Biotechnological and Genomic Approaches for Enhancing Agronomic Performance of Crops

The goal of a plant breeding program is to deliver a variety with the best agronomic performance in the shortest amount of time possible. In the past decade, tremendous progress has been made in trait phenotyping, genotyping, genomic tools and techniques, and biotechnological approaches to plant improvement. Advancements in these areas continue to reduce the time from discovery of genes/QTLs of interest and their deployment into existing varieties for the development of next-generation crop varieties with enhanced trait performance. The broader research community has provided a wealth of resources, as seen by an increasing number of high-quality reference or draft genomes, transcriptomes, and molecular markers that are now available for almost all crops. The use of reference genomes, transcriptomes, and molecular markers often provides the first set of tools for fine-mapping of genes/QTLs controlling economically important quantitative traits including disease resistance and crop yields.

Approaches such as Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) mapping, Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS), and transcriptomics can provide preliminary information on genetic control of traits of interest. For traits controlled by one or two loci, the path to development of varieties with the trait of interest is relatively straightforward and easy. For more complex quantitative traits controlled by a large number of small effect genes, significant advances have been made to map these minor effect genes, including QTL interval mapping and association mapping including GWAS. The genes once identified are deployed in molecular breeding programs through marker-assisted selection (MAS). MAS relies on the use of linked markers for foreground screening and genotyping for trait introgression. Availability of genomic resources such as a genome-wide Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) based arrays can further accelerate the development of varieties by allowing for more precise background screening approaches. Fine mapping and validation of gene targets via knock down or over-expression analyses further allows for more precise breeding. Further, deployment of new breeding technologies, such as gene editing, coupled with whole genome screening allows for more precise modulation of traits. The ultimate goal remains the successful transfer of varieties with enhanced agronomic performance from research settings to commercial growing environments.

We would like to invite submissions of any article type that provide guidance and insights into biotechnological and genomic methods, approaches, tools, and techniques with successful outcomes, be it in breeding of varieties or in on-farm deployment of traits. Articles can cover the following aspects:
• Trait mapping and discovery of genes underlying important agronomic traits
• QTL interval mapping and GWAS for agronomic traits
• Development and use of molecular markers for crop improvement
• Elucidating molecular pathways of significance to enhanced agronomic outcomes.
• Evaluating performance of varieties developed using one or more of the approaches outlined above.
• Evaluating performance of end products developed using one or more of the approaches outlined above

Topic Editor Sreepriya Pramod is employed by company Altria and holds patents related to the Research Topic subject. Topic Editor Ramsey Lewis has received funding from private companies and holds patents related to the Research Topic subject. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests.