Harnessing Brassinosteroids for Heat Resilience in Wheat: A Comprehensive Review
Adil Rahim Margay *
ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110012, India.
Suhail Ashraf *
CeBiTec- Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, 33501, Germany.
Nusrat Fatimah
Division of Agricultural Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Srinagar, 190006, India.
Saliah Gul Jabeen
Division of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, 190006, India.
Mansoor Showkat
Department of Plant Biotechnology, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, 560065, Bengaluru, India.
Krishna Nayana R U
Department of Plant Biotechnology, Centre for Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, 680654, Kerala, India.
Aadil Gani
ICAR – Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (IIAB), Garhkhatanga, Ranchi - 834003, Jharkhand, India.
Sampatirao Dilip
ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110012, India.
Sudhakar Reddy Basu
Genetics and Plant Breeding ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute, 110012, New Delhi, India.
Boddu Aruna
Professor Jayashankar Telangana state agriculture University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This comprehensive review focused on understanding the critical interplay between Brassinosteroids (BRs), a class of plant hormones, and the high-temperature stress response in wheat (Triticum aestivum) in the context of climate change. In 2022-23, heat stress caused by a spike in temperatures in mid-March 2022 reduced India's wheat crop yields by 10-15%. This lowered the country's forecasted wheat production from 110 million metric tons (MMT) to 99 MMT for the 2022/23 market year (April-March) (USDA, 2023). The adverse effects of climate change and abiotic stresses on agriculture and crop productivity are well-established, with rising temperatures identified as a significant factor in the decline of plant growth and yield. In light of this, this review aims to delve into the intricate relationship between BRs and wheat's response to high-temperature stress. Given that global mean surface temperatures have already increased and are projected to continue rising throughout the 21st century, it is imperative to explore innovative strategies to mitigate the detrimental impacts on crop productivity. To this end, the study seeks to enhance our understanding of how BRs influence the growth and yield of wheat when exposed to high-temperature stress conditions. The overarching goal is to develop effective strategies that can bolster the resilience and productivity of wheat, which is a cornerstone staple crop worldwide, facing the escalating challenge of climate change. This review builds on the existing body of knowledge, synthesizing current research findings and shedding light on the potential of BRs as a key player in ameliorating the consequences of climate change in agriculture.
Keywords: Plant hormone, abiotic stress, plant growth, Brassinosteroids, heat resilience, plant stress, plant resilience, crop rotation