Genetics and Genomics of Carrot Abiotic Stress

Plant reaction to abiotic stresses leading to stress tolerance is a complex and multi-level process comprising several inter-dependent mechanisms. While it has been extensively studied in model plant species, it has not been a subject of systematic investigation in carrot. Only few reports pointing at the importance of particular proteins in response to stressors have been published. No attempt has been made to describe regulatory mechanisms governing tolerance to heat, cold, drought, salinity and other abiotic stresses in carrot. Nevertheless, the issue seems vital, as agriculture is coping with global climate changes. Also, the area of carrot cultivation worldwide is growing and its adaptation to environmental conditions outside the temperate climatic zone would provide health benefits to human populations suffering from malnutrition. In the present chapter, we review the existing knowledge on the reaction of carrot to abiotic stresses, with particular emphasis on molecular or genetic mechanisms governing stress tolerance.