A method for imparting stress tolerance to a plant that can provide the plant with such stress tolerance that enhances growth in an environment where various stresses on the plant occur is provided. The method includes the step of applying a plant stress tolerance imparting composition containing a sugar derivative-type surfactant and water to a plant placed under a stressful cultivation condition that yields a plant stress level of 111 to 200%. In the plant stress tolerance imparting composition, the sugar derivative-type surfactant contains at least one sugar derivative-type surfactant having a structure selected from the group consisting of an ester of a sugar and a fatty acid, an ester of a sugar alcohol and a fatty acid, and an alkylglycoside. The sugar derivative-type surfactant is contained in an amount of 85 to 100 wt% of a total amount of the components other than water contained in the tolerance imparting composition.
