From Lab to Field: Harnessing H2O2-Mediated Upregulation of Plant Capacities Under Abiotic Stresses.

Abstract

Climate-driven abiotic stresses, responsible for approximately 50% of global crop yield losses, are putting agriculture under increasing pressure, demanding smarter ways to strengthen plants' natural defenses beyond genetic modification. Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), long recognized as a key signaling molecule, plays a powerful role in helping plants cope with environmental stress. This review deciphers the mechanistic basis of H₂O₂-mediated capacity enhancement under diverse stresses (drought, salinity, heavy metals, heat, cold) while also addressing climate-intensified challenges like waterlogging and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. We spotlight its roles in energy partitioning, hormonal signaling, asset optimization, and internal supply chain dynamics, positioning H₂O₂ as a multifunctional coordinator of stress resilience. Moving beyond the antioxidant narrative, this review highlights the active role of H₂O₂ in reorganizing plant responses to real-world stress. Can a molecule once known only for causing damage now lead the next wave of environmentally friendly, stress-resilient agriculture? We propose that H₂O₂-based strategies represent a promising shift toward redox-guided, non-genetic interventions bridging laboratory research with practical field applications and opening new pathways for resilient crop management.