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Enhancing Yield and Quality in Conventional and New Crops: From...
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Enhancing Yield and Quality in Conventional and New Crops: From Molecular Approaches to Agricultural Practices

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 February 2024) | Viewed by 3676

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Vasileios Greveniotis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Industrial and Forage Crops, Department of Plant Production, 1 Theofrastou Str., 41335 Larisa, Greece
Interests: plant breeding; quantitative genetics; crop improvement; genotype x environment interaction; agronomy; sustainability; stability; forage and grain crops; low input and organic farming
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Athanasios E. Korkovelos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Directorate of Water Management of Thessaly, Decentralized Administration of Thessaly—Central Greece, GR-41335 Larissa, Greece
Interests: plant breeding; quantitative genetics; G x E interaction; multi-environment experimentation; stability; molecular genetics; genomics; low input and organic farming
Dr. Constantinos Ipsilandis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Regional Administration of Ionian Islands, 49100 Corfu, Greece
Interests: cropping systems; yield stability; high yield performance; G x E interaction; multi-environment experimentation; variability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Global demand for food is anticipated to rise as population density increases. Technological, biological, and environmental factors can affect the yield of agricultural crops. Technologies including agriculture mechanization, irrigation technologies, and chemical inputs have contributed to higher crop yields. Pests and diseases, as well as climatic conditions, topography, soil fertility, and water quality, may influence the productivity of crops in addition to their quality. Crop yield can be enhanced by improving the crop variety through crossbreeding and hybridization. To create new cultivars and combat climate change, plant breeding is a cutting-edge technique that has consistently been employed. The repository of knowledge regarding the genetic basis of crop features has significantly expanded. Consequently, there has been a significant shift in plant-breeding technologies and methods.

A plant breeder must figure out how to perform selection more effectively and efficiently while accelerating the breeding process to meet the demands of shifting markets for crop cultivars. An innovative approach and potent methodology for plant improvement is molecular marker-assisted breeding (MAB), which applies molecular biotechnologies (DNA markers) to practical breeding and selection. Compared to traditional breeding practices, it has a number of advantages. MAB is a cutting-edge technology that complements conventional breeding rather than replacing it. The incorporation of MAB into traditional breeding operations is an encouraging approach for crop development in the future.

Often, new crop cultivars are suggested as a viable solution for climate change adaptation. There is still a significant number of plant species from different plant families and genera that possess advantageous features but have not yet been domesticated. Crop wild relatives (CWRs) could be sources of genetic diversity in producing new cultivars, given they have been used for crop improvement regarding disease and pest resistance as well as abiotic stress tolerance. We can use a more efficient form of selection to domesticate more wild species as we learn more about the genetic and biological basis of domestication processes. As we face climate change, this could lead to the development of novel crops and help us accomplish more environmentally sustainable agriculture, since many wild taxa are genetically diverse and locally adapted to certain ecosystems.

Dr. Vasileios Greveniotis
Dr. Athanasios E. Korkovelos
Dr. Constantinos Ipsilandis
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agriculture is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • new crops
  • conventional plant breeding
  • molecular marker-assisted breeding
  • yield stability
  • high yield performance
  • breeding for quality
  • abiotic stress
  • biotic stress
  • phenotyping
  • genotyping
  • new cultivars
  • cultivation techniques
  • crop production
  • quantitative genetics
  • agronomic factors
  • crop improvement

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 970 KiB  
Article
Preliminary Exploration of Physiology and Genetic Basis Underlying High Yield in Indica–Japonica Hybrid Rice
by Xiaojuan Fan, Yongtao Cui, Jian Song, Honghuan Fan, Liqun Tang and Jianjun Wang
Agriculture 2024, 14(4), 607; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14040607 - 11 Apr 2024
Viewed by 551
Abstract
The utilization of heterosis is of great significance in improving rice yield. To explore the physiological and genetic basis for high yield in indica–japonica hybrid rice, Zheyou18 (z18) and Yongyou12 (y12) were used as materials and compared with indica hybrid rice, Zheyou12 (z12); [...] Read more.
The utilization of heterosis is of great significance in improving rice yield. To explore the physiological and genetic basis for high yield in indica–japonica hybrid rice, Zheyou18 (z18) and Yongyou12 (y12) were used as materials and compared with indica hybrid rice, Zheyou12 (z12); japonica hybrid rice, Liangyoupeijiu (LYPJ); and the conventional lines zhe04B (04B) and zhehui818 (h818) under seedling growth vigor, functional leaf morphology, chlorophyll content, yield component, panicle trait, and InDel heterosis analysis. Z18 and y12 showed the largest increase in plant height 6 d and 9 d after germination; the root dry weight of z18 was 31.2% and 42.0% higher than its parents on the 12th d. The length of functional leaves ranked in the middle, while the width was the largest, resulting in z18 and y12 having the largest leaf area. Yield components showed that z18 and y12 had the highest number of primary branches, spikelets, and grains, and grain yield, which was 58.1 g in z18, increased by 29.8% and 8.7%, respectively, in comparison with h818 and LYPJ. The InDel genetic distance was significantly positively correlated with single spike weight, with r reaching 0.771, making it the only consistent and most correlated among the seven traits. Therefore, we speculated that as the InDel genetic distance expands, heterosis mainly manifests in the increase in single spike weight. This study comprehensively explored the physiological mechanism of yield improvement in indica–japonica-hybrid rice and used InDel genetic distances to study the genetic basis of heterosis, which will be helpful for future rice yield improvement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing Yield and Quality in Conventional and New Crops: From Molecular Approaches to Agricultural Practices)
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17 pages, 3361 KiB  
Article
Modeling Stability of Alfalfa Yield and Main Quality Traits
by Vasileios Greveniotis, Elisavet Bouloumpasi, Adriana Skendi, Athanasios Korkovelos, Dimitrios Kantas, Stylianos Zotis and Constantinos G. Ipsilandis
Agriculture 2024, 14(4), 542; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14040542 - 29 Mar 2024
Viewed by 596
Abstract
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is used to support livestock. A stability study was carried out over three years. The stability indices for yield and main quality characteristics such as plant height, number of nodes, the yield of green mass and dry matter, [...] Read more.
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is used to support livestock. A stability study was carried out over three years. The stability indices for yield and main quality characteristics such as plant height, number of nodes, the yield of green mass and dry matter, crude protein and fiber (%), and ash (%), were examined. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences that indicated the presence of high genotype–year interactions. Heritability was higher in the case of qualitative traits than quantitative traits. The most intriguing correlation was between green mass yield and crude protein content because positive correlations may lead to indirect and simultaneous selection. According to the statistical biplot models AMMI and GGE, the best genotypes for almost all traits to use, regardless of the environment and cultivation type, were the G8 (Population 2) followed by cultivar G3 (Yliki). Despite the high index values shown by the parameter number of nodes, the latter and yield showed low heritability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing Yield and Quality in Conventional and New Crops: From Molecular Approaches to Agricultural Practices)
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12 pages, 1954 KiB  
Article
Yield Gap Analysis of Super High-Yielding Rice (>15 t ha−1) in Two Ecological Regions
by Zhongwei Wei, Yuzhu Zhang and Wenyu Jin
Agriculture 2024, 14(3), 491; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14030491 - 18 Mar 2024
Viewed by 663
Abstract
Super high-yielding rice (SHYR) (>15 t ha−1) plays a crucial role in global food production and security. We hypothesized that the external environment of different ecological regions could improve biomass accumulation in different periods and thus increase the rice yield. Two [...] Read more.
Super high-yielding rice (SHYR) (>15 t ha−1) plays a crucial role in global food production and security. We hypothesized that the external environment of different ecological regions could improve biomass accumulation in different periods and thus increase the rice yield. Two SHYR varieties, i.e., Xiangliangyou900 (XLY900) and Yliangyou900 (YLY900), were cultivated in the YONGSHENG and LONGHUI ecoregions, China. The results indicated that the average yield of the two SHYRs in the LONGHUI ecological region was 15.27–15.45 t ha−1 and 18.81–20.10 t ha−1 in YONGSHENG. The high grain yield in the YONGSHENG ecoregion was mainly due to the increased number of spikelets per panicle, crop growth rate, and total biomass during the transplanting–heading stage (TP-HS) and heading–maturity stage (HS-MS), and harvest index. The yield of SHYR was significantly correlated with external environment conditions, i.e., average minimum temperature, average daytime, and night-time temperature, and average daily temperature at the TP-HS, HS-MS, and transplanting–maturity (TP-MS) stages. The rice yield was significantly and positively correlated with the cumulative daily radiation. Therefore, it can be concluded that the final yield of super high-yield rice is closely related to the utilization of temperature and radiation resources during the growth process in the ecological environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing Yield and Quality in Conventional and New Crops: From Molecular Approaches to Agricultural Practices)
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15 pages, 3196 KiB  
Article
Integrated Nutrient Management Boosts Inflorescence Biomass and Antioxidant Profile of Carlina diae (Asteraceae)—An Endangered Local Endemic Plant of Crete with Medicinal and Ornamental Value
by Konstantinos Paschalidis, Dimitrios Fanourakis, Georgios Tsaniklidis, Ioannis Tsichlas, Vasileios A. Tzanakakis, Fotis Bilias, Eftihia Samara, Ioannis Ipsilantis, Katerina Grigoriadou, Theodora Matsi, Nikos Krigas and Georgios Tsoktouridis
Agriculture 2024, 14(2), 259; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14020259 - 6 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 749
Abstract
Due to the combined climate and biodiversity crisis, the sustainable utilization of phytogenetic resources stands as a one-way alternative, while nutrient management strategies are gaining an increasing role in agriculture. Building on previous studies regarding the Endangered local endemic of Crete (Greece) Carlina [...] Read more.
Due to the combined climate and biodiversity crisis, the sustainable utilization of phytogenetic resources stands as a one-way alternative, while nutrient management strategies are gaining an increasing role in agriculture. Building on previous studies regarding the Endangered local endemic of Crete (Greece) Carlina diae (Asteraceae), with medicinal and ornamental value, this investigation focused on its pilot cultivation and fertilization (foliar or soil application). Foliar application comprised inorganic fertilization (conventional) or integrated nutrient management (INM). Soil application consisted of conventional inorganic fertilizers, biostimulants, or INM with biostimulants. Above-ground biomass content of nutrients, leaf chlorophyll fluorescence, and color parameters (SPAD meter, DA meter, Chroma Meter) were estimated. The leaf chlorophyll content, three key antioxidant compounds, and nutrient titers were also determined. The fertilization scheme did not influence plant growth and visually perceived quality (leaf color and shape). Notably, foliar INM fertilization increased biomass partitioning to inflorescences (harvestable organs for either medicinal or ornamental purposes) and decreased tissue water content (facilitating processing). Considering all three antioxidants together, INM with biostimulant appeared the optimum scheme, being associated with the highest (carotenoids, phenolics) or the second highest (flavonoid) content. In C. diae, therefore, INM fertilization was optimal for upgrading yield (foliar) and herbal quality in terms of antioxidant profile (INM with biostimulant), which might be embraced as an eco-friendly approach for high-quality yields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing Yield and Quality in Conventional and New Crops: From Molecular Approaches to Agricultural Practices)
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Review

