1

Central University of Punjab, Bathinda

ABIOTIC STRESS TOLERANCE IN BRASSICA SPECIES

(Term Paper)

Subject: Genetics

Paper Code: BOT. 508

Submitted by: Nishma Sherin TP

Register Number: 23MSCBOT47

M.Sc. Botany

(2023– 25)

Submitted to: Dr Prashant Swapnil

Department of Botany,

Central University of Punjab, Bathinda

 2

ABIOTIC STRESS TOLERANCE IN BRASSICA SPECIES

ABSTRACT

Brassica species, commonly known as mustard greens , includes a broad range of

important vegetables such as cabbage ,broccoli ,and kale. although, these plants are highly
susceptible to various abiotic stresses like drought, salinity, and heat, significantly impacts
the growth and productivity of plants. This paper deals with the mechanisms and genetic
factors responsible for abiotic stress tolerance in Brassica species and highlights recent
advances in breeding and biotechnological approaches to enhance stress tolerance. It also
discusses potential future strategies for improving stress tolerance in these crops.

1.INTRODUCTION

Brassica, a genus of the Brassicaceae family, includes several agriculturally and

economically important crops such as Brassica rapa, Brassica oleracea, and Brassica napus.
Abiotic stresses, particularly drought, salinity, and heat, pose significant challenges to the
productivity and sustainability of Brassica crops. Understanding the mechanisms underlying
abiotic stress tolerance in Brassica species is important for developing sustainable
agricultural practices. This paper aims to provide an overview of recent contributions to this
field.

2. ABIOTIC STRESSORS IN BRASSICA

2.1 TEMPERATURE STRESS

Both high and low extreme temperature affect the plants. High temperature cause heat
stress which leads to reduced growth, wilting and even plant death. On the other hand low
temperature results in chilling injury , causing stunted growth, leaf discolouration and frost
damage.
 3

2.3 DROUGHT STRESS

Insufficient water availability leads to drought stress in brassica crops. Which adversely
affect water uptake , nutrient absorption, and photosynthesis , leading to reduced growth ,
wilting, and yield loss.(Champolivier L.et al 1996)

2.3 SALINITY STRESS

These crops are sensitive to high soil salinity , which affects water balance and nutrient
uptake. Excessive salt in the soil inhibits root growth, disrupts osmotic balance and can even
leads to ion toxicity.(P . Ahmad ,A Kumar et.al 2012)

2.4 HEAVY METAL TOXICITY

Some brassica species are used for phytoremediation due to their ability to tolerate and
accumulate heavy metals from contaminated soil ,though ,excessive heavy metal
concentrations can be toxic to the plant ,leading to growth inhibition , chlorosis and even
plant death.

2.5 OXIDATIVE STRESS

Environmental factors such as high light intensity, air pollution or chemical exposure can
trigger oxidative stress. Oxidative stress arises from an imbalance between the production of
reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the antioxidant defence system, resulting in cellular
damage, leaf chlorosis, and reduced growth (G.R Cramer et. al 2011)

3.MECHANISMS OF ABIOTIC STRESS TOLERANCE IN BRASSICA SPECIES

3.1 OSMOTIC ADJUSTMENT

Plants face water scarcity due to drought or high salinity ,resulting in reduced water
potential brassica crops utilize osmotic adjustment to maintain cell turgor pressure and
minimise water loss. Osmolytes like proline, betaine and sugars accumulate to maintain
cellular hydration.
 4

3.2 REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES ( ROS) SCAVENGING

Under abiotic stress, ROS accumulate due to disrupted cellular redox balance Brassica
species activate the antioxidant defence system , including enzymes like superoxide
dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase , to eliminate excess ROS and
prevent oxidative damage.

3.3 PHOTOSYNTHETIC ADAPTATION

Abiotic stress conditions can damage photosynthesis by disrupting chlorophyll synthesis,

reducing enzyme activity, and including photoinhibition. These species respond by adjusting
photosynthetic pigments, enhancing the antioxidant defence system, and activating
photoprotective mechanisms like non- photochemical quenching.( P . Ahmad et.al 2017)

3.4 HORMONAL SIGNALING

Plants respond to abiotic stress through complex hormonal signaling network involving
abscisic acid( ABA), auxins , cytokinin , ethylene and gibberellins . these hormones regulate
stomatal closure ,enhances nutrient uptake efficiency, modulate root growth , and induce
stress-responsive gene expression.

3.5 ROOT ARCHITECTURE AND NUTRIENT ACQUISITION

By increasing root surface area , root length and root hair density brassica species optimize
root architecture to enhance nutrient uptake and water acquisition under abiotic stress.also
plants activate nutrient transporters and mycorrhizal associations to enhance nutrient
acquisition and uptake efficiency .

4. BREEDING APPROACHES FOR ABIOTIC STRESS TOLERANCE

 5

Several breeding approaches have been used to develop Brassica cultivars that exhibit
improved performance under abiotic stress conditions. Some important strategies are:

* Conventional Breeding: Traditional breeding methods involve breeding and selecting

plants based on their performance and tolerance to abiotic stresses. , has been used to develop
stress-tolerant Brassica cultivars.This method involves selecting parental lines with desirable
stress-related traits and crossing them to combine and enhance these traits in the offspring.

