Stress in crops refers to external factors that decrease crop yields from their maximum potential. There are two main types of stress: biotic stress caused by living organisms like diseases and pests, and abiotic stress imposed by environmental factors like temperature, rainfall, soil conditions. Stress can affect seedling establishment, plant growth, pollen development, biomass production, and grain or fruit development and quality. Common stress factors for crops include climatic conditions, soil properties, and crop management practices. Strategies to control stress include seed priming, adjusting sowing times and patterns, foliar spraying, soil management practices, and morphological adaptations by plants.