摘要
Food security is a global concern in view of the ongoing global （social and climate） change. The challenges to food securityfrom global change, sharply increasing food and feed demands, whereas increasing the frequency and severity of stresses,coupled with degradation and scarcity of natural resources, are indeed urgent and real （Prasanna et al. 2013）. Crop productionmust double by 2050 to meet future production demands （Tilman et al. 2011）. The ability to achieve this increaserepresents a significant challenge to plant breeders. Crop yields must increase at a rate of 2.47o per year, yet the averagerate of increase is only 1.3% with yields stagnating in up to 40% of land under cereal production （Ray et al. 2012, 2013）. Therefore,crops with higher yield potential and more resistant to abiotic stress conditions are needed to address such challenges.
Food security is a global concern in view of the ongoing global （social and climate） change. The challenges to food securityfrom global change, sharply increasing food and feed demands, whereas increasing the frequency and severity of stresses,coupled with degradation and scarcity of natural resources, are indeed urgent and real （Prasanna et al. 2013）. Crop productionmust double by 2050 to meet future production demands （Tilman et al. 2011）. The ability to achieve this increaserepresents a significant challenge to plant breeders. Crop yields must increase at a rate of 2.47o per year, yet the averagerate of increase is only 1.3% with yields stagnating in up to 40% of land under cereal production （Ray et al. 2012, 2013）. Therefore,crops with higher yield potential and more resistant to abiotic stress conditions are needed to address such challenges.
