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The Impact of Climate Change on Quality, Yield, and Nutritional...
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The Impact of Climate Change on Quality, Yield, and Nutritional Properties of Cereals, Legumes, and Oilseeds

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 May 2026) | Viewed by 6620

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Vito Butardo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia
Interests: cereal grain quality and nutrition; starch biosynthesis and functional properties; food molecular biology, biochemistry and biotechnology; glycemic index and digestibility; bioactive compounds in cereals; abiotic stress tolerance in response to climate change; food waste valorisation into biopolymers; plant prebiotics and gut health; multi-omics approaches in food systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Climate change poses a significant threat to global food security and nutrition. Rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, increased salinity, and elevated atmospheric CO2 levels can have profound effects on the yield, quality, and nutritional composition of major crop species, including cereals, legumes, and oilseeds. These crops are vital sources of calories, proteins, essential nutrients, and healthy fats for human consumption and animal feed. Understanding the impact of climate change factors on these crops is crucial for developing adaptation and mitigation strategies to ensure food and nutritional security in the face of a changing climate. This Special Issue aims to bring together the latest research on the effects of climate change stressors on the quality, yield, and nutritional properties of cereals, legumes, and oilseeds, as well as approaches to enhance their resilience and productivity under future climate scenarios.

This Special Issue aims to bring together cutting-edge research investigating the effects of climate change factors such as elevated temperatures, drought, salinity, and atmospheric CO2 levels on the quality, yield, and nutritional composition of major cereal, legume, and oilseed crops. We welcome original research articles utilising multi-omics approaches, field trials, crop modelling, and data integration to evaluate the impact of climate change stressors on grain quality parameters, seed nutritional profiles, productivity, and the underlying molecular and physiological mechanisms. Studies exploring strategies to mitigate these effects, such as breeding for climate resilience, agronomic practices, and beneficial microorganisms, are also encouraged. Research on underutilised or orphan crop species with potential climate resilience is of particular interest.

I/We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Vito Butardo
Guest Editor

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 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

  • climate change
  • cereals
  • legumes
  • oilseeds
  • grain quality
  • seed nutrition
  • yield
  • elevated temperatures
  • drought
  • salinity
  • atmospheric CO2
  • multi-omics
  • field trials
  • crop modelling
  • data integration
  • climate resilience
  • breed-ing strategies
  • agronomic practices
  • beneficial microorganisms
  • underutilised crops
  • orphan crops

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 3209 KB  
Article
De Novo Transcriptome Profiling of Salt Stress Responses in the Crop Wild Legume Vicia hirsuta (L.) Gray
by Sang Yong Park, Dae Yeon Kim, Myoung-Jun Jang, Chang Ha Park and Jae Yoon Kim
Biology 2026, 15(4), 354; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15040354 - 18 Feb 2026
Viewed by 607
Abstract
Salt stress is a major environmental constraint affecting plant growth and productivity. Crop wild relatives provide valuable genetic resources for stress tolerance, yet transcriptomic information for forest-derived wild species remains limited. In this study, we analyzed transcriptional responses of V. hirsuta, [...] Read more.
Salt stress is a major environmental constraint affecting plant growth and productivity. Crop wild relatives provide valuable genetic resources for stress tolerance, yet transcriptomic information for forest-derived wild species remains limited. In this study, we analyzed transcriptional responses of V. hirsuta, a crop wild relative (CWR) of legumes, after seven days of salt stress using de novo transcriptome sequencing. Seedlings were exposed to salt stress, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between control (Vh_S0) and salt-treated (Vh_S7) plants using an FDR-adjusted threshold (q < 0.05). Gene Ontology and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that salt-responsive DEGs were mainly involved in regulatory signaling, metabolic adjustment, redox-related processes, and macromolecular organization. Up- and down-regulated DEGs showed distinct yet overlapping enrichment patterns, indicating complex transcriptional reprogramming under salt stress. Transcription factor analysis identified bHLH, MYB, bZIP, NAC, and WRKY families as major regulators, with many families containing both up- and down-regulated members. Notably, genes associated with Na+/K+ homeostasis were consistently up-regulated and validated by qRT-PCR. These results suggest that continuous seven days salt stress adaptation in V. hirsuta involves coordinated regulation of signaling pathways, transcriptional networks, and transporter-mediated ion homeostasis, providing a valuable transcriptomic resource for crop wild relatives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Climate Change on Quality, Yield, and Nutritional Properties of Cereals, Legumes, and Oilseeds)
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Review

