Influence of drought stress on molecular responses on crop plants

Abstract The crop growth and development are constantly influenced by environmental conditions such as stresses which are the most important yield reducing factors in the world.  Drought stress is considered as one of the crop performance limiting factors and a threat for successful crop production. Drought tolerance is important trait related to yield. A better knowledge of the effects of water deficit and salt excess on plant biochemistry has a primary importance for improved management practices, breeding programmes and for predicting plant growth and product quality. To improve this trait, breeding requires fundamental changes in the set of relevant attributes, finally emerging as something named drought tolerance. Stress treatment caused an increase in activity of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), CAT and peroxidases that allow this species to present a high degree of drought tolerance characters. Acclimation of plants to drought and salinity is often associated with increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide anion (O₂−), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), hydroxyl radical (HO.) and singlet oxygen (1O₂), which are toxic for the cells.

[Full Text: PDF]