Recent advances in ABA signaling

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a major plant hormone that controls germination, seedling growth, and seed development. During the vegetative phase, ABA plays a key regulatory role in adaptive responses to common abiotic stresses, such as drought, high salinity, and cold. In seeds, ABA modulates the synthesis of storage components and prevents the precocious germination of embryos. ABA-regulated processes are critical for plant growth and survival, especially under unfavorable environmental conditions. Numerous genetic and biochemical studies to delineate signal transduction pathways have led to the identification of a large number of ABA signaling components. However, our knowledge about specific response pathways is still fragmentary. Over the past several years, significant progress has been made in identifying key regulators of early events in the ABA response. In this short review, new advances in ABA signaling research, especially those focused on ABA receptors, will be summarized.