Intro
Preface
Contents
Editors and Contributors
1 Abiotic Stress in Plants: Socio-Economic Consequences and Crops Responses
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Socio-Economic Consequences of Abiotic Stress on Crop Production
1.3 Crops Response to Abiotic Stress
1.3.1 Growth and Productivity
1.3.2 Germination and Early Seedling Stages
1.3.3 Vegetative and Reproductive Stages
1.4 Crop Water Relations
1.4.1 Water Stress
1.4.2 Extreme Temperatures
1.4.3 Salinity
1.4.4 Heavy Metal
1.5 The Effect of Abiotic Stressors on Photosynthesis Pigments and Apparatus

1.5.1 Water Stress
1.5.2 Extreme Temperatures
1.5.3 Salinity
1.5.4 Heavy Metals
1.6 Conclusion and Future Prospects
References
2 Plant Abiotic Stress Tolerance Mechanisms
2.1 Introduction
2.1.1 Morphological Flexibility Conferring Abiotic Stress Tolerance
2.2 Positive Physiological Modification to Tackle Abiotic Stress
2.2.1 Antioxidants
2.2.2 Osmotic Adjustment
2.2.3 Molecular Strategies
2.3 Conclusion and Future Perspective
References
3 Biotechnology Strategies to Combat Plant Abiotic Stress
3.1 Introduction

3.2 Genetic Engineering Strategies for Resistance to Abiotic Stresses
3.2.1 Metabolite Engineering for Improving Abiotic Stress Tolerance
3.2.2 Genetic Engineering of Stress Responsive Genes and Transcription Factors
3.3 Tissue Culture Techniques
3.3.1 Somaclonal Variation and In Vitro Mutagenesis
3.3.2 In Vitro Selection for Abiotic Stress Tolerant Plants
3.4 Gene Editing Tools for Improving Stress Resistance in Plants
3.4.1 Zinc Finger Nucleases (ZFNs)
3.4.2 Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases (TALENs)

3.4.3 Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat (CRISPR)/Cas9)
3.5 Conclusion and Prospects
References
4 Nanomaterials Fundamentals: Classification, Synthesis and Characterization
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Nanomaterials
4.3 Classification of Nanomaterials
4.4 Quantum Effects
4.5 Unique Properties of Nanomaterials
4.5.1 Physical Properties
4.5.2 Optical Properties
4.5.3 Chemical Properties
4.5.4 Electrical Properties
4.5.5 Magnetic Properties
4.5.6 Mechanical Properties
4.6 Synthesis Methods of Nanomaterials

4.6.1 Physical Methods for Synthesis Nanomaterials
4.6.2 Chemical Methods for Synthesis Nanomaterials
4.6.3 Green Methods for Synthesis Nanomaterials
4.7 Characterization of Nanoparticles
4.7.1 X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)
4.7.2 Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)
4.7.3 Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)
4.7.4 Energy Dispersion Spectroscopy
4.7.5 Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectrometer
4.7.6 Ultraviolet-Visible (UV/Vis) Spectroscopy
4.8 Conclusion and Prospects
References
5 Nanotechnology in Agriculture
5.1 Introduction