The book entitled “Climate Change and Abiotic Stresses in Horticultural Crops” is designed to encompass the subject from basics to the recent developments in the field of climate change and abiotic stresses in horticultural crops. With the enhanced pedagogy and latest context, it offers unparalleled exposure to biochemistry, physiology, biotechnology and management of abiotic stresses in horticultural crops in a simple and coherent manner. In addition to the above, basic and applied aspects of climate change in horticultural crops are also included. This book is a compilation of both fundamental and applied aspects of abiotic stresses in horticultural crops. There are 24 chapters with more emphasis on drought and climate changes and their management in horticultural crops. A course on abiotic stress management in horticultural crops has been included in the post-graduate degree programme of horticulture across the country. Therefore, this book will definitely address the global concern about abiotic stresses and global warming. Further, this book will fulfill the requirements of under-graduate in Agriculture, Horticulture and post-graduate Horticulture, Crop Physiology, Agronomy and Agrometeorology in different SAU’s and ICAR institutes. This publication will be useful not only to the students, but also helpful to scientists, extension officials policy-makers, planners, farmers and other stake holders concerned with horticulture, abiotic stresses and global warming.
Dr. A. Subbiah is presently working as an Associate Professor and Head of Horticulture at Grapes Research Station, (TNAU), Theni, Tamil Nadu. He was the recipient of ICAR Junior Research Fellowship for his Master degree during 1997 and completed his Ph.D., in 2004 from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. He worked as Research Assistant at Cardamom Research Station, Pampadumpara, Idukki, Kerala (KAU), Senior Research Fellow at Department of Vegetable Crops, TNAU, Coimbatore and Technical Executive of Indian Spices Producers Company, Cochin, Kerala. He has been involved in teaching courses on fundamentals of horticulture, production and post-harvest technology of fruits to the Undergraduate students in Horticulture for the past 10 years. He has also served as Co-Principle Investigator in the ICAR-NICRA Research Project on “Studies on Mango Flowering Phenology” and IDRCCIFSF, Canada funded Project on “Enhanced Preservation of Fruits in Asia by using Nano Film Techniques”. Further, he is also in-charge of Venture Capital Scheme ‘’Mass multiplication of grape rootstocks and varieties”. He is associated with 10 various scientific societies involved in promotion of research and development in fruits, spices and plantation crops as life member. He has also served as a member of Board of Studies for UG Programme in Horticulture, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University during 2010 - 2013. He has authored and co-authored 4 book chapters and 8 books and published 23 research papers in reputed National and International Journals. He has organized various training programme on production technology of grapes to the farmers.
Dr. J. Rajangam, started his career as an Assistant Professor of Horticulture during 1995 at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore. As a Horticulturist, he has more than 26 years experience in various horticultural crops. During his career, significant contributions were made pertaining to release of varieties CO3 in Chillies, PKM 2 in Annual moringa, PKM 1 in Davana, PKM 2 in Manilla tamarind and PKM 1 in Wood apple. He has served as Professor and Head, Horticultural Research Station, Kodaikanal for a period of four years. During his tenure, he was Officer in-charge of All India Network Project on Temperate Fruit Crops at Horticultural Research Station, Kodaikanal with CITH, Srinagar and Principle Investigator of ICAR – AICRP (Fruits) at Horticultural College & Research Institute, Periyakulam. He has offered UG and PG courses for more than 20 years and guided 16 M.Sc. (Hort.) and 2 Ph.D., students. He has published more than 30 papers in National and International journals, 112 popular articles, 15 booklets and four books. He has visited Israel and Tanzania for Post Graduate Certificate Programme in Protected Horticulture and International Symposium on Moringa cultivation and utilization. He has served as Scientist incharge of genetic resource conservation and documented 240 mango, guava and underutilized fruits genotypes as per NBPGR, New Delhi guidelines. He has developed technologies for Ultra High Density Planting System in mango and guava. For his contribution for canopy development in fruit crops, he was awarded Mahindra Samrithi National Award for the year 2019 - 2020. Currently, he is serving as Dean, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Periyakulam (TNAU, Coimbatore).
