Announcements

The Section "Plant Genomics, Genetics and Biotechnology" publishes original research and full-length review articles describing the application of genome technologies, genetics, and biotechnology to all areas of plant science investigations.

As they are of an open access format, you have free and unlimited access to the full text of all the articles published in our journal. We welcome you to read our most highly cited papers published in 2021 listed below:

1. “Morphological, Physiological and Molecular Markers for Salt-Stressed Plants”
by Soltabayeva, A.; Ongaltay, A.; Omondi, J. O. and Srivastava, S.
Plants 2021, 10(2), 243; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020243
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/2/243

2. “The Past, Present and Future of Cannabis sativa Tissue Culture”
by Monthony, A. S.; Page, S. R.; Hesami, M. and Jones, A. M. P.
Plants 2021, 10(1), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10010185
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/1/185

3. “Marker-Assisted Introgression and Stacking of Major QTLs Controlling Grain Number (Gn1a) and Number of Primary Branching (WFP) to NERICA Cultivars”
by Reyes, V. P.; Angeles-Shim, R. B.; Mendioro, M. S.; Manuel, M. C. C.; Lapis, R. S.; Shim, J.; Sunohara, H.; Nishiuchi, S.; Kikuta, M.; Makihara, D.; Jena, K. K.; Ashikari, M. and Doi, K.
Plants 2021, 10(5), 844; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10050844
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/5/844

4. “Importance of Landraces in Cereal Breeding for Stress Tolerance”
by Marone, D.; Russo, M. A.; Mores, A.; Ficco, D. B. M.; Laidò, G.; Mastrangelo, A. M. and Borrelli, G. M.
Plants 2021, 10(7), 1267; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10071267
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/7/1267

5. “Investigation and Computational Analysis of the Sulfotransferase (SOT) Gene Family in Potato (Solanum tuberosum): Insights into Sulfur Adjustment for Proper Development and Stimuli Responses”
by Faraji, S.; Heidari, P.; Amouei, H.; Filiz, E.; Abdullah and Poczai, P.
Plants 2021, 10(12), 2597; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10122597
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/12/2597

6. “Omics for the Improvement of Abiotic, Biotic, and Agronomic Traits in Major Cereal Crops: Applications, Challenges, and Prospects”
by Kaur, B.; Sandhu, K. S.; Kamal, R.; Kaur, K.; Singh, J.; Röder, M. S. and Muqaddasi, Q. H.
Plants 2021, 10(10), 1989; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10101989
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/10/1989

7. “CRISPR/dCas9-Based Systems: Mechanisms and Applications in Plant Sciences”
by Karlson, C. K. S.; Mohd-Noor, S. N.; Nolte, N. and Tan, B. C.
Plants 2021, 10(10), 2055; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10102055
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/10/2055

8. “Chloroplast Genome of Rambutan and Comparative Analyses in Sapindaceae”
by Dong, F.; Lin, Z.; Lin, J.; Ming, R. and Zhang, W.
Plants 2021, 10(2), 283; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020283
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/2/283

9. “Development of an Aus-Derived Nested Association Mapping (Aus-NAM) Population in Rice”
by Kitony, J.K.; Sunohara, H.; Tasaki, M.; Mori, J.-I.; Shimazu, A.; Reyes, V. P.; Yasui, H.; Yamagata, Y.; Yoshimura, A.; Yamasaki, M.; Nishiuchi, S. and Doi, K.
Plants 2021, 10(6), 1255; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10061255
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/6/1255

10. “Rice Lesion Mimic Mutants (LMM): The Current Understanding of Genetic Mutations in the Failure of ROS Scavenging during Lesion Formation”
by Kang, S. G.; Lee, K. E.; Singh, M.; Kumar, P. and Matin, M. N.
Plants 2021, 10(8), 1598; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081598
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/8/1598

11. “CottonGen: The Community Database for Cotton Genomics, Genetics, and Breeding Research”
by Yu, J.; Jung, S.; Cheng, C.-H.; Lee, T.; Zheng, P.; Buble, K.; Crabb, J.; Humann, J.; Hough, H.; Jones, D.; Campbell, J. T.; Udall, J. and Main, D.
Plants 2021, 10(12), 2805; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10122805
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/12/2805

12. “From Genetic Maps to QTL Cloning: An Overview for Durum Wheat”
by Colasuonno, P.; Marcotuli, I.; Gadaleta, A. and Soriano, J. M.
Plants 2021, 10(2), 315; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020315
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/2/315

13. “COVID-19 Crisis: How Can Plant Biotechnology Help?”
by Shohag, M. J. I.; Khan, F. Z.; Tang, L.; Wei, Y.; He, Z. and Yang, X.
Plants 2021, 10(2), 352; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020352
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/2/352

