Abstract: Changes in rainfall patterns induced by climate change are significantly affecting terrestrial water balance. As a key medium to sustain ecosystem water cycle, plants play a central role in regulating the dynamic balance of water environment. Multidimensional studies on the relationship between plant water use and rainfall have revealed the complex adaptation mechanisms of plants to water stress in different ecosystems. Studies based on stable isotope tracing, trunk sap flow monitoring and ecological modeling have shown that the response of plant water use to rainfall is highly dynamic. The changes in water use strategies are the result of a combination of factors, with strong species and regional variability. In addition, plants significantly improve water use efficiency through root hydraulic redistribution. With the intensification of climate change, the global rainfall pattern has been significantly altered, including the expansion of arid zones, the increase of rainfall variability, and the frequent occurrence of extreme rainfall events, which makes the study of plant-water interactions more and more urgent. Based on a summary of the research progress regarding the relationship between plant water use and rainfall, this study analyzed the impacts of climate change on rainfall patterns, revealed the mechanism by which rainfall changes affect the spatiotemporal distribution of soil moisture as well as the subsequent influence on the water absorption and utilization of plants, and put forward suggestions for the future research directions concerning the relationship between plant water use and rainfall.

Key words: rainfall, evaporation, plant water use, water transport, climate change