Halophytic plants can tolerate a high level of salinity through several morphological and physiological adaptations along with the presence of salt tolerant rhizo-microbiome. These microbes release phytohormones which aid in alleviating salinity stress and improve nutrient availability. The isolation and identification of such halophilic PGPRs can be useful in developing bio-inoculants for improving the salt tolerance and productivity of non-halophytic plants under saline conditions. In this study, salt-tolerant bacteria with multiple plant growth promoting characteristics were isolated from the rhizosphere of a predominant halophyte, Sesuvium portulacastrum grown in the coastal and paper mill effluent irrigated soils. Among the isolates, nine halotolerant rhizobacterial strains that were able to grow profusely at a salinity level of 5% NaCl were screened. These isolates were found to have multiple plant growth promoting (PGP) traits, especially 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase activity (0.32–1.18 μM of α-ketobutyrate released mg⁻¹ of protein h⁻¹) and indole acetic acid (9.4–22.8 μg mL⁻¹). The halotolerant PGPR inoculation had the potential to improve salt tolerance in Vigna mungo L. which was reflected in significantly (p < 0.05) higher germination percentage (89%) compared to un-inoculated seeds (65%) under 2% NaCl. Similarly, shoot length (8.9–14.6 cm) and vigor index (792–1785) were also higher in inoculated seeds. The strains compatible with each other were used for the preparation of two bioformulations and these microbial consortia were tested for their efficacy in salt stress alleviation of Vigna mungo L. under pot study. The inoculation improved the photosynthetic rate (12%), chlorophyll content (22%), shoot length (5.7%) and grain yield (33%) in Vigna mungo L. The enzymatic activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase were found to be lower (7.0 and 1.5%, respectively) in inoculated plants. These results revealed that halotolerant PGPR isolated from S. portulacastrum can be a cost-effective and ecologically sustainable method to improve crop productivity under high saline conditions.

Background: Drought stress poses a significant challenge to agricultural productivity, particularly in regions with limited water availability. Maize, a staple crop worldwide, is highly susceptible to drought stress, leading to reduced seed germination, stunted growth and ultimately diminished yields. Addressing this issue, in this study various phytohormones and polyamines were used as priming agents for seeds to evaluate its performance to mitigate drought stress in maize seed germination and vigour. It plays crucial roles in regulating plant growth and development, as well as responses to various environmental stresses, including drought. These hormones modulate physiological and biochemical processes, leading to adaptive changes that helps maize plants to cope with water scarcity. Methods: The experiment was conducted by exposing maize seeds primed with different phytohormones and polyamines in optimum along with non primed seeds (control) to various levels of PEG concentration ranging from -0.2 MPa to -1.0 MPa for creating drought stress. Primed seeds subjected to a germination test. The seedling growth parameters and seed vigour were evaluated to analyse better performing seed priming treatment to mitigate drought stress. Result: From the experiment it is concluded that increase in concentration of PEG (from -0.2 Mpa to -1.0 MPa) decreased the seed germination and seed vigour traits in maize. Among seed priming treatments, seeds primed with melatonin 150 µM showed greater performance seedling vigour and its related traits even under water deficit stress condition. In conclusion, seed priming with melatonin exhibited superior efficacy in mitigating drought stress in maize. This finding highlights the potential of melatonin as a promising seed priming agent for enhancing drought tolerance in maize seeds. As seed priming is simple, easy and cost effective method, farmers can use this technology as one of their practice to eliminate the effect of drought stress in maize crop.

Genetic manipulation is a strong tool for modifying crops to produce a considerably wider range of valuable products which gratifies human health benefits and industrial needs. Oilseed crops can be modified both for improving the existing lipid products and engineering novel lipid products. Global demand for vegetable oils is rising as a result of rising per capita consumption of oil in our dietary habits and its use in biofuels. There are numerous potential markets for renewable, carbon-neutral, ‘eco-friendly’ oil-based compounds produced by crops as substitutes for non-renewable petroleum products. Existing oil crops, on the other hand, have limited fatty acid compositions, making them unsuitable for use as industrial feedstocks. As a result, increasing oil output is necessary to fulfill rising demand. Increasing the oil content of oilseed crops is one way to increase oil yield without expanding the area under cultivation. Besides, the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical values of oilseed crops are being improved by genetic engineering techniques. This chapter addresses the current state of the art gene manipulation strategies followed in oilseed crops for oil modification to fulfill the growing human needs.

Sea purslane (Sesuvium portulacastrum) was cultivated for two 90-day sequences at two spacings, and with various soil amendments, to evaluate its potential to arrest the increase in soil salinity and sodicity associated with irrigation using paper- and pulp-mill effluent. Its phytodesalination capacity (PDC) with respect to Na ranged from 162 to 226 kg/ha in the first sequence and 167 to 250 kg/ha in the second sequence; the PDC is reliable even under drought stress. Addition of amendments, in particular pressmud compost, increased the average Na⁺ uptake by 38%, leading to the highest PDC of 250 kg/ha for a single crop sequence.

Aflatoxins, carcinogenic secondary metabolites produced by the Aspergillus fungi, pose a significant threat to groundnut, making them susceptible to infection and compromising their quality. Despite extensive breeding programs, the need for more durable resistance in groundnut germplasm remains a major challenge. Targeting susceptible genes favoring Aspergillus infection in groundnut could offer a promising strategy for achieving durable resistance. The glycine-rich RNA-binding protein (GR-RBP)-coding genes, known for their involvement in plant hypersensitivity and susceptibility to A. flavus, have been studied in model plants. However, there needs to be more understanding of the GR-RBP gene family in groundnut. In this study, twenty-three Arachis hypogaea GR-RBP (Ah.GR-RBP) genes were identified, and the chromosomal location, sub-cellular localization, and regulatory elements in the putative promoter region were analyzed. Expression analysis revealed that Ah.GR-RBP.1, Ah.GR-RBP.12, Ah.GR-RBP.3, and Ah.GR-RBP.15 showed higher expression in the susceptible genotype. This paper would help to provide knowledge on potential candidate target genes for precise breeding interventions for aflatoxin mitigation in groundnut.