O déficit hídrico é o principal fator limitante na produtividade das culturas agrícolas. A exposição das plantas a este estresse pode resultar em dano oxidativo devido ao aumento na produção de espécies ativas de oxigênio (EAOs). O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar os efeitos do déficit hídrico, em 20 variedades de cana-deaçúcar, através da resposta do sistema antioxidante. O déficit hídrico foi imposto pela supressão da irrigação durante 3, 10 e 20 dias. A peroxidação lipídica, mensurada através do conteúdo de MDA, e a concentração de peróxido de hidrogênio (H2O2) foram utilizados como indicativos da ocorrência de estresse oxidativo. A resposta do sistema antioxidante variou em função das variedades estudadas e da intensidade do estresse aplicado. Todavia, após 3 dias de supressão da irrigação não ocorreu variação no perfil protéico em SDS-PAGE, no conteúdo de MDA, H2O2, prolina e na atividade das enzimas antioxidantes superóxido dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbato peroxidase (APX), guaiacol peroxidase (GPOX) e glutationa redutase (GR), para a maioria das variedades estudadas. Entretanto, aos 10 dias de supressão da irrigação, com exceção da GR, a maioria das variedades demonstrou incremento nestes parâmetros. Após 20 dias todos os genótipos demonstraram incremento no conteúdo de MDA, em relação ao controle, refletindo os danos causados pelo estresse oxidativo. As variedades que demonstraram redução na atividade das enzimas SOD e APX, 20 dias após a suspensão da irrigação, apresentaram maior incremento na peroxidação lipídica e conteúdo de H2O2. Estes resultados sugerem que sob déficit hídrico moderado, a maioria das variedades foi capaz de induzir a atividade das enzimas antioxidantes. Entretanto, à medida que o déficit hídrico torna-se mais severo pode ocorrer o colapso do sistema de defesa antioxidante, sendo a SOD e APX as enzimas mais afetadas. / Water deficit is the major yield-limiting factor of crop plants. Plant exposure to this abiotic stress can result in oxidative damage due to the over production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The aim of this work was to study the effects of water deficit in 20 sugarcane genotypes in response of the antioxidant system. Water deficit was imposed by withholding irrigation during 3, 10 and 20 days. Lipid peroxidation, measured as MDA content, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was used as oxidative stress markers. Antioxidant system response ranged according to genotypes and stress intensity. After 3 days of withholding irrigation, no variation in protein profile (SDSPAGE), MDA content, H2O2, proline and activity of antioxidant enzymes superoxido dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), guaiacol peroxidase (GPOX) and glutathione reductase (GR) was observed, in the majority of genotypes. However, 10 days after withholding irrigation, the majority of genotypes showed increase in these parameters. After 20 days, all genotypes showed increase in MDA content, compared with control plants, reflecting the damage caused by oxidative stress. Genotypes that showed decrease in the activity of SOD and APX, 20 days after withholding irrigation, presented high increase in lipid peroxidation and H2O2 content. These results suggest that under moderate water deficit, the majority of genotypes were able to induce the activity of antioxidant enzymes. However, as the water deficit became more severe the collapse of antioxidant system can occur, being SOD and APX the more affected enzymes.

