Abiotic Stress Management News (Vol.1 No.4)

Abstract

Abiotic stresses such as salinity, drought, flooding, heat, cold and freezing have negative impact on agriculture and threaten food security. Industrialization, urbanization and climate change further exacerbate the detrimental effects of these stresses on realizing crop yield. Agriculture needs significant increase in crop productivity to satisfy the expected growth in demand for food for growing population. Anticipated more frequent extreme weather due to changing climate scenario requires adaptation of crop plants to multioccurrence abiotic stresses, hence sustaining the food security. The constraints of food security and agricultural productivity encourage researchers to develop climate resilient crop varieties. ICAR-NIASMhas taken lead to carry out research to deliver technologies for managing various kinds of abiotic stresses employing basic and strategic research. Agronomic, genetic, biochemical and omics approaches are being used for mitigation and enhancing adaptation of crop plants to these stresses. As Director of this new and unique institute, there are many challenges and responsibilities to create best research facilities in order to utilize potential of young scientific staff inmaking strategies formanagement of abiotic stresses. ICAR-NIASMhas started basic and strategic research at morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular levels to complement applied research. Many important events and training programmes have been organised during last sixmonths such as Agricultural Education Day; World Soil Day; Model training course for Officers of State development departments/participants of ICAR, SAUs and KVKs, Republic Day; Signing MoU for collaborative research on abiotic stress management in grapes between ICAR-NIASM and MRDBS, Pune; Inauguration of Fish Research Farm; Advanced training on ‘Application of plant phenomics tool for assessing responses of crop plants to drought and high temperature’ and ‘Characterization of abiotic stress responses in field and horticultural crops through hyperspectral remote sensing’; Celebration of 10thFoundation Day of ICAR-NIASM; NICRA review meeting; Krishi Mela at village Waghoshi under Mera GaonMera Gaurav; Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and activities under Tribal Sub Plan.