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Current topics in drought physiology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

H. G. Jones  and
J. E. Corlett
H. G. Jones
Affiliation:
Horticulture Research International, Wellesbourne, Warwick CV35 9EF, UK
J. E. Corlett
Affiliation:
Horticulture Research International, Wellesbourne, Warwick CV35 9EF, UK
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Extract

Drought is probably the most important factor limiting crop yields worldwide, therefore it is not surprising that there has been continuing interest in the ways in which drought affects crop yield. Efforts have been concentrated in this area in the hope that it would prove possible to use a knowledge of drought physiology to provide a rational basis for the development of rapid methods of breeding drought tolerant cultivars, and also to help in the improvement of crop management for dry conditions. The last five years have seen some important reassessments of the underlying principles and concepts involved in plant response to drought and these will be outlined in this brief review. Some of these important shifts in emphasis have been highlighted by Kramer (1988), Passioura (1988), Schulze el al. (1988) and Boyer (1989), particularly in relation to the question of what measure of water stress is most relevant to plant function. As it is not possible to cover all aspects of drought physiology in a brief review of this nature, we highlight four topics where recent findings may have particular relevance to the improvement of drought tolerance in agricultural crops.

Type
Review
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 119 , Issue 3 , December 1992 , pp. 291 - 296
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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