Under terminal water deficit, the impact of stem carbohydrate remobilization has greater significance because post-anthesis assimilation is limited, and grain growth depends on translocation of carbohydrate reserves. The working hypothesis of this thesis is that increases in stem carbohydrates facilitate tolerance to terminal drought in wheat. The goals of this thesis are to examine this hypothesis using physiological and genetic tools; identify genes that are related to QTL for stem carbohydrate; work with wheat and barley breeders to integrate findings into the breeding program of the Department of Agricultural and Food Western Australia. The physiological data of three drought experiments (two years in a glasshouse and one year in the field) suggested the maximum level of stem water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) is not consistently related to grain weight, especially, under water deficit. The patterns of WSC accumulation after anthesis differed depending on variety and suggested that WSC degradation and translocation have different genetic determinants. Most of the carbohydrates in stem WSC in wheat are fructans. Because 1-FEH gene was an important gene in fructan degradation, the three copies of this gene (1-FEH w1, 1-FEH w2 and 1-FEH w3) were isolated from the respective genomes of bread wheat. In addition, the genes were mapped to chromosome locations and coincided with QTL for grain weight. The results of gene expression studies show that 1-FEH w3 had significantly higher levels in the stem and sheath which negatively corresponded to the level of stem WSC in two wheat varieties in both water-deficit and well-watered treatments. Strikingly, the 1-FEH w3 appeared to be activated by water deficit in Westonia but not in Kauz. The results suggest that stem WSC level is not, on its own, a reliable criterion to identify potential grain yield in wheat exposed to water deficit during grain filling. The expression of 1-FEH w3 may provide a better indicator when linked to instantaneous water use efficiency, osmotic potential and green leaf retention, and this requires validation in field grown plants. In view of the location of the contribution to grain filling of stem WSC, this is a potential candidate gene contributing to grain filling. The numerous differences of intron sequences of 1-FEH genes would provide more opportunities to find markers associated with the QTL. A new FEH gene was partially isolated from Chinese Spring and the sequence was closely related to 1-FEH genes. This gene, FEH w4, was mapped to 6AS using Chinese Spring deletion bin lines. The polymorphism of this gene was found between different bread varieties using PCRs and RFLPs, and this allowed the gene to be mapped to two populations of Hanxuan 10 × Lumai 14 and Cranbrook × Halberd. In the population of Hanxuan 10 × Lumai 14, it was close to SSR marker xgwm334 and wmc297 where the QTL of thousand grain weight and grain filling efficiency were located. This result indicated this gene might be another possible candidate gene for grain weight and grain filling in wheat.

The homeodomain leucine zipper (HDZip) proteins constitute a plant-specific family of transcription factors, that based on sequence criteria have been grouped into four classes, HDZip I-IV. This thesis describes the phylogeny, function, expression patterns and regulation of the HDZip class I genes in the model species Arabidopsis thaliana. The phylogenetic analyses, traced duplication history and exon/intron organisation of the 17 class I genes in Arabidopsis show that the genes form six monophyletic groups, clades, with an origin in early plant evolution. All genes are expressed in broad tissue distribution patterns and the majority are responsive to water availability and/or light conditions. The expression of the genes show different patterns and dependence on environmental stress conditions, indicating evolutionary changes within and between clades. Ectopic expression of the genes suggest that they regulate genes in part by conserved mechanisms. Therefore, different functional roles seem to have evolved by a divergence mainly in the regulatory properties of the genes. Detailed expression analyses of the paralogous HDZip I genes ATHB7 and ATHB12 show that they have essentially overlapping patterns of activity in response to abscisic acid, ABA, or water deficit in leaves, stems and roots. The water deficit response of ATHB7 and -12 is mediated by ABA and depends on the protein phosphateses ABI1 and ABI2. Transgenic plants with ectopic expression of ATHB7 and/or -12, and athb7 and athb12 mutants, reveal that the genes in roots mediate the growth inhibitory effects of ABA. In this aspect of their function they do not overlap. In leaves and stems, the genes might act as growth regulators redundantly with other factors. Taken together these data suggest that ATHB7 and -12 regulate growth in response water deficit and that other HDZip I genes have related functions in response to environmental stress conditions.

