Role of biostimulants in mitigating the effects of climate change on crop performance

Abstract

Climate change is a critical yield–limiting factor that has threatened the entire global crop production system in the present scenario. The use of biostimulants in agriculture has shown tremendous potential in combating climate change–induced stresses such as drought, salinity, temperature stress, etc. Biostimulants are organic compounds, microbes, or amalgamation of both that could regulate plant growth behavior through molecular alteration and physiological, biochemical, and anatomical modulations. Their nature is diverse due to the varying composition of bioactive compounds, and they function through various modes of action. To generate a successful biostimulatory action on crops under different parameters, a multi–omics approach would be beneficial to identify or predict its outcome comprehensively. The ‘omics’ approach has greatly helped us to understand the mode of action of biostimulants on plants at cellular levels. Biostimulants acting as a messenger in signal transduction resembling phytohormones and other chemical compounds and their cross–talk in various abiotic stresses help us design future crop management under changing climate, thus, sustaining food security with finite natural resources. This review article elucidates the strategic potential and prospects of biostimulants in mitigating the adverse impacts of harsh environmental conditions on plants.

Triple-Zero Tillage and System Intensification lead to enhanced Productivity, Micronutrient Biofortification and Moisture-Stress Tolerance Ability in Chickpea in a Pearlmillet–Chickpea Cropping System of Semi-arid Climate

“…Combining the CA c practice with legume-intensi cation also enhanced the SOC input owing to adequate leaf litterfall and root biomass additions from legumes with narrow C:N ratio 18,19 ; which in turn, enhanced the soil microbial diversity 17,[23][24][25] . Legume roots also release the root exudates which harbor the microbial diversity in the rhizosphere 4,20,26 , that's why the double-legumes system i.e. PCMCS had highest microbial counts of bacteria, fungi and actenomycetes in current study.…”

“…CA management also promotes the soil organic carbon (SOC) storage, aggregate stability, and soil biological activity over intensive tillage 1,[15][16][17] . In addition, improved soil physico-chemical and biological properties and microclimate modulation under CA-management 9,10,18,19 , may also prove helpful in inducing the moisturestress tolerance ability in rainfed crops 20 . Hence, it is obligatory to generate robust scienti c evidences for CA based agronomic interventions for the water-scarce semi-arid regions that too under triple-zero tilled cropping systems, as most of the research till date is largely con ned to irrigation-based rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) in south-Asia 21 .…”

Use of Yucca (Yucca schidigera) Extracts as Biostimulants to Promote Germination and Early Vigor and as Natural Fungicides

“…For these reasons, the analysis of botanical extracts as potential agents to help achieve the objective of sustainable agriculture is an increasingly active area of research. In addition, biostimulants have been proposed as a solution for mitigating the effects of climate change on crop performance and a powerful tool against the effects of abiotic stress [ 13 , 14 ].…”

Biostimulants for Sustainable Management of Sport Turfgrass

“…The requisite for more research on the effect of biological products on grasses has been highlighted [ 4 , 13 ]. Aside from the European legislation objective in reducing the use of pesticides and fertilizers by 2030, as well as the promotion of new technologies [ 4 ], an additional driving force behind the increasing interest in biostimulants for all plants is that of climate change [ 21 ]. The use of biostimulants in mitigating the adverse impacts of harsh environmental conditions on plants are currently being reported [ 21 ].…”

“…Aside from the European legislation objective in reducing the use of pesticides and fertilizers by 2030, as well as the promotion of new technologies [ 4 ], an additional driving force behind the increasing interest in biostimulants for all plants is that of climate change [ 21 ]. The use of biostimulants in mitigating the adverse impacts of harsh environmental conditions on plants are currently being reported [ 21 ]. As such, the use of biostimulants is projected to increase on a global level by 10.4% annually until 2030 [ 22 ].…”