Climate change is among the most crucial concerns of the world. It is a serious threat to the global agriculture and its overall impact on global agriculture is yet not clear. A rise of 2.5-4.5◦C is expected in the global temperature until the end of 21st century. The amount of greenhouse gases particularly CO2 is increasing at an alarming rate and is enhancing the plant photosynthesis and productivity. However, this increase in productivity is counteract by the more negative effects of climate change on agriculture like increased evapotranspiration, drought, floods, changes in the amount and distribution of rainfall, higher pest infestations and more irrigation demand. Climate change also affects the nutrients availability and efficiency by influencing microbial activities and population in the soil. Therefore, adaptation of agriculture sector to the changing climate is indispensable because of its sensitivity and size. This review is aimed to document the possible impacts of climate change on agriculture, its causes and future projections. Some strategies are also advised to mitigate the emission of greenhouse gases, to reduce the negative impacts of climate change on agriculture and to make new policies keeping in view their broader consequences on agriculture.

Salt stress presents a major obstacle to maize (Zea mays L.) production globally, impeding its growth and development. In this study, we aimed to identify salt-tolerant maize varieties through evaluation using multivariate analysis and shed light on the role of ionome, antioxidant capacity, and autophagy in salt tolerance. We investigated multiple growth indices, including shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, plant height, chlorophyll content, electrolyte leakage, potassium and sodium contents, and potassium-to-sodium ratio in 20 maize varieties at the V3 stage under salt stress (200 mM NaCl). The results showed significant differences in the growth indices, accompanied by a wide range in their coefficient of variation, suggesting their suitability for screening salt tolerance. Based on D values, clustering analysis categorized the 20 varieties into four distinct groups. TG88, KN20, and LR888 (group I) emerged as the most salt-tolerant varieties, while YD9, XD903, and LH151 (group IV) were identified as the most sensitive. TG88 showcased nutrient preservation and redistribution under salt stress, surpassing YD9. It maintained nitrogen and iron levels in roots while YD9 experienced decreases. TG88 redistributed more nitrogen, zinc, and potassium to its leaves, outperforming YD9. TG88 preserved sulfur levels in both roots and leaves, unlike YD9. Additionally, TG88 demonstrated higher enzymatic antioxidant capacity (SOD, POD, APX, and GR) both at the enzyme and gene expression levels, upregulation of autophagy-related (ATG) genes (ZmATG6, ZmATG8a, and ZmATG10), and increased autophagic activity. Overall, this study offers insights into accurate maize varieties evaluation methods and the physiological mechanisms underlying salt tolerance and identifies promising materials for further research.

Nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO-NPs) pose potential threats to agricultural production. Bacillus subtilis has emerged as a stress-mitigating microbe that alleviates the phytotoxicity caused by NiO-NPs. However, the mechanisms underlying its effectiveness, particularly in root-nodule symbiosis and biological N₂-fixation (BNF), remain unclear. Here, we tested the combined exposure of NiO-NPs (50 mg kg⁻¹) and B. subtilis on soybean (Glycine max L.) growth and BNF. Combined exposure increased root length, shoot length, root biomass, and shoot biomass by 19-26%, while Ni (200 mg kg⁻¹) reduced them by 38--53% compared to the control. NiO-NPs at 100 and 200 mg kg⁻¹ significantly (P < 0.05) reduced nodule formation by 16% and 58% and Nitrogen assimilation enzyme activities levels (UE, NR, HS, and GOGAT) by 13-57%. However, co-exposure with B. subtilis improved nodule formation by 22-44%. Co-exposure of NiO-NPs (200 mg kg⁻¹) with B. subtilis increased POD, CAT, and GSH-Px activity levels by 20%, 16%, and 14% while reducing MDA (14%) and H₂O₂ (12%) levels compared to NiO-NPs alone. Additionally, co-exposure of NiO-NPs (100 and 200 mg kg⁻¹) with B. subtilis enhanced the relative abundance of Stenotrophomonas, Gemmatimonas, and B. subtilis, is associated with N2-cycling and N2-fixation potential. This study confirms that B. subtilis effectively mitigates NiO-NP toxicity in soybean, offering a sustainable method to enhance BNF and crop growth and contribute to addressing global food insecurity.