Drought Stress Responses in Coffee Plant Systems
Summary
Coffee plants encounter drought as a primary abiotic constraint that disrupts water uptake, photosynthesis and yield. Early responses include stomatal closure mediated by abscisic acid, which conserves water but limits carbon dioxide assimilation. Prolonged water deficit triggers osmotic adjustment through accumulation of compatible solutes (for example proline, sugars and sugar alcohols) and activation of antioxidant systems to scavenge reactive oxygen species generated under cellular dehydration. At the molecular level, drought induces expression of protective proteins such as dehydrins and heat‐shock proteins, and remodels gene networks linked to water deprivation and desiccation tolerance. Genotypic variation is pronounced: some cultivars exhibit rapid germination and vigorous seedling growth under low soil moisture, while others rely on enhanced leaf‐level photoprotection and robust recovery mechanisms. Interactions with elevated carbon dioxide and high temperature influence drought sensitivity; elevated CO₂ may partly mitigate water stress by improving water use efficiency, whereas heat can exacerbate oxidative damage. Understanding these integrated physiological, biochemical and genetic responses underpins breeding of resilient varieties and informs agronomic practices for sustainable coffee production under a changing climate.
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Drought Stress Responses in Coffee Plant Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in drought stress responses in coffee plant systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Highly reactive molecules formed under stress that can damage cellular components unless detoxified by antioxidants.
Abscisic acid (ABA): A plant hormone that regulates stomatal closure and gene expression in response to drought.
Stomatal conductance: A measure of the rate at which CO₂ enters and water vapour exits the leaf through stomata.
Osmotic adjustment: The process by which cells accumulate solutes to maintain turgor and water uptake during dehydration.
Photoprotection: Mechanisms, such as xanthophyll cycling and heat-shock proteins, that prevent light-induced oxidative damage under stress.
References
- Overexpression of Water-Responsive Genes Promoted by Elevated CO2 Reduces ROS and Enhances Drought Tolerance in Coffea Species. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
- Uncovering the wide protective responses in Coffea spp. leaves to single and superimposed exposure of warming and severe water deficit. Frontiers in Plant Science (2024).
- Unraveling Drought Tolerance and Sensitivity in Coffee Genotypes: Insights from Seed Traits, Germination, and Growth-Physiological Responses. Agriculture (2023).
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