Biochemical, physiological and molecular aspects of waterlogging tolerance in economically important oilseed crops rapeseed, sesame and soybean

Abstract

Climate change poses a significant threat to agricultural sustainability. As the frequency of heavy rainfall has increased globally, waterlogging has become a pressing global issue that has a significant impact on the growth and development of oilseed crops. Due to decreased aerobic respiration in the rhizosphere, various physiological processes, including metabolic reactions, hormone production, and signaling cascades, are adversely impacted by waterlogging. These physiological changes impair reproductive health, resulting in decreased oilseed crop yields. In response to waterlogging, the most common resistance mechanisms developed by crop plants are development of aerenchyma, adventitious roots, and radial oxygen loss barrier. Consequently, the identification and selection of parents with resistance mechanisms, as well as their incorporation into breeding programmes, are essential for sustaining crop production. Thus, a better understanding of the physiological and biochemical mechanisms during waterlogging followed by identification of underlying key regulatory molecules would greatly facilitate the oilseed breeding programs. This review systematically summarizes the response of crop plants to waterlogging through adaptations and the strategies for introduction of waterlogging resistance in oilseed crops.