Den produktiva skogsarealen i Sverige som är grandominerad utgörs av 9,5 miljoner ha(Skogsstyrelsen 2011). Varav knappt 0,2 miljoner ha står på torr mark (personlig kommunikation Göran Kämpe, 2015). Problematiken i södra Sverige är att gran planteras på allt för torra marker, eftersom att tall anses för osäkert pga av betestrycket av vilt.  I undersökningen utreds om och när tillväxten avtar för granen på torrare marker i sydöstra Sverige med hjälp av bestämning av ståndortsindex (SI).  Höjdtillväxten har, med hjälp av borrning/kapning på olika trädhöjder, rekonstruerats i granbestånd för en hel omloppstid. Detta har utförts på två olika lokaler där tall hade varit det naturliga valet och där granen bedöms lida av vattenbrist. Fokusområdet är ifall höjdtillväxten och SI avtar för granen på tall/torra marker under omloppstiden, som kan ses som en indikation på granknytning. Resultatet visar att granbestånden har ett betydligt högre ståndortindex i ungskogsfasen jämfört med när beståndet är äldre.  Under omloppstiden visar det sig att ståndortindexen ändrar sig vid två tillfällen under granbeståndets livslängd, eventuell vattenbrist uppstår. Bestämning av SI visade att bestånden motsvarade en G30 i ungskogsfasen men vid slutavverkning hade det sjunkit till en G24. / Today we know that 9,5 million hectares of productive forest land in Sweden consists of Norway spruce (Skogsstyrelsen 2011), of which almost 0.2 million hectares are standing on dry land with low moisture content (personal, communication Göran Kämpe, 2015). The problem today in southern Sweden is that Norway spruce is planted on arid lands, because that pine is considered unsafe due to damage on young plants done by wild animals. The study investigates if and when growth slows down for spruce on arid lands in south-eastern of Sweden, based on determination of a site index (SI) for a whole rotation. In order to determine SI, increment cores/cutting at different tree height has been conducted. It compares the height growth of spruce stands during the rotation period, on land where the pine had been the natural choice and where the spruce likely suffers from a water deficit. The focus area of this study is if height growth and SI declines with age as an indication of water deficit in older stands. The boundaries are the economic part. The result shows that the spruce stands had a considerably higher site index at an early age, compared when it reaches older ages. During the rotation period, it turns out that site index drops twice during the rotation period, when a possible water deficit occurs. Calculations of the site index show that SI of G30 in the young stand but at time for clear-felling, it drops to a G24.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Late Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA) genes have been irrefutably linked to the osmotic stress response since their initial discovery in maturing cotton seeds. They have since been reported from a multitude of other organism where their occurrence is often associated with general responses to abiotic stress. Many studies have been conducted using LEA genes in over expression strategies to improve abiotic stress resistance. Of the known classes of LEAs, the group 1 LEAs have been widely reported, in plants, to only occur in seeds during late stages of development. Their expression coincides with the seeds acquisition of desiccation tolerance. In this thesis we present a group 1 LEA isolated from the desiccated vegetative tissues (leaves) of the resurrection plant Xerophyta humilis. Using E.coli and Arabidopsis we attempted to use XhLEA to improve salt and water deficit stress-responses, respectively. To this end we conducted soil-drought trials on two independent transgenic Arabidopsis lines expressing XhLEA under a drought inducible-promoter and monitored their responses as compared to untransformed WT (Col-0 ) controls. Solid substrate E.coli growth assays and liquid media growth curves under both stress and unstressed conditions were conducted. We found no obvious beneficial effect through the expression of XhLEA in either of the organisms. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar

A l’échelle du globe, la diminution des ressources en eau est devenue un des principaux facteurs limitants pour les productions agricoles. Jusqu’à présent, les approches génomiques à haut débit conduites chez les espèces modèles ont permis d’identifier des centaines de gènes potentiellement impliqués dans la survie des plantes en conditions de sécheresse,mais très peu ont des effets bénéfiques sur la qualité et le rendement des cultures.Néanmoins, l’application d’un déficit hydrique bien contrôlé peut permettre d’améliorer la qualité des fruits charnus par dilution et/ou accumulation de composés gustatifs majeurs.Dans ce contexte, la première partie du travail de thèse avait pour but de déchiffrer les déterminants génétiques de la réponse au déficit hydrique chez la tomate en explorant les interactions ‘génotype x niveau d’irrigation’ (G x I) et ‘QTL x niveau d’irrigation’ (QTL x I) dans deux populations. La première population consistait en un ensemble de lignées recombinantes (RIL) issues du croisement entre deux accessions cultivées, tandis que la seconde était composée de diverses accessions à petits fruits principalement originaires d'Amérique du Sud. Les plantes ont été phénotypées pour un ensemble de caractères