Dr. A. Bharathi currently working as an Assistant Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Eachangkottai, Thanjavur. Dr. A. Bharathi holds B.Sc. (Agriculture) and M.Sc. (Agriculture) with specialization in Plant breeding and Genetics from Annamalai University and Ph.D. from TNAU, Coimbatore in collaboration with International Crop Research Institute of Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in 2007. She was awarded the Israel Government’s prestigious Visiting Research Fellow Scholarship during 2007 by ministry About the Authors v of external affairs. Holds Post Doctoral Research Fellow from Agriculture Research Organization (ARO), The Volcani Centre, Israel from 2008 to 2009 in Bioinformatics. Currently he is handling 10 Under-graduate courses and 2 externally funded projects. She has published 9 international research papers, 20 national research papers, 3 books and 25 popular articles and with 5 awards.
Dr. K.S. Vijai Selvaraj currently working as an Associate Professor of Horticulture at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Eachangkottai, Thanjavur. Dr.K.S.Vijai Selvaraj holds B.Sc. (Horticulture) from Horticultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Periyakulam in 2002, Master’s degree from AC&RI, TNAU, Madurai in 2004. and Ph.D. from HC&RI, TNAU, Coimbatore in collaboration with The Robert H. Smith Institute of Plant Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI), Israel in 2007. He was awarded the Israel Government’s prestigious Visiting Research Fellow Scholarship during 2007 by ministry of external affairs. Holds Post Doctoral Research Fellow from Agriculture Research Organization (ARO), The Volcani Centre, Israel from 2008 to 2009 in Molecular Physiology and genetic engineering. Currently he is handling 15 Undergraduate courses and 5 externally funded projects. He has published 25 international research papers, 20 national research papers, 10 books and 25 popular articles and grabbed 10 awards. He is the key breeder in development and release of nations first Tall x Tall coconut hybrid.
Dr. C. Rajamanickam is presently working as Professor and Head, Citrus Research Station (TNAU), Vannikonenthal, Sankarankovil Taluk, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu for the past one year. During his career, significant contribution was made pertaining to release brinjal variety of MDU-2. He obtained his B.Sc. (Horticulture) and M.Sc. (Horticulture) from Horticultural College and Research Institute, Periyakulam, a constituent college of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore and Ph.D. (Horticulture) from College of Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He is having 18 years of experience in various mandates of teaching, research and extension. During the period from 2017 to 2018, he has served as Programme Coordinator, ICAR - Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ramanathapuram and conducted many training programmes on cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers and plantation crops. He has offered more than 30 courses in horticulture to both B.Sc. (Hort.) and B.Sc. (Ag.) students and three courses to M.Sc. (Hort.) students. He has guided two M.Sc. (Hort.) students and played active role as member of advisory committee for more than 20 post-graduate students in different disciplines of Agriculture. He is expertise in propagation of fruit crops and also in nursery management. He has solved many field problems in horticultural crops. He has authored two books, published more than 45 research papers in both National and International Journals, 7 books in regional language, 35 book chapters and several booklets during his career. He has participated more than 30 National and International seminar, conference, symposia and workshops. He is a member of ten professional scientific societies across the country. He is the Principle Investigator of NICRA scheme for two years and handled two externally funded projects as Co-Principal Investigator. He has received one best researcher award by Malarum Velanmai Journal, Coimbatore during the year 2015; Best Poster Paper Award (I position) in the First NABS International Conference on Life Sciences organized by Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India during August 2021 and obtained Best Paper Award in the 5th and 6th National Conference on Agriculture Science Tamil Conference organized by Agriculture Science Tamil Society, New Delhi during 2020 & 2021.
