SMART CROPs

Abstract

Crops, because of their sessile lifestyle, inevitably experience dynamic environmental conditions, and their capacity to adapt to these changes is central to their growth, survival, and crop productivity. A crop that has been specifically engineered to be sensitive and rapidly tilt the balance between stress responses and growth regulation is defined as a “SMART CROP.” In examining the demands for crops with the highest yield and quality, efforts have been made to create SMART CROPs in the past decades. In this review, we highlight the mechanisms identified to enhance the properties of smart crops and describe technologies and features underlying the advancement of smart crops.