Transcriptomic Analysis of Multiple Enviornmental Stresses in Plants

Global losses in agricultural production due to abiotic stresses have been estimated to be $120 billion. In the wake of shrinking arable land and rampant changes in climate, a second green revolution is important to meet the food needs of the rapidly growing population. This warrants radical changes in research strategies. Genomics approaches such as transcriptome profiling have led to the identification of gene networks important for many different stresses. However, under natural conditions plants are challenged by simultaneous occurrence of two or more stresses. Several studies have recently analyzed the transcriptional responses to two stresses simultaneously and are discussed here. For plant biotechnologies to deliver the promise of a second green revolution, a systems biology approach of examining multiple stresses at various developmental stages is necessary.