Considering global climate change, drought is the major constraint to cultivation of crops including wheat, which is fundamental for staple human and animal nutrition. This situation leads to reduced crop yields and quality, resulting in a huge impact on the economy worldwide. Our objective was to recognise the most effective response strategy to foliar stress in wheat seedlings, using anatomical, morphological and physiological analyses. This information will help devise strategies for making crops resilient to abiotic stress (drought) linked with climate change.

Strigolactones (SLs) play a role in the suppression of shoot branching. Here, we confirm that the coordinated phytohormonal regulation on rice (Oryza sativa) tillering is affected by endogenous ascorbic acid (Asc). We conclude that Asc or Asc/DHA may affect the coordinated regulation of SL, and the phytohormones indole acetic acid (IAA) and cytokinin (CTK) on rice tillering by regulating the expression of key genes and enzyme concentration in signal transduction, synthesis and transport of these phytohormones.

Seed germination and seedling vigour are the important traits for sweet corn productivity. Here, we analysed the effect of (1) β-carotene hydroxylase1 (crtRB1), (2) opaque2 (o2) and (3) o2 + crtRB1 genes on nutritional quality, germination, seed vigour and physico-biochemical traits in a set of 27 biofortified sh2-based sweet corn inbreds. The o2 + crtRB1-based sweet corn inbreds were found to be the most desirable for nutritional quality, germination and seed vigour over the crtRB1- and o2-based inbreds alone.

Global ambient mean temperature will rise by approximately 0.3 and 1°C per decade for years 2025 and 2100, respectively. More than 40% of total wheat area in the world is affected by high temperature stress. This study identified that upregulation of TaHSP90A gene in wheat may enhance heat tolerance and increase yield up to 20–30%. Hence, it paves the way to exploit such genes to develop wheat varieties with high yields and better tolerance to heat stress under changing climate conditions.

This article belongs to the Collection Functional Genomics for Developing Climate Resilient Crops.

Pinellia ternata is an important natural medicinal plant in China. However studies in P. ternata is largely limited owing to the lack of available genomic information. In this study, we assembled and annotated the mitogenome of P. ternata and performed extensive analyses based on the DNA and amino acid sequences of the annotated genes. Our study makes a significant contribution to the literature because it fills a gap in genomic research on P. ternata and the Araceae family.

This review discusses the benefits of biochar in remediating soils contaminated with heavy metals. Biochar has unique qualities to trap and neutralise heavy metals that adversely affect soil properties. It boosts soil quality by retaining nutrients, increasing microbial activity, and enhancing overall soil fertility. These findings suggest that biochar may be an affordable, and eco-friendly option for remediating soils contaminated with heavy metals to support more sustainable agriculture practices.

This article belongs to the Collection Functional Genomics for Developing Climate Resilient Crops.

Under elevated ozone (O₃) levels, three Abelmoschus cytotypes (Abelmoschus moschatus, monoploid; Abelmoschus esculentus, diploid; Abelmoschus caillei, triploid) showed differential responses. In terms of growth, physiology ultrastructure, foliar protein profile, biomass and yield, the monoploid cytotypes exhibited severe reduction compared to its counterparts having higher ploidy under elevated O₃ condition. This study offers crucial data that can be used further to improve plants’ ability to tolerate O₃ stress.

Melatonin is a natural substance found in plants, animals, and microbes. It is produced in similar ways in microbes and animals, but differently in plants. Scientists have used a plant called Arabidopsis thaliana to study how melatonin helps plants resist both environmental and biological stresses.

This article belongs to the Collection Functional Genomics for Developing Climate Resilient Crops.

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) is a significant legume crop, and its development, growth, yield and quality is affected by salinity. Salinity also has an impact on the physiological and biochemical processes in chickpeas, including respiration, photosynthesis, transpiration and enzyme activity. To better understand the molecular makeup and biological capabilities of protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) genes in chickpeas, we characterised the first genome-wide, phylogenetic analysis and expression profiling of C. arietinum PDI genes (CaPDIs) under salt stress.

This article belongs to the Collection Functional Genomics for Developing Climate Resilience Crops.

Leaves, flowers and pods of pigeonpea (Cajunus cajan) damaged by spotted pod borer (Maruca vitrata) can result in severe yield losses. Defence mechanism in pigeonpea against pod borer infestation must be identified in order to develop resistant cultivars for increasing yield and crop protection in future. Upregulation of the glyoxalase pathway in AL1747 pigeonpea genotype played a key impact in resistance to pod borer by minimising pod borer induced damage to leaves, flowers and pods.

Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is used for animal feed, and production of alcoholic beverages and food. Lodging reduces the yield up to 80% and decreases the grain quality and can be overcome through introduction of semi-dwarfing genes. Approximately 20% yield gain can be achieved through development of semi-dwarf lodging-resistant varieties adapted to climate change specifically for marginal areas will be beneficial.

This article belongs to the Collection Functional Genomics for Developing Climate Resilient Crops.

Isoforms of lipoxygenase (LOX1 and LOX2) participate in the production of chemical defences in seeds of field-grown soybean (Glycine max). Activity and expression of protease inhibitors is correlated with jasmonic acid (JA) and ethylene, and upregulation of LOX. Participation of LOX in modulating JA-regulated defenses decreased digestive enzyme activities in guts of the southern green stink bug (Nezara viridula).

Phytophthora melonis causes significant yield losses in pumpkins (Cucurbita pepo). Understanding of the molecular mechanism of resistance against this disease is scarce, and the availability of resistant cultivars is limited. Here, we analysed gene expression changes of 10 gene markers and defence enzyme activities in resistant and susceptible pumpkins. Higher activities of gene markers and defence enzymes were observed in resistant cultivars. We provide valuable information for future studies to understand simultaneous disease resistance.

Studies of the effect of viruses on marine microalgae in the laboratory are necessary to identify patterns of contact between viruses and phytoplankton in the sea. It has been shown that the deficiency of nutrients and high conсentration of copper cause a slowdown in the processes of lysis of algae cells under the influence of viruses. Therefore, in the sea areas with a deficiency of nutrients and a high conсentration of copper, the impact of viruses on microalgae may be lessened.

Intramembrane proteolysis is a poorly understood but very important process that allows the cell to respond to changes in the environment. In this work, we investigate how one of the intramembrane proteases, EGY2, affects the functioning of leaf chloroplasts under light stress conditions. Our results indicate for the first time what the substrate for the EGY2 protease is and how its action may translate into the functioning of chloroplasts.