Development of climate resilient varieties of sunflower, castor, safflower, sesame and niger

Abstract

Climate change (CC) is the present challenge to mankind, which has direct effect on agriculture. There are various strategies developed to face climate change in agriculture. Crop diversification is one among the best strategies, in which oilseeds fits very well since they are climate resilient crops by their true nature. Oilseed crops such sunflower, castor, safflower, sesame and niger take the advantage of elevated CO2 with increase in both quality and quantity. Nevertheless, climate change will restrict resource availability and alter conditions that are vital to oilseed crop growth and yield, thus instigating environmentally induced shifts in phenotypes. Understanding this phenotypic plasticity is essential to predict and manage climate change impact on current and future oilseed crops. Breeding for phenotypic plasticity in traits other than seed or oil yield will potentially provide resilience under increasingly unpredictable environmental conditions. Major changes in breeding and management programs may be required for achieving these interconnected goals.