Speakers

Biography

Mehdi Rahimi was born in Shiraz, Iran, in 1978. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran. His research interests are in plant breeding (classical breeding, biometry, abiotic stress, molecular breeding, genomics, gene expression). He received his Ph.D. in plant breeding at Tarbiat Modares University during 2008-2013, M.Sc. in plant breeding at the University of Guilan during 2004-2007, and his B.Sc. in agronomy and plant breeding from Shiraz University.

Abstract

Cereal crops hold a prominent position in the global agricultural landscape, serving as a crucial source of sustenance for a substantial proportion of the world's population. Abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity, heat, and cold, significantly diminish the productivity and quality of cereal crops. The aforementioned stresses present significant obstacles to attaining global food security, underscoring the pressing requirement to devise approaches that can augment the capacity of cereals to withstand abiotic stress. In the past few years, there has been notable advancement in comprehending the signaling pathways that regulate stress responses in cereal crops. This compilation of articles under the Research Topic investigates various physiological, biochemical, molecular, and breeding strategies utilized to enhance the tolerance of cereals towards abiotic stress. The contributing articles in this Research Topic shed light on the intricate physiological and biochemical responses of cereals to abiotic stresses. They delve into the roles of osmoprotectants, antioxidants, hormones, and signaling molecules in conferring stress tolerance. Through cutting-edge techniques and experimental approaches, these studies provide insights into the regulatory networks and molecular pathways that govern stress response and adaptation in cereals. By unraveling these mechanisms, researchers aim to identify key genes and proteins that can be targeted for improving stress tolerance in cereals. Advancements in molecular biology and biotechnology have revolutionized the field of plant stress tolerance. The articles in this Research Topic highlight the use of genetic engineering, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics to unravel the intricacies of abiotic stress responses in cereals. They showcase innovative techniques for the identification and characterization of stress-responsive genes, transcription factors, and functional markers that can be utilized in breeding programs to develop stress-tolerant cereal varieties. The application of genome editing technologies, such as CRISPR/Cas9, has also shown promise in enhancing abiotic stress tolerance by precisely modifying key genes involved in stress response pathways.