Advancements in Water‐Saving Strategies and Crop Adaptation to Drought: A Comprehensive Review

Drought stress, which is one of the most critical environmental constraints affecting global crop productivity, is exacerbated by climate change and increased atmospheric water demand. This review comprehensively examines plant responses to drought, integrating physiological, morphological, biochemical, and genetic adaptations that contribute to water-use efficiency and stress tolerance. Key mechanisms such as osmotic adjustment, stomatal regulation, antioxidant defense, and hormonal signaling are analyzed, highlighting their role in mitigating drought-induced cellular damage. Advances in plant breeding and biotechnological approaches, including transgenic strategies, genome editing, and marker-assisted…