Climate prediction models suggest that agricultural productivity will be significantly affected in the future. The expected rise in average global temperature due to the higher release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere and increased depletion of water resources with enhanced climate variability will be a serious threat to world food security. Moreover, there is an increase in the frequency and severity of long-lasting drought events over 1/3rd of the global landmass and five times increase in water demand deficits during the 21st century. The top three cereals, wheat (Triticum aestivum), maize (Zea mays), and rice (Oryza sativa), are the major and staple food crops of most people across the world. To meet the food demand of the ever-increasing population, which is expected to increase by over 9 billion by 2050, there is a dire need to increase cereal production by approximately 70%. However, we have observed a dramatic decrease in area of fertile and arable land to grow these crops. This trend is likely to increase in the future. Therefore, this review article provides an extensive review on recent and future projected area and production, the growth requirements and greenhouse gas emissions and global warming potential of the top three cereal crops, the effects of climate change on their yields, and the morphological, physiological, biochemical, and hormonal responses of plants to drought. We also discuss the potential strategies to tackle the effects of climate change and increase yields. These strategies include integrated conventional and modern molecular techniques and genomic approach, the implementation of agronomic best management (ABM) practices, and growing climate resilient cereal crops, such as millets. Millets are less resource-intensive crops and release a lower amount of greenhouse gases compared to other cereals. Therefore, millets can be the potential next-generation crops for research to explore the climate-resilient traits and use the information for the improvement of major cereals.

A field investigation was carried out during July 2008 to April 2009 in a farmer’s field at Gunjanagar-5, Chitwan, Nepal to evaluate the influence of time and intensity of pruning on growth and flowering behaviour of cut rose cv. Super Tata (Rosa hybrida). The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized block design with nine treatment combinations and replicated thrice. The treatments comprised of three dates of pruning i.e. 30th July, 15th August and 30th August and three pruning intensities i.e. heavy (6 buds per plant), medium (12 buds per plant) and light (18 buds per plant). Both time and intensity of pruning significantly affected growth and yield attributing parameters. The plants pruned heavily on 30th July produced highest plant height, number, length and diameter of canes. Similarly, stem bud as well as floral initiation were also earlier as compared to other treatments. On the other hand, fresh and dry weight of leaf and leaf area index were highest from the plants pruned heavily on 15th August. Flower stem diameter was higher in July 30th pruned rose plants while, flower stem length was found longer (47.67 cm) in August 15th pruned ones. Heavily pruned plants produced earlier floral initiation (45.48 days). Flower stem length (50.33 cm) and diameter (0.60 cm), length (2.91 cm) and diameter (2.29 cm) of floral buds were found highest from heavily pruned plants. Number of flowers per plant was recorded higher (22) from earlier (30th July) and lightly pruned rose plants. The longest duration of flowering (212.8 days) was observed from earlier and heavily pruned (198.1 days) plants. Sequential pruning can produce rose flowers at desired time.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njst.v15i1.12004Nepal Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 15, No.1 (2014) 7-12