About this Research Topic

Background

Salinity is a major problem affecting agricultural activity in many regions of the world. Biosaline agriculture and crop diversification through the introduction of alternative crops are key solutions to overcome this problem and better valorize salt-affected lands.
Traditional crops face many challenges caused by abiotic and biotic stresses, including salinity, drought, pests, and disease. Alternative crops can be a solution, replacing common crops in specific geographic areas to achieve specialized benefits in the farming
system. In addition, the high value products of alternative crops have the potential to greatly improve the income of farmers. With increasing salinity affecting arable land globally, scientists are making great efforts to introduce, evaluate and improve new and alternative crop strains. However, more research is needed to screen for high yielding varieties, understand tolerance mechanisms, optimize cropping practices, and develop value chains to ensure the success of alternative crops in marginal environments.

This Research Topic explores salt tolerance mechanisms in plants at the physiological, molecular, and genetic level. Identifying resilient and stress-tolerant crop species is essential to genetically improving staple crops and increasing agricultural yield. As climate change intensifies, it is important to develop alternative crops that better withstand marginal environmental conditions. Better management of soil, crop, and water resources in farming using best cropping practices adapted to dry lands will also contribute to the development of a value chain of alternative food, forage, and medicinal plants.

This Research Topic welcomes all article types that include the following:

• Crop selection and screening of salt tolerant crops
• Mechanisms of tolerance to salinity stress
• Molecular and genetic characterization of salt tolerant species
• New crop introduction and upscaling
• Forage production
• Soil amendments and fertilization
• Best cropping practices
• Saline irrigation management
• Value chain, valorization, and transformation of salt tolerant crops
• Agriculture-aquaculture integrated systems

Keywords: salinity, salt tolerance, crop species, stress tolerance, resources

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