Molecular Research Progress of Cereal Crop Disease Resistance
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2025 | Viewed by 3294
Special Issue Editors
2. Xianghu Laboratory, Institute of Biotechnology, Hangzhou 311231, China
Interests: wheat genetics and breeding; wheat germplasm enhancement; molecular characterization and map-based cloning of wheat; disease resistance genes; resistance to wheat diseases caused by fungi and nematodes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Cereal crops, such as wheat and barley, are fundamental to global food security, serving as staple foods that underpin human nutrition and economic stability worldwide. The importance of these cereal crops necessitates their productivity and resilience to be safeguarded against a multitude of challenges caused by various pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, nematodes, and viruses. The combined effects of these pathogens pose a significant threat to cereal crop yields and, by extension, the global food supply.
Addressing these challenges through molecular research into disease resistance is a critical focus within cereal crop breeding programs. Deciphering the genetic underpinnings of disease resistance allows for the more effective development of disease-resistant cultivars. This Special Issue is dedicated to exploring the state-of-the-art progress being made and current trends in the discovery of novel resistance sources, the molecular characterization of resistance genes, their regulatory networks, and the application of molecular markers in the breeding process.
The scope of this Special Issue includes several critical areas:
- Discovery of novel resistance (gene) sources: Exploring new sources of resistance genes from diverse genetic backgrounds provides further avenues for developing resilient crops. This exploration extends to research on wild relatives and landraces of cereal crops.
- Molecular dissection of resistance genes: Elucidating the structure, function, and mechanisms of resistance genes offers insights into their role in defending against various diseases. A comprehensive understanding of these genes is essential for the advancement of resistant crop cultivars.
- Molecular regulatory networks: Unraveling the complex regulatory networks governing the expression of resistance genes helps in understanding their activation and interaction with other molecular pathways during responses to pathogens. These insights can identify additional targets for breeding efforts.
- Molecular marker-assisted selection in breeding: Incorporating molecular markers into breeding programs accelerates the creation of disease-resistant cultivars by enabling precise targeting of desirable traits, thereby enhancing the efficiency and success of breeding programs.
This Special Issue aims to collate pioneering research and review articles that highlight significant progress made in these areas. It aims to provide a comprehensive view of the molecular mechanisms underlying disease resistance in cereal crops and to offer visionary perspectives on future research avenues and practical applications for breeding initiatives. By advancing the understanding and application of molecular research in cereal crop disease resistance, this Special Issue will directly contribute to the objectives of enhancing global food security and the sustainability of agriculture.
Prof. Dr. Hongjie Li
Prof. Dr. Zhenqi Su
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- cereal crops
- disease resistance
- resistance genes
- breeding
- molecular marker-assisted selection
- molecular regulatory network
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