Dr. B. Devaraju, obtained graduate and post-graduate degrees (Agronomy) from faculty of agriculture, Annamalai University, Chidambaram during 1988-1994. He pursued Ph.D. (Agronomy) from School of Agriculture and Animal Sciences, Gandhigram Rural Institute Deemed to be University, Gandhigram during 2019. He is presently working in School of Agriculture and Animal Sciences, Gandhigram Rural Institute, Deemed to be About the Authors / vi University, Gandhigram and he is an agronomist specialization in nutrient and weed management of field crops. He has experience of more than 20 years in teaching, research and extension in the field of Agronomy. He has also worked in Krishi Vigyan Kendra (ICAR-KVK), Gandhigram Rural Institute. During this period, he has conducted regulartraining programmes to the farmers about various improved crop cultivation activities. He has delivered more than 15 talks through AIR on various field problems and advanced production technology of crops. He attended many National and International Seminars or conference and presented papers. He has published 25 research articles, 20 popular articles in leading journals and magazines. He has prepared more than 5 practical manuals in agronomy and allied areas. He has published more than 10 book chapters and published two books.
Dr. K. Balakrishnan, started his career as anAssistant Professor of Crop Physiology at Horticultural College and Research Institute, Coimbatore during the year 1985. He was the recipient of ICAR Senior Fellowship during 1983 (All India 2nd Rank) and obtained Ph.D. in Crop Physiology in 1987 from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (TNAU). He has also obtained Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism in 1988. He also worked as Technical Assistant in United Planter’s Association of South India, Coonoor, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu during 1981-1983. He has been teaching courses on Crop Physiology and Biochemistry to the Undergraduate and Post Graduate students in both Agriculture and Horticulture for the past 33 years. He has served as Principle Investigator of Foliar diagnosis in Horticultural crops in plan scheme funded by Government of Tamil Nadu, Post Harvest Technology of Horticultural crops ICAR-PHT at Horticultural College and Research Institute, Periyakulam and Arid zone fruit crops funded by AICRIP (ICAR), at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Aruppukottai. He has operated several schemes from both private and Government agencies. He was the member of All India ICAR Syllabus Committee on basic Agricultural Sciences during 2007-2008. He has also served as a member of Board of studies, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University during 1997-2000. This expertise in foliar diagnosis of nutritional disorders in crop plants is well-recognized by invitation to deliver lectures on various aspects of diagnosis of nutritional and physiological disorders in NGOs, Extension officials and farmers organisations. He has solved many physiological field problems. He was the founder inchage of Venture Capital Scheme on “Production of coconut tonic” at AC&RI, Madurai since 2006. He has authored and co-authored 15 book chapters and 9 books and published 100 research papers in both National and International journals, 3 extension bulletins and 120 popular articles. He has been the question setter and external examiner for M.Sc. (Ag.) and Ph.D. students in several State Agricultural Universities. He has organized one National Seminar at AC & RI, Madurai during September 2013. He has served as the Professor and Head, Department of Seed Science and Technology, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai during 2013-2015. Recognition of his 25 years of meritorious service, TNAU award given on 41st Foundation Day celebration held on June 01, 2011. He was awarded Thiruvalluvar Award for his contribution in Teaching Crop Physiology courses to the under-graduate students in Agriculture by Alumni Association of Agricultural College and Research Institute, Killikulam in 2017. He has been awarded Fellow of Bose Science Society (FBSS) by the Tamil Nadu Scientific Research Organization, Tamil Nadu during January 2018 for his commendable achievement in the field of Crop Physiology. About the Authors / vii Climate change is a serious global threat that demands an immediate global response. It has come upon in a relatively short space of time and is accelerating with alarming speed. Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chloroflurocarbons and tropospheric ozone are the main gases responsible for global warming. Among the gases, carbon dioxide accounts for 61.0 per cent of the increased radioactive forcing and heat retention caused by green house gases. Over the last 100 years, the global mean temperature has increased by 0.74ºC and the atmospheric CO2 concentration has increased from 280 ppm in 1750 to 368 ppm in 2000 and temperature is projected to increase by 3.4ºC – 6.0ºC and CO2 concentration to 1250 ppm by ~ 2095. Climate affects agriculture through both biotic and abiotic stresses. Abiotic stresses are serious threat to agriculture and the environment which have been exacerbated in the current century by global warming and industrialization. Abiotic stresses, such as drought (water stress) excessive watering (waterlogging), extreme temperatures (cold, frost and heat), salinity and mineral toxicity negatively affect crop growth and development, yield and quality. World population is expected to increase from 8.0 billion (2022) to 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050 and 10.4 billion in 2090 and will continue to remain upto 2100. Such increase in population growth will intensify pressure on world’s naturalresources to higherfood production. Increased food production could be achieved by mitigating the climate change and abiotic stresses. Horticultural crops are rich in nutrition and part of diet and meals of human beings. The crops have enormous amounts of vitamins, minerals fats, proteins, energy, etc. The