14. “Meta-Analysis of Quantitative Traits Loci (QTL) Identified in Drought Response in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)”
by Selamat, N. and Nadarajah, K. K.
Plants 2021, 10(4), 716; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10040716
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/4/716

15. “Influence of Climate Change on Chestnut Trees: A Review”
by Freitas, T. R.; Santos, J. A.; Silva, A. P. and Fraga, H.
Plants 2021, 10(7), 1463; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10071463
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/7/1463

16. “Advances in Rootstock Breeding of Nut Trees: Objectives and Strategies”
by Vahdati, K.; Sarikhani, S.; Arab, M. M.; Leslie, C. A.; Dandekar, A. M.; Aletà, N.; Bielsa, B.; Gradziel, T. M.; Montesinos, Á.; Rubio-Cabetas, M. J.; Sideli, G. M.; Serdar, Ü.; Akyüz, B.; Beccaro, G. L.; Donno, D.; Rovira, M.; Ferguson, L.; Akbari, M.; Sheikhi, A.; Sestras, A. F.; Kafkas, S.; Paizila, A.; Roozban, M. R.; Kaur, A.; Panta, S.; Zhang, L.; Sestras, R. E. and Mehlenbacher, S. A.
Plants 2021, 10(11), 2234; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10112234
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/11/2234

17. “Herbicide Resistance: Another Hot Agronomic Trait for Plant Genome Editing”
by Hussain, A.; Ding, X.; Alariqi, M.; Manghwar, H.; Hui, F.; Li, Y.; Cheng, J.; Wu, C.; Cao, J. and Jin, S.
Plants 2021, 10(4), 621; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10040621
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/4/621

18. “From Traditional Breeding to Genome Editing for Boosting Productivity of the Ancient Grain Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter]”
by Numan, M.; Khan, A. L.; Asaf, S.; Salehin, M.; Beyene, G.; Tadele, Z. and Ligaba-Osena, A.
Plants 2021, 10(4), 628; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10040628
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/4/628

19. “Opportunities for Improving Waterlogging Tolerance in Cereal Crops—Physiological Traits and Genetic Mechanisms”
by Tong, C.; Hill, C. B.; Zhou, G.; Zhang, X.-Q.; Jia, Y. and Li, C.
Plants 2021, 10(8), 1560; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081560
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/8/1560

20. “Comparison of Genomic Prediction Methods for Yellow, Stem, and Leaf Rust Resistance in Wheat Landraces from Afghanistan”
by Tehseen, M. M.; Kehel, Z.; Sansaloni, C. P.; Lopes, M.d.S.; Amri, A.; Kurtulus, E. and Nazari, K.
Plants 2021, 10(3), 558; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10030558
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/3/558

Peer Review Week began 19 September 2022 under the theme of “Research Integrity: Creating and Supporting Trust in Research”. Through various blog articles, podcast, and webinar, we discussed this crucial subject throughout the week, celebrating the essential role peer review plays in maintaining research quality.

To begin, we held a Webinar on the topic. Professor Peter W. Choate and Dr. Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi joined Dr. Ioana Craciun, one of MDPI’s scientific officers, for an in-depth discussion.

We invite you to view the event recording:

During the week, the MDPI Blog in a series articles highlighted how good Peer Review safeguards research integrity. The following topics were covered:

• Peer Review Week 2022
• Research Integrity
• What We’ve Learned About Peer Review Reports
• 4 Steps to the Perfect Peer Review Report
• How to Write the Perfect Peer Review Report: An Interview
• Inviting Great Peer Reviewers

In a new edition of Insight Faster, an MDPI podcast, we were delighted to talk to the co-chairs of the Peer Review Week committee, Jayashree Rajagopalan (Senior Manager of Global Community Engagement for CACTUS) and Danielle Padula (Head of Marketing and Community Development at Scholastica) to get their take on this year’s event and its related topics.

You can find the Podcast here.

We hope you enjoy the contents!

We are pleased to announce that the Editor's Choice Articles for publications in 2021 are now available. Editor’s Choice Articles are based on recommendations by the scientific editors of MDPI journals from around the world. The aim is to provide a snapshot of some of the most exciting work published in the various research areas of the journal. You are welcome to read them at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/plants/editors_choice.

We are pleased to invite you to read the Special Issue “10th Anniversary of Plants—Recent Advances and Perspectives” published in Plants (ISSN: 2223-7747). To mark this significant milestone and celebrate the achievements made throughout the years, Plants has set up this Special Issue to celebrate its 10th anniversary. While this Special Issue is first and foremost a celebration of the journal’s anniversary, it also serves as a guide for new discoveries in plant science, which will play a significant role in the future development of the journal.

MDPI will be attending RBMP 2022, held in Sevilla, Spain, from 14 to 16 September 2022. The Meeting of Plant Molecular Biology (RBMP) is the most important biennial event with the greatest impact on plant research, open to scientists from academia and industry. During this conference, MDPI (at the booth #25) welcomes researchers from different backgrounds to visit and share with us your latest inspirations.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• IJMS (leading journal);
• CIMB;
• Plants;
• Horticulturae;
• Applied Sciences;
• Antioxidants;
• Taxonomy.

If you plan on attending this conference, feel free to stop by our booth #25. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person to answer any questions you may have.

For more information about the conference, please see the following link: https://www.bcongresos.com/congresos/rbmp2022/.

A range of MDPI journals will be attending INTECOL 2022 as exhibitors. This meeting will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 28 August to 2 September 2022.

“Frontiers in Ecology – Science and Society” is the general theme of the conference. With an estimated number of 1500 participants coming to Geneva, and as many following the conference from a distance, the conference aims to bring the state-of-the-art expertise in ecology to the forefront of societal challenges.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Diversity (leading);
• Sustainability;
• Forests;
• Ecologies;
• Environments;
• Plants;
• Animals;
• World;
• Quaternary;
• Earth;
• Resources;
• Applied Sciences;
• Birds;
• Climate;
• Water;
• Fishes.

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us at our booth #03. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit http://intecol2021.org/, or contact the Diversity Editorial Office at diversity@mdpi.com.

Conference: China Functional Foods Conference 2022
Date: 1–3 August 2022
Place: Nanjing, China
Booth Number: #A19
Theme: Functional Foods and Human Health

Nutrients (ISSN: 2072-6643) will be attending the China Functional Foods Conference 2022 as exhibitors from 1 to 3 August in Nanjing, China.

Conference program:

(I) Invited reports: 

1. Development status and trending of global nutritional functional foods;
2. Nutrition, healthcare for special food regulations and standards;
3. Current situation and development of a special food industry;
4. Future trends of personalized precision nutrition.

(II) Thematic forums: 

1. Technological innovation and industrial development of special medical use formula food;
2. Technological innovation and industrial development of probiotics;
3. Technological innovation and industrial development of bioactive peptides;
4. Development and application of functional food raw materials/ingredients;
5. Food nutrition and human health;
6. Functional food development and industrial development of marine resources;
7. Homology of medicine and food and development and industrial development of natural products;
8. Functional polysaccharide nutrition and development and application;
9. Cereal food nutrition and intensive processing.

Booth information:

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Nutrients;
• Beverages;
• Fermentation;
• Foods;
• Plants.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you plan on attending this conference. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you might have.

For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: http://guohsushipn.mikecrm.com/0EYH8vK.

Horticulturae (ISSN: 2311-7524) will be attending the International Horticultural Congress 2022 as an exhibitor. This meeting will be held in the online person-to-person hybrid format from 14 to 20 August 2022.

The backbone of the congress will be based on the four following challenges:

1. Competitiveness and skills for horticultural value chains;
2. Food, human health and well-being of citizens;
3. Sustainability of production systems;
4. Adaptation to climate change and effect mitigation.

These will be the leading topics of the four planned plenary sessions and keynote speakers will be invited to discuss their critical views.

These four topics will be a common thread throughout the 25 symposia. In addition, many important and topical subjects will be addressed, including breeding, biodiversity, organic farming, urban horticulture, new technologies for phenotyping, precision horticulture, and so on.

We hope that IHC2022 will be an outstanding scientific event, as well as a unique opportunity for researchers within the industry and students to exchange, discuss and collaborate with scientists.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Horticulturae;
• Sustainability;
• Plants;
• Agriculture.

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you and answering any questions you may have. For more information about the conference and our virtual booth, please visit the following link: https://www.ihc2022.org/

We are pleased to report that the 2021 Impact Factor of Plants (ISSN: 2223-7747) increased to 4.658 in the recent release of the Journal Citation Reports ®, representing the 3rd consecutive year of continuous growth. Plants now ranks 39/238 (Q1) in the “Plant Sciences” category. We are grateful to all the scholars who have witnessed the journal’s growth with us!

Source: 2021 Journal Impact Factors, Journal Citation Reports ® (Clarivate, 2022)

The 2021 citation metrics have been released in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR), and we’re pleased to announce the following results for MDPI journals:

For more information on Impact Factors and what it means to index academic journals, please visit our related blog posts.

* Journals given their first Impact Factor in 2022

Source: 2021 Journal Impact Factors, Journal Citation Reports ^TM (Clarivate, 2022)