Enzymatic Regulation of Drought and Heat Stresses in Maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

Unfavorable environmental conditions, whether towards increase or decrease direction, are a general feature of our planet ecosystem. Stress conditions fall into two categories, biotic including insects and diseases and abiotic including drought, salts, temperature, etc. Drought is described the most limiting factor that determine crop productivity, and under certain condition drought damages cannot be avoided. Plant have evolved a wide range of mechanisms to cope with extreme environmental conditions. However, most of these strategies depend partially or completely on antioxidant defense system through which plants can control the cell content of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS). There should be more attention to climate change, not only by developing tolerant species, but also to natural disasters that can be devastating, as happening nowadays.