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Agriculture
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Understanding and Improving Crop Productivity under Current Climate Change Scenario
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Understanding and Improving Crop Productivity under Current Climate Change Scenario

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 February 2023) | Viewed by 11471

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mohsin Tanveer

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Guest Editor
1. State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
2. Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
Interests: eco-physiology and climate change; experimental methodology development; nutrient metabolism and translocation in plants; plant productivity and sustainable agriculture; plant molecular physiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Adnan Noor Shah

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Mechanical & Agriculture Engineering, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan 64200, Punjab, Pakistan
Interests: crop cultivation and farming system; plant nutrition; plant-soil interaction allelopathy; stress physiology; crop modeling
Dr. Muhammad Azhar Nadeem

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies, Sivas University of Science and Technology, Sivas 58140, Turkey
Interests: legumes; germplasm characterization; molecular breeding; molecular genetics; genetic diversity; molecular markers; genome-wide association studies (GWAS); marker-assisted breeding; QTL mapping; DNA studies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Agriculture will face a difficult challenge over the next 20 years. Due to the rapid increase in the world’s population, the current trend suggests that there will be an increased global food demand. Therefore, there is a need to produce more food on the same amount of cultivated land, or less. In addition, crop production needs to be achieved in a sustainable way, without polluting the environment, and without reducing the income of farmers. However, the level of climate change projected will increase the vulnerability of agricultural production, with the projected impacts being positive or negative depending on the geographical location. The impacts and adaptations have been studied using several methodologies, such as process-based models, agro-ecosystem models, and statistical models based on historical data.

At a global level, over the last few decades, attempts have been made to tackle and improve biotic and abiotic stress tolerance in a variety of crops using morphological and biochemical traits. The available literature reports several key mechanistic approaches and factors that can improve stress tolerance. However, adequate information is not available for the current climate change scenario, where the occurrence of one factor or the occurrence of multiple factors is highly unpredictable. The resulting aggravate stress can induce a reduction in the crop yield. These stresses include water deficit conditions in sand loamy soils, a nitrogen deficiency with high wind or excessive rain, a greater plant height with excessive N application, a higher N application along with weed infestation or pest attack. Thus, there is a need to develop new crop varieties, agronomic techniques, and crop models to understand and improve stress tolerance. Plant growth regulators play a vital role in regulating numerous physiological and molecular mechanisms under changing climatic conditions. Several crop models are being used in different crops to simulate lodging; however, the calibration and practical application of these models still need to be evaluated under different climatic conditions.

For this Special Issue on ‘Understanding and improving crop productivity under the current climate change scenario’, we are looking for papers that enhance our understanding of lodging in plants, introduce novel technologies and practices that improve stress tolerance as well as discuss opportunities for maximizing agricultural productivity. Moreover, critical reviews and original research articles that address the potential role of breeding methods, and crop models in understanding and tackling stress-induced adversities in plants are welcome.

Dr. Mohsin Tanveer
Dr. Adnan Noor Shah
Dr. Muhammad Azhar Nadeem
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agriculture is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • crop models and lodging
  • plant population and nitrogen
  • plant nutrition and stress tolerance
  • root diseases and plant protection
  • varietal difference of stress tolerance
  • cover crops and crop system
  • halophytes as a key source of gene identification
  • biotechnology interventions

