The growth of human population has increased the demand for improved yield and quality of crops and horticultural plants. However, plant productivity continues to be threatened by stresses such as heat, cold, drought, heavy metals, UV radiations, bacterial and fungal pathogens, and insect pests. Long noncoding RNAs are associated with various developmental pathways, regulatory systems, abiotic and biotic stress responses and signaling, and can provide an alternative strategy for stress management in plants. Long Noncoding RNAs in Plants: Roles in development and stress provides the most recent advances in LncRNAs, including identification, characterization, and their potential applications and uses. Introductory chapters include the basic features and brief history of development of lncRNAs studies in plants. The book then provides the knowledge about the lncRNAs in various important agricultural and horticultural crops such as cereals, legumes, fruits, vegetables, and fiber crop cotton, and their roles and applications in abiotic and biotic stress management.

Dr. Upadhyay is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Botany at Panjab University, India, with over 16 years of experience in Plant Science. His research focuses on green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, and key defense-related proteins, as well as long non-coding RNAs involved in stress responses. He has made significant contributions to plant defense and genome editing research. Dr. Upadhyay has received prestigious awards including the INSA Associate Fellowship and the INSA Medal for Young Scientist. He also serves on editorial boards and as a reviewer for several international journals.