Integrating Physiological, Molecular, and Epigenetic Strategies for Drought–resilient Crops

Drought is one of the most pressing environmental threats to global crop production, with its frequency and intensity escalating under climate change. To withstand water scarcity, plants deploy a suite of adaptive responses spanning physiological, biochemical, hormonal, and molecular levels. These include adjustments in root architecture, osmotic regulation, photosynthetic efficiency, antioxidant defenses, and phytohormone signaling networks. While significant advances have been made in understanding individual drought response mechanisms, critical gaps persist in how plants coordinate these responses into integrated resilience strategies. This review synthesizes current knowledge on plant drought responses, emphasizing the dynamic interplay between reactive oxygen species homeostasis, hormonal cross-talk, and root system plasticity. We highlight sustainable biotechnological tools, including biostimulants and plant growth-promoting microbes, alongside genetic strategies such as CRISPR/Cas-based editing for targeted improvements in stress tolerance. Importantly, we examine emerging evidence for epigenetic and transgenerational drought memory as a paradigm-shifting approach that enables plants to prime themselves and their progeny for enhanced stress resilience through heritable, nongenetic mechanisms. By integrating established physiological insights with cutting-edge molecular and biotechnological approaches, this review provides a comprehensive roadmap for developing drought–resilient crops that can sustain productivity and ensure food security under intensifying climate pressures.