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The author reflects on the stress on the plant and food production due to non-living factors such as atmosphere and temperature in the next 50 to 100 years. He discusses the challenges faced by the crop researchers in production of more drought resistant and high yielding species of crops. He mentions the problems in developing transgenic species of crop plants such as multiple genes change in the genetic makeup of the plants.

Use of interspecific hybridization in genetic improvement of kenaf ( Hibiscus cannabinus), a multipurpose crop, is limited by low cross-compatibility. Previous hybridization studies suggest that part of incompatibility barrier is prezygotic. Pollen germination, stigma receptivity and growth of alien pollen on kenaf pistil were studied using wild relatives of kenaf. Four wild and semi-domesticated species, H. surattensis, H. acetosella, H. radiatus and H. vitifolius, were used as pollen donors in the present experiment. H. radiatus exhibited highest pollen germination (65.89%) on H. cannabinus stigma. For closely related species ( H. surattensis, H. acetosella, H. radiatus), stylar incompatibility was noticed, while for distantly related species H. vitifolius, the incompatibility was stigmatic. Number of pollen tubes entering ovule of H. cannabinus pistil was higher for H. radiatus (1.30). Alien pollen growth and penetration of pollen tube through ovule were higher in species sharing same genome of H. cannabinus. High callose deposition was observed in incompatible crosses, suggesting a general mechanism for prezygotic incompatibility in Hibiscus section Furcaria. Callose deposition in incompatible crosses increased with time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy security and the transition to a thriving lowcarbon economy are essential for a developing nation like India. We examined the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and environmental impact of bioethanol production from jute and kenaf feedstock. It was observed that net GHG emissions from crop production and bio-refinery from jute and kenaf ethanol were 3.45 and 5.88 g MJ-1 respectively. This result is much lower than any other feedstock like sugarcane bagasse, corn stover, rice straw and wheat straw. Life cycle assessment revealed that ethanol produced from jute and kenaf biomass can reduce GHG emissions by 78-81% when compared with petrol. Bioethanol has the least negative effects (rice straw > sugarcane bagasse > wheat straw > corn stover > jute, kenaf) on the environment and resource depletion. It might deliver 60% of the ethanol requirement annually and may prove to be a workable technology for meeting ethanol-to-petrol blend targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anatomical structure (cross-sectional area and surface structure of fiber bundle) greatly contributes to quality determination of fiber filaments. Fiber bundle with greater crosssectional area produces coarse and strong fibers suitable for gunny bags, whereas fibers with low cross-sectional area produce fine fibers used in fabrics and finer textiles. Over-retting or under-retting will reduce fiber quality. It is difficult to assess the fiber quality if not retted properly and cannot be used in breeding process. Plant breeders may use this simple technique for genetic improvement in yield and quality of bast fiber crops (jute, kenaf, ramie and flax). The paper discusses about the anatomical techniques for use by the crop breeders for superior quality genotypes in bast fibers to help the farming community and jute industry get higher profit and superior quality fibers for various end uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors discuss the role of physiology and biochemistry in salt tolerant genotype development. They state that planting salt tolerant crop genotype is the best strategy to sustain productivity. They mention that increasing salt tolerance in cultivated genotypes has been a major target for improving crop productivity in salt affected areas. They note that metabolic profiling and its relation to ion pool are being suggested as screening strategies for salt tolerant genotype identification.