Agricultural biotechnology for crop improvement in a variable climate: hope or hype?

    Varshney, R K and Bansal, K C and Aggarwal, P K and Datta, S K and Craufurd, P Q (2011) Agricultural biotechnology for crop improvement in a variable climate: hope or hype? Trends in Plant Science, 16 (7). pp. 363-371.

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    Abstract

    Developing crops that are better adapted to abiotic stresses is important for food production in many parts of the world today. Anticipated changes in climate and its variability, particularly extreme temperatures and changes in rainfall, are expected to make crop improvement even more crucial for food production. Here, we review two key biotechnology approaches, molecular breeding and genetic engineering, and their integration with conventional breeding to develop crops that are more tolerant of abiotic stresses. In addition to a multidisciplinary approach, we also examine some constraints that need to be overcome to realize the full potential of agricultural biotechnology for sustainable crop production to meet the demands of a projected world population of nine billion in 2050.

    Item Type: Article
    Divisions: UNSPECIFIED
    CRP: UNSPECIFIED
    Subjects: Others > Climate Change
    Depositing User: Users 6 not found.
    Date Deposited: 29 Aug 2011 07:40
    Last Modified: 29 Aug 2011 07:48
    URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/627
    Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2011.03.004
    Projects: UNSPECIFIED
    Funders: Generation Challenge Programme, CGIAR Challenge Programme on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security
    Acknowledgement: We record our special thanks to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) of Government of India. We also thank the CGIAR Generation Challenge Programme and CGIAR Challenge Programme on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security for financial support for different research projects in the laboratories of the authors. We thank Mr Abhishek Bohra, Dr Reyaz Mir, Ms Anuja Dubey and Ms Sri Swathi for their help with preparing the article and two anonymous reviewers for improving the manuscript with their constructive criticism.
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