Jasmonic Acid: A Sentinel for Stress Response or a New-Age Tool for Sustainable Agriculture

Jasmonic acid (JA), a lipid-derived phytohormone, functions as a central coordinator of plant growth, development, and adaptive stress responses. This concise review outlines its historical discovery, biosynthetic pathway, and versatile signaling network that integrates morphological and physiological regulation. Acting as a primary messenger during both biotic and abiotic stresses, JA along with its key derivative, methyl jasmonate (MeJA) has gained increasing relevance in sustainable crop management. Recent advances highlight its incorporation into biostimulant formulations aimed at improving nutrient efficiency and plant resilience. Moreover, the capacity of JA to alleviate ammonium toxicity and reinforce systemic defense responses positions it as a promising component of climate-smart agriculture. Collectively, current evidence portrays JA as a sentinel molecule bridging stress biology with emerging eco-agricultural practices, offering new perspectives for environmentally resilient crop production. This short communication summarizes recent advances on the role of jasmonic acid in plant stress adaptation and sustainable agriculture.