Precision Genome Engineering in Plants

A special issue of Genes (ISSN 2073-4425). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Genetics and Genomics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 March 2026) | Viewed by 634

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-Breeding, National Maize Improvement Center, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
Interests: maize breeding; genome editing; genetics; genomics
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Guest Editor
School of Life Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Interests: cereal filling-stage endosperm development; nutrient deposition in kernels
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent advances in genome editing technologies, particularly CRISPR-Cas systems, have revolutionized plant biotechnology by enabling precise modifications in plant genomes. This Special Issue explores the latest breakthroughs in precision genome engineering for crop improvement, functional genomics, and synthetic biology.

Topics include novel CRISPR-based tools (e.g., base editing, prime editing, and gene targeting), computational approaches for gRNA design, and applications in enhancing yield, stress tolerance, and nutritional quality.

We also highlight challenges such as off-target effects, delivery methods, and regulatory considerations. Contributions cover both model and non-model plant species, emphasizing translational research for sustainable agriculture. By integrating cutting-edge genome editing with traditional breeding, this issue aims to accelerate the development of next-generation crops to address global food security challenges.

Prof. Dr. Weibin Song
Prof. Dr. Zhiyong Zhang
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • CRISPR-Cas9
  • genome editing
  • base editing
  • prime editing
  • crop improvement
  • gene targeting
  • synthetic biology
  • plant biotechnology
  • off-target effects
  • sustainable agriculture

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

11 pages, 1782 KB  
Article
Genetic Dissection of Shelling Percentage in Maize via QTL Mapping Using a Maize-Teosinte Population
by Yan Bai, Yifei Wang, Xiangyin Hou, Jinsheng Lai and Weibin Song
Genes 2026, 17(4), 384; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes17040384 - 28 Mar 2026
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Abstract
Background: Shelling percentage is an important trait affecting grain yield efficiency in maize, but its genetic basis remains insufficiently understood. Methods: In this study, a maize-teosinte BC2S2 population derived from Zheng58 and (Zea mays ssp. parviglumis, CIMMYTMA 8782) [...] Read more.
Background: Shelling percentage is an important trait affecting grain yield efficiency in maize, but its genetic basis remains insufficiently understood. Methods: In this study, a maize-teosinte BC2S2 population derived from Zheng58 and (Zea mays ssp. parviglumis, CIMMYTMA 8782) was used for phenotypic evaluation and QTL mapping of shelling percentage across two replicates and BLUP-based analysis. Candidate genes were further prioritized based on their positions within QTL support intervals, expression patterns, and functional annotation. Results: Two reproducible QTLs, qSP7 and qSP10, were identified on chromosomes 7 and 10, respectively. qSP7 explained 3.39–3.41% of the phenotypic variation, whereas qSP10 explained 2.96–6.45%. Within these intervals, Zm00001d021701, Zm00001d021708, and Zm00001d025739 were prioritized as candidate genes based on expression and annotation evidence. Conclusions: These results indicate that shelling percentage in maize is controlled by multiple loci with modest effects and provide a basis for future genetic analysis and marker development for this trait. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Precision Genome Engineering in Plants)
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