<b>IMPACT OF ABIOTIC STRESS ON COTTON PRODUCTIVITY AND STRATEGIES TO AMELIORATE THE EFFECTS</b>

Cotton has been grown as an important fibre cash crop, which has most significant impact on economies and livelihoods throughout the world. However, its development and productivity are significantly impacted by abiotic factors like drought, high temperatures, waterlogging, and salinity of the soil. Reduced yields result from these environmental issues that interfere with physiological activities as photosynthesis, metabolism, and fiber growth. While water and salt stress affect cellular processes and nutrient intake, high temperatures speed up evaporation and change reproductive growth. These stresses can be mitigated with the use of efficient management techniques, such as improved irrigation techniques, genetic innovations, and cultivars resistant to drought. Functional genomics and marker-assisted selection offer encouraging paths toward enhancing cotton's resistance to abiotic stress. Addressing these challenges is crucial for sustaining cotton production under climate change and resource limitations.