Sulfur-Mediated Physiological and Biochemical Alterations to Improve Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Food Crops

Sulfur (S) is an important macronutrient that plays a significant role in plant growth and development. In the past few decades, efforts focused on reducing sulfur dioxide emission for environment protection had limited the use of S-based fertilizers in agriculture, thereby causing S deficiency in food crops. It also triggered the susceptibility of crop plants to environmental stresses as S assimilation and synthesis of different S compounds modulate several metabolic processes to induce tolerance against various abiotic stresses. The use of inorganic fertilizers containing S has increased tremendously in recent years due to its significance in enhancing crop yield and quality. Therefore, in this chapter, we discuss recent studies on effects of S fertilizers on growth and yield of major cereals (wheat, maize, rice), legumes (mung bean, chickpea, black gram), and oilseeds (sunflower, brassica, soybean). An overview of current state of knowledge on S-mediated physiological and biochemical alterations in food crops may facilitate in developing appropriate fertilizer management strategies to improve yield and quality under abiotic stress conditions.