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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #303930
Title: Abiotic stress in crops: candidate genes, osmolytes, polyamines and biotechnological intervention

Author
item Mattoo, Autar
item UPADHYAY, RAKESH - Pennsylvania State University
item RUDRABHATLA, SAIRAM - Pennsylvania State University

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/18/2015
Publication Date: 4/28/2015
Citation: Mattoo, A.K., Upadhyay, R.K., Rudrabhatla, S. 2015. In: Pandey, G.K., editor. Abiotic stress in crops: candidate genes, osmolytes, polyamines and biotechnological intervention. Elucidation of Abiotic Stress Signalling in Plants: Functional Genomics Perspective. New York, NY: Springer Scientific and Business Media. 2:415-437.

Interpretive Summary: Abiotic stresses are a major detriment to crop productivity and quality. Plants respond to environmental stresses in many different ways. Several genetic players in such responses have been identified and characterized. Among these are marker genes, transcription factors, and effective small molecules including osmolytes and polyamines. Together they provide candidacy and valuable indicators to be explored in building endogenous tolerance/resistance to individual or groups of different stresses that plants encounter in agricultural production systems on a daily basis. Efforts to critically mine gene function should be expanded to define which approach will enhance which crop and crop management practice. A systems biology approach, data mining and clustering patterns of transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data addressing abiotic stress responses is needed to translate basic research into field application. Critical, controlled and highly monitored field trials are required to enlist agriculturists to bring this bounty to the farmer. This invited book chapter summarizes the body of literature in light of future needs and will be of interest to molecular biologists, biotechnologists, plant physiologists and agronomists.

Technical Abstract: Agricultural production and quality are adversely affected by various abiotic stresses including water deficit conditions (drought), salinity, extreme temperatures (heat, cold), light intensities beyond those saturating for photosynthesis and radiation (UVB,C). This is exacerbated when such exposure occurs during seed germination and reproductive phases of development. Estimates of crop losses can amount to billions of US dollars worldwide. To prevent such losses it is necessary to develop stress-tolerant crops. One approach is to identify resistant germplasm using breeding strategies assisted by molecular markers and transfer those attributes to sensitive varieties, but this approach takes considerable time. Introduction of genes that can improve stress tolerance in crops against heat, drought and salinity is a relatively more effective technology. In this regard, the scientific community is well placed since a number of critical genes, particularly transcription factors that regulate gene expression in response to environmental stress, have been identified and the proof-of-the-concept validated. Translation of the technology into major crops (rice, wheat, sorghum and maize) and vegetable/fruit crops is the need of the times.