Chapters authored
Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Wheat: Genome to Field
Nitrogen (N), being the most limiting macroelement for optimal plant growth and development needs synthetic N fertilizer usage for uplifting crop yields; nevertheless, an excessive and inefficient use of N fertilizer is a global concern incurring high production costs, environment pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. Hence, developing crop plants with high nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is an essential research target to achieve a better agricultural sustainability. NUE being a complex trait depends on our understanding of genetics (G), environment (E), management (M), and their interrelationships (G x E x M). NUE improvement is preceded by key processes such as nitrogen capture, utilization efficiency, nitrogen partitioning, trade-offs between yield and quality aspects, as well as interactions with the capture and utilization of other nutrients. An in-depth knowledge can be attained on NUE mechanisms through the UK Wheat Genetic Improvement Network project (http://www.wgin.org.uk/) using an integrated strategy that look into the physiological, metabolic, molecular, and genetic aspects influencing NUE in wheat. The current book chapter highlights the recent progress in understanding and improving NUE in wheat, focussing on N impact on plant morphology and agronomic performances, using a combination of approaches, including whole-plant physiology and quantitative, forward and reverse genetics.
Part of the book: Wheat
Perspective Chapter: Effect of Low-Temperature Stress on Plant Performance and Adaptation to Temperature Change
Low-temperatures (LT) stress is one of the abiotic stresses in plants that affect cell survival, cell division, photosynthesis, and water transport, negatively affecting plant growth, and eventually constraining crop productivity. LT stress is categorized as, (i) chilling stress where low temperature (0–15°C) causes injury without ice crystal formation in plant tissues, and (ii) freezing stress (<0°C), where ice formation occurs within plant tissues. Both stresses are together termed low temperature or cold stress. In general, plants originating from tropical and subtropical regions are sensitive to LT, whereas temperate plants showed chilling tolerance to variable degrees. Low-temperature stress negatively impacts plants, may affect the survival rate of crop plants, and also affect various processes, including cell division, photosynthesis, plant growth, development, metabolism, and finally reduce the yield of crop plants, especially in the tropics and subtropics. To overcome stress generated by low-temperature exposure, plants trigger a cascade of events that enhance their tolerance by gene expression changes and activation of the ROS scavenging system, thus inducing biochemical and physiological modifications. In this chapter, a detailed discussion of different changes in plants and their tolerance mechanism is done to understand the plant’s response under LT stress.
Part of the book: Plant Abiotic Stress Responses and Tolerance Mechanisms