Strategies for improving drought resistance in grain legumes

Subbarao, G.V. and Johansen, C. and Slinkard, A.E. and Rao, R.C.N. and Saxena, N.P. and Chauhan, Y.S. (1995) Strategies for improving drought resistance in grain legumes. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, 14 (6). pp. 469-523.

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Abstract

This review considers recent work on drought resistance of grain legumes with a view toward developing appropriate genetic enhancement strategies for water-limited environments. First, the possible adaptations that allow grain legumes to better cope with drought stress are summarized. It is suggested that there are considerable gains to be made in increasing yield stability in environments characterized by terminal drought stress by further exploiting drought escape, achieved by shortening crop duration. Many traits conferring dehydration avoidance and dehydration tolerance are available, but integrated traits, expressed at a higher level of organization, are suggested to be more useful in crop improvement programmes. Possible genetic improvement strategies are outlined, ranging from empirical selection for yield in drought environments to a physiological genetic approach. It is suggested that in view of recent advances in understanding drought resistance mechanisms, the latter strategy is becoming more feasible. It is concluded that use of this recently derived knowledge in a systematic manner can lead to significant gains in yield and yield stability of the world's major grain legumes, as they are mainly grown (and will continue to be grown) under rain-fed conditions

Item Type: Article
Author Affiliation: ICRISAT Asia Center, Patancheru, 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India
Subjects: Plant Production > Production Practices
Divisions: Other Crops
Depositing User: Syamala
Date Deposited: 29 Apr 2011 06:05
Last Modified: 29 Apr 2011 06:05
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07352689509701933
URI: http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/1921

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