Phytohormones are known to affect the growth and development of plant directly as well as indirectly. Salicylic acid (SA) is a phenolic phytohormone which induces systemic resistance in plants and also regulates defence responses. The derivatives of SA also play an important role in the regulation of various physiological and developmental processes in plants under normal and stressful environmental conditions. SA regulates seed germination, photosynthesis, ethylene biosynthesis, enzyme activities, nutrition, flowering, legume nodulation and overall growth and development of plant. Recently, advancement in elucidating the specific pathways of SA signal transduction has been noticed which helps in understanding the expression of specific genes associated with different developmental programs. The horizon of SA-mediated regulation of various physiological processes has also expanded, and various studies enumerating the efficacy of exogenously applied SA in practical agriculture have also been documented. Therefore, information regarding such recent developments needs to be compiled in the form of a book. This book aims to provide a collective information regarding SA which makes it a versatile plant growth regulator. The chapters included both theoretical and practical aspects that could be of immense use for researches and possible significant developments in future. It is intended that this book will be a help for students, teachers, and researchers, in understanding the relation between the phytohormone and agricultural sciences.

This book provides an overview of current knowledge, ideas and trends in the field of induced acclimation of plants to environmental challenges. Presenting recent advances in our understanding of the importance of salicylic acid, it paves the way for deciphering the precise role of salicylic acid in the field of plant physiology, biochemistry and agronomy, and breeding stress-tolerant and high-yielding sustainable transgenic crops. Adopting a mechanistic approach, the book offers valuable information on the role of salicylic acid in combating varied abiotic stresses. Plants are challenged by biotic and abiotic stresses. They adjust to changing environmental conditions by adopting various measures to induce regulatory self-defense pathways in response to different stresses in order to maintain their genetic potential to optimally grow and reproduce. To minimize cellular damage caused by such stresses, phytohormones provide a number of signaling networks involving developmental processes and plant responses to environmental stress. Phytohormones are potential tools for sustainable agriculture in the future. Significant advances have been made in identifying and understanding plant-hormone signaling, especially salicylic acid.

The book “Salicylic acid: A Plant Hormone” was first published in 1997 and was praised for its excellent balance of traditional and modern topics. This time, we're building on the success of the prior edition to provide an even more effective second edition. The present book is comprised of 16 chapters highlighting the updated mechanisms of its biosynthesis, physiological role, its action in response to water deficit, relationship of SA with signal transduction, transport of SA and related compounds. Further, the interplay between environmental signals and SA, its impact on transport and distribution of sugars, salicylic acid mediated stress-induced flowering and some aspects of interplay of SA with JA during the establishment of plant resistance to pathogens with different types of nutrition and participation of peroxidases have also been discussed at length. Potential use of SA in food production and its efficiency on post-harvest of perishable crops as well as practical use of SA are also covered. ​ ​

"Salicylic acid (SA) chemically known as 2-hydroxy benzoic acid, is a ubiquitous endogenous plant growth regulator of phenolic nature, synthesized by plants which acts as a vital endogenous signaling molecule in plant immune response. SA is recognized as a multifaceted element that have crucial roles in various plant physiological processes such as seed germination, seedling growth, photosynthetic activity, nutrient absorption and transport, respiration, nitrogen metabolism, thermogenesis, stomatal closure, flowering, expression of senescence-related genes, inducing antioxidant defense system and resistance to a broad spectrum of pathogens. SA mode of action varies with plant species, plant developmental phase, its mode of application, and its endogenous level in the plant. SA have high metabolic and physiological activity therefore, involved in the activation of plant defense responses against biotic and abiotic stress factors and also involved in the transcriptional reprograming and in controlling transcription and expression of several defense related genes. SA in minor quantities provide plant stress tolerance, but high amounts of SA triggers oxidative stress due to generation of plethora of ROS which ultimately lead to cell death. Under stress conditions, SA interplays with reactive oxygen species (ROS) as crucial signaling molecules for inducing genetically controlled defense-related mechanisms and expression of genes that cause defense against stress. Keeping these points in mind, various aspects like significance of SA for plants, its stress mitigation properties as well as cross-talk with other plant growth regulators have been mentioned. The book has seven chapters which deal with the role of phytohormone salicylic acid in plants, its mechanism of synthesis, signaling & homeostasis in plants, its crosstalk with ROS in mitigation of stress and its interaction with other plant growth regulators. We believe that this book comprises a wealth of knowledge to botanists, agriculturists, students and researchers of colleges and universities"--

MANAGING PLANT STRESS USING SALICYLIC ACID Enables readers to understand the ability of salicylic acid in reducing the effects of abiotic stresses in different crop species Salicylic acid is an important plant hormone which acts as a multifunctional molecule and regulates key physiological and biochemical processes in plants. This book highlights the tremendous potential of treating plants with salicylic acid, either prior to or during stress. It focuses on the specific challenges and opportunities related to exogenous application or priming technology, such as the mode of application, new methodologies, and the potential impacts of salicylic acid on the environment. Sample topics covered in the book include: The latest research on the ability of salicylic acid in reducing the effects of abiotic stresses in different crop species The mechanism of action of salicylic acid at the biochemical and molecular level Salicylic acid and its crosstalk with other plant hormones under stressful environments Regulation of abiotic stress by salicylic acid at the gene level The role of salicylic acid on the postharvest physiology of plants This book will be of significant interest to researchers, academics, and scientists working in the field of salicylic acid mediated responses in plants under challenging environments and with abiotic stress tolerance.

Salicylic acid (SA) is an endogenous growth regulator of phenolic nature and also a signaling molecule, which participates in the regulation of physiological processes in plants such as growth, photosynthesis, and other metabolic processes. Several studies support a major role of SA in modulating the plant response to various abiotic stresses. It is a well-founded fact that SA potentially generates a wide array of metabolic responses in plants and also affects plant-water relations. This molecule also found to be very active in mitigating oxidative stress under adverse environmental conditions. Since abiotic stress remained the greatest constraints for crop production worldwide, finding effective approaches is an important task for plant biologists. Hence, understanding the physiological role of SA would help in developing abiotic stress tolerance in plants. In this chapter, we will shed light on the recent progress on the regulatory role of SA in mitigating abiotic stress.