Genetic Diversity of Germplasm Resources in Cereals and Legumes

Dear Colleagues,

Plant samples stored in the form of genetic resources in gene banks belong to the cultural wealth and heritage of every nation and the entire humanity at the same time. Their collection and preservation in a viable state is a basic prerequisite for the preservation of genetic diversity in the plant kingdom on our planet for future generations. Biological diversity is and will be the starting point for the creation of new, improved plant genotypes, which is closely related to the production of sufficient quality food for the rapidly increasing human population. Omic approaches (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, etc.) and biotechnological methods play an important role in the characterization of plant genetic resources, which, together with phenotyping, provide breeders with significant information about the variety.

Cereals, pseudocereals, and legumes are among the most important groups of crops providing nutrition for a large part of the human population and animals in the world. Systematic documentation and evaluation of the plant genome based on molecular markers that capture variability at the level of DNA or its protein products is essential for the management of plant genetic resources. The technology of molecular markers makes it possible to make the breeding process more efficient by using a large number of new techniques with the aim of improving selection strategies in plant breeding. Molecular markers are also suitable tools for further studies related to the analysis of plant genomes, their mapping, construction of the genetic and linkage maps, detection of the genetic homogeneity and use in molecular breeding, diagnostics, taxonomy, etc. This Special Issue of Plants is dedicated to these very interesting and inspiring topics. The aim of this Special Issue of Plants is to provide a better understanding of the genetic diversity, germplasm resources, and new biotechnologies of sustained cereals, pseudocereals, and legumes improvement.

Prof. Dr. Zdenka Gálová
Dr. Tomáš Vyhnánek
Dr. Želmí­ra Balážová
Guest Editors

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• genetic diversity
• polymorphism
• genetic resources
• cereals and pseudocereals
• legumes
• molecular methods
• genotyping