Crop Improvement towards Abiotic Stresses: Biochemical, Molecular, and Biotechnological Approaches

Dear Colleagues,

Crop development and yield are largely influenced by abiotic stresses, including deficiency in essential nutrients; excessive heavy metals, light, salinity, chilling, and heat; and drought. Global climate change makes it difficult to address these stressful conditions, which increasingly threaten crop productivity and food security. Although plants have their own mechanisms to cope with such challenges, additional external inputs or genetic modifications can improve their adaptability and survival in the changing climate. In recent years, improvements in genetic engineering, genome editing, and the application of biostimulants (such as beneficial probiotic bacteria or fungi) have had substantial impacts on our comprehension of plant defense against abiotic stresses. To maximize the impact of the conducted research, it is essential to focus on the use of molecular, biochemical, and bioengineering-based approaches to mitigate the detrimental effects of abiotic stresses on crop plants and ensure food security in the changing climate.

In this Special Issue, we welcome research and review articles on (but not limited to): plant responses to the following, either alone or combined: heavy metal toxicity, oxidative stresses, nutrient deficiencies, and toxicity, low or high temperature, light intensity, waterlogging, drought, and salinity. We are particularly interested in articles focusing on genome editing, transgenics, and other biorational approaches to mitigating abiotic stresses in crop production. 

Dr. Mohd. Kamran Khan
Prof. Dr. Tofazzal Islam 
Prof. Dr. Sait Gezgin
Guest Editors

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