Crop Breeding and Genetics
A section of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395).
Section Information
Crop breeding has an impressive record in lifting agricultural productivity and encompasses a broad range of technologies and capabilities. However, productivity is facing major political, sociological and environmental challenges and in many regions of the world productivity growth is stagnating. In recent years, we have seen a major expansion in our ability to manage and interpret data, in the throughput and accuracy of phenotyping methods and in our utilisation of information on gene and genome structure and function. These advances have opened new opportunities to accelerate the rates of genetic gain that can be achieved in plant breeding programs and are playing major roles in addressing future food security demands. In this section we seek to support the crop improvement community by publishing articles that cover the full breadth of innovations around genetics and breeding. This includes:
- Breeding strategies and methodologies
- Phenotyping technologies
- Advances in the trait and data analysis in both controlled and field environments
- Analysis and use of genetic diversity
- The genetic analysis of major traits
- Analysis of gene structure and function
- Development and utilisation of genomics technologies
Editorial Board
Topical Advisory Panel
Special Issues
Following special issues within this section are currently open for submissions:
- Qualitative and Quantitative Plant Screening Measurements for Yield and Quality Enhancement—2nd Edition (Deadline: 15 February 2026)
- Genetic Basis of Crop Selection and Evolution (Deadline: 20 February 2026)
- Identification and Breeding of High-Quality, Disease-Resistance and High-Producing Varieties (Deadline: 20 February 2026)
- Recent Advances in Crops Genome-Wide Assisted Selection Breeding (Deadline: 28 February 2026)
- Physiological and Genetic Improvement of Crop Traits in Enhancing Crop Resilience (Deadline: 28 February 2026)
- Epigenetic Regulation in Solanaceae Crops (Deadline: 15 March 2026)
- Germplasm Conservation and Genetic Improvement in Tropical and Subtropical Crops (Deadline: 15 March 2026)
- Cultivar Development of Pulses Crop—2nd Edition (Deadline: 25 March 2026)
- Genetic Architecture of Kernel Development in Cereal Crops (Deadline: 30 March 2026)
- Genotype × Environment Interactions in Crop Production—2nd Edition (Deadline: 31 March 2026)
- Oilseed Crop Improvement: Breeding for Enhanced Resistance and Quality (Deadline: 31 March 2026)
- Progress and Innovations in Breeding Objectives and Technologies for Solanaceae Crops Production—2nd Edition (Deadline: 31 March 2026)
- Breeding of Novel Potato/Sweet Potato/Cassava Cultivars and the Application of New Technologies (Deadline: 20 April 2026)
- Genetically Modified (GM) Crops and Pests Management (Deadline: 20 April 2026)
- Molecular and Physiological Insights into Crop Growth Regulation (Deadline: 25 April 2026)
- Molecular Advances in Crop Protection and Agrobiotechnology (Deadline: 30 April 2026)
- Breeding for Forage High Yield and Quality (Deadline: 30 April 2026)
- Rice Gene Discovery and Genetic Breeding (Deadline: 30 April 2026)
- Viral Diseases in Cereals: Genetics and Breeding for Resistance (Deadline: 30 April 2026)
- From Phenotype to Gene: A Holistic Approach to Improving Crop Agronomic Traits (Deadline: 30 April 2026)
- Genetics, Genomics and Breeding of Spice Crops (Deadline: 30 April 2026)
- Shaping the Future of Plant Breeding: Harnessing Phenomic and Genomic Insights for Disease Resistance (Deadline: 30 April 2026)
- Genetic and Genomic Advances in Brassica Crops: Enhancing Yield and Resilience (Deadline: 1 May 2026)
- Beyond Survival: Engineering Crops for Extreme Climate Adaptation (Deadline: 1 May 2026)
- Impacts of CRISPR–Cas in Evolving Agriculture and Plant Biotechnology (Deadline: 15 May 2026)
