A stress-tolerant transgenic plant comprising an exogenously-introduced polynucleotide encoding a protein kinase which activates stress-responsive transcription factors. The polynucleotide may encode a protein kinase which comprises SEQ ID NO: 2 (SRK-2C) or a sequence having a significant degree of similarity with SEQ ID NO: 2. The transgenic plant has increased stress-tolerance to environmental stresses, such as to dehydration, osmotic stress or low temperature stress, compared to a similar non-transgenic plant.