Abstract
Plant growth and productivity is adversely affected by environmental abiotic and biotic stresses. Drought is one of abiotic stresses that cause serious damage to plants. Therefore, understanding the extent of drought stress and assessing the mechanisms of drought tolerance in plants is very crucial to devise different coping mechanisms with the stresses. Brief discussions have been given on some of the terminologies such as drought tolerance vs. resistance; potential yield vs. yield potential, and water use efficiency. Mechanisms of adaptation to drought stress, inheritance of drought tolerance and the contribution of biotechnology to develop methods of coping up with the problems have been discussed. Finally, methods of screening for drought tolerance have been outlined. The integration of both agricultural practices and conventional and contemporary breeding strategies are necessary in developing crop varieties that are tolerant to abiotic stresses including drought. Key words: Drought stress, resistance, root and tuber crops, tolerance.
Highlights
Plant growth and productivity is adversely affected by various abiotic and biotic stresses
This paper review concepts of drought stress and methods for assessing drought tolerance in root and tuber crops
Other proposed candidate genes that are involved in drought tolerance are genes coding for dehydrin proteins that protect cellular components under dehydration condition (Shinozaki and Yamaguchi-Shinozaki, 2007), proteins controlling the equilibrium and damages of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (Foyer and Noctor, 2005), proteins involving in osmotic adjustment and plant morphology (Moinuddin et al, 2005; Ober, 2008) and enzymes involved in the accumulation of compatible solutes (Mitra 2001)
Summary
Plant growth and productivity is adversely affected by various abiotic and biotic stresses. Dehydration tolerance with the accumulation of compatible solutes, the synthesis of antioxidants and the process of ROS scavenging requires too much plant energy These mechanisms reduce the ability of plants to synthesize organic products for stock organs (Mitra, 2001). Other proposed candidate genes that are involved in drought tolerance are genes coding for dehydrin proteins that protect cellular components under dehydration condition (Shinozaki and Yamaguchi-Shinozaki, 2007), proteins controlling the equilibrium and damages of ROS (Foyer and Noctor, 2005), proteins involving in osmotic adjustment and plant morphology (Moinuddin et al, 2005; Ober, 2008) and enzymes involved in the accumulation of compatible solutes (Mitra 2001). The combination of in vitro screening with selection under the natural condition or under the rainout shelter could improve the quality of results
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call