Summary
This review synthesises current knowledge on how vegetable crops (including carrot, tomato, okra, pea, eggplant, lettuce, and potato) respond physiologically and molecularly to drought and salinity stress, and evaluates both long-term breeding strategies and near-term mitigation approaches. The authors propose that combining conventional breeding, genetic engineering, and improved crop management practices offers the most promising pathway to enhance vegetable production resilience under climate change-driven abiotic stress.
Regional applicability
The findings are globally relevant but require contextualisation for United Kingdom conditions. Whilst UK vegetable production currently experiences relatively moderate drought and salinity pressures compared to arid and semi-arid regions, the strategies reviewed (particularly crop management adaptations and biostimulant use) may be increasingly applicable as climate projections indicate higher frequency of dry summers and potential soil salinisation in lowland areas.
Key measures
Physiological responses, molecular mechanisms, effectiveness of seed priming, genetic transformation, biostimulants, nanotechnology applications, and cultural management practices for drought and salt tolerance in vegetables
Outcomes reported
The review synthesised physiological and molecular responses of vegetables to drought and salinity stress, and evaluated mitigation technologies including seed priming, genetic transformation, biostimulants, nanotechnology, and cultural practices. It proposed integrated approaches combining conventional breeding, genetic engineering, and crop management for sustainable vegetable production under climate stress.
Topic tags
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