Abiotic stresses like drought, high temperature, and soil salinity are interconnected challenges that significantly affect plant growth and productivity. Drought conditions limit water availability, reducing nutrient uptake and leading to physiological imbalances. High temperatures exacerbate this stress by increasing evapotranspiration rates, causing dehydration and impairing photosynthesis. Soil salinity further complicates these conditions by altering osmotic balance, restricting water absorption, and inducing ion toxicity in plants. Together, these stresses create a compound effects where reduced water availability, heat-induced metabolic disruptions, and saline toxicity collectively weaken plant resilience. Understanding the intricate relationship among these abiotic factors is crucial for developing adaptive strategies, such as improved crop varieties, agronomic and soil management techniques, and efficient irrigation practices, to enhance stress tolerance in agricultural systems. Plants have developed a range of morphological and physiological strategies to endure abiotic stresses, ensuring their survival in challenging environments. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of these adaptive mechanisms, highlighting how plants modify their morphological and physiological characteristics to mitigate the adverse effects of the stresses. By examining these responses, we gain deeper insights into the resilience of plant systems and their capacity to thrive respite from unfavorable conditions. The results revealed that leaf water content was involved in drought and high temperature tolerance. Relationship between the midday drop of leaf water content and reproductive responses showed that the cultivars with a smaller reduction in midday leaf water content over morning displayed higher production of reproductive structures and consequently higher yield as compared with the plants with a larger midday drop of leaf water content. Therefore, the use of midday drop of leaf water content as a physiological indicator for screening large germplasm for heat and drought tolerance may be employed for developing tolerant plants in field crops. The findings from these experiments contribute valuable knowledge towards enhancing stress resilience in crops, supporting the development of more adaptable and high-yielding varieties suited for changing climate conditions.

The limited genetic diversity of cultivated chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) has significantly constrained progress in achieving high genetic gains in breeding programs. Various abiotic and biotic stresses also pose major challenges to chickpea productivity worldwide. Therefore, to enhance yield and stability in future cultivars, it is imperative to identify and integrate novel gene sources into the cultivated gene pool. Hence, systematic characterization, evaluation, and utilization of targeted traits from wild Cicer species are crucial to overcoming productivity constraints and broadening the genetic base. Advances in chickpea genomics offer promise avenues for developing climate-resilient cultivars to support sustainable agriculture. This review highlights the progress in genetic improvement of chickpea through the utilization of wild species, focusing on gene pools, species distribution, and the integration of valuable traits into cultivated varieties.

Groundwater is a critical component of the nation’s water wealth also a finite resources. Groundwater is vital for agriculture, drinking water, and industry. Population growth has created an unprecedented demand for water, with the situation most critical in the hot arid zone of India, where several million people entirely depend on groundwater for their all economic activities and even for basic survival. The groundwater in hot arid zone of India particularly in western Rajasthan faces significant challenges of fast declination of groundwater table due to its over-exploitation, contamination, indiscriminate use for inefficient economical activities. Per capita water availability in western Rajasthan is as low as 484 m3 yr-1, much below the national average of 1341 m3 yr-1. Agriculture sector is the highest water user in western Rajasthan (89.8%), followed by domestic (9.9%) and industry sector (0.3%). About 80% of the annual rainwater is lost through evaporation and seepage and less than 7% contributes to the recharge of groundwater. The overall groundwater stage of development for the western Rajasthan is 158%, which is categorized as ‘overexploited’. A heavy withdrawal of groundwater results in depletion of the groundwater table by 0.5 to 0.7 m every year. The situation may be further aggravated in future due to climate change and variability. For effective management of groundwater resources there is need to create awareness amongst the different water users. Judicious use of groundwater in irrigation water supply and industries coupled with artificial recharge, rainwater harvesting and conjunctive use of groundwater mixing with surface water in canal command area holds the key alleviate the Rajasthan problem of water in the region on sustainable basis. This article presents various issues related to groundwater in western Rajasthan and highlights the opportunities for sustainable development of groundwater.

The pulse beetle, Caryedon serratus, is a significant pest responsible for considerable post-harvest losses in stored leguminous seeds. The present study investigates the bioefficacy of two botanical—Balanites aegyptiaca seed oil and Capparis decidua stem extract—against C. serratus under laboratory conditions. Phytochemical screening of the botanical extracts revealed the presence of bioactive constituents such as saponins, alkaloids, and terpenoids, known for their insecticidal and antifeedant properties. Bioassay experiments were conducted to assess adult mortality. Results demonstrated that B. aegyptiaca seed oil and C. decidua stem extract caused significant adult mortality and reduced fecundity in a dose-dependent manner. These findings support the potential use of these indigenous plant-based formulations as eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic insecticides in stored grain pest management.