agronomiques (vigueur des plantes et qualité des fruits) et génotypées pour des milliers de SNP. Les données ont été analysées en utilisant les méthodologies de la cartographie de liaison et d'association, permettant l'identification de QTL et gènes candidats putatifs pour la réponse de la tomate au déficit hydrique. La deuxième partie du travail de thèse avait pour objectif d'explorer la régulation des gènes dans les fruits et les feuilles de tomates en condition de déficit hydrique. Dans ce but, des données de séquençage du transcriptome ont été recueillies sur les deux génotypes parentaux de la population RIL et leur hybride F1. Les données ont été analysées pour identifier les gènes et les allèles exprimés de manière différentielle. Puis, l'expression de 200 gènes a été mesurée dans les fruits et les feuilles de l’ensemble des lignées de la population RIL par qPCR micro-fluidique à haut débit. Des eQTL et des interactions ‘eQTL x niveau d’irrigation’ ont été identifiés pour ces gènes par cartographie de liaison. Les colocalisations entre les QTL phénotypiques et les QTL d’expression ont été analysées. Les connaissances produites au cours de cette thèse contribuent à une meilleure compréhension des interactions des plantes de tomate avec leur environnement et fournissent des bases pour l'amélioration de la qualité des fruits en conditions d’irrigation limitée. / Water scarcity will constitute a crucial constraint for agricultural productivity in a nearfuture. High throughput approaches in model species have identified hundreds of genespotentially involved in survival under drought conditions, but very few having beneficialeffects on quality and yield in crops plants. Nonetheless, controlled water deficits mayimprove fleshy fruit quality through weaker dilution and/or accumulation of nutritionalcompounds. In this context, the first part of the PhD was aimed at deciphering the geneticdeterminants of the phenotypic response to water deficit in tomato by exploring thegenotype by watering regime (G x W) and QTL by watering regime (QTL x W) interactions intwo populations. The first population consisted in recombinant inbreed lines (RIL) from across between two cultivated accessions and the second was composed of diverse small fruittomato accessions mostly native from South America. Plants were phenotyped for majorplant and fruit quality traits and genotyped for thousands of SNP. Data were analyzed withinthe linkage and association mapping frameworks allowing the identification of QTLs andputative candidate genes for response to water deficit in tomato. The second part of the PhDhad the objective to explore gene regulation in green fruit and leaves of tomato plantsstressed by water deficit. For this purpose, RNA-Seq data were collected on the two parentalgenotypes of the RIL population and their F1 hybrid. Data were analyzed to identifydifferentially expressed genes and allele specific expression (ASE). Then, the expression of200 genes was measured in leaves and fruits of the whole RIL population by high throughputmicrofluidic qPCR. eQTLs and eQTL by watering regime interactions were mapped for thosegenes using linkage mapping. Colocalisations with the phenotypic QTLs were analyzed. Theknowledge produced during this PhD will contribute to a better understanding of the tomatoplant interaction with their environment and provide bases for improvement of fruit qualityunder limited water supply.

Orientador: Sonia Marli Zingaretti / Banca: Julio Cezar Franco de Oliveira / Banca: Mozart de Azevedo Marins / Banca: Janete Apparecido Desiderio Sena / Banca: Eliana Gertrudes Macedo Lemos / Resumo: A seca é o principal estresse abiótico que afeta a produtividade das plantas. Para detectar os genes expressos sob condições de deficiência hídrica foi desenvolvido um estudo de expressão gênica usando plantas de cana-de-açúcar tolerantes (cv. SP83-5073) e sensíveis (cv. SP90-1638) à seca. A metodologia de macroarranjos de DNA foi empregada para monitorar a expressão gênica de 3.575 clones de folhas de cana-de-açúcar e os resultados foram confirmados por PCR quantitativo. Na cultivar tolerante 165 genes foram identificados em resposta ao déficit hídrico severo, em contraste à cultivar sensível, na qual um maior número de genes (n = 432) foi diferencialmente expresso ao longo do tratamento de deficiência hídrica. A cultivar tolerante ativou um menor número de genes em função do déficit hídrico aplicado. No entanto, 94% destes genes foram induzidos, enquanto na cultivar sensível 45% dos genes diferencialmente expressos foram reprimidos sob condições de deficiência hídrica. Comparando os perfis de expressão identificados em cada planta verifica-se que aproximadamente 55% dos genes expressos na cultivar tolerante também foram comuns à cultivar sensível, a maioria exibindo um perfil de expressão muito similar entre os genes induzidos. A classificação funcional dos genes foi realizada com base no papel exercido pela proteína no metabolismo celular, e mostrou que importantes vias metabólicas relacionadas ao déficit hídrico foram reprimidas na resposta das plantas sensíveis à seca. Além disso, 50% dos transcritos identificados em cada cultivar representam novos genes, os quais não estão descritos nos bancos de dados ou cuja função ainda não foi caracterizada / Abstract: Drought is a major abiotic stress that affects the plant productivity. To detect expressed genes under