** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** AS THE CLIMATE WARMS, SIGNIFICANT CROP LOSS IS ANTICIPATED. TO SUSTAINABLY MEET THE FOOD DEMANDS OF A GROWING POPULATION AMIDST CLIMATE CHANGE, CULTIVATING HIGHER-YIELDING CROPS RESILIENT TO RISING TEMPERATURES IS NECESSARY. AS CLIMATE CHANGE THREATENS SUSTAINABLE YIELD, THERE'S AN URGENT NEED TO IDENTIFY AND RE-ENGINEER GENES INVOLVED IN ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS TOLERANCE.PLANTS POSSESS INTRICATE MECHANISMS TO ANTICIPATE THEIR ENVIRONMENT. SPECIFICALLY, PLANTS ANTICIPATE THE DAILY CYCLES OF THE RISING AND SETTING OF THE SUN WHICH ALTERS THE PLANT'S ENVIRONMENT IN TERMS OF HOURS OF SUNLIGHT AND TEMPERATURE. THE CIRCADIAN CLOCK, ACTING AS A SELF-SUSTAINING 24-HOUR TIMEKEEPER, PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE. IT ALLOWS PLANTS TO SYNCHRONIZE BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES WITH DAILY CYCLES. THIS SYNCHRONIZATION IS KNOWN AS ENTRAINMENT AND IS NECESSARY FOR BIOLOGICAL EVENTS TO OCCUR AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME OF DAY. THE CLOCK IS SIMILAR IN ESSENTIALLY ALL PLANTS, INSIGHTS GAINED FROM MODEL PLANT STUDIES HOLD RELEVANCE FOR MOST CROP SPECIES. CONTROLLING VARIOUS ASPECTS OF PLANT DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING PHOTOSYNTHESIS, GROWTH, AND STRESS RESPONSES, THE CIRCADIAN CLOCK FOR ESSENTIAL FOR CROP PERFORMANCE. WHILE CONSIDERABLE RESEARCH HAS FOCUSED ON LIGHT ENTRAINMENT, TEMPERATURE ENTRAINMENT REMAINS UNDERSTUDIED.AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND MOUNTING CROP DEMANDS, UNRAVELING HOW THE CIRCADIAN CLOCK ORCHESTRATES STRESS RESPONSES AND GROWTH IN EXTREME CONDITIONS MAY GREATLY IMPROVE AGRICULTURE. THIS PROJECT PROMISES TO IDENTIFY TARGET GENES CRUCIAL FOR BREEDING HIGH-YIELDING STRESS-RESILIENT CROPS, ENHANCING PRODUCTIVITY AMIDST ESCALATING ENVIRONMENTAL PRESSURES.