**4. Genetic elements associated with drought resistance**

Drought resistance is a complex trait/phenomenon [14]. Some people think that it is not an individual trait and refers to the response of a plant/crop to an environmental condition. Purported complexity of the trait deterred many scientists to work on the trait in several crops. Most of the investment in the green revolution era was focused on favorable habitats. The research investment in terms of time, effort and funds on unfavorable habitats was significantly less compared to the favorable ones and this was due to the high rate of returns on the investment (in the private sector). One of the favorite arguments extolling the difficulty in breeding for drought resistance was that the genetic basis of the trait was not discerned and that it was controlled by many traits. In fact literature is replete with many reasons to almost dissuading a not so determined breeder/researcher.

As an avocation, breeding for any trait can be done irrespective of the complexity of the trait. Neither is it necessary to fully understand the trait's inheritance. Crop improvement can be accomplished in spite of this. The argument is amply exemplified by the rapid strides and break-through accomplished in the 1. Semi-dwarfism, 2. Heterosis 3. Development of synthetic varieties of *Triticum aestivum,*L. and 4. Continuous improvements in grain yield and quality parameters across crops over years Table 2. In all cases listed above, one common issue is that the genetic basis is still not 'clear'. While concerted efforts are underway in several crops to discern the mode of action, number of genes governing the trait, the promoters, QTLs, etc., plant breeders have gone ahead and improved each one of the traits.


**Table 2.** Traits for which genetics has not been discerned but have been subject of continued improvement over decades.
