Harnessing Positive Alleles to Enhance Source-Sink Dynamics in Crop Plants

In cereals and other staple crops, the intricate source-sink relationship plays a crucial role in determining grain yield. Horticultural crops introduce additional complexity by incorporating multiple specialized plant organs, such as seeds, flowers, fruits, and tubers, each contributing uniquely as sinks. Among these, leaves are pivotal as the principal photosynthetic organs, with factors such as leaf size, angle, and stomatal structure significantly influencing the efficiency of photosynthesis. The leaf's vascular system is also critical, facilitating the distribution of nutrients and photo-assimilates. Consequently, the morphological and anatomical attributes of leaves are paramount in fulfilling the crop's sink demands. Similarly, the capacity of sinks—encompassing the number and size of seeds, fruits, or tubers—remains a fundamental aspect of yield optimization. Effective sink management, through practices like fruit thinning, pruning, and nutrient and water management, is vital across crop production systems. A comprehensive understanding of the genetic basis for source-sink dynamics and the strategic deployment of genomic tools to optimize source utilization in sink development holds promise for boosting crop yield and efficiency, thereby ensuring food security.

This Research Topic endeavors to consolidate the latest advancements in the genetics underpinning the source-sink relationship. It aims to foster a deeper understanding of the functionalities involved and the progress made toward utilizing these genetic insights for crop enhancement. By identifying positive alleles associated with key traits and understanding the underlying genetic processes, marker-assisted selection can be facilitated, alongside creating phenotypic variation through transgenesis. Furthermore, this topic seeks to address gaps in knowledge, particularly regarding the trade-offs between leaf size and the morphologies of stomata and veins.

We welcome contributions that explore themes such as:
• Genetic mapping and fine mapping of leaf morphology, anatomy, and size in crops
• Genetic mapping and fine mapping of crop sink capacity
• Cellular foundations of natural variations in source and sink sizes
• Morphological and physiological trade-offs between leaf size, stomatal, and vein densities
• Source-sink relationship feedback loops
• Utilization of genetic and breeding strategies to optimize horticultural crop quality and yield by enhancing source-sink dynamics

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• ... View all formats

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Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Positive Alleles, Source-Sink Relationship, Grain Yield, Photosynthesis, Leaf Morphology, Grain Number, Grain Size, Genetics, Genetic Mapping, Trade-offs

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.