The drought response of potato reference cultivars with contrasting tolerance.

Systems responses to drought stress of four potato reference cultivars with differential drought tolerance (Solanum tuberosum L.) were investigated by metabolome profiling and RNA sequencing. Systems analysis was based on independent field and greenhouse trials.

Network Candidate Genes in Breeding for Drought Tolerant Crops.

Climate change leading to increased periods of low water availability as well as increasing demands for food in the coming years makes breeding for drought tolerant crops a high priority. Plants have developed diverse strategies and mechanisms to survive drought stress. However, most of these represent drought escape or avoidance strategies like early flowering or low stomatal conductance that are not applicable in breeding for crops with high yields under drought conditions.