Publisher's Synopsis
Drought (water stress) is one the major abiotic stress factors that affect all organisms lives including human in terms of health and food. Water absence from the soil solutions affect the natural evaporative cycle between earth and atmosphere that contribute amount of rainfall. Drought occurs when soil moisture level and relative humidity in air is low while temperature is also high. UN reports estimate that one third of world population has been living in areas where the water sources are poor. Water stress resulting from the withholding of water, also changes the physical environment for plant growth as well as crop physiology. Almost every plant process is affected directly or indirectly by water supply. Plants, as one of basic food sources, either in nature or cultivations, in their growing period, require water or at least moisture for germination. Certainly, most land plants are exposed to short or long term water stress at some times in their life cycle and have tended to develop some adaptive mechanisms for adapting to changing environmental conditions. Some plants may adapt to changing environment more easily than others giving them an advantage over competitors. Water stress may range from moderate, and of short duration, to extremely severe and prolonged summer drought that has strongly influenced evolution and plant life. Crop yields are restricted by water shortages in many parts of the world. The physiological responses of plants to water stress and their relative importance for crop productivity vary with species, soil type, nutrients and climate. On a global basis, about one-third of potential arable land suffers from inadequate water supply, and the yields of much of the remainder are periodically reduced by drought Water stress adversely impacts many aspects of the physiology of plants, especially photosynthetic capacity. If the stress is prolonged, plant growth, and productivity are severely diminished. Plants have evolved complex physiological and biochemical adaptations to adjust and adapt to a variety of environmental stresses. The molecular and physiological mechanisms associated with water-stress tolerance and water-use efficiency have been extensively studied. Plants experience water stress either when the water supply to their roots becomes limiting, or when the transpiration rate becomes intense. Water stress is primarily caused by a water deficit, such as a drought or high soil salinity. Each year, water stress on arable plants in different parts of the world disrupts agriculture and food supply with the final consequence: famine. Hence, the ability to withstand such stress is of immense economic importance. Mechanism and Adaptation Aspects of Water Stress is organized into 15 chapters on the stresses, their mechanisms and tolerance, genetics and adaptation, and emphases on the mechanic facets as well as touching some adaptation features. Henceforth, the main objective of the book is to convey state of the art information for understanding the nature of abiotic stress in plants. The systems that regulate plant adaptation to water stress through a sophisticated regulatory network are the subject of the current book. Molecular mechanisms that plants use to increase stress tolerance, maintain appropriate hormone homeostasis and responses and prevent excess light damage, are also discussed. An understanding of how these systems are regulated and ameliorate the impact of water stress on plant productivity will provide the information needed to improve plant stress tolerance using biotechnology, while maintaining the yield and quality of crops. The fast pace at which developments and novel findings that are recently taking place in the cutting edge areas of molecular biology and basic genetics, have reinforced and increased the efficiency of science outputs in dealing with plant abiotic stresses. A Thorough understanding of the stresses and their effects on plants is of paramount importance to evolve effective strategies to counter them. Drought (water stress) is one the major abiotic stress factors that affect all organisms lives including human in terms of health and food. Water absence from the soil solutions affect the natural evaporative cycle between earth and atmosphere that contribute amount of rainfall. Drought occurs when soil moisture level and relative humidity in air is low while temperature is also high. UN reports estimate that one third of world population has been living in areas where the water sources are poor. Water stress resulting from the withholding of water, also changes the physical environment for plant growth as well as crop physiology. Almost every plant process is affected directly or indirectly by water supply. Plants, as one of basic food sources, either in nature or cultivations, in their growing period, require water or at least moisture for germination. Certainly, most land plants are exposed to short or long term water stress at some times in their life cycle and have tended to develop some adaptive mechanisms for adapting to changing environmental conditions. Some plants may adapt to changing environment more easily than others giving them an advantage over competitors. Water stress may range from moderate, and of short duration, to extremely severe and prolonged summer drought that has strongly influenced evolution and plant life. Crop yields are restricted by water shortages in many parts of the world. The physiological responses of plants to water stress and their relative importance for crop productivity vary with species, soil type, nutrients and climate. On a global basis, about one-third of potential arable land suffers from inadequate water supply, and the yields of much of the remainder are periodically reduced by drought Water stress adversely impacts many aspects of the physiology of plants, especially photosynthetic capacity. If the stress is prolonged, plant growth, and productivity are severely diminished. Plants have evolved complex physiological and biochemical adaptations to adjust and adapt to a variety of environmental stresses. The molecular and physiological mechanisms associated with water-stress tolerance and water-use efficiency have been extensively studied. Plants experience water stress either when the water supply to their roots becomes limiting, or when the transpiration rate becomes intense. Water stress is primarily caused by a water deficit, such as a drought or high soil salinity. Each year, water stress on arable plants in different parts of the world disrupts agriculture and food supply with the final consequence: famine. Hence, the ability to withstand such stress is of immense economic importance. Mechanism and Adaptation Aspects of Water Stress is organized into 15 chapters on the stresses, their mechanisms and tolerance, genetics and adaptation, and emphases on the mechanic facets as well as touching some adaptation features. Henceforth, the main objective of the book is to convey state of the art information for understanding the nature of abiotic stress in plants. The systems that regulate plant adaptation to water stress through a sophisticated regulatory network are the subject of the current book. Molecular mechanisms that plants use to increase stress tolerance, maintain appropriate hormone homeostasis and responses and prevent excess light damage, are also discussed. An understanding of how these systems are regulated and ameliorate the impact of water stress on plant productivity will provide the information needed to improve plant stress tolerance using biotechnology, while maintaining the yield and quality of crops. The fast pace at which developments and novel findings that are recently taking place in the cutting edge areas of molecular biology and basic genetics, have reinforced and increased the efficiency of science outputs in dealing with plant abiotic stresses. A Thorough understanding of the stresses and their effects on plants is of paramount importance to evolve effective strategies to counter them. Drought (water stress) is one the major abiotic stress factors that affect all organisms lives including human in terms of health and food. Water absence from the soil solutions affect the natural evaporative cycle between earth and atmosphere that contribute amount of rainfall. Drought occurs when soil moisture level and relative humidity in air is low while temperature is also high. UN reports estimate that one third of world population has been living in areas where the water sources are poor. Water stress resulting from the withholding of water, also changes the physical environment for plant growth as well as crop physiology. Almost every plant process is affected directly or indirectly by water supply. Plants, as one of basic food sources, either in nature or cultivations, in their growing period, require water or at least moisture for germination. Certainly, most land plants are exposed to short or long term water stress at some times in their life cycle and have tended to develop some adaptive mechanisms for adapting to changing environmental conditions. Some plants may adapt to changing environment more easily than others giving them an advantage over competitors. Water stress may range from moderate, and of short duration, to extremely severe and prolonged summer drought that has strongly influenced evolution and plant life. Crop yields are restricted by water shortages in many parts of the world. The physiological responses of plants to water stress and their relative importance for crop productivity vary with species, soil type, nutrients and climate. On a global basis, about one-third of potential arable land suffers from inadequate water supply, and the yields of much of the remainder are periodically reduced by drought Water stress adversely impacts many aspects of the physiology of plants, especially photosynthetic capacity. If the stress is prolonged, plant growth, and