Impact of salt, drought, heat and frost stresses on morpho- biochemical and physiological properties of Brassica species: An updated review

Abstract

Abiotic stresses seriously impact crop productivity and agro-morphological and biochemical
properties of all Brassica species. It also decreases the yield of many important Brassica species by disturbing
their normal growth and development. In this review, we have highlighted the latest reports about the impact
of different abiotic stresses on different growth stages and other morpho-physiological processes of
important Brassica species such as canola/rapeseed (Brassica napus), indian mustard (Brassica juncea),
Brassica oleracea and Brassica rapa. Several researchers reported that abiotic stresses affect the important
morpho-biochemical processes such as shoot and root length, shoot fresh and dry weight, proline and relative
water contents, chlorophyll amount, antioxidant enzymes activity of important Brassica species. These
stresses also disturb normal oxidative processes that lead to cell injury. The genetic modification approaches
for the development of transgenic plants against these environmental extremes have been described. The
present study will be useful to identify the best abiotic stress tolerant Brassica genotypes for further genetic
engineering program and crop improvement programs.