Drought, stress and resistance

This bachleor thesis focuses on the influence of water deficit on plants. The causes of the origins of water deficit and its impact on growth and development of plants are described. Attention is paid to the process of stress response and to the adaptation mechanisms which aimed to induce stress tolerance. Separate chapters are devoted to the cuticle and stomata, two important regulators of plant water loss. The thesis also focuses on the phenomenon of osmotic adjustment which relates to the accumulation of compatible solutes. Signalling pathways induced water shortages, change in gene expression, synthesis of special proteins and consequences of secondary oxidative stress are all covered. Key words: drought, water deficit, stress, stress tolerance, stomata, cuticle, osmotic adjustment, compatible solutes, signal transductio