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 3785 KiB  
Article
Comparative Primary Metabolite Profiling of Setaria viridis Reveals Potential Markers to Water Limitation
by Fernanda Alves de Freitas Guedes, Luana Beatriz dos Santos Nascimento, Mara Priscila Costa, Andrew Macrae, Marcio Alves-Ferreira, Camila Caldana and Fernanda Reinert
Agriculture 2023, 13(3), 660; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agriculture13030660 - 11 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1672
Abstract
Growing varieties with higher water-use efficiency is crucial to address water limitation in agriculture. Breeding programs often resort to model plants, and Setaria viridis has been consolidating its position as a model for C4 grasses. However, we lack a detailed analysis of [...] Read more.
Growing varieties with higher water-use efficiency is crucial to address water limitation in agriculture. Breeding programs often resort to model plants, and Setaria viridis has been consolidating its position as a model for C4 grasses. However, we lack a detailed analysis of drought-induced metabolic changes in S. viridis. To partially redress this, we assessed the primary metabolic profile of roots, leaves, and panicles in response to three watering levels. Five-day-old seedlings were submitted to water-limiting conditions for 25 days when samples were harvested. GC-MS-based analysis revealed that each plant organ had a specific metabolic profile, with TCA intermediates altered in above- and underground parts. The sPLS-DA analysis allowed clear separation of the water regimes for the three organs. Of the 36 most important metabolites, only four (sucrose, glycerol-3P, gluconate and adenine) were shared by all plant organs. A subset of 12 metabolites, including proline, were further evaluated as drought bioindicator candidates, with galactinol and gluconate emerging for vegetative parts while alanine seems informative of aerial part water status. In general, water limitation decreased the content of nitrogen compounds in aboveground tissues and increased the amounts of carbohydrates, especially in the sink organs. This study adds to our understanding of the metabolic responses of grasses to water limitation and identified potential bioindicators for drought in different plant organs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding and Improving Crop Productivity under Current Climate Change Scenario)
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25 pages, 5292 KiB  
Article
Circadian Clock Contributes to Modulate Salinity Stress-Responsive Antioxidative Mechanisms and Chloroplast Proteome in Spinacia oleracea
by Ajila Venkat, Dong-Won Bae and Sowbiya Muneer
Agriculture 2023, 13(2), 429; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agriculture13020429 - 11 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1748
Abstract
Extreme abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and temperature reduce crop productivity significantly and pose a serious threat to the area of land used for agriculture. Therefore, there is a pressing need to create crops that can thrive in these circumstances. It has [...] Read more.
Extreme abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and temperature reduce crop productivity significantly and pose a serious threat to the area of land used for agriculture. Therefore, there is a pressing need to create crops that can thrive in these circumstances. It has been noted that plants can maintain defense mechanisms during any environmental changes and anticipate diurnal patterns correct to a circadian-based clock. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to investigate the role of circadian core oscillators in response to salinity stress in an important vegetable crop, spinach, and obtain evidence to better understand salinity stress adaptation for crop productivity. Therefore, the current study was carried out to examine the circadian clock-based (morning–evening loop) salinity stress defense mechanism in spinach (Spinacia oleracea), a leafy vegetable crop with significant economic importance and health benefits. In the presence of dawn and dusk, the circadian clock-based defense mechanism was observed using the genotypes “Delhi Green” and “Malav Jyoti.” A photoperiodic rhythm consists of 4-h intervals for 12 h (morning–evening loop) in spinach was demonstrated under the salinity stress treatments (20 mM and 50 mM). The clock-controlled a large fraction of growth parameters such as plant height, biomass, and root-shoot ratio under salinity stress. Conversely, salinity stress resulted in upregulation of antioxidative parameters such as superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, and other stress markers such as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, proline content, and localizations of H2O2 and O2−1 but was altered and maintained at a certain photoperiodic time interval of the circadian clock. In distinction to results observed from antioxidative measurements performed with an early and late circadian duration of salt-treated plants, 10 am and 2 pm were revealed to be the rhythmic times for controlling salinity stress. Likewise, comprehensive measurements of the photosynthetic system under salinity stress at specific photoperiodic circadian time intervals, including net-photosynthetic rate, transpiration, stomatal conductance, PSII quantum yield, and stomata structure, were made at 10 am and 2 pm. The salinity stress response was down-streamed and the clock also regulated chloroplastic protein expression. Thus, according to our findings, photoperiodic circadian rhythms, particularly the morning–evening loop, enhanced plant survival rates by modulating cellular antioxidant mechanisms and chloroplastic proteins that further helped to reduce the effects of salinity stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding and Improving Crop Productivity under Current Climate Change Scenario)
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16 pages, 2439 KiB  
Article
Comparative Morphology and Biochemical Analysis of Nickel Toxicity in Minor Fruit Species (Grewia asiatica L., Syzgium cumini (L.) Skeels and Tamarindus indica L.)
by Saman Zahra, Sibgha Noreen, Rafia Abid, Ahmed Akram, Seema Mahmood, Tariq Shah and Abdulaziz Abdulla Alsahli
Agriculture 2022, 12(3), 323; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agriculture12030323 - 23 Feb 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1871
