Phenotypic, Metabolic and Genetic Adaptations of the Ficus Species to Abiotic Stress Response: A Comprehensive Review

The genus, having radiated from the tropics and subtropics to the temperate zone worldwide, is the largest genus among woody plants, comprising over 800 species. Evolution of the species results in genetic diversity, global radiation and geographical differentiations, suggesting adaption to diverse environments and coping with stresses. Apart from familiar physiological changes, such as stomatal closure and alteration in plant hormone levels, the species exhibit a unique mechanism in response to abiotic stress, such as regulation of leaf temperature and retention of drought memory. The stress-resistance genes harbored by result in effective responses to abiotic stress. Understanding the stress-resistance mechanisms in provides insights into the genetic breeding toward stress-tolerant crop cultivars. Following upon these issues, we comprehensively reviewed recent progress concerning the genes and relevant mechanisms that play important roles in the abiotic stress responses. These highlight prospectively important application potentials of the stress-resistance genes in .