Drought stress: Effect on morphological, physiological and biochemical attributes and its management in wheat

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the first important cereal crop for the majority of world's populations. It belongs to Poaceae family and gathers about 3500 species. But drought-induced damages in crop plants that are ranked at top amid all losses instigated by diverse abiotic stresses. All phases of plant growth are not equally vulnerable to water shortage. Water stress is known to reduce biomass, tillering ability, grains per spike and grain size at any stage when it occurs. Wheat is paid special attention due to its morphological traits during drought stress including leaf shape, size, senescence and cuticle tolerance; roots, dry weight, and length. Physiological responses include closure of stomata, decrease in the activity of photosynthesis, development of oxidative stress, reduction of internal CO2 concentration, and reduction of growth rates. Proline and cell membrane stability is the most widely studied because of its considerable importance in the stress tolerance. Proline accumulation is one of the most remarkable characteristic in stressful conditions. One of the biggest challenges to modern sustainable agriculture development is to obtain new knowledge that should allow breeding and engineering plants with new and desired agronomical traits.