Water Stress in Crop Plants Challenges and its Management A Review

Meenakshi .; Divya Batra; Shweta Punia; Preeti Rani; Narender Singh

doi:10.14429/dlsj.8.18176

Meenakshi . Department of Botany, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra- 136 119, India http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9349-9925
Divya Batra Department of Botany, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra- 136 119, India https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3275-3522
Shweta Punia Department of Botany, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra–136 119 https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3977-8660
Preeti Rani Department of Botany, Chaudhary Devilal University, Sirsa- 125 055, India https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0421-0202
Narender Singh Department of Botany, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra- 136 119, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9349-9925

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/dlsj.8.18176

Keywords: photosynthesis, morphological, physiological, molecular

Abstract

In 21st century, shrinkage of land resources, heavy population pressure and degradation of soil has declined the fertility and productivity of soil. Water stress is the main factor that decreases growth, development and photosynthesis of plants because water is the central molecule for transporting metabolites and nutrients, forms biomass of 80-90% in plants. Water stress disturbs organization of proteins with lipids, transportation, activities of enzymes and also decreases biosynthesis of mRNAs, proteins and overall yield up to 80%. During stress conditions, abscisic acid, diacylglycerol (DAG), inositol triphosphate and inositol hexaphosphate acts as signal molecules and controls gene expression. Therefore, plant has developed defensive mechanisms at morphological, physiological, molecular and biochemical level such as: lower CO2 concentration, impairment in carbon and nitrogen metabolism, decrease in stomatal conductance, CO2 assimilation, etc. Moreover, there are two component of antioxidant defence system in cell of plants: non-enzymatic and enzymatic). The various components of enzymatic system are as follows; glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidise, catalase and peroxidise. The components of non-enzymatic systems are ascorbic acid, cysteine and reduced glutathione. The other enzymes are glutathione reductase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, ascorbate peroxidise and dehydro-ascorbate reductase. The antioxidative defence system is considered as the important adaptive mechanism The most critical hormone is ABA which helps in conducting resistance to abiotic and biotic stress. The catabolism and synthesis of many PGRs such as gibberellins, auxins, cytokinins, jasmonic acid, ethylene, brassinosteroids, etc. are the main consequent of osmotic damage of plants. But it can be improved by exogenous application of substances, fertilizers, bio fertilizers, plant growth regulators, hydrogels, genomic editing and agronomic approaches, etc. Apart from these, resistant varieties can be used for better yields and returns.