Mechanisms of Adaptation of Trees and Shrubs to Dry and Hot Environments

Dear Colleagues,

Arid lands of the Earth provide hard environments for the existence of plant species. Nevertheless, many trees and shrubs survive in areas under severe combinations of low precipitation and high temperatures, both throughout the year (as in many arid lands permanently under high atmospheric pressure) and in the form of a dry season (as in areas under a Mediterranean-type climate). The climatic change will exacerbate this situation, by increasing the severity of the drought, the length of the aridity period or the extension of the arid territories in the world.

Dry and hot atmospheres, with a high vapor pressure deficit, impose conditions of extreme gradients between the plant leaf and the surrounding air, while sunny days impose a high radiation load with a negative effect in the leaf functioning. Without water to be transpired through the plant, the mechanisms to cope with these environmental conditions are limited.

Woody plants, both trees and shrubs, from many plant families have been able to withstand this adverse circumstance. This Special Issue should serve to increase the knowledge of the mechanisms (physiological, morphoanatomical, phenological, etc.) that plants living in these arid and hot territories develop. Moreover, predictions about the incidence of climatic change on the synergetic effect of high temperature and aridity at a global scale will also be welcome.

The close link between both factors inducing a limitation for plants living in arid and hot territories should be of special interest for this issue.

Research papers reflecting the results of experimental designs, ecological surveys describing the response of plants in their natural areas, and review papers revisiting classical concepts or suggesting new ideas will be welcome in this issue.

Dr. Eustaquio Gil-Pelegrín
Dr. Giovanbattista De Dato
Guest Editors

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