Effect of Drought in the Osmotic Adjustment of Cotton Plants

Water is crucial for crop growth and productivity. Cotton metabolism and yield are compromised under drought conditions, especially at flowering stage. Differences in drought tolerance exist among cultivars but the metabolic reasons for this that could be used to find traits for enhancing drought tolerance have not been clearly elucidated. Under drought stress, osmotic adjustment occurs in plant cells through accumulation of compatible solutes in the cytosol and plays a role of reducing the osmotic potential of the cell in order to maintain cell turgor and growth. Research has been reported on osmotic adjustment of cotton leaves and roots. However, there is no information on the osmotic adjustment in the reproductive organ of cotton plants. Therefore, studies are needed on the response of the reproductive organ in order to fully understand the osmotic adjustment mechanism in cotton plants under drought stress.