Transformed plants are disclosed with enhanced resistance to abiotic stresses, such as salt stress, water stress, or temperature stress. Also disclosed are vectors useful for making such transformed plants, and methods of transforming plants to enhance resistance to abiotic stresses, such as salt stress, water stress, or temperature stress. For example, the Spartina alterniflora ADF gene SaADF2 enhances resistance when transformed into rice Oryza sativa. Transgenic rice plants that expressed higher levels of Spartina ADF were more resistant to salt, drought, and cold. There was improved growth, higher photosynthesis, and increased grain yield as compared to wild-type (WT) rice.