drought conditions, a gene expression study using tolerant (SP83-5073) and sensitive (SP90-1638) sugarcane plants was performed. Macroarray methodology was used to monitor the gene expression profile of the 3,575 cDNA clones from sugarcane leaves and the results were confirmed by real time PCR analysis. For the tolerant cultivar 165 genes were identified in response to severe water stress, contrasting with sensitive cultivar, in which a higher number of genes (n = 432) were responsive to the stress-treatment. Tolerant cultivar expressed a few genes in stress conditions. However 94% of them were induced, while for sensitive cultivar 45% of the differentially expressed genes were down-regulated under water stress conditions. Comparing the gene expression profiles identified in each cultivar, it is possible to verify that 55% of the expressed genes in tolerant cultivar were also observed in sensitive cultivar, the majority showing a very similar gene expression pattern. Functional gene classification was performed according to roles in cellular metabolism, and showed that important drought-pathways were repressed in sensitive plants response. Besides, 50% of the identified transcripts in each cultivar represent novel genes, which were not described in databases or whose functions were not characterized yet / Doutor

As respostas das plantas medicinais as diversas técnicas de manejo da irrigação são pouco conhecidas. Os efeitos da irrigação complementar e suplementar na produtividade das plantas medicinais é de interesse para a industria farmacéutica. A flora brasileira é uma das mais ricas da Terra e neste conjunto de plantas existem espécies medicinais de alto valor com aptidão farmacêutica e bioquímica. Dentre elas está a carqueja, uma planta brasileira conhecida popularmente pelo seu chá com efeito emagrecedor. O objetivo do trabalho foi verificar as respostas da carqueja frente ao manejo da irrigação via clima em ambiente protegido. Em casa de vegetação, foram realizados dois experimentos em vasos de 11 L. O primeiro ensaio foi realizado no período primavera/verão de 2015/2016 e o segundo ensaio no outono/inverno de 2016. Foi adotado o delineamento em blocos casualizados composto por seis níveis de reposição hídrica (25, 50, 75, 100, 125 e 150% da ETo) e 6 repetições, totalizando 36 parcelas. Foi adotado o sistema de irrigação localizada por gotejamento. O conteúdo de água no solo foi monitorado por meio da refletectometria no domínio do tempo. O monitoramento meteorológico foi realizado por meio de uma estação meteorológica automática com datalogger. Após o transplantio das mudas foram realizadas três colheitas, realizando a avaliação das plantas cultivadas, por meio da determinação da biomassa, biometria, produtividade da água e teor do óleo essencial extraído por hidrodestilação. A cultura da carqueja (Baccharis crispa Spreng.) apresentou uma resposta diferencial aos níveis de reposição hídrica, nas diferentes colheitas, no período primavera/verão. O maior aumento da biomassa se obervou no ciclo primavera/verão aos 95 dias após o transplantio (DAT). A deficiência hídrica afetou em menor proporção às plantas submetidas ao nível de reposição hídrica de 75% em ambos ciclos. A maior produção de biomassa seca foi obtda aos 95 DAT no ciclo primavera/verão e o teor de óleo essencial no tratamento 75% de reposição hídrica no ciclo primavera/verão aos 205 DAT. / The responses of medicinal plants to the various techniques of irrigation management are little known. The effects of supplementary and supplemental irrigation on the productivity of medicinal plants is of interest to the pharmaceutical industry. The Brazilian flora is one of the richest on Earth and in this set of plants has high value as medicinal species with pharmaceutical and biochemical aptitude. Among them is the carqueja, a Brazilian plant popularly known for its tea with a slimming effect. The objective of the study was to verify the responses of the carqueja to the management of irrigation through climate in a protected environment. In the greenhouse, two experiments were carried out in 11 L pots. The first test was performed in the spring / summer of 2015/2016 and the second in the fall / winter of 2016. A randomized block design was adopted, consisting of six water replacement level (25, 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150% of ETo) and 6 replicates, totaling 36 plots in the greenhouse. Drip irrigation system was adopted. The water content in the soil was monitored by time domain reflectectometry and the meteorological monitoring will be done by means of an automatic weather station with datalogger. After the transplanting of the seedlings, three harvests were carried out evaluating the cultivated plants, through determination of the biomass, biometry, water productivity and essential oil content extracted by hydrodistillation. The Baccharis crispa Spreng. presented a differential response to water replacement levels, in the different harvests, in the spring/summer period. The greatest development of the crop was observed in the summer spring cycle at 95 DAP. The water deficiency affected to a lesser extent the plants submitted to the water replacement level of 75% in both cycles. The highest dry biomass production at 95 DAP in the spring/summer cycle and the essential oil content in the treatment 75% of water replacement in the spring / summer cycle at 205 DAP.

