Crop Breeding for Rainfed Agricultural Systems: Present Status, Challenges and Mitigations

This contributed volume provides insights into crop breeding strategies tailored for rainfed agricultural systems, focusing on past successes, future challenges, and effective mitigation strategies. Rainfed agriculture accounts for nearly 80% of the world's cultivated land. With one-third of the developing world's population residing in these rainfed regions, enhancing the adaptability and resilience of rainfed crops is crucial to maintain consistent productivity under changing climate scenarios. In India specifically, where rainfed agriculture occupies 60% of the agricultural area, it serves as a major source of sustenance for a significant portion of the population, particularly those living in poverty. Therefore, it is necessary to reassess and discuss the achievements, breeding methodologies, and biotechnological advancements to find ways to better adapt rainfed crops for upcoming climate change. This book consolidates knowledge, methodologies, and innovations essential for enhancing the resilience of crops to varying climatic conditions. Each chapter delves into specific aspects of rainfed crop breeding, covering topics such as pre-breeding approaches, conventional breeding methods, mutation breeding, molecular breeding techniques, genomics-assisted breeding, epigenetics, speed breeding for accelerated crop improvement, functional genomics, genetic engineering, proteomics, miRNA-mediated engineering, genome editing, drought stress signaling responses, phenomics combined with artificial intelligence, and genomic selection. It serves as a valuable resource for students, researchers, practitioners and policymakers involved in promoting resilient and sustainable agriculture in rainfed regions worldwide.