2019 ASHS Annual Conference

Drought and heat are two major environmental stresses impacting crop productivity. In agriculture, drought is mainly caused by fewer rainfalls with a period of high temperature; therefore drought and heat are often associated. Drought and heat limit crop growth and development, resulting reduced yield and poor quality. In severe cases, drought and heat may cause plant death. Horticulture is one of the biggest water consumers in agriculture and many horticultural crops are grown in the regions that frequently receive extreme high temperatures and limited rainfalls. Many regions, particularly in developing countries, have very limited water sources and irrigation capacity; therefore drought and/or heat stresses might be one of the major risks of food security. Differential responses of plant species to abiotic stresses indicate that plants have possessed the mechanisms to deal with different stresses. Researchers have been making every effort to understand the mechanisms plants developed to respond drought and heat, which certainly help develop novel plant materials and strategies to combat these two stresses. In the presentation, responses of plants, particularly in horticultural species, to drought and heat and their management strategies will be reviewed.