Advances in Research of Drought Stress in Major Pinus spp. : A Bibliometric Analysis and Narrative Review.

Climate change has caused fluctuations in the frequency and severity of droughts, favoring extended periods of drought associated with anthropic actions and triggering other stressful abiotic effects that threaten terrestrial ecosystems. As climate warming intensifies, drought is a major challenge for forest growth. Pine (Pinus Linn. ) is an important genus of forest in the Northern Hemisphere and has a certain tolerance to drought. This article analyzes and reviews the advances in research about drought stress of major Pinus spp. plants in recent years and discusses understanding and future core problems. To adapt to water-deficient environments, pine plants adapt to drought by changing growth traits, closing some stomata on leaves, changing the growth and structure of roots, and adjusting their physiological activities. Moreover, the expression of specific genes is altered, causing changes in the expression of several signaling molecules and metabolites to counteract drought stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]