with their effectiveness depending on the specific soil conditions and microbial diversity. This review revealed previous studies on the interaction of ethylene with other plant hormones, including jasmonic acid (JA), abscisic acid (ABA), auxin, salicylic acid (SA), and cytokinin (CK), which influence the balance between plant growth and response to abiotic stress. For example, ethylene interacts antagonistically with abscisic acid, regulating stomatal function and osmotic balance. Additionally, it influences auxin transport by modifying the activity of its transport proteins, thereby affecting lateral root development. In this review, we summarize recent advances in understanding the role of ethylene in plant responses to abiotic stress and its crosstalk with other phytohormones. This highlights the potential of genetic and microbial strategies for enhancing plant resilience and productivity in challenging environments, ultimately improving sustainable agriculture.