Clusterbean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] is an important industrial arid legume crop valued for its multipurpose uses, including vegetable (pods), green fodder, green manure, guar gum extraction, and seed production. In India, it is predominantly cultivated in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, and Haryana, with Rajasthan contributing over 70% of the national production. However, the crop is highly susceptible to several diseases, notably Bacterial  Leaf Blight (BLB) caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. cyamopsidis and dry root rot (DRR) caused by Macrophomina phaseolina, which cause significant yield losses under arid conditions. The present investigation aimed to identify tolerant genotypes through systematic field screening conducted during Kharif 2019 and 2022 under artificially inoculated sick plot conditions. Pathogens were isolated and maintained through standard isolation and inoculation techniques, including toothpick and stalk methods for DRR and furrow inoculation for BLB. A total of 100 genotypes were evaluated across the years. None of the genotypes exhibited complete immunity; however, notable resistance and moderate tolerance were identified. Genotype CAZG-15-3-5 showed high resistance against BLB in 2022. Consistent resistance to DRR was recorded in genotypes CAZG17-4-2, CAZG17-4-5, CAZG17-12, CAZG16-5-1, and RGC1066 over consecutive years. Additionally, several genotypes showed moderate resistance to BLB across the seasons, suggesting their potential utility in resistance breeding programs aimed at developing durable disease-resistant clusterbean cultivars for arid regions. These findings provide valuable insights into host-pathogen dynamics and lay the groundwork for future varietal improvement strategies to enhance clusterbean productivity under challenging agro-climatic conditions.

A pot experiment was conducted in March to June 2025 to find out the off season growth pattern and impact of hydro priming treatment in 11 cluster bean genotypes. Data were recorded on germination percentage at 7 and 14 days (TG 7, TG 14), mean germination time (MGT 7, MGT 14), germination rate index (GRI 7, GRI 14), seed vigour indices (SV I7, SVI 14), fresh and dry biomass of roots and shoots, and seedling length. Significant genotype × treatment interactions were found for early germination (within 7 days) and biomass traits. Notably, SVI 14 (h² = 0.93; GAM ≈ 55%) and shoot biomass looked promising selection indices. Hydro priming enhanced TG 14, with multiple regression highlighting MGT 14, GRI 14, and treatment as key predictors (R² = 0.54). All genotypes showed enhanced germination over control and amongst them V2, V3, V4, V8, V9 and V12 displayed higher germination at GT 7. In field trial mimicking terminal water stresses (42–47°C, rain fed), only three genotypes V9, V10, and V12 survived till the end of June. The study demonstrated that hydro priming did not improve, early germination and seedling vigour. Genotypes V9, V10, and V12 appeared strong candidates for using in drought-resilient clusterbean lines.

Spray drying is a widely utilized technique for converting liquid or slurry feedstocks into dry powders by rapidly drying with a hot gas. It is extensively used in the food, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries due to its ability to preserve heat-sensitive materials and produce particles with specific characteristics. This paper reviews the fundamental principles, equipment design, process parameters, and recent innovations in spray drying technology. Applications in various sectors are discussed, along with challenges related to thermal degradation, powder agglomeration, and process efficiency.

The study on performance of five representative genotypes for pod formation potential in summer arid situations of 2025 at Agriculture University, Jodhpur has been quite convincing. For instance, the results indicated that the atmospheric temperature lesser than 40°C proved convenient for effective pod formation on guar plants, whereas it showed detrimental effects on pod formation, in case temperature increased from 40°C onwards. However, the optimum temperature for pod formation appears to be identified between 25 to 35°C and higher relative humidity(75-80%). Interestingly, once the pods are formed at optimum temperature (25 to 35°C), the pods will continue to grow and develop well even under sub-optimal temperature conditions exceeding 40°C. It highlighted the influence of guar response on pod formation to the temperature regime. Amongst the genotypes tested, genotype D-4 emerged as a promising genetic resource. It demonstrated stability in the pod formation being up to 90 pods per plant when exposed to optimum temperatures after 60 days of sowing and appreciably it developed almost 40 pods even under sub-optimal temperature. The present study has underlined the temperature sensitivity and critical growth stages of guar when exposed to twin situations of drought and high temperature. Our present study underlines that the genotype D-4 appeared suitable for existing Agro-forestry system.

Minor pulses, commonly known as the crops of dry habitats, are characterized with low cost, source of livelihood security of financially ridden, arid peasants and farmers. For convenience, five legumes viz., moth bean or dew bean, cowpea or lobhia, horse gram or kulthi, rice bean and several others, form a group of crops generally referred to as minor pulses in India. The crops provide nutritious green fodder, green vegetables, being used in many secondary products are adapted to dry habitats. These virtues have made these crops from being locally and regionally important to front running dry land crops of great economic significance. Main obstacle is poor productivity of these legumes resulting is from poor source-sink relationship. In other words, there is too much biomass production but conversion is poor. The plant type is generally suiting for survival values not for productivity virtues. Second most important biological defect is, their long maturity, subjecting the crops to terminal stress, leading to poor adaptation and production. There are few but important diseases also which, during congenial conditions may cause heavy yield losses. Thus, to bridge the gaps between being realized and realizable yields of these crops, immediate biological and management remedial measures are required to be taken-up. In view of above, attempts have been made to expose virtues, prospects and ways forward to make minor pulses, particularly moth bean and horse gram more adaptive and productive in harsh environmental situations