ABIOTIC STRESSES OF TOMATO A HORTICULTURA PLANT UNDER CHANGING CLIMATE: A REVIEW OF ADVANCES IN MITIGATION STRATEGIES

Abstract

This review addresses the impacts of different abiotic stress factors on growing plants, with special emphasis on tomato plants. Tomato is a very important vegetable crop grown naturally in the tropical and subtropical ecologies of the world. Abiotic stresses exert substantial influence on the physiology and growth yield of the plants. This review revealed that while some of these abiotic stress-induced effects on tomato plants are distinct, some do overlap. The effects of such abiotic stresses as heat and cold, water logging and drought, humidity and abnormal gasses on tomato plants were discussed in this study. Furthermore, the appropriate and effective mitigation options such as the use of stress resistant varieties, watering or irrigation changing and integrated management procedures were outlined and explained. This work ended with suggestions on the potential use of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in reducing abiotic stresses generally in plants. This will enable all stakeholders involved to preserve natural resources while minimizing the negative impacts of abiotic stresses and ensuring long-term tomato yield in a changing global climate.