Abiotic stress results in massive loss of crop productivity throughout the world. Because of our limited knowledge of the plant defense mechanisms, it is very difficult to exploit the plant genetic resources for manipulation of traits that could benefit multiple stress tolerance in plants. To achieve this, we need a deeper understanding of the plant gene regulatory mechanisms involved in stress responses. Understanding the roles of different members of plant gene families involved in different stress responses, would be a step in this direction. Arabidopsis, which served as a model system for the plant research, is also the most suitable system for the functional characterization of plant gene families. Annexin family in Arabidopsis also is one gene family which has not been fully explored. Eight annexin genes have been reported in the genome of Arabidopsis thaliana. Expression studies of different Arabidopsis annexins revealed their differential regulation under various abiotic stress conditions. AnnAt8 (At5g12380), a member of this family has been shown to exhibit ~433 and ~175 fold increase in transcript levels under NaCl and dehydration stress respectively. To characterize Annexin8 (AnnAt8) further, we have generated transgenic Arabidopsis and tobacco plants constitutively expressing AnnAt8, which were evaluated under different abiotic stress conditions. AnnAt8 overexpressing transgenic plants exhibited higher seed germination rates, better plant growth, and higher chlorophyll retention when compared to wild type plants under abiotic stress treatments. Under stress conditions transgenic plants showed comparatively higher levels of proline and lower levels of malondialdehyde compared to the wild-type plants. Real-Time PCR analyses revealed that the expression of several stress-regulated genes was altered in AnnAt8 over-expressing transgenic tobacco plants, and the enhanced tolerance exhibited by the transgenic plants can be correlated with altered expressions of these stress-regulated genes. Our findings suggest a role for AnnAt8 in enhancing abiotic stress tolerance at different stages of plant growth and development.

Abiotic stresses, including drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, and heavy metal toxicity encompassing adverse environmental conditions, poses a significant threat to plant growth, development, and productivity. These stress factors disrupt physiological and biochemical processes in plants, leading to reduce crop yields and posing a threat to global food security. To mitigate the detrimental effects of abiotic stresses, innovative agronomic practices are essential. Different methodologies have evolved over time for stress tolerance through conventional breeding and transgenesis. To enhance plant resilience against these stresses, priming strategies have emerged as a promising tool to improve plant stress tolerance. This review explores various priming approaches that precondition plants to better cope with subsequent stress exposure. Moreover, it discusses the underlying mechanisms involved in enhanced activation of antioxidant systems, improved osmotic balance, regulation of stress-responsive genes, and the strengthening of cellular defence systems. Additionally, priming induces stress memory in plants, enabling faster and more robust responses during recurrent stress events. This review also highlights recent advancements in priming techniques and their potential applications in sustainable agriculture. Integration of these strategies into crop management practices can improve plant performance and productivity in the face of increasing abiotic stresses. Overall, this review provides insights into the efficiency, sustainability, and applicability of different priming strategies as a means to mitigate abiotic stress in plants, offering a promising path toward sustainable agriculture in the face of changing environmental conditions.