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15 pages, 1094 KiB  
Review
Advances in Genetic Enhancement of Nutritional Quality of Tropical Maize in West and Central Africa
by Melaku Gedil, Wende Mengesha, Oluyinka Ilesanmi and Abebe Menkir
Agriculture 2024, 14(4), 577; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14040577 - 5 Apr 2024
Viewed by 738
Abstract
Micronutrient deficiencies are pervasive in the diets of millions of people in developing countries, calling for effective mitigation measures. The development of biofortified cultivars through breeding holds promise for sustainable and affordable solutions to combat micronutrient deficiencies. Breeding efforts in the past decade [...] Read more.
Micronutrient deficiencies are pervasive in the diets of millions of people in developing countries, calling for effective mitigation measures. The development of biofortified cultivars through breeding holds promise for sustainable and affordable solutions to combat micronutrient deficiencies. Breeding efforts in the past decade have resulted in dozens of biofortified open-pollinated varieties and hybrids adapted to diverse agroecological zones. Advances in genomics and molecular tools enabled rapid identification of maize cultivars enriched with essential micronutrients such as pro vitamin A (PVA), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn). Leveraging Multi-omics-driven discovery of the genetic factors underlying the vast array of nutritional traits is paramount to mainstreaming breeding for quality traits in the product profile. Molecular breeding schemes, and integrating emerging Omics tools at every stage of the breeding pipeline, are vital to enhancing genetic gain. The recent momentum in elucidating the metabolism of micronutrients should be expanded to novel breeding targets as well as to the simultaneous enhancement of nutritional qualities while curtailing anti-nutritional factors in staple food crops. Harnessing new technologies to establish comprehensive and integrated breeding approaches involving nutrigenomics, genome editing, and agronomic biofortification is crucial in tackling nutritional insecurity. This review highlights the prospect of integrating modern tools in hastening the genetic improvement of nutritionally enriched maize. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing Yield and Quality in Conventional and New Crops: From Molecular Approaches to Agricultural Practices)
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