* Marker-assisted selection (MAS): Marker-assisted selection uses molecular markers,

such as DNA markers associated with specific stress-related genes or genomic regions, to
speed up the breeding process. Identifying and tracking these markers allows breeders to
directly select plants with desirable stress tolerance traits, increasing the efficiency and
accuracy of breeding programs

* Genomic selection: Genomic selection uses high-throughput genotyping and phenotyping

techniques to predict the performance of potential offspring based on their genomic
profile.This method allows breeders to select stress-tolerant individuals even before exposure
to abiotic stress conditions, speeding up the breeding process.

* Genetic Engineering: Modern biotechnology tools such as genetic engineering and

genetic modification are used to introduce specific genes and regulatory elements into
Brassica species. These genes may originate from organisms that are naturally stress tolerant,
or they may be designed to increase stress tolerance.

* Improving germplasm: Access to and utilization of diverse germplasm resources,

including wild relatives of Brassica, provides a larger genetic pool for breeding for abiotic
stress tolerance. These resources may include genes or alleles that confer resistance to certain
stressful conditions. Through introgression breeding, desirable traits from wild relatives can
be incorporated into cultivated Brassica varieties.( Labiba Riyas Shah et.al 2018)

5.GENETIC ENGINEERING APPROACHES

Development in genetic engineering techniques have accelerated the development of stress-

tolerant Brassica cultivars. Techniques such as genome editing, RNA interference (RNAi),
and transgenics have been employed to enhance the expression of stress-responsive genes,
activate stress-related signaling pathways, and modulate phytohormone signaling. These
 6

genetic interventions hold promise for improving abiotic stress tolerance in Brassica crops
and ensuring sustainable productivity.(Sunny Ahmar et,al 2019)

6. CONCLUSION

Abiotic stress tolerance is a complex trait influenced by multiple genetic and physiological
factors. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of stress tolerance in Brassica species is
essential for breeders and researchers aiming to develop stress-tolerant cultivars.
Additionally, the identification of stress-responsive genes and regulatory networks can aid in
the development of targeted genetic engineering strategies to enhance abiotic stress tolerance
in Brassica crops. By incorporating these strategies, we can ensure the production of resilient
Brassica cultivars capable of withstanding changing environmental conditions and
sustainably meeting global food demands.

7.REFERENCE

Ahmad P, Kumar A, Ashraf M, Akram NA. Salt-induced changes in photosynthetic

activity and oxidative defense system of three cultivars of mustard (Brassica juncea L.).
African Journal of Biotechnology 2012; 11(11): 2694-2703

Cramer, G.R., Urano, K., Delrot, S. et al. Effects of abiotic stress on plants: a systems biology
perspective. BMC Plant Biol 11, 163 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2229-11-163

Champolivier L, Merrien A. Effects of water stress applied at different growth stages to

Brassica napus L. var. oleifera on yield, yield components and seed quality. European
Journal of Agronomy. 1996;5: 153-160.

Champolivier L, Merrien A. Effects of water stress applied at different growth stages to

Brassica napus L. var. oleifera on yield, yield components and seed quality. European
Journal of Agronomy. 1996;

Din J, Khan SU, Ali I, Gurmani AR. Physiological and agronomic response of
rapeseed varieties to drought stress. The Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences.
2011;21:78-82.
 7

Garthwaite AJ, Bothmer RV, Colmer TD. Salt tolerance in wild Hordeum species is
associated with restricted entry of Na+ and Cl– into the shoots. J. Exp. Bot. 2005;56

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331299329_Effect_of_Abiotic_Stresses_on_Brassi
ca_Species_and_Role_of_Transgenic_Breeding_for_Adaptation)]

Lohani N, Jain D, Singh MB and Bhalla PL (2020) Engineering Multiple Abiotic Stress
Tolerance in Canola,Brassica napus.Front. Plant Sci. 11:3. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00003

Labiba Riyaz Shah, Anil Sharma, et.al .Breeding approaches for abiotic stress management in
vegetable crops.Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2018; 7(3): 1023-1028

Parvaiz Ahmad ,M.N.V. Prasad.Abiotic Stress Responses in Plants,Metabolism, Productivity

and Sustainability,Springer Science Business Media, LLC 2012

Pandey, S.; Fartyal, D.; Agarwal, A.; Shukla, T.; James, D.; Kaul, T.; Negi, Y.K.; Arora, S.;
Reddy, M.K. Abiotic stress tolerance in plants: Myriad roles of ascorbate peroxidase. Front.
Plant Sci. 2017, 8, 581

Sunny Ahmar et,al.Effect of Abiotic Stresses on Brassica Species and Role of Transgenic
Breeding for Adaptation.2019 Asian Journal of Research in Crop Science
DOI:10.9734/AJRCS/2019/v3i130037