Drought Resistance in Grewia and Acacia Species

Drought remains a major environmental stress, significantly reducing crop productivity and threatening the livelihood of farmers. Water scarcity is a critical challenge, as plants depend on moisture for survival and growth. Consequently, the ability of plants to maintain their internal water balance becomes vital under conditions of water stress. In response to drought, plants employ various physiological and biochemical mechanisms to preserve water and maintain cellular integrity. One such mechanism involves the accumulation of compatible solutes like glycine betaine and proline, which help stabilize cellular structures and protect against oxidative damage. The study on the drought-tolerant species Grewia tenax, Grewia asiatica, and Acacia nilotica revealed significant differences in their biochemical responses to water stress. Grewia tenax stood out with a remarkable 41.83% increase in glycine betaine concentration, indicating its strong adaptive response to drought conditions. Similarly, Grewia asiatica exhibited a 25% increase in glycine betaine, further supporting its drought resilience. However, Acacia nilotica, typically known for its drought tolerance, displayed an unexpected 433.33% decrease in glycine betaine concentration, suggesting that its biochemical response to drought may be more complex or less effective under the specific conditions studied. Proline, another important osmolyte, also showed varying responses across the species. Grewia tenax displayed an 87.5% increase in proline concentration, further reinforcing its drought tolerance. In contrast, Acacia nilotica showed a decrease of 40.14%, highlighting that its ability to cope with drought might differ depending on the stress level or environmental conditions. These findings emphasize the potential of Grewia tenax as a key species for drought-prone areas, where its biochemical responses can be harnessed for agricultural and ecological applications.