Brazil is currently the world's largest producer of sugar cane, and the state of Alagoas one of the main producers, and economically dependent on your system agroindustrial. The future expectations of the culture in Brazil are favorable to the expansion through increased productivity through new technologies, aiming to maximize the production and minimize costs. As a semi-perennial plant, culture suffers the influence of climate variations throughout the year, and the availability of water the main factor causing the variability in productivity, year by year. The objective of the study was to identify the demand water for the crop at different stages of their development (through empirical equations), identifying the phases where culture will be more strongly affected by the lack of water (water deficit), making the water balance, and calculate the probability of attendance water demand. The meteorological data were obtained from the Meteorological Station of the Experimental Area Campus Delza Gitaí, Rio Largo AL. Taking into consideration the conditions analyzed, the results of the study allowed to obtain the following conclusions: (a) it is possible to establish the water deficits in the various stages of development of culture, these can be used in decision-making related to periods of planting, optimization of irrigation, among others. (B) It was possible through the empirical equations, establishes values of the variables necessary as Evapotranspiration Potential (ETP), coefficient of Culture (KC), Evapotranspiration Maximum (ETM), and could apply to data the distribution of probability range, with results satisfactory. (C) The probability of attendance of water demand for the planting of the month of June showed to be the most feasible considering the cycle of cane plant and their new cycle. / O Brasil é atualmente o maior produtor mundial de cana-de-açúcar, sendo o estado de Alagoas uns dos principais produtores, e dependente economicamente do seu sistema agroindustrial. As expectativas futuras da cultura no Brasil são favoráveis à expansão, por meio de ganhos de produtividade, através de novas tecnologias, visando à maximização da produção, e à minimização dos custos. Por ser uma planta semi-perene, a cultura sofre a influência das variações climáticas durante todo o ano, sendo a disponibilidade de água o principal fator causador da variabilidade da produtividade, ano a ano. O objetivo do trabalho consistiu em identificar a demanda hídrica para a cultura nas diferentes fases do seu desenvolvimento (através de equações empíricas), identificando as fases onde a cultura será mais fortemente afetada pela ausência de água (déficit hídrico), efetuar o balanço hídrico climatológico, e calcular a probabilidade de atendimento da demanda hídrica. Os dados meteorológicos utilizados foram obtidos na Estação Meteorológica da Área Experimental do Campus Delza Gitaí, Rio Largo AL. Levando-se em consideração as condições analisadas, os resultados do estudo permitiram obter as seguintes conclusões: (a) é possível estabelecer os déficits hídricos nas diferentes fases de desenvolvimento da cultura, podendo esses ser utilizados nas tomadas de decisões relacionadas aos períodos de plantio, otimização da irrigação, entre outros. (b) Foi possível através das equações empíricas, estabelecerem valores das variáveis necessárias como Evapotranspiração Potencial (ETP), Coeficiente de Cultura (KC), Evapotranspiração Máxima (ETM), bem como foi possível aplicar aos dados a distribuição de probabilidade gama incompleta, com resultados satisfatórios. (c) A probabilidade de atendimento da demanda hídrica para o plantio do mês de junho apresentou-se a mais viável considerando o ciclo da cana planta e da sua respectiva soca.

The negative impact of climate change on agricultural production is consistently increasing all over the world. As a result of these changes, the yields of some crops have been decreasing. The main problems include frequent weather changes, especially long periods of drought accompanied by high temperatures. The aim of this diploma thesis was to assess the effect of water deficit on offshoot germination and longevity of selected species of grasses and clovers. The evaluation of resistance to water deficit was carried out using both laboratory and pot experiments. The results of these experiments were used to evaluate the drought resistance of the tested species of grasses and legumes. Based on the proven drought resistance, appropriate species and varieties have been recommended for cultivation in conditions of water deficit. The issue of drought resistance is to be paid more and more attention in the future. According to most forecasts, increasingly long periods of drought are likely to occur. For this reason, there will be the need for crops and varieties that best resist to various abiotic stresses.