Any change in environmental

conditions that might reduce or

adversely change a plant’s
growth or development

Permanent resistance to stress in

morphology and structure, physiology and
biochemistry under long term stress
condition
Roots, rhizomes and other plant
organs usually obtain sufficient
oxygen for aerobic respiration
directly from gaseous spaces in the
soil.
However, the diffusion of O2 from the air into the soil
can be effectively blocked when soil becomes flooded or
waterlogged
 inadequate supply of oxygen to the submerged
tissues
shift from aerobic to anaerobic microbial processes

reduction of oxidized compounds and the production of

phytotoxic ions
 internal O2 transport from shoots to roots is essential to the
survival and efficient functioning of roots

•term given to plant tissues containing

enlarged gas spaces exceeding those
commonly found as intracellular spaces
•Air channels of aerenchyma are
usually formed in cortex of roots,
rhizomes and stems. These are often
termed lacunae
•Schizogenous aerenchyma occurs
when intercellular gas spaces form
during tissue development without
cell death taking place. Spaces are
formed by differential growth, with
adjacent cells separating from one
another at the middle lamella.
•common in wetland species like
Rumex
•Lysigenous aerenchyma formation
involves cell death. Cells formed during
earlier development, die and are
‘removed’, leaving a gas space.
•found in many important crop species,
including barley, wheat, and maize
 Low Dry soil
water
potential
Plant under water stress
•refers specifically to a net increase in solute concentration due to metabolic
processes triggered by stress.
•generates a more negative leaf water potential, thereby helping to maintain
water
movement into the leaf and, consequently, leaf turgor.
•By helping to maintain leaf turgor, osmotic adjustment also enables plants to
keep their stomata open

Solutes :-
Inorganic ions (especially K+)
Sugars
Amino acids (proline- particularly sensitive to stress)
Compatible
Sorbitol, a sugar alcohol
solutes
Betaine
Cytosolic enzymes of plant cells -> severely inhibited by high
conc. Of ions

Ion accumulation -> restricted to vacuole( no contact with

enzymes in cytosol/ subcellular organelles)

Other solutes must accumulate in cytoplasm to maintain Ψ

equilibrium within cell

Compatible solutes
Do not interfere with enzyme funtions
not all species are capable of adjusting their solute
concentrations….

Sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris), on the one hand, synthesizes

large quantities of
betaine and is known as an

Osmotic adjustment in cowpea

(Vigna unguiculata), on the other
hand, is minimal and cowpea is
known as an