Summary
The growth
and yield of many crops, including cotton, are affected by water deficit.
Cotton has evolved drought-specific as well as general morpho-physiological,
biochemical and molecular responses to drought stress, which are discussed in
this review. The key physiological responses against drought stress in cotton,
including stomata closing, root development, cellular adaptations,
photosynthesis, abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonic acid (JA) production, and
reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, have been identified by researchers.
Drought stress induces the expression of stress related transcription factors
and genes, such as ROS scavenging, ABA or mitogen-activated protein kinases
(MAPK) signaling genes, which activate various drought-related pathways to
induce tolerance in the plant. It is crucial to elucidate and induce
drought-tolerant traits via quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis, transgenic
approaches and exogenous application of substances. The current review paper
highlights the natural as well as engineered drought tolerance strategies in
cotton.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pbi.12688/abstract
DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12688 (IF=6.09)