Crop traits to improve plant water relations under abiotic stresses
The present dissertation aims to discuss plant ecophysiological, biochemical, and molecular traits that are involved in the tolerance of environmental stresses that affect agricultural production and threat food security: agricultural drought, soil salinity, and nitrogen management. The challenges and perspectives for increasing crop productivity under these stresses are highlighted and enriched with experimental evidence, to support breeding programs in light of climate-smart agriculture and sustainability, and finally to ensure food security. The studies are focused on tomato and grapevine, as they are currently the model crops for vegetable and woody species, respectively, and with the highest agricultural production value in the world. The introduction provides a historical context of the development of crop science in the last century, and a literature review about agricultural drought, soil salinity and nitrogen stress tolerance in crops. Chapter 1 aims to understand how different grapevine rootstocks influence scion growth and drought resilience to improve water management and rootstock selection in viticulture. Chapter 2 aims to compare, based on a literature review, the salt stress responses of domesticated tomatoes and their wild relatives to identify traits that could enhance salt tolerance in commercial tomato varieties. Chapter 3 aims to understand the physiological and molecular mechanisms of salt tolerance in tomato introgression lines derived from wild relatives to support breeding efforts. Chapter 4 aims to investigate the effects of cuticle manipulation on tomato growth and development under varying nitrogen and salinity conditions to evaluate its potential as a breeding target. Chapter 5 aims to analyze the impact of grafting and nitrogen fertilization on tomato yield and growth in high-tunnel systems to improve nitrogen use efficiency and sustainable fertilization practices.
Drought, Grafting, Leaf Gas Exchange, Nitrogen, Salinity, Wild Relatives
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