- Application of In Vitro Technology to Improving the Yield and Quality of Common and Alternative Crops (Deadline: 15 May 2026)
- Utilization of Fruit Tree Germplasm Resources and Development of Cultivation Techniques (Deadline: 20 May 2026)
- Precision Assistance for Crop Genetic Improvement: Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (Deadline: 31 May 2026)
- Functional Characterization of Key Agronomic Trait Genes in Soybean (Deadline: 31 May 2026)
- Advanced Chromosome Engineering and Molecular Breeding for Disease Resistance in Crops and Their Wild Relatives (Deadline: 31 May 2026)
- Domestication and Genetic Improvement of New Crops (Deadline: 20 June 2026)
- Advancements in Genetic Research and Breeding of Sugar Crops (Deadline: 30 June 2026)
- Breakthrough and Innovation of Mutants in Genetic Improvement of Crop Varieties (Deadline: 30 June 2026)
- Crop Genomics and Omics for Future Food Security (Deadline: 30 June 2026)
- Genetic and Epigenetic Control of Plant Genes Responding to Abiotic Stress (Deadline: 30 June 2026)
- Integrative Genomics, Molecular Markers, and Breeding Strategies in Rice (Deadline: 30 June 2026)
- Characterisation, Protection and Development of Minor Crops Adapted to Challenging New Climatic Conditions—2nd Edition (Deadline: 30 June 2026)
- Reproductive Isolation and Its Role in Crop Evolution and Agronomic Practice (Deadline: 30 June 2026)
- Physiological and Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Under the Abiotic Stress (Deadline: 30 June 2026)
- Plant Tissue Culture and Regeneration Techniques for Crop Enhancement (Deadline: 30 June 2026)
- Evaluation of Germplasm Resources, Molecular Breeding, and Utilization in Soybean (Deadline: 15 July 2026)
- Precision Functional Genomics for Cereal Crop Quality and Development (Deadline: 15 July 2026)
- Resistance-Related Gene Mining and Genetic Improvement in Crops—2nd Edition (Deadline: 25 July 2026)
- Omics Approaches for Crop Improvement—Volume II (Deadline: 30 July 2026)
- Genetics and Breeding of Field Crops in the 21st Century—2nd Edition (Deadline: 31 July 2026)
- Advances in Genetics of Pollination Mechanism and Fruit Development of Horticultural Crops (Deadline: 31 July 2026)
- Evolutionary Mechanisms and Molecular Regulatory Networks of Plant Breeding Systems (Deadline: 31 July 2026)
- Innovations and Prospects for Future Agriculture: Applications of Machine Learning and AI in Crop Breeding (Deadline: 20 August 2026)
- Advances in Crop Molecular Breeding and Genetics—2nd Edition (Deadline: 20 August 2026)
- Genome Stability and Regulation in Polyploid and Hybrid Crops (Deadline: 25 August 2026)
- Advancing Genomic Prediction: Statistical Models for Crop Breeding and G×E Optimization (Deadline: 31 August 2026)
- Innovative Breeding and Genomics Approaches to Enhance Grain Yield (Deadline: 31 August 2026)
- Recent Advances in Genomics, Genetic Resources Evaluation and Breeding of Rice (Deadline: 31 August 2026)
- Exploration of Aneuploidy and Polyploidy in the Evolution of Horticultural Crops and Crop Wild Relatives (Deadline: 30 September 2026)
- Utilizing Genetic Resources for Agronomic Traits Improvement: Series III (Deadline: 30 September 2026)
- Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding of Soybeans—2nd Edition (Deadline: 30 September 2026)
- Broadening the Genetic Base of Climate-Smart Pea (Deadline: 31 October 2026)
- Development and Utilization of Maize Germplasm Resources (Deadline: 31 October 2026)
- Plant Genome Editing: Innovations, Applications, and Challenges (Deadline: 31 October 2026)
- Redesigning Crop Genomes: Innovative Strategies for Disease Management in Cucurbits (Deadline: 31 October 2026)
- Improvement of Beverage Crops (Tea, Coffee, Wine, etc.,) Through Breeding and Cultivation Management (Deadline: 30 November 2026)
- Reproductive Biology for Improving Crop Yield and Breeding Efficiency (Deadline: 31 December 2026)
Topical Collections
Following topical collections within this section are currently open for submissions: