Global Drought Threat: Impact on Food Security

This chapter focuses on the critical issue of drought and its consequences for global food security. This highlights the mechanistic strategies employed by plants to withstand and adapt to drought stress. This study delves into the mechanisms underlying plant drought tolerance, emphasizing the pivotal role of stomatal closure in the initial plant response to drought. Additionally, this chapter underscores the significance of drought-tolerant plants and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in enhancing water potential, a crucial approach to secure future food security amidst rising drought challenges. This study explores the mechanisms, applications, and perspectives of this approach, shedding light on its potential to enhance crop drought resistance. Furthermore, this chapter investigates the role of miRNAs in abiotic stress tolerance and highlights their importance in enhancing drought resilience in crop plants. The influence of aquaporin gene expression on drought adaptation was also discussed. This chapter also focuses on abscisic acid (ABA) signaling. ABA signaling plays a central role in controlling stomatal closure in response to drought stress, making it essential for improving plant drought tolerance, water conservation, and plant survival. This chapter offers valuable insights into strategies for enhancing plant drought resistance and ensuring food security in the face of increasing water scarcity.