Modern agriculture faces mounting challenges from climate change, soil degradation, and rising biotic and abiotic stresses, which severely threaten crop productivity and global food and nutritional security. While traditional breeding has prioritized above-ground traits, increasing attention is now turning to Root System Architecture (RSA), a critical determinant of stress resilience, nutrient acquisition (e.g., nitrogen uptake/fixation), and yield stability. Advances in next-generation sequencing, genome editing (e.g., CRISPR/Cas), high-throughput root phenotyping, and multi-omics technologies are now enabling the genetic dissection and targeted improvement of RSA traits. This Research Topic showcase real-world applications of RSA-centered breeding strategies to improve crop performance under diverse and challenging environmental conditions, ultimately supporting climate-smart and sustainable agriculture.

This Research Topic seeks to highlight the latest research and innovations in Next-Generation Breeding approaches that utilize root system traits to improve crop adaptation, productivity, and resource-use efficiency. The focus will be on how RSA contributes to tolerance against drought, cold, salinity, nutrient deficiencies (especially nitrogen and phosphorus), and biotic stresses. We encourage studies that use tools like genomic selection, GWAS (genome-wide association studies), QTL (quantitative trait loci) mapping, transcriptomics, metabolomics, phenomics, and gene editing to identify, validate the genomic regions associated with RSA, and deploy root-related traits. Special emphasis will be placed on integrating below ground traits with above-ground performance (e.g., yield, quality) and translating molecular discoveries into breeding pipelines. This collection aims to serve as a reference for breeders, molecular biologists, and agronomists working to develop stress-resilient, nutrient-efficient, and widely adapted cultivars through a root-focused lens.

We welcome Original Research, Reviews, Perspectives, and Methodology articles focused on RSA and its role in enhancing crop resilience, resource-use efficiency, and yield stability. Emphasis is placed on studies involving cereals, legumes, oilseeds, and horticultural crops across diverse agro-ecological zones. We are especially interested in research that explores:

• Genetic mapping and functional validation of RSA-related genes and QTLs
• Root traits associated with drought tolerance, nutrient uptake, and biological nitrogen fixation
• Genomics-assisted selection and CRISPR/Cas-mediated editing of root-related traits
• Multi-omics strategies involving transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics in root stress responses
• High-throughput root phenotyping and artificial intelligence/machine learning applications in RSA modeling
• Root development under combined or sequential abiotic and biotic stresses
• Role of RSA in improving yield performance, stability, and climate adaptation
• Case studies translating root trait research into breeding programs and field-ready cultivars

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Next-Generation Breeding Approaches Targeting Root System Architecture for Crop Resilience and Yield Improvement