Waterlogging stress in plants: Unraveling the mechanisms and impacts on growth, development, and productivity

Global climate change is closely related to changes in precipitation and flood events. In recent decades, waterlogging stress has become a greater threat to major crops and plants, ultimately affecting plant growth, development, and productivity. When plants are subjected to waterlogging, the oxygen supply in their roots is diminished, leading to hypoxic or anoxic conditions. To adapt to these conditions, plants go through a variety of physiological, morphological, and biochemical changes. This may involve the development of adventitious roots (ARs) and aerenchyma tissue, changes in the regulations of hormones, and shifts in metabolism. Specific genes and signaling pathways are essential for the coordination of these adaptive responses. Studies at the molecular level have significantly improved our understanding of the mechanisms by which plants respond to waterlogging stress. Identifying metabolic pathways and potential target genes is key to improving waterlogging tolerance in crops. Priority should be given to further research to uncover the gene regulatory networks and functional characterization of important genes involved in waterlogging tolerance. Furthermore, novel techniques, such as gene editing and breeding, can develop more resilient crop varieties to waterlogging stress. This review article discusses the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying plant responses to waterlogging stress, as well as its effects on plant growth, development, and productivity. Furthermore, it discusses the potential future research challenges.