Understanding the Regulation of Root Development Towards Environmental Stresses for Crop Improvement

In the present time, agricultural production is under immense threat due to rapid changes in global climate. Environmental stresses are imparted by a number of factors which includes biotic factors like pathogenic microbes, fungus, herbivores etc. and abiotic factors like nutrients, light, temperature, salinity, water etc.; all of which have been known to profoundly obstruct plant growth and development. Plant root growth and functions are among the vital attributes that determine the performance of crop plants under stressed conditions. Root architecture has been known to be severely affected under the effect of stress which is reflected in the form of root organ deformation, decrease in lateral branching, root hairs, membrane integrity etc. This chapter therefore, details the elementary aspects of plant root development and the impacts of different environmental stresses on root development. At the same time, this chapter will also detail the insights of phytohormones and genetic regulation associated with root growth and development. Most importantly, the chapter will focus on the currently available strategies like plant-microbial consortium, transgenic development, and miRNA and CRISPR-Cas9 mediated genetic interventions that are specifically associated with the improvement of root architecture and developmental attributes that aids in conferring an enhanced level of stress tolerance in crop plants.