Advances in Molecular Research of Strategic Crops
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 April 2024) | Viewed by 1571
Special Issue Editors
Interests: plant breeding; genomics; quantitative genetics; soybean
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: plant breeding; bigdata; climate-based breeding; computational biology; data integration strategies; genomics; omics-based research; phenomics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Strategic crops, also known as staple crops, play a crucial role in providing essential nutrients and sustenance for both human consumption and animal feed. In light of the exponential growth in the global population, there is a concurrent surge in the demand for strategic crops such as wheat, rice, maize, and soybean, thereby underlining the significance of enhancing crop production with a focus on enhancing yield, nutritional content, and sustainability. Consequently, there has been a pronounced escalation in research endeavors aimed at deciphering the intricate molecular mechanisms governing complex traits, as well as advancing biotechnological methodologies to bolster crop cultivation and production.
Substantial progress has recently been achieved in the realm of molecular-based crop breeding, driven by significant strides in functional genomics tools and the accessibility of high-throughput sequencing technologies. These advancements have empowered plant scientists to precisely unravel the genetic foundations underpinning key traits, including yield, disease resistance, and seed composition, in different crops. Furthermore, the synergistic integration of omics methodologies, such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, has led to a profound comprehension of the complicated molecular mechanisms governing crop growth, development, and its complex responses to diverse biotic and abiotic stresses.
Crop molecular-based breeding research, including genomic selection approaches, marker-assisted selections, and genome editing techniques, has not only enabled breeders to successfully develop cultivars with improved agronomic performance but also improved our understanding of crop biology, which leads to sustainable production practices.
In this Special Issue, we aim to spotlight the latest advancements in molecular research pertaining to strategic crops and their practical applications aimed at enhancing crop production. This Special Issue will encompass a wide array of subjects, comprising, but not limited to:
- Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) and quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping for important traits such as yield, disease resistance, and seed composition.
- Applications of transcriptional profiling and functional genomics tools in deciphering the molecular mechanisms underlying key traits.
- The role of omics approaches in understanding the genetic basis of abiotic and biotic stress responses, including drought, heat, and pathogen infections.
- Biotechnological approaches for improving productivity, such as marker-assisted selection and genome editing.
- Nutritional genomics and the development of varieties with enhanced nutritional properties, including proteins, fatty acids, and micronutrients.
- Data-driven approaches to increase the speed and accuracy of molecular breeding.
We invite the submission of original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and insightful perspectives encompassing both fundamental and practical facets of molecular-based investigations in the realm of strategic crops. This Special Issue endeavors to offer a comprehensive snapshot of the present landscape of molecular research in strategic crops, emphasizing recent breakthroughs and delineating the potential trajectories for future research endeavors in this field.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mehrzad Eskandari
Dr. Mohsen Yoosefzadeh Najafabadi
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- abiotic and biotic stresses
- computational biology
- data-driven approaches
- functional genomics
- genomic prediction
- genome-wide association study
- marker-assisted selection
- molecular-based crop breeding
- omics-based crop development
- gene editing
- strategic crops
