A method for imparting a stress tolerance to a plant that can provide tne plant with such a stress tolerance that enhances growth in an environment where a variety of stresses on the plant occur is provided. The method for imparting a stress 5 tolerance to a plant includes the step of applying, to a plant placed under a stressful cultivation condition that yields a plant stress level of 111 to 200%, a plant stress tolerance imparting composition containing at least one cellulose derivative selected from the group consisting of methyl cellulose (MC), hydroxymethyl cellulose (HMC), ethyl cellulose (EC), hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), propyl cellulose (PC), 10 hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose (HEMC), hydroxyethyl propyl cellulose (HEPC), methyl ethyl cellulose (MEC), methyl propyl cellulose (MPC) and ethyl propyl cellulose (EPC) catechinsJ and water, the cellulose derivative being contained in an amount of 45.0 to 99.5 wt% of the total components of the plant stress tolerance imparting composition 15 except water. The present invention also provides the plant stress tolerance imparting composition and use of the plant stress tolerance imparting composition.
