The Effect of the Interaction of Citric Acid and Drought on the Growth of Spotted Gum (Corymbia Maculata) Seedlings

Abstract

Context: Abiotic stress, and particularly drought, is a major threat to plant growth generally and world food security specifically and it is important for humanity to come up with ways to reduce the impact of drought and abiotic stress on plant growth. This is particularly important in the context of global climate change. Earlier research by a range of researchers has hinted that the use of cheap citric acid in treating plants may induce enhanced stress response pathways which may assist in enhancing drought tolerance. However, how altered stress response pathways affect plant growth patterns, and how these may affect drought tolerance, has not been well researched.