Water relations in plants encompass the processes that regulate water absorption, transport, distribution, and loss within plant tissues. As a fundamental component of plant life, water maintains cell turgor, supports metabolic reactions, and drives nutrient transport through the xylem and phloem. Plants continuously balance water uptake from the soil with transpiration losses to maintain optimal physiological function. Key mechanisms such as osmoregulation, aquaporin activity, and stomatal control contribute to maintaining water homeostasis under fluctuating environmental conditions. Drought, salinity, and extreme temperature stress disrupt water balance and trigger adaptive responses including osmotic adjustment, root system modification, and changes in leaf anatomy. Understanding water relations is essential for improving crop performance, especially in regions experiencing water scarcity. Recent advances in molecular physiology have highlighted the roles of signaling pathways, hormonal regulation, and gene expression in enhancing plant water-use efficiency. This review provides an overview of vital processes governing water relations in plants.
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