Climate Change and Crop Stress: Molecules to Ecosystems

Climate Change and Crop Stress: Molecules to Ecosystems explores the effects of environmental stress conditions like drought, heat, salinity, cold, and pathogen infection on plant growth and yield, providing a comprehensive view on the challenges and impacts of simultaneous stresses.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 598 pages
Publication date: 18 November 2021
Publisher: Elsevier Science Publishing Co Inc

Climate Change and Crop Stress: Molecules to Ecosystems delves into the transformative era where science has advanced to the 'post-genomics and gene editing era,' placing crop field performance at the forefront and challenging the production of practical applicability versus theoretical possibility. Researchers have dedicated their efforts to understanding the detrimental effects of environmental stress conditions, including drought, heat, salinity, cold, and pathogen infection, which can severely hinder plant growth and yield. This edited compilation is designed to provide valuable insights into combating stress both in isolation and in the context of simultaneous crop stresses, offering a comprehensive perspective on the challenges and impacts of these combined stresses.

The effects of environmental stress conditions such as drought, heat, salinity, cold, or pathogen infection have been extensively studied by researchers. These stressors can have a devastating impact on plant growth and yield, leading to reduced crop productivity and economic losses.

In response to these challenges, scientists have developed various strategies to combat stress both in isolation and simultaneously. One approach is to identify crop varieties that are more resilient to specific stress conditions, such as drought or heat. Another strategy is to use genetic engineering techniques to modify crop plants' genes to enhance their stress tolerance.

Simultaneous stresses, such as drought and heat, can have a compounded effect on crops. When these stressors occur simultaneously, they can exacerbate each other's effects, leading to even greater damage and reduced yield.

To address the challenges of simultaneous stresses, researchers have developed integrated pest management (IPM) strategies that combine different pest control methods to minimize the negative impact of pests on crops. IPM strategies include the use of natural predators, biological control agents, and crop rotation to disrupt pest populations and promote crop health.

In addition to these strategies, climate change mitigation and adaptation are also important factors in combating crop stress. Climate change is expected to lead to more frequent and severe weather events, such as droughts, floods, and heat waves, which will further exacerbate crop stress.

To adapt to climate change, farmers can implement climate-smart agriculture practices, such as crop diversification, precision agriculture, and soil conservation. These practices help farmers to reduce their vulnerability to climate change and improve their crop yields and resilience.

In conclusion, climate change and crop stress are significant challenges that affect agriculture worldwide. By understanding the effects of environmental stress conditions and developing effective strategies to combat them, we can improve crop productivity and reduce the negative impact of climate change on agriculture.

Weight: 1220g
Dimension: 235 x 191 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780128160916