Genetic Resources and Breeding of Maize
A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 63
Special Issue Editors
Interests: maize genebank collection; pre-breeding; drought tolerance and grain quality improvement in maize (multidisciplinary study of the genetic base and mechanism of drought); micronutrient content (carotenoides, tocopherol, and mineral elements)
Interests: genetics and physiology of multiple-stress tolerance; maize breeding; contents of carotenoids and tools in maize grain; genotype by environment interaction in crops
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Maize genetic resources are vital for developing resilient varieties capable of withstanding the challenges posed by climate change. These resources encompass traditional landraces, wild relatives, and conserved seed collections, contributing to the crop's adaptability and sustainability. As temperatures rise, rainfall patterns shift, and extreme weather events become more frequent, the diversity of maize varieties and their genetic traits provide a foundation for breeding resilient varieties. Genetic diversity could serve as a buffer against climate change: traditional maize varieties and wild relatives stored in national genebanks preserve their genetic diversity for future breeding and harbour genetic traits for drought tolerance, heat resistance, and pest resilience.
Maize breeding plays a crucial role in addressing climate change by developing resilient varieties that can withstand environmental stresses, enhancing food security and increasing crop productivity. Modern maize breeding combines traditional breeding techniques (hybrid breeding, Marker-Assisted Selection–MAS, and Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) mapping) with advanced genetic technologies (Genetic Modification (GM), gene editing (CRISPR-Cas9), and RNA Interference (RNAi), with the aim of creating climate-resilient hybrids (drought-, heat- and flood-tolerant varieties, resistant to waterlogging), pest and disease resistance and nutritional improvement (biofortification and low-mycotoxin varieties), as well as the application of genomic selection and high-throughput phenotyping.
Implementing these techniques, strategies, and climate-smart agricultural practices (such as Innovative Farming Systems) can significantly enhance the resilience of maize to climate change and ensure its sustainable production under changing environmental conditions.
Dr. Violeta Andjelkovic
Dr. Domagoj Šimić
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. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 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
- maize
- genetic resources
- breeding
- climate change
- modern breeding techniques
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.
- e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
