Biostimulants: The Futuristic Sustainable Approach for Alleviating Crop Productivity and Abiotic Stress Tolerance

Anthropogenic activities have led to a surge in the use of synthetic chemical compounds in agriculture, elevating environmental toxicity levels. As a response to this concern, there is a growing demand for environmentally friendly solutions. In recent times, the focus has shifted towards the development of cost-effective and ecologically sound organic products known as biostimulants. These innovative products play a pivotal role in enhancing agricultural productivity by fostering comprehensive plant growth and development. Biostimulants encompass a diverse range of natural and synthetic substances, categorized into microbial, non-microbial, and waste-derived sources. When judiciously applied to crops, these substances exhibit the remarkable ability to enhance plant metabolism, bolster productivity, and enhance resilience to adverse environmental conditions. Through modulation of molecular mechanisms and epigenetic alterations, biostimulants achieve this by influencing critical signalling molecules, transcription factors, and hormonal levels, which collectively contribute to stress tolerance. This review paper delves into the burgeoning industrial interest surrounding biostimulants. It sheds light on their intricate modes and mechanisms of action, encompassing both physiochemical and molecular aspects. Furthermore, the paper underscores the captivating potential of biostimulants to induce trans-generational plasticity and metabolite accumulation within plants, a phenomenon warranting deeper exploration through metabolomics. This review paper focusses on valuable insights into the transformative influence of biostimulants on agricultural practices, showcasing their capacity to usher in a new era of sustainable and resilient crop cultivation.