In recent years, significant progress has been made in the fruit tree molecular breeding. The increasingly widespread availability of sequenced genomes and transcriptomes across different fruit crop varieties is encouraging the development of target gene panels for agronomic traits of interest, such as response to biotic and abiotic stress, improved crop productivity, and increased product quality and traceability. Moreover, advances in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are enabling the identification of molecular markers that are valuable not only for varietal selection, but also for the development of new varieties. These new varieties can offer desirable agronomic characteristics and better suited to the current and future demands for resilient, sustainable, and high-quality agriculture. This is increasingly being achieved through the application of genome editing in the new assisted evolution techniques (TEA).

This Research Topic aims to bring together a collection of research and review articles that highlight recent advances obtained in a field considered strategic for the rapid end efficient selection of fruit varieties with desirable traits, using approaches that outstand traditional breeding methods.

We welcome contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Functional genomics studies in fruit trees to select key genes for traits of agronomic interest

• Genotype-phenotype association studies to identify molecular markers for selecting more resilient and/or productive varieties

• Development and/or implementation of regeneration and/or transformation protocols for fruit trees

• Application of genome editing

• Molecular traceability studies to ensure product quality

• Metabolomics approaches to characterize biochemical pathways involved in stress responses, fruit development and quality traits

• Postharvest biology studies focused on improving shelf life, nutritional value, and resistance to spoilage in fruit crops

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

Developments in Fruit Tree Breeding Programs for Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture