Transcriptional regulation and adaptive responses of tomato to abiotic stresses

Tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ), one of the world’s most economically and nutritionally important crops, faces increasing challenges from abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and temperature extremes, which are being exacerbated by climate change. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying tomato’s adaptation to these environmental constraints is essential for identifying stress-resilient genes and achieving sustainable production. This review synthesizes recent progress in elucidating the transcriptional and signaling responses of tomato to major abiotic stresses. Such stresses induce a series of physiological disorders, including osmotic imbalance, membrane damage, photosynthetic inhibition, and oxidative stress. Complex signal transduction networks mediate the perception and response to these stresses, involving second messengers, diverse protein kinases, and multiple phytohormones. These signaling pathways converge to orchestrate transcriptional reprogramming through the coordinated activity of various transcription factors (TFs), which modulate downstream genes to enhance antioxidant defense, osmotic adjustment, and ion homeostasis. Despite significant progress, substantial knowledge gaps remain regarding signal cross-talk and the integration of responses under compound stresses. Advances in multi-omics technologies are accelerating the identification of key stress-responsive genes, proteins, and metabolites, offering new opportunities for molecular breeding. Furthermore, emerging approaches such as genome editing, high-throughput phenomics, and pan-omics promise to deepen our understanding of tomato stress adaptation and facilitate the development of climate-resilient cultivars.