total area under cultural crops in India is around 27.74 million ha with a production of 341.63 million tonnes (2020-2021) and thereby providing formidable nutritional security of Indian population touching 140 million at present, besides contributing 30% of Indian Agriculture GDP from mere 8.5% of the cropped area. Climate change plays a significant role in growth and productivity of horticultural crops. The increase in global average temperature due to green house gases leads to more evapotranspiration and high water demand. Climate change is not necessarily harmful, but problems arises from extreme events that are difficult to predict, more erratic rainfall and unpredicted high temperature. At the same time, more availability of CO2 would help in improved crops of root yields and increased temperature may shortern the crop duration. The book consists of 24 chapters covering both basic and applied aspects of abiotic stresses and their management strategies in different horticultural crops. This includes one chapter on omics in abiotic stresses. In addition to the above, climate change in horticultural crops and their mitigation strategies have also been included. We do not pretend to claim full credit for any original contribution. This book should be viewed as a elaborate collection and compilation of latest development and achievements made in abiotic stresses and climatic change in horticultural crops. The authors are hopeful that the book will be highly useful to Under-graduate and Post-graduate students, Ph.D. scholars of Agriculture, Horticulture and Allied Sciences and also cater state holders in the field of Agriculture and Horticulture. Besides horticulture, the book will also fulfill the needs of the crop Physiologist, Agronomist and Agricultural Meteorologist working in the field of various horticultural crops.
1. Abiotic Stresses in Plants – An Introduction ...........................................................................................1
2. Drought on Plants ..................................................................................................................................... 15
3. Management of Drought Stress .............................................................................................................. 47
3.1. Antitranspirants .............................................................................................................................. 94
3.2. Seed priming..................................................................................................................................... 98
3.3. Partial root zone drying technique............................................................................................. 110
3.4. Mulching ......................................................................................................................................... 118
3.5. Super absorbent polymers ............................................................................................................ 139
3.6. Nanomaterials ................................................................................................................................ 141
4. Flooding Stress .......................................................................149
5. High Temperature Stress........................................................................................................................ 169
6. Low Temperature (Cold) Stress ............................................................................................................ 195
7. Light and High Light Intensity ............................................................................................................. 233
8. Low Light Stress .................................................................................................................................... 255
9. Ultraviolet Radiation .............................................................................................................................. 265
10. Nutrient Stress ....................................................................................................................... 277
11. Salt Stress and Plant Growth ................................................................................................................ 295
12. Management of Salt Stress..................................................................................................................... 319
13. Heavy Metal Stress ............................................................................................................... 347
14. Air Pollution ........................................................................................................................... 369
15. Wind on Plants ......................................................................................................................... 393
16. Hailstorms ............................................................................................................................. 405
17. Soil Compaction ............................................................................................................ 413
18. Soil Acidity ............................................................................................................. 425
19. Plant Aquaporins ..................................................................................................................... 445
20. Grafting in Vegetable Crops for Abiotic Stress Tolerance ............................................................... 453
21. Breeding for Drought Tolerance in Vegetable Crops ....................................................................... 465
22. Omics in Abiotic Stresses ................................................................................................... 485
23. Climate Change on Horticultural Crops .............................................................................. 503
24. Mitigation Strategies of Climate Change ......................................................................... 547
