Chapter 1 - Multiomics strategies for alleviation of abiotic stresses in plants

Abstract

To satisfy the food demands of the increasing global population, agricultural productivity needs to be enhanced. Earlier, crop production was improved by extensive application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides that led to severe environmental duress; however, these practices cannot be continued and we have to move toward the use of more environment-friendly practices. The main hurdle to increasing food production is abiotic stress. Among abiotic stresses, water-deficit conditions, salinity, heat waves, excessive water (flooding), heavy rains, and frost hamper agricultural productivity worldwide. Among the leading alternatives to chemical fertilizers are microbes that are already present in nature and act as growth stimulators for plant growth and also help in the easing of abiotic and biotic stresses. Microorganisms, through the production of exopolysaccharides and biofilm formation, influence the characteristics of soil. These attributes of microbes make a significant impact on sustainable agriculture. Using a variety of microbes, it is possible to manage the current world food deficit. Our aim is to provide a compilation of the advances made in understanding the mechanisms of stress alleviation in crop plants for their conversion to higher productivity. Strategies of multiomics depict that plant–microbe interactions generate a large amount of information that help in determining what is happening in real time within cells. In addition, we further demonstrate the future avenues of rhizospheric microbes in sustainable agricultural production.