Advances in understanding and mitigating vegetable responses to abiotic stress

Publication date: 09/09/2019
Extent: 46 pages

Contributions by: Frederik Börnke, Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ) and University of Potsdam, Germany; and Dietmar Schwarz, Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ), Germany

Chapter synopsis: Plants can suffer from either biotic or abiotic stress arising from a deficit in the physical or chemical environment of the plant. The damage imposed by abiotic stress may limit crop production by more than 70% and depends on the stressor. This chapter outlines the different types of abiotic stress, including flood, drought, heat, cold, nutrient deficiency, excess of salt, metalloids or toxic metals, and excess or insufficient light. The chapter then focuses on how water deficit, temperature, and salinity interfere with all kinds of physiological aspects of plant life. The chapter describes advances in horticultural practices to cope with abiotic stress, considering vegetable grafting, mulching, and the application of biostimulants and chemical or physical eustressors. Finally, the chapter looks ahead to future trends in this area.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2019.0045.02