The convergence of high-resolution multi-omics technologies with computational systems biology is transforming plant physiology by enabling predictive, mechanistic, and field-relevant insights into crop performance, adaptation, and resilience. This review presents an integrative and forward-looking synthesis spanning genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, epigenomics, phenomics, and the rapidly emerging single-cell and spatial omics, emphasizing how these complementary layers can be computationally unified to achieve cell-type-resolved and tissue-specific understanding of plant function. We outline how integrative analytical frameworks combining gene regulatory network inference, machine learning, and explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) are accelerating the discovery of key regulators, improving genotype-environment interaction modeling, and advancing multiscale phenotypic prediction. Representative case studies illustrate how multi-omics integration from single-cell transcriptomic atlases in Arabidopsis to nitrogen use efficiency modeling and omics-guided genome editing in cereals is bridging laboratory-scale discovery with field-level validation. We further propose a translational roadmap that connects persistent bottlenecks such as data heterogeneity, limited spatiotemporal resolution, and the underrepresentation of non- s with actionable solutions including FAIR-compliant data infrastructures, high-resolution and spatiotemporal omics, hybrid mechanistic AI modeling, and digital twin frameworks. By bridging molecular mechanisms with ecosystem level performance, this review articulates a coherent vision for predictive, design-driven, and climate-resilient agriculture grounded in systems-level plant biology.

Drought is a major abiotic stress that adversely affects the rice growth, mostly in the rainfed ecosystem that ultimately affects the biomass production and yield. Rice needs to adapt a series of physiological mechanisms with complicated regulatory network to fight and cope up with the unfavourable conditions due to drought stress. Morphological and physiological response in rice include inhibition of seed germination, slower growth rate, low root and shoot length, lower chlorophyll content, stomatal closure, lower rate of photosynthesis, yield reduction etc. Stress condition further results in development of response at the molecular level by the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as O2*-, H2O2, 1O2, OH* etc. which incites oxidative stress in the plants. Oxidative stress is overcome by the inherent capacity of plants to produce antioxidant species which may be enzymatic or non-enzymatic in nature. If however antioxidant defence mechanism cannot overpower the ROS generated, they cause oxidative damage to the plant tissues such as lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, DNA damage, etc. resulting in cell death. Unlike other stresses, drought affects the physiology and biochemistry of the rice which adversely affects in the morphology and consequently delimits the yield of the plant. Therefore, understanding the morphological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms involved in rice against drought is utmost necessary for rice breeders to improve the rice for drought tolerant/resistance varieties for future green revolution. In this review, an attempt has been made to highlight the complex regulatory network involved in rice against drought with special emphasis on morphological, physiological and molecular mechanisms and to discuss the prospective and challenges for future plant breeders.

Rice is one of the major cereal grain consumed more than half of the world’s population. Aromatic rice is one of the most widely accepted rice due its pleasant aroma. Traditionally, many varieties of aromatic rice are grown by the farmers of Assam maintaining a diverse gene pool. In the present study, morphological variation was studied in 22 aromatic rice landraces using qualitative and quantitative traits. Keteki Joha is very popular indigenous aromatic rice grown in a small pocket of Assam for its high yield. Though Kola Kunkuni Joha is relatively smaller grain size and low yield but have high demand due to its high aroma as compared to other landraces. Significant positive correlations was occurred at 0.05 level between kernel length and seed weight with seed width (r = 0.6734*) and (0.5881*) as well as seed weight with kernel width (r = 0.5433*). The correlation between seed width and kernel width (0.9663**) showed significantly positive relationship which shown at 0.01 level. Characterization of aromatic rice landraces of Assam would be a boon for the breeders for designing further rice improvement programme.

Acid soils encompass nearly one-third of the available terrestrial land surface worldwide. Acidic soil is one of the major abiotic constraints for agricultural practices by potentially creating aluminum (Al) toxicity and/or phosphorous (P) deficiency. Assam, being an agricultural state of India, has the majority of its area covered by acidic soils due to the varied terrain in the region. Soil acidification increases the solubility of Al present in the soil from its nontoxic silicate or oxide forms into highly phytotoxic ionic Al (mainly the trivalent cation Al3+). Ionic Al can form complexes with the available phosphorous leading to plant nutrient deficiency. In the present investigation, screening of traditional rice varieties from Assam was conducted for tolerance to combined Al toxicity and P deficiency. Seedlings of 41 rice landraces from various agro-climatic locations were subjected to three different concentrations of Al (0, 50, 100 µM) for 24, 48, and 72 h under P deficiency in static nutrient culture to identify the extent of their resistance to these stressed conditions. Different morpho-physiological parameters (root and shoot lengths, fresh and dry weight yields, chlorophyll and relative water content) were evaluated after stress treatment. All the experiments were conducted in a randomized block design with three replicates. Based on the overall morphological characters, total stress response index (TSRI) was calculated which showed a variation ranging from 18 to 23. Accordingly, the varieties were classified into different groups of resistance. Varieties ‘Moti’ and ‘Baismuthi’ were found to be the least resistant, whereas ‘Holpuna’, ‘Beto’, and ‘Soria Sali’ were identified as most tolerant varieties to Al toxicity under P deficiency. The findings of the present investigation could be exploited for developing promising varieties in future rice breeding programs.