Traits Evaluation and Gene Mining of Plant Germplasm Resources

Plant germplasm resources, encompassing seeds, tissues, cells, and DNA fragments from cultivated and wild species, represent an invaluable reservoir of genetic diversity. As the foundational material for crop improvement, these resources are often referred to as "green gold" or "life chips" for their strategic role in ensuring food security, ecological resilience, and climate adaptation. With the escalating challenges posed by population growth, environmental stress, and biodiversity loss, the exploration and utilization of plant germplasm have become increasingly critical for sustainable agriculture and global nutritional security.

Historically rooted in evolutionary biology and biogeography, plant germplasm research has transitioned from classical trait-based studies to sophisticated genomic investigations. Early milestones, such as Vavilov’s theory of crop origin centers and the Green Revolution's reliance on germplasm-derived traits like the sd1 semi-dwarf gene in rice, underscore the profound agricultural impact of germplasm utilization. Today, modern genomics offers unprecedented tools to dissect the genetic architecture of complex traits and unlock the functional potential of diverse germplasm collections.

This research topic emphasizes the intersection of plant breeding, functional genomics, and genetic resource innovation. We welcome submissions that apply high-throughput genomic technologies—such as genome-wide association studies (GWAS), QTL mapping, pan-genomics, transcriptomics, and gene-editing platforms (e.g., CRISPR-Cas systems)—to the evaluation, screening, and functional mining of key genes from plant germplasm. We are particularly interested in work that links genotype to phenotype, reveals the molecular mechanisms underlying agronomically important traits (e.g., yield, quality, stress resistance), and facilitates the development of elite cultivars through molecular breeding.

In addition to trait discovery, we encourage studies that contribute to the functional annotation of previously uncharacterized genes, investigate epigenetic regulation in trait expression, or explore the chromosomal organization and inheritance patterns of key alleles. Submissions may include original research, reviews, or perspectives that highlight methodological advances, case studies from core and orphan crops, or integrated approaches combining field phenotyping with omics data.

This topic aims to provide a platform for advancing the applied genomic exploration of plant germplasm resources, bridging the gap between genetic diversity and breeding innovation.

We welcome submissions including (but not limited to):

- Original research on genome-wide trait mapping in germplasm collections
- Studies employing GWAS, QTL, or pan-genomic approaches to identify functional genes
- Functional validation of candidate genes through gene editing (e.g., CRISPR-Cas)
- Epigenetic and regulatory mechanisms affecting trait expression in diverse genotypes
- Genomic selection models integrating omics and phenotypic data for breeding
- Comparative genomics of landraces, wild relatives, and elite cultivars
- Review articles on advances in germplasm genomics and molecular breeding
- Methodological advances for high-throughput germplasm evaluation
- Case studies of trait discovery in underutilized or orphan crops

Keywords: plant germplasm resources, functional genomics, gene mining, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), molecular breeding

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.