Harnessing plant growth regulators and biostimulants for resilient and productive agriculture
6 affiliations
- 1School of Agriculture, Swami Vivekananda University
- 2Department of Horticulture, M.S. Swaminathan School of Agriculture (MSSSoA), Centurion University of Technology and Management
- 3ICAR - Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) Regional Station
- 4Food Technology Program, Department of Food Processing, Istanbul Gelisim Vocational School, Istanbul Gelisim University
- 5Department of Microbiology, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University)
- 6Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Science, Madda Walabu University
Abstract
Agricultural systems face increasing pressure to sustain productivity under intensifying climate variability, soil degradation, and resource limitations. Plant growth regulators (PGRs) and biostimulants have emerged as complementary tools capable of enhancing plant performance beyond conventional fertilization strategies. However, existing literature largely treats these inputs independently, limiting a mechanistic understanding of their interactive potential. This review newly delivers an integrated, cross-disciplinary synthesis that connects hormonal regulation (PGRs) with microbial and metabolite-mediated stimulation (biostimulants) across physiological, molecular, and stress-adaptation pathways. We comparatively analyzed how PGRs regulate hormone signaling, gene expression, and plant architecture, while biostimulants enhance nutrient-use efficiency, rhizosphere interactions, antioxidant systems, and soil functionality. Special emphasis is placed on their roles in mitigating drought, salinity, lodging, heavy metal toxicity, and postharvest losses. By identifying critical knowledge gaps including hormone–microbiome crosstalk, dose optimization, formulation standardization, and long-term ecological impacts, this review provides a structured framework for their strategic integration. Looking forward, advances in omics technologies, precision agriculture, and nano-enabled delivery systems are expected to refine targeted applications and improve consistency under field conditions. Collectively, this synthesis positions PGRs and biostimulants as synergistic tools for climate-smart, resource-efficient, and sustainable agricultural intensification.
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BibTeX
@article{sarkar2026harnessing,
title = {{Harnessing plant growth regulators and biostimulants for resilient and productive agriculture}},
author = {Tanmoy Sarkar and Sudip Sengupta and Suprabuddha Kundu and Amit Lohar and Natasha Gurung and Kübra Sağlam and Divya Gunsola and Swapan Kumar Datta and Debasis Mitra and Zewdineh Firdu and Addisu Assefa},
journal = {Discover Sustainability},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1007/s43621-026-04205-6},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-026-04205-6},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Harnessing plant growth regulators and biostimulants for resilient and productive agriculture
AU - Tanmoy Sarkar
AU - Sudip Sengupta
AU - Suprabuddha Kundu
AU - Amit Lohar
AU - Natasha Gurung
AU - Kübra Sağlam
AU - Divya Gunsola
AU - Swapan Kumar Datta
AU - Debasis Mitra
AU - Zewdineh Firdu
AU - Addisu Assefa
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Discover Sustainability
DO - 10.1007/s43621-026-04205-6
UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-026-04205-6
AB - Agricultural systems face increasing pressure to sustain productivity under intensifying climate variability, soil degradation, and resource limitations. Plant growth regulators (PGRs) and biostimulants have emerged as complementary tools capable of enhancing plant performance beyond conventional fertilization strategies. However, existing literature largely treats these inputs independently, limiting a mechanistic understanding of their interactive potential. This review newly delivers an integrated, cross-disciplinary synthesis that connects hormonal regulation (PGRs) with microbial and metabolite-mediated stimulation (biostimulants) across physiological, molecular, and stress-adaptation pathways. We comparatively analyzed how PGRs regulate hormone signaling, gene expression, and plant architecture, while biostimulants enhance nutrient-use efficiency, rhizosphere interactions, antioxidant systems, and soil functionality. Special emphasis is placed on their roles in mitigating drought, salinity, lodging, heavy metal toxicity, and postharvest losses. By identifying critical knowledge gaps including hormone–microbiome crosstalk, dose optimization, formulation standardization, and long-term ecological impacts, this review provides a structured framework for their strategic integration. Looking forward, advances in omics technologies, precision agriculture, and nano-enabled delivery systems are expected to refine targeted applications and improve consistency under field conditions. Collectively, this synthesis positions PGRs and biostimulants as synergistic tools for climate-smart, resource-efficient, and sustainable agricultural intensification.
SN - 2662-9984
ER -