Drought Stress Impacts and the Role of Endophytic Fungi Combating Abiotic Stress on Wheat

Abstract

Wheat is a sizable grain crop that is grown all over the world. However, under the stress of drought, wheat productivity declines dramatically in many growing places around the world. Wheat yields significantly decrease due to water shortage during the crucial period of growth. Wheat growth, from germination through maturity, is impacted by drought stress in every way. The stress of a drought impairs a variety of plant metabolic functions. There is a reduction in both photosynthesis and the amount of chlorophyll in the leaf. In addition to having extra effects on a number of physiological systems, increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) damages RNA and DNA through oxidative deterioration. This detrimental effect of dryness can be reversed by the endophytic fungi (EF). The use of EF can improve plant development in drought-prone environments by modifying hormonal balance, maintaining nutritional status, and producing plant growth regulators. This function of EF influences physiological and biochemical characteristics favorably, increasing the number of leaves, water content, photosynthetic pigments, and ascorbic acid. EF reduces drought effects by boosting antioxidant defense mechanisms and boosting plant growth and production to promote sustainable agriculture. Different consequences of drought stress on wheat are covered in this paper, as well as how the consortium of endophytes may be able to enhance wheat's ability to adapt to drought.