Drought, a period of abnormally dry weather, results in
soil-water deficit and subsequently plant-water deficit. The
lack of water in the environment constitutes a stress when it
induces an injury in the plant. Water deficit in the plant
disrupts many cellular and whole plant functions, having a
negative impact on plant growth and reproduction. Crop
yields are reduced by 69% on average when plants are
exposed to unfavourable conditions in the field (Boyer,
1982). Availability of water is the most important factor in
the environment that reduces the production of our crops.
As water is increasingly needed for human populations and
prime agricultural lands are used for housing, the
availability of water will have a greater impact on our
ability to produce crops