Drought resistance

Definition

Drought resistance refers to the ability of plants to survive and thrive in conditions of low water availability, particularly during prolonged periods of drought. This characteristic is crucial in agricultural biotechnology, as it allows crops to maintain yields even when water resources are limited, ultimately ensuring food security in the face of climate change and environmental stress.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Drought-resistant crops can help reduce the reliance on irrigation, conserving valuable water resources and reducing agricultural costs.
2. Through genetic modification, scientists can introduce specific genes that enhance a plant's ability to tolerate dry conditions, improving its survival rates during droughts.
3. Drought resistance is often associated with physiological traits such as deep root systems, reduced leaf area, and efficient water use mechanisms.
4. Many staple crops like maize, wheat, and rice are being researched for drought resistance to ensure food availability as climate variability increases.
5. Field trials have shown that drought-resistant varieties can significantly outperform conventional varieties in terms of yield during periods of water scarcity.

Review Questions

• How does drought resistance contribute to sustainable agriculture practices?
  • Drought resistance plays a vital role in sustainable agriculture by enabling crops to survive with less water. This reduces the need for irrigation, which conserves water resources and decreases costs for farmers. As climate change leads to more frequent and severe droughts, incorporating drought-resistant traits into crops becomes essential for maintaining food production without depleting valuable water supplies.
• What are some of the methods used to develop drought-resistant crops through biotechnology?
  • Biotechnology employs several methods to develop drought-resistant crops, including genetic engineering and marker-assisted selection. Genetic engineering allows scientists to insert specific genes that enhance drought tolerance into a plant's DNA. Additionally, researchers may use marker-assisted selection to identify and breed plants with naturally occurring traits for improved water use efficiency and stress tolerance.
• Evaluate the potential implications of widespread adoption of drought-resistant crops on global food security and environmental sustainability.
  • The widespread adoption of drought-resistant crops has significant implications for global food security by helping to ensure stable yields in increasingly unpredictable climates. By reducing the need for irrigation, these crops also promote environmental sustainability by conserving water resources and minimizing the impact on surrounding ecosystems. However, there are concerns about dependency on genetically modified organisms and the long-term effects on biodiversity and soil health, necessitating a balanced approach that considers both agricultural innovation and ecological preservation.

Related terms

Genetic Engineering: A scientific process that involves altering the genetic makeup of an organism to introduce desirable traits, such as drought resistance, which can improve crop resilience.

Water Use Efficiency: The measure of how effectively a plant utilizes water for growth and development, a key factor in assessing drought-resistant crops.

Transgenic Crops: Crops that have been genetically modified to express specific traits from other organisms, including genes that confer drought resistance.