2019 ASHS Annual Conference

Drought and heat are two major environmental stresses in agriculture, causing reduced crop yield and quality. Many horticultural crops are grown in the regions that frequently receive high temperatures and many of these regions have no sufficient water source; therefore frequent drought and heat limit plant growth and development. Researchers have been making efforts to mitigate drought and heat stresses in crop production. Plant breeders consider drought and heat resistance one of the major breeding goals. Because germplasm is the lifeblood of plant breeding, breeders are always seeking elite plant germplasm to develop novel plant materials with desired traits. Advances in understanding mechanisms of plant responses to drought and heat stresses using molecular genetics and genomics approaches would help breeders improve the breeding efficiency. The goal of the proposed workshop is to bring together the best science on evaluation and utilization of germplasm to improve plant resistance or tolerance to drought and heat stresses. The workshop will also present research updates on different aspects of plant response to drought and heat stresses. Speakers/panelists will be asked to emphasize on the research strategies used; therefore, participants will have chance to understand and learn some hands-on techniques that would be applied to their own research. The workshop panel consists of a group of multidisciplinary specialists representing the research field of plant breeding, plant stress physiology, and molecular genetics and genomics, covering both woody and herbaceous species.