Plants live in a challenging environment where their growth and development are constrained by biotic and abiotic factors. To cope with these adverse conditions, plants have evolved defense systems that respond to stress with metabolic, physiological, and anatomical changes. Abiotic factors that can induce stress in plants include high or low temperatures, salinity, intense light, drought or flooding, nutrient deficiency, or metal toxicity. In agriculture, abiotic stress is a major cause of crop loss. High doses of these stressors distress plants and limit their growth, quality, and yield. Conversely, low doses of stressors trigger positive effects in plants, referred to as eustress. This duality of responses can be related to the concept of hormesis, which states that the effect of stressors on plants is dose-dependent. Thoughtful use of stress can be integrated into agricultural and horticultural practices. The objective of this thesis is to present the principles and methods for the use of abiotic eustressors. Research on the use of chemical and physical eustressors in horticulture is increasing. Nowadays, techniques for growing fruits and vegetables based on the principle of eustress are widely employed. The application of these techniques, especially the dosage of the eustressor,must be adapted to the specific plant species and/or variety and the environmental conditions in which the plant thrives. Caution must be exercised in their application, as excessive dosing of stressors can be harmful to plants and (especially in the case of chemical eustressors) could have negative effects on consumers and the environment.
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