Molecular Insights to Comprehend Maize's Resistance to Drought and Nitrogen Deficiency

Abstract

Maize is vulnerable to various abiotic stresses. Drought and low nitrogen stress are the two major constraints that hinder maize growth, development, and productivity. Severe drought stress leads to stomatal closure, restricting CO₂ intake, decreasing chlorophyll content, and ultimately reducing photosynthesis. Nitrogen (N) is the essential macronutrient required for proper growth and development of crop. N is a vital component of many biomolecules. N deficiency affects many biological processes in plants, such as, development, architecture, flowering, senescence, photosynthesis and photosynthates allocation. Thus, drought and nitrogen stress change the physiological and developmental process in plants, at molecular level plant respond by changing and reprogramming of genes and metabolism. The purpose of the review is to gain insight molecular aspects of plants stress response, to understand the role of transcription factors, and miRNA, and to enumerate latest developments in the transgenic approach to intercept drought and nitrogen deficiency. Also discusses how plants respond to signaling networks in drought and nitrogen deficiency. To create drought-tolerant germplasm, recent techniques and tools such as transcriptomic analysis, plant transformation, manipulation of TF, and genome editing tools might play a crucial role.