Recover and surpass: The mechanisms of plants transition upon rehydration from drought

Abstract

As the global climate shifts and precipitation patterns evolve, the drought resistance of plants is being increasingly tested. There is a notable variation in the post-drought rehydration recovery capabilities among different plant species, which significantly influences both plant growth and the regulation of ecological environments. Researchers have achieved considerable advancements in the field of drought resistance; however, our comprehension of the processes involved in post-drought rehydration remains limited. Rehydration following a drought event is crucial not only for compensating plant growth but also for facilitating the recovery of terrestrial ecosystems. This paper begins by reviewing the current state of research on plant drought resistance and then delves into the progress and associated strategies for post-drought rehydration. Identifying the existing gaps in research, we propose potential directions for future studies to provide insights into how plants respond to drought and rehydration under changing climatic conditions. This collection of information is valuable to enhance our understanding of the rehydration mechanisms post-drought and to lay a theoretical foundation for the mining of rehydration genes and the improvement of drought-resistant plant varieties in the future.