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31 pages, 9338 KB  
Review
Biotechnological Strategies to Enhance Maize Resilience Under Climate Change
by Kyung-Hee Kim, Donghwa Park and Byung-Moo Lee
Biology 2026, 15(2), 161; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15020161 - 16 Jan 2026
Viewed by 1467
Abstract
Maize (Zea mays L.), a vital crop for global food and economic security, faces intensifying biotic and abiotic stresses driven by climate change, including drought, heat, and erratic rainfall. This review synthesizes emerging biotechnology-driven strategies designed to enhance maize resilience under these [...] Read more.
Maize (Zea mays L.), a vital crop for global food and economic security, faces intensifying biotic and abiotic stresses driven by climate change, including drought, heat, and erratic rainfall. This review synthesizes emerging biotechnology-driven strategies designed to enhance maize resilience under these shifting environmental conditions. We present an integrated framework that encompasses CRISPR/Cas9 and next-generation genome editing, Genomic Selection (GS), Environmental Genomic Selection (EGS), and multi-omics platforms—spanning transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and epigenomics. These approaches have significantly deepened our understanding of complex stress-adaptive traits and genotype-by-environment interactions, revealing precise targets for breeding climate-resilient cultivars. Furthermore, we highlight enabling technologies such as high-throughput phenotyping, artificial intelligence (AI), and nanoparticle-based gene delivery—including novel in planta and transformation-free protocols—that are accelerating translational breeding. Despite these technical breakthroughs, barriers such as genotype-dependent transformation efficiency, regulatory landscapes, and implementation costs in resource-limited settings remain. Bridging the gap between laboratory innovation and field deployment will require coordinated policy support and global collaboration. By integrating molecular breakthroughs with practical deployment strategies, this review offers a comprehensive roadmap for developing sustainable, climate-resilient maize varieties to meet future agricultural demands. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Climate Change on Quality, Yield, and Nutritional Properties of Cereals, Legumes, and Oilseeds)
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40 pages, 1231 KB  
Review
Climate Adaptation Strategies for Maintaining Rice Grain Quality in Temperate Regions
by Yvonne Fernando, Ben Ovenden, Nese Sreenivasulu and Vito Butardo, Jr.
Biology 2025, 14(7), 801; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14070801 - 2 Jul 2025
Viewed by 3399
Abstract
Climate change poses significant challenges to temperate rice production, particularly affecting grain quality and market acceptance. This review synthesizes current knowledge of climate-induced quality changes, with a focus on the Australian rice industry as a case study with comparisons to other temperate regions. [...] Read more.
Climate change poses significant challenges to temperate rice production, particularly affecting grain quality and market acceptance. This review synthesizes current knowledge of climate-induced quality changes, with a focus on the Australian rice industry as a case study with comparisons to other temperate regions. Environmental stressors such as extreme temperatures, variable rainfall, elevated CO2, and salinity disrupt biochemical pathways during grain development, altering physicochemical, textural, and aromatic traits. Different rice classes exhibit distinct vulnerabilities: medium-grain japonica varieties show reduced amylose under heat stress, aromatic varieties experience disrupted aroma synthesis under drought, and long-grain types suffer kernel damage under combined stresses. Temperature is a key driver, with quality deterioration occurring above 35 °C and below 15 °C. Systems biology analyses reveal complex signalling networks underpinning these stress responses, although experimental validation remains limited. The Australian industry has responded by developing cold-tolerant cultivars, precision agriculture, and water-saving practices, yet projected climate variability demands more integrated strategies. Priorities include breeding for stress-resilient quality traits, refining water management, and deploying advanced phenotyping tools. Emerging technologies like hyperspectral imaging and machine learning offer promise for rapid quality assessment and adaptive management. Sustaining high-quality rice in temperate zones requires innovation linking physiology with practical adaptation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Climate Change on Quality, Yield, and Nutritional Properties of Cereals, Legumes, and Oilseeds)
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