Abiotic Stress-mediated Sensing and Signaling in Plants ― An Omics Perspective

The natural environment for plants is composed of a complex set of abiotic and biotic stresses; plant responses to these stresses are equally complex. Systems biology allows us to identify regulatory hubs in complex networks. It also examines the molecular “parts” (transcripts, proteins and metabolites) of an organism and attempts to combine them into functional networks or models that effectively describe and predict the dynamic activities of that organism in different environments.

This book focuses on research advances regarding plant responses to abiotic stresses, from the physiological level to the molecular level. It highlights new insights gained from the integration of omics datasets and identifies remaining gaps in our knowledge, outlining additional focus areas for future crop improvement research.

Plants have evolved a wide range of mechanisms for coping with various abiotic stresses. In many crop plants, the molecular mechanisms involved in a single type of stress tolerance have since been identified; however, in order to arrive at a holistic understanding of major and common events concerning abiotic stresses, the signaling pathways involved must also be elucidated. To date several molecules, like transcription factors and kinases, have been identified as promising candidates that are involved in crosstalk between stress signalling pathways. However, there is a need to better understand the tolerance mechanisms for different abiotic stresses by thoroughly grasping the signalling and sensing mechanisms involved.

Accordingly, this book covers a range of topics, including the impacts of different abiotic stresses on plants, the molecular mechanisms leading to tolerance for different abiotic stresses, signaling cascades revealing cross-talk among various abiotic stresses, and elucidation of major candidate molecules that may provide abiotic stress tolerance in plants.

Sajad Majeed Zargar, Ph.D, is currently an Assistant Professor at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-Kashmir) in India. He was previously a Visiting Professor at the Nara Institite of Science & Technology, Japan. He has worked as an Assistant Professor at SKUAST-Jammu, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshan University, Rajouri (BGSB) in India. He has also worked as scientist at Advanta India Limited, Hyderabad, India and TERI (The Energy & Resources Institute), New Delhi, India. Dr. Zargar is receipt of CREST oversea’s fellowship from DBT and is also recipient of Goho grant from Govt. of Japan. He has received several awards for his work and research. He is also the member and representative of INPPO (International Plant Proteomics Organisation). His editorial activities and scientific memberships include publishing research and review articles in international journals and as a reviewer. He has been affiliated with several internationally reputed journals and is also reviewer of reputed journals Frontires in Plant Science, 3 Biotech, Scientia Horticulture, Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Australian Journal of Crop Science and many others. Dr. Zargar has been invited to give many lectures at professional meetings and workshops and has received grants for research projects under his supervision.

Mohammad Yousuf Zargar, Ph.D, is currently Director Research at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-Kashmir) in India. He was previously Dean, Faculty of Agriculture; Dean, Faculty of Forestry; Associate Director Research and Associate Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, SKUAST-Kashmir. Prior to that he has worked as Professor-cum-Chief Scientists (Microbiology) at SKUAST-Kashmir. Dr. Zargar has published more than 160 research papers in the scientific journals of national and international repute. He has guided 8 students for the doctoral programme and 6 for the master’s programme. He has received many honours and awards for his contribution to research work. His major contribution has been on fermentation technology for mass multiplication of biofertilizers and biocontrol agents. Dr. Zargar has received appreciations for his product “Shalimar Microbes”, a consortium of microbes that decompose waste in a short period. Dr. Zargar has been actively pursuing the research on cold tolerant microbes for soild / liquid waste decomposition and nutrient mobilisation. He has also served as associate editor of several scientific journals. Presently, Dr. Zargar is guiding research programmes of the University in agriculture, animal husbandry and other allied sections.