Enhancing Crop Resilience to Abiotic Stress through Molecular Markers: A Review

Plants are subject to several abiotic stresses, such as extreme heat or cold, drought, and high salinity, which can greatly reduce the yields of agricultural crops. These conditions interfere with nutrient uptake and metabolic functions, causing growth to slow down or stop altogether. Genetically, these stresses challenge plants by impeding their ability to express their genetic potential optimally. A variety of molecular genomic markers are employed to study and improve crops under stress. For example, Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers help in identifying and assessing hybrids that are tolerant to drought and salinity, while Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers are crucial for evaluating stress resilience. These markers also play a key role in the Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) mapping of genes that respond to stress. Genes like dehydrins for drought and salinity are essential in the regulation of responses to these stressors. Furthermore, the use of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP) markers for single genes assists in the genetic mapping and sequencing of stress-related traits in inbred lines. DNA markers are central to marker-assisted breeding, which enhances tolerance to abiotic stresses through advanced techniques and improvements in markers.