Plant waterlogging/flooding stress responses: From seed germination to maturation

Global climate change is strongly associated with variations in precipitation and flooding events. Flooding usually causes submergence- or partial submergence stress in plants, which significantly has a negative influence on agricultural production, from seed germination to vegetative and reproductive growth. Flooding stress results in crop growth under low oxygen conditions and thus, negatively affects the developmental periods of plant lifecycle. The survival strategies of different plant species under this stressful condition are distinct, whereas the perception pathways associated with flooding stress are similar at the molecular level. Plants respond to flooding stress by mediating changes in their architecture, energy metabolism, photosynthesis, respiration and endogenous phytohormone biosynthesis/signaling, because aerobic respiration is inhibited under flooding stress, the decrease of energy metabolism further constrains plant development. Consequently, to acclimate under these unfavorable conditions, the anaerobic respiration cascade must be promoted. In this updated review, we primarily focus on recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms underlying plant responses to flooding stress. We summarize the functions of the flooding response factors involved in energy metabolism and phytohormone biosynthesis/signaling cascades. Finally, the current understanding of how plants circumvent flooding stress, and the potential challenges for future research, are discussed.