Photosynthesis and abiotic stress in plants

Abstract

Abiotic stress is a problem of grave concern for the growth and productivity of plants in modern times. Abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures, are responsible for huge crop losses globally. One of the physiological processes greatly affected by these stresses in plants is photosynthesis. The decline in photosynthetic capacity of plants due to these stresses is directly associated with reduction in yield. Therefore, detailed information on the plant responses and the adaptation methods employed by them to save their photosynthetic apparatus could help in developing new crop plants with more robust photosynthetic machinery capable of higher yields even under stressed environments. In this chapter, effects of four predominant abiotic stresses, i.e., drought, salinity, heat, and high light, on the photosynthetic apparatus of plants have been discussed, and the strategies to overcome the menace of these stresses have been suggested.