biostudies-literatureUnknown24(1)Khapte PS<h4>Background</h4>Climate change exacerbates abiotic stresses, which are expected to intensify their impact on crop plants. Drought, the most prevalent abiotic stress, significantly affects agricultural production worldwide. Improving eggplant varieties to withstand abiotic stress is vital due to rising drought from climate change. Despite the diversity of wild eggplant species that thrive under harsh conditions, the understanding of their drought tolerance mechanisms remains limited. In the present study, we used chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlaF) imaging, which reveals a plant's photosynthetic health, to investigate desiccation tolerance in eggplant and its wild relatives. Conventional fluorescence measurements lack spatial heterogeneity, whereas ChlaF imaging offers comprehensive insightBMC plant biology702https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11270916biostudies-literatureDeciphering desiccation tolerance in wild eggplant species: insights from chlorophyll fluorescence dynamics.PMC11270916Singh AKReddy KSKhapte PSRane JSingh THKumar PChangan SSfalseDeciphering desiccation tolerance in wild eggplant species: insights from chlorophyll fluorescence dynamics.<h4>Background</h4>Climate change exacerbates abiotic stresses, which are expected to intensify their impact on crop plants. Drought, the most prevalent abiotic stress, significantly affects agricultural production worldwide. Improving eggplant varieties to withstand abiotic stress is vital due to rising drought from climate change. Despite the diversity of wild eggplant species that thrive under harsh conditions, the understanding of their drought tolerance mechanisms remains limited. In the present study, we used chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlaF) imaging, which reveals a plant's photosynthetic health, to investigate desiccation tolerance in eggplant and its wild relatives. Conventional fluorescence measurements lack spatial heterogeneity, whereas ChlaF imaging offers comprehensive insight2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Jul2026-03-31T11:01:02.326Z2025-08-31T03:04:51.812ZS-EPMC112709163905443910.1186/s12870-024-05430-9