Potential of UV‐B radiation in drought stress resilience: A multidimensional approach to plant adaptation and future implications

Abstract The escalating impact of climate change and ultraviolet (UV) radiation is subjecting plants to unique combinations of UV‐B and drought stress. These combined stressors could have additive, synergistic, or antagonistic effects, but the precise nature of these impacts remains uncertain, hampering our ability to predict plant adaptations approach towards stressors. Our analysis of various studies shows that UV‐B or drought conditions detrimentally influence plant growth and health metrics by the enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species causing damage to lipids, proteins, carbohydrates and DNA. Further reducing biomass accumulation, plant height, photosynthetic efficiency, leaf area, and water transpiration, while enhancing stress‐related symptoms. In response to UV‐B radiation and drought stress, plants exhibit a notable up‐regulation of specific acclimation‐associated metabolites, including proline, flavonoids, anthocyanins, unsaturated fatty acids, and antioxidants. These metabolites play a pivotal role in conferring protection against environmental stresses. Their biosynthesis and functional roles are potentially modulated by signalling molecules such as hydrogen peroxide, abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, and ethylene, all of which have associated genetic markers that further elucidate their involvement in stress response pathways. In comparison to single stress, the combination of UV‐B and drought induces the plant defence responses and growth retardation which are less‐than‐additive. This sub‐additive response, consistent across different study environments, suggests the possibility of a cross‐resistance mechanism. Our outlines imply that the adverse effects of increased drought and UV‐B could potentially be mitigated by cross‐talk between UV‐B and drought regimes utilizing a multidimensional approach. This crucial insight could contribute significantly to refining our understanding of stress tolerance in the face of ongoing global climate change.