White clover (Trifolium repens L.) is an important forage and aesthetic plant species, but it is susceptible to drought and heat stress. The phytohormone auxin regulates several aspects of plant development and alleviates the effects of drought stress in plants, including white clover, by involving auxin/indole acetic acid (Aux/IAA) family genes. However, Aux/IAA genes and the underlying mechanism of auxin-mediated drought response remain elusive in white clover. To extend our understanding of the multiple functions of Aux/IAAs, the current study described the characterization of a member of the Aux/IAA family TrIAA27 of white clover. TrIAA27 protein had conserved the Aux/IAA family domain and shared high sequence similarity with the IAA27 gene of a closely related species and Arabidopsis. Expression of TrIAA27 was upregulated in response to heavy metal, drought, salt, NO, Ca²⁺, H₂O₂, Spm, ABA, and IAA treatments, while downregulated under cold stress in the roots and leaves of white clover. TrIAA27 protein was localized in the nucleus. Constitutive overexpression of TrIAA27 in Arabidopsis thaliana led to enhanced hypocotyl length, root length, plant height, leaf length and width, and fresh and dry weights under optimal and stress conditions. There was Improved photosynthesis activity, chlorophyll content, survival rate, relative water content, endogenous catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) concentration with a significantly lower electrolyte leakage percentage, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) concentration in overexpression lines compared to wild-type Arabidopsis under drought and salt stress conditions. Exposure to stress conditions resulted in relatively weaker roots and above-ground plant growth inhibition, enhanced endogenous levels of major antioxidant enzymes, which correlated well with lower lipid peroxidation, lower levels of reactive oxygen species, and reduced cell death in overexpression lines. The data of the current study demonstrated that TrIAA27 is involved in positively regulating plant growth and development and could be considered a potential target gene for further use, including the breeding of white clover for higher biomass with improved root architecture and tolerance to abiotic stress.

Climate change effects, including temperature extremes and water stress, cause abiotic stress in plants. These changes directly affect flowering and the flower reward system for pollinators, influencing plant–pollinator interactions and ultimately seed production in flowering plants. Here, we tested the effects of water deprivation on the behavior of various pollinator species, plant–pollinator interactions, and the seed yield of sunflower, Helianthus annuus L. (Asteraceae). Sunflower was sown during four different months (January–April) and subjected to two different water availability levels (well-watered and water-deprived). Pollinator abundance was recorded five times a day (8:00 am, 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm, and 4:00 pm) from flower heads and the florets. In addition, foraging behavior was also recorded. We found that lowest abundance, visit duration, and visitation rate occurred in April-sown sunflower. The European honey bee Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) was the most abundant visitor to sunflower, the hover fly Eristalinus aeneus (Diptera: Syrphidae) exhibited the longest visit duration, while Xylocopa sp. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) exhibited the highest visitation rate. The visitation rate of bees was significantly affected by water stress, with more bee visits occurring under well-watered conditions. Additionally, plant parameters, including flower head diameter, head weight, seed number, and seed weight, were significantly lower in the water-deprived treatments in April-sown sunflower. Open flowers without the pollination exclusion cages showed a higher yield, indicating the pollination dependence of sunflower. In conclusion, the plant modifications induced by sowing months and water-deprived conditions may alter pollinator behavior and may ultimately affect sunflower yield.

Naturally colored cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) offers an eco-friendly alternative to conventional white cotton by reducing the need for synthetic dyes. However, its cultivation remains limited due to lower yield and suboptimal fiber quality, particularly under drought stress. We evaluated the genetic and physiological performance of 20 white and naturally colored cotton genotypes under normal and water-deficit conditions using field trials (RCBD) and laboratory PEG (polyethylene glycol)-6000 screening (CRD). Agronomic, fiber quality and physiological traits were recorded, including plant height, bolls per plant, seed cotton yield, lint weight, fiber length and strength, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance. Significant genotypic variability was observed for most traits. Drought reduced yield and fiber strength most markedly in green-colored genotypes, whereas Light Brown and Khaki American A maintained higher photosynthetic rates, chlorophyll content and yield stability under limited irrigation. Path coefficient analysis identified lint weight, boll weight and fiber length as key contributors to seed cotton yield. These findings demonstrate that integrating genetic selection with physiological screening (field + PEG assays) can accelerate breeding of drought-resilient colored cotton, offering practical value to breeders and the textile industry in water-limited regions.

CRISPR/Cas-based gene editing has rapidly revolutionized plant breeding, offering precise, efficient, and versatile tools to enhance traits in staple and emerging crops. This chapter explores the application of CRISPR and related gene-editing technologies in cereals and pseudocereals, focusing on advancements in improving yield, nutritional quality, biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, and grain pigmentation. The chapter begins with an overview of CRISPR/Cas systems, including Cas9, Cas12, and base editing tools, tailored for plant applications, especially during 2018–2025. It highlights successful case studies in major cereals such as rice, maize, and wheat, where gene editing has enabled the modification of key agronomic traits. Parallel progress in pseudocereals such as quinoa, buckwheat, and amaranth, though still emerging, is discussed in light of recent breakthroughs and bottlenecks, such as transformation efficiency and regulatory hurdles. Emphasis is placed on the integration of CRISPR with omics technologies and AI-assisted gene discovery to accelerate functional genomics and breeding pipelines. The chapter also considers ethical, regulatory, and public acceptance aspects of gene-edited crops, with special attention to policies in South Asia and developing economies. Finally, future directions are proposed to maximize the potential of CRISPR in underutilized pseudocereals, contributing to food security and climate-resilient agriculture.