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Breeding and domesticating crops adapted to drought and salinity: a new paradigm for increasing food production
[EN] World population is expected to reach 9.2 × 109 people by 2050. Feeding them will
require a boost in crop productivity using innovative approaches. Current agricultural
production is very dependent on large amounts of inputs and water availability is a major
limiting factor. In addition, the loss of genetic diversity and the threat of climate change
make a change of paradigm in plant breeding and agricultural practices necessary.
Average yields in all major crops are only a small fraction of record yields, and drought
and soil salinity are the main factors responsible for yield reduction. Therefore there is
the need to enhance crop productivity by improving crop adaptation. Here we review
the present situation and propose the development of crops tolerant to drought and salt
stress for addressing the challenge of dramatically increasing food production in the near
future. The success in the development of crops adapted to drought and salt depends
on the efficient and combined use of genetic engineering and traditional breeding tools.
Moreover, we propose the domestication of new halophilic crops to create a ‘saline
agriculture’ which will not compete in terms of resources with conventional agricultureFita, A.; RodrÃguez Burruezo, A.; Boscaiu Neagu, MT.; Prohens Tomás, J.; Vicente Meana, Ó. (2015). Breeding and domesticating crops adapted to drought and salinity: a new paradigm for increasing food production. Frontiers in Plant Science. 6(978):1-14. doi:10.3389/fpls.2015.00978S114697