What are drought tolerant crops and how do they achieve more efficient water use?
Whole plants respond to drought through morphological, physiological, and metabolic modifications. Drought tolerant crops must be able to withstand low water and high-heat conditions while still maintaining some ability to yield grain, fruit or desirable biomass. Plants have several methods of tolerating drought stress, including altered canopy architecture or leaf area index, leaves that are waxy, hairy or have reduced stomata, deep and vigorous root systems. At the cellular level, plant responses to water deficit may include internal osmotic adjustment mechanisms. Some drought tolerant plants survive periods of reduced summer water by going dormant and then resuming growth when water is available – so called drought avoidance. Other plants may avoid drought through delayed or changed timing in initiating reproduction. The objective of drought-adaptation mechanisms is to decrease transpiration and to improve water and carbon uptake. The development of succulence in leaves and roots, s
