Breeding for Forage High Yield and Quality
A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Breeding and Genetics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 15
Special Issue Editors
Interests: forage germplasm resources (focus: alfalfa); genetics & breeding (new varieties); and industrialization technologies
Interests: genetic resource collection and comprehensive evaluation of forage legumes; mining agronomic trait genes and mapping major-effect genes; breeding novel forage cultivars with high yield; superior quality; and enhanced stress resistance
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The integrated enhancement of forage yield and quality constitutes a cornerstone of sustainable livestock production, particularly under escalating climatic constraints; therefore, this Special Issue synthesizes cutting-edge breeding strategies that leverage multi-species systems and genomic innovations to overcome species-specific limitations. Researchers have demonstrated that grass–legume mixtures and diversified cropping systems achieve a superior yield–quality balance through optimized species combinations and planting regimes. Advances in genomic technologies accelerate trait improvement—pangenome-assisted selection enhances prediction accuracy for quality traits—while precision genome editing (e.g., CRISPR-Cas9) optimizes morphological features such as leaf-to-stem ratios. Additionally, innovative cultivation models—including double-sown oat systems in alpine regions or hydroponic vertical farming—maximize biomass output while conserving resources. Moreover, dual-purpose varieties (e.g., Medicago polymorpha) enable simultaneous forage and seed harvest by targeting optimal growth stages. Consequently, contributions may address nutrient management and stress resilience, such as sulfur fertilization for tropical grasses and drought-adapted legume cultivars for arid environments. Such interdisciplinary approaches may establish robust frameworks for the breeding of high-performance forage crops, advancing climate-smart agri-food systems aligned with global sustainability goals.
Prof. Dr. Zhenwu Wei
Dr. Xue-Yang Min
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- forage breeding
- yield-quality trade-off
- multi-species systems
- genomic selection
- stress-resilient cultivars
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
