γ Aminobutyric Acid (GABA): A Key Player in Alleviating Abiotic Stress Resistance in Horticultural Crops: Current Insights and Future Directions

Faisal Hayat; Ummara Khan; Juan Li; Nazir Ahmed; Fakhara Khanum; Shahid Iqbal; Muhammad Ahsan Altaf; Jalil Ahmad; Hafiz Umer Javed; Yang Peng; Xiaoyan Ma; Panfeng Tu; Jiezhong Chen; Muhammad Adnan Shahid

doi:10.3390/horticulturae9060647

Horticulturae (May 2023)

γ Aminobutyric Acid (GABA): A Key Player in Alleviating Abiotic Stress Resistance in Horticultural Crops: Current Insights and Future Directions

Faisal Hayat,
Ummara Khan,
Juan Li,
Nazir Ahmed,
Fakhara Khanum,
Shahid Iqbal,
Muhammad Ahsan Altaf,
Jalil Ahmad,
Hafiz Umer Javed,
Yang Peng,
Xiaoyan Ma,
Panfeng Tu,
Jiezhong Chen,
Muhammad Adnan Shahid

Affiliations

Faisal Hayat: College of Horticulture, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China
Ummara Khan: Key Laboratory of Food Processing and Quality Control, College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Juan Li: College of Horticulture, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China
Nazir Ahmed: College of Horticulture, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China
Fakhara Khanum: Faculty of Food Sciences, The University of Agriculture Dera Ismail Khan, Dera Ismail Khan 29220, Pakistan
Shahid Iqbal: Horticultural Science Department, North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida/IFAS, Quincy, FL 32351, USA
Muhammad Ahsan Altaf: Hainan Key Laboratory of Tropical Horticultural Crop Quality Control, College of Horticulture, Hainan University, Haikou 570288, China
Jalil Ahmad: Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Hafiz Umer Javed: College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China
Yang Peng: College of Horticulture, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China
Xiaoyan Ma: College of Horticulture, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China
Panfeng Tu: College of Horticulture, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China
Jiezhong Chen: College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Muhammad Adnan Shahid: Horticultural Science Department, North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida/IFAS, Quincy, FL 32351, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9060647
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 9, no. 6
p. 647

Abstract

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Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a non-protein amino acid known for its role in the nervous system of animals. However, research has also revealed its presence and function in plants recently. In plants, GABA is a signal molecule involved in multiple physiological processes, including stress response, growth, and development. This review aims to present a thorough summary of the current knowledge regarding the role of GABA in plants. We begin by discussing the biosynthesis and transport of GABA in plants, followed by a detailed examination of its signaling mechanisms. Additionally, we explore GABA's potential roles in various plant physiological processes, such as abiotic stress response, and its potential application in horticultural plants. Finally, we highlight current challenges and future directions for research in this area. Overall, this review offers a comprehensive understanding of the significance of GABA in plants and its potential implications for plant physiology and crop improvement.

Published in Horticulturae

ISSN: 2311-7524 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Plant culture
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/horticulturae

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