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"An analysis of major U.S. crops shows that there is a large genetic potential for yield that is unrealized because of the need for better adaptation of the plants to the environments in which they are grown. Evidence from native populations suggest that high productivity can occur in these environments and that opportunities for improving production in unfavorable environments are substantial. Genotypic selection for adaptation to such environments has already played an important role in agriculture, but the fundamental mechanisms are poorly understood. Recent scientific advances make exploitation of these mechanisms more feasible and could result in large gains in productivity."
Environmental factors (such as drought, heat, cold, salinity, heavy metal and mechanical stresses, and nutrient deficiencies and excesses) result in massive annual global crop yield losses. Research focused on an understanding of plant environmental stress tolerance mechanisms has the potential to greatly benefit world agriculture. These mechanisms are complex, and their elucidation will require a long-term, multi-disciplinary research effort. The objectives of the Center for Plant Environmental Stress Physiology are: (1) to encourage collaborative, interdisciplinary research on plant environmental stress physiology. (2) to seek research and training grants in the area of plant environmental stress physiology for training of outstanding graduate students and post-doctoral fellows in this important research field.
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