Аннотация: Drought stress is one of the most significant environmental challenges limiting the productivity and quality of horticultural crops worldwide. Water deficit disrupts physiological processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, and nutrient assimilation, leading to oxidative damage, hormonal imbalance, and reduced crop yield. Plants adopt a range of adaptive responses, including osmotic adjustment, antioxidant enzyme activation, and hormonal signaling, to maintain homeostasis under stress conditions. This review provides a detailed overview of the physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms of drought tolerance in horticultural crops. Furthermore, it discusses recent advances in agronomic and biotechnological strategies, such as precision irrigation, the use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), biostimulants, and nanotechnology, to enhance drought resilience. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for developing sustainable horticultural practices under climate change conditions.