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Drought tolerance, traditional crops and biotechnology: breeding towards sustainable development
R Slabbert, M Spreeth, GHJ Krüger
Abstract
Germplasm of traditional vegetable crops were screened
for drought tolerance. Different physiological, morphological and biochemical
traits of drought tolerance were investigated, including enzymes of the
anti-oxidative pathway (SOD, AP and GR), turgor maintenance (LWP, RWC),
membrane stability (CMS, TTC), osmoprotection (proline), productivity
(photosynthesis), rooting (root architecture), early drought tolerance and leaf
area. Different in vitro screening techniques were carried out. Useful
traits of drought tolerance were identified in Amaranthus tricolor, A.
hybridus, A. hypochondriacus, Vigna unguiculata and V. subterranea,
and are currently being applied in a breeding programme in an attempt to
develop tolerant genotypes of neglected vegetable and seed crops that might
contribute to secure food production in rural areas in Africa.
South African Journal of Botany
2004, 70(1): 116–123
for drought tolerance. Different physiological, morphological and biochemical
traits of drought tolerance were investigated, including enzymes of the
anti-oxidative pathway (SOD, AP and GR), turgor maintenance (LWP, RWC),
membrane stability (CMS, TTC), osmoprotection (proline), productivity
(photosynthesis), rooting (root architecture), early drought tolerance and leaf
area. Different in vitro screening techniques were carried out. Useful
traits of drought tolerance were identified in Amaranthus tricolor, A.
hybridus, A. hypochondriacus, Vigna unguiculata and V. subterranea,
and are currently being applied in a breeding programme in an attempt to
develop tolerant genotypes of neglected vegetable and seed crops that might
contribute to secure food production in rural areas in Africa.
South African Journal of Botany
2004, 70(1): 116–123
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South African Journal of Botany. ISSN: 0254-6299