Chemical elicitors- a mitigation strategy for maximize crop yields under abiotic stress

Plants in their innate environment are challenged by several abiotic stresses viz., extremes of water and temperatures in general and in certain specified environments, salinity, heavy metal, and UV radiations either alone or in combination leading to crop yield penalty worldwide. Breeding approaches either through conventional or non-conventional have significantly contributed to the development of stress tolerant varieties, but not for unforeseen combination of multiple stresses. Therefore, there is a necessity to achieve long term protection to manage stresses. One such promising strategy is the application of low molecular weight chemical elicitors for tapping the innate potential of crops through activation of several defense-related genes and accumulation of phytoalexins. These chemical elicitors are either a natural or synthetic compounds known to act at very low concentrations as messenger molecules activating the signaling pathway via binding to the receptor molecules. This chapter is an attempt to provide an insight into the potential role, classification, and mode of action of the major chemical elicitors as a mitigating strategy against abiotic stress for sustainable yields.