Abstract

Plants might perceive the stresses in different ways such as by sensors, receptors, elevated calcium concentrations, and changing membrane fluidity. Stress perception and signaling is translated into biochemical reactions, metabolic adjustments and altered physiological state. Thus, plants have evolved mechanisms by which they can counteract these stresses. Consequently, there exists a complex signal network underlying plant adaptation to these adverse environmental conditions. Knowledge about the signal transduction pathways induced by the stresses is essential to develop plants with properties of high tolerance against abiotic and biotic stresses. The progress in our understanding of the signaling pathways, leading from the environmental stimulus to the end response in plant, has been rapid over recent years through interdisciplinary studies. Nevertheless, a complete understanding of all the elements linked with perception and recognition of environmental stresses in plants is yet to be achieved.  Our research group has the main goal of elucidating the signal perception and transduction pathways associated with abiotic stresses. A combined use of genetic, genomic, biochemical and cell biological techniques will be made to identify the sensors and receptors that perceive the environmental signals. This will lead to a greater understanding of the abiotic stress pathways and the corresponding sensors and receptors involved, elucidating exactly how these proteins operate to perceive the environmental signals and relay information down-stream of the signal transduction pathway. Details pertaining to these experiments will be presented to highlight the importance of systems biology approach in deciphering the complex traits such as abiotic stresses.