Abstract
We evaluated the growth potential of three minor fruit species (Grewia asiatica L., Syzgium cummini and Tamarindus indica L.) after exposure to increasing Ni levels (0, 10, 20 and 40 µg kg−1 soil). The growth attributes, lipid peroxidation, photosynthetic machinery, macro [...] Read more.
We evaluated the growth potential of three minor fruit species (Grewia asiatica L., Syzgium cummini and Tamarindus indica L.) after exposure to increasing Ni levels (0, 10, 20 and 40 µg kg−1 soil). The growth attributes, lipid peroxidation, photosynthetic machinery, macro nutrients and capacity of enzymatic antioxidants; Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT) and Peroxidase (POD) in both leaves and roots were investigated under Ni exposure. A significant reduction in the biomass elongation of tissues (root and shoot) and enhanced oxidative damage via malondialdehyde (MDA) were noticed in all three species. Ni exposure triggered an induction of antioxidant enzyme response in a concurrent manner. Simultaneous increases in the antioxidant activities in the roots of G. asiatica and in the leaves of S. cumini suggest the existence of a sequence response against tissue damage. However, the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the tissues of T. indica were insufficient to counteract the elevated MDA levels. G. asiatica exhibited its resilience through the restricted transfer of Ni to aerial tissue, adequate uptake of nutrients, robust chloroplasts with lesser biodegradation of chlorophyll molecules and enhanced capacity of antioxidant enzyme biosynthesis. Thus, lesser modulations of morpho-biochemical expressions and the activity of antioxidants seem to contribute important defense mechanisms against Ni stress in the species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding and Improving Crop Productivity under Current Climate Change Scenario)
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18 pages, 2736 KiB  
Article
Peanut Germplasm Evaluation for Agronomic Traits and Disease Resistance under a Two-Season Cropping System in Taiwan
by Hsin-I Kuo, Hung-Yu Dai, Yong-Pei Wu and Yu-Chien Tseng
Agriculture 2021, 11(12), 1277; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agriculture11121277 - 15 Dec 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2812
Abstract
Cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important crop worldwide, and peanut germplasm is an important genetic resource for peanut breeding. The two-season cropping system is common in tropical and subtropical regions, which are the main peanut production areas. The weather in [...] Read more.
Cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important crop worldwide, and peanut germplasm is an important genetic resource for peanut breeding. The two-season cropping system is common in tropical and subtropical regions, which are the main peanut production areas. The weather in the two cropping seasons is usually distinct and makes germplasm evaluation challenging. In this study, random stratified sampling based on market type was applied to build a core collection. Comparisons between the original entire collection and core collection were conducted. Two seasons field trials were performed with additional three seasons rust resistance evaluation trials. Principal component analysis and genotype-by-trait biplots were utilized as selection tools. Which-won-where/what and stability plot relationships were determined to provide breeders with an easy and efficient method for selection. Rust resistance simple sequence repeat and single nucleotide polymorphism markers were used to screen the germplasm. Some resistant accessions showed susceptible phenotypes, indicating that under Taiwan’s environment, the favored rust physiological races are different from those of other areas. Some potential rust resistance lines were discovered and validated, which can survive under variable weather conditions in a two-season cropping system. A set of markers was developed for utilization for rust resistance screening in Taiwan. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding and Improving Crop Productivity under Current Climate Change Scenario)
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11 pages, 918 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Efficiency-Enhanced Management and Conventional Management of Irrigation and Nitrogen Fertilization in Cotton Fields of Northwestern China
by Ping Wang, Zhenyong Zhao, Lei Wang and Changyan Tian
Agriculture 2021, 11(11), 1134; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agriculture11111134 - 12 Nov 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1290
Abstract
Excessive application of nitrogen fertilizers and improper methods of irrigation under conventional management are common problems in the cotton fields of northwestern China. Efficiency-enhanced management, based on the water and nitrogen dynamics and crop requirements, has been used as a valuable strategy in [...] Read more.
Excessive application of nitrogen fertilizers and improper methods of irrigation under conventional management are common problems in the cotton fields of northwestern China. Efficiency-enhanced management, based on the water and nitrogen dynamics and crop requirements, has been used as a valuable strategy in different crops. The present study aimed to compare efficiency-enhanced management and conventional management of irrigation and nitrogen fertilization in the cotton fields at the Junggar Basin (Shihezi) and Tarim Basin (Cele) of northwestern China. Compared with conventional management, efficiency-enhanced management reduced the amount of N fertilizer by 41% in Cele and 44% in Shihezi, and the irrigation quantity by 35% in Cele and 24% in Shihezi. However, the cotton yield under efficiency-enhanced management was similar to that found under conventional management at both the experimental sites. The efficiency-enhanced management increased the water-use efficiency (WUE) and reduced the residual soil mineralizable N (Nmin) and apparent N losses. This study indicated that efficiency-enhanced management can significantly enhance the utilization efficiency of irrigation water and N fertilizers for cotton production in the fields of northwestern China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding and Improving Crop Productivity under Current Climate Change Scenario)
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