Proteomic insights on root and tuber crops’ response to abiotic stress—A review

Abstract Root and tuber crops are a good source of food energy on a global scale, particularly in African and Asian nations. Nevertheless, these crops can be susceptible to abiotic stresses such as excessive heat, high salinity, drought, and nutrient deficiencies, which have detrimental effects on the physiological and metabolic processes of the plants, severely decreasing their yield. These abiotic stresses induce alterations in molecular structures, particularly at a protein level. With the release of the genome sequence and assembly of many root and tuber crops such as potato, cassava, beet, yam, taro, and sweet potato, opportunities for improvement of these crops against different abiotic factors have become possible. This review describes advances in the use of proteomics tools in understanding the response of root and tuber crops to abiotic stress, in order to provide insight for breeding strategies. These advancements can boost crop yields, increase agricultural productivity, and enhance global food security.